Meet our Teachers
René
René is the founder of Soul Space Studio and holds over 800 hours of certified yoga training, including qualifications in Sivananda, Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Pregnancy Yoga, and creative sequencing.
Yoga has been a transformative force in René's life since she discovered it 25 years ago. Her journey has taken her across the globe, including an intensive advanced teacher training in Bali, where she deepened her expertise in Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin practices. Her classes reflect a balance of fluid movement, strong foundational alignment, and the calming power of deep relaxation.
Creating spaces where people can connect through yoga has been René's lifelong dream. Seeing the vibrant community flourish at Soul Space Studio has been one of her most rewarding experiences.
When she’s not guiding others on the mat, René is happiest outdoors, often by the ocean, spending precious time with her family and embracing the natural beauty that surrounds her.
Shannon's dancing background and love of creative movement led her to discover yoga in 2014. She fell in love with the strong, physical practice, but over time has discovered that her yoga practice extends far beyond the mat into life's littlest moments.
Shannon completed her Yoga teacher training in 2017 and Pilates teacher training in 2020. She looks forward to learning and adding new forms of bodywork to her repertoire. Her classes focus on deep stretches, fluid transitions and correct alignment.
When she's not teaching or doing handstands on the beach, you will probably find Shannon experimenting with different flavors in the Kitchen. She is a SERIOUS foodie and can happily discuss anything food-related for hours on end.
Shan
Nadia
Nadia is former professional classical ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet, her love affair with yoga started about 18 years ago. It was Bikram Yoga that offered her the greatest opportunity for transformation, it quickly became her passion because of its physical intensity, as well as its ability to heal and strengthen. This dynamic series of postures brought health and balance to her life. Inspired to share this platform for healing and self-discovery with others, she graduated from Sally Flanagan-Gutjahrs Yoga Intense, Advanced Hot Yoga Teacher Training in 2018.
The following year she finished off a 200hour Vinyasa teacher training and Mentorship with Marinus Muller all at Yoga Experience Josie. She brings passion, intuition, and authenticity to her yoga teaching through her experiences and dedication to ballet, creative dance, and yoga. She believes in order to be a responsible teacher, she must continue to be a humble student - always learning, growing, and sharing her knowledge of this practice from countless numbers of teachers who have come before her.
Nadia finished her Module 1 certification to teach Trauma-Senstive Informed Yoga through the Yoga Therapy Institute in Europe and also recently finished her level 1 certification for Barre Body through the IBBFA online.
Nadia is truly grateful for the gift of yoga and looks forward to sharing this great daily practice of self-discovery. Find Nadia on the schedule, teaching Birman Yoga, Heated Vinyasa, Power Yoga and Barre Body!
Gila is an experienced Yin Yoga teacher and trained Yoga Therapist who recently spent extended time in both southern and northern India, further immersing herself in traditional yogic study and practice. This foundation deeply informs her approach, grounding her teaching in both classical understanding and embodied experience.
She discovered Yin Yoga almost by accident and quickly recognised its profound transformative potential. Years later, her passion for Yin continues to grow - she remains inspired by the depth that stillness can unlock and is dedicated to guiding students and trainees into a more nuanced, intentional practice. She now also offers Yin Yoga teacher trainings, sharing both the philosophy and the subtle art of holding space within this contemplative discipline.
In addition to her yoga work, Gila is a Palliative Therapist and Certified Advanced Breathwork Practitioner, integrating breathwork practices and nervous system awareness into her teaching to support emotional and embodied presence.
Gila
Sian
As a teenager, Sian struggled with mental health and endured significant pain due to a spinal abnormality. Her days were consumed by doctor’s appointments, ice packs, and painkillers. Like many others, she found sanctuary in yoga. Not only did she discover a sense of presence on the mat, but her pain began to alleviate with each practice.
Inspired to share this healing experience, she completed her first intensive teacher training in 2019.
Today, she is an advanced 500-hour RYT with experience in various styles. She is particularly passionate about somatic healing, mind-body medicine, and nervous system regulation. Currently, she is pursuing an honors degree in psychology, with the dream of one day bridging the gap between Eastern and Western medicine.
