About Jan
I had always been intrigued by the mysticism of yoga, especially growing up in a very conservative small town in the heart of a farming community in South Africa. It wasn’t until much later that I finally joined my first class with a couple of friends nearly 20 years ago. What flowed from curiosity to a regular practice finally became a way of life when I committed to doing my first 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training in 2017. In some ways it was hugely fulfilling, but in many ways it left me wanting more, disappointed that it wasn’t the epiphany I had hoped for.
This feeling drove me to continue studying, particularly in the field of philosophy and mindfulness. In 2019 the stars aligned and I had an opportunity to travel to India to study mindfulness and meditation with Tibetan monks in Dharmsala. It was here, in India, that I was first introduced to Tibetan yoga practices.
I have continued studying to find ways of bringing light and compassion to others and to be an instrument for self-enquiry and growth for my students. Towards the end of 2019 I completed a diploma in Mindfulness and Meditation facilitating and in 2020 I obtained my Advanced Yoga Teacher Training certification. I also had the privilege in 2020 of studying Yantra Yoga (Tibetan yoga of movement) with Tibetan teachers.
In addition to my journey through yoga to mindfulness and meditation, I am a passionate earth-warrior, wholesome food seeker and natural medicine mama. I support local businesses, farmers and products that are earth-friendly, animal-friendly and don’t harm our precious planet or any creature in it. Through educating our children and our immediate circle of influence, we can, together, alter the destructive trajectory of human kind.
In line with my passion for the environment, I have had loads of fun designing yoga products, lovingly made by Uzwelo, who employ local community women and use tons of waste material and recycled plastic to create practical, useful, beautiful things.
I currently reside in the Netherlands and am so grateful for the tools we learned through a global pandemic to connect and share online, where I continue to teach worldwide.
And of course, the restless curiosity in my soul will continue to push my boundaries and search for new ways to connect body, breath and mind…
What's in a llama
THE BODY
of the llama is layered, firstly in a traditional meditation position, secondly in an infinity sign and thirdly into the outline of a lotus flower, a symbol of purity and spiritual enlightenment.
THE WORD
llama is also threefold. Firstly, for the little furry creatures I fell in love with while climbing the Andean Inca trail in Peru. Secondly because the word Lama (spelled with one “L” though), is the Tibetan name for a spiritual teacher and thirdly as a dedication to my sister, Llani, who constantly watches over me.
And lastly, the nose of the llama is in the shape of a little heart, which, of course, represents my own yoga heart.
