About Us

IF YOU’RE SEEKING A PATH TO A BETTER LIFE,
WE BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND IT THROUGH YOGA.

Whether you call yourself a yogi,
or you’ve never stepped foot in a studio before, there’s one thing you should know:

WE BELIEVE THAT YOGA IS FOR EVERYONE.

You don’t need to learn secret lingo or wear fancy gear to join our club.
All you need to bring is your beginner’s mind and discover a way of being you never knew existed.

about-us-our-history

OUR HISTORY

The Fremantle Yoga Centre is a well-established school that has been operating for 30 years. Founded by Kale and Nikki Leaf, it has been the heart and soul of everything yoga –related in Fremantle ever since the doors opened.

In 2013 we opened our second studio, Off the Wall in Petra St, East Fremantle, so that more people could access our community. (And because, honestly, we got so popular, we needed another space.)

Our classes are mainly on the mat, but we also have classes on an adjustable wall system of ropes and straps unique to Western Australia, allowing us to cater for more specialized yoga needs.

Currently run by Kate Porotto, both studios offer close to 60 classes a week with 18 highly trained and experienced instructors teaching and leading various styles of yoga.

Our 2 year Yoga Teacher Training Program has educated more than 500 students, many of whom are amongst the most senior and renowned instructors in Perth.

MEET THE TEAM

Kate Porotto
Kate is a yoga instructor with a sweet spot for women’s and pregnancy yoga.As the director of the Fremantle Yoga Centre and Off the Wall Yoga, Kate brings 20 years of practice and a strong foundation in alignment and strength. When Kate’s not helping women discover their power to birth, she’s mothering her own 4 children and running 2 businesses (but still finds time to attend the occasional Cacao Ceremony at the centre).
Kale Leaf
With over 40 years of teaching, Kale founded the Fremantle Yoga Centre 30 years ago and continues his involvement in the comprehensive two-year Yoga Teacher Training course. Kale initially turned to yoga while searching for a cure for his debilitating back problem. Since then, Kale has become a reputable leader in the field and now specialises in therapeutic yoga to achieve specific and positive outcomes for his students. Having explored traditions such as Iyengar and Ashtanga, Kale finally crafted his unique ‘Flow Form’ yoga and therapeutic techniques that have transformed thousands of lives.
James Mcintyre
James is a dedicated Hatha Yoga practitioner who has been practising yoga daily for over 25 years. As well as being an established yoga teachter, guiding beginners, experienced and therapeutic classes, James has been a consulting homoeopath since 1992. James has a particular interest in pranayama (breath work) and meditation, which he practices under the guidance of the Kaivalydham tradition.
JANE UNDERWOOD
Jane has been practising and studying yoga for over fifteen years. She earned her teacher's certificate from the Fremantle Yoga Centre in 2006 and in 2012 became a Level 2 certified teacher with Yoga Australia. Jane has a special interest in applying the 8 limbs of yoga to her own practice and teachings. She believes the therapeutic application of a yoga wall means that those with scoliosis, back, neck, knee or hip injuries, postural alignment problems or arthritis can practice yoga postures to bring long lasting pain relief.
STEPH WRIGHT
Steph has been a student of Hatha Yoga since 1995, and a teacher since 2003. developing and maintaining a daily personal practice since 1997. Strongly influenced by both the Iyengar & Ashtanga traditions, she places equal importance on both alignment & breath in her teaching. Steph believes that within our bodies lies our innate wisdom. All of our learning, knowing and healing resides inside us, waiting for be discovered.
KARREN MCMAHON
Karren has been practising yoga for 24 years, teaching for 17 and officially qualified for 15 years. Karren rehabilitated her condition of Scoliosis with the help of Kale Leaf at the Fremantle Yoga Centre and has explored a wide range of different styles of Yoga over the years. Karren also studied under Simon Borg-Olivier - Yoga Instructor and Physiotherapist at Synergy Yoga School, Sydney. Karren teaches the philosophy component of our Teacher Training Certification.
Donna Hamilton
Donna is the director’s assistant at Fremantle Yoga Centre and Off the Wall Yoga, working in the background to keep both centres (and our director) humming along.  She is a warm, gentle yoga teacher with a a background in communications, dance and community development and a special interest in womens/pregnancy yoga.  Donna sees yoga as a precious resource at the heart of our community and loves sharing it with people to improve the quality of their individual and collective lives.  Her teaching emphasises tuning in to your own body to increase your sense of wellbeing and develop confidence to direct your own progress – both on and off the mat.  She has been practicing yoga since 1995 and recently graduated from the Fremantle Yoga Centre Teacher Training.
Phoebe Phillips
Phoebe’s teaching is focused on Vinyasa and Hatha styles of yoga with a strong Iyengar influence.  Alongside her yoga, Phoebe is a textile artist working mainly on a wooden handloom, a practice that shares the slow meditative qualities of yoga. Phoebe combines her creative experience and knowledge of yoga to offer her students a unique, explorative, and enriching yoga class. As a second-generation yogi, Phoebe is honoured to join the Fremantle Yoga Centre teaching community and be mentored by the same teachers as her father was in the late eighties.
LAURA KOLAGOW
Laura started practicing yoga in 2003 to “fill her own cup” whilst working as a remedial massage therapist.  She has explored many styles including Iyengar, Ashtanga, Hatha, Vinyasa, Purna, Yin, and Forrest.  Laura completed her first training in 2017 at Byron Yoga Centre.  Inspired to deepen her knowledge and share the benefits and joy of yoga with others, she has since furthered her studies in Belfast and here, in Perth. Laura emphasizes safe alignment and the importance of tuning in to the innate wisdom of the body.  She guides her students to connect breath and movement, and to build strength and flexibility in both body and mind.  "Yoga has broadened my outlook and approach to life. It has offered me tools to meet life's challenges with more grace and acceptance."
Cate Shepherd