Sarah founded Living Yoga in Johannesburg (South Africa’s only affiliate yoga studio) and she is a 300 hour certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher.
In 2008, after 5 years of practicing yoga, she left a career in the film industry to dedicate her life to teaching and practicing yoga - her true calling. She has since also completed a vinyasa 200 hour, an ashtanga 200 hour and a yoga therapy 300 hour training and has facilitated on numerous 200 and 300 hour trainings.
Yoga has had and continues to have such a profound impact on her own life that she wants to share what she has experienced with as many others as she can.
She draws on ancient yogic texts like the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and you can expect some philosophy, some chanting, cool tunes, challenging asana, strong assists and a whole lot of warmth from her classes.
Sarah
Lies
For Lies, yoga is a life-changing discovery she wishes she had discovered a little earlier in life. She had touched upon the practice on and off between the rather turbulent decade between her twenties and thirties, but it was only after quitting a fast-paced career in PR & Communications in Belgium and committing herself to ‘stop, feel and be’, that yoga really became a way of life. During an interesting period of soul searching and, in the meantime, experiencing the nurturing effect of a life amidst nature in Kommetjie, Lies rediscovered yoga at Soul Space.
For Lies yoga is a way to connect to herself and to other people more closely. She views yoga as a very inspirational philosophy she aspires to live by every day and as a life-long learning possibility.
She completed a 200 hour teacher training at Yoga Spirit in Constantia, and hopes more moments for yoga immersion will follow.
Meet Kathy Stover who is dedicated to empowering individuals to feel fully alive and radiant in this “one wild and precious life”.
She believes breathwork, deep rest, meditative inquiry, yoga and dance are essential tools for maintaining vibrant health and cultivating self-love and self-care. Kathy holds a safe and compassionate space for people to explore their inner landscapes with a sense of curiousity and openness. She encourages you to meet yourself just as you are to release tension, old patterns, and limiting beliefs often revealing your inherent wisdom and wholeness and reconnecting you to a sense of joy and wonder.
Kathy has completed 400hrs certification training at Breathing Space, an accredited organization with the Global Breathwork Alliance, 250 hr certification of iRest Yoga Nidra and 250 hrs of yoga teacher training with Shiva Rea and Deborah Cohen.
Kathy
Hannah
Her teaching emphasizes alignment, strength, and meeting the body with compassion. Sustainable movement is at the core of her classes, encouraging students to build a practice that supports them for years to come. She also believes in the joy of movement—flowing with music, having fun, and cultivating a sense of playfulness on the mat. Hannah invites her students to listen to their inner wisdom, guiding them toward a practice that is both nourishing and empowering.
Holding space for people to connect with their bodies through movement and music is a deep honor for her. Yet, she remains first and foremost a lifelong student of yoga, continuously learning, growing, and deepening her own practice alongside her students.
Beyond teaching yoga, Hannah is a birth doula, supporting women through the sacred transition of birth and motherhood. Outside of birth and yoga, you can find her reading a book and spending time with her loved ones.
Leanne completed her YTT200 in 2018 in Sri Lanka but has only recently started teaching full time.
Leanne is a compassionate teacher and teaches with the intention to guide, inspire and create space for her students. She uses balance, alignment and playfulness in her classes to create a well-rounded practice that leaves students feeling grounded, calm and filled with a sense of purpose.
She loves learning about the practice from multiple sources, including those she teaches and is excited to share the beautiful practice that is yoga with everyone at Soul Space.
In her free time, Leanne enjoys exploring markets, eating out with her hubby and hiking.
Leanne
Fran
Yoga has been a grounding force for Francesca, especially since moving to South Africa from Germany in 2018.
Navigating motherhood and personal growth, her practice continues to guide her toward clarity and purpose. With a background in fashion retail and product development, Francesca found yoga essential in maintaining balance amidst a busy lifestyle.
She completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Spirit and is now specializing in Sensory and Mindfulness Yoga for Learning Environments, aiming to create inclusive spaces for all ages.
