Two Kigali-based yoga instructors, Rebecca Gakwaya and Steffi Mushayija, have announced plans to launch a yoga training school aimed at equipping local instructors with the skills needed to expand access to the practice across the country.
In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Saturday, June 21, as the world marked International Yoga Day, the duo revealed that they aim to have the school up and running by mid-2026.
Rebecca, who began practising yoga in 2012, and Steffi, a physiotherapist who discovered yoga's benefits later, have been teaching community classes at Ivy Wellness Studio in Nyarutarama since returning from a yoga training course in Indonesia in 2024.
The duo's mission is to make yoga accessible to all Rwandans, breaking down barriers of cost and misconception through their 'pay what you can' classes held every Saturday at 11:00 a.m.
'Yoga is for everyone,' Steffi emphasised. 'It's not just for flexible people or Westerners, as some believe. It's a practice that connects you to your breath and body, offering benefits from stress relief to physical health.'
Rebecca added, 'Yoga is everything. In the day-to-day, we sometimes forget to breathe. You run into an issue, and the first thing that you do is kind of hold on to your breath. And the more you hold on to your breath, the more stress you encounter. It's a tool for wellness that belongs in schools, hospitals, and workplaces.'
The duo teaches Vinyasa yoga, a dynamic style where movements flow with breath, tailored to suit beginners and seasoned practitioners alike.
Steffi noted the importance of proper guidance to prevent injuries, a concern she echoes from her physiotherapy background.
'Many try yoga once and feel pain because they push too hard,' Steffi said. 'We adjust poses to meet people where they are.'
The inspiration behind the move to open a school stems from a desire to nurture more qualified local instructors who can spread the practice across the country.
'We want to create a program that trains Rwandansâ€"by Rwandans,' said Rebecca.
'We see the demand, but we can't reach every corner of the country. So we want to equip others who can.'
Yoga, an ancient practice that originated in India, emphasises the union of mind, body, and breath. Since its adoption as a UN-recognised international observance in 2014, International Yoga Day has become an annual moment to reflect on the practice's global relevance.
Until the yoga teacher training school formally opens its doors, the pair continues to invite newcomers to their Saturday morning classes.
'The first step is to just show up,' said Rebecca. 'Sit down, breathe, and feel. That's how it starts.'
Watch the full conversation in the video below:
Wycliffe Nyamasege