Cate has been a huge advocate for pregnancy yoga for the last 15yrs after practising for the duration of all four pregnancies with her three daughters and one son.  She has a background in dance, music and fire performance arts with a strong athletic background as a squash player for the Australian Institute of Sport.  Cate teaches with a balanced perspective of the scientific anatomy of the human body and an anthroposophical energy that nurtures the soul.  A lover of ceremony and ritual, sweatlodges, homebirthing and environment protection, Cate has enthusiastically  immersed  herself in a lifelong yogi journey.  She  to mindfully learn the many styles, finer nuances and history of yoga and its benefits so she can pass the wisdom on to help people of all facets of life embrace and love it just as much as she does.

 

CAT READ
Cat first discovered yoga on the rooftop in Kerala, India, and immediately fell in love with the practice. As she continued her travels in India and overseas she took many yoga classes wherever she went, slowly discovering the depth of yoga, and myriad teaching styles. Since returning to Perth in 1999, Cat has been at the  Fremantle Yoga Centre, where she took her teacher training course in 2017. She has been teaching at FYC since. Cat has a particular interest in meditation, and quietening the mind, and feels that both the asanas and meditation is a life-long journey that you never master, but simply develop, shape and deepen with time.
JULIAN SILBURN
Julian is a Didjeridu teacher, healer and performer with a passionate interest in Aboriginal culture and music. Through teaching, healing and performing Didjeridu (Yidaki), Julian aims to share the spirit respectfully and to connect people with nature through the various rhythms, songs and nature calls. Over the last 20 years Julian has collaborated with several Noongar and Arnhem Land Yolgnu Elders, both musically and culturally, and he feels honoured to have their approval and blessing to perform, heal and teach. Julian has conducted healing sessions and performances throughout U.S.A, Canada, Europe and Australia.

LOVE FROM OUR STUDENTS

“Amazing Yoga experience. Love the way yoga is taught by Kate. You can feel and experience the passion in her. I'm so happy to be able to take classes with her, which help me to find balance in my life.”

NA LUNA

“The open class was awesome! Very friendly group of people, and I loved the rope work. Ahhhhh!”

GEIRE KAMI

“Magic stretches, calmness, relaxation, strength work- body mind & soul rejuvenated.”

SUE LUSHEY

“No matter how long it’s been between visits, coming to Fremantle Yoga Centre always feels like coming home. Beyond that, it's the best space, with the best teachers...and no matter where they teach you can always tell a teacher that has trained at FYC. It’s the same great attention to, and knowledge of, technique, and to the needs of the individual.

STEVE
STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to stay up to date with upcoming events and timetable changes.

""
1
Your name
Previous
Next