What is Yoga?
Yoga is both a state of being and a collection of practices designed to guide us toward that state, a place of unity, clarity, and inner stillness.
Yoga is an ancient tradition that offers practical tools for physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Beyond the well-known postures (āsana), it includes breathing practices, meditation, and simple principles for living a balanced life.
There are many different styles and approaches to yoga, offering options to suit people of all ages, backgrounds, and needs. Whether you are seeking strength, calm, clarity, or personal growth, there is a practice for you.
Common Styles of Yoga in Australia
Gaynor Stanicic teaches Ashtanga Yoga in Warrandyte, Victoria. She has practiced Ashtanga Yoga for over twenty years and has been teaching since 2006. This traditional method is ideal for those who appreciate discipline, athletic routine, and the meditative focus that emerges from consistent practice.
Michelle Freeman teaches Ashtanga Yoga in Nambour, Queensland. She has practiced yoga for over twenty years. This powerful practice uses breath awareness, intentional gazing points, and specific postures to calm the mind, build strength, and develop flexibility.
Susan and Michael Houghton teach Bikram Yoga in Fitzroy, Victoria. They have proudly owned and taught at Bikram Yoga Fitzroy for over 18 years. This dynamic 90-minute practice follows a set sequence of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises in a room heated to 40°C, offering a physically challenging, detoxifying, and therapeutic experience.
Aaron Petty is a Yoga Therapist, Teacher, and Trainer based in Melbourne’s South Eastern suburbs. He co-founded Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda and has practiced yoga daily for over seven years, with 14 years of meditation experience. In this video he demonstrates Hatha Yoga, a gentle traditional style combining postures, breathing, and relaxation, ideal for beginners or anyone seeking a slower, steady-paced class.
Alan Goode is Director of Yoga Mandir in Canberra and has taught yoga since 1982. He has studied with the Iyengar family in India for over 40 years and was part of Australia’s first teacher assessments in 1987. Alan teaches Iyengar Yoga, a precise, alignment-based practice using props and sequencing to support safe, steady progress for students of all levels.
Preeti Shah teaches Japanese Yoga at Zen Om Yoga Studio in Western Sydney. She has over 20 years of experience in health, wellbeing, and yoga, with a background in pharmacy and nutrition. This dynamic, therapeutic style blends traditional postures with Japanese healing arts, seasonal practices, and mindfulness to support overall wellbeing.
Jane Toohey teaches yoga, meditation, and sound healing in Murarrie, Queensland. With over 20 years of personal practice, she offers varied classes for all ages, including children’s yoga. This playful, age-appropriate style combines postures, breathing, games, and relaxation to help kids build confidence, focus, and emotional balance.
Mel McLaughlin teaches yoga and meditation in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and internationally. A passionate teacher, studio founder, and former dancer, she has over a decade of experience shaped by training in yoga, bodywork, and energetic healing. Mel specialises in Yin Yoga, a slow, meditative practice where poses are held for several minutes to release deep tension, increase flexibility, and calm the mind.
Philosophy of Yoga
When most people think of yoga, they picture stretching, breathing, or relaxing on a mat, but traditionally, yoga is a complete way of living designed to help us feel healthier, calmer, kinder, and more connected to ourselves and others.
An ancient guide called the Yoga Sūtra describes yoga as having eight interconnected parts, known as the Eight Limbs of Yoga. Each part offers tools and practices for creating balance in body, mind, and life.
At the very foundation of this system are Yama and Niyama, simple, meaningful principles to guide how we treat ourselves and the world around us.
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Yama (Moral guidelines) — Guidelines for how we relate to others. Includes non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, moderation, and non-possessiveness.
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Niyama (Personal observances) — Inner disciplines for self-care and personal growth. Includes cleanliness, contentment, discipline, self-study, and surrender to a higher principle.
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Āsana (Posture) — Steady, comfortable postures that support physical health and prepare the body for meditation.
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Prāṇāyāma (Breath control) — Regulation of the breath to influence the flow of vital energy (prāṇa) and steady the mind.
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Pratyāhāra (Sense withdrawal) — Turning the senses inward, detaching from external distractions to cultivate inner awareness.
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Dhāraṇā (Concentration) — One-pointed focus on a single object, sound, or idea, training the mind to remain steady.
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Dhyāna (Meditation) — Sustained, effortless awareness and contemplation, where concentration deepens into meditative absorption.
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Samādhi (Absorption) — A state of profound inner peace, unity, and liberation where the distinction between meditator and object dissolves.
Yama: How We Relate to Others
Five guidelines for living peacefully and ethically with others:
Ahimsa — non-violence, kindness, and compassion
Satya — truthfulness and honesty
Asteya — not taking what isn’t freely given
Brahmacharya — wise use of energy in all areas of life
Aparigraha — non-greediness, letting go of unnecessary attachments
Niyama: How We Care for Ourselves
Five principles for self-care, inner peace, and personal growth:
Saucha — cleanliness and clarity in body, mind, and environment
Santosha — contentment and gratitude for what is
Tapas — self-discipline and healthy effort
Svādhyāya — self-study and reflection
Īśvara praṇidhāna — letting go and trusting in life’s bigger picture
Yoga isn’t a religion — it’s a set of practical tools for better health and wellbeing.
You don’t need to chant, meditate, or adopt any spiritual beliefs to feel the benefits. Movement, breathwork, and relaxation techniques can improve flexibility, strength, sleep, mood, and stress levels — no belief required.
Many people simply practise yoga because it helps them feel better in body and mind. It’s about finding what works for you.
The Benefits of Yoga
Yoga is widely recognised not just as a form of physical exercise but as a holistic practice that supports the health and wellbeing of the whole person; body, mind and spirit. While individual experiences will vary, many people who engage in regular yoga practice report a wide range of physical, mental and emotional benefits. Below are some of the commonly known benefits associated with practicing yoga.
- Improves flexibility and balance
- Reduces stress and anxiety
- Improves overall health
- Enhances mental clarity and concentration
- Promotes better sleep
- Increases strength and tone
- Boosts self-awareness and self-esteem
