Alexey Pavlyukov

Ashtanga Yoga Instructor

Alexey has been practising Ashtanga yoga since 2007 studying with authorised teachers in Moscow. In 2010, he became a student of KPJAYI and has made four individual trips to Mysore since that time and well as training with various master teachers. 
Alexey has been teaching Ashtanga for 7 years first in Moscow and since 2015 for Nilaya House.

Alin Sáenz

Allaoua Gaham

Yoga and Self Defense Teacher

A Yoga success story… “Men Sana In Corpore Sano” is the quote that drives Allaoua’s life since he decided to give up 10 years of his successful but stressful career as an entrepreneur to dedicate himself to other’s wellbeing. As an experienced martial art instructor, calisthenics coach and yoga teacher Allaoua explores all aspect of body’s biomechanics and metabolism to understand and share every methods and practices that empower human being. Adept of Kriya Yoga, he is certified RYT200 from Zen Den School of Yoga Florida and has trained with Guru Ira Om in Ashtanga Vinyasa, Guru Munishwer Goswami in traditional Hatah & Sivananda, Guru Rangaji Ramanchandran in Iyengar & Restorative Yoga. Allaoua is also certified Animal Flow movement instructor and senior Systema Sefl-defense Instructor. Specialized into anatomical alignment Allaoua exclusively developed his own vision of Vinyasa class as a true bridge between traditional and modern approach of yoga. Providing the perfect balance between ancestral isometric asanas associated with an explosive and intense flow, his class will help you redefine your body through fluid and challenging yoga sequences. The class will improve your personal practice of yoga and open up on a new understanding of body and mind relationship using breath as natural connector. Ideal for all level and all practitioners, Allaoua’s class is sparked with Pranayama, Dhyana and many useful information and tips to improve your wellbeing. Allaoua is teaching in the most valuable Yoga Studios in Dubai, Urban Yoga, Yoga La Vie, Karma Yoga and Yoga House. Present in many social events (Yoga Beats, Lululemon, 30x30Yoga Challenge…) he is an active member of the Dubai Yoga community.

Allison Mc Laughlin

Yoga Teacher

Alison, also known as Allie, is a proud Canadian who has been living in Dubai for the last 4 years. She is a 6 foot-tall ‘kid’ who loves to make individuals laugh and help them let go of their serious side. You can expect to smile, laugh, and have just plain fun with each one of her yoga classes. Allie wasn’t always a yoga teacher. She is actually a Registered Dietitian from Canada with a Masters in Public Health in community nutrition. Her yoga journey began, 5 years ago, when she noticed stress beginning to take over her life and her personality. After practicing yoga for many years, Allie finally decided to take her Vinyasa Teacher training in Thailand. She quickly realized how yoga can help put ‘hardships’ into perspective and the stress melted away. When she is not teaching Vinyasa, Allie puts her Pre and Post Natal Teacher Certification to good use by teaching Mom’s to be.

André Kunkel 

Budokon Instructor

André began his journey with Martial Arts from a young age, right through his mid twenties when he started Snowboarding and Kitesurfing. During this time, he was diagnosed with a serious and“incurable” form of horribly painful chronic arthritis. The journey to heal from this brought him the realisation that the key to health is a combination of the physical, emotional and spiritual realms.

This led him into studying with some of the world’s most renowned teachers in the path of Yoga, Philosophy, Shamanic Healing, Sound Alchemy, Inner Dance and Budokon amongst many of his constantly evolving broad spectrum of knowledge and tools.

Anishka Bagla

Yoga Teacher at Soul Side Studio

Yoga gave me the tools to break away counter-productive habits while cultivating new positive ones. With a mind that was flexible I was able to stretch the body and the soul to unleash its optimum potential. I teach from my practice: soulful, happy and free flowing movements that are guided by safety. 

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.

Awakenning 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.

Ayman Abo Hind

Yoga Teacher

Ayman is a pharmacist from Riyad, Saudi Arabia who se passion in teaching yoga. A practitioner for the last 9 years his passion is sharing the life-changing vibe of yoga with his students. He is the only person in Saudi Arabia registered at YinYoga.com and is an advanced level student of Bernie Clark.

Briar Jacques

Psychologist and Yoga Therapist

Briar is Counselling Psychologist, Acceptance and Commitment (ACT) Therapist, Mindfulness Trainer and Yoga Therapist. Her work focuses on helping people build and sustain a kind and compassionate relationship with themselves, so they can grow and transform and then contribute to their community in values driven, creative ways. Originally from Australia, Briar has been in Dubai for four years working with individuals and groups on a wide range of psychological and emotional issues.

