Joumana was first introduced to yoga while attending university in Montreal, Canada. Her first experience was an Ashtanga Vinyasa class at Sattva Yoga Shala. She studied with senior Ashtanga Yoga teacher Mark Darby, one of the very few people worldwide to have attained the highest level of yoga teaching accreditation.
Joumana was initially attracted to the physical practice of Ashtanga yoga. As her fascination with this dynamic style grew, so did her curiosity for the philosophy of yoga. Joumana’s dedication to the method helped her realize that yoga is more than just a physical exercise, but a lifestyle practiced on and off the mat. After moving back to Dubai in 2010, Joumana completed her teacher training course and started teaching all over the city. In 2012, she took her first trip to Mysore, India, to practice at KPJAYI with R. Sharath Jois, grandson of the late master of Ashtanga Yoga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. Earlier this year, Joumana founded the Yoga Room in JLT, home of Ashtanga Yoga in Dubai, where she teaches and continues to practice daily. Drawing from her travels, experiences and teachers, Joumana wishes to share her knowledge and passion for the true and traditional Ashtanga practice.
Dina is a Jivamukti Yoga
300 Hour Certified Teacher and has been sharing her passion through
teaching since June 2015. She stumbled across yoga at the age of 15
through a Gaiam home video bought on Amazon and has been hooked ever
since. She also trains in Ashtanga, Thai yoga massage, meditation, and
acro yoga. Prior to teaching, Dina quit her day job in financial PR
to launch the UAE's first yoga and fitness apparel boutique, yApparel,
in March 2014. Only a brick and mortar store in the the first year,
yApparel is now also one of the region's most popular online stores for
everything fitness and fashion in the Middle East. At heart, Dina
dedicates her teaching and her practice to help spread joy and
compassion to all - making yoga accessible through a safe and uplifting
environment.
Lizel is a dedicated yoga practitioner and teacher with 8 years experience. She studied in Parmarth Niketan Ashram in the Himalayas and at the world renowned yoga university of SVYASA in Bangalore. She left the corporate world and her developing career in the hospitality industry to spread yoga and become a link in transforming people’s lives. This has led her to teach in Abu Dhabi, Baku, and now Dubai.
After following Kino MacGregor's YouTube videos for two years, Lizel took interest in the practice of Ashtanga yoga and has been dedicated to the practice for a year. Lizel developed and maintained her self-practice through DVD's produced by KPJAYI certified teachers Kino MacGregor, Mark Darby and David Swenson. She felt the need to find a true Ashtanga yoga studio and her quest led her to the Yoga Room!
Lizel is also certified in swing yoga, therapeutic Yoga, GroovyKids Yoga and aroma yoga. Her other credentials include:
- Certified Personal Trainer, Mind Body Specialist, Group Exercise Instructor, CoreFit, Pilates for PTs, Pre-Post Natal Exercise Instructor from American Council on Exercise (ACE)
- Certified Metafit HIIT Coach
- Calisthenics Level 1 from World Calisthenics Organization
She considers herself a forever student of yoga and still continues to study extensively, take courses and workshops to gain more knowledge and to render her classes safe, professional, effective and at the same time fun. Lizel deepens her studies further by studying books of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, R. Sharath Jois and other leading Ashtanga practitioners. Lizel plans to make her first trip to Mysore to study with R. Sharath Jois in the fall of 2015.
Olivier David first discovered the practice of Ashtanga yoga in January 2004. He made his first trip to Mysore, India, in 2009 to deepen his practice at the source of Ashtanga Yoga and has since then made annual trips to continue his studies with his teacher R. Sharath Jois.
Olivier is a dedicated practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga after the examples and teachings of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath Jois and a KPJAYI Level-II authorized teacher. In 2009, Olivier had the opportunity to start travelling and teaching all over the world, sharing this amazing practice that has been passed down to him.
In 2015, Olivier received the blessing of his guru R. Sharath Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga in the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois & Sri T. Krishnamacharya.
Various teachers in Mysore-style: It is common to have more than one teacher present in a Mysore-style class, or one main teacher as well as assistants. This allows students to learn and progress in their practice at their own pace with the help and guidance of the teachers in the room. Mysore classes are not conducted in the same manner as other yoga classes you might have attended. While Mysore classes run for a few hours, the duration of your practice will not be that long. This means participants can attend class at anytime they find convenient. Students must be mindful of the start and end time of each Mysore class. Therefore, please make sure to arrive at least an hour before class finishes to make sure you complete your practice in time.
Various teachers during events: Our teachers co-teach some of the events that we run at the studio so that everyone can share their knowledge and energy with the participants. Often when guiding students through 108 sun salutations, our teachers volunteer to take turns.
