Unified in breath
Rooted in Ubuntu
Named after the King Protea, South Africa's national flower, Protea Yoga embodies resilience and diversity—qualities at the heart of our studio's ethos. The King Protea symbolizes our owner's heritage and their deep love for their homeland, infusing our space with a sense of strength and community.
At Protea Yoga, we live by the philosophy of "Ubuntu," a South African philosophy that translates to "I am because we are." This principle underscores our commitment to fostering an inclusive, nurturing environment where each individual is valued and supported. Our classes and workshops are carefully designed to enhance connection, compassion, and unity, celebrating each person's unique journey while embracing our collective well-being.
Join us at Protea Yoga to experience the power of community through the practice of yoga, where every pose and breath strengthens our shared bonds of kindness, respect, and mutual growth. Here, the spirit of Ubuntu enriches every aspect of our practice, creating a sanctuary of tranquility and connection right in the heart of Pike Place Market, Seattle.
Meet Olivia Vermaak
Studio Owner
As the owner of Protea Yoga Studio and its sister venture, Karoo Café, both situated in Seattle's iconic Butterworth Building at Pike Place Market, Olivia is driven by the transformative power of sport and wellness. Her admiration for the Springbok rugby team—a symbol of unity and healing in her native South Africa—inspires her mission to create spaces in Seattle that foster connection and promote well-being.
At both Protea Yoga Studio and Karoo Café, Olivia is dedicated to cultivating multifunctional, collaborative spaces infused with the warmth and inclusivity of South African hospitality. These venues are not just places to visit but vibrant community hubs where every guest can experience the spirit of Ubuntu, meaning "I am because we are."
Olivia’s commitment ensures that everyone who walks through the doors of Protea Yoga and Karoo Café feels welcomed, connected, and integral to a diverse community.
Meet Casey Schwantes
Studio Director
After a lifetime in competitive sports, yoga was the first time that Casey felt like she could use her body athletically without the pressure of doing it right or winning the game. Like being a kid again.
She took her first yoga class her freshman year of college during the volleyball off-season. Taking the pressure off of performance motivated Casey to continue practicing yoga throughout her young adult years.
In 2009, after 8 years of being a student, Casey decided to take a 200hr vinyasa yoga training which changed the trajectory of her life. By 2011 she was a full time yoga teacher.
For the past 15 years Casey has been a fixture in the Seattle yoga community, practicing and teaching at a majority of spaces yoga has been offered and managing a few studios as well.
Casey has completed a Yin training, a second 200hr training and a 300hr training and is E-RYT 500. Her passion is vinyasa with a focus on mobility and creativity.
Meet Greta hill
Greta has been studying yoga, meditation, and the healing arts for more than 25 years. She has been teaching internationally since 1999 and has mentored and studied with some of the most renowned teachers in the world. She taught yoga extensively in Los Angeles, Bangkok, Brazil, and New York before moving to West Seattle, where she now resides.
Greta is Co-Director of the Rasa Yoga Collective, and facilitates Yoga Teacher Trainings, retreats, and online yoga lifestyle courses around the world. Her teaching is a heart centered, empowering fusion of form and flow and each class takes you on a journey that weaves together creative asana with functional movement, biomechanics, mantra and mudra, breathwork, lunar rhythms and yogic wisdom for modern living.
Besides yoga, Greta is an avid traveler and is passionate about live music, theater, the ocean and her magical whippet! She is wildly devoted to helping students cultivate joy, awaken deep purpose, and reclaim vibrant health through yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic lifestyle.
Meet JEevitha machaiah
Jeevitha is a certified Ashtanga yoga teacher from Mysore, India, the birthplace of Ashtanga yoga. She began her yoga journey in 2020 and quickly committed to a daily practice after experiencing profound physical and mental benefits. Inspired by these positive changes, she decided to share the gift of yoga with others.