Prior to this, she was in Vietnam for six years where she worked in a hospital and with an NGO (Education for Development), again with individuals and groups and also with a focus on mindfulness and ACT training. In Australia, Briar started Brisbane’s first certified organic farmers market, the Northey Street Organic Market. This came out of a strong desire to build a community of likeminded individuals and connect farmers directly with families, so fresh organic food could be made affordable for all. As a therapist, Briar’s areas of specialization are trauma treatment (including a trauma sensitive yoga therapy approach), anxiety management through mindfulness and ACT and helping people achieve vitality and purpose through working with their bodies, minds, emotions and spirituality. She runs two eight-week Mindfulness and ACT courses (‘Mindfulness Foundations’ and ‘Deepen Your Practice’) using the Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) curriculum and drawing from the ACT body of research and neuroscience.

She also facilitates the six-week ‘Embody Compassion’ course – using mindfulness practice and ACT to develop kind and healthy relationships with body, food and ageing

Carla Julian

Yoga Teacher

Carla Julian left London for Dubai in 2013, pioneering Children’s Yoga in the region. She actively raises awareness and inspires little ones to a happier development, self-esteem, and mindfulness; in order to become more successful in all aspects of their life journey through Yoga. She is the avid Holistic Influencer amongst her circle, and has converted many students into a Yoga practice due to its Therapeutic benefits. Besides training her clients mainly through Yoga Therapy, she has brought in “Sensory Yoga” for children with needs to the Emirates, as well as ignited “Mom & Daughter Yoga” & “Mom & Me Yoga” across Dubai, bringing the joy of partner and acro Yoga to strengthen the mother & child bond. Carla comes from an Education & Performing Arts background, which has given her the skills to help children, teenagers and adults strive towards higher levels of physical, emotional, holistic and overall lifestyle achievements & well-being.
London trained in Hatha by Conrad Duckworth’s Yoga Professionals, and Jo Manuel’s Children’s Yoga at Special Yoga, she s also a Mindfulness Coach who often spends lengthy retreats in Southern India at Sivananda Ashram where she deepens her Ayurvedic Science learning.
London s educational sector piloted Yoga for Children & Teen programs run under her guidance in residential, personal & social development sessions, referral units, nurseries, & children’s hospitals across the city.

Claire Clinton

Yoga Instructor

Claire literally ran into Yoga: breath work whilst running was the start and then her asana and pranayama practice really deepened during the four years that she lived in India

Claire appreciates the Yin and Yang of Yoga: her Vinyasa classes have a strong focus on core and moving deliberately with the breath – her Yin classes offer more than a deep stretch, they are a way of continuing the journey into the mind and body, often using a mix of stretching techniques whilst the mind surrenders to music.

Claire is E-RYT 200, Yoga Alliance CET, RPYT (pre-natal) and Usui Tibetan Reiki Master

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 Cassir

Yoga Instructor | Aerial Silks & Swings

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.

Dominic Watts

Manager - Mindful Schools Program

Dom has been studying Mindfulness and personal transformation since the age of 15, when he was at school under the guidance of Chris Cullen, who started the Mindfulness in Schools Project in the UK. He always sought to apply Mindfulness in the classroom in his previous work as a teacher and has taught workshops and courses of Mindfulness in schools to children (ranging from 4-18), teachers and parents for 5 years. In the UK, Dom also worked for the British Tennis Association as a Sports Psychologist, creating a Mindfulness-based program for a player in Britain’s top 5. Dom’s work focuses on helping others to flourish in their lives by seeking to understand themselves and their way of being in the world. He uses simple, enjoyable and direct inquiry to teach Mindfulness to people of all ages. He has a relaxed but dynamic teaching style which allows difficult topics to be explored in a lighthearted and open way, which allows people of all ages and backgrounds to feel comfortable in his groups. Dom runs the 8-week ‘Mindfulness Foundations’ course, as well as the other 8-week offerings - ‘Mindfulness Foundations for Teachers’, ‘Mindfulness Foundations for Kids’ and ‘Mindfulness Foundations for Young Adults’. 

Dr Jayan

Ayurveda Physician

Dr. Jayan is the senior doctor at the Kalari Kovilakom Ayurveda Hospital, in Kerala, India. 
He graduated with a Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery in 2000 and has since worked as an Ayurveda physician at several hospitals in India. Besides treating for wellness, Dr. Jayan has successfully treated patients with Neurological, Skin, and Gastro-Intestinal disorders through Panchakarma and Ayurveda.  His patients are from across the world and this will be his first time speaking at Yogafest Dubai.

