MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Meet Gaia, Your Tampa Bay Mahjong Instructor
I’ve taught over 1,000 students how to play American Mahjong - and I still remember exactly what it felt like to be a nervous beginner.
My superpower?
Helping new players feel calm, capable, and excited - even if they’ve never touched a Mahjong tile before.
Certified
American Mahjong Instructor
Founding Member
Mahj Life Instructors Guild
2025 Nominee
AMJA Favorite Instructor
The method behind Mahjong Made Simple
I discovered Mahjong in 2019 and quickly realized most beginners were being taught all wrong - overwhelmed with rules before they’d played a single game. My own first lesson was a disaster; I left confused and discouraged.
So I built something different. The Mahjong Made Simple method gives beginners only what they need to sit down and play - nothing more, nothing less. After one lesson, every student leaves as a Mahjong player. The strategy comes later. First, I make sure they feel capable.
No pressure.
No intimidation.
Just a welcoming path into the game.
“My job isn’t just to teach the game. It’s to make sure every woman feels at ease, accepted, and supported from the moment she sits at the table.”
— GAIA BANOVICH
Two experienced instructors. One shared belief - that Mahjong should feel welcoming from day one.
Meet the team
Gaia Banovich
Originally from Slovenia, Gaia spent years in New York's fine art world before discovering Mahjong in Tampa Bay. Since 2023, she's taught 1,000+ students to play using her Mahjong Made Simple method - built on patience, clarity, and the belief that anyone can learn.
FOUNDER AND LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Lisa Matamoros
A Registered Nurse with 40+ years in education, Lisa brings the same structured, patient teaching she used training emergency physicians to every Mahjong table. Clear, calm, and deeply encouraging.
INSTRUCTOR
Ready to find your seat at the table?
Private lessons, group classes, and Zoom sessions available across Tampa Bay and beyond.