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This page is a work in progress and may be revised up until the day of the event.
Our Featured Presenters will share three hours of knowledge with you in the form of a 2-hour practical class, and a 1 hour lecture. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best senior teachers in Australia. Listed alphabetically by first name.
Alan Goode is the Director of Yoga Mandir in Canberra. He is a senior teacher and a direct student of BKS Iyengar- one of the most influential teachers of Yoga in the last century.
Alan began Yoga in Sydney in 1975 and continues to travel regularly to India to study with the Iyengar family at their institute in Pune. He began teaching in 1983 and commenced Yoga Schools in both Sydney (Newtown 1984-1996) and the Blue Mountains (1992-2003) before opening Yoga Mandir in January 2005. As an Iyengar Yoga Institute, Yoga Mandir aims to provide the teachings of BKS Iyengar through its programs offered to a national audience.
Alan is passionately involved with the practice of yoga and its application to daily life. Through his writing he unravels the themes of the yoga sutras and demonstrates their link to our daily practice.
Alan contributes significantly to the teacher assessment and strategic planning activities of the BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of Australia.
Celia Roberts BSc has been involved in complementary health education for 17 years. Celia has a Biomedical Science degree and is a Senior Yoga Teacher with Yoga Australia. Celia has further qualifications in the fields of Meditation, Ayurveda, Nutrition and Dietetics, Psychosomatic Medicine, Counseling and Integrative Medicine. Celia has travelled and taught worldwide, having established international health communities and founded yoga by donation programs. Celia established the Brookfield Retreat and co-founded YIMI- the Yoga and Integrative Medicine Institute. “I have a deep commitment to the gentle unfolding of yoga on a worldwide scale. I have seen it influence many people’s lives for the better, and I have personally benefited from its daily grounding guidance in my own life. I hold very dear to my heart great people, education, social change and development.” Celia is an advocate for the enormous benefits people receive through yoga and integrative medicine. Celia is a regular presenter on ABC Radio and liases with government and higher educational institutions to promote the work of skilled yoga teachers across our Nation. Currently, Celia is the Yoga Australia Queensland State Coordinator and Chair of the YA Conference 2016. Celia’s teachings explore the deeper dimensions of yoga and exquisitely touch upon her own two pillars of faith; Breath and Compassion. To her, these things stand like stone. “Kindness in another’s trouble and courage in one’s own.” Celia will present a 1-hour lecture titled Yoga’s Matrix and a 2-hour asana practice titled Ayurveda and Emotional Anatomy.
James Bryan E.R.Y.T. 500 was born in L.A. in 1953 and started yoga in Auckland, NZ at the age of 28. As a marathon runner he was looking for a stretching program to counter the body pounding of long-distance running. The surprising thing about his first yoga class, was that he felt he had done it before — the postures and concepts were familiar! In 1986, after 4 years of practice, James went to India to attend a Teacher Training Intensive with B.K.S. Iyengar and became a certificated Iyengar Yoga Teacher. In 1989, James returned to India to study Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and learned the First, Second and Third Series. In 1991 James went to Maui, Hawaii and learned the Fourth Series with Nancy Gilgoff at the House of Yoga and Zen. Out of these experiences and long-term practice, James together with Nicky Knoff, evolved the Knoff Yoga System, which incorporates the anatomical alignment aspects of Iyengar Yoga together with the energetic aspects of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. James is based in Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia and is the Program Director for both Knoff Yoga Teacher Training Programs and The Yoga School public classes. James will present both a 60-min Chakra Meditation as well as a 2-hour session on The Five Pillars of Practice.
John Ogilvie is one of Australia’s most respected and experienced teachers and founder of Byron Yoga Centre. John has been practicing yoga for more than 30 years and teaching for over 28. John developed his signature style of yoga, Purna Yoga after 20 years of disciplined yoga training including practicing both the Iyengar method and Ashtanga. His yoga journey has seen him learn from various yoga masters over the years in Australia and internationally. The Purna method John teaches focuses on correct alignment. His teaching covers the basics with additional emphasis on refining alignment, corrections and adjustments. John’s teaching style is entertaining and completely accessible. His instructions are clear and simple, always with a focus on keeping his students safe and encouraging them to listen to their own body’s needs and only work at a level appropriate to the individual, at any given time. John encourages students at all levels to build flexibility, strength and stamina of body, mind and spirit. Many students discover, as a consequence, that yoga becomes a way of life.
Director and Senior Lecturer at The Yoga Institute, BA (Hons), Grad Dip Ed, M Psych, PhD candidate Michael is passionate about educating the community on the benefits of quality yoga, and supporting the highest professional standards for yoga teachers. The Yoga Institute is a dedicated centre for education in yoga. Passionate about yoga and the benefits it brings to peoples’ lives, The Yoga Institute is committed to providing yoga teachers and yoga teacher training students with a highly engaging learning experience. Michael is currently completing PhD research in the area of Yoga and mental health.
