AJ Shreim

An avid Yoga and AcroYoga practitioner with thousands of hours of training in different yoga styles, AJ has more than 6 years of AcroYoga practice both receiving and providing  training and workshops.  AJ focuses on cultivating balance between work and well-being.  He practices yoga daily to build spiritual connection, promote physical health and enhance self-awareness and be present.

Amanda Smith

Amanda has been a keen body worker for 17 years. Traveling around the world for many years gave Amanda a passion of being with and listening to others.  For 10 years, since taking her 200 hours yoga-teacher training Amanda has continued to study, listen and observe all different bodies with a sense of curiosity. In 2015 Amanda completed a 100 hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training which changed her entire outlook on how people connect with their bodies, starting with the connection to her own body.  Becoming particularly interested in the relationship with calm and mental health, Amanda continues the curious process of joining the dots between the physical and emotional wellbeing.   Amanda teaches regular classes and workshops at Nilaya House as well as individuals and small groups privately.   

Amy Pope

Amy Pope is a Certified Change Coach and Meditation Facilitator, with a passion for Embodiment Practices. I have developed a conscious movement meditation called “Let’s Shake”, which involves sessions designed to connect the mind, body, and soul. Shaking is our body s natural response to releasing stress and tension. A simple yet powerful technique, it’s aim is to release stuck energy in the body, which can build up over time. There is no routine or choreography to follow. This is your personal practice. Let your body be your guide on this special journey of connection, realignment and transformation, through conscious movement."

Anju Shahani

Certified Laughter Yoga Trainer

Anju Shahani, born and raised in India, lived for twelve years in Moscow, Russia and last couple of years living in Dubai.

Anju is one of the Certified Laughter Yoga Trainers in the World helping to grow the movement of Laughter Yoga for Health, Happiness and World Peace. Since 2011 she has brought joy and happiness to thousands of students and participants across Russia, UK, USA, Kuwait, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia and now in UAE. She has also trained and certified over 100 Laughter Yoga leaders across these countries who in turn are spreading the movement further.

Anju has conducted several corporate seminars all over the world and recently many in Dubai bringing laughter and happiness via reducing stress in the workplace.
She has been certified by the Laughter Guru, Dr. Madan Kataria who is a medical doctor, founder of the Laughter Yoga university in Bangalore. Anju has also been appointed as an official Ambassador of the university for her work in this field. 

Anuradha Kamath

Sound Healer and Alternative Therapist

With a post graduate degree in Business Administration & General Management Executive Study from IIM Ahmedabad, I enjoyed a successful career in the corporate segment for over 2 decades spanning over 6 different industry lines such as, Wellness, Beauty & Spa, Health Care, Holistic Wellness & Alternate Healing, Hospitality & IT. To strengthen my Mind-Body-Energy connection, I also  embarked on an extensive study of various Alternate healing modalities such as Hypnotherapy, Reiki, Sound Healing, Drawing Analysis, Access Consciousness & Theta. Through this transformational journey, I established my independent practice as an Executive & Holistic Consultant with an aim to build a successful bridge between corporate & personal wellness.

I have been fortunate to conduct wellness sessions across, UAE, India, Russia, Bahrain and more. The tag line “My Life My Miracle”, is backed by the philosophy that every individual has equal potential to achieve anything & everything they want in life by just switching on the spot light within themselves.

Awakening Prema

Sound Healing Reiki and Crystal Therapy

Awakening Prema aim is to raise the awareness about our true nature by empowering and inspiring people into the self inquiry, awakening to the power of our mind that lies within us and how to apply it in the day to day life. Renato Koch has more than 10 years of experience in practicing and studying the essence of Yoga and many Healing Modalities like Reiki, Pranic Healing, Chinese Energetics, Theta Healing and the science behind yoga and energy healing.

He did a 200h Hatha Yoga and Vedanta TTC with Sivananda Yoga Vidya Peetham in Varkala – India. Together with Ana Palma, graduated in Tibetan Bowls in India and a deep immersion into Sound Healing in Spain and developed several workshops helping many people to find their balance and inner peace through their high vibrations sounds and teachings using instruments from many ancient traditions and the knowledge from Vedanta to modern Science.

Cyntha Gonzalez

Cyntha Gonzalez

Diana Azavedo

Yoga Instructor

Diana studied in various schools of Hatha Yoga leading up to the designation of E-RYT 500 and YACEP under Yoga Alliance allowing her to offer continuing education programs in yoga. She is soon to be honored with a Masters Degree in Science & Philosophy of Yoga. She shares her passion of Yoga through 200 hr and 300 hrs Yoga Teacher Training courses which are hosted at Zen Yoga, one of the leading yoga studios in the United Arab Emirates. She brings a wealth of knowledge from her background in the ancient tradition of yoga and is proud to be part of a thriving yoga community in the UAE.