Francesca’s teaching philosophy emphasizes collective growth, inclusivity, and the transformative benefits of yoga.
René
René is the founder and owner of Soul Space Studio, where she teaches a variety of classes.
Creating a beautiful, communal space to practice yoga has been a longtime dream for René, and watching it come to life has been a truly rewarding journey. She found yoga over 26 years ago, sparking transformative changes that led her to pursue extensive training. René has completed 750 hours of yoga teacher training, including Sivananda, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Pregnancy Yoga.
Her classes emphasize a fluid flow grounded in strong alignment and a solid foundation, always concluding with deep relaxation. When she’s not teaching, René is likely outdoors, near or in the ocean, with her beloved family.
Gila
Gila is an experienced Yin Yoga teacher and trained Yoga Therapist who recently spent extended time in both southern and northern India, further immersing herself in traditional yogic study and practice. This foundation deeply informs her approach, grounding her teaching in both classical understanding and embodied experience.
She discovered Yin Yoga almost by accident and quickly recognised its profound transformative potential. Years later, her passion for Yin continues to grow - she remains inspired by the depth that stillness can unlock and is dedicated to guiding students and trainees into a more nuanced, intentional practice. She now also offers Yin Yoga teacher trainings, sharing both the philosophy and the subtle art of holding space within this contemplative discipline.
In addition to her yoga work, Gila is a Palliative Therapist and Certified Advanced Breathwork Practitioner, integrating breathwork practices and nervous system awareness into her teaching to support emotional and embodied presence.
Shan
Shannon's dancing background and love of creative movement led her to discover yoga in 2014. She fell in love with the strong, physical practice, but over time has discovered that her yoga practice extends far beyond the mat into life's littlest moments.
Shannon completed her Yoga teacher training in 2017 and Pilates teacher training in 2020. She looks forward to learning and adding new forms of bodywork to her repertoire. Her classes focus on deep stretches, fluid transitions and correct alignment.
When she's not teaching or doing handstands on the beach, you will probably find Shannon experimenting with different flavors in the Kitchen. She is a SERIOUS foodie and can happily discuss anything food-related for hours on end.
Nadia
Nadia is former professional classical ballet dancer with the Royal Ballet, her love affair with yoga started about 18 years ago. It was Bikram Yoga that offered her the greatest opportunity for transformation, it quickly became her passion because of its physical intensity, as well as its ability to heal and strengthen. This dynamic series of postures brought health and balance to her life. Inspired to share this platform for healing and self-discovery with others, she graduated from Sally Flanagan-Gutjahrs Yoga Intense, Advanced Hot Yoga Teacher Training in 2018.
The following year she finished off a 200hour Vinyasa teacher training and Mentorship with Marinus Muller all at Yoga Experience Josie. She brings passion, intuition, and authenticity to her yoga teaching through her experiences and dedication to ballet, creative dance, and yoga. She believes in order to be a responsible teacher, she must continue to be a humble student - always learning, growing, and sharing her knowledge of this practice from countless numbers of teachers who have come before her.
Nadia finished her Module 1 certification to teach Trauma-Senstive Informed Yoga through the Yoga Therapy Institute in Europe and also recently finished her level 1 certification for Barre Body through the IBBFA online.
Nadia is truly grateful for the gift of yoga and looks forward to sharing this great daily practice of self-discovery. Find Nadia on the schedule, teaching Birman Yoga, Heated Vinyasa, Power Yoga and Barre Body!
Kathy
Meet Kathy Stover who is dedicated to empowering individuals to feel fully alive and radiant in this “one wild and precious life”.
She believes breathwork, deep rest, meditative inquiry, yoga and dance are essential tools for maintaining vibrant health and cultivating self-love and self-care. Kathy holds a safe and compassionate space for people to explore their inner landscapes with a sense of curiousity and openness. By meeting yourself just as you are, you can release tension, old patterns, and limiting beliefs to reveal your inherent wisdom and wholeness and reconnect to a sense of joy and wonder.
She has completed 400hrs certification training at Breathing Space, an accredited organization with the Global Breathwork Alliance, 250 hr certification of iRest Yoga Nidra and 250 hrs of yoga teacher training with Shiva Rea and Deborah Cohen.
