About Us

We are inspired by, and grateful for the students and teachers who call The Yoga Sanctuary their yoga home.

OUR STORY

Why the name change?

After moving our studio, from the BUC Gym to the small house in Solomons Rd, it became evident that our studio, and the intentions behind the studio had changed significantly. Covid had transformed the yoga landscape and with it our clients’ needs.

The more time we spent in our new home, the more love we poured in – we added plants, self practiced and ultimately creating a warm, accessible and safe haven for our community and for ourselves.

Our students then started to comment when they walked into the studio, that it felt like a Sanctuary. And so it became distinctly clear that our soft and gentle, heart-centered home had been renamed : THE YOGA SANCTUARY.

OUR TEACHERS

Our teachers are all highly skilled, focusing heavily on body alignment. Their classes are intelligently sequenced and planned to encourage flexibility, mobility and strength in the body.

Maxine Olmesdahl

I re-discovered yoga in my mature years, in the practice of yoga asana, pranayama, meditation and yoga nidra. I practiced as a child and during my three pregnancies, however through a dedicated daily practice over the last few years, I have been moved by the deeply transformative and healing nature of practice in yoga. Yoga has gifted me with a deep sense of connection to myself and to the world, as well as mental and physical stability. I have a certificate in a higher learning program based on human biology and nutrition through CNELM(Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management) in London. I have also completed the 500hr Teacher Training Program through The Shala in Cape Town, which is a fully registered school with Yoga Alliance. I consider myself blessed to have been taught by the most beautiful Tamsin and Thomas Sheehy, as well as my friend and yoga teacher Jeannie Holmes. I practice utilizing the techniques in Hatha, offering classes which are detailed and alignment based, utilizing props, as well as discussing the anatomy and the benefits to the body. I incorporate techniques in pranayama(breath), as well as meditation in my classes. I am passionate about assisting my students to find contentment in their lives through a healthy body and an open heart. Yoga has been my life’s biggest gift, and has given my life purpose. I am honored to pass these gifts onto my students. My belief is that once you become a student of yoga, you enter into a life-long path of studying this rich and multi-layered practice. I immerse myself daily in studying the ancient yoga texts, self-study through journaling, as well as time on my mat and meditation seat. *Studio Owner, 500hrs RYT

Justine Barnes

I was aware of the beauty of the mind-body connection during my years of dancing and yearned to take it to a deeper level. I began exploring yoga asana over 25 years ago, and was very deeply drawn to the essence of the practice: BREATH. It was through the understanding of breathwork that I began to experience presence in my practice. This is the essence of my approach to teaching. BREATH IS LIFE ! Yoga guides us back to our true nature, that which already exists within all of us: PEACE, LOVE, JOY, FREEDOM. My intention for each class, is to facilitate self healing by deepening the mind body connection, through the practice of threading breath with movement. That sense of coming back to ourselves & tapping into our own powerful natural healing tools. Feeling self empowered with the self knowledge & self realization, that we are our own healers. *500hrs RYT

Mandisa Nduli

Mandisa Nduli is a 33 year old Durbanite, who resides in Cape Town. She is a qualified Civil Engineer who has evolved into what she calls, a holistic engineer for the past 8 years. This holistic engineering includes, but is not exclusive to qualifications in 500RYT (Yoga), mindfulness/meditation, massage, access bars ®️ and plant medicine. Her style of yoga teaching is based strongly in Hatha and is infused with other styles including yin, flow, restorative etc. This is usually adapted to each client (private) and/or group class. If you don’t find her on the mat teaching, she is either practicing yoga, reading, writing, dancing , in nature alone or with loved ones trying to fill her cup. She believes in the art of simplicity and loves to create a space, to feel the wholeness of any experience. Don’t miss out on connecting with her on her mat. You will feel her gentle yet assertive nature. It is a welcoming invitation to feel parts of your body you forgot existed, you will laugh, you will play and mostly you will learn from a curious perspective. Her philosophy is geared towards simplifying your practice so you can simplify your life. *500hrs RYT

Harriet Came

Harriet Came is a pre and post natal yoga specialist and has been teaching for 7 years since the birth of her son, through the pregnancies of her subsequent two girls and now daily around Cape Town. She is also a doula and uses her birthing experiences to inform and influence her teaching, working to show how conscious breathing, specific yoga postures and techniques can really help enhance a pregnancy and help birth and postnatal recovery.

