Michelle (Mitch) Gibson Ever since I was young I’ve always been driven to do something that involves movement. After 8 years classical ballet & 5 years of competitive softball and volleyball, my career in fitness started at Chase Fitness Centre (Chatswood) in the early 80’s– a pretty scary & funny time in hindsight. In amongst all that Lycra & leg-warmers, the very early fitness industry’s growth was initially trial and error – mostly based on how people looked and how much an exercise hurt. It was when instructing developed into a skill, and exercise began to evolve as a science that it all started making sense to me. My fitness industry career evolved into training new generation instructors, presenting at fitness conventions nationally and internationally, and teaching fitness classes (mostly step, muscle conditioning, stretch classes and later on Pilates) for 18 years before making the delicious transition into yoga in 2002. I’ve loved learning from and studying with Dede Daniels and Denise Klatte from Flow-Yoga, Twee Merigan, Donna Farhi, Judith Lasater, Seane Corn, Sharon Gannon & David Life, Shiva Rea, AND each one of my students. What a blessing to have crossed paths with you all. My philosophy around yoga continues to evolve. While maintaining utmost respect for the original yogic teachings, my enquiring mind, sense of logic AND 26 years teaching experience strongly believes in a necessity to modify poses and teaching styles for some individuals in order for the practice to be not only accessible, but functional and safe. As a generation, our body types and postural issues aren’t even close to what they were hundreds or thousands of years ago back in India. I strongly believe in an underlying enquiry of "How is this practice serving me NOW?" I enjoy the scope that Hatha opens up, so I love dipping into any combination of inspiring offerings from Vinyasa, Iyengar, Restorative, Ashtanga and even Prenatal Yoga - always infusing traditional yoga poses with safety guidelines, making the practice safe, effective/functional and accessible to most individuals. Music is another passion I'm able to combine with yoga, and I adore creating playlists and music to support what we do on the mat. I’m hugely passionate about how and what I do, being one of those lucky ones who genuinely loves her work. The energy exchange I experience when I teach is a total pleasure. I also seem to be developing a passionate interest in helping women trying to conceive AND those who are already pregnant, with Yoga. I have been the proud and nurturing owner of Yogabowl since October 2005, and am passionately focused on continually making small changes that align client needs with my vision for my business. I’m blessed to have such amazing staff to share this teaching journey with me, and who have largely contributed to the growth of Yogabowl - from our humble beginnings in the bowling club in Longueville, to now operating a multi-venue Yoga School in Sydney, including CBD, Sydney Olympic Park, Darling Park, and Greenwich. We also bring CORPORATE YOGA and Pilates to the workplace of clients including Ernst & Young, NSW Bar Association and Supreme Court. I look forward to meeting you on the mat, and on the path. Namaste. “When you do things from your soul, you feel a current moving in you, a joy.” RUMI.
		Cecile Farrar I discovered Yoga eight years ago - initially expecting the practice to complement my professional dance practice by improving my strength and flexibility. However, I soon discovered it's deeper and richer benefits. Whilst living in New York I completed my teacher training at Shri Yoga, Tribeca in the style of Dynamic Vinyasa. The beautiful heartfelt practice of Anusara Yoga through my teacher/mentor Sadie Nardini, and my Ashtanga teacher Brendan McCall have been particularly influential. More recently I participated in an inspiring teacher workshop with Simon Low, whose specialty is Yin (Restorative) Yoga. My classes place emphasis on movement with breath / meditation in motion. In teaching, I place importance on moving with the breath (meditation in motion), facilitating a sense of gracefully flowing from one posture to the next whilst maintaining a safe awareness of postural alignment and connection to your core strength. I look forward to flowing with you on the mat.
		Victoria Kershaw (Pilates Teacher) Victoria practised ballet and gymnastics over a fourteen-year period before becoming qualified as a full-time Pilates instructor. Her classes combine a series of stretches, abdominal core strength, toning and strengthening for the back, legs, arms and buttocks. Victoria believes it is important to leave a class feeling relaxed, uplifted, firm and strong. Passionate about the benefits of Pilates and the impact it can have on the body, Victoria shares her enthusiasm and zeal with all of her students in a patient and professional manner.
