Meet Carelene, a dedicated yoga teacher with over 9 years of experience and a passion for exploring the mind-body connection. Based in the serene Cape Winelands, her journey celebrates the transformative power of movement and mindfulness.

At Retreat Yourself, Carelene invites you to join her for a dynamic Budokon Yoga workshop. This unique practice blends controlled, flowing movements with elements of martial arts, calisthenics, and primal motion. Designed to build strength, flexibility, and agility, it’s a playful yet powerful way to awaken the warrior and yogi within.

How would you like to meet in the morning? Come open your heart in this mystical yoga, where we dance our bodies into union with pure, empty space. There is a snake in your spine, and her name is Love. She wants to undulate your body into the centre of this love affair with existence. This dance will offer a piercing of your heart, an attunement of all your senses, and will send you quivering into the rest of your life

Candice is the director of La Diosa Dance Co., a company that emphasizes the fundamentals of connecting with your body and your dance partner, with a focus on connection, mindfulness, and confidence through movement.

At Retreat Yourself, Candice will be offering a fun and interactive Afro-Latin partner dancing class, where participants can explore the lively rhythms of Salsa and Bachata. Designed for both beginners and experienced dancers, this class encourages attendees to reconnect with their bodies, learn basic partner work, and enjoy the social nature of dance. Whether you come solo or with a partner, you’ll leave feeling energized and inspired.

Tarynn O brings her experience as a sound healing artist to the world through the natural expression of creativity with voice, body, and nature. We will gather together to integrate the weekend before returning to the world – connecting to the land and the water behind the scenes.

Walk with a question or an answer, offering our gratitude and receiving guidance from the path of nature as a teacher. Leave feeling nurtured and connected.

Annelize first discovered Biodanza (translated – “Dance of Life) in 2007, and it was literally ‘love at first step’… More than conscious dance; Biodanza is a celebration of life, a path to holistic wellbeing, and a space to express your true self.

Annelize started facilitating in 2014 and has extensive experience with all types and levels of classes and events, applications, and audiences. She has designed and facilitated a variety of bespoke movement-related journeys – totaling well over 1000 events to date. Annelize really believes in the power of Biodanza to heal and transform both individuals and communities and enjoys sharing her love for it with others. She is also a didactic teacher and the director of the Cape Town School of Biodanza. Come join a fun and uplifting journey with Annelize to experience the joy and power of Biodanza!

Tina Nance
Tina Nance has been practicing Yoga for over 27 years and teaching Yoga, embodiment, somatic inquiry, and women’s work around the globe since 2001, in classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings.

Tina is a long-time resident yoga teacher at The Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali, who specializes in embodiment and nervous system regulation practices and is the founder of HELD: School of Embodied Self Integration and the somatic practices of embodied unwinding and nervous system rewire.

DJ Tulzy
With over two decades behind the decks, Tulzy is a seasoned DJ and event organizer whose journey has taken him across the globe – from the vibrant streets of London and Paris to the sun-soaked shores of Ibiza, Mallorca, South Africa, and now Bali.

Known for his eclectic taste and extensive music collection, Tulzy blends afro, soul, funk, rare grooves, nu jazz, Latin, disco, house, and electronic sounds into a seamless, soulful journey.

Tulzy is passionate about globally creating spaces of Afro-Inclusivity. Where all people no matter their ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, or social status, can feel safe to connect, express themselves together, and celebrate what Africa is all about.

When Stef moved from Berlin to Cape Town in 2011, she took her 12-year indoor Yoga teacher experience out into nature. She is the founder of Yoga&Hike and offers nature hikes combined with Yoga, meditation, and breathwork.

A traditional Tantrik practice, perhaps the oldest form of yoga known to us, Tandava is a very slow, mystical dance that leads to the perception of the cosmic body and attunement to our infinite nature. Although very simple to perform, it expresses the complexity of our living existence. We will practice in the semi-darkness of the twilight hour of dusk to help us meditate on the spaces in between spaces.

Valentina Leo is an internationally celebrated teacher of Erotic Wisdom and the traditional Tantra currently known as Kashmir Shivaism. Explorer of the Tantrik Realms for over 20 years, Valentina is a spiritual maverick – uncensored and untamed, she teaches the yoga of presence, unbounded freedom, and mystical union with the vast emptiness of pure space. She is known for her honesty, sense of humour, and the lightness she infuses into the transmission of deep teachings. She is the founder of The Tantra School of Fascinating Wonderment.

Brian Bergman, founder of Dance Awake, has over 25 years of experience teaching yoga, meditation, and conscious dance. His work includes teaching yoga in prisons and running a highly successful conscious dance class every Thursday at Claremont Hall in Cape Town for the past 12 years.

Brian has facilitated numerous dances, retreats, and events, offering deep experiences of conscious dance that encourage self-expression, personal growth, and connection. At the “”Retreat Yourself”” weekend, he will provide a transformative conscious dance experience, guiding participants through a journey of self-discovery and embodiment​.

