Teaching Team

Priyan Nithya

Joy in the Body, Peace in the Heart

Founder

A certified ERYT500 Yoga Alliance instructor, Priyan brings over a decade of experience in nurturing minds and bodies through the Hatha/Vinyasa yoga tradition. He is the heart and soul behind the renowned Nithya Priyan School of Yoga, a sanctuary committed to delivering a structured, integrated practice for its dedicated students. Priyan is also the acclaimed author of "Joy in the Body," Singapore's first book on Yoga Asanas . Launched through a successful 2021Kickstarter campaign featuring past and present teachers and students of the yoga community, the book generated over $20,000 in funding and sold more than 400 copies within its early publishing months. As a yoga teacher, Priyan's teaching style exudes a calm maturity, reflecting his deep experience. His classes are infused with patience and compassion, ensuring every student feels seen and supported. An educator at heart, Priyan integrates a scientific approach with his rich understanding of Samkhya, Yoga, Tantra , and Advaita Vedanta traditions. This fusion delivers a nuanced, evidence-based approach to the lectures, courses and training he conducts. Rooted in the belief that yoga is an invaluable heritage, Priyan sees it as a tool to purify the body, mind, and spirit, guiding practitioners towards deeper self-awareness and a greater life purpose.

Dina Lin

Sound Healing

Dina's first brush with yoga started unconventionally in a Kickboxing & Yoga class in 2014. Curious to find out more, she started exploring the yoga practice and found enjoyment in flowing with the breath and in the intense concentration and strength of arm balances. What started as a form of exercise to supplement her workout routine soon became a passion for yoga, and a desire to share its benefits with others. Dina hopes to share her passion with the community and to ignite the same spark in others to explore the many aspects of the yoga practice. There are no boundaries on the mat and anyone can do yoga, regardless of age, gender or body type. Dina believes that with appropriate modifications for each student, anyone can enjoy yoga in a fun and safe way, creating a sustainable practice with positive benefits for the mind and body of each and every student.

Jeff Qin

Slow Flow Mindful Focus

Jeff's yoga journey began during a transformative retreat in Bali back in 2022. Inspired by the serene landscapes and profound teachings of yoga philosophy, Jeff found himself deeply intrigued by its insights into life's meaning and the pursuit of happiness. As someone who has always embraced an active lifestyle, Jeff began to notice the toll that extreme sports were taking on his body as the years went by. Seeking a gentler alternative to nurture his physical well-being, he discovered that yoga offered the perfect balance of strength, flexibility, and mindful movement. Through the practice of asanas, Jeff found not only relief from physical discomfort but also a renewed sense of vitality and exploration. To deepen his understanding of this ancient practice, Jeff embarked on a transformative journey by undertaking the YTT 200-hour course at the esteemed Nithya Priyan School of Yoga, under the guidance of his revered teacher, Priyan. It was during this immersive experience that he came to realize the profound impact that yoga has on both the mind and body, both as a student and as a future teacher. This realization ignited a passion within him to share the transformative benefits of yoga with others, guiding them towards a path of joy, peace, and holistic well-being.

Kimberlyn Lim

Warm, attentive, supportive

In 2010, Kimberlyn was first introduced to yoga by accident when she discovered that the secret to her 40 year old colleague's youthful 20 something looks was hot yoga. Since then, Kim has delved deeply into the world of yoga, and deeply appreciates that it is more than a means to keep fit and flexible, but it also transcends the physical body to bring mental peace and calmness. Kim believes in conducting fun classes, accessible for all levels. Her goal is to build a community of yogis who appreciate the practice and enjoy each others' company. Through NPSOYS curriculum, she aims to deliver holistic classes that stretch, strengthen and tone all parts of the body.

Marill Quek

Music and Yoga

Marill began practising yoga in 2018, where it became a steady anchor in her life. A motorbike accident led her to step away from her practice, but returning to yoga became an important part of her healing journey, helping her rebuild strength and mobility. Outside of yoga, Marill enjoys aggressive inline skating and surfing. She also performs in a ska band. Music and yoga are both central to her life, offering balance between energy and stillness. Having completed her YTT200 at Nithya Priyan School of Yoga, she values the school's inclusive community and balanced curriculum. With a background in education, she brings a progressive approach to her classes, focusing on inclusivity and creating a safe, supportive environment. Her goal is to share the benefits of yoga and create a space where students can experience Joy in the Body and Peace in the Heart.

Mu Rong Ng

From Dancer to Yoga Teacher

Mu Rong first started yoga out as an interesting way of exercising. Having pursued dance for almost her entire lifetime, the subtle similarities between the two and the ability to grow stronger, gain flexibility, and "unlock" different poses enticed her to keep coming back to the mat. The warm-hearted community at NPSOY, especially, was somewhere she felt welcome and safe to grow her practice in. Having made the decision to complete her YTT200 hour with Priyan in mid 2023, Mu Rong started seeing yoga as more than just a form of exercise. On the mat, she is able to find peace and calmness in her mind, away from the busy thoughts in the day that are exacerbated by her current job as a sustainability consultant. Teaching this beautiful practice allows Mu Rong to build stronger bonds, provide a safe home, and share her practice with like-minded practitioners. It also allows her to give back to the community, expanding the reach and beautiful touches of yoga.

