Alex came to yoga sideways, the way many people do. A competitive sportsman his whole life — football, tennis, rugby — he was introduced to the practice by his cousin, who was using it to prepare for a swimming race in Italy. What hooked him immediately was the discovery of a vigorous physical activity that involved no competition and left the body feeling better rather than beaten up. A teacher at his local gym, Tracey Mansell, opened the next door: the power of synchronising breath with movement, and pranayama — the realisation that how you breathe can directly change how you feel. From there he explored everything London had to offer. He came in through Ashtanga, but has since come to see all forms of yoga as paths to the same place: a healthier body, a happier, quieter mind. He is particularly fond of one of yoga's clearest inversions of the sporting world he grew up in. The mantra of physical culture — no pain, no gain — is turned on its head: ahimsa, no violence or harming; aparigraha, no grasping, no gain. He is wary of strict orthodoxy in any direction. Everyone's journey is different, and full of different guiding lights along the way. Alex trained at The Power Yoga Company in 2017, grateful to Mona Godfrey, Pete Cherry, Caroline Pegna, Sophie Dear, John Collins and Cal Wansbrough, who all shared their knowledge honestly and generously. After nearly a decade of teaching — sometimes five classes a day — his practice has evolved to meet students wherever they are. Additional training in breathwork, Pilates and Yin (100 hours with Cal Wansbrough) has deepened his range. He has also created Yogalates: his own fusion of Pilates, breathwork and yoga, designed to build the foundation of strength and stability that makes free-flowing practice possible. Classes are always accompanied by music — eclectic playlists that follow the energetic arc of each session, with a steady emphasis on breath and being present. Alex has a first-class degree in Classics from the University of Bristol, where he played 1st XI football. His other job was as a local estate agent, helping people through one of the most stressful experiences of their lives. In the water, he is equally at home: he has swum the Bosphorus from Asia to Europe, escaped from Alcatraz, and crossed from Britain to America in the Virgin Islands. "Everyone's journey is different and full of guiding lights. I hope to help people question and explore — joyfully."
Amanda discovered yoga in 1996 when a friend suggested it might help with the stress of a demanding city job. Struggling to relax and experiencing shortness of breath, she sensed something was missing — despite being physically fit. What she found on the mat was the profound connection between mind, body and spirit through conscious breathing. That discovery changed everything, and she has been deepening that connection ever since. She trained first with an Integrated Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda 200-hour programme in Costa Rica (2011), then deepened her skills with a 500-hour training under Ruth White — one of Iyengar's own students. She has since trained in Restorative Yoga with Anna Ashby, and in Yin Yoga with Norman Blair and Sarah Lo. She is also a qualified Sound Therapist, weaving gong, Tibetan bowls and a wide range of instruments into workshops that begin with Restorative or Yin Yoga and close with a sound-assisted meditation. Over the years Amanda has explored Hatha, Iyengar, Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Sivananda, Ashtanga, Kundalini, Jivamukti and Bikram — a breadth of knowledge that allows her to adapt and tailor her teaching to a wide range of people and needs. She began teaching professionally in 2011, and has since taught weekly classes, corporate group sessions, workshops and retreats. At Phoenix, Amanda's Candlelight Yin Yoga & Sound Healing classes are a signature offering: Yin to release physical and mental tension, followed by a sound meditation to leave you calm, grounded and nourished. Look out for her monthly 2-hour Yin Yoga & Sound Bath workshops too. 200hr Integrated Hatha Yoga & Ayurveda TT (Costa Rica). 500hr TT with Ruth White (Iyengar lineage). Restorative Yoga with Anna Ashby. Yin Yoga with Norman Blair and Sarah Lo. Qualified Sound Therapist. 15 years teaching.
Bonita is a dedicated yoga teacher who sees yoga as more than movement — it is a practice that helps people reconnect with themselves and cultivate a deeper sense of wellbeing. Since 2020, she has been committed to creating a holistic and supportive environment that integrates mindful movement, meditation, and breathwork to support overall wellbeing. Her warm, inclusive approach meets each person where they are, creating space for both growth and restoration. 200hr YTT, Yoga Hub East Sheen. Currently completing 300hr YTT, Soma Yoga. 6 years teaching. Favourite pose: Pincha Mayurasana — 'It makes me feel strong.' 'My classes are guided by a fluid and intuitive approach, offering a supportive space for students to explore movement with curiosity, ease, and self-trust. Yoga has supported me through all of life's ups and downs, becoming a steady practice I can return to for calm and refuge — and I would love to offer that same sense of grounding and support to others.'