Carla has been a facilitator and student of Yin yoga for over a decade, and has found it to be a great teacher and an anchor in the chaos. In her teaching, she draws on years of practice, training, philosophy, and science, weaving these threads together with the alchemy of poetic words. It is a deep love affair, these shapes of stillness, the potential for profound receptivity, awareness, and transformation.

Yin is still, yet expansive, a practice of embodiment and a portal into your inner universe, a space of innate wisdom and embodiment. It is a coming home to self, the exploration of who we are in our bones and breath, a portal into who we are beyond our bones and breath.

Karl Gong is an international renowned gong master, biohacker, and spiritual and psychological counselor, who blends global cultural insights with an intuitive healing connection. Drawing from diverse traditions, his approach harmonizes sound, vibration, and energy for profound rejuvenation. Collaborations with shamans and yoginis have enriched his practice, making his sessions a festival highlight. With Karl, you’ll embark on more than a performance—it’s a transformative journey into healing, yoga, and personal growth.

The Art of dancing the Sacred and Sensual as a movement of AWAKENING.
This playful laboratory of touch provides the opportunity to explore your relationship with intimacy. Connecting with others in truth will allow you to meet more of yourself.
BlissDance is not a dance class but a Tantrik expression. It’s for couples that want to experience more depth in their relationship and rekindle their sexual fire, and for singles that want to explore and experience themselves in connection with others. It is a Laboratory of Love and it will respond to what you bring. Join us for a playful journey of sensual explorations, true intimacy and deep connection.
(Open to all sexual orientations – No previous experience necessary)

Valentina Leo is an internationally celebrated teacher of Erotic Wisdom and the Traditional Tantra current known as Kashmir Shivaism. Explorer of the Tantrik Realms for over 20 years, Valentina is a spiritual maverick – uncensored and untamed, she teaches the Yoga of Presence, Unbounded Freedom and Mystical Union with the vast Emptiness of pure Space. She is known for her honesty, sense of humour and the lightness she infuses in the transmission of deep teachings. She is the founder of The Tantra School of Fascinating Wonderment. Italian by birth, she is based in Cape Town and teaches internationally. www.fascinatingwonderment.com

It humbles me with its still vastness, intelligent simplicity and profound insights. I draw on extensive experience, a multitude of trainings and a deep love for the practice of Yin Yoga, skilfully weaving philosophy, science and even poetry into the fabric of this practice through the beauty of its shapes and the curated use of words. This “Rooting into Self” will be a grounding practice designed to invite you back into your body and reconnect you with your bones, your breath, and the Earth. It will be a guided journey into the remembering who you are, beyond the hustle of life. It is about inviting you back into yourself and the rooted, rested, rhythmic self, a belonging. I am honoured to teach this practice.

Sunset Soul Stretch with Lashara is a yoga experience designed to ignite body, mind, and spirit.

Led by Lashara Wood, a holistic wellness practitioner with expertise in strength training, yoga, and mindset coaching, this session blends grounding breath work, spicy balance moves, and yoga flows.

Perfect for easing travel tension after a long journey to the festival, it helps participants release stress, improve flexibility, and recharge with inner peace.

Whether you’re an experienced yogi or new to the practice, Lashara’s dynamic and zesty approach ensures a joyful, supportive space for all. Step into the sunset and stretch your soul.

Stephanie loves nature and belives that listening to the sound of nature and waterfalls is medicine. She offers yoga and hiking events in South Africa, taking people to nature’s most beautiful landscapes. Having taught indoor yoga in studios for 17 years all over the world, she has been teaching yoga outside in nature since 2011. We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming her back to Retreat Yourself 2024.

Muriel, from Cape Town Swing, discovered Lindy Hop in 2013 and was hooked from day one, taking as many classes as she could pack into the week. Later, after traveling to some international swing dance events and attending teacher training workshops, she joined the teaching team in Cape Town to help grow the swing dance scene locally.

She has been teaching Lindy Hop and Solo Jazz since 2015 and is currently the “mover & shaker” at Cape Town Swing, directing operations and keeping multiple pots on the boil. She is in love with swinging jazz and finds immense joy in introducing others to the infectious spirit of Lindy Hop.

At Stand Up Paddle Boarding, we don’t just teach a sport—we offer a transformative journey on the water. Led by a team of expert, certified instructors, we bring years of experience, a passion for the sport, and a commitment to your progress. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your technique, our personalized coaching ensures you develop the skills, confidence, and strength to master the water.

We believe in pushing limits, embracing adventure, and teaching with precision. From tranquil waters to challenging waves, we provide the guidance and support to navigate any condition safely and with style. Join us at Stand Up Paddle Boarding, and discover the freedom, thrill, and balance that comes from standing tall on the water.