Meet The Team

Escape Co-Owner
stacey rees
Stacey’s yoga journey began with a 200-hour teacher training in the UK, followed by a 300-hour training in India in 2023, experiences that expanded not only her understanding of yoga, but her understanding of herself. From teaching classes in the Mumbles area to a thriving community- a collaboration evolved between her and Rhi and between them they co-founded Escape Yoga in 2022.
For her, yoga is connection, to breath, body, and the truth that there is no single way to move, feel, or live. There’s no right or wrong, only awareness, curiosity, and presence. She values honesty, transparency, and good energy, and brings those qualities into every class she teaches.
Yoga continually saves her; it reminds her to return to herself, to make space for softness, and to begin again. Teaching is how she shares that reminder, again and again, that coming home to yourself is always enough.
An avid movement practitioner, Stacey can be found lifting, running or hiking when not on the mat or with family and friends.
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Resident Classes:
Tuesday 6:45 Ladder Vinyasa
Wednesday 19:15 Ashtanga Vinyasa
Thursday 06:30 Strength Vinyasa
Saturday 08:00 Balanced Vinyasa
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Escape Co - Owner
rhi greenwood
Rhi has always been a lover of movement and started practicing yoga at home following a Tara Lee class around 12 years ago. Yoga quickly became a daily practice. Yoga was not only a physical outlet but spoke to other interests like the moon and astrology.
In 2020, she completed her first 200 hour training with Jamie Blowers and met Stacey - a friendship that turned into Escape yoga a few years later! In 2021, Rhi discovered Awakening Yoga and felt an instant connection to the ethos and style of practice. She has completed almost 500 hours of training with Awakening Yoga Academy in Seattle, London and Amsterdam.
A lover of inversions, you will often see her handstanding - but Rhi’s classes are still accessible no matter the level of practitioner. Her style is ritual with a slice of modern.
When not on the mat, Rhi is predominantly running, swimming, skiing, skateboarding (badly) and keeping fit.
Her aim is that you step off your mat at the end of class with some shift in your energy - be that physical or mental.
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Resident Classes:
Monday 18:00 Mobility
Monday 19:15 Awakening Vinyasa
Friday 17:30 Handstands
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Instructor
jade maurice
Jade had practised yoga on and off for a long time, going to different studios and random classes, but it wasn’t until she began practising Awakening Yoga that it started to connect as more than just a physical practice.
The Awakening style and philosophy sparked her curiosity to learn more and delve deeper into the practice. In early 2022, Jade completed her certification with Awakening Yoga Academy with no real intention to teach. It was when Rhi asked her to cover her class that the teaching journey really began and felt like a natural evolution for Jade. She’s trained in the UK and Seattle with her mentors and is currently well into her 300 hour certification with them.
Jade’s teaching style and personal yoga practice is rooted in curiosity and self-compassion; with a focus on flowing, mindful movement. Jade sees herself as a forever student, always learning and growing alongside the people who come to class.
Jade’s hope is that everyone leaves her class feeling some sense of connection - whether that’s to their practice, a conversation shared or any other facet of time together in class.
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Resident Class:
Thursday 19:15 Slow Flow
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Instructor
catherine saunders
Catherine discovered a passion for yoga 9 years after stepping into her first yoga class and has since allowed yoga to guide her through physical challenges and open the door to a spiritual discovery. In 2018 Catherine became a fully qualified Ashtanga Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, and Trauma-Sensitive yoga instructor. She now strives to create a space where every student feels supported on their personal journey.
Catherine’s teaching blends strength and stillness, using different teaching styles to suit her students, assisting them to find balance and gain inner strength to transform their lives both physically and mentally.
Catherine is a great supporter of the mantra ‘the healing power of yoga’ - it’s at the heart of everything she teaches. Seeing her students grow stronger, calmer, and more connected makes the work deeply rewarding.
Catherine’s ethos is simple: to nurture a healthy body and a peaceful mind. Catherine loves helping people bring a sense of calm into busy lives and harmonise their training with mindful movement. When she’s not teaching, Catherine is running a busy clinic and in her downtime you’ll likely find her with her family enjoying evenings together, road trips and chasing the sunrise along the coastal path or recharging by the sea.
