We will be offering a chance to get an assortment of therapies, facilitated by some of the best therapists we have on Lamu island. You can book their services at the registration desk in Yoga Bazaar, as you are picking up your festival ticket. Treat yourself to a therapy session for a full wellness immersion.
LAMU YOGA FESTIVAL TEACHERS 2024
Born and raised in Kenya, being outdoors and feeling dynamic and joyful was always Aja’s norm. Then she moved to the UK for school and that all changed as her lifestyle changed. That ignited a passion for learning about ways we can manipulate our energy so that it’s aligned with nature’s magic, and open ourselves up to infinite energy and vibrant health. She is trained in vinyasa, Dru yoga, yin, mandala vinyasa. She is also an Ayurvedic health coach and vegetarian chef.
Voted one of the top 43 naturopathic doctors worldwide, Dr. Ameet helps thousands of people around the world heal from trauma, anxiety, depression, ancestral trauma and chronic disease by combining naturopathic medicine, psychotherapy, homeopathy and family constellations therapy to heal the root causes of disease and emotional illness. If you really want to heal the root cause of mind and body issues, check out his books and courses on drameet.com.
Awham has been practicing yoga since 2012 and is the first Lamu local to become a certified yoga instructor. Awham has trained in Kenya and Thailand. In addition to teaching guests from around the world, he is passionate about bringing wellness to his community.
Awham teaches meditative and also power vinyasa yoga. His classes focus on building strength, balance, and flexibility. Yoga has had a huge impact on his life and he is dedicated to sharing the practice and its benefits with his students in Lamu and around Kenya.
Awham expanded his knowledge in Thailand, studying Thaivedic bodywork, a holistic approach that unites three highly effective healing modalities, traditional Thai, ayurveda and yoga (a very meditative treatment that treats the body as a whole).
With his yoga classes and Thaivedic bodywork, Awham is described as a very friendly and professional practitioner who takes his time to make sure his clients and Lamu guests leave rejuvenated. When he isn’t teaching yoga, he helps his family manage Msafini Hotel in Shela, works with the Lamu Tourism Association in its marketing sector, sails, and enjoys the pristine white sand beaches of the beautiful island.
“Free Spirit – Libre Espiritu”, two words that encapsulate the loving and wild at Heart, Bindi. Born and raised in Kenya, being someone who loved exercise and trying new things, she started practicing Trapeze Yoga eight Years ago. Being upside down ended up being a place of peace and refuge where she found a much-needed place to escape her mind. She found it to be personally medicinal, increased her mood and eased her mind and at the same time allowed her to stretch beyond her limits. Through her love and passion for the practice, she became a Yoga Body Certified Trapeze Instructor and Breath Coach in 2020 and loves to share the magic of Trapeze Yoga with others. Most recently also certified as a Yoga Wheel and Sound Practitioner. Bindi believes that Trapeze Yoga is for everybody and every BODY. Self-Love, body confidence, fun and variety along with encouraging people to reach their full potential are her top priorities when instructing a class.
Deborah, who lives in Ethiopia, will be teaching Aryuvdic yoga again during this year’s festival. The sessions and workshops of Ayurvedic yoga incorporate the holistic and profound healing and rejuvenating benefits of Ayurveda and yoga. You will gain practical tools for maintaining health and wellness beyond the festival: thorough asanas, pranayama and body work.
Mzuqa Dance Fitness is a unique high/low impact dance class suitable for all skill levels. Its primary goal is to help participants connect deeply with their bodies through diverse African music genres, fostering joy, pleasure, stability and ease.
The class structure involves guided floor movement and choreography encouraging creative expression and profound connection with one’s senses and emotions with the context of African music.
Fred has been teaching yoga for more than a decade. He discovered yoga through his love for dance, and found his purpose in yoga. Following his teacher training at Africa Yoga Project, his mission became sharing the joy and power of yoga with others across the world. He has worked in Nairobi, along the Kenyan coast, and in Tsavo National Park before making Lamu island his home in 2018.
Fred is now a well-balanced yoga trainer with certification in several styles of yoga and a holistic massage therapist for both mental and physical health.
