Ahimsa Vida - Yoga and Veganism

I first came into contact with yoga 10 years ago and it quickly became so much more to me than a way to stay fit and healthy; it became a lifestyle. Part of that lifestyle is the practise of Ahimsa, non-violence and compassion towards all sentient beings. When I embarked on the yoga path I quickly became a vegetarian and from there the next logical step was a vegan lifestyle and I have never looked back. Vegan nutrition and cooking has become a passion of mine along with trying to spread the vegan message for a better world; for the animals, your health and the planet. I have recently started working as a vegan chef, cooking wholesome vegan meals for The Farmacy Café, Marbella, a wonderful opportunity to showcase how fabulous the vegan lifestyle is! I also coach people who are interested in transitioning to the vegan lifestyle but find it challenging. Helping people to understand the ethics behind veganism and how to make the right choices regarding health and nutrition.


Wanting to share my passion with others I embarked on the path of becoming a yoga teacher. In 2010 I successfully completed an intensive yoga teacher training at Ashiyana yoga center in Goa, India. After this I studied at the Iyengar yoga institute in Amsterdam for a year in order to gain a deeper understanding of yoga anatomy and alignment.

I mainly teach Vinyasa yoga, a freestyle form of yoga in which movement is synchronized to the breath. This creates a flow of movement. Powerful but also soft and smooth. The classes are sometimes slow and meditative (slow flow vinyasa) or challenging and fast paced. Sometimes a rhythmic dance and sometimes the postures are held a little longer. Mindfulness and awareness with every move you make. My classes are influenced by the precision of Iyengar Yoga where a large emphasis is placed on the correct alignment of the body. Personal attention is given in the form of ‘hands on’ adjustments and verbal cues.

I also teach Yin/Yang yoga classes. Yin Yoga is a quiet, meditative form of yoga in which postures are held for longer periodes of time, usually 3-5 mins. This is primarily aimed at the strengthening and stretching of connective tissue and joints. In Yin yoga you are confronted with your own boundaries and it teaches you to accept and appreciate your body as it is. To find balance we need to incorporate both Yin and Yang aspects into our lives.Yin is the quiet, grounded, introspective side and Yang the active, busy and adventurous side. Yin/yang yoga finds a balance between both these qualities. Part of the lesson consists of Yin postures and a part of a Yang flow.

Through pranayama (breathing exercises), meditation and asana (yoga postures), my goal is to inspire my students to become curious about who they are and leave each class feeling refreshed and renewed. I also give private yoga training in which I coach and motivate clients on yoga and vegan nutrition.