		Rachael Coopes Rachael's background with movement spans 25 years, firstly as a rhythmic gymnast competing at a National level until her late teens and later receiving a scholarship to study French physical theatre in Paris at L'Ecole Philippe Gaulier. Rachael came to pilates and yoga as a way to heal her body and calm her mind. Her great passions are yoga, acting and writing. She is a qualified yoga teacher and has invaluable experience gained by 14 years of practicing and studying with various internationally renowned teachers such as Mother, Clive Sheridan, Durga Devi, Stewart Gilchrist, Bianca Machliss, Simon Borg-Olivier, Mark Whitwell, Katie Mansistas and Mother Maya. Her philosophy is that while yoga comes from an ancient, revered practice, which is to be respected, and there are certain tried and tested rules we must follow, the goal is really to find pleasure in your practice. Pre-natal classes: Having done extensive study on yoga in the pre and post-natal period, this is an area Rachael is passionate about. Qualifications: Samadhi Bliss Yoga Teacher Training- 200 hours Samadhi Bliss "Yoga for Birth" Teacher Training- 30 hours
		Lauren Horton Lauren found yoga through a yoga book her mum gave her 14 years ago. She began practicing some of the poses in the book to relax and found the calm that she achieved to be life changing. She has been practicing yoga ever since and believes yoga is a powerful healing practice that everyone can attain, regardless of how stretchy or unstretchy you think you are. Lauren graduated from the Samadhi Yoga teacher training and Samadhi Birth Prenatal Training with Katie Manitsas in Newtown, Sydney and is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance. She has also studied under Mother Maya, Sharon Gannon and David Life from Jivamukti Yoga (NYC), Tibetan Heart yogis, Darcy Jones and Jason Dunbar (US), Alanna Kaivalya (US) and musician David Stringer (US). She has also studied with Jane Collings Harwicke (midwife, mother and writer). Her love is teaching Prenatal yoga. Lauren believes the benefits of breath awareness, the yoga postures and using sound to create openess in the body, enables pregnant ladies to make a strong connection to their babies, to that intuitive feminine self and give them the tools they need to have a calm pregnancy and labour. Lauren incorporates inspiring music, yoga poses, meditation and sound work with an open heart and mind. She is currently pregnant with her first child and is very excited to share this journey with other pregnant ladies through Prenatal yoga.
		Tanya Voges I have been performing as a dancer nationally and internationally for many years. Discovering yoga has given me balance, allowed me to move away from the ego and find a sense of self as well as develop strength for injury prevention. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”- Albert Einstein My classes focus on moving mindfully with the breath, allowing you to develop core strength and relieve muscle tension. The occasional challenging pose which we practice in the safety of yoga class, gives you the opportunity to be more prepared to deal with challenges in your career and personal lives. Yoga can enrich your life off the mat and the only flexibility required is to have an open mind! I look forward to meeting you and taking this journey through yoga together. Namaste.
		Jolie Brook I’ve completed my formal yoga teacher training at Nature Care College (Advanced Diploma) alongside of 14 years of practicing in Sydney with various teachers of yoga (mainly Hatha yoga in it’s various forms ie. Ashtanga, Iyengar and Hatha classes taught in a Vinyasa (flowing) style . Having a career as a professional dancer I have worked for companies such as Opera Australia, One Extra Dance Company, Dance North, Darc Swan, Queensland Opera, The New Zealand Opera and for the last 5 years toured extensively internationally with dance/theatre company Stretch Mk 1 (work that merges masks, movement, design & sculpture).As a teacher I am always in awe that such an ancient practice such as yoga can still be so relevant in today’s times and respect this lineage. I aim to teach from a place of authenticity making students feel comfortable in their quest for a stronger body, looser limbs, a fuller breath and a quieter mind. I look forward to expanding the practice you’ve/we’ve started creating, together. Namaste.
		Monica Sayers I was absolutely hooked on yoga after receiving my first class, when I was 15 years old. Having come from a dance and singing background, yoga became a part of my makeup. Movement has been a passion of mine and I was attracted to yoga asana postures, which to me seemed like a form of dance. However, it wasn’t until I gave up dancing and pursued acting that I discovered yoga played an important role in how to be in the present, and how to have a form of connection with the Self. I have found it has been an invaluable vehicle - to not only help centre body and breath, but allowing the space between thoughts to become the retreat from the chaotic madness we often get caught up in daily. This then releases the mind so it can clearly focus when it is called upon. I am a registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and completed my teacher training at Samadhi Yoga 2009. I graduated from NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in 2004. My approach to yoga is very simple – to be present to each moment. I teach in a smooth flowing manner, working closely with linking the breath to movement. I have experience in teaching a mix of levels and can tailor a session to suit individual needs. Incorporating music along with pranayama (breathing techniques), highlighted readings and quotes from all sorts of writing including ancient sutras, poetry, inspirational books and plays, my classes will leave you feeling restored, refreshed and centred.
		John McWhorter John McWhorter R.Y.T. has been practicing for 14 years and teaching for nine. While yoga initially brought physical stability, strength and openness, over time it created the same mental result. In 2003 he let go of his career as a journalist to pursue full time study at Yoga Arts in Byron Bay Australia. Since graduating in 2003, he has worked as a river guide, carpenter, writer and yoga teacher. His classes combine physical challenge with philosophical instruction, helping students gain the skills needed to face the challenge of being human. They learn that by following the yoga path, they can more gracefully accept life’s challenges while helping create a more beautiful world for themselves and others. His training is eclectic, ranging from Ashtanga and Iyengar asana styles to Vipassana meditation and Kirtan chanting. His lighthearted approach encourages students to engage the mind, open the body and touch the spirit within. “Twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain