TEAM WORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!
Team Yoga Borne is an intentionally small team, as we feel this offers us the opportunity to support each other and our community!
Our teaching team all come with their own unique passions, qualifications, and teaching style - and teachers are encouraged to express this by teaching classes that they are truly knowledgeable about and will enjoy guiding.
This in turn means that we can offer you the very best class experience!
Our dedicated Front of House Team is there to give you a warm welcome, whether it’s your first or 100th visit to the studio. They can assist with booking queries, purchases, and any general questions you may have.
KARINE ANNICK
studio owner & yoga teacher
begin & BEGIN (warm) | slow flow | women’s wellness | MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION
I began teaching at Yoga Borne in 2020, and became Studio Manager in 2022. I took over as the owner of the studio, along with my partner Jay at the end of August 2022.
I have a wealth of knowledge and experience in Yoga and wellbeing, and a huge passion for making Yoga accessible and inclusive for all.
My qualifications include Hatha Yoga, Yoga Philosophy, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Kids Yoga, Yoga for Menopause, Yoga for Stress & Burnout, and Pregnancy Yoga.
I am a huge lover of nature and seasonal living, studying, and intertwining Traditional Chinese Medicine into my teaching and offering a Holistic approach to Yoga and wellness.
I am a qualified Reiki 2 practitioner and will be completing my level 3 in September 2023 - bringing this offering to the studio soon!
I have many years of experience working with mental health charities including Birmingham Mind and Living Well, offering Yoga for mental health and wellbeing and hope to continue this with Yoga Borne as a base.
Yoga Borne has always held a very special place in my heart and I work by our 3 pillars Compassion, Connection, Community. I am so excited to nurture the YB community and to watch it grow and flourish.
jay coates
studio owner & front of house team
I am a Systems Engineer by day and Yoga Borne front of house / IT support and general handyman by night!
I have recently passed my PRINCE2 Project Management course, which will come in handy when planning Yoga Borne events.
I have been practicing Yoga for many years and have a keen interest in Buddhism and Japanese culture. I’m currently learning Japanese.
I recently qualified in Reiki Level 2 and is looking to complete my Reiki Level 3 later this year.
As a lover of nature and botany, I am at home in the garden, and you will definitely be noticing some new plant life around the studio!
A man of many hobbies, I try my hand at wood carving, making hand made walking sticks, and have recently started a pottery course.
I’m looking forward to meeting more of the YB community and helping the business to grow and thrive!
rebecca bonnet
yoga teacher
PREGNANCY YOGA
My advice to anyone who is considering trying out Yoga but may feel apprehensive, is this:
It’s never too late to learn new skills, and if you feel self conscious - don’t be!
The other students are so focused on their own practice that they won’t even know you are there!
I teach the Pregnancy Yoga classes and course at Yoga Borne and absolutely love curating a special experience, as well as fostering a real sense of community.
In my time outside of teaching and training (I am also a qualified PT), I love to get creative, mostly photography, some painting, and lots of cooking.
I like long walks, getting out in wide open spaces, any weather, its all good with me!
CLAIRE CORFIELD
YOGA TEACHER
FLOW | ENERGISE | RELAX
Yoga is so much more than stretchy, bendy, pretzel shapes - it’s a journey of self discovery!
My classes are light hearted and friendly, a place where everyone is made to feel welcome.
From empowering you as a beginner, to a strong strength building Vinyasa Flow, you will be gently invited to explore, challenge yourself, and (hopefully) have fun!
When I’m not teaching / practicing Yoga, you will find me lifting weights. I love Olympic weightlifting and strength building, and this trickles into my Vinyasa classes.
VERA KHAIT
YOGA TEACHER
SLOW FLOW (WARM)
I truly believe that Yoga can transform your life, help you slow down when you need it, help you breathe and learn to listen to your body.
My classes are a mix of “challenging” and “chilled”.
You will explore what the poses feel like for you.
You will be strengthening your muscles and joints as well as stretching. You will be going at a comfortable pace and you will be able to breathe but it won’t be a Yin practise. It will be very much a Yang, Hatha based flow!
My main focus is to connect you to your breath and make you feel stronger after the practise.
APRIL LEWIS
YOGA TEACHER
RELAX
Yoga is so much more than movement and I try to honour this in my teachings. Encouraging exploration into self, physically, mentally and spiritually.
My intention is to help you find space, in body and mind and we achieve this through mindful movement, intentional stillness and connection to our breath.
When we allow ourselves to BE in this space often, we begin to find connection to self, to our inner strength and our internal guidance… our intrinsic intuition.
I truly believe that finding this connection on our mats enables us to be more connected, aware and mindful in our everyday lives.
It’s already within us… we just have to listen.
ROSE GOLD
YOGA TEACHER
BEGIN (WARM)
I'm Rose aka Black Rose Yogini.
I'm a Yoga teacher based in Birmingham, UK.
I love to teach intentional, spiritual, revitalising, and energetic classes.
I incorporate movement, fluidity, and dance into some of my sessions - Yoga can be fun!
I truly believe Yoga is for everybody and I adapt my classes accordingly - so everybody has options.
Yoga allows you to challenge yourself whilst also listening to your body.
It really helps you to become more in-tune with yourself and that’s why I love it!
Yoga can and does nourish the soul.
Also I really want to see more people that look like me making Yoga a part of their lifestyle. Yoga is a lifestyle - for all.
ANJU FARMAH
YOGA TEACHER
FLOW
I began practising asana (postures) when my body and mind felt the need for change and reconnection.
I have been practicing for over ten years, teaching for five. Personally, I have noticed a definite reconnection to myself: more awareness, greater health and vitality as well as clarity of mind.
