In 1975 Perth’s first Iyengar yoga studio opened its door, where Kale and Nikki Leaf, FYC’s founders, began teaching in 1987. Kale and Nikki took over the school in 1989, moving the studio to Mouat St. It was then that ‘Fremantle Yoga Centre’ became a registered business.
Some of the teachers who joined the school at this time include Edda Pinelli who taught morning yoga for two decades, and Nikki Leaf, Kale’s then-wife. James McIntyre also began teaching around this time with a ‘Friday night special’ class, competing with the skimpy bar across the road.
In 1995, Kale and Nikki moved the studio to the E-Shed, creating a quieter venue with water views. At this time, Kale introduced the bar system on the walls – which we continue to use today.
In October 2003, whilst still in training, Kale threw Steph Wright into the deep teaching her first class; Karren McMahon began her teacher training to heal an injury, and Jane Underwood followed not long after.
Not longer after Kate Porotto bought the business in 2007, she started a second studio in East Fremantle. When Kate closed the Eshed studio, the East Fremantle location became the studio’s new home. Current owner, Cathrina Read took over in May 2024.
Today, the studio has 13 highly trained and experienced instructors teaching various styles of yoga, most of whom are home-grown and trained by Kale Leaf himself. Some of our teachers have over three decades of teaching experience each, and are considered the yoga teacher’s teacher.