Lies
For Lies, yoga is a life-changing discovery she wishes she had discovered a little earlier in life. She had touched upon the practice on and off between the rather turbulent decade between her twenties and thirties, but it was only after quitting a fast-paced career in PR & Communications in Belgium and committing herself to ‘stop, feel and be’, that yoga really became a way of life. During an interesting period of soul searching and, in the meantime, experiencing the nurturing effect of a life amidst nature in Kommetjie, Lies rediscovered yoga at Soul Space.
For Lies yoga is a way to connect to herself and to other people more closely. She views yoga as a very inspirational philosophy she aspires to live by every day and as a life-long learning possibility.
She completed a 200 hour teacher training at Yoga Spirit in Constantia, and hopes more moments for yoga immersion will follow.
Sian
As a teenager, Sian struggled with mental health and endured significant pain due to a spinal abnormality. Her days were consumed by doctor’s appointments, ice packs, and painkillers. Like many others, she found sanctuary in yoga. Not only did she discover a sense of presence on the mat, but her pain began to alleviate with each practice.
Inspired to share this healing experience, she completed her first intensive teacher training in 2019.
Today, she is an advanced 500-hour RYT with experience in various styles. She is particularly passionate about somatic healing, mind-body medicine, and nervous system regulation. Currently, she is pursuing an honors degree in psychology, with the dream of one day bridging the gap between Eastern and Western medicine.
Sarah
Sarah founded Living Yoga in Johannesburg (South Africa’s only affiliate yoga studio) and she is a 300 hour certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher.
In 2008, after 5 years of practicing yoga, she left a career in the film industry to dedicate her life to teaching and practicing yoga - her true calling. She has since also completed a vinyasa 200 hour, an ashtanga 200 hour and a yoga therapy 300 hour training and has facilitated on numerous 200 and 300 hour trainings.
Yoga has had and continues to have such a profound impact on her own life that she wants to share what she has experienced with as many others as she can.
She draws on ancient yogic texts like the Bhagavad Gita, the Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika and you can expect some philosophy, some chanting, cool tunes, challenging asana, strong assists and a whole lot of warmth from her classes.
Hannah
Her teaching emphasizes alignment, strength, and meeting the body with compassion. Sustainable movement is at the core of her classes, encouraging students to build a practice that supports them for years to come. She also believes in the joy of movement—flowing with music, having fun, and cultivating a sense of playfulness on the mat. Hannah invites her students to listen to their inner wisdom, guiding them toward a practice that is both nourishing and empowering.
Holding space for people to connect with their bodies through movement and music is a deep honor for her. Yet, she remains first and foremost a lifelong student of yoga, continuously learning, growing, and deepening her own practice alongside her students.
Beyond teaching yoga, Hannah is a birth doula, supporting women through the sacred transition of birth and motherhood. Outside of birth and yoga, you can find her reading a book and spending time with her loved ones.
Leanne
Leanne completed her YTT200 in 2018 in Sri Lanka but has only recently started teaching full time.
Leanne is a compassionate teacher and teaches with the intention to guide, inspire and create space for her students. She uses balance, alignment and playfulness in her classes to create a well-rounded practice that leaves students feeling grounded, calm and filled with a sense of purpose.
She loves learning about the practice from multiple sources, including those she teaches and is excited to share the beautiful practice that is yoga with everyone at Soul Space.
In her free time, Leanne enjoys exploring markets, eating out with her hubby and hiking.
Fran
Yoga has been a grounding force for Francesca, especially since moving to South Africa from Germany in 2018.
Navigating motherhood and personal growth, her practice continues to guide her toward clarity and purpose. With a background in fashion retail and product development, Francesca found yoga essential in maintaining balance amidst a busy lifestyle.
She completed a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Spirit and is now specializing in Sensory and Mindfulness Yoga for Learning Environments, aiming to create inclusive spaces for all ages.
Francesca’s teaching philosophy emphasizes collective growth, inclusivity, and the transformative benefits of yoga.