Francesca and Elisa, lead teachers.
We have been practicing Aṣṭāṅga daily for a number of years (Francesca for 23 years, Elisa for 16 years) and are committed to teach this method in the traditional way, taught by Pattabhi Jois to Nancy Gilgoff in the Seventies, without changing the order or modifying the sequence of āsanas (postures). 

Francesca Di Rosso Batič
Founder of the Ashtanga Space, senior student of the late Nancy Gilgoff (House of Yoga and Zen, Maui, Hawaii), authorised by Manju Jois to teach primary, intermediate and third series (advanced A).

Lineage:
Francesca started studying yoga in 2003 in Brussels, then deepened her practice in Ireland (Clare Island) with Ciara Cullen and Christophe Mouze. She is a senior student of the late Nancy Gilgoff , one of the first Western women who studied with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore (South India) in the Seventies (1972/73) and who was part of the first group of yoga students that brought Ashtanga to the West. Francesca studied extensively with Nancy in Goa (India), in several locations in Europe and on Maui (Hawaii) where Nancy lived. She took part in many of Nancy's workshops, followed two Primary Series Adjustment Clinics and one Second Series Adjustment Clinic in Okinawa (Japan) acquiring thousands of direct contact teaching hours from Nancy. Francesca assisted Nancy when she came to teach in Brussels in June 2013 2014 and 2019 and received Nancy's blessing to teach. Francesca also completed two Third Series workshops with Nancy, one at The House of Yoga and Zen on Maui (Hawaii) in February 2016 and the other at the Ashtanga Studio of Andrea Lutz in Berlin in September 2017.
Francesca believes in the importance of paramparā (परम्परा), where knowledge is passed on from teacher to student and she teaches the way Nancy taught her. Francesca is a dedicated Ashtanga practitioner, passionate about her own practice and proud to be able to share this living tradition with her students. 
Following Nancy's passing in March 2024, Francesca's commitment and life goal are now to pass on the teachings exactly as she was taught by Nancy.
Francesca completed Manju Jois'teacher trainings (primary and intermediate) in 2014 and 2015 and keeps studying with Manju when he comes to Europe. Francesca assisted Manju when he came to teach in Brussels in 2016. In 2019, Manju authorised Francesca to teach primary and intermediate series and advanced A (third series).
She also had the privilege of assisting David Swenson when he taught at the Ashtanga Space Brussels in 2016 , 2018 and 2024 and also completed David's intensive teacher training (40h) in Brussels in May 2024.
Francesca started studying Vedic chanting with Veda studies in 2016 and in 2024 was admitted to the prestigious International Healing Chants Teacher Training at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai, widely regarded as the most significant program in the world for Vedic chanting. This rigorous two-year diploma program (2025-26) reflects the highest standards of dedication and expertise in the sacred art of healing chants. The final exams for this program are scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Moreover, she successfully completed several courses at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, such as 'Yoga philosophy', 'Bhagavad Gita', 'Samkhya and Vedanta', 'Hindu temples', 'History of yoga' and also successfully completed the whole Sanskrit course (11 levels) with prof. Zoë Slatoff PhD, obtaining an 'advanced Sanskrit' certificate. She is now continuing her Sankrit studies with Prof. Zoë Slatoff PhD.
Francesca is studying Vedanta with Neema Majmudar and Surya Tahora www.discovervedanta.com
​Francesca is a qualified cranio sacral therapist (Upledger Institute) for adults, children, babies, conception, pregnancy and birth (CST-T , SER1, PED1 and 2, CCPB, CLSB), for more info on this, please visit the cranio sacral page on this website or the dedicated website www.craniosacraltherapyforyou.com.
​Francesca is Italian, has an MA in applied languages and conference interpreting from the University of Trieste, Italy (SLIMIT, Faculty for interpreters and translators) and speaks Italian, English, French, Dutch and German.

Elisa
I started practicing Haṭha yoga in 2000 in Udine (Italy), my home town. I remember vividly the name of my first teacher, Gigliola, and the sense of peace that her classes gave me. Through Gigliola, I went on to study the teachings of Ram Prakash Sharma Yogi on non-attachment. I then moved to Brussels and went on to study drama, which I did for several years and this allowed me to enquire deeply into body and movement, especially through organic movement classes held by Béatrice Godenir at the Kleine Academie in Brussels (2008-2011). I also followed an in-depth study on how to use my voice with the Maestro Marco Toller (Lichtenberger method, or Functional Voice training). In 2009 I met Francesca and I started practicing Aṣṭāṅga Yoga on a daily basis. I started studying with Nancy Gilgoff, Francesca’s teacher, in 2011 and began assisting in the Shala in 2012. Slowly but steadily, the practice became a real passion for me and an integral part of my life. After having two daughters in 2014 and 2017, I took a small break from the teaching, in order to be able to look after them full time. As my daughters are now growing, I have now more time for my practice, which gives me huge happiness, and I am also going back to teach in the Shala with great joy. 
Elisa completed the teacher training intensive (40 hours) with David Swenson in Brussels in May 2024.


Picture of Francesca and Elisa on Ilovik island, taken in the summer of 2025.


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In loving memory of my teacher Nancy Gilgoff 15.4.1948 - 22.3.2024, I miss you every day.
'The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die; nor having once existed, does it ever cease to be. The soul is without birth, eternal, immortal, and ageless. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.' (Bhagavad Gītā 2.20)

This picture was taken on Maui, Hawaii, in Nancy's Shala 'the House of Yoga and Zen', in February 2016.