Letting the breath carry you through the practice: an interview with Andrea Lutz

After more than two decades of anchoring Berlin’s Mysore yoga scene, Andrea Lutz has entered a new chapter, one shaped not by city rhythms but by the wild stillness of Crete.

Known for her deeply grounded teaching and unwavering commitment to the Ashtanga method, Andrea recently passed on the stewardship of her Berlin Shala and set her compass toward a slower, more elemental way of living and sharing yoga.

In this Yogi Times interview, we catch up with Andrea as she pauses between Mysore mornings, this time, not in Prenzlauer Berg, but further east, where olive trees and ocean breezes now frame her days.

From her reflections on decades of practice to her vision for what comes next, Andrea speaks with the clarity of someone who has learned to trust the breath to carry her, both on the mat and through life’s many shifts.

On beginnings: “Something inside opened”

Anastasia (AS): You’ve been practicing for over 30 years. What drew you to yoga initially?

Andrea Lutz: I remember my very first class, I was 17 and had some issues with myself at that time [laughing]. When I came out of that class, something inside shifted. Something opened. That’s when I knew I had to keep coming back.

A different time, a different scene

AS: How was the yoga scene when you started?

Andrea: So different! There were no yoga centers, no big schools. People thought we were in a sect. I mean, my parents definitely thought it was weird. Now yoga’s everywhere, you can buy a mat at the supermarket. But back then, it was… niche, let’s say.

Discovering Ashtanga: “catharsis!”

AS: So how did Ashtanga come into your life?

Andrea: I had practiced Sivananda, Iyengar, general Hatha yoga. Then a friend said, “We have to try this Ashtanga teacher, it’s catharsis!” [laughing] So we went. It was a tiny, sweaty room with mats wall-to-wall. And I remember thinking, “Wow, this is different.” And I loved it.

Finding a teacher: The Nancy Gilgoff connection

AS: How did you meet your teacher, Nancy Gilgoff?

Andrea: For the first 10 or 12 years, I learned mostly from male teachers, Manju Jois especially, who really inspired me. But I felt a strong need to learn from a woman. There were very few female teachers at that level back then. Then I met Nancy. Our first class… it was love at first sight [laughing].

I flew to Maui, practiced with her, stayed in her house… and over the years we grew closer. But in the yoga room, she’s still my teacher. Always.

The breath over the pose

AS: Has your view of Ashtanga changed after all these years?

Andrea: Definitely. At first, it became too physical, too much focus on poses. Which pose are you “allowed” to do? Who gave you permission? That whole hierarchy.

But when I studied more deeply with Manju and Nancy, it shifted. The breath and concentration are what make it yoga, not flexibility. The asana doesn’t have to be “perfect.” I often say: you can hear more than see how advanced someone is.

What Nancy teaches differently

AS: What’s unique about Nancy’s teaching?

Andrea: Nancy sees the energetic body in a way that’s hard to explain. She helps you release internal blockages, not just physical, but deeper. She teaches the old style. No shortcuts. No trends. Just the method, as it was passed to her by Pattabhi Jois. Her teaching has a kind of purity. But she doesn’t claim it’s the only way.

Yoga lineage and the importance of commitment

AS: You’ve said before that mixing methods can confuse students. Can you say more?

Andrea: Sure. Some students never leave my studio. They came, they stayed, and they’re happy. That’s fine.

But many students hop from teacher to teacher, mixing styles and cues, and that can create confusion. At some point, I believe you need to commit, to a lineage, or a teacher, and go deep. It’s not about exclusion. It’s about clarity.

A growing method with growing pains

AS: Ashtanga has grown so much. What happens when classes get too big?

Andrea: When it’s small, you can work with students one-on-one. When it’s 25 or 30 people, you need structure. That’s why strict rules exist, not to control, but to manage. I often teach with assistants, sometimes two or three of us in the room, just to give everyone real support.

What’s next for Ashtanga Yoga?

AS: With senior teachers aging and Mysore packed, what’s the future of the method?

Andrea: I think people like Nancy or Tim Miller will keep teaching for a long time, hopefully 20 more years! But even when they stop, their students will carry it forward. The “mainstream” yoga world may shift, but this method will continue. It may become subcultural again, and that’s okay. Yoga has always had roots in counterculture.

Advice for new students

AS: What’s your advice for someone just starting out in Ashtanga?

Andrea: Start slowly. Build gradually. I always begin with just Sun Salutation A and grow from there. Let your system, your koshas, adapt.

And commit. Even 20 minutes a day, Sun As and three closing postures, is a powerful start. No moon days. No practice during menstruation. But otherwise? Show up. Breathe. Repeat.