Damaris has been teaching yoga across London for almost 11 years, and her classes are exactly what you'd hope for from that much experience: strong, energetic Power Vinyasa flows that are physically challenging — while always encouraging you to listen to your body. She places a strong emphasis on the breath, consistently drawing students back to the connection between breath and body throughout the practice. Expect a carefully curated playlist too: music that helps you stay present, quietens the mind, and lets you move with the rhythm of the flow. Playful, dynamic and not afraid to have fun with it — Damaris wants you to challenge yourself, but never to take it too seriously. 200hr JIP Teacher Training. Nearly 11 years teaching. Favourite pose: Pincha Mayurasana — anything that flips the world upside-down. 'I started teaching because I had an untold passion for my own practice. But after all these years, what keeps me here is wanting to inspire people to go places they didn't think were possible — to challenge themselves mentally and physically, and to get out of their comfort zone on and off the mat.'
Ellen teaches with warmth, joy and genuine thoughtfulness — and her enthusiasm for the practice is the kind that spreads across an entire room. Her sequences are carefully considered, her playlists meticulously planned, and the result is an embodied, immersive experience that weaves breath-work, movement and rest into something that feels whole. Inspired by her Katonah Yoga training, Ellen brings nourishing hands-on adjustments and a rich use of metaphor and language that engages the imagination and brings the practice alive. She found yoga during a difficult period and it — almost single-handedly, she says — got her through. Teaching it became the thing she felt she needed to do. Qualified at The House of Yoga (200hrs). Hands-on adjustment training. Currently completing Katonah Yoga. 3 years teaching. Favourite pose: twisted lizard (Parivrtta Utthan Pristhasana) — anything hip-py, expansive and expressive. "I found yoga when I was in a difficult headspace and it almost single-handedly got me out of that place. Teaching it, sharing it — I haven't looked back since."
Ellie came to yoga through sports and fitness, but quickly fell in love with not just the physical practice but the mental and emotional benefits too. Her classes are dynamic and fluid with clear and inclusive cueing — she challenges students with strong flows and poses, always balanced with moments of stillness, ease and calm. Whatever your ability or experience, you will feel genuinely welcomed. 200hr YTT, The House of Yoga. 20hr Hands-on Assisting Intensive, The House of Yoga. 85hr Pre- and Postnatal YTT, Spanda Institute. 1.5 years teaching. Favourite pose: horizons lunge — 'A juicy glute stretch, hip opener and twist. The perfect balance of stretch, strength and balance.' "When I attend as a student, I love the sense of calm and quiet I have by the end. Sharing that feeling with the Phoenix community is incredibly rewarding — and an honour to give back."
Federica teaches inclusive classes where everybody feels welcome and seen. Her warm, supportive Vinyasa style encourages students to use the breath as an anchor for presence and focus — and she returns to it constantly throughout class, not as a technique but as a way of coming home to the present moment. Rooted in the belief that yoga is the practice of calming the fluctuations of the mind, Federica guides students to find greater balance and ease both on and off the mat. Her classes are grounding and uplifting in equal measure: a space to challenge yourself gently, breathe a little more fully, and leave feeling more like yourself. 200hr Yoga Alliance Teacher Training. 2 years teaching. Favourite pose: Vrikshasana (Tree Pose) — 'It cultivates balance, focus, and a sense of grounding. I love how it teaches students to find stability while embracing the natural sway and movement that are part of both the practice and life itself.'
Francesca brings playfulness and precision to her teaching. Her Vinyasa classes are creative and challenging, with a focus on building strength, mobility and body awareness. She loves helping students find their edge — without ever losing the joy of practice. "Yoga should challenge you and delight you. If it's only one of those things, we're not done yet."