Beverley Rodd

Bev has been following the practice of Yoga from 2002, since having completed over 500hrs of teacher training including restorative yoga & revitalisation of all body systems. She has found these tools foundational, integrating them into her daily life & able to share them with students. With a strong passion for the power of breath incorporating pranayama & meditation into daily personal practice as well as her classes. Class styles are Hatha based, integrated with sequences Vinyasa suited to all levels. Focussing on lymph cleansing & health benefits of asanas using props to support. One of her favourite times to practice is before sunrise, setting a strong foundation for body, digestion, mind and soul – rising with the sun. By encouraging strength, core stability, healing and activating body awareness into her classes she aims to help students cultivate balance and harmony in their bodies. Coming from a corporate background she is able to incorporate certain techniques to manage stress, anxiety and fatigue by bringing awareness to breathe and encourage mindfulness practices to our daily lives. She has a strong passion for moving her body especially outdoors to restore mind, body & soul remaining strong & in touch with beauty in balance of nature. *500hrs RYT

Elaine Seidel

Elaine’s love affair with Yoga started in 2000- Her first class left her feeling like a 5 year old , so familiar and nourishing, she had come home! This Journey led her on the most Exquisite Adventure, revealing Yoga’s healing Medicine and Magic. Her Practice became her passion. Elaine, seeks to translate and express the Joy, Freedom and Support that Yoga offers, in connecting and getting to know the body. She strives to show students the Beauty and Importance of this connection, despite our differences of strengths and abilities. Inspired by the precision and alignment of Iyengar ; the strength and core connection physically and emotionally of Forrest yoga; the anatomical understanding of safe and healthy practice of the spine, through Synergy Yoga – culminating in the Grace and fluidity of Vinyasa. Respecting & valuing ones’ body, is the Key to good health. She teaches from the heart, and includes all the delicious Jewels of her studies into her classes. Yoga is a lifetime Journey, that never ceases to Surprise and Delight Elaine, it guides her to a better understanding and respect of herself, on all levels, hence to a better understanding and respect of the world around her. Qualifications: 2012 Africa Yoga YTT 200hr 2013 Ana Forrest YTT 200hr 2013 Yoga Life YTT 200hr 2014 Jim Harrington Synergy YTT 300hr Her practice started nearly 20 years ago, regularly attending Iyengar workshops and classes. Over the years, she has continued her yoga studies within South Africa and in India. In addition, she hosts many workshops, on Alignment & Adjustments & runs Local & International Retreats.

Fatima Holliday

I am a naturalist by nature, a curious scientist wanting to explore the world and gain beneficial wisdom. With consistent practice, yoga has become a way of connecting me to my innate human nature. I first turned to yoga to seek healing, and a sustainable method of developing endurance and strength in the body. So that the body may move more freely through this world. Soon after starting, my yoga practice deepened. It was much more than aesthetically-pleasing shapes. It became training for everyday life; a means to get into my body and learn more about myself. As we learn to breathe through uncomfortable positions on the mat, we start breathing through discomfort in everyday life. This can lead to decisions that feel more aligned with what we actually want. My yoga practice is mainly Hatha Yoga based with slow flow vinyasa, breath-work and meditation. I had the pleasure of completing my 500 hour yoga teacher training at The Shala in Cape Town. Yoga practice has afforded me a lot of self-knowledge which has led to more freedom and comfort just being in my own body. It has been a valuable journey and I want to share what I’ve learnt so far. Using the practice of yoga, I wish to guide my students through their bodies and hold space for them to explore their own unique human nature. *500hrs RYT

