A moment of discovery.

My first real interest in yoga began in what may seem like an unlikely spot in a local Cape Town Virgin Active gym. I was guided into child’s pose by the instructor and she adjusted me with the lightest touch on my sacrum. This adjustment was a revelation to me as a therapeutic body worker.

It felt like a full body massage – that momentary sensation of touch with the intention to guide my body deeper into a space of rest and ease. We then ended the session with a guided meditation in svasana and I experienced a vortex of slow moving energy in both my palms. I was intrigued and touched by the experience. It was a first glimpse into the spiritual aspect of the practice and the way Yoga effects not just the body but the mind and spirit. Also a reminder that we do not need to be in a low lit magical ashram to have a profound awakening experience.

My teaching journey began with a love for therapeutic body work and a desire for a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology. I had begun my Londolozi adventure in  June 2016 and had already planned to do the Yoga teacher training course in Cape Town with teacher trainer Jim Harrington in September. Serendipitously it was here that I would meet Sam then Burnell, now Zeederburg. She would come to work at Londolozi as our yoga instructor in the following year.

Initially I had little intention of actually teaching a class and more a desire for deeper knowledge of the body. Life it seemed had other plans as Londolozi encouraged me to step into the teaching space. Bejay Watson was a mentor at this time as she encouraged me to find my voice on that beautiful deck.

Bejay is integral to Londolozi’s Yoga Story. Londolozi’s first live in yoga teacher, Bejay, began teaching yoga in 2007. She has countless hours of study and training . Having completed trainings in many countries, India, the United States and Europe. Bejay has trained in many different disciplines such as Forrest yoga, Kundalini, Hatha, Sivanada and beyond. Bejay is a true student of the art of yoga.

As Londolozi’s Sound Healer and member of the Varty family her legacy is rich. With many guests asking after her and crediting her with their discovery of the practice of yoga.

The history of yoga at Londolozi began with one of our beloved guests, Sally Flanagan, who was teaching in Johannesburg in 2005. Sally was one of the few influential teachers who brought yoga to South Africa.

The Varty family attended her classes and had begun their own journey of spiritual awakening and practice. After many visits to India, the idea of yoga in the wild took hold a new concept completely unexplored or shared in the safari landscape at that time. Yet the Varty family intuitively recognised its transformative power. They understood the profound wisdom of the eight limbs of yoga and envisioned how these ancient teachings could deepen the connection between individuals and the wilderness around them. By embracing these lessons, they created a pathway for people to not only experience the beauty of nature more intimately, but also rediscover their intrinsic bond with the natural world and thus a free yoga class was gifted by the family every day for every guest if they so desired.

Londolozi’s first yoga deck, where you will now find our Living shop and Photo studio                         

We have come along way since those first years of Yoga at Londolozi and have had many gifted yoga teachers along the way – each sharing their wisdom and experience with the Londolozi family.Below is an introduction to some of our current teachers.

Meet Richie

Richie, husband to Bronwyn Varty -Laburn. Richie is a highly intelligent creative and has many varied interests. An internationally recognised yoga teacher, Richie is renowned for his personal engagement and motivational instruction that embodies physical, spiritual and mental strength. Richie has cultivated a dedicated following both locally and internationally.

With over a decade of experience, he holds a 300 hour teacher training and is trained in international styles including Forrest, Hatha, Vinyasa and advanced Pranayama techniques. Richie has developed his own teaching style, offering creatively sequenced and light- hearted classes with the right intensity for gentle transformation. His journey has been enriched by apprenticeships with notable instructors such as the late Mel Castleman, Bejay Watson, James De Maria in Ibiza, and Lisa Wright for traditional Pranayama techniques.

What distinguishes Richie is his profound understanding and embodiement of all eight limbs of Yoga, ensuring a fully immersive practice that goes beyond physical postures. In his classes, Richie weaves a web of connectedness through attention to detail and breathwork, facilitating a slow but fluid flow that nurtures both body and mind whilst building internal strength and somatic understanding.

Meet Sam

Sam’s journey with yoga began after high school she joined a friend at a heated Vinyasa class (a style of yoga where sequences of poses are linked together, creating a sort of ‘dance’, in a temperature higher than our natural body temperature). At the end of it she writes in her own words…

I remember feeling like all of the muscles in my body had been warmed up and stretched out completely. The endorphins that rushed through every cell were electric, and I couldn’t wait to go to another class. I  had found an environment for people to not only exercise, but also a safe space to ‘release’ pent up emotions, stress and mental blocks.

I began to notice that after regular yoga, my eating choices became healthier ones, my quality of sleep was better, my mind felt clearer and I had far more patience with others and myself. I had come to understand what it meant to feel a great sense of peace.

With this in mind – I wanted to make others feel the same way I did at the end of each of those inspiring and enjoyable classes – physically and mentally. I embarked on a teachers training in 2016, and then began teaching friends for fun on the beach, young children at a special needs school , joined as a children’s yoga teacher at an NGO called Earthchild Project which was based in the informal settlements around the Western Cape, and eventually found my way to the most beautiful yoga deck at Londolozi.

Why do I love yoga? I love the physicality of the practice – how there is an element of flexibility, strength, mobility and balance that are all increasing with each class, and how this can be adjusted for each level. I also love that through regular practice, a spiritual element creeps in, where mindfulness movements and breath definitely show people how much depth there in spending quiet time in one’s own mind. This ripples out into daily life choices and how we show up in the world.

I love yoga for these reasons – the myriad of benefits for the body itself, as well as the mindfulness aspect. How it makes each person feel after a class. How all age groups benefit from it and that it is never too late to start. It is a practice that can be done anywhere- without much equipment- at the start, middle or end of each day.

The overall love for the practice comes from the enjoyment of the movements, as well as the gift of being able to share it with others

Sam teaching yoga to the children at Londolozi’s Crèche.                                   

Through the years Londolozi has welcomed many teachers and have kept up a daily practice of a complimentary yoga class for guests. We are lucky to have a gifted group of staff that include a yoga teacher in our Finance department Sylvia Waller.

Sylvia Waller on the yoga deck

Sylvia found yoga at a challenging time of her life. She experienced a transformational emotional release in a yoga class, that set her on the yogic path. Sylvia qualified as a yoga teacher in 2022 and when she’s not in the office crunching numbers, she will sometimes teach a class and stand in as a interim teacher. Known for her quick sense of humour and warm smile – Sylvia is very much loved and can beautifully embody that elusive limb of the eight. Samadhi. Samadhi is a state of deep concentration and meditative consciousness. She has a particular love for teaching a strong and mindful Hatha and Vinyasa style of yoga.

Staff classes also take place while guests are on drive. This is an opportunity for staff to take a moment for themselves and care for their wellbeing.

A class for staff in the bush watching the Full moon rise

Yoga means union in Sanskrit and at Londolozi we hope that what is imparted on the yoga deck is not just a movement class but an opportunity to go inward to quiet the mind and to come to a place of rest and expansive space inside yourselves. Yoga was created with the intention to allow its students to sit comfortably in meditation. Movement with the intention of stillness. It is so important to remember that asanas are only one limb of the eight that make up the true practice of Yoga.

All beginners are welcome at our classes. Our teaching styles may vary but the invitation is the same. Come move with us and experience gratitude for your body and all that it is capable of.

We hope that you get to join us for a class soon. The open magic of this deck awaits you. Let us know in the comments section below if you’ve tried one of our yoga classes…