Dina Ghandour

Yoga Instructor | Director of PR and Social Media

Dina manages our social media handles and PR. We’d be lost without her.  Dina is a Jivamukti Yoga 300 Hour Certified Teacher and has been sharing her passion through teaching since June 2015. At heart, Dina dedicates her teaching and her practice to help spread joy and compassion to all – making yoga accessible through a safe and uplifting environment.  She is the founder of Yapparel and is committed to selling ecofriendly yoga clothing and accessories.

Dr Shyam

Dr Shyam VL is  the Middle East’s Top Ayurveda Physician.  He was honoured with the Distinguished Physician Award in 2017 and Leader in Healthcare Award in 2018. He is the first licensed Ayurveda practitioner in UAE, Medical Director of Dr Shyam’s Ayurveda Center and CEO of Vaidyashala a luxury Ayurveda brand at Burjeel Day Surgery Hospital -Abudhabi.

 He is also WHO member for setting benchmarks in Ayurveda practise worldwide. Dr Shyam has treated 50,000 patients, help set up Ayurveda brands in over 20 countries and is also the faculty at Southern California University of Medical Sciences, USA.

Elaine Kelly

Yoga Instructor | Founder Yogafest

Elaine Kelly founded Yogafest in 2010 when she became a certified yoga teacher while working for Microsoft.  Driven by her life-long passion for health and wellness, she wanted to support her fellow employees with their work life balance. Her plan was to organise free yoga classes every hour from sunrise to sunset to encourage them to go outside and stretch and breathe in the beautiful grounds behind their offices in Dubai internet city. 

So, on Tuesday, 21st December 2010 with the full moon rising on the winter solstice, something that only happens every 400 years, a few hundred people attended the yoga classes from sunrise to sunset and Yogafest was born. Today these free community events attract more than 8000 people a year from November to May.

Farangis Sharapova

Originally from Uzbekistan Farangis has been living in dubai many years.  She has a Masters diploma in Pedagogy,  is a professional in cosmetology and has been a beauty therapist for the last 20 years.  She is a holistic wellbeing coach, certified yoga instructor (vinyasa, swing , acro yoga ), tai massage, reflexology, aromatherapy and reiki   practitioner , sound healer,  and an artist.  She is the  co-founder Meison Etheric and Elenlocus.

Hardy Singh

Hardy Singh, born and brought up in Dubai,  is one of the founding members and the Head Instructor of Bhangra Dance.  He  always had a vision  of bringing Bhangra to the mainstream. Hardy has redefined fitness with the help of Bhangra in his fitness classes and this is one class we highly recommend to people to experience at least once in their lifetime. And we are sure you will fall in love with the enthu, energy and spirit of Bhangra!

Hardy and the PB team was recently listed among 100 most influential & powerful Sikhs in the world. 

Harinaam Anand

Founder of Kirtan Dubai

Harinaam is the founder of Kirtan Dubai, a vibrant community of kirtan lovers in Dubai. He has been practicing Bhakti Yoga since more than 20 years. Harinaam & his team of expert musicians have been doing kirtans in yoga festivals, yoga studios and private home concerts making the audience involved in mantra meditation and chanting. "Kirtan is the Yoga of Music" It is the art of calling upon the divine energies and Harinaam s soul stirring kirtans inspires you to experience those energies and bring in joy and peace within your heart.

Heba Abdel Gawad

Heba is the co-founder of .body//HACK: Fitness education, she is the creator of the NeuroPilates method, a Z-Health Master Trainer, Fitness education Tutor and Assessor, a Two-time Olympian and the winner of the Women’s Health Next Fitness Star competition 2014.

She competed as a synchronised swimmer at the Sydney and Athens Olympic Games in 2000 and 2004 with an international career as a competitor spanning over sixteen years. She went to the UK in 2004 to study Sports Science, did her Pilates certifications with various schools, went to Phoenix to do her Z-Health Master training and is now doing an MC in Osteopathy as well as several Functional Neurology courses. She teaches NeuroPilates certifications, Anatomy and Physiology and various educational workshops on the Nervous System, Breathing, and Visual Training for Sports and Athletic Conditioning.

She focuses her work on maximising people’s health and athletic potential as well as corrective exercise for injury rehabilitation. She has a strong applied interest on the body’s nervous system and neuroscience and how it can be used to improve performance and help alleviate pain.