Jeannie Holmes

I try my utmost to teach what I learn through focus and intention on healing. Offering practical and accessible tools attuned to personal needs. Integrating and imbuing the science, philosophy and art of yoga to clarify and readily see individual patterns and conditionings that tend to lean into discomfort. When attention is directed one-pointed to see patterns, the gaze shifts to reveal healing, then too intelligent discernment illuminates subtlety and insights needed to render harmonious balance. Providing a direct approach with simple solutions necessary presently; steadiness for ease. I am fascinated by our potential to heal. I wonder about our subtleties of being and how we have the potential to immensely connect with ourselves, intimately with each other and vastly with our surroundings. Please access applicable tools for healing, dissipate fear, and practice equanimity for necessary reprieve and freedom through experiences. BSOCSCI Psychology from University of Cape Town (2004). Yoga Teacher Trainings at Yoga Vidya Gurukul, India (2007) and The Shala, Cape Town (2015). Yoga Therapy Diploma from Yoga Vidya Gurukul, India (2017). Advance Yoga Module, The Shala (2018). Rehabilitation Biokineticist Module (2018). Yoga Psychology from Yoga Vidya Gurukul, India. (2021). Yoga Wellness Instructor registered with AYUSH Ministry (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) Government of India.(2022)

Lara Roux

As a pathfinder in Yoga and denizen of Prāṇāyāma, Lara is a student of the Soul journey. She is based in Cape Town and brings a heart of knowledge and experience to her unique style of teaching. To know Lara is to know her energy, her irrepressible spirit, her lightness and her grace. She has a strength in her softness that resonates through her practice. The connection she has to life is amplified through her yoga, exploring the heart, mind and soul connection of moving meditation. Lara brings an openness to her practice that encourages the exploration of individual truth. Her teachings aspire to open one’s heart and mind, letting the world go, while being mindful of the present moment. She focuses on encouraging her students to learn more, to go deeper and invest in themselves through a variety of ‘yoga school’ elements, through workshops, yoga intensives and month long immersions of the practice. She has also co taught as one of the lead teachers on teacher’s training here in Cape Town. Lara Roux has trained with many top teachers, locally and internationally and completed her first 200 hour Vinyasa teacher training in 2011 in Cape Town. Beyond the grace of flow, the depth of breath and the joy of practice, it is the soul connection we experience on our mat that is the essence of yoga. It is from this connection that I teach. In every practice, I am humbled and amazed at how a simple step inside the four corners of a mat can transform a life. How the practice of yoga can create a deeper understanding of who and where we are. It is these elements that fuel the passion of my own practice and drive me to share that deep seeded love with others. *500hrs RYT

Len-Barry Simons

Len-Barry was introduced to yoga through Theatre and performing training at the University of Stellenbosch. Tightly knitted into the physical theater leg of the course, was the necessity to explore the physicality and internal environment of the human body. After graduating in 2015 he completed his 200hrs Yoga Teacher training at The Shala with Tamsin Sheehy and Mariah Betts. Len-Barry encourages his students to be curious not only about the external expression of the asanas, but also the relationship between mind and body, how we can use the practice of yoga to shift our internal reality and energy states. *500hrs RYT

Magenta English

For Magenta, yoga is a practice that has become the foundation of her daily life, which stimulated a desire to learn more about the complex interactions of our anatomy and physiology. She has a special interest in the practice of yoga as a method of self-connection and repair. Her most inspiring work comes from teaching private clients as it grants the opportunity for going deeper. After five years of dedicated practice, Magenta went on to complete both her 200hr (in 2018) & 300hr advanced teachers training (in 2020) at The Shala Cape Town Yoga School. “Whether you already have a practice or are embarking on a new journey, yoga is about practicing intuitively, but consciously with breath, finding the tools that work for you, and integrating them into daily life.” *500hrs RYT

Mikkie-dené

Mikkie-dené is a RYT500 Yoga Teacher. She first found her love and appreciation for yoga as a teenager and considers the practice of yoga a fundamental aspect of her life. Mikkie-dené teaches slow and strong classes with attention to breath and alignment. Through her classes, she hopes to inspire a sense of body awareness, introspection and perspective – “Through the practice of yoga I return to myself over and over again, each time more connected, more honest, more compassionately”

OUR STORY

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS