Maria Laura (Marilu) Casalino was born in Lima, Peru, and holds a BA in Communication Arts. She is an Authorized L1 Bilingual (Spanish/English) Teacher from the Sharath Yoga Center (SYC) and the teacher and founder of IKARA Ashtanga Yoga.

Marilu began her yoga journey in 2002, studying the Iyengar method under a teacher who was a disciple of Sri H.S. Arun, a direct disciple of B.K.S. Iyengar. In addition to her regular lessons, Marilu attended intensive workshops with Sri H.S. Arun annually.

In 2004, Marilu began teaching yoga at gyms and well-known studios in Lima, training professional surfers and working with individuals recovering from sports injuries. In 2006, she became a certified Pilates Mat Instructor, and in 2011, she completed her 200-hour Power Yoga Teacher Training and earned her Certification in Prenatal Yoga.

While her early yoga training was in Iyengar, Marilu later explored various styles before developing a deep passion for Ashtanga Yoga. She committed her life to this practice, traveling frequently to Mysore, India, to study with her Guru, Sharath Jois. After years of dedication and self-discipline, she was granted “Authorized Teacher” status by the Sharath Yoga Center (SYC).

Marilu has participated in workshops with renowned teachers such as Mark Robberds and Guy Donahaye. Her Ashtanga teacher in Lima was Pedro Rubio. Additionally, she deepened her knowledge of Yoga Philosophy, Sanskrit, and Chanting in Mysore, India, with Laksmisha from the Sharath Yoga Center. Marilu also completed an intensive Ayurveda course with Dr. Chitra Lecka in Mysore (2014) and studied Transomatic Ayurvedic practices with B. Naga Kumar in 2016. That same year, she studied Magnified Healing with Angelika Agnostou.

In 2020, Marilu spent a year studying the Yoga Sutras, Bhagavad Gita, and Upanishads with her teacher Arvind Pare, as well as Pranayama and Kriyas under Robert Moses.

Before fully dedicating herself to yoga, Marilu explored Modern Dance and Ballet, which helped her connect movement with healing. Her background in dance also led her to rediscover the transformative power of Ecstatic Dance and music for emotional and spiritual healing.

In February 2018, Marilu moved to Lombok, Indonesia, with her family, where she worked at Ashtari Yoga until March 2020. She then continued teaching at Mana Yoga, and in September 2024, she opened IKARA Ashtanga Yoga, becoming the lead teacher there.

Marilu offers Immersions, retreats, and is currently running a Mysore program, where she shares her passion for Ashtanga with students from around the world.