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Tony Sanchez is widely regarded as one of the most influential modern yoga teachers. Rooted in the Ghosh lineage yet open to evolution, he has dedicated his life to making yoga accessible, sustainable, and transformative for practitioners around the world. His path — from discovering Autobiography of a Yogi as a young man to becoming a two-time World Yoga Champion — is a true testament to discipline, curiosity, and devotion.
Early Life & the Beginning of a Lifelong Practice
Born in 1956 and raised in Mexico before relocating to East Los Angeles, Tony discovered yoga at age 19 in the late 1970s. After reading Paramahansa Yogananda’s Autobiography of a Yogi, he felt an immediate pull toward yogic philosophy and practice.
Not long after, he walked into Bikram Choudhury’s studio — a moment that would shape the course of his entire life. A simple misunderstanding at the front desk led him to purchase ten classes instead of one, unknowingly initiating a deep apprenticeship that would last for years.
Training & the Bikram Era (1976–1984)
Tony trained rigorously with Bikram from 1976 to 1980, immersing himself in the discipline, structure, and therapeutic foundations of the system. He went on to receive certification from Ghosh’s College of Physical Education in Calcutta, the birthplace of the 84 classic asanas.
From 1980 to 1984, Tony served as Director of the San Francisco Yoga College of India. During these years, he refined his understanding of the Ghosh lineage, expanded his teaching experience, and developed the mastery that later shaped his own systems.
Independence & Innovation (1985 Onward)
In 1985, Tony founded the United States Yoga Association and later established the San Francisco Yoga Studio. These platforms allowed him the freedom to innovate while honoring the roots of the tradition.
Here he began distilling his own methodology — a clear, structured, and sustainable approach to practice that emphasized precision, progression, and mindful adaptation.
Success on the World Yoga Stage
Tony competed in the World Cup Yoga Sport Championships twice — winning the title in 1994 (Argentina) and 1996 (Brazil).
His motivation was never personal glory; rather, he saw competition as a way to inspire others, elevate standards of practice, and bring more visibility to yoga’s physical and meditative potential.
Education, School Programs & a Mexican Sabbatical
Between 1996 and 2004, Tony collaborated on multiple school-based yoga initiatives, including “Desk Potato Yoga” and “Yogasthma.” These programs introduced thousands of children to the benefits of movement, breathwork, and stillness.
In 2005, he entered a sabbatical period in Baja California, Mexico, where he founded the Yogic Physical Culture Academy. It was here that he refined and organized the systems that would evolve into the Core Yoga sequence family: Core 26+, Core 40, and Core 84.
Present Day – Teaching in Spain
Today, Tony lives and teaches in Málaga, Spain, offering classes, workshops, teacher trainings, and personalized programs both in-person and online. His focus is on long-term sustainability, therapeutic movement, and meeting each practitioner exactly where they are.
As director of TonYoga, he continues to evolve the tradition — balancing lineage with innovation, discipline with compassion, and physical practice with deep inner development.
