Our Team
Renee Ellis | Studio Owner, Yoga & Pilates Instructor & Trainer
Renee is a dedicated business owner, personal trainer, and instructor in both Pilates and Yoga. Her approach to fitness is holistic, driven by a desire to empower others to forge deeper connections with their bodies.
Inspired by a lifelong passion for movement cultivated through her background in sports and dance, Renee has consistently found fulfilment in physical activity. Since entering the fitness industry as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor in 2014, she has remained committed to continuous growth and learning. Over the years, Renee has had the privilege of working with diverse clients, from individuals to sports teams, teaching Pilates in various settings, and founding two successful businesses.
Her journey of self-discovery has inspired Renee to emphasise the importance of mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being alongside physical fitness. She believes fostering presence, acceptance, and vulnerability as essential elements of self-care, not only for ourselves but also for the planet and all its inhabitants. Renee is confident that through movement, we can cultivate and apply these values in our lives. Her classes serve as a platform for this transformative practice, inviting participants to explore and embody these principles on their wellness journey.
Shelby Sharland | Studio Operations Manager, Breathwork Facilitator, Sound Healer & Pilates Instructor
Shelby is a Holistic Therapist, Healer, Pilates and Breathwork instructor and Sound healer.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology) in 2019, Shelby began a deep personal and professional journey into healing and self-development. Through this experience, she realised that while the mind plays a powerful role in healing, true transformation also involves the body, nervous system, and subconscious patterns we carry.
This led Shelby to train in breathwork, meditation, sound healing, Reiki, EFT, NLP and hypnotherapy, blending evidence-based modalities with embodied, holistic practices.
At TLC Shelby teaches pilates, breathwork and sound healing, creating classes that support both strength and softness. Her Pilates classes focus on mindful movement, core stability, posture and nervous system awareness, helping clients build strength in a way that feels supportive, intentional and sustainable. Her breathwork and sound healing sessions invite deeper rest, emotional release and reconnection to self.
Shelby is deeply passionate about the mind-body connection and believes movement and stillness are equally powerful tools for healing. Her classes are designed to help you feel grounded, empowered and more at home in your body.
Find out more about Shelby's business A Touch of Clarity.
Tayla is a passionate believer that pilates is for EVERYBODY and that nurturing physical movement can profoundly enrich one's life.
Her journey began through dance, where she recognized the vital role of a strong core and the profound mind-body connection, leading her to embrace Pilates.
With a passion for diverse forms of movement, Tayla has embraced various styles of Pilates and empowers her clients to pursue their goals with assurance.
In her classes, Tayla emphasizes engaging the entire body in a manner that feels personally satisfying and beneficial.
Pilates holds a significant place in Tayla's life, evident in her radiant presence at The Loft, where she shares her expertise with a contagious smile.
Tayla Williams | Senior Pilates Instructor
Mackenzy loves to create inclusive, multilevel classes that invite everybody to feel good in their body - regardless of experience, ability, or age.
After completing her yoga teacher training in Sri Lanka, Mackenzy’s appreciation for both the physical and emotional layers of the practice only strengthened. She’s especially passionate about helping students connect to their breath, nervous system, and inner awareness.
With a background in Marine Biology and a love for nature, Mackenzy brings a grounded, holistic approach to her classes.
Her teaching blends a playful and fun energy with thoughtful cueing and variations, encouraging students to move in a way that feels right for them.
Her classes offer a grounded space to show up exactly as you are, pause, reconnect, and cultivate a deeper mind-body connection.
Mackenzy Richardson | Yoga Instructor
Dani Gyss | Pilates and Yoga Instructor and Registered Occupational Therapist (OT)
Lee is a certified personal trainer with an interest in small group training. Starting out on her own fitness journey 10 years ago, she knows how daunting the gym can be, so aims to bring a space of inclusivity, guidance, and encouragement to her professional practice. Lee trains with a focus on producing a body that can work with efficiency and longevity and with an educational background in neurosciences, her programming uses evidence-based tools to do so.
After years of her own training in high level dance and sport including power-lifting and rugby, the greatest barriers Lee faced came down to the value she placed in the physical and mental limits she could break to reach a predefined version of success. She has since deciphered that movement and fitness is rather an act of service to the one body and mind that is simply You. To care for our bodies allows us to bring more to all aspects of our lives.
Lee’s teaching will guide you in finding strength and resilience to carry you through all aspects of your life.
Lee Glew | Personal Trainer
Dani Gyss – Pilates and Yoga Instructor and Registered Occupational Therapist (OT) With a background in dance and ballet, Dani’s love for movement led her to explore Pilates and yoga, eventually obtaining a Certificate III in Group Fitness and Pilates. She graduated from UniSA in 2007 with B.AppSc (Occupational Therapy) and has worked extensively across both studio, gym and clinical settings (hospital based and community – 1:1 and groups). Dani’s most recent Occupational Therapy role included being an AHP4 Clinical Educator for Occupational Therapists at CALHN (Central Adelaide Local Health Network). She currently works part time as a Clinical Educator at Adelaide University and runs her own private practice, Shala OT specialising in Occupational Therapy, Yoga Therapy, evidencebased Yoga interventions, professional development and clinical mentoring using Yoga-based approaches to support a Clinician’s wellbeing. Dani has worked in community paediatrics with children, adolescents and their families collaboratively using play-based therapies to promote functional skills.
