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, John Friend 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 27 years teaching experience strongly supports 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 (I'm a qualified Prenatal Yoga teacher) - 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 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. 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.
		John McWhorter I came to yoga in 1993 during a difficult period in my life. I had spent the previous 20 years in an emotional freezer, trying to make the world fit my expectations. It wasn’t working and through the power of Grace, I was offered the chance to try a new approach. Soon after taking my first steps on the yoga mat, I began to reconnect. After ten years of practice, I let go a career as a radio journalist in Alaska to study yoga full time at Yoga Arts in Byron Bay. I immersed myself in the yoga world, learning postures, breathing, meditation, philosophy, chanting, fasting and any number of other practices. In 2005, yoga took me to China where I taught full-time and led a teacher training before landing in Sydney with a sore back. Since 2007, I’ve been studying with Simon Borg-Olivier at Yoga Synergy who has helped me put my aging body back together. His teaching has added to my own experience with several popular yoga forms. I now teach a Synergy-inspired form of Vinyasa yoga which I believe offers students a safe and sustainable way of living yoga every day. Yoga practice has helped me reduce stress, develop a stronger body, steadier mind and more balanced life. I believe it can do the same for anyone regardless of age or ability. I continue integrating my head, heart and hands by teaching yoga, working as a handyman and studying counselling. Each practice is aimed at aligning me with the core principle of yoga’s creators: Connecting my mind and body to better understand where I am stuck, whether its physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually and how I can gradually find my way toward well-being. Simply put, a sustained yoga practice helps me live better. As one of my dear teachers used to say: “This yoga stuff might be a game, but it’s the best game going.” I welcome you to come along and play.
		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 meeting you all soon. 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.
		Trish Flynn Trish began a professional dancing career in her late teens. She danced professionally in Europe with the Monte-Carlo Opera Company and performed for Princess Grace on many occasions. Moving to South East Asia she opened ballet schools in both Indonesia and Singapore, and began teaching fitness and aerobics. Returning to Sydney in the mid 80's she attained her Level 2 coaching status and focused on the development and teaching of Elite Gymnastics for 13 years. Trish started Yoga when she became pregnant with her first daughter 21 years ago, and the rest as they say is Yoga history! She completed her teacher training at Samadhi Yoga in 2004 and enjoyed the all-embracing style of Samadhi's training. She began teaching Yin Yoga in 2006 after studying with Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley. Currently Trish teaches both Hatha and Yin Yoga, as they are a wonderful complement to each other. Trish enjoys working with a variety of clients ranging in ages from school students to the elderly. Trish has a particular interest in working with those who have various health issues and limitations to improve their enjoyment of life. She continues to support professional sports people like the Canterbury Bulldogs Football Team, working to minimize their injuries and manage their stress in a professional performance driven environment. She is a certified YTAA teacher.
		Vicky Chapman My training with was John Ogilvie and Judy Krupp at the Byron Yoga Center & Yoga Room in St Ives, and Peter Clifford at Santosha Yoga in Byron Bay. I enjoy teaching a fusion of Hatha Yoga drawing on my background in Ashtanga, Iygenga, Purna, Therapy and Traditional Yoga practices to create Dynamic, alignment focused flowing classes for all ages and experience levels. I look forward to seeing you on the mat soon.
		Patricia (Patty) Leighton, Pilates teacher I have always loved exercise and movement ever since I was a little girl sweating through my first dance class in Chile. Today, I fuse aspects of my favorite fitness and dance obsessions in a unique style of Pilates. My teaching philosophy is simple – correct form combined with movement. This is designed to target and work your core strength muscles an-aerobically making your body firmer and stronger. Whilst the constant flow of the class from one exercise to another burns fat giving you an aerobic workout at the same time. With smooth transitions from one exercise to another, keeping the class moving with upbeat, fun music that makes you want to move. I have my Pilates certification from BASI PILATES, Washington DC, USA.and Maroochydore, AUS. And I am excited to continue my experience and Pilates knowledge through practice and teaching. My philosophy is that if you do one push-up today, you’ll do two tomorrow! I want you to work up a sweat, see significant results and have fun in the process.
		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