TEACHERS
Jodie
Jodie became curious about yoga whilst travelling in India in her early 20s, where she was exposed to many of the other limbs of yoga (beyond the poses). Jodie experienced the benefits of a regular yoga practice on her mental, physical and spiritual well being. She embedded yoga into her daily life, exploring different yoga styles as she flowed through her life stages. When Jodie was presented with the opportunity to take over Ananda Yoga she embraced this as the next step in her yoga journey. Jodie undertook her teacher training at Byron Yoga Centre in 2021. Jodie sees her role as a yoga teacher and studio manager, to create a comfortable and safe space for everyone who wishes to practise yoga. A place where everybody is welcome and has the space for self discovery, growth and acceptance. Jodie is eager to share her love for yoga with all who come to Ananda.
Shiri
Shiri started her yoga journey following a trip to India where she discovered her love for yoga. After having her first son she decided to deepen her practice, wanting to learn more about yoga and eventually become a yoga teacher. She has been teaching yoga since 2012 after completing 500 hr the Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching at The Australian Yoga Academy. Shiri also completed Core Strength Vinyasa Yoga with Sadie Nardini, 200hr Rainbow kids yoga teacher training, and 30hr Yin yoga teacher training. Shiris' classes focus on fun, creativity and a comfortable approach to the yoga practice and body awareness. She draws inspiration from Iyengar and vinyasa flow incorporating a mix of traditional and modern styles while maintaining her own unique approach to each class.
Natalie
Nat was drawn to Yoga in her 20s when suffering anxiety and depression as a means of connecting within and healing herself. After completely transforming her life, Nat was drawn to share the ancient Yoga practices: becoming a teacher in 2013. Nat lives in the hills raising her son, teaching Yoga and Ayurveda locally and facilitates Yoga teacher training to new teachers in the city. With extensive training from all over the world, Nat teaches all styles with an emphasis of making Yoga meaningful and accessible for all.
Natja
Natja graduated in July 2010 with an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching from the Australian Yoga Academy. She loves exploring different styles which influence her practice and teaching. Her classes are holistic including breathwork, chanting, warm-ups, Vinyasa (flowing postures), body awareness in asana (postures), relaxation, meditation and smiling.
Jess
Jess is a 250hr RYT and found her love for Yoga whilst studying Acting Training. Whilst studying full time at the Howard Fine Acting studio she was introduced to the Alexander technique and Suzuki where she learnt to integrate and find awareness in her body. Jess heard many wonderful things about Yoga and was intrigued to find out more. She started to take classes at Somachi in Fitzroy and immediately fell in love with the somatic practice that allowed her to find ground and fluidity throughout her classes and every day life. Whilst practicing Somachi she found her passion for Mindfulness and Buddhism that she continues to explore today. In 2017 she completed her Yoga Teacher Training Certificate with Somachi and was fortunate enough to receive the traineeship. She is passionate about helping people finding their ground, fluidity, and presence throughout their practice.
Lisa
In 1998 Lisa bid farewell to her loving fiancé and corporate career and embarked on a magical mystery 12 month intensive immersion as a full time yoga student in an International ashram in rural India studying philosophy, karma yoga, chanting, meditation and asana. Chant, meditate, service, practice, sleep. Repeat. On her return she married her devoted and loving husband, had two beautiful sons and continued on the path of self discovery through her love and dedication to the art of living yoga, body mind and soul. Lisa is influenced by many years study of classical ballet, the yoga inspired Creative Dance movement of Mangala Studios - where she completed a 300 hr Teacher Training, a further 350 hrs Hatha Yoga Training at Bhava School of Yoga & Creative Dance in Warrandyte (which she owned and managed for several years) many Anusara trainings with local and international teachers, Off the Mat training in New York, Trauma Informed training as a Director of Yogahood Australia and Yin Yoga training with Sarah Powers of Insight Yoga. She is certified as a Senior Teacher with both Yoga Australia and Yoga Alliance and is a Teacher Training facilitator and educator. Lisa’s classes are creative, fluid, heartcentric, alignment focused yet deeply nurturing. She honours each student where they are at; whether thriving or suffering, beginners through to teachers, by holding them in a sacred space of love and respect.
