Michael is the Founding Director of Yoga Sanga and the Yoga Institute in Sydney, which are dedicated to teaching yoga in the tradition of T Krishnamacharya. Michael is also co-founder and Director of the Breath Foundation, a not-for-profit yoga based health promotion charity.

Michael has been practicing yoga and meditation for over thirty years, and has been teaching since the mid 1980’s. A senior teacher with the YTAA, an accredited Yoga Teacher Trainer with the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation (KHYF) and a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT). As well as his experience and passion for teaching yoga, he holds degrees in Education and Psychology, is a registered Counseling Psychologist, and brings together a range of skills and experience in mind-body health, education and personal development.

"The role and contribution of the YTAA to the ongoing support and professional development of all yoga teachers in Australia, has become increasingly important and valuable in recent years. I am very happy to serve as President, and offer whatever I can from my own professional experience to assist in the continued work of the YTAA for all yoga teachers in Australia."

Leigh Blashki is one of the pioneers of Yoga Cikitsa in Australia. He is the director of training programs at the Australian Institute of Yoga Therapy, the secretary of the Australian Association of Yoga Therapists, Vice President of Yoga Australia, a member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists’ Council of Advisors, Council of Schools Standards Committee and a peer reviewer for the International Journal of Yoga Therapy.

With influence from a number of traditions and teachers, including Sri Yogendra, Swami Gitananda, A.G. Mohan and Donna Farhi, Leigh has practiced Yoga for 40 years, taught for over 30 years, practiced Yoga therapy for over 20 years and had over 300 graduates from his Yoga teacher training and Yoga therapy training courses, which are held in high esteem in Australia.

He has post-graduate qualifications in Health Sciences and Yoga Therapy and under-graduate qualifications in Counselling, Human Performance, Massage, Nutrition, Yoga and Ayurveda.

As a founding member of the Yoga Teachers Association of Australia, Leigh took a leading role in 2001 in establishing a unified set of standards and code of practice for Yoga teachers in Australia. As secretary of the Australian Association of Yoga therapists, he was actively involved in the establishment of standards for Yoga Therapy practice and training in Australia and continues this work as part of the IAYT’s standards committee.

Suzanne has been practising various forms of yoga, stretch and meditation since 1971, and teaching yoga since 2005. Her yoga teaching qualifications comprise a Diploma of Health (Yoga) and an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching. As well, she is a qualified Stretch Therapy Teacher. Suzanne is the owner, manager and a teacher at her yoga studio, Studio Relax, in Chelmer, Brisbane.

Suzanne?s main yoga practice and training has been in Brisbane with Ailsa Gartenstein, Swami Chandrika Nirmalananda . Her practice has also included participation in ashram life for several months at Swami Muktananda?s Sri Gurudev Ashram (as it used to be known) in Ganeshpuri, India; workshops with respected teachers Judith Lasater, Howard Kent and Dr Swami Shankardevananda and her teacher training with Dr June Henry, Swami Nitya Abhedananda of Yoga Queensland, Toowoomba. She has also completed Kit Laughlin?s Stretch Therapy Teacher training.

Appreciative of all the training and knowledge she has received over the years, Suzanne sincerely thanks her various teachers.

Robyn is the newly appointed secretary of Yoga Australia, and serves on the Executive and Health Funds Committee.

As a registered nurse with an Advanced Diploma in Cancer Nursing, Robyn has spent her career working with people with cancer, and in particular communicates with, and develops programs for men with prostate cancer and their families.

She is passionate about health and wellbeing including the benefits of yoga and meditation, which she has practiced for many years. Since completing the Melbourne CAE’s two year Advanced Diploma in Yoga Teaching in 2008, Robyn has been regularly conducting yoga and meditation sessions, and is looking forward to contributing to Yoga Australia’s activities.

- I.Y.T.A
- Master of Medical Science
- Bachelor of Applied Science

I have been practicing yoga for 10 years, and recently graduated from the International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) Teacher Training Course. I am inspired by the teachings of TKV Desikachar, and I have been influenced by workshops conducted by Donna Farhi and Judith Lasater. A key inspiration has been my own wonderful yoga teacher of many years.
I teach Hatha yoga to adults, and more recently I have had the rewarding opportunity to teach teenagers. I intend to further develop my skills in teaching children and teens.

