Two decades ago, Kat De Chavannes hosted her first yoga session down at St Brelades Bay. It was a small group – bare foot on the beach – and felt like the most natural thing in the world. “I didn’t want to teach in a gym,” she explained. “Yoga’s about nature – getting back to basics. If you’ve got a beach, why wouldn’t you use it?”
Having taught yoga for over two decades, her practice has evolved to encompass a philosophy rooted in accessibility, adaptability and resilience. It’s been shaped by her training, but more importantly, by motherhood, personal challenges and a desire to make wellness generally inclusive.
After years of teaching in France and Jersey, she’s noticed a shift in how yoga is marketed: “It’s become a trend – and with that, expensive.” But to her, it should be something anyone can do. “Not everyone has an hour and a half to set aside,” she said. “If you’ve only got five minutes while the kids are playing, just stretch, breathe – do something. That’s the real practice.”
This ethos of “wherever, whenever” runs through her work. From bilingual classes and beach sessions to impromptu stretches at home with her children, yoga is less about the setting and more about the mindset. “You don’t have to be flexible or spiritual,” she said. “You just need to be willing.”
With a background in Thai kickboxing, she’s always been interested in the mental side of training. “It was holistic before I even knew what that meant,” she laughed. Today, she complements her yoga with reflexology, using pressure points on the feet to support wellbeing – particularly for people recovering from illness or managing stress. “Someone might say, ‘oh, my head hurts’ – and I’ll be working on the area linked to the brain,” Kat said. “And then suddenly, they open up. It becomes about more than just the pain.”
Earlier this year, she launched her first women’s retreat at the White House on St Ouens Bay. The idea for the wellness week began during a stressful time juggling work, family life and caring responsibilities. “I couldn’t go on a retreat,” she recalled. “So I made one.”
The week centred on themes of roots and resilience, marking her 20th year of teaching beach yoga in Jersey. It was designed specifically for women – to create a space where conversations could flow freely. “Sometimes you just want to talk about kids, or hormones, or exhaustion, without worrying if it’s awkward,” she said. “Everyone needs a space to talk.” More retreat sessions are in the pipeline, including meditation sessions at the White Hut and a collaboration with Joy Yurts later this year. She’s also passionate about opening up opportunities for carers and those with disabilities, including a session for the Jersey Carers Association: “Carers need care too,” she said.
This passion came from her own life experiences. Her middle daughter, Soleil, was born in New Zealand and lives with complex neurological and physical needs. She learned to walk at 13, after years of determination, support, and what her mother calls “neuroplastic magic.” “She just clicked one day,” she said. “Her brain started to fire up and she wanted independence. It was like watching her unlock herself.” Much of Kat’s teaching now draws from these experiences: “When someone says ‘I can’t,’ I get it. But I also know what’s possible when you don’t give up.”
Soleil now rides horses at a local stables and practices gentle yoga and reflexology with her mum. “She can’t do sun salutations,” she said, “but she can move in her own way. That’s what yoga is – it’s your own goal, achieved.”
Outside her classes, she’s a vocal advocate for environmental protection, affordable care, and accessible community spaces. She’s worked with the National Trust, raised money for ocean charities, and spoken out about the lack of adequate support for families like hers. “Kids need room to run. Adults need space to breathe. If we build flats on every field, where do people go?” she asked. “This isn’t just about yoga. It’s about how we live, how we support each other, and how we raise the next generation.”
