Mariela has been a student of Sharath Jois since 2003. She started her sadhana in the Krishna Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Gokulam. She received her Authorization Level 1 in 2007 and the Level 2 in 2009, one of the first batch to receive Authorization to teach the Intermediate Series. She was in the first promotion of Teacher Intensives in the KPJYI in June 2009 led by Sharathji and his mother, Saraswati.

She is originally from Costa Rica where she had a shala for 16 years. As a lawyer with 3 master degrees in Law, she was appointed Ambassador of Costa Rica to India from 2016 to 2018 and moved to India for her diplomatic mission.

She is also mother of 7 children and practiced throughout her pregnancies with the help of Saraswati and her Guruji.

From the moment she met her Guruji, she knew she had found a treasure. Sharath Jois instructed her in the Advanced A and B series and she is currently practicing up to Marichyasana G in the Fourth Series of Ashtanga Yoga. With 58 years, she feels her advance in the practice was all due to her Guruji´s Grace.

Mariela lives currently between India and Spain and is very fortunate to have numerous students in the Hispanic community.

Her life motto is «Live Fearlessly»- Yoga is deliverance from sorrow.