My background is in medical sciences and I currently work in the corporate environment. The practice of yoga offers me a balance and grounding to my life, and as a yoga teacher I am enthusiastic to help others discover the benefits of yoga.

Marian has had an extensive career in Traditional Indian Ayurvedic Therapies and Yoga teaching and training in Australia and internationally. She trained since 1999 in Yoga and Ayurveda studies under Yogacharya Mohanan on the Swiss-Italian boarder and completed an IYTA Diploma of Yoga Teaching in Sydney in 2003. She lectured in the Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching at Nature Care College, Sydney, from 2005-2009 and was Head of the Yoga faculty in 2009. She also lectured in Yoga and Meditation in the Ayurvedic faculty from 2005-2009. Marian completed Yoga workshops with Manju Jois (2005), Donna Farhi (2004 & 2005) and Judith Lasater (2006 & 2008) and is currently NSW State Representative on the national committee for Yoga Australia. She established and ran The Yoga Network, a friendly home studio in Sydney, which grew over nine years into a vibrant and nurturing Yoga community.
Yoga has been an intrinsic part of Marian’s life for almost 3 decades: as evidenced by her lightness of being, empathy for others, meaningful relationships and her dedication to her students. Always one to remain a student herself, Marian embraces the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the ancient Yogic path and shares her knowledge with an open heart. Marian encourages her students to find balance, peace, tranquillity and simplicity in their practice and daily lives.

Merryn Lee is the manager of Boutique Yoga now based in the beautiful south coast town of Gerringong, NSW. Boutique Yoga offers small group classes and retreats where students have the opportunity to benefit from an individual approach.

Merryn has an extensive background in education and teaching movement classes to children and adults in a career expanding over 25 years. In the last 7 years Merryn has focussed solely on learning and teaching Yoga. She is inspired by many Yoga traditions and her classes are well known for being a flowing blend of ever-changing practises.

“Yoga teaches us all to be better human beings. For me it has begun to answer the big questions in my life. Practising Yoga is like coming home. It’s like a big sigh of relief. Everything makes more sense and seems easier and lighter when Yoga is at the core”

Merryn is looking forward to contributing her energy to Yoga Australia. There are so many Yoga teachers out there who will benefit from the support and professional development opportunities Yoga Australia can offer.

“Yoga Australia is moving ahead with the times and changes of our modern world. It’s an exciting time to be a part of this dedicated group of people who are so committed to helping Yoga teachers keep their lights shining!”

"I practise yoga to enter this river of being, To taste the essence of things, To be moved by this world, To sink into the luminous presence that is right here."

Anahata’s love of yoga and meditation has spanned 23 years and she has been teaching yoga for 7 years. In her first yoga class, at nineteen, she knew she had found “home”.

She sees yoga as encompassing the personal, political, social and spiritual aspects of life – in fact, the whole mandala of Life. Anahata has a Diploma in Community Development and a background in peace and environmental activism. She has been influenced by various traditions including advaita Vedanta (non-duality) and bhakti traditions. She has been inspired by: Paul Wooden; Prahlad and Diane Long (long-term student of Vanda Scaravelli). For spiritual inspiration she is deeply grateful to Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma). Anahata currently teaches yoga, meditation, prenatal yoga and yoga of sound courses at The Gertrude Street Yoga Studio.

As a member of the YTAA she aims to strengthen the yoga community in Australia and celebrate the essence of yoga that unites all forms and traditions.

Gita is Yoga in Daily Life teacher & co-director of the Yoga in Daily Life centre, Richmond, Melbourne. (Part of the International Fellowship of Yoga in Daily Life)

I finally began to practice Yoga in Daily Life when stress and poor health became too much! The personal benefit that I gained from regular practice of Yoga in Daily Life and the spiritual inspiration received from meeting with my Guru in 1996, Yoga master H.H. Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda (Swamiji), turned my life to the focus of sharing these benefits (& more!) with others.

Beverly is a qualified Yoga Instructor and is insured and registered with Yoga Australia (formerly Yoga Teachers Association of Australia – YTAA). Her formal training was with the Australian Institute of Yoga through CAE, Melbourne.

Beverly has been a yoga practitioner for 14 years and has been teaching since late 2008. Her practice and teaching are influenced by studies in various styles of yoga from the gentle to more physically challenging styles.