Dr Lanalle Dunn

Anthroposophical Medicine

Originally from British Columbia, Canada, Dr. Lanalle has been practicing medicine in Dubai for 14 years. She treats a range of family medical issues but specializes in hormonal complaints (including fertility), child health and development (including autism), digestive issues, allergies, spinal health and mental health (including depression and anxiety). Over the years, Dr. Lanalle has completed continuing education in advanced acupuncture techniques (facial, scalp), Waldorf/Steiner education, NAET (advanced certifications), Life-Coaching, KST alignment (Koren Specific Technique), Anthroposophical Physician Training (British Anthroposophical Physician Training/International Physician Medical Training, IPMT).

Dr Sundar Balasubramanian

Yoga Biology Researcher |Founder/Director of PranaScience Institute

Dr. Sundar Balasubramanian is a Cell Biology researcher currently studying cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in resistance to cancer therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina, USA. He is also a Yoga Biology researcher, and is the Founder/Director of PranaScience Institute. Sundar’s Yoga research has provided scientific evidence how Yoga breathing practices could promote wellbeing in health and disease. His first book is “PranaScience: Decoding Yoga Breathing”, and his latest book is “Mind Your Breathing: The Yogi’s Handbook with 37 Pranayama Exercises”. His recent audio album is “Chanting Is Pranayama”. He was a speaker at TEDx Charleston 2015, and his video is among the most popular in the field (630,000+ views).

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.

Elie Matar

Yoga Instructor

Elie started his current yoga journey in 2012 with Hatha yoga practice. Several of his life events from there on led him to Ananda Yoga Center, where he’s been a student since 2014 and a teacher since 2016. Elie felt a deep connection with the place from his very first visit, he was captured by its simplicity, purity and authenticity. This inspired him to complete his teacher training with Sivananda Yoga Vidya Peetham in India. He later took over the responsibility of running the center. Elie’s classes are balanced, flows structured, instructions clear and alignments precise, a style influenced by his engineering background, methodical approach and effective training. Elie caters to all levels of practitioners in his classes, focusing on proper breathing, relaxation and rejuvenation, on strengthening, stretching and balancing postures, keeping his classes engaging and enjoyable. 

Ewelina Zablocka

Yoga and Meditation teacher

Ewelina Zablocka is a passionate Yoga and Meditation teacher and a constant student.
She offers workshops and yoga retreats focused on the release of mental blockages and suppressed emotions, in order to open hearts, minds and bodies to live fully in the present moment-feeling free, joyful and full of gratitude.

Flordeliza Pesigan

Soul Weaver | Creative Alchemist | Multi-disciplinary Artist

Flordeliza is a Soul Weaver, Creative Alchemist, Multi-disciplinary Artist and Way Shower assisting others into raw self expression, authentic truthful living, self mastery and ascension.  She integrates the power of Art activations, Lightcode/Sound Alchemy transmissions, Embodied Movements, Earth wisdom, Elemental activations, Womb wisdom, Ceremonies, Intuitive guidance, Deep soul works and inner journeys through the global movement and self awakening process called Inner Dance.
Whether travelling or in her jungle home in an eco-village, she paints light encoded artworks, dances, sings, performs and holds transformative, ceremonial and creative sacred spaces, immersions and facilitator trainings in service of the collective consciousness.

Goli Hashtroudi

Yoga Teacher

Goli was born in Tehran in 1982 and from a young age was very interested in sports such as horseback riding and swimming. An interior designer by education, she completed her first group exercise certification in 2000. Since 2011 she has been interested in Pilates, Rehabilitation and Aerial Yoga. She loves helping people get over injuries through these disciplines, which have really helped her alot personally. She is certified in Pilates Mat and Reformer, Aerial Yoga by Gravotonics, Les Mills Bodybalance and Barre as well as TRX and Trigger Point Therapy.

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.

Helen Williams

Counsellor and Psychotherapist

Helen Williams is a New Zealander with around 40 years’ experience as a counsellor and psychotherapist. Helen is a Mindfulness amd Meditation Teacher who also specialises in personal and self-development, spiritual direction, individual, couples and marriage consultations, workshops, public speaking and teaching and training people from all walks of life. Helen was awarded Emirates Woman, Woman of the Year for her visionary work in the field of personal development in 2014 and in 2017 was honoured as one of the 50 Most Inspirational Women of the UAE by Stylist Arabia as well as one of Arabian Business’s 100 Most Influential People in Dubai.

