Our TEACHERS
Meet our beautiful YogaSpirit teacher team.
Our yoga teacher team is made up of thirteen of the most beautiful people. Each YogaSpirit teacher brings their own unique insight & spirit to their classes.
Kate Ball
Lucy Ker
Stevie Hiscock
Rox Freddy
Bev Slauck
Tamara Cohen
Ru Hickley
Kath Hyman
Katy Williams
Giulia Pnematicatos
Gemma Trehearn
Naomi Marshak
Mandy Hewlett
Meet Kate Ball
Kate founded YogaSpirit in 2011 and has been teaching yoga since 2007. After completing her initial teacher training, Kate studied under Ana Forrest, who taught her principles of combing Native American ideology and psychology with yoga. Kate’s call to teach stemmed from the desire to share the same gift with people that she’d received from her yoga experiences. Yoga has had transforming power in her own life, both psychologically and physically. Kate feels deeply fortunate to share this path with others, and teaches classes centered on love, honesty & present moment awareness.
Kate teaches Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa, Yin, Fusion, and occasionally Bikram.
Kate also owns SpiritCafé ,YogaSpirit’s Sister Business, where food is considered “Culinary Yoga”.
What you can look forward to in Kate’s classes:
Kate’s sequencing is creative and fun, featuring strong work and always incorporates an opportunity for arm balancing. You can expect a lot of flow, coupled with some long holds. Good music is always a feature of Kate’s classes, as well as some meditative work to weave teachings from the yoga mat into life at large.
What yoga has gifted Kate:
Kate has found structure, support, and routine in her daily practice. Yoga has provided a way to connect with herself on a deeper level. “I feel that my practice spurs creative ideas and inspiration. I can find clarity and direction in a yoga class”.
Kate’s favourite poses:
- Child’s pose
- Handstand
Words of wisdom from Kate
“Lose this idea of ‘getting there’ – where is ‘there’? It’s not about getting to a place, it’s just about being in your own body and in your own experience. The more you can stop grading yourself on what it should be, the more your yoga will open up to you. It’s almost the opposite of the way we work in the world where we strive, strive strive. In the yoga room, you just are, and when you’re able to be spacious and gracious with yourself: that’s where the evolution comes.”
Meet Lucy Ker
After observing the change in her own physical and emotional wellbeing, Lucy was motivated to discover more about yoga. In 2012, Lucy completed her first teacher training with Africa Yoga and has been teaching yoga since then, even completing additional teacher trainings with Jim Harrington. “It is a blessing to share the benefits of yoga with my students and to witness the process of growth and transformation in others”
Lucy teaches Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa and Fusion Yoga.
What you can look forward to in Lucy’s classes:
With an important emphasis on music and playlists that accompany her sequencing, Lucy is passionate about the dynamic and fluid flow of Power Vinyasas. Lucy delivers clearly structured and well-rounded practices, promoting harmonious movement of body and breath.
What yoga has gifted Lucy:
Lucy initially was drawn to hot yoga purely for the physical benefits with the desire to become stronger, leaner, and more flexible. However, what she received was so much more. Yoga has been a safe place for Lucy to quieten her mind and spend time just with herself. “Yoga is a reliable constant in a chaotic world,” explains Lucy, “I feel freer, happier, and more grounded”
Lucy’s favourite poses:
Wide legged forward fold
- Low lunge
- Dancer
- Wide legged forward fold
- Spine twist
Words of wisdom from Lucy
“Let go of any expectation from yourself or your practice, no two days on the mat are the same. Be kind and gentle to yourself. Just enjoy the consistency, the structure, the reliable support of your practice and your mat. Let go of comparison or competition, yoga is an individual practice that we do as a community. We are all at different stages on our own journey”.
Meet Stevie Hiscock
Stevie’s journey to instructing yoga just fell into place. On a whim, Stevie looked into teacher training, used up all the money he made, and found his way to The Shala in 2012 to begin learning the practice. Stevie explains that the world was just saying, “Yes, Stevie, teach!”. Now, Stevie doesn’t go a day without teaching.
Stevie teaches Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa, Fusion, Bikram, and Yin yoga.
