Rest in Power Yamuna Zake
Rest in Power Yamuna Zake
‘All of my work is based on liberating. Free Your Body, Free Your Mind, Free Your Life – Don’t Get Stuck.’ -Yamuna Zake
I first bought Yamuna’s foot wakers in my 30s while working at a hedge fund in Century City. High heels by day, marathon training at night. With the foot wakers safely hidden under my desk, my poor feet could finally get a break.
Foot wakers hidden under this desk
Later when I became a yoga teacher, I noticed that few people in my LA yoga community knew of Yamuna. Yamuna was based in NYC and the myofascial release work in LA was dominated by a local fitness guru, Jill Miller. Jill’s ‘Yoga Tune Up Balls’ found their way into many yoga classes, including mine.
I never did a certification with Yamuna but last summer, I was thrilled to see that she was offering workshops online. I took her Pelvis and & Hips workshop that features the pair of smaller, black balls. When I finished the workshop, my hips and pelvis felt light as air.
I always respected that Yamuna’s equipment was Made in Italy, very high quality, and she never blew out her brand for more likes or profit.
I’ve had my silver ball for 15+ years (the foot wakers are MIA, sadly) and while it looks worn, it has not degraded in any way. I cannot say that about all other body rolling gear I own.
Another thing I appreciated about Yamuna is that she gave so much information out for free. On Facebook, a simple search for ‘Yamuna’ yields hundreds of short videos. She did not place her work behind a paywall, instead thoughtfully and thoroughly brought it to the masses. Unlike so many fitness influencers who urge you to join a membership community or pursue their certification, Yamuna was on a mission to educate, a real OG.
She was also brilliant at using real life scenarios – beds, tables and chairs – to assist the exercises. Some of the neck and shoulders releases done in a bed, and the hip release on the side of a bed, are my absolute yummy favorites.
Here is a curated list of my favorite Yamuna shorts.
If you are curious about her work and want to purchase gear, link here.
My Favorite Yamuna Body Rolling Videos
Hip Release/SI Joint Stabilization https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=820761476158379&rdid=6cJhizVPgHhfZFyc
Posture Corrector/Belly Release In Bed https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18phH5bKjg/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Shoulder Head/Bicep Tendon/Deltoid Release https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1JJjhfrTEd/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Upper Chest Posture Corrector https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1PGTdc4A9V/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Shoulder Release https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17eLd9Tu5X/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Inner Thigh Release https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1c82nDMhfK/?mibextid=wwXIfr
At the Desk: Hands and Upper Body https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18sANrm2up/
At the Desk: Upper Arms and Armpit https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CeXFdDmaA/
On the Heart https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1D4P1frgZj/
https://www.yamunausa.com/
Yamuna Zake passed away on Friday, May 29, 2026 in Ibiza, Spain.
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Catherine Tingey
Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
About the Author
Catherine Tingey+ Entrepreneur, yogini, designer, award-winning filmmaker, personal trainer and former marathon runner. She left a career in finance to start her own business and along the way, became a yoga teacher. She has been practicing yoga for 33 years and teaching privately for 13 years.
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