After two years of dedicated personal practice, Jeevitha transitioned into teaching professionally. Prior to her formal certification, she gained valuable experience by guiding students online and leading sessions in local parks. Her training is grounded in yoga philosophy, anatomy, and the technical aspects of asanas. Jeevitha understands that each posture offers unique benefits and tailors her instruction to meet the individual needs of her students.
Jeevitha emphasizes the importance of breath control, believing that a steady breath leads to mental and physical balance. This focus on breath, alignment, and mindful movement forms the foundation of her teaching, helping students cultivate wellness and personal growth through their yoga practice.
Meet Leah Adams
Leah is rooted in the belief that somatic practices cultivate resilience, connection, and joy. She helps others explore and develop practices that evolve with their changing needs throughout life. A dedicated yoga teacher trainer and mentor, she leads international retreats and trainings. She has been sharing movement, meditation, and breathwork practices since 2011, and is ever-grateful to her teachers, Bernie Clark, Celeste Young, and Sarah Powers, whose teachings continue to inspire her work.
Leah, a cancer survivor, is deeply honored to offer practices that support both patients and healthcare providers in navigating the complexities of care with resilience and compassion. Her work spans leading sessions for Nurses Week and the healthcare workforce, co-facilitating metastatic cancer retreats, and teaching regularly at the International Prostate Cancer Symposium, where she brings mindful movement to both patients and caregivers.
A certified yoga instructor, Leah also holds certifications in Mindfulness Meditation, Ayurvedic Health Counseling, and Functional Nutrition. She is a Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Credit provider and a faculty member in Brian Utting’s massage therapy course, Neuroendocrine System and Stress. She is currently immersed in the three-year Somatic Experiencing Training, further deepening her understanding of the nervous system and embodied healing.
Meet Bekah root
Bekah is a heat-loving desert transplant from Arizona. A lifelong athlete, she has competed in various sports, most recently roller derby. After years of high-impact competition, she sought a way to support her body’s recovery and discovered yoga in 2013. What began as a means of physical restoration quickly evolved into a deep appreciation for the broader benefits of yoga.
With a background in coaching sports, Bekah was naturally drawn to sharing her knowledge and passion for movement. She transitioned from coaching to teaching, eager to help others explore the connection between strength, mobility, and mindfulness. Bekah completed her initial 200-hour yoga teacher training in 2017, followed by Yin training with Bernie Clark in 2019 and a 300-hour certification with Jason Crandell in 2020. She further expanded her expertise with additional 200-hour and 300-hour trainings in Awakening Yoga 2021-2023, as well as Functional Range Conditioning and Kinstretch training in 2024.
Bekah’s passion lies in lifelong learning—always a student first, continuously growing and evolving. Her classes blend strength, mobility, and mindful movement, creating a dynamic and intentional practice for her students.
MEET MEG GRIFFIN
Meg is a Seattle based yoga instructor offering vinyasa, slow flow and yin practices. Meg first came to her yoga practice as a means to recover and restore from training for cross country and track. Often pushing through the pain of various injuries in order to compete, Meg found deep healing through yoga. The practice lead her to develop a much deeper mind body connection and became a staple in her day to day life.
As an avid hiker and snowboarder these days, Meg’s flows are very strength and mobility focused. They are fun and creative and at the same time grounding and challenging. She invites her students to focus on the sensations and feel of the postures in her classes, rather than worrying about striking the perfect pose.
Meg completed her 200 hour in 2019 and has completed an additional 150 hours of training focused on voice coaching, yin yoga and creative sequencing.
MEET ALICIA JOSLIN
Alicia first found yoga in 2012 when she found herself overwhelmed and stressed from opening a restaurant in San Diego. She fell in love with the peace, strength and deepened relationship with self that it brought to her. She got her 200 hr teaching certification in 2015 and started teaching fairly quickly after that.
She moved back up to the PNW in 2019 and decided to take a break from teaching to focus on her own practice and newfound real estate career. She loves the relationship and bond she builds with her clients and the ability to support and encourage them.