What you can look forward to in Stevie’s classes:
Stevie’s classes are characterised by Stevie himself: full of energy, light, and humour. Stevie always tries to incorporate three elements into all of his classes: strengthening, stretching and stilling the body and mind. “I believe in a challenging class but I also know that everyone can shine and rise to meet the challenge when spoken to the right way, so I aim to use my words to keep people connected and calm”. Stevie uses his words and the power they contain to facilitate healing, harmony, and happiness.
What yoga has gifted Stevie:
“Yoga saved my life” explains Stevie, “It gave me purpose and meaning at a very low time”. Stevie was hooked from his very first Bikram class as it gave him the effulgent feeling of peace and ease. In Vinyasas, Stevie found confidence, the release of old emotions, clarity and calm. “There is no way I would be the individual I am today; body, mind and soul without the discovery of yoga and meditation”.
Stevie’s favourite poses:
- Handstand
- Splits
- Full wheel
- Half pigeon
- Shavasana
Words of wisdom from Stevie
“Live light, travel light, spread light, be light. There is a light within you. You know it to be true, you can feel it. Now can you allow yourself to live it? This is my challenge to myself and to others: acknowledge your light and follow it”.
Meet Bev Slauck
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 80’s. With Bev’s background as a pharmacist and her keen interest in health and the body, teaching yoga was an easy transition for Bev. Bev has been teaching yoga since December 2016, completing teacher trainings with Yo Yoga and Catherine Wilkinson.
Bev teaches Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa and Bikram Yoga.
What you can look forward to in Bev’s classes:
You can look forward to a dynamic Vinyasa class with Bev, featuring static holds to really feel the shapes, as well as Bev’s much loved arm balances and handstands. Bev always tries to bring in something new and different to class so that students can appreciate that you never stop learning in yoga.
What yoga has gifted Bev:
Through practicing yoga, Bev has learnt to not sweat the small stuff. Yoga has gifted Bev the ability to be more present and to approach life with a calm mind and a sense of humour. Bev explains, “It has also taught me to be grateful for bodies, which are capable of so much; our minds, which are so powerful; and our breath, our biggest tool to stay focused both on and off the mat!”
Bev’s favourite poses:
- Handstand
- Forearm stand
- Boat pose
- Full wheel
Words of wisdom from Bev
“Movement and meditation are so important in today’s busy world. Although we are mostly static, our minds are racing with an overload of information. Yoga is the perfect practice to move, to breathe, and to let us have some quiet time – all of which we truly need.”
Meet Tamara Cohen
“My teenage self would attempt to learn yoga from old library books, but my true practice began in 2005 at Sally’s awesome studio in JHB (Illovo). My first Bikram class blew me away with its intensity – but within that intensity I glimpsed a quiet mind. I had never felt anything like it. I fell out of postures but had a good laugh and carried on. All these years later and I still fall out of postures and mostly laugh about it.”
Tamara attended Bikram’s Yoga College of India for 10 weeks and received her certification from Bikram Choudhury at the Fall 2007 training in Hawaii. She remains intrigued by the practice and all the effects it has had on her life.
Before quitting her day job to become a Bikram instructor, she worked at SA Fashion Week for 7 years as their in-house designer. For 3 of those years she also ran the Arts & Culture Fashion Seminar. Prior to that she spent four years at the University of Johannesburg completing her B.Tech Degree in Graphic Design. She loves all forms of yoga and has attended various workshops in different styles: Kundulini, Forrest, Iyengar, Jivamukti, Yin etc but she has always gone back to Bikram. As a second training she completed a Young Yogis Teacher Training in 2010 with Nazreen Omar in JHB, while pregnant with her first son.
What you can look forward to in Tamara’s classes:
Tamara focuses on calm intensity and effortless effort, and tap into the powerful group dynamic that is possible in the room. She hopes to make students feel comfortable to come and learn and enjoy the many benefits that a consistent yoga practice can bring. It is a lifetime of learning and she is enjoying every step of the way. Tamara hopes to be a cool granny one day that can still sit cross-legged on the floor, thanks to yoga!
What yoga has gifted Tamara:
“I believe yoga has increased the amount of calm and patience in my life – it has taken the edge off. Yoga also prepared me for motherhood…I would often notice the parallels between getting through a super-hot 90 minutes and maintaining my presence when waking for, say, the fifth feed in a single night! I appreciate the sense of community at our studio and the way Bikram Yoga made me super aware of the value of simple things: water, breath, stillness, and fresh air.”