Ice baths according to Wim Hof.
Heran Tadesse, born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, has a remarkable story. Adopted and raised in the Netherlands, she eventually repatriated to her motherland 15 years ago. Heran is a mother of three children and has a deep connection to her roots. Her yoga journey began 22 years ago during her university days when she fell in love with classical Hatha Yoga. She practiced yoga for 11 years before she decided to teach. Motherhood resulted in her obtaining a Pregnancy Yoga certification in 2013 under the famous midwife Regina Abelt. Heran’s dedication to the practice led her to Egypt, where she became certified as a Kemetic Yoga Teacher in 2017 under Master Yirser Ra Hotep. Continuing her exploration, she became a certified Pimay Afrikan Yoga teacher in 2020 in Lamu, Kenya.
Joy Beldine is a certified yoga teacher and a wellness coach with seven years of experience in both teaching and practicing. She has experience in various forms of yoga such as power yoga, vinyasa yoga, yin yoga, and pilates. She focuses on bringing total body integration in creating balance, stability, strength, and flexibility in connection with breathing. She is passionate about improving people’s physical and mental well-being through silent and guided meditation which helps you meet and interact with your highest self.
Kelly Alomba is a yoga instructor based in Lamu teaching daily classes at Banana House and other hotels and private houses. Kelly has been teaching yoga for the past 10 years. He is one the founders of Lamu Yoga Festival and has been involved in several yoga retreats both in Lamu and other parts of the country. He has also done several Art of Living courses. Kelly specializes in Power Vinyasa Flow, Hatha yoga and SUP yoga. With his high experience, he has once taught Naomi Campbell, a famous, renown international model. His love and passion for yoga has created a positive name for him. Namaste!
Leo Lourdes is a globally renowned yoga master and transformational coach who has committed his life to helping clients improve their well-being in their private and professional lives. As the creator of Brahma Yoga and a wellness entrepreneur, he has taught, shared wisdom with, and coached more than 40,000 people globally, including Elle Macpherson, Donna Karan, Dua Lipa, Helena Bonham Carter, and Oprah Winfrey. At the age of 22, he was the youngest consultant on London’s prestigious Harley Street. He has been a motivational speaker, a personal coach for business leaders, a consultant for organisations such as Accenture, Unilever, Disney, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, and the yoga master for Blackstone, an investment company. He has an avid interest in the ecology and biodiversity of the planet, and he spends time in East Africa each year helping protect endangered wildlife and the rights of Indigenous people. He also supports an orphanage in the Himalayas that looks after more than 40 children. In addition to running yoga retreats and wellness festivals globally, he is passionate about songwriting and producing music, climbing mountains, and walking his beautiful beagle called Lamu.
Marcella is a Sound Worker. Her work is guided by Higher Vibrational Beings who lovingly support her role in assisting the awakening of humankind. Her journey of learning various energy healing modalities finally led her to Sound as a tool for transformation. Particularly the Gong, which is the main passion in her work.
Monika Fauth is a passionate advocate for well-being and personal growth. With a deep understanding of the mind-body connection, she has dedicated her life to helping individuals thrive in their own unique ways. As an Art of Living yoga practitioner and instructor and Holistic Counselor, Monika has been the driving force behind the Lamu Yoga Festival and Lamu Yoga Retreats, providing individuals with transformative experiences and a sanctuary for self-discovery.
At her Banana House & Wellness Centre, she organises retreats throughout the year. Monika’s commitment to dedicate her own journey to be the inspiration for others, by sharing her wisdom and experiences, makes her a trusted and valuable resource in the field of well-being and personal growth.
Nancy is a Kanga yoga certified teacher Level 1 and Thai massage certified. She has more than three years of experience teaching yoga and sharing Thai yoga massages.
Narissa, or Earthchild, is a Sound Healing Artist who specialises in sound frequencies and vibration to heal your emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical bodies, and bring your being into alignment.
She uses her bamboo flute, voice, Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, rattles, kalimba, and drum to take you deep into transcendental states and other-worldly experiences.