Isadora Peric

Face Yoga Expert & Creator of FIT FACE

After a battle with facial cellulitis in 2014, a potentially fatal infection of facial bones, Isadora found herself desperately seeking for a natural way to regain balance in her face and mind. She stumbled across a YouTube video and tried just one exercise for 10 days, after discovering improvements in both her physical appearance and mental health; Isadora decided to dedicate her life to learning as much as she can about face yoga and other natural rejuvenation methods. That was the birth of FIT FACE, a beauty company that makes you look good and feel even better.

Isadora combined ancient anti aging techniques including face exercise, face massage and facial massage to lift, tone and sculpt the face- no needles and no down time!

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.

Kirsty Heaton

Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher

Kirsty Heaton is a longstanding member of the Mindful ME community, and joined the Mindful ME Team as an ICF accredited  coach and teacher of Mindfulness and Meditation.  Kirsty is greatly appreciated for her warm, empathetic and nurturing approach to teaching Mindfulness and Meditation,  bringing strong and dedicated personal experience into her teaching practices. 

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

Leonora Franklin

Co-Founder Akoya Social Retreats – Drum Circle Facilitator

Leonora is passionate about exploring holistic wellbeing techniques that support her and the community around her. The process of studying to become a certified Health Coach helped her reflect on all areas of her life and the choices of what to explore next continue to be wonderfully endless.

With Akoya Social Retreats she is producing exciting retreats to support people on their journey to Connect – Discover – Align with themselves, their community and the world around them through a medley of Adventure and Illumination.

Today she is sharing one of her favorite activities which is known to reduce stress, boost the immune system, create a real sense of community and most of all, have great fun in the process: Community Drum Circles!

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.

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.

Lizel Cameron

Aroma Yoga Teacher

Lizel C. Cameron has been practicing yoga for more than 10 years now and teaching for 5 years. She is a Certified Aroma Yoga® Teacher and continuously studies aromatherapy, essential oils and it s therapeutic applications.

Her classes are focused on alignment, restoration of energy and holistic movement. She considers herself to forever be humbled as a student of yoga & other holistic disciplines and still continues to study extensively, take courses and workshops to gain more knowledge to make her classes safe, professional, effective and fun!

Aside from being a yoga teacher, she is also a certified American Council on Exercise Personal Trainer & Mind-Body Specialist, Corrective Exercise Specialist of The BioMechanics Method®, Functional Movement System™ Certified, Mike Boyle Certified Functional Strength & Conditioning Coach, and a Pilates teacher. Although she teaches different styles of yoga from hatha to swing yoga, to therapeutics & restorative, she is committed in practicing daily the traditional Ashtanga Yoga by Sri K Pattabhi Jois with certified/authorized teachers.

Manisha Dutta

Feng Shui Consultant

Manisha has been studying metaphysical subjects since 2012. Started her journey by becoming a certified Feng Shui practitioner from the International Feng Shui Association (IFSA) and followed this with many modalities such as i-Ching, Bazi, Access Bars®, Crystal Healing, Chakra Balancing, Angelic Healing, Dhyaan (Meditation) Teacher Training and Intuitive Readings. Aspiring to be a Yoga teacher someday, this busy mum of 2 young kids is learning something new everyday. She compliments her consultancies with products that are carefully collected from across the world that can help her clients in healing themselves in natural ways.

We are all made of the same stardust; but we each take our own time in reaching higher states of consciousness. Her aim is to create this awareness through everything she has learnt and experienced herself.

Martine Nates

Acupuncturist

Martine has been practicing mindfulness meditation for over 20 years.  Having completed her training with Bangor University, UK, she is a fully certified Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher.   She teaches regular 8 week MBSR programs to the general public in Umm Suqeim, Dubai.

Martine is  a well-respected Acupuncturist with over 20 years’ experience, specialising in the treatment of stress-related conditions as well as  pain, addiction, fertility and pregnancy. She believes in discovering the root cause of a condition in order to empower her patients to take control of their own health.   This is achieved through a series of life-style adjustments, that may include meditation, Qi Gong and dietary changes.   She has been working and living in Dubai for the past 11 years with her husband and 2 daughters.

Master Can

Chinese Kung Fu and Tai Chi Teacher

Born and raised in Dengfeng (birthplace of Shaolin), Master Can has been practicing Kung Fu since age 7. After many years of trials and challenges he achieved the title: National Master Sportsman.