Meet Kath Hyman
Kath began her teacher training with YogaLife in 2016 to deepen her own practice and learn more about the philosophy of yoga. Through learning more about the wisdom and magic of yoga, Kath discovered her incredible love for instructing. Her inspiration sources from the loyal yogis who consistently show up on their mats to collectively “learn, cultivate mindfulness, and experience the healing qualities of the yoga journey”.
Kath teaches Vinyasa and Power Vinyasa.
Words of wisdom from Kath
“Yoga is for everyone and everybody; our only limitation is the story we tell ourselves, but we are blessed to have the power to change that story”.
What you can look forward to in Kath’s classes:
Kath’s classes have a strong, dynamic flow that always has a touch of creativity and playfulness. You can expect to move in a way that challenges you while also is safe, alignment-based, and cultivates strength and flexibility. Kath’s classes will guide you to discover the magic of moving meditation as you intuitively follow the inherent wisdom of your body.
What yoga has gifted Kath:
From consistent yoga practice, Kath has been able to unlock strength, creativity, and empathy she never knew she had and never knew she needed. “My yoga practice continues to inspire me daily, allowing me to authentically express myself both on and off my mat”. No only that, but as a byproduct, Kath has found a deep sense of community and meaningful friendships.
Kath’s favourite poses:
- Dancers pose
- Warrior 2
- Forward fold
Meet Katy Jane Williams
Katy has a background in dance and performing arts. After finding her previous space too critical and judgemental, Katy moved her life onto the mat, but initially just for strength building. However, after finding the overwhelming acceptance in yoga, Katy did her teacher training at Yoga Life in 2016. “Even though I’m considered a teacher, I’m still a student. Always. I’m always learning and always growing and I feel like the practice itself highlights areas for self growth and self inquiry”.
Katy teaches Vinyasa, Power Vinyasa, and Bikram yoga.
What you can look forward to in Katy’s classes:
After her knee injury, Katy has transformed her classes to accomodate all types of bodies and movement, focusing on strength building especially. Expect to move both fast and slowly in Katy’s classes to give yourself time to feel sensations and get deep into postures. Katy encourages a “cultivation of what’s happening in the body so you don’t just use the practice to check out – be in the body and be aware”.
What yoga has gifted Katy:
Katy has found acceptance and restoration in yoga, explaining “yoga just accepted me for who I was. Whether I was flexible or not, where I had gained weight or lost weight. It didn’t matter what my body looked like, or how good I was, or whether I could touch my toes. Yoga was always there for me, I just had to show up”. After consistent practice, Katy has found a true, deep love in yoga, saying “it’s such a healing space”.
Katy’s favourite poses:
- Flapping fish
- Wide-legged forward fold
- Forearm stand
Words of wisdom from Katy:
“Know that no two days are ever the same, no practice is ever the same, because we’re never the same. Just listen to your body, cultivate compassion, and it’ll all unravel in it’s own mysterious way. Grow through what you go through”.
Meet Rox Freddy
Rox started her yoga journey about 6 years ago. She explains, “when I started I knew very little about yoga, and even less about the connection between body and mind.” Rox practiced bikram, vinyasa and Ashtanga, each style transforming her mind, body and spirit into a better version of herself. Rox continued down the yoga path and in each and every class she would learn a little more about herself, taking what she learned and applying it outside the studio.
Rox teaches Bikram and Fusion Yoga.
What you can look forward to in Rox’s classes:
Bikram can be quite an intense physical practice but it was designed to also challenge you mentally. Rox feels it is important to create a calming environment during the bikram practice, to find stillness or to find calm between postures , rather than achieving the perfect bikram pose. Rox encourages yogis to feel more but think less, to breathe and continuously check in with your ego.
What yoga has gifted Rox:
“My yoga practice has changed my life in so many ways that I wanted to be able to share that knowledge, share the gift, share the amazing experience of yoga with the world.”
Rox’s favourite poses:
- Camel
- Child’s pose
- Bikram standing bow pulling
- Handstand
- Wildthing
Words of wisdom from Rox:
You are where you meant to be….breathe. What you seek, is seeking you.
