Meet Tymi
Tymi Howard Bender is an internationally recognized Yoga Alliance 500 E-RYT teacher, Certified Holistic Health Coach, and visionary leader in the global yoga community. She is the creator of Manifest Yoga International Teacher Trainings, founder of Guruv Yoga Studios, and owner of James Island Yoga in Charleston, South Carolina — where she remains actively on the teaching schedule, guiding students each week with the same passion that has defined her decades-long career.
With over three decades of experience, Tymi has been a powerful voice in the evolution of modern yoga, helping expand the reach of Vinyasa and Yin practices while emphasizing yoga as a lived philosophy rather than a fitness trend. She believes yoga begins in the spirit and continues far beyond the mat — shaping how we move, lead, love, and serve in the world.
Tymi’s journey into yoga began in 1993 as a path of healing from injuries sustained during her ballet career. What started as physical rehabilitation quickly became a lifelong spiritual calling. She holds a BA in Theatre and Dance from Rollins College and a Master’s degree from NYU’s Circle in the Square Theatre School. Her studies with renowned teachers including Dharma Mittra, David Swenson, Shiva Rea, Barron Baptiste, John Friend, David Life, Sharon Gannon, and others have informed a rich, integrative teaching style rooted in devotion, service, and personal transformation.
Today, Tymi continues to mentor teachers, lead international retreats and trainings, and inspire students to live yoga as a path of purpose, courage, and connection — both in Charleston and around the world.