Maria Karastergiou

After studying Psychology in Canada (1978-1981), Maria continued studying Genetics, Psychopathology and Psychopedagogy at the Université Paris VIII in Paris, France (PhD). She finally delved into studying Ageless Wisdom in Greece and Asia. She lived many years in Paris and then Athens, teaching Psychology at the university, working as a psychotherapist, and traveling around the world to organising Retreats, seminars, workshops and writing books.

She completed an Astanga Yoga TT in 2004 with Kristina Karitinou in Athens. Along with Astanga Yoga Asanas, she studied precise alignment principles with Kristina. Applying them to her own internally rooted experience of the forms was so uplifting.

In a group of Ancient Greek Philosophy she met Tereza, who initiated her to Agni Yoga or the Yoga of Living Ethics. Agni Yoga had a profound impact in her life and she felt a 360 degrees shift. She experienced the holistic, profound and transformative impact that a devoted daily practice and a deep connection with a Great Teacher, can have on all aspects of life.

Along with teaching at the university and working as a psychotherapist she started teaching Yoga. During the last 15 years Maria has been living in Asia, especially in the Himalaya, traveling, searching, studying, teaching, healing, and writing books. Maria’s spiritual, strong and at the same time tender, affectionate, intuitive and feminine nature, her adventurous and fearless spirit, her mystical and multicoloured life experiences, and her deep inner work through Psychoanalysis and psychotherapy forged her character.

Her heartful, often humorous style appeals to people of different paths and tribes. As an avid student of life she continues to study and practice Agni yoga, (the update of Theosophy), yoga asanas, breath work, silence, and inner and outer travel with great implication, enthusiasm, devotion and inquisitiveness. Conscious how the residue that is produced on the yoga mat guided by the practice of the Agni Yoga teaching informs, inspires and supports all aspects of her life.

Maria has written four books, in three different languages (Greek-French-English). “Montessori and Piaget’s Class Inclusion Problem”, “Post Babel”, “Ode to Alterity” and “Yoga Unveiled” under publication). Her books are popular throughout various continents.