At YogaKoh, our team is more than just teachers – they are the heart of our koh-mmunity. Each person brings a unique blend of passion and experience to the retreats, classes, and workshops they lead. Whether you’re ready to deepen your practice with your first 200hr YTT, expand your teaching with a 300hr YTT, in need of an adventure, or jumping a surfboard for the first time, our team is here to guide, support, and inspire you every step of the way.
With so many exciting (and new!) experiences setting out in 2025, with YogaKoh and RetreatKoh, we are thrilled to introduce to you some of the incredible people that make our team so special. Keep reading to get to know their stories, teaching styles, and magic they bring to our 2025 team!
An avid yogi, a passionate surfer, and movement enthusiast, Cici Smith will be the yoga teacher for our Surf x Yoga Retreats in March, and leading YogaKoh’s 200hr YTT in New Zealand this February and November!
Cici’s yoga journey began in a small, donation-based studio in New York City where she fell in love with the yoga community and grounding experiences she had while practicing. Feeling the immense and transformative impact of her practice, Cici was hooked and wanted to deepen her study of yoga.
In 2016, Cici completed her 200hr Vinyasa YTT in Bali, and by 2019, joined YogaKoh’s teaching team. Since her initial certification, Cici has completed a 200hr Rocket Yoga YTT, a 100hr Somatic Yin course, and a 30hr mobility workshop. She co-founded Meraki Yoga Retreats, allowing her to teach yoga, guide surfers, curate experiences, and travel the world.
Focusing her classes in growth, balance, mobility, recovery, and fluidity, Cici wants to create a safe space for her students to explore their minds, bodies, and limits. Her extensive knowledge of different yoga styles, the human body, and teaching practices around the world have shaped her into the wonderful teacher she is today, and we are so lucky to have Cici as a part of our koh-mmunity. We can’t wait to watch her transform her curious students into inspiring teachers.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your practice and embark on your 200hr YTT in New Zealand, click here to sign up today! And don’t forget to check out Cici’s instagram to stay updated on her surfing and yoga adventures!
Assisting on YogaKoh’s 200hr YTT in New Zealand this February and November is YogaKoh graduate, exercise physiologist, surfer, and nature lover, Marie Fernau! A German native, Marie has always found herself fascinated with the human body and movement.
Completing the very same training she is now assisting on, Marie received her 200hr YTT certification in New Zealand with YogaKoh in 2020. Using her background in body mechanics, movement science, and personal training, Marie approaches her yoga practice with a heightened awareness towards restoration, strength, movement, and fluidity.
As a YogaKoh graduate herself, Marie is able to use her unique perspectives as both a student and teacher to help support students through their learning processes. More than receiving a certification, Marie is deeply passionate about the personal growth achieved throughout our YTTs, and aims to enlighten students on the benefits of functional movement.
As a warm addition to our 200hr YTT teaching team, Marie is thrilled to guide her students through a lens of strength, mobility, and wellness. We are so excited to have Marie as a part of our teaching team for our upcoming New Zealand 200hr YTTs! Connect with her on instagram to learn more about her yoga, breathwork, and fitness work.
Leading our 300hr YTT in Bali this June is longtime koh-mmunity member, international yoga teacher, and educational mentor, Bruce Chung! Driven by his desire for personal growth and clarity, Bruce’s yoga journey began in 2005 in Toronto. Three years later, he had completed his first teacher training, left his 9-5 banking job, and embarked on a new journey.
In 2009, he moved to Singapore, kickstarting a global career that took him to Singapore, Bali, Dublin, Bangkok, Hong Kong, San Francisco, and beyond. Along the way, Bruce honed his teaching style, embraced adaptability, and mastered guiding students across language barriers. Bruce’s nomadic lifestyle has brought him all over the globe teaching classes, leading workshops and retreats, and deepening his practice. He now resides in Brussels.
With YogaKoh, he has led advanced trainings in Italy, foundational trainings in New Zealand and Indonesia, and now our 300hr YTT in Bali! Compassionate, authentic, and always a student at heart, Bruce learns something from every yoga teacher he encounters. Connect with Bruce on instagram for yoga sequences, tips, and more lifestyle content!
If you’ve already completed your 200hr YTT and are interested in joining Bruce this July in Bali for a 300hr YTT, click here to sign up today.
Our teachers are the foundation of YogaKoh and RetreatKoh, each bringing their unique experiences to create a space where our koh-mmunity can grow and thrive together. We’re incredibly proud of the skills and energy they bring to our trainings and retreats.
Whether you’re joining us for your first yoga teacher training or ready to advance your teaching practice, our team is here to encourage and inspire you throughout your journey. We can’t wait for you to meet, connect with, and learn from our incredible teachers. And stay tuned for more lead teacher updates coming soon!
If you want to join our koh-mmunity, sign up for one of our teacher training or retreats today – spots are filling up quickly! Visit our website to learn more about which experience is right for you.
Keep practicing!
the Koh Collective
Comments