Neal’s philosophy is that he believes that inside each of us, our essence is the core, guiding us through the ups and downs of life. Overwhelmed by our mental chatters and everyday problems, we lose touch with our essence and with the sense that there might be a bigger picture. We stop seeing the magic behind the mystery of life and often feel a loss, emptiness, or lack of meaning.
His approach is holistic. Each part of our being needs to work in synergy. Whatever we want to achieve we need to work at every level. He can help you individually or as a group. His journey started at 16 when he took a course in Reiki and energy healing. Not only did it open his inner world but also the outer one. Africa and all corners of Asia became his amazing learning grounds. His learning journey never stopped. He has become a reflexologist, sound healer, soul lightworker, and intuitive massage therapist (Hot Stone, Sports, Swedish, Thai, Deep Tissue, Shiatsu). He also use crystals, colors, aromatherapy, and of course his Tibetan sound bath therapy. He has now added meditation and chakra balancing. He is honored to say that he has touched people’s lives as they found new perspectives and new ways to nurture their well-being. His journey continues as he uses every opportunity to learn and share his knowledge as a healer and a speaker.
Neha is a Transformational Spiritualist. She works with individuals, groups and organisations, helping them move towards the highest possibilities for their lives and work. She is the founder of Spolosophy (Spiritual-Political-Philosophy) – a vehicle to facilitate global transformation through the evolution of human consciousness.
Neha facilitates one-to-one ‘deep transformation’ sessions with individuals; runs courses, workshops and tailored experiences for groups; and advises and facilitates bespoke programmes for organisations, helping them to apply spiritual teachings and techniques to deepen their work, elevate their power and impact, and manifest more abundance in the world.
Neha has worked with clients all over the world, and has fifteen years’ previous experience in social and political transformation in the Horn of Africa.
Oriane is an advanced yoga teacher and Functional Health Coach with over 20 years of experiences. She seeks to support her students to lead a healthy, balanced, purposeful life.
She shares the practice of Dharma yoga and other vinyasa flows based on her Ashtanga practices. Her classes and coaching incorporate functional well-being tips, pranayama, and asanas for all. She holds a certificate in Applied Functional Medicine, in Integrative Nutrition and in Blood Tests Analyses.
Patrick Odeyo Namwambah is a seasoned Business Leader, Entrepreneur, and Wellness Expert, boasting a remarkable track record of over two decades in various facets of business management, project oversight, corporate wellness, and fitness consultancy. As the driving force behind two thriving fitness enterprises, Sweat Studio Africa Limited and Fulana Sports and Leisure Limited, Patrick has carved a niche for himself in the industry.
Certified both as a yoga instructor and fitness trainer, Patrick holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a specialized focus on entrepreneurship, reflecting his commitment to holistic personal development and physical well-being.
Patrick’s journey towards holistic wellness and fitness commenced early in life, sparked by his active participation in sports and an enduring interest in mental and physical health. Although his academic journey led him to specialize in finance and accounting, his dedication to wellness remained unwavering. His career initially took root in the public sector, where he served as a projects manager and financial analyst. However, his genuine passion for making a positive impact on people’s lives through mindfulness, wellness coaching, and fitness consulting eventually led him to blaze his own trail.
In 2008, Patrick established BodyEdge Fitness Consultants Limited, a groundbreaking venture that introduced personalized wellness coaching services within the corporate sphere. Under his guidance, this initiative catalyzed a surge in employee engagement with active lifestyles. Additionally, Patrick fostered strategic collaborations in both the public and private sectors, excelling in the establishment of wellness programs, in-house corporate gyms, operational management, and procurement.
In 2016, Patrick acquired gym space at All Saints Cathedral Church in Nairobi, inaugurating his maiden fitness facility, The Saints Health Club. Here, he masterfully utilized his extensive expertise in corporate fitness center management to provide top-tier services to an eclectic clientele, ranging from corporate professionals to church members. He demonstrated versatility by diversifying revenue streams, cultivating robust stakeholder relationships, and nurturing his team to attain growth and operational excellence.
In 2021, Patrick’s visionary leadership culminated in the launch of Sweat Studio Africa Limited, the second Hot Yoga and Pilates Studio in the East and Central Africa region.