Meet Ru Hickley
“My yoga journey started with a leap of faith and the will to learn something new on the path of self transformation. I spends most of my time on the mat or at the gym and when I’m not there you’ll find me frolicking on the beach or in the forest playing with my two beautiful cats or indulging in decadent desserts.”
Ru has a growing total of over 800 hours of teaching and encompasses elements from each of the different yoga traditions to create fluid movement synchronised with the essence of yoga – breath. While her teaching focuses on anatomy and alignment she focuses on your experience in the class.
“My goal is to live in a way that is true to my heart – to explore and keep challenging my boundaries and the status quo in order to become the best version of myself and feel into a deeper sense of being.”
Ru teaches Yoga Sculpt and Yinyasa (slow flow, suitable for beginners)
Meet Giulia Pnematicatos
With a background in fitness, Giulia has always followed an active lifestyle – keeping her body moving has always been her number one goal. A healthy and fit daily routine led her to discover her love of yoga, as the fundamentals of her yoga practice allowed a deeper connection to her body as well as her mind.
After finding her place on the mat, Giulia took the decision to undertake her 200hr teacher training at The Wellness Connection in Cape Town, which ignited a deep passion for the world of yoga anatomy. Giulia’s classes not only focus on strength building and alignment but also touch on a softer side of connection through breath to movement, allowing the mind to reconnect with the body.
Experience:
“Through my experience of teaching, I have discovered the beauty of slow progression through movement and dedication to practice. Focusing on each and every student’s journey in their own practice and guiding them through transitions to learn to be more curious about their own body and finding contentment with where they are.”
What you can look forward to in Giulia’s class:
“In my classes; You can look forward to a gentle strength based flow, focusing on standing balancing poses as well as heart openers, twists and definitely some core work”
Giulia teaches yoga for beginners (Yinyasa – slow flow, suitable for beginners), Vinyasa and Power Vinyasa
What you can look forward to in Gemma’s classes:
Gemma’s classes flow with challenge and creativity as she tries to introduce new ideas which challenge your way of moving and connecting to your body. Gemma believes we all have a natural wisdom of moving and connecting to ourselves through our breath and our physical body, we just need to be inquisitive and curious to access it.
What yoga has gifted Gemma:
Yoga has changed Gemma’s life in a short space of time, allowing her to accept and love herself. “Yoga taught me to sit back, smell the flowers, and appreciate the small things. To put things into perspective, to be grateful, to be kind, to be true. And every time I get back onto my mat, I learn all of these things and more all over again”.
Gemma’s favourite poses:
– Scandasana
– Standing splits
– Down dog
– Handstand
Words of wisdom from Gemma:
“Keep going back to your mat, whatever you do on it, just always go back. You will learn and return to yourself this way”.
Gemma teaches Vinyasa and Power Vinyasa.
Meet Gemma Trehearn
After doing her teacher training at The Shala in 2017, Gemma’s call to teaching came from her love of movement and connection to the body, or as she prefers, the ‘instrument’. Gemma wanted to share her love for yoga and her personal experiences with the practice with people, hoping to engage and learn from others as well. “Even though I am the teacher, it is the students that teach me more and give me the most energy”.
Gemma teaches Vinyasa and Power Vinyasa
What you can look forward to in Gemma’s classes:
Gemma’s classes flow with challenge and creativity as she tries to introduce new ideas which challenge your way of moving and connecting to your body. Gemma believes we all have a natural wisdom of moving and connecting to ourselves through our breath and our physical body, we just need to be inquisitive and curious to access it.
What yoga has gifted Gemma:
Yoga has changed Gemma’s life in a short space of time, allowing her to accept and love herself. “Yoga taught me to sit back, smell the flowers, and appreciate the small things. To put things into perspective, to be grateful, to be kind, to be true. And every time I get back onto my mat, I learn all of these things and more all over again”
Gemma’s favourite poses:
- Scandasana
- Standing splits
- Down dog
- Handstand
Words of wisdom from Gemma:
“Keep going back to your mat, whatever you do on it, just always go back. You will learn and return to yourself this way”.
Meet Naomi Marshak
Meet Mandy Hewlett
