Depending on how we live, the choices we make and the lifestyle we lead, the result is either more ease, or more suffering. By far the most effective and lasting tool to nurture and support my emotional, spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing and bring more ease over the years has been yoga - asana, pranayama and dhyāna (meditation) - coupled with Ayurveda. For this reason, I am passionate about continuing the tradition of passing on what I've learned and will continue to learn about yoga. 

In 1999, as a forty year old with no prior exercise routine, I decided to give yoga a try. I found a local class and showed up with a mat and curiosity. It was curiosity and feeling more connected to my body that motivated me to turn up to class every week for the next eight years. In 2008, having moved to a new location, I found a small community class in Auckland known as 'Svastha', run by yoga therapist Barbara Coley  (The word Svastha in Sanskrit refers to the state of complete health and balance). Barbara was a devoted student of Indra and A.G Mohan, founders of Svastha Yoga in Chennai, India. The Mohan's were personal students of Krishnamacharya. 

My studies began with Barbara in 2009 with the 200 hours Svastha Foundations of Yoga Therapy teacher training followed by 300 hours of the Svastha Yoga Therapy program with Ganesh Mohan and Barbara in Auckland and Melbourne between 2016 and 2020.

Additional study includes:
2022 to 2023, 300 hours, Svastha Yoga Therapy program.
2024 to 2026 - 800 hours, Svastha Yoga Therapy study and mentoring with the Mohan family. I am grateful to receive additional mentoring from yoga therapist, author and founder of Beloved Yoga School, Maryam Ovissi. 

The practice of yoga is a personal one. I am deeply grateful for those who have passed their knowledge and wisdom on to me, keeping with the traditions of Krishnamacharya known worldwide as 'the father of Yoga'.

Cultivating yoga in my own life and prioritising my personal practice are reflections of my gratitude to these teachers, showing up for myself each day. The beautiful gift of yoga, is that we come home to ourselves, especially today as distraction and disconnect lure us away. 

Registered with Yoga New Zealand and REPS Exercise New Zealand.