In addition to the Featured presenters (above), the presenters in this list will be offering 60-min presentations on a variety of yoga-related topics. This list is not final and may modified and expanded before 18 March.
Alana is a practicing Sports Physiotherapist and a certified Yoga instructor with a background in psychology. Integrating these three disciplines, she is able to bring to her patients and clients the practical application and deep appreciation that the mind and body are inextricably linked. Alana brings these three disciplines together and combines them with a passion for the biopsychosocial approach. This ensures that treatment of patient injury takes place in a holistic manner. Alana has a strong interest in the practice of yoga. She is a qualified Power Yoga and Kids Yoga Teacher. Her skills and commitment to her students takes place when she teaches power yoga at several locations in Canberra.
I’ve been teaching Dru since 2010 as well as working full time with Dru (the teacher training organisation) in both the UK and Australia, I am Dru’s Canberra Regional Manager. In my career I’ve been an environmental campaigner, educator, intrepid traveller and seeker. In all these endeavours, I’ve searched for the best tools to help people transform themselves and the world. Dru is by far the most effective and enjoyable approach I’ve experienced. I love that in just over an hour I can take students on a simple journey that leaves them feeling refreshed, relaxed, loose, uplifted and inspired and that over a short time of practice, they find their whole lives transform! To find out more about Dru Australia, visit www.dru.com.au.
Emma is a yoga teacher, soul coach and inspirational speaker. Committed to bringing people from feeling small to shining bright and speaking with their authentic voice, Emma takes people gently on a journey to know their true selves. Emma is known for her connected style yoga classes and her real and light-hearted speaking style. To find out more about Emma, visit www.emma-mccann.com
Janie has just completed an international yoga tour presenting at yoga expos in Auckland, New Zealand and the USA at Fort Lauderdale, Silicon Valley, Washington DC, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and was invited to teach regular workshops in yoga studios in Beverly Hills and Downtown LA. She has presented extensively throughout Australia in the past as her popular and unique style of Japanese yoga – Zen Ki Yoga® is in high demand due to its incredible healing ability and Janie’s attention to detail in anatomy, alignment and safety. Janie runs a yoga studio in Darlinghurst, Sydney as well as two online yoga websites and offers a comprehensive teacher training program in-studio and by distant education. She has 28 classes on DVD. She has been invited back to the USA in April 2017 to train Zen Ki Yogis to expand this amazing yoga style worldwide. Her 22 years of experience in looking after other’s health makes her one of the most knowledgable yoga teachers in the industry. Her passion draws your excitement back to learning and teaching great yoga and will ignite your light to connect to your deepest self. Janie has appeared regularly on national television shows, on stage in shopping centres and in numerous magazine articles including being featured as the covergirl in spring/September’s Australian Yoga Journal 2016. To find out more about Janie, visit www.thecentreofyoga.com.
When I first started practising yoga over 20 years ago, I had no idea how what I perceived as a solely physical activity would affect me mentally and emotionally. During this time I have discovered more about myself and my relationships with others and circumstances that I don’t know that I would have discovered any other way. Yoga has taught me self-awareness, tolerance, generosity, equanimity, compassion and more. My goal as a teacher is to give my students the knowledge to practise safely on their own with confidence so that they can make discoveries about themselves, just as I did, on the yoga mat. As the organiser of The Canberra Summer’s End Yoga Festival, I hope to strengthen the bonds of our yoga community by providing an opportunity for us to come together to discover new lessons about yoga from each other and its impact on all of our lives. To find out more about my classes, visit www.yogasanafitness.com.
Nandini Medici is, in her own words, a ‘modern Yogini in progress’, she is a Sacred Feminine Awakener, a Women’s Empowerment coach, a dedicated qualified Yoga and meditation teacher, a qualified Ayurvedic therapist, a student of Indian Classical dance, a wife and a business owner.Nandini’s main gift and passion is to support women realigning with their Sacred Feminine Nature. Nandini helps women who have lost intimate connection to their body, wisdom and femininity to rediscover their magnetic power and create more balance in their life, their home and their community.Having discovered yoga at the age of 14, in her homeland of Tahiti, Nandini taught her first Yoga class at 19 on the request of Sri Mahesh, president of the French Hatha Yoga Association. Since then Nandini has spent over 15 years developing her expertise in Yoga, meditation, self-development and Feminine Awakening. Nandini regularly facilitates Women’s workshops, retreats and monthly Kakini Shakti Yoga Circles. You can discover her services at www.kakiniyogini.com. Nandini is also the founder of The Empowered Feminine Festival.