Alicia’s classes are fun and music driven. Vinyasa flow with emphasis on balance and movement and connection to self. She loves being in this yoga community and bringing support and care to her students as she also does with her clients.
Meet Tommy Johnsen
Tommy Johnsen is a Yoga teacher with a diverse background in martial arts and energy work. His journey into Yoga began as a way to heal from injuries sustained during years of martial arts training, where he developed a deep appreciation for body mechanics and movement awareness. Drawn to the profound effects of Yin Yoga, Tommy pursued teacher trainings with Leah Adams and now integrates mindfulness, breath-work, and somatic awareness to create transformative experiences for his students.
Tommy has trained extensively in Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Reiki, and energy healing, studying under respected teachers in the United States and Japan. His certifications include Restorative Yoga with Sarah Hyde, Yin Yoga Levels 1 & 2 with Leah Adams, a 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Ashish Arora, and a black belt in Aikido. Beyond yoga and martial arts, he has deepened his expertise with a Reiki Master Teacher certification, Chakra & Nadi Healing, and other holistic modalities, allowing him to blend multiple healing approaches into his teaching.
In his classes, Tommy fosters a calm and supportive environment, guiding students through gentle postures designed to stimulate connective tissues, improve mobility, and promote deep relaxation. His approach blends traditional Yin principles with energy work and breath awareness, encouraging students to cultivate inner stillness and connection. Whether working with beginners or experienced practitioners, Tommy’s teaching is centered on mindful movement, self-exploration, and holistic well-being, making his classes both accessible and deeply restorative.
Meet mallory monahan
Mallory is excited to be back sharing this practice that has given her so much. Her deep love is teaching creative movement bolstered by yoga philosophy. A student once told Mallory that they appreciate that she makes the hard things easy and the easy things hard.
Mallory has a background in bioengineering, sports, and dance that has served her in teaching yoga for the past 12 years both in studios and private settings. Mallory is 500-hour E-RYT certified and has additional trainings in myofascial release and yoga for athletes. Additionally, she has studied extensively with Douglas Brooks and Rajanaka yoga.
Mallory wants every student to walk away after each class having experienced one new thing - whether that be in body, mind, or heart. Let’s journey together.
Meet Dominque LIM
Dominique began her yoga journey while working as a field engineer, using the practice as a way to alleviate stress and stay grounded amid the demands of her high-pressure job. In 2014, she relocated to Seattle and fully immersed herself in the study of yoga, dedicating her life to becoming both a student and teacher. Since then, she has led a variety of classes and workshops, integrating not only yoga but also myofascial release, mobility work and strength training into her approach.
Dominique emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong connection between body and mind through the power of a well-rounded movement practice. As an E-RYT 500 instructor, she has trained in numerous styles of yoga and movement, which enrich her dynamic teaching style and her ability to cater to students of all levels. Whether guiding a group through a gentle flow or a strength-building workshop, she is passionate about helping others find their own path to greater physical awareness and mental clarity
Meet Dr Chase Brown
Dr. Chase Brown, DC, has practiced yoga since 2010 and completed his 500-hour Hatha and meditation training, plus a 200-hour Power Vinyasa training, in 2014. He has since studied isometric strengthening, functional movement, primal movement, calisthenics, interval training, and mat Pilates. His classes blend these modalities with pranayama, qi gong, and music to explore movement, breath, and self-expression through flow.
As both a chiropractor and yoga teacher, Chase is passionate about empowerment for all people, regardless of age, identity, or body type. His flows are safe, scalable, and accessible as a way to invite everyone to experience and enjoy their bodies. His focus on anatomy and strength helps students explore themselves in a safe and welcoming space.
Beyond the physical, Chase invites students to explore deeper layers of themselves through breathwork, sound baths, and meditation- offerings he brings to every class. He views movement as a gateway to inner exploration, using asana to unlock the body and breath to access the mind and spirit. His hope is to help students break through barriers and discover a greater sense of connection, presence, and self-empowerment.
