Meet Zaaki
My yoga journey
I'm a certified yoga teacher with 25 years of personal yoga practice. My yoga journey began in 1999 while I was studying Computer Science at university in the vibrant islands of Trinidad and Tobago, where I’m from, and it has been a transformative part of my life ever since.
After an unexpected relocation to London in 2016, my yoga practice became a crucial part of my life. In Trinidad, I was an avid swimmer, and particularly enjoyed long-distance ocean swimming. I quickly found that I wasn’t going to be able to comfortably pursue outdoor swimming year-round in the UK. So, I turned to yoga mostly for the physical practice, hoping to maintain my mobility and flexibility in my body as I age (I’m now 43); but through yoga I also found community, mental clarity, balance, and meditation.
My yoga practice has helped me navigate life after the loss of both my parents, the transition from a small Caribbean island to the UK to marry my husband, and the unique challenges brought by the COVID years.
Training
In Tooting Bec, where I’ve made my home - I met Maria Mikalsen, who is now my main teacher and mentor. With her encouragement I completed accredited 200-hour hatha-vinyasa yoga teacher training in London with renowned teachers Adam Husler and Michael James Wong, and with mentorship from inspiring figures like Radhika Das and Mia Togo.
This training provided me with a strong foundation in yoga anatomy and alignment, along with a deeper appreciation for yoga history and philosophy. When asked why I wanted to teach yoga - my response was, “I want people to feel what I feel”.
My path has been diverse and enriching; I left a career in IT, and for over a decade I owned and ran a very popular wine bar in Port of Spain’s art district, and also worked as a chef, catering events for up to 500 guests, while also running very busy stalls at local farmers’ markets on the weekends. These experiences taught me the values of creativity, dedication, and community—principles I bring into my yoga teaching.
Teaching
In my classes, I offer a physically challenging vinyasa flow with a playful approach, often with a few surprises thrown in. We’ll breathe and move, accompanied by kirtan chants, soul classics and maybe even some flamenco inspired dance beats.
I believe yoga should be both invigorating and enjoyable, and I encourage my students to explore their full potential on the mat. The emphasis is not on the achievement of complicated poses, but the deep inward reflection and self awareness that happens on the journey to elevate one’s physical practice; that they can then carry with them out into the world.
I lead group classes, as well as provide private consultations, and bespoke flows. Join me on the mat as we embark on a journey of strength, flexibility, and self-discovery.
“I really like that you still leave enough time for a proper savasana, it’s so important and teachers just don’t do it anymore”
— AD