About Yessica

The coach who understands

your whole life.

Not just your workout. I coach high-performing professionals navigating demanding careers, hormonal changes, and life transitions — who still want to feel strong, capable, and genuinely well.

8+
Years coaching
2
Cities
100%
Personalised
Yessica IJpma — Mahalo Moves
Yessica Ypma
Founder · Mahalo Moves

My story

I didn't burn out.
My body just stopped letting me ignore it.

Understanding where I came from helps you understand why I coach the way I do — and why it actually works.

The wake-up call

The more yoga I did, the more pain I felt everywhere else

I was deep in a corporate career; communications, international development, UNICEF. Doing more and more yoga on the side. But the yoga only made it clearer: I was completely disconnected. Constantly ON. Time managed me, not the other way around. My muscles were chronically tense. I couldn't sleep.

My body finally gave up during a yoga teacher training. I couldn't ignore it anymore. That was the moment I understood: I had never actually relaxed — not once.

The shift

It was never a leap. It grew — one person at a time

After recovery I dropped to four days a week and started teaching yoga on the side. People responded. They asked for Pilates, strength training, pregnancy coaching. Each client taught me something new. I kept researching, kept studying, kept expanding. And realised I was teaching people exactly what I'd failed to learn in time myself.

It never felt like work. It still doesn't.

Why it's different

My clients don't want a programme. They want a partner who gets it

The people drawn to Mahalo Moves tend to be high-achieving, highly educated professionals who take their health seriously, and demand quality in everything. They don't want a generic plan. They want something personalised, holistic, and genuinely luxurious in the truest sense: not showy, but thorough. 360°. Real.

My corporate background isn't something I left behind. It's what makes me different. And my research never stops. Because every person has their own body, background, and circumstances. That will never change.

Why it matters for you

What makes this
different

01

I understand your life, not just your goals

Most coaches optimise for the gym. I optimise for your whole life — your work schedule, stress load, hormonal reality, recovery capacity. The programme fits around your life. Not the other way around.

02

Research never stops - because you are not generic

Every client teaches me something new. My academic background means I read the research, ask the question behind the question, and never assume I already have the answer. Your programme reflects who you actually are.

03

Luxury is quality, not decoration

True luxury is thoroughness. A 360° approach to your health: training, nutrition, recovery, lifestyle. That delivers real results. Not a programme that looks premium. One that actually is.

How I work

The 360°
Mahalo Method

01

Strength as the foundation

Progressive, evidence-based strength training adapted to your hormonal cycle, recovery capacity, and goals. Functional strength that makes everything else in your life easier — not just training for the sake of it.

02

Movement that complements, not competes

Pilates, yoga, and mobility woven into your programme strategically — not as add-ons, but as tools that improve your strength training, support recovery, and build long-term resilience in your body.

03

Nutrition without obsession

Practical, evidence-based nutrition guidance that supports your training, hormones, and energy. No restrictive protocols. No food fear. A clear framework that works with your real life and your real goals.

04

Lifestyle as the multiplier

Sleep, stress, recovery, and daily habits are where transformation actually happens. I help you identify the small shifts that compound into lasting change — outside the gym, not just inside it.

Who I work with

Where I
specialise

My clients are typically driven professionals between 35 and 55 navigating significant life transitions — hormonal, professional, or personal. High-achieving, time-pressed, and done with programmes that ignore their complexity.

Perimenopause Pre & Postnatal Body Recomposition Life Transitions

Perimenopause & Hormonal Transition

Specialised programming for those navigating perimenopause — adapting to hormonal fluctuations, building bone density, managing body composition changes, and training smarter through every phase.

Pre & Postnatal Fitness

Safe, evidence-based training through pregnancy and postpartum recovery. Rebuilding core strength, pelvic floor function, and full-body resilience at every stage — with specialist certification and deep care.

Body Recomposition

Building muscle and reducing fat simultaneously — the way it actually works for people over 35. Patience, precision programming, and the right nutrition framework to shift your body composition sustainably.

High-Performers & Life Transitions

For driven professionals navigating career pivots, relocations, relationship changes, or the general chaos of building a meaningful life. Fitness as a stabilising force — not one more thing to manage.

Qualifications & training

The expertise
behind the coaching

Academic & Professional

MSc Communication Science

University of Amsterdam

Academic training in research, evidence synthesis, and communication — forming the analytical backbone of how I design and explain programming.

BA Linguistics

University of Groningen

Fluent in Dutch, English, and Spanish — working seamlessly with clients across Europe and internationally.

International Development

UNICEF Netherlands & ECARO

Strategic communications for UNICEF projects — bringing a global, human-centred perspective to everything I do.

Fitness & Health Certifications

Certified Personal Trainer

ACE — American Council on Exercise

Evidence-based strength and conditioning programming with a foundation in exercise science.

Yoga & Pilates Instructor

Vinyasa · Yin · Pilates Mat

Multi-modality movement practice integrated into holistic coaching programmes — 10+ years of personal practice before teaching.

Women's Health Specialist

Pre/Postnatal & (Peri)menopause Certified

Specialist training in the unique hormonal and physiological needs of women across all life stages.

Client results

In their
own words

"

Yessica went above and beyond — truly tuning into my personal needs with incredible attention to detail. Her guidance was crystal clear, effective, and deeply human. With over 10 years of yoga and Pilates experience, I've rarely encountered such thoughtful and comprehensive care.

Four Seasons Guest
Private Client · Madrid
"

The change I've had in my body and mind in four months is surreal. My body got much more defined, I lost fat, and now I'm focused on gaining muscle. What I love most is that she also helps with nutrition and lifestyle. These small details make all the difference.

Danielle
Music Producer
"

I am not the type of person who likes exercising — I'm usually the one checking the clock. But with Yessica, time actually flies. Every session is tailored, challenging, and fun. She knows exactly how to keep you motivated and genuinely engaged.

Charoula
Communications Director

Where we work

Madrid · Amsterdam · Everywhere

In-Person

Madrid

Private training, Pilates, and yoga in Madrid — including premium partnerships with Four Seasons Hotel Madrid and The Edition. Home visits and private studio sessions available.

Four Seasons Hotel Madrid The EDITION Madrid The Social Hub

In-Person

Amsterdam

Training at established Amsterdam studios — with deep ties to the city's premium wellness community built over years of practice.

Het Gymlokaal The White Door Studio De Nieuwe Yogaschool

Online & Worldwide

Online

Full coaching, programming, and support delivered online — with the same depth of personalisation as in-person. Clients across Europe, the US, and beyond.

Hybrid & fully remote options Async coaching & check-ins International clients welcome

Upon Request

Global

Multi-day retreats fully custom designed for premium experiences. Combining yoga, Pilates, mobility, and strength training into a true recharge. For individuals, groups, and luxury brands worldwide.

Fully bespoke programming Luxury retreat experiences Worldwide · Upon request

Ready to start

This is
your time.

Whether you're navigating a transition, rebuilding after burnout, or simply ready to invest in yourself properly — let's build something that actually fits your life.