Her continuing studies extend to all facets of yoga, including pranayama (breathing techniques), meditation and relaxation. This knowledge enables her to share her experience and insights with students so that each yoga practice can be modified or adapted to suit varying conditions, seasons and needs at specific times.

The Yoga Beverly teaches is a Dynamic Vinyasa (Flow) style of yoga which integrates movement and breath. It has a softness but also an inner strength, working from the core centre to develop awareness, strength and flexibility.

Beverly is passionate about living and sharing Yoga and promoting general health and wellbeing.

Marcus has been practicing yoga for 10 years and teaching for the last 2 years. He loves the beauty, grace and tradition of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and has had the privilege to study in Mysore, India. He also enjoys Jivamukti yoga which is another dynamic yet fun and thought provoking practice.

Marcus is a Level 1 Yoga Teacher with Yoga Australia and continues to study and learn. He has also completed teacher training on the foundations and teaching techniques of the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series with David Swenson and has been strongly influenced by Australian based teachers Paul Frechtling, Mark Robberds, Heather Agnew and his first teacher Carmela Lacey. Marcus is sincerely thankful to all his teachers and will do his best to stay true to yoga, following the lineage of teachers since Indian master Shri T Krishnamacharya founded Ashtanga yoga. In 2011 he will attend further Jivamukti teacher training in New York with David Life and Sharon Gannon.

Marcus works in international development having managed aid programs in East Timor, has a Masters degree in International Relations and is fluent in Indonesian. Although closer to Parliament House then the coast these days he still loves to surf, travel and rock climb.

"I am honoured to be the first ACT representative of Yoga Australia. And will do my best to serve the Canberra yoga community, share yoga teaching experiences and ideas and promote the benefits of yoga."

Hello! I have been a devote student of yoga for the past 9 years and a teacher for 3 years. I entered into the world of yoga ‘just for fun’ back in the UK and remember laughing my way through my first class! I have progressed a little on from there ? although I do still like to keep my practice and teaching a little light hearted! I gained my advanced diploma of yoga teaching under the wonderful tutelage of Leigh Blashki (amongst other fantastic teachers at the CAE Victoria) and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their guidance, wisdom and love. I am currently studying Anusara yoga under the beautiful Julie Smerdon in Brisbane and am seeing my teaching and my practice flourish. I am in this role to give back to the Australian yoga community that has over the past 5 years offered me so much. I look forward to meeting and representing the QLD community within the wider context of Yoga Australia. Love and namaste.

Kathleen’s approach to yoga is eclectic and combines the many paths of yoga, including asanas (yoga postures), pranayama (breathing practices), relaxation and meditation. Her approach to asanas is fluid, integrates the movement with the breath and incorporates the principles of body alignment.

Classes offer students various ages and abilities an opportunity to develop and deepen their awareness of the relationship between body, breath and mind, and to cultivate presence. Within a supportive environment, students receive guidance to help open, strengthen and bring life to their body, connect with their breath and discover the true goodness that lies within themselves.

Kathleen first discovered yoga about 15 years ago as a university student seeking balance in her life. She found in yoga a self-empowering practice that cleanses, nourishes and brings life to the body, the mind and the heart. Her passion for yoga led her to study yoga and then to become a yoga teacher so that she can share with others the gift that yoga has to offer.

Kathleen is a certified yoga teacher with an advanced diploma of yoga teaching from the Australian Institute of Yoga. She taught yoga in Melbourne for a few years and now lives and teaches in Brisbane. She sees yoga as a life long journey and continues to study with senior teachers

Sarah has been practicing yoga for over 7 years and teaching for over 2 years at Yoga Spirit Studios and previously the Rarest Gem in Adelaide. Sarah has a particular interest in the ethical precepts (yama and niyamas) set forth in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as a guide for living. While Sarah was initially drawn to yoga by the physical benefits it offered, it is the spiritual and energetic transformation that has kept Sarah firmly committed to her practice. Sarah is also a qualified accountant and works full time in a senior financial position. Sarah continues to explore how to integrate her practice into every aspect of daily life. With Sarah’s love and dedication to her practice it has quickly become the foundation from which she lives her life and searches for her truth. Sarah has been deeply touched and inspired by a number of teachers and fellow students on her yogic journey and hopes to be able to give back and share the joy and benefits of yoga with her students.