Georgia's love of movement, dedication to her practice and genuine enthusiasm for sharing yoga shine through in every class. Her sessions are strong, creative and varied, giving students the chance to build strength and confidence while exploring a wide range of movement — with options and progressions that meet each person wherever they are. Warm and encouraging, she creates a space where every student feels supported, while her thoughtful sequencing challenges people to reach their full potential. 200hr Vinyasa and Hatha TT, La Casa Shambala. 20hr Yin Yoga, YogaRenew. 3 years teaching. Favourite pose: half moon (Ardha Chandrasana) — 'It creates a sense of openness in both body and mind. And I love that it honours the moon — a symbol of intuition and being in balance with the natural rhythms of life.' "I teach because I love the creativity of building sequences that guide students towards new possibilities. Yoga has given me a deep appreciation for movement and mindfulness — and I'm passionate about sharing that joy."
Gordana's yoga journey began after an injury forced her to step away from other forms of exercise. Her first class was a challenging Vinyasa practice — which quickly dispelled any idea that yoga was gentle or sedentary. What started as a physical pursuit soon revealed its deeper gifts: calm, balance and a sense of joy that travels with her on and off the mat. She teaches with warmth, humour and humility, emphasising mindful movement, breath and alignment to help students build strength, flexibility and confidence while staying grounded in the present. Whether in Power Vinyasa or Sculpt & Flow, she creates an energising, supportive space that encourages students to challenge themselves without losing connection to their practice. A committed lifelong learner, Gordana takes an evidence-informed approach and stays engaged with current research on strength training and long-term health. She continues to deepen her knowledge through workshops, with particular interest in Yin Yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine and yoga philosophy. 200hr Vinyasa YTT. 90hr Yin YTT. 8 years teaching. Favourite pose: Ardha Chandrasana (Half Moon) — 'It beautifully integrates strength, flexibility and balance. It demands presence and focus — a reminder of the importance of grounding while exploring challenge and expansion.' Just as yoga has been a trusted companion throughout her own life, Gordana encourages her students to carry the strength, resilience and wellbeing they cultivate on the mat into their everyday lives.
Hannah has been teaching yoga for seven years, inspired by her own journey with yoga and mental wellbeing. Her classes blend gentle, mindful movement with stronger vinyasa flows — offering a balance of challenge and ease, and the belief that yoga is about far more than the physical practice. It is a tool for cultivating resilience, self-awareness, and a deeper sense of wellbeing. She trained at Yoga London (200-hour) and teaches with warmth, compassion, and authenticity. Her intention is for every student to leave class feeling stronger, calmer, and more at home in themselves. Teaching style: mindful, compassionate and grounding. Favourite pose: ragdoll — 'it just feels so good!' "My passion for teaching yoga stems from my own experience of how transformative the practice can be. Yoga has supported me through periods of stress and mental health challenges, offering tools to find calm, clarity, and balance. I teach because I want to share those tools with others — and help people experience the positive impact that mindful movement, breath, and presence can have on everyday life."
As a 500-hour Yoga Alliance registered teacher with over five years of experience, Jacqui offers an inclusive and supportive approach to yoga. Trained in Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Chair Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Meditation, Sound Bath, Sacred Sound and Ceremony, she believes slower, gentler flows allow students to connect more deeply with each posture and breath. She encourages the use of props to support alignment, accessibility, and personal choice within practice. Alongside yoga, she offers group and one-to-one sound baths using Tibetan singing bowls and crystal bowls to promote deep relaxation, release tension, and support overall wellbeing.
Juliet teaches with warmth, precision and a deep love of movement. Her classes blend traditional alignment principles with a modern, accessible approach. She trained extensively in Hatha and Vinyasa, and brings both rigour and ease to the mat. "We spend a lot of time trying to get things right. Yoga isn’t really about that."
Kate is a versatile RYT Senior yoga teacher whose journey began over 25 years ago. She embodies a balance of strength, stability and softness in her life, her teaching and her practice — drawing on her love of nature and its cyclical rhythms to shape classes that feel grounded and alive. Kate's classes are an invitation to explore the body in novel, often playful ways, always with accessibility at the heart: function over form, every time. 200hr YA TT Bristol School of Yoga (Ashtanga & Yin). 200hr YA TT Claire Missingham School of Yoga (Vinyasa Flow). 300hr YA TT Shala School of Yoga (Aerial, Advanced Anatomy, Asana in Depth, Philosophy, Restorative, Pranayama & Yoga Nidra). Yoga Nidra Level 2 including Script Writing. Advanced Yin with Norman Blair. Assists & Adjusts with Joey Miles. Trauma Informed Yoga Training. 9 years teaching. Favourite pose: Supta Padangusthasana (Iyengar version, two belts) — 'It always realigns my pelvis and makes me feel so grounded, upper and lower body fully integrated.' Kate is passionate about sharing how yoga has been the bedrock foundation in her life's ups and downs — and transformative in so many ways.