Jake Tavidian

Jake Tavidian or known as “Husky” is a Pranic Healer, Arhatic Yogi, Hang-Drum “Rav-Vast” rhythmic healer, and Tarot card reader for guidance. He holds a degree in Biochemistry and Dip. in Education. After teaching and directing Sciences for many years in UAE schools he is currently works as SDG promoter among young adults through the love of literature. He also spreads wellbeing through teaching energy healing classes. His passion for sciences led him to explore the ancient art and sciences of modern Pranic energy healing through GMCKS coursers. Husky has been in the energy field for more than a decade!

Joanne Smallwood

Joanne Smallwood

Judit Zombori

Kids and Family Yoga Teacher

Judit Zombori is an enthusiastic children’s yoga teacher who loves using mindfulness in her classes to help children grow in body, mind and soul. Her passion is teaching children how to use their brain capacity more by introducing memory games and self-healing techniques into the yoga. Her goal is to offer today’s young generation access to their full potential, direct them to a more fulfilling life by recognising and achieving their life purpose early on in their development process. 

Judit started her career in fashion and TV before being inspired to teach whilst attending a Kids yoga session with her daughter in Dubai. She has found her passion in children’s yoga where she can pass on her knowledge and mindfulness for leading a more fulfilling life.

Julie Mallon

Julie Mallon

Kelly Eide

Kelly Eide

Kirsty MacPherson-Wright

Pilates & Yoga teacher, Co-founder Phoenix Rising

Kirsty first discovered Pilates after suffering several years of chronic lower back pain which was never properly diagnosed. Pilates immediately struck a chord, helping to change her entire health and well being; the only therapy that could keep her pain free. She left the corporate world after completing the comprehensive 12 month, 950 hour Pilates teacher training programme in 2012 through The Pilates Centre, Boulder, Colorado and has since added to this with the Anatomy Trains focused Contrology Pilates Method (CPM) qualification to bring a unique myofascial Pilates approach to her teaching.

Kirsty’s extensive personal experience with back pain gives her a unique perspective to work with clients who are also suffering with pain or injury, or rehabilitating from surgery and she is trained to use fascial Pilates across all the Pilates equipment (reformer, chair, Cadillac, barrels & therabands). Kirsty also works extensively with both pre and post-natal clients and has a passion for helping new mums return safely back to mindful movement and exercise, teaching a popular Mummy & Baby Pilates class since having her daughter 3 years ago.

Kirsty has also completed qualifications in Dorn body alignment, restorative Hatha Yoga (200hr), Thai Yoga Massage and childrens yoga.  She can be found bringing the magic of childrens yoga classes to schools & nurseries in Dubai using her unique story-based classes as a way to explore the physical yoga and Pilates poses combined with an exploration of relaxation & mindfulness through breathing exercises, meditative games and partner massage.

Kirsty partnered with The Animal Agency to bring the regions first Puppy Pilates class to the UAE; a strengthening & energizing Pilates class that provides a fun, social and bonding experience for dog owners and their dogs. The Puppy Pilates classes take place regularly across Dubai and will be making their first appearance at Yogafest this

Laura Farrier

Laura completed her first Teacher training at a Sivananda ashram in India in 2008. She then travelled to Mysore, in 2009 and in June 2011 completed her second training with her teacher Ajay Kumar, who she now assists when in India. She has studied Pranayama and Mudra with BNS Iyengar, and practices with Stewart Gilchrist when in London. Laura completed her FRC training in March 2020 and Kinstretch in February 2021. Laura’s experience is reflected in her adjustments, clear instruction, and her ability to weave yogic philosophy into her yoga asana classes.

Lina Nahhas

Chief dreamweaver @thesamenessproject and 5Rhythms teacher

Lina Nahhas, an Arab-Canadian based in Dubai, was one of the first in bringing 5Rhythms® practise to the region in 2010, and her passion for the practise has led her to Waves® level teacher certification by 2014, weaving teaching into her life whilst running her social innovation work via The Sameness project.

Linda Chambers

Linda Chambers is one of the most well-known and inspirational Fitness Experts in the Middle East.  She has over 22 years′ experience in Fitness & has been teaching yoga for 15!   Her most recent creation, HIITasana™ is already being delivered around the world through her own certification course. The Program is a combination of HIIT training and Yoga asanas that delivers a true all in 1 experience Staying true to her reputation as the "HYBRID YOGA Guru".  Linda′s heart sits with YIN yoga & she also developed the "Yin Athlete" program, which is a Mobility Program based on the principles of Yin Yoga to enhance movement quality and joint range of motion As well as a qualified Yoga Teacher & Sound Healing Therapy Facilitator, Linda is a Personal trainer, Group exercise leader & Studio Owner.  

