Our Team
Welcome to our dedicated team at Shambhala! We take pride in being a small school because it allows us to give you the full attention you deserve for effective learning. We don't think of Shambhala as a business; we think of it as a community, like a family. Our focus extends beyond just teaching yoga poses; it's about incorporating yoga philosophy into everyday life, living with respect and making these ideas a part of your daily routine. At Shambhala, we've made a place where you can feel noticed, supported and respected as you learn to be a yoga teacher and discover more about yourself.
Maya Lindvall
Lead Teacher 50 & 200 hrs TTC's
(E-RYT500)
Growing up in Sweden, Maya's mom introduced her to yoga and qigong when she was young.
Later, in 2019, Maya rediscovered yoga and felt like she found her place. She decided to learn more by attending her first yoga teacher training course at Shambhala in 2021. Since then, she's been working with yoga full-time, teaching various classes like chair yoga for seniors with dementia and teenagers with disabilities, as well as vinyasa and yin classes at gyms and studios.
What Maya really loves about yoga is how it can help people heal. This passion led her to take a specialized training in trauma-informed yoga in 2022. Since then, she's been teaching this kind of yoga to children who have escaped from Ukraine.
In 2023, Maya helped out Vicky and Andrea as a volunteer, and now she's thrilled to be co-teaching a 200-hour yoga teacher training course with them.
Creating a genuine and inclusive atmosphere in her classes is very important to Maya. She wants her students to feel safe and supported as they explore their own paths of self-discovery.
In 2024 she made her first 300 hours advanced yoga TTC making her an ERYT500.
Maya shares her knowledge during specific months of the year, like for example January and summer 2025.
Vicky Heuse
Lead Teacher 50, 200
& 300 hrs TTC's
(E-RYT500)
Vicky, our cherished co-teacher for the 200 and 300-hour courses, brings a delightful blend of warmth and ease to Shambhala. Originally from Belgium, she made the heartwarming decision in 2021 to embrace Tenerife, making it her home alongside the welcoming embrace of Shambhala.
Vicky's journey into the world of yoga began in 2014, and from the very start, she felt a profound connection to this healing practice. Eager to deepen her understanding, she embarked on her first Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course that same year. Witnessing the transformative power of yoga, Vicky was compelled to further explore its nuances. Her quest for knowledge led her to pursue additional 200 and 300-hour courses in Ashtanga, Prenatal Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and sound healing.
Having shared the gift of yoga through teaching classes for several years, Vicky felt a calling to make yoga her full-time profession. This decision led her to Nepal, where she assisted in 200-hour courses. In 2021, she joyfully joined the Shambhala family, becoming an integral part of our 200 and 300-hour courses alongside Andrea. In these courses, Vicky takes charge of the theory aspects, guiding students through the intricacies of vinyasa and Ashtanga yoga practices.
Beyond her role as a teacher, Vicky is a truly warm-hearted individual, always ready with a smile and a contagious laugh. Her love for the ukulele adds a musical touch to the Shambhala atmosphere, creating a harmonious environment for learning. A passionate traveler at heart, she sees yoga as a powerful means of healing from within.
Tiana Prince
Lead Teacher Bhakti Yoga
& Kirtan TTC
(E-RYT500)
Tiana is an ever-curious, passionate, and adventurous student and teacher of yoga who fell in love with Bhakti Yoga during nightly kirtan at her first yoga teacher training. The mood of longing for the Beloved took up residence in her heart, guiding Tiana to continue to explore the path of devotion, which lead her to live and volunteer at a Bhakti Yoga ashram in France, and later to complete her advanced yoga teacher training in Bhakti Yoga.
Originally from Canada, Tiana has been teaching yoga around the world since 2018, in Peru, India, France, Morocco, Canary Islands, and more.
Before teaching yoga, Tiana taught dance for many years, and is also a certified school teacher (Bachelor of Education: Artist in Community Education from Queen’s University) specializing in Performing Arts, Language, and Religion. She draws from her extensive background in teaching, theatre, and dance to curate unique, creative, and educational yoga experiences.
A graduate of Audrey Sarquilla’s 300-hour Bhakti Academy and Yandara Yoga Institute’s 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training, Tiana is an ongoing student of Bhakti Yoga, Hindu Mythology, and Tantric Philosophy. She leads international women’s retreats with Salisa Retreats, and teaches 200-hour YTTS in the Amazon Jungle of Peru.
She loves nature, storytelling, poetry, and jumping in the water! Tiana is deeply grateful and thrilled to be leading Bhakti Yoga & Kirtan TTCs, and can’t wait to sing and dance along the path of the heart with you.
Andrea Santos Richardson
Co-Founder & Lead Teacher 50, 200 & 300 Hours TTC's
(E-RYT500)
Meet Andrea, the vibrant heart and soul of Shambhala Yoga School! Known for her warmth and kindness, Andrea brings a genuine passion for holistic living to our community. As co-owner and co-teacher, she wears many hats, ensuring that every student feels welcome and supported.
Andrea is the course director behind all our courses, serving as the friendly voice you hear when you reach out. Originally from Tenerife, this beautiful island serves as both her home and inspiration, allowing her to share its natural wonders with those who visit.
After a transformative trip to Thailand in 2008, Andrea became a Thai massage teacher and started her first Teacher Training Course in Hatha Yoga. Since then, she has expanded her knowledge through various yoga styles and healing practices. Her journey has taken her around the globe, immersing herself in Hatha, Vinyasa, Restorative, Somatic Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga, Yin, Prenatal and Ashtanga Yoga, as well as Ayurveda and sound healing.
In her courses, Andrea focuses on the Asana Lab, teaching methodology, and facilitating all her experience to the students. Her mission is to empower students to transform their lives and cultivate positivity. With years of experience leading Teacher Training Courses worldwide, she’s here to guide you on your journey to becoming a yoga teacher, ready to share her knowledge and passion with you at Shambhala.
Ronny Starke
Co-Founder & School's Keeper
Meet Ronny, originally from the East part of Germany but now proudly calling Tenerife home since 2004. Embracing the Canarian lifestyle as his own, Ronny is more than just a founder of Shambhala; he brings all his peace to this community.
With a background in Engineering Ronny brings precision and dedication to everything he does. His list of hobbies is as diverse as his skills, including hiking, mountain biking, swimming, windsurfing, gardening and reading.
In 2020 Ronny's dream since 2006 came to life when he, together with Andrea, founded Shambhala. These days he wears many hats, taking care of our students' every need. Whether it's refilling the kitchen, baking fresh German bread every morning, ensuring that any needed repairs are promptly handled or tending to our orchard for fresh fruits and vegetables, Ronny's commitment is unwavering. He's the guardian of Shambhala's daily operations, ensuring that our haven remains a place of comfort, warmth and connection.
Ilona Roznicka
Massage Therapist & Gong Healer in 200 & 300 Hours TTC's
Ilona comes from Poland but she fell in love with Tenerife and since 2018 she made the island her home.
She is a very experienced massage therapist and kundalini & vinyasa Yoga teacher.
Ilona travelled all the world while working aboard cruise ships and private yachts as a massage therapist. That helped her not only to discover the world but also herself. She started practicing yoga in 2015, and after that she decided to study Thai massage and later on, Traditional Chinese Medicine.
She has 10 years of experience in her field working as a masseuse, Reiki practitioner and she’s still discovering new therapies to learn.
While she’s enjoying the beautiful vibe of the island, she will be happy to share with you her skills to relax you during a massage or give any kind of guidance. Always with love and passion