Odona Farska is a certified yoga teacher, and is the founder of Flow Yoga Dubai and Flow Yoga Canberra (www.flowyogacanberra.com). Her classes run at Nishi building in NewActon with a beautiful view of Lake Burley Griffin. Odona discovered yoga in Sydney in 2000 and fell in love with the daily practice of yoga and its benefits. Since then, she has traveled extensively and has practiced and taught different styles of yoga in numerous locations worldwide – from Australia to the Czech Republic, and from the Maldives to Bali. Odona has completed Purna yoga teacher training in Goa, India; pre-natal teacher training in Koh Samui, Thailand; advanced teacher training in Pondicherry, India; Mother and Baby yoga teacher training with Birthlight in London and yoga therapy training with Swami Saraswathi Vasudevan. Odona has a huge passion for yoga and loves organizing and teaching special events like yoga classes in the desert and on the beach, private yoga sessions, yoga retreats in Asia, yoga Nidra and sound meditation sessions. Her gentle and compassionate personality allows her to create a friendly atmosphere in her classes, where everyone feels welcome and all standards are accepted. Despite her extensive knowledge and experience, Odona keeps a light-hearted approach to yoga, as oppose to taking things a bit too seriously. Her classes are open to people of all ages, fitness levels and health conditions. To find out more about Odona, visit www.flowyogacanberra.com.
Pippa began her yoga journey 20 years ago as a student of Yoga Synergy in Sydney, inspired by the constantly evolving teachings of Simon Borg-Olivier and Bianca Machliss. Experiencing the benefits of a daily yoga practice and how they translate to a deeper relationship with self and others she followed her growing desire to share the nurturing and transformation that yoga affords by obtaining her yoga teacher qualifications. She is a registered yoga instructor and teaches in Canberra, having completed her training with Yoga Synergy (India), Yoga Trinity (Canberra), and a one-month intensive at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai (India) with T.K.V Desikachar. Pippa’s work as a psychotherapist has allowed her to cultivate a sound understanding of how the disciplines of yoga and western psychology inform each other about the development of self and the maintenance of health in body, mind and spirit. With cutting-edge research confirming the links between neuroscience, psychology and contemplative practice she has a particular interest in the application of yoga in the clinical setting with people struggling with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Developmental Trauma. In 2013-2016 she obtained her certification as a teacher of Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) at the Justice Resource Institute Trauma Centre in Boston Massachusetts, USA, with Dr Bessel van der Kolk and David Emerson.
PJ Ann Aguilar is the dreamer and business coach behind Yoga Biz Coach, helping busy yoga teachers create a thriving business. She loves working with women who want to create something they’re truly passionate about, and become empowered to finally feel like themselves. PJ hosts the Yoga Biz Coach Podcast and also runs Simplicity Retreats, providing rest and relaxation through nurturing yoga retreats in Canberra and the Kangaroo Valley. To find out more about PJ, visit www.yogabizcoach.com and www.simplicityretreats.com.
Ramone Bisset is head adventure planner and transformation leader at Wild Sage Wellbeing. Ramone is a movement and mindset educator with a strong case of wanderlust. With a focus on nurturing healthy movement, cultivating mindful self awareness and exploring the natural world, Ramone combines her extensive experience in yoga, meditation, healing and adventure travel to lead wellness retreats around the world. To find out more about Ramone, visit wildsagewellbeing.wordpress.com/
Sharing yoga is a source of great joy to me and where possible I teach outdoors as I believe in the health benefits of fresh air and nature! My classes are structured in a way that allows students to move in freedom and explore pain-free movement, which enables everyone to adapt their practice to match their own needs and abilities. I try my best to honour the teachings of my own master teachers. who emphasise active spinal movement and freedom. I have been teaching internationally for the past 10 years, mostly in South Asia where I lived, and recently moved back to Canberra. My yoga teachings and practice are an important compliment to my day job, as an occupational therapist working with kids with autism. To find out more about Samantha, visit www.yogacafecanberra.blogspot.com.
Terence was inspired to create Yoga Centricity following a remarkable journey that picked up pace in 2006 but was the fruits of a much longer journey. During the mid 2000s, Terence struggled with weight coming in at 155kg’s and the emotional stresses that coming with being in that situation. Reality hit home and the decision was made and he chose to change his life for the better. Terence’s first exposure to yoga was at an African Drum and Dance retreat in 2008 dubbed Earth Beats. At this retreat which involved jumping over a bonfire, he cast away fear and sought challenges to break out of the mold he found himself in. This lead to a passion for yoga, inspired by his mentors Kate Luck and the amazing Garry Hart and the loss of 50kgs. This lead to an improved outlook on life and the decision to train with Heather Agnew of Yoga Trinity, becoming qualified as a vinyasa flow yoga teacher in 2013. To find out more about Terence, visit www.yogacentricity.com.au.