Patrick’s expertise extends well beyond his professional accomplishments, prominently demonstrated through his unwavering commitment to community engagement and the nurturing of young talent. As a dedicated member of the Makadara Junior League (MJL), he has served as a key initiator and primary sponsor of the annual “Back to School” football tournament, a tradition upheld every August since 2016 at Hakati Sportiff FC grounds and Camp Toyoyo in Makadara constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya.
In conclusion, Patrick Odeyo Namwambah embodies dynamic leadership and stands as an invaluable asset to any organization poised for growth and innovation. His resolute dedication to holistic wellness, transparent financial management, and strategic partnership development positions him as a highly sought-after authority in the field.
Creator of “Mujer Naturaleza” (Woman Nature). Lover of Nature, Ancient Wisdom, music, dancing, traveling, painting and enjoying life. Certified Life Coach specialized in women, Menstrual and Integral Cyclicality Therapist, Facilitator of Womb and Uterine Memories Healing, Certified Teacher of Ovarian Breathing, Feminine Alchemy, Feminine Sexuality, Alchemical Breathing, Sacred Sexuality, Tantra and Herbalism.
She accompanies women and men in their journeys of Self-Knowledge and Healing. These Energy Healing processes take us to remember our Feminine Nature, Wisdom and Healing power that each of us have within. Through this, we return to the Divine Expression that we are, connecting with our bodies: the temple where the Alchemy and Magic can happen. This journey opens us, allows us to blossom and reconnects us to our Divine Feminine and Masculine and the Sexual & Creative Energy. Through this process we open our Hearts and elevate our Consciousness, experiencing and embodying the integration of ourselves as Whole and Complete living and remembering our Purpose and Truth.
Paula’s work integrates meditation, archetypal wisdom and embodiment, breath-work, movement, dance, yoni eggs, medicinal herbs, oracle cards and art-therapy. She accompanies one on one processes, facilitate courses, workshops, women´s circles, transformational retreats and participate in national and international wellness festivals.
Rebekah aims to understand things deeply, both yogic and scientific, and to share this knowledge in her yoga sessions. Twelve years of yogic study, along with a Masters’s degree in chemical engineering, and beginners level ayurveda, work together to influence her teaching. She has studied for nine months in India, has attended a course in Dharamshala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and has sat and served 112 days collectively in silent meditation retreats. The combination of yogic philosophy and science makes Rebekah’s yoga classes accessible to contemporary minds.
Richard Kitoshi is a certified Ashtanga Yoga instructor. He attended his first yoga teacher training in 2012, Nairobi Kenya. He was trained under the tutelage of Sharon Moon, a teacher under the Jois Foundation banner. Richard can currently be found teaching Ashtanga Yoga at the Jaya Yoga Studio, Diamond Plaza and Fluid Studio in Nairobi, Kenya.
Rupda has lived in Europe, India, USA, and Australia. Today, she works with people around the globe in areas of conscious leading, self-leading and self- development. She has spent over 45 years dedicated to a conscious path, bringing her knowledge, tools and techniques through the work she offers. She has captured the hearts of many influential people over the years through her one-of-a-kind approach. Her sense of presence and sense of humour brings both a lightness and a depth to how she works with individuals, groups and organisations alike. Her passion is to inspire people to discover their own unique qualities and how to apply them in their daily lives.
At this year’s festival, Sharath will be teaching a class on the movement of breath to stillness in mind. It will explore how breathing techniques can instill calmness of mind, body and spirit.
Salim Rollins has dedicated his professional life to empowering communities through wellness and cultural arts programs. He’s the Co-director of Synergy Yoga, a registered Yoga Alliance school that offers international yoga teacher training, retreats, and Thai massage certifications.
Salim has maintained a dedicated yoga practice since 2000 and studied with several master teachers throughout India and the U.S. He has curated international wellness festivals and retreats in numerous countries including Peru, Kenya, U.S., Tanzania, Mexico, Uganda, and Angola.