Liris Mosquera

Liris is a Colombian dancer, performer and fitness instructor with over 20 years of experience in the Entertaiment and fitness industry. She delivers a variety of feel-good classes and workshops around Dubai and UAE including Barre Fitness  which includes Pilates, dance and yoga movements.

Lisa Oxford

Lisa is a wellness consultant with eight years of experience across a range of modalities. 

She began her journey in the world of wellness in 2012, when she fell in love with the effects and benefits of energy healing.

As a wellness consultant, Lisa specializes in sound and energy healing, working predominantly with Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls.  She is well known in Dubai for her heart opening Cacao and Sound Journey.

Often referred to as a Sound Bath or Sound Therapy, Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls help the mind and body to enter a state of deep relaxation in order to facilitate the process of healing itself. It is an effective way of moving through emotional blockages in the body and in the treatment of conditions such as stress, anxiety, high blood pressure, depression, sleep dis

Liz Terry

Yoga Instructor

Liz began teaching in 2009, and has been practicing yoga consistently since 2005. Yoga has taken Liz all over the world and taught in Dubai from 2011-2017 and again in 2019. She’s hosted retreats adventuring to Bali, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mexico and the UAE. Liz is a 200hr teacher trainer for YogaWorks and leads yoga trainings worldwide a few times a year.

Manish Pole

Manish Pole

Marianne Tafani

A fully-certified Pilates instructor, Marianne is a go-to core function expert in the UAE, working with a number of renowned clinics, studios and physiotherapists in the UAE.

Marianne educates non professionals and professionals, teaching pelvic floor workshops, prenatal and postnatal courses, and abdominal or pelvic floor rehabilitation programmes.

Also trained in Neuropilates and ScolioPilates, Marianne founded Core Connect in 2020 because she loves assisting clients with injuries as much as she enjoys teaching intense core strengthening classes on the Pilates equipment.

Nancy Zabaneh

Kundalini Yoga Teacher

Nancy is founder of The Red Chair, a platform for raising consciousness and pushing boundaries around topical issues. Educated at both McGill University and the London School of Economics with an MA in International Relations, Nancy began her career as a corporate banker, then later progressed into the world of communications. Today, she continues as an independent consultant in the realm of mentoring, emotional intelligence and motivational speaking. A Certified Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming (ABNLP), Timeline Therapy™ and Hypnotherapy (ABH), Nancy holds regular classes and workshops in mind-body wellness and yogic science. An active Kundalini Yoga Instructor with the Kundalini Research Institute (KRI), she is a member of the Kundalini Yoga Wellness and Health Association, supporting and helping to facilitate Beyond Addiction, an internationally-recognized recovery program for addiction. In addition to her current training in Compassionate Inquiry and work toward an internship with the academy (KRI), Nancy develops mindfulness initiatives for schools. Married with three children, Nancy moves frequently between Dubai, Toronto and London.

Neha Duseja

Neha is a RYT 600 certified, international yoga teacher. Her love affair with yoga began in the hot room. Neha practices Ashtanga and teaches Vinyasa where she explores her passion for arm balances, inversions and transitions. Going beyond the physical, she realized that yoga is mental stretch. Stretching limitations, imaginations and possibilities! Her Vinyasa classes are creative, challenging and soulful. They focus on alignment, engagement and expanding student knowledge of their own bodies through multiple movement modalities. With a love of teaching, Neha will guide your practice to new depths and help you connect your journey on the mat with meaning off the mat. 

Nicola Beer

Counsellor | Coach | Hypnotherapist

Nicola Beer is a Counsellor, Coach and Hypnotherapist specialising in marriage, anxiety and depression support globally. She has 3 podcast shows on Itunes, Spotify and Youtube with over 50,000 subscribers worldwide, is an author in 2 best sellers and has been featured on many news networks. Her passion is Vinana which she created because she realised both herself and her clients needed a way to release tension from the body, have fun and celebrate life more.

Nigora Normatova

Nigora Normatova is a Health & Lifestyle Coach, Face Fitness trainer, Face Lift therapist, Kundalini Yoga Teacher, an Author. She published her first book "Wake Up" in 2017 to encourage people to wake up to their own bodies and health. She has launched Eat The Sun Global - an online platform to provide lifestyle programs that encourage health and movement. Eat The Sun Beauty being one of the projects - is an online program with facial exercises and massage techniques to help women sculpt their face and express their beauty within. For more details, visit www.eatthesunglobal.com   

S. Ranganath

Ranganath aka Ranga is a true global citizen; with an upbringing in a traditional Indian family amidst Vedic philosophy and culture and shaped by a scientific education and globetrotting adult years.

