Meet The Team

Kaila Kaufmann
E-RYT 500, BCom
Kaila is a knowledgeable and well-practised teacher who presents a calm and centred approach to instructing movement. In 2013 shortly before opening Bambu Hot Yoga, Kaila completed her YHot 200-Hour Teacher Training with one of BC first hot yoga innovators Kristin Campbell and Coco Finaldi of The YYoga Teachers College. A transformative journey involving the study of physical, mental and spiritual alignment

Emma Jaffe
RYT-500, Mat Pilates
Emma completed her 200-hour Multi-Style yoga training (Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin, Hatha, Aerial) in Goa, India, in 2017. Seeking a deeper understanding, she pursued a 300-hour Hatha training in Rishikesh. Her passion for continuous learning led her to explore meditation, embodiment, and movement through various trainings while traveling and teaching.

Justine Kaufmann
RYT-200, RTC, CLC
Yoga has been a rich part of Justine's life for the last 10 years. The practice has taught her the importance of cultivating awareness between the mind and body connection to cultivate greater harmony within.
Justine completed her 200hr YTT designation with Christopher Perkins and Nicolina Sandstelt at Yandara Yoga Institute in 2014.

Ryan Kilpatrick
RYT-200
Yoga found Ryan when he was upside-down in an otherwise routine downward dog. It happened when he had exhaled fully and deeply but hadn’t yet begun to inhale. In this little elusive moment between breaths, he found enough space to notice something small. He noticed, that unlike last year, his heels were now almost tickling his mat. It apparently happened incrementally and put one of those little yoga grins on his face. After missing the next two cues from his teacher Christi-an Slomka, he knew this yoga thing would last.

Hannah Devries
RYT-200, Mat Pilates, RMT
Hannah first found yoga in 2011 when she was diagnosed with severe Scoliosis in her spine. After going through a spinal fusion surgery at the age of 15, she followed the path of yoga for physical, mental and emotional healing. The self love, patience and compassion she began to develop in her own practice was beautifully overwhelming, this then led her to take her 200 hour YTT certification in Vancouver BC in 2015 with Christina Raskin.

LA Narayan
RYT-200, RCC, MACP
LA's Yoga journey began with traditional Hatha, branching off into Bikram and Ashtanga with mentorship from Sharath Jois. LA is also a long time Vipassana student and brings a meditation component into her classes. LA takes a biopsychosocial approach to teaching, connecting the physical and spiritual through linking pranayama with asana. Her classes will leave you feeling happy and refreshed!

Sophie Hitchman
RYT-200
Sophie believes in celebrating yoga for every body and is passionate about creating an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming space for the community, while honouring yoga’s roots - going beyond solely the physical practice. She teaches with calm intention and enjoys weaving mindfulness and breath throughout practice, holding space for presence and introspection.

Jena Renwick
200-Hour Trained Instructor
Jena grew up in Nelson, BC, passionate about adventure sports, such as mountain biking and skiing/snowboarding. “These activities have allowed me to be empowered and free within myself. They’re my outlet for a lot of things in my life."