Over the years Master Can began to develop a greater appreciation for Kung Fu. He decided to travel beyond and share his knowledge. For several years he has been teaching Chinese Kung Fu and Tai Chi around the Globe.

Melissa Ghattas

Yoga Teacher

Melissa’s vision towards yoga is one that increases self-awareness and self-love, bridging the relationship between mind, body and spirit. Aspiring to guide students to practice with awareness, freedom, respect and joy, she leads vinyasa flow classes that are fluid, energizing and self-motivating.

Monica Sperling

Yoga Meditation Guide

Monica has been a Yoga Meditation Guide in the Himalayan Yoga Tradition since 2013. Although Monica practiced Yoga almost all her life, she discovered Yoga as an integral healing practice through this tradition following a total disc replacement in the cervical spine after an accident. In 2012, Monica became a student of Swami Veda Bharati and has been learning and sharing the teachings of the tradition ever since. Monica has a YA RYT500 in the Himalayan Yoga Tradition and a YA E-RYT200 through YogaWorks. Monica’s passion is to guide practitioners to discover inner strength, and help them bring renewed energy and gentleness into their day.

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.

Neesha Radia

Indian Classical Dancer, Meditation

Neesha has spent the last 12 years practising the Indian Classical art form of Kathak alongside Yoga and Meditation. In Kathak, she received advanced training through the traditional “Guru-Shishya” relationship which led to a ceremonial two hour solo debut recital in 2011. This is where a student is deemed to be proficient in the form having embodied her Gurus teachings and presents Kathak repertoire in a typical classical format. Her Yoga training in 2008 involved a full time immersion in Hatha Yoga, with a strong focus on meditation, mind Yoga, Yogic science and Pranayama. Neesha is also Vinyasa, Prenatal and Special Needs Yoga trained and loves to draw from her varied experience to teach with adaptability and versatility, most importantly sharing an integrated practise filled with meaning, connection, spirituality and experience of arriving home.

Nia Beyerlein

Energy Worker Clairvoyant

Nia is a naturally gifted in Clairvoyant, able to see energies and spirits all around her. Through her life experiences, she is able to inspire others through her workshops as she  shares empowerment tools to change clients mind-set and heart-set. By guiding and aligning them energetically she helps them achieve and transform their wellbeing. 

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.

Peewee Sanchez

Yoga Instructor

Bringing 20 years of Yoga and Meditation practice to her teaching, Peewee’s qualities are flexibility of body and mind, clear accessible communication and adapting to the needs of specific individuals and groups.  She helps people to understand how yoga works, take their practice deeper, bringing out the best in everyone. Peewee’s fun factor and sunny approach to yoga is supported by a firm consciousness for good body alignment and class safety. She blends the coaching skills learned from her experience as a Les Mills Bodybalance Presenter and her days mentoring yoga teachers as the Regional Yoga Trainer for Fitness First Middle East with the internal awareness and the ancient traditions of her Vajrayana Buddhist and Himalayan Kriya Yoga Lineages with modern day Vinyasa Flow styles to give a one of a kind yoga experience.

Through her Hatha Yoga School: Yogafirst Middle East she has trained yoga teachers in 200hr, 300hr and Swing Yoga throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia Pacific Regions. She currently teaches Yoga Teacher Training Courses, Workshops, Yoga Retreats and Group Classes throughout the world and specially in her home base: Dubai where she is considered a senior figure in the yoga scene and mentor to many of UAE’s yoga teachers. She is also the yoga advisor for REPS in UAE. A firm believer in Karma Yoga, Peewee involves herself in several charity activities such as Yogathon, Global Mala and Yogafest Middle East. Her mission in this lifetime is to aid people on the path of self- realization through igniting their yoga journeys.

Saahil Mehta

Decluttering Coach

Struggling to balance his successful career, family and a frantic feeling of anxiety, Soohil was not comfortable with the labels given to him and hod lost touch with his true self, his authentic self and found empt ness and unhappiness in its place. This led him on an extraordinary journey, refreshingly born out of isolation. While trekking to the summit of the world s largest mountains, unmasked in on environment without judgement - his eyes opened to how happy he could be without being encumbered by the negative thoughts and opinions of others. This immense feeling of euphoria triggered his foray into decluttering. Decluttering from the material world, body, people and mind, in search of identity, focus and ultimately ... unfettered happiness.

The Results of Delcuttering include:
1. More time to fill with your passion and priorities
2. Greater focus and awareness
3. Creating stronger and deeper relationships
4. Starting each day on a high and with more energy
5. Living with love rather than fear.