In addition to his work with Synergy, Salim is a Mestre of the Afro-Brazilian martial art, Capoeira Angola. A disciple of Grand Mestre João Grande, Salim is one of two non Brazilian practitioners to receive this title from the celebrated Mestre. For more than twenty years, Salim has managed and taught youth empowerment programming. He is the Co-Director of Inuka Cultural Center – a Kenya-based NGO that uses Capoeira Angola, breaking, and an empowerment program for teen girls to impart critical life skills and expanded choices to youth in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. Salim’s focus as a facilitator, centers on community upliftment and cultivating an intuitive practice that enables students to find the source of their healing within.
Salim deeply values his mission of sharing healing practices and curating wellness spaces with communities throughout the world.
Samanta is a well-respected teacher who has been dedicated to mind-body health for over 20 years. With a lifetime spent practicing yoga, dance, and movement, she can combine unique perspectives about well-being, healing, and physiology. Samanta’s work centers on Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Therapy Ayurveda, and Bodywork like Thai Yoga bodywork, Reflexology and Abdominal massage. Besides Diet /Nutrition, Dance Movement Therapy, Vedic Chanting, Sound healing, NLP, and Health coaching.
Samanta blends a wealth of knowledge and experience to create a unique approach that unites awareness with movement, breath, heart, and humor. She teaches in festivals, workshops, and retreats around the world in Africa, Europe, Sri Lanka, South East Asia, Middle East.
- CYT -1000+ Ashtanga level 3 from Indea Yoga, Mysore, India.
member of Yoga Alliance - Certified Yacep teacher
- Iyengar therapeutic teacher training from Iyengar center in Daramkot, Himalaya, India (2017)
- Certified Mysore Hatha style teacher
- First class diploma in pre-/post-natal and in kids yoga (including special needs kids) from Yog Vidya Gurukul in Nasik, India (2018)
- Qualified in meditation and chakra meditation
- Certified Ayurveda therapist level 1 from Ayuskama Ayurveda institute, Himachal, India (2020) & currently doing level 2
Tamara enjoy the playful styles of yoga. In yoga – as in life – she believes in trying, falling, laughing, and getting up again. The foundation of her yoga is Vinyasa Flow – she loves flowing sequences and the fusion of movement and breath.
Using the techniques of Vinyasa Flow, she has expanded her practice into SUP yoga, aerial yoga and acro-yoga; these styles give her the opportunity to experiment, to practise, and to play.
She is a 500-hour certified teacher; certified by Yoga Alliance. She has done several Yoga Teacher Trainings: in Lamu, in Thailand, and online. She sees yoga as meditation in motion. She believes that, when we incorporate conscious movement and breathing into our days, it becomes a way of life not a part-time activity. Yoga isn’t just on the mat – or on the SUP – it’s all day, every day. It’s an incredible fusion of health, mindfulness, movement and fun.
Zep is how most people call me, but the government and official places love to use Zepline Ouma. I have been teaching yoga for five years, specializing in Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yoga Nidra, Yin Yang, Yin, Restorative Yoga, guided meditation, Reiki, Pranayama, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Grounded in self-healing, I create transformative spaces through travel and mindful practice, embracing the art of Ichigo Ichie—the beauty of being present. A passionate advocate for self-care, I believe in nurturing our energy fields and am dedicated to providing safe, welcoming environments for others to reconnect and recharge. With gratitude at the heart of every experience, I invite you to join this journey of discovery and healing.
Lamu Yoga Festival Therapists 2024
Annett, from Norway, is a soul reader and alkymist. She can access your soul's history and help you remove obstacles and find your authentic path. Find your soul purpose, balance and true nature.
Deborah Lundstrom will be offering 1:1 ayurvedic sessions. The sessions will take 60 minutes and include pulse diagnosis and an ayurvedic consultation on the imbalance of the doshas. Based on this, Deborah will provide recommendations.
Fred is an experienced massage therapist who will offer Intonga, Thai Massage, Swedish Massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Sidai, Hotstone, and Reflexology. Book a session with him to feel relaxed, rejuvenated and utterly calm.
Gray is a licensed physiotherapist who has broad experience in working with professional sports. His focus is on releasing tension in the body and to make you feel relaxed and recovered. Book a session with Gray to unwind and treat yourself.