A strong believer in physical and spiritual wellbeing since his teenage days, he has been practicing Meditation for over 40 years. He has immersed himself in self-actualisation via books, discourses of Masters, Yoga, TM, Mindfulness, Heartfulness, Focus, Laughter, Buddhist and Chinese wellness forms and has completed a Yale course on The Science of Wellbeing. He teaches Laughter Yoga and Meditation at centres for special needs, community events, is an enthusiastic Speaker and actively promotes wellness at the workplace.

Sara Fakhouri

Feng Shui and Yoga Teacher

Sarah’s path to the ancient acts of healing began at 13,000 feet off of the ground. She sought after moments of stillness while in free fall during skydiving, where the only sounds you hear are the sounds of your breath, and the collective noise of the universe. Her need to feel connected to earth and the energy of our universe was only actualized by the exaggerated movement of jumping out of a plane to land on earth with both feet planted on the ground. But a healing trip to a yoga retreat 6 years ago in Thailand was all it took for her to realize that observing your breath on the mat, and harmonizing that breath with physical movement was a powerful act of connectedness matched by none, not even skydiving between the heavens and earth. This experience triggered a series of explorations into ancient healing practices including Feng Shui, Yoga, and then Reiki that lead to a formal training in all practices.

Sara White

Yoga Instructor

Sarah started Yoga in 2016 due to her suffering from anxiety. Yoga was always more than just a physical feat, it challenged and encouraged growth in many areas of her life and she aims to give this back to her students.Her teaching style is strong and functional, focusing on bring balance both mentality and physically. Her training s include 200hr Yoga Alliance, 50Hr Meditation training, Calisthenics Coaching Level 1 & 2 and many workshops.

Sreedharan

New Age Philosopher | Self-management Expert

Sreedharan is a new age philosopher and a Self-management expert. He has over 20 years in the study and research of ancient wisdom and its practical application in the modern world. His focus has been to help  individuals to live life to their full potential, experiencing peace and prosperity. Sreedharan has conducted over 7500 lectures in various parts of the world for a diverse audience.   He is the senior disciple of Swami Parthasarathy. Having completed the three year residential course at the Vedanta Academy, India, he has dedicated his life to help people improve their quality of living through Vedanta,the ancient wisdom of india.

Vanessa Kim Roux

South African born yogi, Vanessa is known for her authentic, grounded teaching style and her compassion-centered guided meditations. Availing herself to continuous education from various disciplines, yoga lineages and dualities of both Yin and Yang. She weaves thought-provoking meditations throughout her classes, applying ancient wisdom to our contemporary western world in a useful and understandable way. She encourages growth of the physical, emotional and spiritual self, citing the interconnectedness to masculine and feminine energy, each other as a whole, to the world and to the universe at large.

Vinnay Nasta

A resident of Dubai since 1993, Vinnay Nasta is an experienced 9 star ki/fengshui consultant, a crystal sound therapist, holistic workshop organiser and regular contributor to magazines like Emirates Home, Gulf News and TimeOut.

He is also the proprietor of “The Laughing Buddhaa” which sells a range of New Age products, including Relaxation music CDS, Crystals, Incense,Incense Holders, Salt Lamps/Candleholders and candles, to leading Dubai hotels and to the general public through outlets based in Souq Madinat Jumeirah, Souk Al Bahar and Dubai Festival City.

Vipin Methasery

Yoga and Acro Yoga Teacher

Vipin is a seeker a believer with a willingness and dedication to take you far and deep into the secrets of yoga. Having spent years of practice with continuous learning in his personal yoga lab, connecting the traditional yoga texts to the path of the modern yogis, and guiding students into a space of safety, inquiry and experimentation so that they can recognize their inner tools to actually know the teachings in their own bodies and trust the wisdom of their own experience.

Yara Lazkani

Yara is a serial entrepreneur who is a strong advocate of art, fitness, and mental strength. After she earned her Bachelors of Commerce from Concordia University, Yara started off her corporate journey with Red Bull in brand marketing and event planning. She later found her purpose and passion in performing arts by bringing joy through her street fire show where she feels mostly connected with herself and the people around her. She is a curious spirit who believes in the power creativity, play, and expression. 

Zeid Bataineh

Yoga Instructor

Zeid has been practicing yoga for 11 years, and teaching for 4.  He considers practicing yoga in all its forms, including Asana, as a lifestyle habit to cultivate balance and harmony, and actualize happiness in every aspect of his life. Through his classes, he hopes to spread this practice to his students and support them in optimizing their own lives by learning how to relax and develop a positive/healthy relationship with themselves.