Carolyn is the principle teacher and founder of Open Arms Yoga and dedicated to creating safe yoga spaces – spaces that are invitational, collaborative, with ‘the Caz’ touch of humour.

Combining the traditions of hatha yoga with accessible, trauma sensitive yoga, Open Arms Yoga is the realisation of a vision, that it is both personal and empowering.

Yoga, for Carolyn, became a lifelong practice in 2010. It offered immeasurable support through one of the most vulnerable times of her life, after a traumatic event. Yoga helped her to feel safe inside, and out, again and re-discover confidence, grace and humour.

‘Since that scary time in 2010, as soon as I walked into my teacher’s room, I’ve been guided by this practice – whilst the feelings on the mat are wonderful it is the steady, evolving presence of yoga in my day-to-day that has, and continues, to support my life.’

Open Arms Yoga has weekly group classes and private 1-to-1 sessions available across the week. Please clink on the link above to discover more or visit http://www.openarmsyoga.com.au 

Carolyn also teaches at Balwyn Community Centre, Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays and has been fortunate to be a part of the community there since 2016. Follow the link to their website here or via the Open Arms Yoga website.

Carolyn’s study and training includes:

2011 – present – beginning with 4 incredible years of consistent practice with Januta Ribinskas (who she still does a weekly class with)

2015 – 2016 teacher training with the Australian College of Classical Yoga and Swami Shantananda, which included non-dualist still-mind meditation. It is this training which is the foundation of the practice and all that yoga truly is. A lineage that traces back to Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri.

2016 – first teacher training in Trauma Sensitive Yoga with Shirley Hicks & Annabel McLisky

2017, 2018 & 2019 – Restorative Teacher Training with Gena Kenny

2021 Mental Health Aware Teacher Training with Dr Lauren Tober

2021 Yoga for Cancer with Lisa Blanch

2022  Training in Trauma-Sensitive Yoga with the Center for Trauma and Embodiment at JRI Yoga Program – Kristen Pringle

2023 Online Trauma training with Peter Levine

2024 Somatic Yoga Practice Workshop with Sal Flynn – Yoga Therapy Institute

‘I love to continue my student and teacher development, to draw upon mentors from all over the world and have these teachings pass from me to the Open Arms community.’