Deeply passionate about the human body’s capacity to heal, change and grow, Dani takes a holistic approach – embracing the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of wellbeing. Her classes reflect this philosophy, empowering people to engage in life more fully through breath, mindful movement and postural awareness. Dani is a Pre-natal Yoga trained teacher and has worked with pregnant/ post-natal mums throughout her Pilates teaching roles and more recently as a Yoga Teacher providing safe and supportive spaces for mums to move and gently strengthen, as well connect to their breath, baby and community.
A proud mum to three energetic boys, Dani credits motherhood to further developing her own yoga practice, keeping her grounded in mindfulness and meditation.
Dani is 200HR Vinyasa, 50HR Yin, 50HR Chair Yoga, 85HR Pre-natal Yoga Teacher she has attended trauma-informed yoga and OT professional development and is currently studying a Graduate Certificate in Yoga Therapy (650HR Yoga training). Her classes weave postural alignment, breath and mindfulness – offering inclusive options for all levels. If you are interested in Occupational Therapy, Yoga Therapy or OT Clinical Mentoring/ Supervision reach out to Dani at hello@shalaot.com.au
Emily Floreani |
Yoga Teacher and Acupuncturist
Emily is a Yoga Teacher and Acupuncturist with a passion for movement,
mindfulness, and natural health. She began her yoga journey in 2020 and quickly fell in love with the practice, inspired by its ability to support both physical and mental wellbeing. This led her to complete her Yoga Teacher Training in Byron Bay in 2021, followed by Yin Yoga Teacher Training in 2022.
Driven by a lifelong love of learning, Emily completed her Acupuncture studies in 2025 and is currently practising while undertaking her final year of Chinese Herbal Medicine studies.
Having grown up dancing, Emily brings a playful and intuitive approach to movement. Her classes weave together influences from yoga, dance, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, creating creative and accessible experiences that encourage students to move in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.
Emily believes yoga is for everybody, regardless of age, experience, or background.
Her goal is to create a welcoming space where people can connect with their bodies, cultivate awareness, and enjoy movement without judgement.
Leah Mencel | Personal Trainer
Leah brings a grounded, performance-informed approach to strength and conditioning, shaped by a background in elite and competitive sport. She represented Australia playing basketball (U19s and U21s) and played in the SANFLW with South Adelaide, where she was part of a premiership-winning team. She has also trained extensively in CrossFit and Olympic weightlifting environments.
She holds a Certificate III and IV in Fitness, and combines her formal qualifications with real-world experience to deliver thoughtful, structured training.
Leah’s coaching focuses on building strength, control, and efficiency of movement. Her sessions are clear, challenging, and designed to support people in developing confidence and capability in their bodies over time.
She brings a calm, supportive presence to her classes, encouraging clients to work at their edge while staying connected to technique and how they move.
Her goal is simple: To help people feel stronger, fitter, more capable, and more confident in their bodies.
Megan Simmons | Yoga Instructor
Megan’s yoga journey began after completing her Degree in Dance in London in 2015. While studying Bharatanatyam, she fell in love with storytelling through movement and the deep connection between breath and body. This inspired her to explore yoga as a way of living—both on and off the mat. Motherhood in 2020 deepened her understanding of movement, revealing its healing power and the innate wisdom we all have to move and express naturally. Today, Megan’s teaching invites others to reconnect with their breath, body, and natural rhythm. Megan completed her Yoga Teacher Training in 2022 and remains devoted to a consistent, evolving personal practice. With a therapeutic approach, she honours each individual’s unique path. Her classes focus on personal exploration, guiding students to connect more deeply with their breath, body, mind, and spirit. Megan believes the practice on the mat reflects how we move through life. As a neurodiversity-affirming teacher, she encourages self-acceptance and compassion, supporting students to meet themselves exactly as they are. This commitment to inclusion is rooted in her dedication to anti-racism and social justice; by actively working to dismantle systemic barriers, Megan strives to ensure wellness is accessible, equitable, and transformative for everyone.
Want to join the team?
Jess Gerlach | Yoga Instructor
Jess began her yoga practice through sporadically attending vinyasa classes, this became more regular and evolved into a dedication to the sacred time of practicing on the mat. Feeling a sense of clarity from the practice, she felt inspired to teach and offer these abundant rewards of yoga to students.
Over the years, her curiosity has grown into a deep appreciation for the yoga tradition far beyond the physical shapes of asana. Drawn especially to the grounding energetic wisdom of Hatha philosophy, she approaches yoga as a lifelong study of presence, compassion, and connection. This foundation inspires a practice that honours both the physical and the subtle—body, breath, and the quieter layers of being.
Classes are crafted with creative, intuitive sequencing that encourage students to explore comfort, steadiness, and ease within their own bodies. Breath is woven throughout as an anchor, a reminder of presence, and a pathway back to oneself.
The intention is always to cultivate a gentleness on the mat that naturally extends into daily life. She values community deeply - holding space where people feel supported, connected, and welcomed is a core value. Ongoing study and continuing education remain an important part of the journey, allowing the practice to stay rooted, evolving, and alive.