For Gogo Khanyakude, yoga doesn’t start with perfect poses – it begins with the breath. Not as an order, but as a gentle invitation. A registered yoga teacher and mindfulness coach, their teachings help people find their way back to their bodies – a radical act in a world that’s taught us to disconnect.
Colonialism messed with our heads, made us see our bodies as things to use or fix. But in Gogo’s classes, every mindful breath is a small act of defiance. We’re done living only in our thoughts. We’re taking back the right to feel good in our skin. We honour that this homecoming isn’t easy – it takes courage.
This isn’t just yoga – it’s embodied freedom. Not just exercise, but taking back what’s yours.
Gogo’s Ukudloza approach mixes trauma-aware yoga with Southern African healing wisdom, creating spaces where every pose is a conversation – “How does this breath feel today? Where are you feeling tight?” Turning inward isn’t escape – it’s asking “Is this tension really mine, or something I’ve been carrying for others?” Rest isn’t lazy – “You don’t have to push. Where you are is enough.”
Their classes are all about safe spaces for queer and Black bodies often left out of mainstream yoga. There’s real choice – “You can stop any pose. You know your body best.” And rooted mindfulness that respects yoga’s Indian origins while weaving in African ancestral wisdom.
As featured on Metro FM, DW and other platforms, Gogo understands that for many of us, our bodies hold pain and history. Their teaching asks the hard questions:
How do we make space for anger or numbness on the mat?
How do we honour those who can’t just ‘breathe through it’ yet?
The answer shines through in their approach: “Your body, your rules. You belong to yourself first.