My approach is calm and nurturing yet strong.
I believe being relaxed in practice helps us to practise with greater focus and explore with awareness, maybe even leave the outside world outside, for a while at least, as we take a journey inward.
My wish for everyone is to feel, heal and stay real, uncover and discover the goodness, potential and inner joy within, leading one to understand the inherent goodness, potential and joy in others and everything around us.
IOANA MACOVEI
YOGA TEACHER
BEGIN & MINI ROCKET YOGA
I am a wellbeing advocate, excited to promote the message of treating our bodies with kindness and freeing our minds through Yoga, meditation, creativity, and movement.
Yoga has been a keystone in my life, allowing me to balance my career in higher education, my multiple passions (community, art, travel, and running), and my own work as an artist.
Yoga opens up space for a newfound gratitude toward the self, the body, and the wonderful and welcoming community around us.
I started practicing Yoga as a student looking for a way to release some tension and improve an injury caused by overtraining, and this led to a consistent Yoga practice. I fell in love with yoga and have been practicing almost everyday since.
I work in the higher education sector as my 9-5. I also work for AgeUK as an art teacher, developing and delivering weekly art and wellbeing workshops. I also write weekly newsletters for AgeUK focused on art history and watercolour tutorials.
I find so much joy in sharing my passion for wellbeing, working with people and building community and I am so grateful to have this as a central piece in my life.
JOSH SHAW
FRONT OF HOUSE TEAM
I have worked at the studio for over 2 years and in this time have really enjoyed getting to know both the students and teachers that make up the Yoga Borne Community.
Interesting fact - my mum did the interior design of the studio!
I enjoy practicing Yoga in my free time, but at the moment have a really busy schedule studying A Level maths, physics, and psychology.
Working at the studio has given me the opportunity to improve my social skills, confidence, and get to know lots of different people from various walks of life!
Alongside my time here, I have completed my GCSEs, A-Levels and I am now taking a gap year to kickstart and pursue a career in engineering and take some time to travel!
LILY SHAW
FRONT OF HOUSE TEAM
I joined the Yoga Borne team in January 2023 and have really enjoyed getting to know the local community and getting into Yoga!
I am currently studying for my GCSEs so the relaxing environment of the studio is perfect for winding down!
Amy Warrell
Fronf of House
I have been part of team YB since August 2023 and joined as a venture to take a more active role in the community.
I initially got into Yoga through my mum, who teaches yoga and mindful strength back at home in Hertfordshire, as a means of boosting my mental health, and being part of the team has really encouraged me to integrate this into my life up here.
Having previously worked in childcare, this role has really allowed me to expand my (adult!) people skills.
I am currently studying for my integrated master’s in biology at the University of Birmingham, hoping to go into stem cell research in the future. I also love playing the piano, cooking up a storm, and a good mountain hike!
The studio offers a great escape from the hectic student lifestyle, offering a calm and welcoming little haven for which I am incredibly grateful.
EDIE EVANS
FRONT OF HOUSE TEAM
I joined team Yoga Borne in November 2023, and have loved every moment so far!
It’s such a relaxing place to work and helps me wind down after a busy day at college.
Currently I’m studying a BTEC L3 Diploma in Acting but after I’m finished hopefully go into Formula 1 and motorsport as an engineer - (big difference I know)!
After working previously in a fast paced and high stress role, this is a lovely change of pace and the team are all so welcoming :)
MARIANNA MANCINI
YOGA TEACHER (COVER)
My life is a whirlwind of passions!
I am dedicated to my job as a midwife and lecturer, and I love filling my life with other activities like gardening, crafting, cooking, and hiking.
I consider myself a “human becoming” and I love having something to learn every day! It makes me feel alive and constantly pushes me further.
I teach Yoga part-time, and have met so many amazing people. Maintaining my own personal practice is also really important to me.
Yoga is a journey, and we need to enjoy every step!
ANDREW PRYCE
YOGA TEACHER
FLOW 45
I've been practicing Yoga for over 7 years and gained my 200-hour teacher training certification in India in 2020.
My favourite style to teach is Hatha Flow, incorporating the strength and fluidity of Vinyasa with traditional
Hatha asanas.
Sharing my knowledge of this powerful ancient practice is a beautiful way to help other people feel good in their own bodies.
It is my passion to guide students on their own yoga journey, helping them improve their physical and mental strength, flexibility and balance.
DOLORES COBO MERIDA
YOGA TEACHER (COVER)
My interest for spirituality and yoga started in 2009. I have been practising the different limbs of yoga (with more or less success) including meditation since then.
I am a reiki healer, an ayurvedic therapist and I completed my yoga teacher training in March 2022.
What I really love about yoga is having found a science which, when practiced regularly, makes a bridge between the apparent and the essence helping us to connect with the source of life - love.
I am passionate about self-discovery and even more passionate about sharing my passions.
TASH NATRINS
YOGA TEACHER (COVER) & PHYSIOTHERAPIST
I have a deep commitment to the practice of Yoga, a strong foundation in healthcare as a Physiotherapist, and a passion for health promotion and empowerment in my community.
Yoga is for EVERY BODY! And my intention is to create a warm, welcome and safe space for people to open up physically and mentally.
My main teaching style is Vinyasa Flow, and I enjoy designing and delivering holistic classes that combine movement and mindfulness. As a physio, I am well aware of the physical challenges that students can face, and I encourage you to take the class at your own pace, in a way that works for your unique body. Of course, I can also help you with adjustments to make postures more accessible.
Outside of the Yoga studio and physio clinic, I enjoy spending time with my family (including my cats!) and I re-energise by spending time in nature, whether that be walking, running, or paddleboarding.