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 Otto

Yoga Instructor

Sara is an experienced yoga teacher and co-founder of Core 8, UAE’s leading booking platform for wellness teachers. Core 8 was born from the belief that, together with her business partner, they could spread wellness, positivity and ultimately mobalise a city. Sara has seen the numerous benefits of her 12 year yoga practice which have had a pivotal impacted on her life and aims to share the power of it through her multifaceted teaching.  In her classes, Sara enjoys weaving together dynamic, powerful and uplifting flows which include meditation and breath-work. Positive energy, creativity and a knowledge of modern functional movement combine with traditional Hatha and Ashtanga practices highlight Sara’s teaching.in

Sarah 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.

Sasha Quince

Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga Teacher - 200 hour - Kids & Prenatal Yoga Teacher Trainer

Sasha Quince specializes in Core Strength Vinyasa which is an empowering and intelligent style of yoga that moves you through the science of your fascia lines and connects you to your inner fire. The signature breath and intelligent sequencing helps you detox the body, mind and light up your inner spirit. Sasha understands the anatomy of yoga (from her past experiences with injuries) so she creates space for all her students to evolve and grow unique to their own body type. Practicing and teaching for over nine years has allowed Sasha to discover the various layers involved in Yoga. Standing on the head is one very small aspect - yoga is a lifestyle. Her style of yoga is founded by Sadie Nardini & developed through anatomy expert Lesile Kaminoff.  Sasha s signature offerings now include Core Strength Yoga, Corporate Less Stress at your desk programs, Pregnancy yoga teacher trainings and Kids yoga & mindfulness teacher trainings & 200 hour CSV teacher trainings. All her programs are rooted in a belief that each of us are so unique, each of are capable and Sasha firmly believes that everyone has the potential to live a life and connect to the ocean of self. 

Shadan Nassar

Teaching Yoga in Arabic

Shadan Nassar, Founder of Shadana Yoga; the most widely spread online platform teaching yoga in Arabic. Shadan  is a Yoga teacher that lived in many different places around the world, until she decided to dedicate her work to the Middle East starting it online. Shadan was inspired by refugee communities Palestine who did not have much access to yoga studios nor to the English language. That was the biggest driver behind creating yoga material in Arabic online. Today the Youtube channel has over 80,000 subscribers and 2 Million views, we like to think of them as the virtual middle eastern yoga community.

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.

Tracy Harmoush

Yoga Teacher - Retreat Guru

Tracy is an investment banker turned athelete and entrepreneur. She set up her company, Untraceable in 2018, a concept that inspires people to find the extraordinary in them through the skills she teachers through workshops and adventure retreats. She is one of the region s most influential women and has been invited to share her story across several platforms and summits. 

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.

Yogaraj

Yoga Instructor

Yogaraj CP was initiated into Yoga at the age of 5 by his father, S. Chidhambaram, who learned Yoga from the masters in Himalayan. He later learned Yoga from Acharya A. Yesudas Antony, the World Renowned International Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India. The first ever yoga competition in Tamil Nadu was conducted in the year 1988. He won the first place in this event.  In 2015 he created a new Guinness World Record by continuously performing more than 1,500 yoga postures for 40 hours and 15 minutes. He is the Yoga Teacher in the City University of Hong Kong  and the founder & director of Prana Yogam, a yoga studio in Hong Kong. The rationale of Prana Yogam is to help yoga practitioners to achieve the wellness of body, mind, and soul, and facilitate their journey on their personal transformation.

Yusuf Ganief and Lynne Holmes

Musical Artists | Sacred Singer

Founded in 1999 by world music composer, Lynne Holmes, Desert Rose is based in Cape Town, South Africa and is widely regarded as leading composers, producers and performers of Universal Sacred World Music. Their creative ability to draw on ancient chants and compose sacred world music fusions is globally unique, making their music accessible to all cultures and religious groups.  In 2005 Lynne Holmes teamed up with her life partner, Yusuf Ganief, and started an exciting musical journey through diverse cultures and faith groups.

They constantly strive to further their promotion of peace, social responsibility and common humanity through a unique universal musical signature.

Zarine Dadachanji

Sound Meditations and Energy Healings

Zarine is a facilitator for guided, sound meditations and energy healings. She plays the gongs, singing bowls and other sound instruments during the sessions. She continues to study the Way of the Gong with the Grand Gong Master, Don Conreaux. She facilitates these sessions all over the UAE and has played in England, France, San Diego, Karachi and Kuwait. 

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.