Connect the Dots

Vanessa was first brought to yoga 10 years ago, through a chance encounter with a physiotherapist who convinced Vanessa to attend her yoga class. Vanessa experienced a new sense of calm and clarity, and quickly became a regular Vinyasa practioner, and then later finding Yin yoga and fell in love with the gentle, restorative, emotional release.

In 2016 Vanessa completed her Vinyasa teacher training with the highly esteemed Nicole Walsh. With a strong interest in functional movement, Vanessa has read extensively on anatomy and completed additional anatomy courses with international teachers such as Tiffany Cruickshank. Vanessa brings intelligent sequencing aligned to open and strengthen the body, encouraging her students to delve inward; as we release the tension physically, we subsequently feel the emotional release as well. Vanessa gently encourages her students to feel the energetic shift and the more subtle sensations within their bodies.

Vanessa’s students leave the room feeling they have completed a workout, but yet incredibly peaceful and grounded through the restorative conclusion and the re-set of their nervous system.

I'm very curious and passionate about uncovering & cultivating a deep connection with my body and guiding others to explore their own connections. I've always been drawn to holistic eastern healing modalities although my journey into movement based healing began at 25. Reintegrating with the experience of the body is the key to the work I share.

I have trained with Yoga Synergy & Master Zhen Hua Yang, founder of Calligraphy Health, and studied Traditional Thai Yoga Massage in Thailand. I'm currently completing a double bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience & Anthropology so that I can help build the bridge that integrates eastern and western perspectives of health, healing, medicine and the body. I hold group and private Qigong, Yoga & Body Therapy sessions in Sydney encouraging healing and self-exploration through movement and deep body awareness.

I aim to give my students a safe space to explore their practice in an inspiring and personal way. I am committed to helping my students develop their practice in a way that promotes their well being and inner balance.   Yoga is about Balance of Mind Body and Spirit and for me I like my students to feel amazing and empowered when they finish my class

“The only journey is the one within.”
 Rainer Maria Rilke

Brooke found her way to yoga for stress management and found a respite and a place to come home to her body. After experiencing anxiety, depression and trauma, yoga became an integral part of her healing. In 2018, she completed her teacher training with Janine Leagh and continues to learn from a variety of different teachers, becoming a forever student.

She hopes that students are able to meet themselves where they are at with loving kindness and acceptance. In the words of Carl Rogers - “The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”.

Yoga is more than 'asanas' (postures), it's a way to meet yourself, both in shadow and light.

Rachael was drawn to Yoga at the early age of 11 and practiced for some years which lead to teaching in 2007. A qualified teacher having gained certification from Qi yoga in Manly, and is a member of the Yoga Teachers Association of Australia. Rachael also holds a Certificate 111 in Fitness.Her earlier career in the corporate sector as a web consultant gave her insight into the pressures and challenges that most are faced with on a day-to-day level and how practicing yoga is self-sustaining.

For general, senior and prenatal classes Rachael shares a dynamic & nurturing Yoga class combining flowing yoga sequences. The focus of each class is to inspire and guide her students with enthusiasm & a strong desire to see her students transform on all levels, mental harmony, physically increasing strength, coordination and balance, emotionally & spiritually with deep relaxation and breath work.

Rachaels simple, friendly and warm instructions and demonstrations in her childrens classes make it easy for children to learn simple movements, and to feel good about themselves as they become calmer and more energised. Rachael believes in letting the children guide the yoga class, collaboratively and learning together. “We’re not doing the teaching – we’re there learning alongside them.” Rachael enjoys sharing her understanding of yoga with others, and looks forward to learning from all her students

“Practice and all is coming” – Sri Pattabhi Jois

Nikki is a dedicated and compassionate yoga practitioner who has infinite curiosity for the practice. Her classes encourage personal exploration with intelligently sequenced dynamic flows that offer challenging, transformative and empowering experiences that allow students to deepen their practice and reconnect with their body, heart and breath. Her classes focus on alignment and the subtle energy flow that has the potential to leave her students feeling balanced, rejuvenated and connected after their practice. Nikki draws her inspiration from Yogic Eastern philosophy and Western psychology as well as her yoga teachers from whom she is endlessly learning.

I first found yoga while I was a full time ballet dancer at a performing arts school. Even though I was a ballet dancer and had been doing it all my life I found that some days I enjoyed yoga a lot more. In ballet you are literally told to stand behind the person you’re trying to be better than and to be better than you were the day before. This encouraged improvement, however it also brought up negative thoughts. In yoga we work to where we are that day. Our goal may be to improve but it doesn’t matter if we don’t. We focus on where we are in that moment. Live in the present. I then moved to Princeton, New Jersey for a year to begin my professional ballet career. I found a little yoga studio in this small city to go to on the one day off. Continuing my practice allowed me to calm my busy thoughts of ballet and being home sick. 

Due to an injury I had to come back home. I had to find a new path in life. This is hard when all you’ve ever known is taken from you. I did always find peace in the yoga studio though. I forgot all my stresses and worries. 

A the end of last year I finished my HSC and now I have many jobs which I love. In yoga, we all have a dharma -a purpose in life- I believe that someone can have many dharmas. Some of my many jobs include yoga teaching of course, dance teaching, preschool entertaining, kids party entertaining, nannying and babysitting. I equally enjoy kids, dance and yoga and I cannot see my life without one of these. I have just completed my kids yoga teacher training as well which will fit in with everything else that I’m doing.  

This is probably the biggest and best thing that living the yoga life has taught me and I believe that everyone should live by this:

~Don’t let anyone tell you what to do or how to feel. Only you can decide your path and how to look at things in life. You can choose to live your best life and see the positive in everything that may come up. You’ve got this~

I started practicing yoga about 17 years ago. I was 22 years old and I had just moved out of home. I was studying full time at university and working part time. Even though I did well at my studies, I found it difficult to maintain balance in my life and I would often feel stressed, anxious and overwhelmed. 

One day, I found an advertisement in my letter box from a lady who was teaching yoga in my area. The classes included asana, pranayama, yogic philosophy, yoga nidra, chanting mantras and meditation. I knew after my very first class that I had discovered something special and I would be practicing yoga for the rest of my life! 

Yoga has given me the tools to directly experience my true self and to have a connection with that which is greater than myself. I feel very blessed to have discovered yogic teachings in this lifetime and grateful for the opportunity to share this with others.