Maya is the co-owner of The Yoga Loft.  She has over 10 years of experience teaching yoga, facilitating teacher trainings and operating yoga studios.

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Maya loves to teach a fluid style of yoga with emphasis on and inspiration from myths of the asanas, mudras of the hands and creative movement of the body.  Get ready to be challenged, be playful and have fun!

The love of yoga was instilled in Bev from an early age as she grew up practicing yoga with her gran, who taught yoga well into her 80s. With Bev’s background as a pharmacist and her keen interest in health and the body, teaching yoga was an easy transition for her. Bev has been teaching yoga since December 2016, completing teacher training with Yo Yoga and Catherine Wilkinson.

Dom has been teaching for 5 years, has completed 500 hours of training, and is one of our resident teachers at Yoga Loft.

She loves being able to share her love of yoga and the benefits it clearly has on our bodies and especially our minds.

She hopes to show all that attend her class that being in your body and taking deep breaths is an incredible gift we all have the privilege of experiencing. Her flows are dynamic and creative, created to bring you into the present moment.

Tara’s yoga journey began with a connection to the physical aspects. Growing up as a dancer, Tara has always expressed herself through movement. However, her true love for yoga blossomed as she immersed herself in the spiritual and mindful aspects of yoga. Tara’s passion is teaching and sharing the gift of yoga with others. She is a firm believer in sharing and expressing what you learn on your mat in all aspects of your life.

Ellen has been teaching yoga since 2015 and the way she has taught and practiced yoga over the last decade has continued to evolve and change. She co-founded Manifest Yoga Studio in 2018 and has run teacher trainings and retreats around the world.

Ellens classes are a practice of presence - not just a practice of postures and breath but the spaces in between. She loves the soft, still and strong parts of the practice and more than anything, the art of paying attention.

A few years into her yoga practice, Mimi stepped into her first Yin class. While she loves Vinyasa and other Yang practices, in Yin, she found the deep resonance of a practice that comes naturally. Guided by this innate connection, she brings a sense of ease and warmth to each class.

She completed her Yoga Alliance 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Cape Town in 2019, and her Yoga Alliance 50-hour Yin training in 2020, both with Unraveled.

Jamie was introduced to yoga as an alternative to not having made the the cut for the soccer squad in high school. Luckily she grew to love yoga and went on to complete two teacher trainings, in France and India. 

What often starts out as ‘just a sport’ inevitably develops into a comprehensive philosophy for compassionate living. Yoga is a wonderful way to stay fit, calm and connected no matter your stage or age.

Samantha first found  yoga in high school, and as her love and dedication to yoga grew, she found immense healing and exploration of self through the practice.

In 2014 Samantha qualified as a teacher in vinyasa flow/astanga with Jim Harrington, soon after she and Cheslin Kolbe were appointed as Russell Athletic global ambassadors. In 2015 Samantha moved to Singapore where she spent 7 years exploring and continuing her training under Arun Rana, Patrick Creelman, Kino Macgregor and Dylan Werner. 

In 2022 Samantha returned to South Africa and today Samantha teaches vinyasa, power, sculpt, restorative, yin yoga, hot 26, corporate yoga, children’s yoga and private one on ones.

Above all, Samantha wishes to bring people home to themselves and to help them feel safe in their bodies and minds.

Sasha has been teaching yoga for the last 10 years. With a focus on holding a container for anatomically safe movement and building strength Sasha offers a powerful dynamic flow without the risk of hypertension/ injury. She draws on her profession as a psychologist to build a holistic approach to mindful movement and overall body autonomy. Sasha has 800 hours of training and specialises in inversions and arm balances and body rehabilitation. 

"Every day I am inspired by the dedication of students and the powerful group dynamic of practicing in a community, and I'm particularly passionate about the dynamic flow of power vinyasa and aim to teach
clearly structured, well-rounded classes with an emphasis on the harmonious movement
of body and breath.

My yoga practice is a reliable constant in a chaotic world, and my mat is my safe space to explore my body and my mind."

Although since trained in & influenced by various Yoga styles, Jivamukti Yoga, a Hatha Vinyasa inspired practice - is where Anna has found perspective, passion & purpose. Her classes are very much influenced by her Jivamukti knowledge, structure & style. 

Yoga has helped Anna overcome many personal challenges and has allowed her deep self-exploration, which has changed the way she perceives & moves through life. On the mat is where she feels like the best version of herself, and she aims to serve others in this way - creating a safe but dynamic practice that enables others to strengthen their understanding of & relationship with themselves. 

Anna’s classes have a slower pace & have a strong focus on the breath and alignment. Her objective is for the class to leave one feeling balanced, grounded, connected & present.

The intention Gemma puts behind her classes is to practice the discipline of focusing the mind through strong postures whilst surrendering to meditation during movement and flow. 

Gemma believes in cultivating a practice to be strong and feel powerful in one's body, which ultimately helps you find freedom.

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"Expect to work hard, but also to flow and get expressive and playful.

Style craves line. So let's explore both!"

Julia started her yoga journey over a decade ago in her hometown of Berlin. While her practice served as an escape from those cold, dark winter days, she quickly noticed that yoga did not only enhance her physical practice and flexibility but also helped calm her often anxious mind. In Cape Town, she has found a new home and an appreciation for the natural beauty that surrounds this place: the mountains, the ocean, seasonal wind and rain.

