teachers 
if you neglect the body, you stifle the spirit ...
Jessika Munnell and Fulvio Grandin opened the first Bikram Yoga studio in South Africa at the beginning of 2003. Prompted by an overwhelming response and request for a studio in the city centre the Yoga Zone was opened in November 2004. The studio is dedicated to a high quality of service, professionalism and ethics and has a great team of teachers and assistants.
Fulvio Grandin
I had always been very interested in yoga for both its physical and mental-spiritual traditions but had never found a form (or teacher) that really inspired me enough to develop my practice (my lack of commitment actually). When I was exposed to Bikram Yoga in San Francisco about 7 years ago I immediately felt a deep connection with the practice and its teaching style. It was far away though and I was only in the USA a few months a year - practicing at home was not the same. I knew I had to open a studio in Cape Town, which I did together with Jessika in 2002 after an 8 month exploration and study at established studios in the USA and Canada. I was later exposed to Power Vinyasa Yoga by a visiting teacher trainer here in Cape Town and completed my training in that form over 2003. Having a studio, practicing yoga and sharing it with others inspires me constantly.
Kate Ball
My yoga journey began with a Bikram class at Mother City Yoga Studio (Yoga Zone’s predecessor). I was studying at UCT, highly stressed-out, and aware of a deep-seated lack in my life. That first yoga class changed me. It was one of those rare experiences where, after just 90 minutes, I could say with absolute certainty that I would be doing it all my life. Despite having been a dedicated runner, I immediately abandoned my training regime in favour of what was, to me, the deepest, smartest exercise I’d ever experienced. From then on, I found myself going to yoga 5, 6, 7 times a week. Yoga healed me at a very deep level: my insecurities diminished, my relationships improved and, in general, I was a much happier person.
About a year and a half into my practice, I realized that I wanted to teach yoga and dedicate myself to giving people this remarkable life-tool. It was quite a severe change of plan – I was a writer and editor by training and enmeshed in a Master’s degree. However, life can be amazingly cooperative when the right dream comes along. I managed to put things on hold so that I could complete my first teacher-training course. Later that year, I moved to San Francisco – the yoga-Mecca of the West. I was exposed to some of the best teachers in the world and, from there, made my next teaching move: training with one of my yoga-heroes, Ana Forrest. For the rest of my time in the States, I taught yoga in between travelling, writing, and visiting as many different yoga studios as I could.
Life eventually returned me to Cape Town where I settled back into the daily rhythms at Yoga Zone as if I’d never left. I feel deep gratitude to be on this particular life path and to have the privilege of sharing yoga with people each day.
Jenny Brash
The first time I tried Bikram was in 1997 in San Francisco. I loved it! It was the first yoga I had ever done. Since then I have tried various forms of yoga but nothing leaves me feeling as good as Bikram!
I am from Cape Town. After completing my CA, I spent time in London where I really got into Bikram yoga. I was training for the London Triathlon and started going to Bikram classes to stretch out after training. I decided to go on the Bikram Instructors Course in Los Angeles at the end of 2004. I did not go on the course with a definite idea in mind . I wanted to learn more about Bikram and I was really excited about doing 2 yoga classes a day for 9 weeks!
I returned to Cape Town at the start of 2005 after being away for 10 years and started teaching at Yogazone in April 2005.
Currently I teach part time at Yogazone as I have a full time job in marketing.
I love teaching the yoga as much as I love practicing it!
Stuart Kirton
I have been practicing Yoga since 2002 and teaching since 2004. I enjoy a more dynamic form of practice such as Power Yoga and Astanga Yoga and I was originally trained and certified in a form called "Chaya (Shadow) Yoga."
Shadow Yoga is a form that is very circular and flowing in its nature and encourages a progressive practice leading towards free form. It is also very strongly influenced by Shaolin Kung Fu and from this interest I studied Kung Fu, which has created an even larger sense of free form in my life and practice.
I do not make any understatements when saying that my Yoga practice has changed my life and given me the strength to approach life in a very wholesome and positive way. One time a student said to me that she thought I have such a great job, because I make people happy. I never said it at the time, but the truth is, it is not me that makes them happy, but rather the commitment to their practice and to themselves that makes them happy.
I do however take great pleasure in watching students overcoming challenges and fears and understanding themselves on a much deeper and real level.