Yoga Teachers
Duncan Rice
Duncan has been practising and studying yoga for many years. He has an advanced qualification through the International Yoga Alliance Certification (E-RYT 500), but has also studied in many of India’s oldest Hatha Yoga institutions and I lived in India for a number of years. He is delighted to bring to Durban the ancient Indian philosophy of yoga.
Duncan's father was also a yoga teacher. He lived in Kolkata (Culcutta), India, and practised Hatha Yoga since the 1940s. He remained young, free from illness and continued to teach yoga up until he was 85. Thanks to him, Duncan's father was an example to many of how Hatha Yoga can keep you fit in the body and mind.
Duncan trained and received certification in the following Indian institutions:
• Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga with the Aananda Yoga India Shala in Mysore under Bharath Shetty
• Kriya Yoga meditation techniques of Paramahansa Yogananda at Parmth Niketan Ashram Rishkesh,
• Traditional Hatha Yoga at Kaivalyadhama Gurukul following the teachings of Swami Kuvalayananda, Lonavala,
• Traditional Hatha Yoga at Shivananda Yoga Asham and Hospital following the teachings of Swami Shivananda Saraswati of Assam and Swami Nigamanada Saraswati, Kolkata
His lineage is from Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh and he follows the teachings of Patanjali (Ashtanga Yoga), Ayurveda Yoga are laid down in some of the world's oldest texts and his yoga rooted in ancient tradition passed down by the teachers over thousands of years. Duncan firmly believes that in the teaching that we are a multi-layered beings, from our physical body to your subtle body, to the mind, intellect and soul. Yoga is about creating health and equilibrium in our body, calming the mind and allowing us to become in touch and at peace with our true self. Yoga therefore is about this quest for self-realisation.
The teachings that Duncan passes on to you can be practised by raw beginners to advanced, young to old. He particularly enjoys teaching pranayama (breath control) and meditation. He believes that you are never too old to start yoga as he lived in the house in India of a 92-year-old, whose mind and body was that of someone in their twenties thanks to her regular practice of yoga.
Allan Govender
Allan's yoga journey began years ago even before he realised what it was all about. A lecture by Swami Parthasarathy inspired him and he regretted not having followed it through at that stage. However, it is never too late and here he is today a full time student of Yogam Yoga and an online student of the Vedanta Academy SA studying scripture and philosophy.
Being exposed to all aspects of yoga his thirst for knowledge intensified and h had the great opportunity of meeting Duncan Rice at a Buddhist retreat and he joined Duncan's classes in Durban progressing to being a student teacher.
This led him to further his study and knowledge of this great discipline which has now become a daily routine for Allan in sharing the knowledge of both the physical and mental with those who he is in touch with on a daily basis. He enjoys teaching the children and adults at the Sarva Dharma Ashram and the other Yogam Yoga classes in Durban. He is now working in schools around the Chatsworth to promote yoga and a holistic lifestyle to young people. He believes that if we start promoting balance within ourselves from an early age this will reap benefits in later life.
Allan believes 'once a personal commitment is made, one needs to just follow the heart and place the toe at the doorstep and the foot will follow.'
Allan encourages all to come and join Yogam Yoga and enjoy a peaceful joyous life.
Renisha Naidoo
However, everything changed when Renisha discovered the transformative power of yoga. She realized that yoga not only provided physical benefits but also offered a profound spiritual connection. Renisha found many similarities between yoga and Krsna consciousness, recognising the shared principles of mindfulness, self-discovery, and inner peace.
Renisha's yoga journey was not without its challenges. She openly shares her experiences of struggling with various asanas (yoga postures) and the perseverance required to overcome them. Renisha believes in the importance of letting others know that even experienced yogis face their own difficulties and that perfection is not the ultimate goal. She encourages her students to embrace their own journey, acknowledging that there are always more asanas to learn and master.
Renisha's passion for yoga led her to become a certified yoga teacher under the guidance of Duncan Rice, the founder of Yogam Yoga. Duncan's teaching style and philosophy resonated deeply with Renisha, as he created an environment where everyone feels comfortable working within their own pace and limits. There is no competition or judgment, only a focus on personal growth and self-improvement.