Julia’s classes progressively build up to strong poses to achieve a meditative state through flow and repetition that is enhanced through the palpable energy of bodies moving through space, to collectively instil intentionality through mindfulness on and off the mat.

“I like to try and instill a sense of conscious connection and intention to a class but whilst allowing for a light, open and humorous space allowing students the opportunity to let go, smile, explore and share the beauty of breath and movement together. What I love about teaching is that it allows you to connect to people on a completely different level. Within the studio space people who are so used to putting up walls share with you their vulnerabilities, emotions and laughter. They move, breathe, sweat and meditate together on a common journey. And for me this is what it all comes down to - the beauty in creating this yoga community together.”

"Yoga is the ever-evolving path home to self."
With a background in dance and performance, movement has always been at the heart of everything Tana does – a medium through which she connects and experiences the world around her.
Tana found yoga at a very turbulent time in her life, and the solace she found in the practice helped her feel rooted in the present moment. "My desire to share the practice with others through teaching was birthed organically out of my own inner transformation – it is a privilege to share this practice every day."

Throughout her childhood, Candice lived in several countries. As such, it became difficult for her to ground herself and find balance in life. When she was 15 she moved to Cape Town where she attended her first yoga class. Although it was something that deeply interested her at that time, it was not until she graduated college that her yoga journey expanded into the philosophy of yoga which inspire her to do her 200h teacher training in 2018. As a yogi and a climber, she is focused on movement awareness, breath, and human anatomy. Candice’s mainly teaches and practices hot26 and vinyasa-style yoga, where her main goal is to create a safe and welcoming space for all yogis.

After attending a few yoga classes here and there, Max bought a month of unlimited yoga in 2020 and then never looked back. Initially yoga was a way to calm the mind, but she soon realised that it could change her whole life. She felt more at peace, she felt physically stronger, and she built up her confidence and belief in herself, as yoga showed her she can do hard things. For the first time, moving her body was something she looked forward to and not something she felt she had to do. 
It took a few years but eventually Max felt ready to dive into her teacher training - and she immediately wondered why she hadn’t done it sooner. 
Her focus is on connection to the breath and moving meditation, while encouraging students to approach their practice with a sense of play and joy.

Shelby is a 300hr Vinyasa, Yin and Aerial teacher and co-owner of Show Up & Flow - Cape Town Beach Yoga.

Her classes focus on flowing with the breath moment to moment, moving with intuition and intention. She is passionate about holding a space to cultivate joy and offering practitioners an opportunity to journey into self discovery.

Kirsty’s yoga journey began at home, inspired as a child by her mom’s love for the practice. After giving up dancing as a teenager, Kirsty turned to yoga, and it quickly became more than just exercise. During university, yoga evolved into a regular practice that nurtured her mind, body, and soul, offering mindfulness and balance amidst life’s demands.

After moving to Cape Town, Kirsty found a sense of community and belonging at YogaLife. Completing her 200-hour Teacher Training in 2023, she now cherishes the opportunity to share the transformative power of yoga with others.
 

Sculpt Yoga Instructor | RYT-500 | Two-Time Olympic Swimming Coach

Chanelle Van Wyk is not your average yoga instructor—she’s a two-time Olympic swimming coach who brings the same energy, precision, and discipline from the pool to the mat. As an RYT-500 certified teacher, she blends strength, flexibility, and mindful movement into her Sculpt Yoga classes, creating sessions that challenge the body, sharpen the mind, and leave you feeling unstoppable. Whether you’re an athlete or just looking to move with purpose, Chanelle’s classes are designed to unlock your potential and make every breath count.

Abigail teaches mindful, intelligently sequenced, and playful vinyasa classes. As an avid yogi for over 13 years, she has completed +350 hours of training from top teachers in Cape Town and globally. She aims to create an environment where students of all levels can grow, find joy in their bodies and a deeper connection to self. Off the mat, Abigail works at the intersection of behavioural science and public health. She’s endlessly fascinated by the mind-body connection & how our health is intertwined with the world around us.

"Growing up as a ballet dancer, Katie has always been drawn to movement as a form of expression. That passion naturally evolved into her love for vinyasa yoga, which she began practicing in high school. Since discovering yoga, she has embraced it as a practice that nurtures both body and mind, cultivating mindfulness and fostering deeper self-awareness. Katie completed her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training and is also certified in Yin, Sculpt, Hot26, and 100hr advanced Creative Sequencing.

Her classes focus on creative, fluid transitions that encourage intuitive movement and mindful breathing. Katie is passionate about creating a space where students can connect deeply with themselves and their community, leaving each class feeling grounded and present."

Jess was drawn to yoga after experiencing its calming, balancing and energizing effects first-hand. She finds joy in helping students deepen their practice and cultivate a sense of grounded strength, amid the chaos of everyday life. Expect thoughtful flows, intentional breathwork and a warm, supportive presence.

After a decade of training and teaching Chinese martial arts, Richard discovered yoga in 2000 through the Ashtanga tradition. He joined Yoga Life (now Yoga Loft) in 2011 and went on to complete his teacher training in 2021. Richard is committed to a strong, authentic practice, balancing breath and posture with equal importance. He emphasises the value of consistent daily practice as the key to keeping the mind sharp, the body strong and flexible, and overall wellness thriving with age.