Eva
Eva has been teaching yoga for a decade and brings with her a wealth of wisdom, knowledge and empowering presence. Her classes are uniquely woven with yogic philosophy, breathwork, sound, meditation, self-enquiry and movement. Eva’s real yogic journey began in 2012 on a six-day trek to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa. A deeply profound and humbling experience that had Eva testing her sheer will, strength and determination. Upon her return home, her call to teaching Yoga and sharing her life experiences become apparent. Ten years on Eva’s soul called out again, and she journeyed solo for 14 months in a van around Australia. Through this experience she has come back wiser, humbler and much more grounded and comfortable in her physical body. She has shed many layers of deeply programmed patterns and behaviours and in her uniquely tailored classes she offers wisdom from ancient yogic traditions that have assisted her along her own life journey. Eva’s classes are powerfully transformative weaved with rich yogic philosophy that encourages her students to delve deeper into their own hearts for the answers to life’s questions. Through life experiences and extensive study, Eva has much to offer and shares this with her students. She continues to grow and expand herself through the practice of meditation and other modalities that assist in self-realisation. Teaching is Eva’s first love, and she selflessly dedicates her life to be of service and to help others on their soul journey towards their own liberation.
Grada
Grada has been teaching yoga for 17 years, completing her initial training in South Africa. Coming to yoga from a dance background, inspires Grada's creative transitions and energetic flows, with ample opportunities for play. Her flows are based on breath, making them ideal for students wanting to deepen their practise and embody the yoga philosophy, which they can carry off their mats into the world. Grada is qualified in satyananda, yoga nidra and Yin.
Samy
Samy began her yoga journey in her 20’s and believes that yoga enabled her to find support and grounding on the mat, where she truly met her body and herself for the first time. Samy believes that yoga allows us to connect to a deeper part of our souls where we feel safe to be vulnerable and human. After having her first child in 2020 Samy continued to follow her dreams and complete her 200HR teacher training. She looks forward to continuing her journey as both a teacher and student. Samy believes the transformational nature of yoga allows us to truly meet ourselves, humbly accept wherever we are, but also commit to working hard to grow and be strong both body and mind. She aspires to teach classes that playfully embody all parts of our humanness, dancing between the worlds of effort and ease, strength and softness, challenge and rest. Samy’s classes challenge the body, mind and soul, where each yogi is on their own journey and her guidance supports their connection to their higher self.
Libby
Libby has practiced yoga for 20 years and is continuously amazed at the depth of the practice and all it has to offer. Libby has studied and practiced under the guidance of many experienced teachers and is humbled to share some of the knowledge and practices passed down to her. Libby completed her 500hr yoga teacher training in 2012 and has additional prenatal and postnatal yoga teaching qualifications. Libby is a mother of two girls and a Paediatric Occupational Therapist. She has spent the last few years studying the nervous system in depth and loves to weave modern science with ancient wisdom in her classes. Libby is passionate about building community and connection to ourselves and the world around us.
Saskia
Saskia is a Trauma Informed Vinyasa, Breathwork and Voice Healing Facilitator. Weaving curated music and sound healing into all her classes. In her spare time she is a Singer Songwriter and Zenthai practitioner. Deeply inspired by Latin American medicine music and her travels in Mexico she desires to bring a worldly array of creativity into everyday life and her shared practice. Her personal journey with Yoga started in 2019 after taking a Yin class. “I found solace in yoga during an incredibly difficult time and forever grateful for the reconnection it gave to my body, mind and soul. This deepening of connection to my inner experience has given me colour to play with in my life." She started her 200hr yoga teaching training in 2021 in Byron Bay through Here Yoga.
Marjon
Marjon is originally from the States where she found her passion for Yoga in 2011. Since 2015, she has attended numerous Yoga teacher trainings - deepening her understanding not just of Yoga asana, but of the sacred philosophy within the teachings. Marjon’s teaching style is a strong, fluid Vinyasa flow with modifications to suit each student’s needs. She loves to weave Yoga philosophy, Pranayama, & Mantra into the Asana classes that she teaches. Her endless love for Yoga guides her life on and off the mat. Marjon values her own practice of Yoga and meditation as her inspiration to guide students through their Yoga journey!