NYSY Studios Founders

Inspired by the ancient Greek proverb "Νους Υγιής Εν Σώματι Υγιεί", or "Healthy Mind in Healthy Body", NYSY was created in the heart of Athens to offer top quality Yoga and Pilates classes, workshops, privates, teacher trainings, and retreats by the sea. Our highly trained teachers and body therapists invite you to explore a variety of classes and find your own practice style, in an environment that is safe, friendly, and supportive.

Vivi Letsou:

B. S., M.A.
500 Hour Yoga Alliance Certified Teacher
BASI Pilates™ Certified Teacher

Biographical background
Vivi is a dynamic and creative visionary who revels in creating community
and loves to empower people through yoga, meditation, and pilates.
Combining a strong sense of spirituality, business acumen, and natural love of life,
Vivi is a highly skilled teacher and an effective organizer.
As a young child she was moved by spirituality, searching for books in Buddhism
and eastern philosophy in her small-town library of Veria. Always
curious and super-active, Vivi left Greece at 17 to study just about
everything in California. Her multi-disciplinary education included a
Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, an A.A. in Business, and a
Master's degree in Theater Arts. Later she attended courses on Asian Healing
Arts & Massage, as well as countless teacher-training programs in Yoga and Pilates.
With great enthusiasm and love for people, culture, and spiritual growth, Vivi
always worked to create platforms for meetings of teachers with students, and
artists with audiences. She worked for nearly 20 years as a director and
producer of films, documentaries, and plays in the San Francisco area where
she lived. Some of her films and political documentaries were screened all over the world and won awards. She also produced large events, TV ad
campaigns, art exhibitions, and business conferences, and worked for the Telluride Film Festival and the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
The practice of Yoga and Zen meditation saved her from exhaustion many times, until finally she and her beloved husband, Eraj Shakib, came to Greece to
realize their dream: in 2004 they opened NYSY Studios, this beautiful center in the heart of Athens, dedicated to the practice of Yoga, Pilates, healing and community.
Vivi teaches Anusara® yoga and BASI Pilates™ classes with joy, sensitivity, and a deep understanding of the body-mind-heart connection. Her mark of a good
class? Students feeling uplifted on every level. She also leads the NYSY Studios 200 and 500 Hours Yoga Teacher Trainings, two
programs that offer a path for deeper yoga study and practice.

Yoga Path
Discovering yoga in the 80s, Vivi feels immense gratitude for her first teacher Kali Ray who illuminated the path of Tri-Yoga, a beautiful flowing vinyasa
style of yoga. Asthanga was the next discovery with senior teacher, Tim Miller being a true inspiration in dynamic practice. Having the
good fortune to study with many inspirational yoga teachers, she is blessed to have heard the simply powerful words of her beloved teacher and
friend, Rusty Wells: "Be Kind, Be Love!" And to be motivated by such vibrant teachers as Anusaras Desiree Rumbaugh, who stands firmly for what she believes: "Love is Stronger than fear." Vivi found her true teaching voice in Anusara yoga. Anusara has offered her a
powerful, all-encompassing method to teach yoga, and an effective way to touch people in a positive, uplifting, and healing way. She offers teacher John Friend
her eternal gratitude for sharing this wonderful way with the world, and for being a constant source of guidance and support.

Zen Meditation
For over 20 years, Vivi followed her zen teacher Tenshin Reb Anderson in meditation retreats
and marveled and the profundity of his teachings. If she was a better zen
student she would have been enlightened by now, but not wanting to miss
the opportunity of studying with this rare master, she keeps staring at the blank wall
Reb, meanwhile, keeps giving away the secret to Enlightement:
"it is the way we help each other; the intricate way through which we are all inter-connected."

Pilates Path
Vivi's training in Pilates includes studies with the Physical Mind Institute, Ellie Herman Pilates,
and BASI Pilates™, a system she has grown to love and teach with great enthusiasm.
She teaches classes and privates daily, and her highest joy is to see
students empowered, healthy, and uplifted. Also, to see the team
of teachers & administration at NYSY & BASI growing harmoniously to support each other and the community.
Vivi believes that the key to good pilates is good training. Thus she has worked
hard to bring the BASI Pilates™ Teacher Training programs at NYSY.
In an effort to support pilates teachers to continue learning, Vivi spearheads the
annual Athens Pilates Symposium, a fun, experiential, and highly educational international
Pilates conference, one of the most successful in Europe.
And she overseas the new workshop for pilates teachers, Skills in Excellency.

Eraj Shakib:

Bachelor of Science Business Administration-Accounting;
Accupressure Therapist
200 Hour Yoga-Alliance Certified teacher;
Bhakti Flow teacher

Eraj is a co-founder of NYSY Studios. Originally from Iran, Eraj spent most of his adult life in England and United States. Educated in economics and accounting, he has had a long career in Silicon Valley, California, working for high-tech firms in accounting, marketing, and software sales, until he decided to take a more creative and meaningful life-path, when he came with Vivi to Greece to start NYSY Studios, in 2004.
Eraj's goal is to make every effort in creating an environment that is clean, comfortable and joyful. He believes that our guests and staff should always be taken well care of.
Eraj is also behind the finely tuned operation of the studio. From the well-tended plants and super neat rooms to the cutting edge technology, and the personable team of NYSY, his influence is ever present.
He offers expert guidance and whole-hearted support to the team of teachers, therapists, and office administrators. At work he combines his strong business background, a natural love for people, and a sincere interest in alternative practices: yoga, massage, and pilates. He received his acupressure and shiatsu certification from the Acupressure Institute of Berkeley. He has also been practicing many styles of yoga such as Hatha, Ashtanga, Anusara and Jivamukti. He always combines humour and compassion in his teaching, having trained with his favorite yoga teacher and friend, Rusty Wells, for years.
Eraj delights in seeing a positive community of people who come together to practice yoga and pilates, improve their lives, and make a difference in our world. It is his deepest joy to serve this great community. He co-directs the Athens Pilates Symposium and the Athens YogaFEST.

Rusty Wells

Rusty Wells is a San Francisco based, world-traveled teacher of Bhakti Flow, a form of yoga wrapped in love and devotion. His teaching philosophy is based on the idea that, through the practice of yoga, we can actually reduce suffering in this world, and that at the heart of individual yoga practice is universal oneness. Rusty has been featured in numerous publications, including Yoga Journal, Yogi Times, Breathe Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Guardian, SF Weekly, and San Francisco Magazine. When not teaching at his home studio in San Francisco, Rusty leads yoga retreats, vacations, and teacher trainings throughout the world. www.bhaktiflow.com

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