Yoga found Kathrine in Kenya, where a search for community became the beginning of a lifelong practice rooted in strength, calm, and purpose. With deep ties to Africa and a childhood spent immersed in wild landscapes, her journey naturally evolved beyond the mat. Today, through Yoga For The Wild, she bridges yoga and conservation, creating retreats and classes that reconnect people to nature while actively supporting wildlife protection across Africa and the Indian Ocean.
What first drew you to yoga, and how has your personal practice evolved over the years?
Yoga found me in Kenya when I was living there and looking for a community. A woman moved to my small town and begun to share her practice, which is where I fell in love with Ashtanga and how it made me feel; stronger and calmer. I moved to the UK with my husband in 2015 and felt the need to dive more into this practice that was changing the way I felt about myself and the world around me. I did my 200HR teacher training at a Baptiste Studio in London and begun to assist teachers on their teacher training programs and retreats. I began to teach and share locally and online, to reach people in remote locations who didn’t have access to yoga studios so they might have the opportunity to fall in love with the practice as I had.
Can you tell us about the moment Yoga For The Wild was born — what inspired you and Laura to combine yoga with wildlife conservation?
I was born in Zimbabwe and grew up in the bush in Matusadona National Park, Kenya’s Masai Mara and Ol Pejeta Conservancy so wildlife conservation is in my blood, and I have always been passionate about preserving wild spaces for wildlife. Laura and I met when I planned a safari to Kenya for her and her husband and, at the time, Laura was teaching yoga classes in South Carolina to raise funds for elephant conservation in Kenya and so we immediately had a mutual interest and, when Covid hit and wildlife conservancies begun to struggle we immediately stepped up to do what we could. We led a number of online yoga classes to raise money for Ol Pejeta Conservancy (my family home) and when we saw the impact this had we realised we had found the most wonderful way to support wildlife conservation through yoga.
You’ve raised over $50,000 through yoga to support wildlife initiatives across Africa and the Indian Ocean. What has this journey of impact meant to you personally?
It’s so easy to feel really hopeless as one person up against huge issues like wildlife poaching and mass extinction. But being able to make such a big impact and see the effects of our fundraising in action on our retreats means we have stepped into our power and, in building a community of yoga and wildlife lovers, we’re able to stand together to do something about the issues that wildlife and wild places face today. This journey has given me such courage in my convictions, and I don’t feel helpless anymore because together we are making difference!
How do you see the connection between yoga and conservation — two seemingly different worlds that you’ve so beautifully bridged?
These worlds are actually more closely connected than you may realise: the natural world is so easily shoved aside in our modern lives now with high rise buildings, automations, AI and convenience. We have forgotten how it feels to commune with nature; to sit in meditation in the African bush with elephants around you shifts your perspective and reminds you that you are of this wild world, as much as the dirt and the trees and the birds. And as such, it is our obligation to protect it. Our Yoga For The Wild retreats give yoga practitioners the opportunity to practice with real purpose; for the preservation of our natural world.
What does a typical day look like on one of your retreats — and how do you weave purpose and practice together for your guests?
We begin our days really early; this is important as when you wake with the sun you’re set into the natural rhythm of the day and we practice in the wild – our venues are surrounded by wildlife and we’re often visited by passing elephants, zebra, monkeys playing overhead and sometimes the call of a lion nearby. It’s our grounding moment – reminding us of where we are and immersing ourselves in that wild place. Then we spend our days exploring the wilderness areas we are in – game driving, walking, watching sunsets, meeting rangers and conservationists and, in Kenya, meeting the last two Northern White Rhinos left in existence. In the Maldives we’re in the water as much as possible, coming face to face with incredible marine life like turtles, manta rays, sting rays, sharks and whale sharks. We also offer up an afternoon practice for those who like to practice in the afternoons too and our evenings are spent together, around a fire, under the stars, sharing the stories of our encounters from the day.
What are some challenges you’ve faced in running a purpose-led yoga organization, and how have you navigated them?
Our biggest challenge really is time. Neither Laura or I work on Yoga for the Wild full time, and we donate all the funds from our retreats so it’s hard to find time to dedicate to growing our audience, especially as we both also work full time and have babies and furbabies to look after. But we do our best with the time we have, and our passion is really what keeps our fires burning. We also partner with excellent conservation organizations who support our growth and understand our vision and approach. The right partners can really make or break you.
How do your online classes and live events support your mission, and what can members expect when they join your platform?
Our membership program was created to help us support our partners year-round. We make a single big donation off the back of each retreat, but The Wild Studio membership allows us make more frequent donations and support those that need it the most even from afar. Our membership is $25/month and gives users access to twice-weekly live classes with myself and Laura, a growing library of pre-recorded classes and free online event entry.
You recently purchased PROlite yoga mats for your retreat in Kenya — can you share why you’ve chosen to partner with us?
I’ve long been a supporter of Manduka mats and apparel and the Manduka community in general. And when I wanted to purchase mats for our venue, Ol Pejeta Safari Cottages, in Kenya it was a no brainer; Manduka mats are the best on the market for the best price. Everyone always comments when they use them; they are much loved!
If you could share one message with the global yoga community about using this practice as a force for good, what would it be?
We have so much power within us to enact positive change in the world and the world, now more than ever, needs positive change. I would encourage our community to reach in and grasp it and, together, we can change the world.
20 Minute Grounding Yoga Practice
Listen to Kathrine's curated playlist
Connect with Kathrine
Website: yogaforthewild.com
Instagram: @yoga_for_the_wild & @that_wild_kat
Upcoming retreats: Kenya, Zimbabwe and The Maldives