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Resident Class:
Monday 09:30 Balanced Vinyasa
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Instructor
julie Gammaidoni
Julie’s yoga journey began over 12 years ago as a personal practice, regularly attending classes and retreats, but everything changed after attending a life-shifting retreat in Goa. It's there that Julie truly discovered a love for authentic, traditional yoga.
Following the retreat, Julie initially enrolled in the 200 hour Teacher Training to deepen her own practice and understanding - with no intention of teaching. As the training unfolded, something clicked. Sharing this practice began to feel like a natural next step, and what started as a personal journey grew into a path of guiding others.
Having trained with Akasha Yoga Academy, Bali, Julie’s teaching is rooted in authentic Hatha yoga with a focus on breath, alignment and presence. Aiming to create space where you can slow down, tune in and explore your own path.
A firm believer that yoga is for everyone, Julie’s intention is to share this practice in a way that feels accessible, grounded and meaningful.
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Resident Classes:
Tuesday 12:30 Balanced Vinyasa
Tuesday 19:15 Hatha
Wednesday 09:30 Mobility
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Instructor
Vanya Addicott
Vanya first came to yoga in 2011 to help build strength and confidence after sustaining a hip injury. Having to work through physical limitations was extremely challenging, but the positive results she experienced from a regular practice were and are testament to the healing potential of yoga. In addition to the physical benefits, Vanya also experienced a wealth of emotional benefits.
A strong regular practice, the completion of numerous workshops and travelling to India to partake in an Ashtanga retreat inspired Vanya to become a Yoga Teacher. She completed her 200-hour Vinyasa teacher training course with Santosha Yoga in Bali in 2015 and has been teaching ever since.
Vanya strives to teach an authentic, non-judgemental and expressive style of yoga that caters to each and every individual. Her aim is to encourage students to challenge themselves both physically and mentally, in a happy and safe environment. She truly believes in the power of yoga and its ability to free the body and mind, allowing one to embrace life with awareness and acceptance of oneself.
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Resident Class:
Thursday 12:30 Balanced Vinyasa
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Instructor
emma evans
Emma’s yoga journey began in 2001 after graduating from University. Working in the voluntary sector for many years, Emma found deep appreciation of the space she was able to create physically and mentally through her personal yoga practice.
In 2014 Emma completed her first 200hr yoga teacher training in Ashtanga with Its Yoga. Since then Emma’s continued learning and studying gaining qualifications to teach children's & baby yoga and Trauma informed yoga teacher.
Emma classes are strong yet uplifting aswell as adding elements that are slow, interoceptive and relaxing. In all classes she encourages focus on feeling your body from the inside out. Emma’s aim is that students leave her classes feeling strong, relaxed and secure in their bodies.
Emma’s favourite quote:
‘When you squeeze an orange, you'll always get orange juice to come out. What comes out is what's inside. The same logic applies to you: when someone squeezes you, puts pressure on you, or says something unflattering or critical, and out of you comes anger, hatred, bitterness, tension, depression, or anxiety, that is what's inside. If love and joy are what you want to give and receive, change your life by changing what's inside’.
Wayne W. Dyer
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Resident Classes:
Monday 12:30
Friday 12:30
Gentle Vinyasa
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Instructor
luciana caffarelli
Luciana first discovered yoga in 2000 whilst studying at University and has been practicing ever since. Becoming a yoga instructor had been a long-held aspiration of hers. It wasn’t until she moved to Mumbles in 2023 and was fortunate enough to meet Meni Farkash, of Agniyaana Yoga, that she decided to qualify and completed the 250 hours teacher training under his guidance.
Luciana’s enjoyment and fulfilment of Yoga comes from a deeply held place of wanting to share the therapeutic benefits of yoga with others. She believes that a regular yoga practice can help people overcome obstacles and challenges in their lives and is a powerful tool for personal growth. Her experience of teaching began offering voluntary classes at the Wellbeing Centre in Swansea, supporting vulnerable individuals. With a career in International Development, Luciana’s passion is to forge inclusivity and diversity as much as possible, offering a place of sanctuary to people who may feel excluded and marginalised.
As a student of Hatha Yoga, Luciana’s classes are varied and incorporate techniques of pranayama, asana and mudras. She enjoys teaching all levels and abilities. For her, yoga is more than just a physical practice. It’s about reconnecting with the breath, body and quietening the mind.
Apply Today
We are an ever growing and evolving team. If you would like to join us at Mumbles' first Yoga Studio please get in touch via email escapeyogaretreats@gmail.com
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