Natalie Jean Ho

Awareness and Intentional Movement

Natalie is a 200-hour, certified Yoga teacher (among her full-time job as a creative and several hobbies). For her, the Yoga mat became a centre for grounding and quieting noise — it is where only the breath matters. Currently in remission from an autoimmune brain condition, encephalitis, Yoga was accessible to her even when she felt disconnected from her body. After 10 years of dedicated practice, she enrolled in teacher training, to deepen her understanding — to share the embodied steadiness and compassion of the teachers that have carried her from the beginning. Natalie's teaching moves beyond the pursuit of complex shapes and aesthetic achievement. Instead, she emphasises awareness and intentional movement, creating space for subtle energetic shifts within the body. She believes through conscious practice, students encounter not only strength and flexibility, but unexpected discoveries within themselves.

Novita Riayanti

Beginner Friendly, Calm Grounding

Novita began practicing yoga in 2015 on her own at home. She practiced yoga daily to find some 'me time' amidst motherhood responsibilities. She really enjoyed her personal practice and eventually started attending yoga classes, with Priyan being her first and current teacher. Over the years, this practice has developed into a connection that deeply relates to various aspects of both her physical and mental well-being, contributing to a more fulfilling life. In 2023, Novita decided to deepen her understanding of yoga and her practice by enrolling in Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) with Priyan. Yoga is a journey of self-exploration, and I enjoy the ongoing process of this journey as continuous learning and personal growth, hoping to share it with others.

Sharon Goh

With Body Awareness, Movement Heals

After multiple injuries that forced her to step away from the dance studio, Sharon found her way into the yoga studio. Through yoga, she found grace and fluidity in the vinyasas, as well as power and determination in the asanas. The intensity of flexibility, strength and balance that yoga demands never fails to intrigue her, and is her motivation to show up on the mat, day after day. Sharon loves to practice and teach intense, sweaty and flowy classes and enjoys the gentler and more introspective nature of stretch and yin classes. Join Sharon for a well-rounded practice with a strong emphasis on body awareness, safe alignment, and a sprinkle of gracefulness as she brings her dancer self onto the mat!

Veronika Koltsuk

Ashtangi and Dhyani

Veronika's journey with yoga and mindful living began a few years ago, at a time when her corporate career no longer brought her satisfaction and a sense of purpose. She realized she needed to reshape her life. She embraced a Nine-Day Intensive Program at the Nithya Priyan School of Yoga, where she learned meditation, pranayama, and had time to reflect. Since then her mindful adventure of self-discovery and transformation has truly began. Later, Veronika completed her RYT200 Yoga Teacher Training under the guidance of Priyan. An active long-distance runner, Veronika often uses running as a form of meditation. Over time, however, she noticed her body becoming stiff, so she was looking for a demanding yet spiritual practice that would require strength, persistence, discipline and has a spiritual aspect. Ashtanga Yoga became the answer she was looking for. Today, she practices Mysore-style Ashtanga five times a week, complemented by a daily 45-minute meditation. This routine helps her connect body and mind, release what no longer serves her, and channel her energy toward what truly matters. She has also learned the Active Series, a simplified version of traditional Ashtanga Yoga that makes the practice accessible to everyone. Veronika's mission is to share her passion for yoga so that more people can experience its profound benefits.

Yoyo Ngai

Ashtanga Advocate

Yoyo stumbled upon Yoga three years ago when her friend brought her to her first yoga class as a short escape from her stressful PhD studies. It was from there she realized she might have found that method she had long been searching for. That method has never been taught before in any school where she is accepted to be herself, to grow and experience at her own pace, to just be still and enjoy her presence guided by her own breath. From then onwards, Yoyo practised various yoga styles, from vinyasa flow, Hatha, and stretch to yin and yang, inversion, and arm balances, mainly in Nithya Priyan School of Yoga, from which she completed her RYT200 Yoga teaching training with her teacher Priyan. Currently, she is practising Mysore Ashtanga daily to continue learning and applying the benefits of Yoga. She believes through this method, she can share her practices and experiences with fellow practitioners. Healing oneself through the practices of focus and breath. She hopes to share with everyone that by following their own rhythm of breath, they can reach a space where they can feel Joy in the body and Peace in the Heart.

Yuko Nakamura

おもてなし

Yuko encountered Yoga in 2012 after she moved to Singapore from Kobe Japan, as the gym near her condo happened to offer Yoga classes. Prior to that, given its generic spiritual impression, she didn’t quite feel it was something for her as a scientist.  However, as Yuko started practicing Yoga more regularly, she realized its benefits a lot more than expected. The stiffness on her neck and shoulder, which she had suffered for years disappeared. Her flexibility and strength improved over time. Most importantly, she noticed that she felt less stress at the end of the day, and could achieve better concentration, focus, and productivity at work.  After her experience with YTT conducted by Nithya Priyan in Spring 2018, she discovered the joy and passion of sharing her practice with others. “People who think they are too inflexible to do Yoga, or they are too busy everyday and no time, will benefit from its practice the most” says Yuko. She puts effort in planning and preparing for every class - almost as she is inviting her guests over to her home with Omotenashi (おもてなし) spirit. Her goal is to enable students to feel “Joy in the Body and Peace in the Heart ” out of her class, as the Philosophy of the school.