Celebrating women, mentorship and the growth of Soul Space Studio this Women’s Month.
When I moved to Kommetjie four years ago, there was a tiny yoga studio tucked away in an A-frame loft, with a view of the ocean and mountains surrounding Hout Bay, and skylights you could watch the birds through. A soft, light-filled room that held four to six people comfortably; though, we joked, as numbers grew to nine or ten: Soul, no space.
In those early days, something special took root. A small community of yogis and teachers formed – most of us knowing each other by name – and as the studio grew into the Soul Space we know today, with two venues across Kommetjie, the essence of that early intimacy has remained.
Those who practise regularly at Soul Space do so as much for the sense of community and connection as they do their yoga practice of movement or meditation – speaking wonderfully to one of the inherent paths of yoga: to restore or create connection and balance between body and mind. And at Soul Space, that connection is embodied by the woman who holds it all together.
Meet René, the woman behind Soul Space
Founder of Soul Space yoga studio, René has lived in Kommetjie most of her life. She quietly began teaching after returning to the village from her travels abroad – but her yoga journey started much earlier. René first fell in love with the spiritual and meditative aspects of the practice during a Sivananda teacher training at an ashram in Spain. From there, she travelled to Bali to study Vinyasa under Suzanne Faith, deepening her understanding of human biomechanics, alignment and flow, returning again more recently to complete her Advanced Teacher Training with Yoga New Vision. She has now over 800 hours of certified yoga training, with qualifications in Sivananda, Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Pregnancy Yoga and creative sequencing.
When René returned to Kommetjie, her dream was to create a beautiful, sacred space where people could come together to practise and connect. Soul Space is the realisation of that vision. Her classes blend fluid movement with strong alignment and deep relaxation, but what makes them truly special is the way she teaches from the heart. Frequent yogis will come to love how René often opens a session with a small story from her own life – something light or moving or quietly funny – and in doing so, gently invites you to arrive fully in your own body, to be present in your own life.
Through the expansion of the studio, René has worked consciously towards growing the community while maintaining balance – offering a variety of class styles to suit all types of practitioners: both heated and not, and from the meditative yin end of the scale through to the more yang power yoga, with hatha yoga, vinyasa flow and jivamukti, strength classes, and now even pilates and barre. As a dedicated mom of two, René has also incorporated kids and maternity yoga.
Over the years, Soul Space has evolved into a sanctuary of movement and meaning. Beyond the schedule, it is a feeling that draws people in – both grounding and welcoming; it’s a place where people feel seen, held, and connected through community and intention. There is a quiet spaciousness here, a sense of intimacy without pressure, and a warmth that comes from being part of something shared and witnessed. Whether through stillness or strength, it’s a space where your presence matters.
Giving Back: Karma Yoga & more
At the heart of Soul Space is the belief that yoga is for everyone. That belief is embodied in the studio’s karma yoga programme, weekly free classes for the broader community.
There’s also the Sacred Sunday series – a collaborative offering led by local women facilitators, where all proceeds go towards supporting three Kommetjie-based charities. And in a beautiful new initiative, teacher and doula Hannah will be leading Preggy Yoga by donation, with all funds supporting a local organisation that works with pregnant teens from under-resourced areas.
These kinds of offerings extend the practice beyond the mat – into real-world impact, and deeper collective care.
Mentorship: Stepping into Your Power
This year, René launched something quietly powerful: the Soul Space ‘Step into your Power’ Mentorship – a two-month programme designed to support and uplift newer or less experienced yoga teachers.
The idea was born from René’s own journey.
“As a yoga teacher, it’s such a personal thing – you lay your heart and soul on the line when you teach,” says René.
“New teachers can feel uncertain about which direction to take,” René continues. “This can make it hard to develop their own style and voice with confidence. I believe that when we show up with presence and authenticity, and create classes that are both safe and challenging, we can offer a positive experience for everyone in the room.”
She also points to the reality of the profession: there are many qualified yoga teachers, but relatively few studios willing to take on new instructors.
“That early period can be so vulnerable, and many teachers end up leaving the profession before they really find their rhythm.”
And yet, as she puts it, “the only way to get better at teaching is to teach – and to teach a lot. This is why I’ve created a space where teachers can explore different approaches in a safe and supportive environment.”
The mentorship creates a supportive bridge between training and teaching – not just in theory, but in practice. Participants receive in-depth guidance on sequencing, cueing and teaching presence. They get to practise in a safe, collaborative environment, before teaching real karma classes and vinyasa flow as part of the Soul Space schedule.
“Mentorship, to me, is a form of leadership… it’s about holding space for someone else to discover what kind of teacher they want to become.”
The mentorship also includes training in two distinct approaches to sequencing: one focused on creativity and intuitive flow, and the other on building a class with deliberate intention – where every pose leads towards a specific physical or emotional journey.
“One of the most important things for me when I teach is creating a class that’s accessible and inclusive – but still offers growth. That takes ongoing practice and learning along the way.”
Throughout the process, participants receive detailed feedback on everything from vocal tone and pace, to how they walk the room or use their words. “We all have crutch words – maybe you say ‘beautiful’ 100 times in a class and don’t even realise. It’s only through feedback that we start to become aware.”
Crucially, the programme isn’t about moulding teachers into a single style. “It’s about helping them teach from their own lineage – just more confidently, more consciously, and with more clarity.”
“We touch on things like how to connect authentically to a room, how to guide without singling people out, and how to hold space in a way that feels both safe and meets all levels of practice,” René says.
The result is a rare offering – one that supports teachers through a vulnerable time, while also strengthening the community that receives them.
Women Holding Space
While Soul Space was never envisioned as a women-only studio, it has naturally evolved into one largely led by women. From yoga and barre teachers to those who lead Sacred Sundays or offer their time for karma yoga, the studio reflects a quiet power in the way women gather, guide and grow together.
Each woman who teaches here brings her own distinct energy – fierce, funny, quietly grounded, wise – and in this variety lies one of the studio’s greatest strengths.
What’s On at Soul Space
A new offering this year, Soul Space’s Spring Cleanse begins 1 September – a 6-week self-guided retreat designed to help you reset, refine, and realign with the season ahead. A collaboration between René and three local women facilitators, it includes yoga, journalling, seasonal eating and embodied practice.
Regular daily classes continue across both venues, with offerings to suit every body and phase of life. View the schedule here.
The next Step into your Power Mentorship cycle runs in May and June for just 8 teachers ready to deepen their training.
Whether you’re seeking strength, softness or simply space to breathe – Soul Space holds the door open.
Credits
Words: Sarah Jayne Fell & interview with René (Soul Space Yoga Studio)
Photography: Sharday Swanepoel
Website: soulspacestudio.co.za
Instagram:@soulspace_yoga_studioand @soulful.teaching.with.rene
About Soul Space Studio
Soul Space Yoga Studio is more than just a place to practise yoga – it’s a vibrant community built on connection, growth and transformation. With two serene studios, located at Village Place in Kommetjie and the new studio at Imhoff Farm, Soul Space offers a variety of yoga styles to suit every body and every level. Read more in our Directory.