Renisha's dedication to yoga extends beyond her own practice. She now plays an integral role in assisting the Yogam Yoga Teacher Training program, where she helps train aspiring teachers in the traditional Hatha yoga style. Renisha views yoga teaching as a service (Seva) to humanity, recognising the profound impact it can have on individuals' physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Throughout her yoga journey, Renisha acknowledges the immense support and guidance she has received from Duncan Rice. She attributes much of her success and growth to his mentorship and teachings. Renisha is grateful for the opportunity to teach and inspire others, sharing her own experiences of starting out as a beginner and emphasising that there is always more to learn.
Renisha is a testament to the transformative power of yoga. Her dedication to her own practice, her commitment to teaching, and her recognition of yoga as a service to humanity make her a valued member of the Yogam Yoga community. Renisha continues to inspire others on their own yoga journey, reminding them that everyone starts somewhere and that growth and learning are lifelong endeavours.
Karen Jackson
Karen discovered the transformative power of yoga through a fortuitous journey. Initially, yoga found her in the form of physical exercise before revealing its true beauty. At the age of 20, she would attend hot yoga classes with hundreds of other people in a massive studio in JHB. Little did she know then that the seed had been planted. Fast forward past marriage and three kids and a move to Durban where yoga beckoned yet again, this time in the form of Vinyasa and Vinyasa teacher training. During this time, it took a journey through the self to the self as they say in yoga, where she emerged on the other end of several personal crisis situations before fully embracing yoga.
By 2022, yoga had become a way of life for Karen, serving as a lifeline in many ways. She practises every day, exploring different modalities and schools of yoga. She is grateful to have had this experience before meeting Duncan, as it provided her with a landscape of sorts, a background against which to compare. After completing the traditional Hatha yoga teacher training under Duncan Rice’s guidance as her guru, she can honestly say that Traditional Hatha is where her heart lies. If different schools of yoga were a house, then traditional Hatha is where she enjoys spending most of her time. She may visit other rooms, but she will always come back to this one. Immersed in yoga philosophy, Duncan's course brought her closer to her true self and solidified her spirituality. Now, she lives and breathes yoga asana as well as philosophy, constantly researching and reading up. She remains both a student and a teacher - with her children, among her fellow yogis, and in life in general.
In 2024, a new adventure awaits Karen in the form of Cape Town, where she hopes to establish roots and spread the life-changing practice that is yoga.
Angela Machanick
Angela embarked on her yoga journey in 2017 with a quest for personal transformation. Initially drawn to yoga for health reasons, she discovered a deeper connection that went beyond the physical realm. Through consistent practice and exploration, Angela not only shed weight and improved her health but also found a newfound sense of flexibility, grace, and tranquility that transcended onto her mat and into her daily life.
Over the years, Angela delved deeper into her practice, immersing herself in hot yoga classes and online sessions during times of restricted gatherings. Her journey of self-discovery through yoga led her to complete a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training at Pathways Academy of Life in Eston(KZN) in August 2022. Specialising in Traditional Hatha/Ishta yoga with a focus on Yoga Nidra meditations, Angela found her calling in guiding and empowering others on their yoga paths.
Since her certification, Angela has been dedicated to teaching yoga privately and in small groups, tailoring sessions to individual needs and goals. She believes in offering unwavering support, fostering growth, and encouraging her students to push boundaries and discover their inner strengths.
Currently based at the serene DeCharmoy Estate Guesthouse in Canelands just outside Verulam, Angela teaches classes for Yogam from Tuesday to Thursday. Inspired by the sense of community and holistic teaching style at Yogam, Angela is passionate about sharing her knowledge and creating a nurturing environment for practitioners in her local area.
Angela views the yoga mat as a mirror, reflecting how we treat ourselves both on and off the mat. She emphasises the importance of self-awareness, compassion, and finding balance within ourselves. Through yoga, Angela encourages her students to observe, breathe, and align their mental and physical well-being, guiding them towards a harmonious and fulfilling practice.
“Be happy for those who are happy,
be compassionate toward those who are unhappy,
be delighted for those who are virtuous,
and be indifferent toward the wicked.”
― Patañjali, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali