My attraction to Yoga began with Swami Sarasvati in the 1970s & therein through books my mother had around the house. My formal training began in 1991. I have been practising and studying Yoga in many forms since. My fundamental approach has always been Hatha Tantra-based, predominantly flavoured by the Ashtanga and Iyengar styles. My practice has been daily for most of my adult life.

My training, I would say, has been extensive & encompassing various ways of learning.

They include:

Parampara: Through the unbroken lineage of Krishnamacharya, Pattabhi Jois & Dena Kingsberg, I dedicated 15 years of daily practice to Astanga Yoga. Of those 15 years, nine were spent in unbroken, six days a week face-to-face learning & training. The other 6 were more part-time face-to-face but still included disciplined daily practice & study.

This learning and training method has been the most valuable and effective transmission of knowledge thus far. Parampara is the direct and practical wisdom & experience passed directly from teacher to student. A daily intense face-to-face practice & training with my teacher integrated, consolidated & instilled my yogic knowledge & understanding beyond simple instructions and asana. The respect & love for my teacher, married with a highly disciplined, focused & routined daily practice & study, have gifted me with an innate experiential knowledge of YOGA.

For seven years, I also practised & studied Iyengar Yoga. I was fortunate to attend a workshop in Sydney with BKS Iyengar. Although my daily Iyengar practice was replaced by daily Ashtanga, the teachings & principles still influence my instruction & practice at all times.

Study: I have completed several qualifications and credentials to marry with the experiential wisdom gained from practice to facilitate & enhance my understanding & knowledge of YOGA.

I began with a Bachelor of HUMAN MOVEMENT. This degree provided a comprehensive study of how the human body responds to exercise. Learning included biomechanics, movement control, exercise physiology, management & prevention of injury, exercise and sports psychology, coaching and exercise prescription, physical education & strength, conditioning and coaching. This solidified a deep understanding of the science of the body. This gave me greater insight into prescribing yoga safely and wisely.

From then, I went on to complete a MASTER OF TEACHING. As I was being called upon to teach more often, I embarked upon the most effective, comprehensive & professional avenue to develop my teaching skills. This included 480 hours in various educational settings and community sites.

The Master’s included an education research project.

My research: “An exploration of Mindfulness to manage Adolescent Existential Anxiety and Exposure to Global Issues.”

It was purposeful to extend knowledge to assist young adults and all who may develop a mindful meditation practice.

I have also acquired qualifications in Drug & Alcohol Education, Mental Health First Aid, and extended First Aid. I have completed a Bachelor of Design & a Bachelor of Arts/Education.

Other courses relational to health & well-being that extend my ability to share & assist students include Applied Yoga Anatomy & Physiology and over 300 hours of additional teacher training

Teaching: From teaching itself, great learning has come, which has guided me to develop best practices. My journey teaching Yoga began when I was asked to teach by interested practitioners and has continued for over twenty years. Being in front of a class most days a week for over twenty years, I have accumulated an estimated 5000 hours of teaching experience. Through teaching, I have been confronted with not only my strengths & weaknesses but also what works & what doesn’t as a teacher. I am still always learning and adapting my methodology to best suit the needs of the clients.

Private Study & Reading:

I define myself as a Yogi, not because I practice YOGA daily, but because I define existence as YOGA prescribes & describes in its ancient texts. From a very young age, I was inquiring about the nature of human suffering & enlightenment. The answers I found that resonated most truth came through Yogic scriptures relayed through ancient texts & practices. What I believe about life, the universe, energy, consciousness & breath is what YOGA defines. This is why I am a YOGI & therefore, why I have continued to integrate Yogic practices into my life. Decades spent in Private study & reading about YOGA have been a great source of learning & understanding.

Self-Practice: I have had an ongoing personal practice for 30 years. Even when I was training & practising with my teachers, I have always had a self-practice. This has been a valuable part of my learning because it has given me the space to integrate my learning and connect with the state that YOGA is.