Joice

I first discovered yoga in my early twenties in Brazil. I loved the practice, but a lack of confidence meant I never developed the discipline to stay consistent, and for many years my practice came and went.

My first contact with Ashtanga came when I watched a video of Kino McGregor practicing the Primary Series. Her strength and flexibility sparked my curiosity and encouraged me to look for an Ashtanga class. In 2016, I joined my first one at TriYoga Soho in London. The large class felt intimidating—everyone seemed so advanced while I could barely touch my toes—but the seed of Ashtanga was planted.

In 2019, I attended workshops with Sharath Jois and Philippa Asher when they taught in London, an important early step on my path. During the 2020–2021 lockdown, after moving to France, I reconnected with the practice through online classes with Philippa, whose teaching offered a sense of purpose during an uncertain time in my life.

Consistency came later, during my first trip to Mysore in 2022 to study with Sharath Jois, where I also met Lu Andrade, a Certified SYC teacher whose guidance has since helped me cultivate love, confidence, steadiness, and a deeper commitment to my practice. I returned to Mysore in 2023 to continue learning with Sharath, and in 2024, after his passing, I had the opportunity to practice with Usha and Srikanth, whose support helped me navigate that difficult transition with gratitude. Most recently, in 2025, I began practicing in Mysore with Vijay Kumar, while continuing to be guided and supported by Lu Andrade, who remains my primary teacher.

Alongside my yoga journey, Martin and I devoted ourselves to restoring the Château. Today, the Château is more than a home—it is a space where we can share the calm and joy of practice. I am excited to welcome practitioners and teachers to our home and our shala.

Martin

My search for a wonderful pile of stones to restore in the South West of France led me to Château de Gueyze, though I had little idea what lay in store when I bought her in 2013. I have always been fascinated by architecture and by uncovering the history and charm these old buildings hold—along with the many unforeseen challenges that arise as one peels back centuries of neglect to reveal the true structure and heart of a château.

More than a decade later, we are fortunate to live in a fully restored house, with parts dating back to the 11th century. I often find myself imagining what life must have been like back then, especially when I walk up the worn stone stairs that are over a thousand years old. Although I have spent many years wielding a sledgehammer or the latest power tool, it is Joice who has truly transformed the house into a warm and relaxing home.

We moved here permanently from London at the start of 2020, just as the world went into lockdown. As we enter this new chapter of our lives, we know that the Château will always remain beneath, within, and around us—with foundations as strong as our joy for life.