Katie's teaching is rooted in the transformative power of breath and movement. She offers classes that balance effort and ease, helping students build strength, flexibility and inner calm. Her background in psychology informs a compassionate, holistic approach. "The breath is the most intelligent thing about us. Everything else in the practice is really just learning to listen to it."
Kaya brings a grounded, creative energy to her teaching. Her classes draw on Vinyasa and Yin traditions, offering a balance of dynamic movement and deep release. She has a particular interest in the nervous system and the role breath plays in regulating it. "I'm fascinated by how much changes when we change how we breathe. The whole practice opens up from there."
Kylie's classes weave breath and movement with vinyasa at their core — enriched by conditioning, strength and myofascial release. Drawing from movement science, psychology, contemplative practice and lived experience, she creates spaces where people can sense, question and reshape their patterns with awareness. Her approach is person-centred and compassionate: she integrates storytelling and a deep respect for the body's innate intelligence into every session, supporting the restoration of balance and presence while building grounded, lasting strength. First qualified in 2011 with RYT 200hr, currently completing her 500hr. Yoga Medicine Therapeutic Specialist training in myofascial release, nervous system health, female health, Chinese medicine, yoga for athletes, yin, nidra and restorative yoga. Favourite pose: supine twist — 'I often feel my nervous system unravelling tension in this pose. I could stay in it for hours.' 'I teach yoga as an evolving inquiry into being human — where body, mind, spirit and environment are not separate, but in constant dialogue.'
Maeva's teaching is rooted in genuine care, presence and connection. Students often say they can feel that her focus is not on herself as a teacher, but on serving the people in front of her — helping them experience how yoga truly lands in their own bodies. Drawing on a journey shaped by movement, motherhood and a deep commitment to wellbeing, she creates a welcoming space where everyone feels seen, supported and encouraged to practise in a way that honours their individual needs. RYT 200 Power Vinyasa, The House of Yoga. Children's Yoga, YogaBeez. Pregnancy, Postnatal and Mother and Baby Yoga, Sally Parkes London. Yoga Nidra, The Shala. Assisting Intensive I, The House of Yoga. Nearly 7 years teaching. Favourite pose: supine twist (Supta Matsyendrasana) — 'It invites release on every level. As the body softens into the floor, there's space to let go — of tension, of the need to push. A posture of coming home to yourself.' "Yoga helped me come home to myself. I share it to help others find that same connection, balance and belonging."
Marika's teaching blends movement science with yogic wisdom. Her classes are thoughtfully sequenced to develop strength, stability and suppleness in equal measure. She loves the moment when something that felt impossible suddenly clicks into place. "Understanding how your body is built makes you a better practitioner. Anatomy and spirit aren't in conflict — they're the same thing."
Melissa is a passionate yoga teacher and yoga therapist who creates welcoming, inclusive classes for people of all ages and abilities. Her teaching blends creative vinyasa flow, breathwork, mindfulness, somatic movement and meditation to support both physical and emotional wellbeing. Drawing on her experience teaching older adults, children, pregnant women and general populations, she encourages students to move with curiosity, confidence and joy. Yoga Therapist, The Minded Institute (600-hour, 2023-2025). 200hr Vinyasa TT, Sadhana Yoga, Chile (2021). 200hr Vinyasa TT, Lift Yoga, Atlanta (2020). Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga (RPYS), Rocket Yoga, Yin, Mandala, Kids Yoga and Yoga Therapy for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. Teaching since 2020. Favourite pose: Bakasana (crow) — 'I love the sense of freedom and playfulness it brings. Strength and vulnerability and joy, all at once.' "Yoga transformed my relationship with myself. It taught me how to connect with my body, calm my mind and find balance through life's challenges. I teach because I love helping others discover that same strength."