Hannah, originally from the UK, is a licensed acupuncturist and energy healer, dedicated to helping individuals achieve balance and wellness through holistic practices. Her approach combines ancient techniques, with modern understanding, promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Chakra Balancing & Activation, Soul Reading and Trauma Healing
Heal your soul and elevate your consciousness to the next level. Makiko will guide you through a journey of self-healing, helping you to release trauma and unlock the full potential of your soul. Her soul reading technique will give you a deeper understanding of yourself, while the chakra balancing and activation will help you to tap into your inner power.
Energy Flow Body Treatment
Indulge in a full-body treatment that’s designed to help you unwind and rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Makiko will use a combination of aroma oil full body massage, shiatsu, and presenting somatics to release trapped energy and relieve muscle tension. This trauma muscle release technique will leave you feeling relaxed and free from any physical or emotional stress. You’ll leave feeling refreshed, revitalized and lightened.
Crystal Reflexology:
Reflexology is an ancient Oriental healing therapy that works on the principle that the entire body is connected to reflex points in the feet. Energizing reflex points restores natural energy flow and rejuvenates you by sending waves of deep relaxation throughout your body. Crystals are used to energize the marinade lines and release emotions that are stored in the body!
Rakheno Therapy: A Path to Emotional Healing
Rakheno Therapy is a holistic healing approach designed to address emotional and psychological well-being. Rooted in the principles of mindfulness and self-awareness, this therapy seeks to help individuals uncover and process deep-seated emotions and traumas that may be impacting their daily lives.
Key Concepts
- Self-Exploration: Rakheno Therapy encourages individuals to engage in self-reflection, exploring their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This introspective journey helps clients understand the root causes of their emotional challenges.
- Mind-Body Connection: The therapy emphasizes the connection between emotional health and physical well-being, recognizing that unresolved emotions can manifest as physical symptoms.
- Empowerment: By facilitating a safe and supportive environment, Rakheno Therapy empowers individuals to take control of their healing process, fostering resilience and personal growth.
Benefits
Participants often experience greater emotional clarity, reduced anxiety, and improved relationships as they learn to navigate their feelings. The therapeutic process can lead to enhanced self-esteem and a renewed sense of purpose.
BCST Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Healing
Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy (BCST) is a gentle, non-invasive therapeutic approach that focuses on the body’s craniosacral system, which includes the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Developed from craniosacral therapy, BCST emphasizes the body’s innate healing abilities and the importance of the biodynamic perspective—recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Core Principles
- Gentle Touch: BCST utilizes light touch to facilitate deep relaxation and release tension stored in the body. This approach allows the therapist to assess and enhance the body’s natural rhythms and flows.
- Holistic Perspective: The therapy acknowledges that physical symptoms are often linked to emotional and psychological states. By addressing these interconnected aspects, BCST promotes comprehensive healing.
- Facilitating Self-Regulation: BCST aims to support the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms, encouraging it to find its own balance and healing pathways.
Benefits
BCST can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, stress, anxiety, and trauma recovery. Clients often report increased relaxation, improved emotional well-being, and enhanced overall vitality after sessions.
Sharath is a:
- Life skills Facilitator & Breath expert, with The Art of Living
- An Engineer
- Professional Singer
- Holds a (Diploma & Double-post Graduate) in Bio Dynamic Cranio Sacral Therapy.
- NLP Master Practitioner & Research Astrologer
- Touched more than 55,000+lives with 10+ years experience as a Holistic Wellness and Mind Coach.
- S-YASA Certified Music Therapist, taught 100’s of students in Carnatic and light music.
- Trained 30,000+ of IT employees from organisations like BIDCO Africa, Bayobab Africa, Infosys, IBM, Microsoft,Google, Cognizant, TCS & Mylan laboratories, etc with his expertise in YOGA and as a LIFE COACH.
- He touched 11,000+ young minds to reach their GOALS and handle their MINDFULNESS.
Sumali will offer:
- Face therapy massage (fascia release); 20-30 minutes
- Ayuveda body constitution and diet plan; 60 minutes
- Posture and alignment session: 60 minutes