Sally is a warm and experienced Pilates teacher with over 10 years of teaching behind her. Her classes are known for their controlled pace, clear cueing and exceptional attention to detail — sessions designed to help people move with genuine confidence and precision. With specialist training in minor orthopaedic conditions, she builds safe, effective programmes that develop core strength, mobility and flexibility for a wide range of abilities. Sally came to movement through dance — training at ALRA — and taught karate for four years, giving her a well-rounded understanding of how bodies work and what they need. Level 3 Mat Pilates certified (Future Fit), with qualifications in Anatomy & Physiology, Small Equipment and Minor Orthopaedic Conditions. Over 10 years teaching. Favourite exercise: the Roll Up — a full-body movement that develops deep core stability while providing an excellent stretch through the legs. "Pilates builds strength, improves mobility and flexibility, and helps people move with greater ease and confidence. I've seen what it does. That's why I teach it."
Sarah brings an inclusive, empowering approach to yoga, guiding students through mindful vinyasa and yin practices that foster genuine self-empowerment. In addition to teaching at Phoenix, she manages and teaches at Live Karma Yoga, offering adaptive yoga in community settings including prisons, safe houses and chair yoga at Sheltered Housing Schemes. Whatever the environment, she creates a non-judgmental space where every practitioner is empowered to move in a way that honours their own body. 200hr The House of Yoga. 100hr Trauma-Informed Yoga, Yoga for Humankind. 35hr Accessible Yoga, Accessible Yoga School. 90hr Yin Yoga, Norman Blair. 45hr Yoga Nidra Levels 1 and 2. Yoga Therapist Trainee, The Minded Institute. 6 years teaching. Favourite poses: chair (to teach — it brings students out of their heads and into their bodies) and legs-up-the-wall (to practise — pure, necessary rest). "I teach out of personal gratitude. These practices transformed my own mental and physical wellbeing. I feel privileged to share them — and to help break down the barriers that keep yoga inaccessible to so many."
Sneha Arora founded Yogihearts in 2017 and has more than 17 years of teaching experience. She is an official affiliate of The Yoga Institute and represents it in the UK and UAE, where she conducts the Institute's 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course using its curriculum and teachings. At Phoenix, Sneha teaches welcoming Hatha and Therapeutic Yoga and leads the Yoga Teacher Training programme. Her experience allows her to guide beginners and experienced practitioners side-by-side with compassionate, practical teaching.
Sue Yen is an experienced yoga teacher, author and specialist in women's health and wellbeing — and one of the most qualified teachers on the Phoenix team. Author of Yoga and the 36 Menopause Symptoms and creator of Bareface Yoga, a unique approach blending yoga philosophy with facial wellbeing, she is known for making yoga genuinely accessible and inclusive. Her teaching supports students in building strength, resilience and confidence, with a particular passion for helping women navigate midlife with greater health, vitality and ease. E-RYT 500 and Continuing Education Provider, Yoga Alliance USA. Senior Yoga Teacher and Trainer, Yoga Pros UK. Favourite pose: reclined butterfly (Supta Baddha Konasana) with a bolster — 'Supported entirely by props, the body can soften as gravity does all the work. Once you have tried this kind of surrender, it becomes a daily necessity.' "I don't teach yoga as something separate from life. I teach it as a way of living — of how we move through the world, how we listen and breathe and respond when things get messy or beautiful."
Sumaya's classes are soulful and spacious, weaving breath, movement and meditation into a holistic practice that nourishes body and mind. She draws on a rich range of influences to create sessions that feel both ancient and entirely present. "Most of us spend our days moving without ever really arriving. Yoga is the practice of actually landing somewhere."
Zara has been teaching yoga for over 13 years, and her classes have always been built around the same two things: community and connection. She believes yoga should be genuinely accessible — not just in theory, but in the room, on the mat, for whoever walks through the door. Before yoga, Zara worked as a youth worker and behaviour specialist in settings for young people at risk — and that background runs quietly through everything she teaches: the patience, the presence, the belief that movement can change something. She teaches with music. Her classes move around reflective themes and carefully chosen tracks — not as background noise, but something to actually feel and flow with. The aim is always the same: to leave you feeling a little lighter than when you arrived. 200hr certified, Divine Play Yoga (2014). 13 years teaching. Favourite pose: downward dog — grounding and uplifting at exactly the same time. 'Yoga is a way of being — a path to finding our way back to ourselves, and to creating pathways with others and the world around us.'
