Yoga

Margaret is the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga’s most senior yoga teacher and the backbone of all our Gold Coast yoga programs. Drawing from a wealth of knowledge accumulated over many years of study, practice and teaching, Margaret teaches traditional hatha yoga, skillfully modifying asanas according to her students’ strengths and limitations. Margaret teaches Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at Mermaid Beach as well as the phenomenally popular Sunday yoga program at Burleigh Heads (you have to be early to get a spot). She teaches yoga and meditation Friday mornings at Nerang and free community classes at Elanora and Robina libraries. You’ll also see Margaret organising the monthly Balanced Life retreats and the Mini Yoga retreats and sharing her knowledge through newsletter and internet articles. Does this woman ever stop, you may ask – the answer is no, she’s also busy training a new generation of yoga teachers in the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga’s teacher training program.

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Jill has been practising hatha yoga for many years and her classes are friendly and varied but always incorporate joint flexibility, back therapy and strength work. Each person is encouraged to work at their own level as hatha yoga is not about a competition in flexibility and strength with other people. Each class ends with deep relaxation and very soothing sacred chanting meditation so you’ll always feel enlivened, refreshed and calmer after one of Jill’s yoga sessions.

Young and energetic, Amara challenges her students to gradually increase their fitness, strength and flexibility. Amara developed the Energy Yoga class on Thursday night at Mermaid Beach especially to allow students who are already familiar with yoga to work at a stronger level. Although favoring the stronger side of yoga, Amara has the flexibility to tailor her class to suit her students’ needs and capabilities. You’ll find Amara teaching the Tuesday morning and Thursday evening classes at Mermaid Beach as well as the Monday and Wednesday evenings in Southport. She also teaches Energy Yoga on Thursday mornings at the Len Fox Park in Southport. Look out for Amara’s free community classes in the Southport library starting in October ‘08 and Runaway Bay library starting in April ‘09. With a degree in human services, and a strong connection with youth, you’ll often find Amara volunteering her services at schools, rehabs and many other community programs.

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With his London banking background and his many years on the hockey field Andrew is living proof that you don’t need to be a contortionist or gymnast to derive the true benefits that yoga offers and that yoga really is for everybody. Andrew’s classes incorporate a balance of meditation, relaxation and yoga poses that everyone can do, to quiet your mind and bring relaxation to your body. You can try Andrew’s classes on Wednesday or Friday mornings at the Mermaid Beach centre (be warned, they’re very popular) or Monday mornings and Wednesday evenings at Nerang. He also teaches the Wednesday morning meditation course at Mermaid Beach and for many years has taught yoga at drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs and many other free classes throughout the community.

Naturally a very caring person, Brenda nurtures and really helps people to develop in their own personal practice. Brenda has a gentle style but has the strength, flexibility and knowledge to teach more challenging yoga classes as well as the easier classes. Brenda is very focused on teaching people to develop their practice safely yet steadily. Brenda teaches classes Monday and Thursday mornings at the Mermaid Beach centre, followed by a soothing Deep Peace guided meditation session both mornings.

Candace first took an interest in yoga about 4 years ago when she was experiencing severe lower back pain to the point where she couldn’t even carry a handbag. Yoga has helped her to develop the core strength so essential for support of the back and whole torso. Candace is a lively and driven yoga teacher offering her students a real challenge but at the same time giving a well balanced holistic approach to practicing yoga by incorporating breathing techniques, yoga asanas, relaxation and meditation in her classes. Candace’s classes are creative, fun and energetic – sometimes all at the same time.

When she’s not on the mat she’ll most likely be at her office desk coordinating events for her work at a Natural Therapies School or helping with the cooking or organizing programs at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga centre in West End. You can catch her at the Monday night yoga class – a great remedy for Monday-itis; the Wednesday morning stretch and relax class which is a nice combination of breath work, gentle stretching and relaxation; the two part meditation course once a month on a Wednesday morning to learn the benefits of meditation and techniques which you can practice on a daily basis; and the Deep Peace class every Wednesday night, where you can hear the serene singing of sacred mantras and just chill for an hour and a half.

Yoga has been a part of Mrna’s life from birth. She enjoys sharing her lifelong love of meditation, asanas and the deeper spiritual practices the yoga tradition has to offer. Mrna teaches students to focus on their breath, using the breath to gently flow between poses and keep their asanas soft, fluid and relaxed. After one of these classes you will feel energized and refreshed, yet calm and focused. Mrna teaches yoga Saturday mornings at the Mermaid Beach centre and takes the Tuesday morning Energy Yoga class on the foreshore at Miami. You’ll also find her leading the chanting meditation (Kirtan) at the Sunday Spiritual Gathering at Burleigh Heads every Sunday afternoon and sometimes she’ll sing to you during yoga relaxation at the end of your yoga class.

Yoga has provided an important avenue of physical and mental health for Sean over the last 10 years. Using his background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, he has a wealth of knowledge to incorporate into his classes which are always interesting and diverse. Classes are always made to suit those who participate, with certain sections of the class built around more prolonged holding of stretches (hips and hamstrings) and other sections of the class focused on dynamic standing poses. Sean teaches on Tuesday morning and night and Thursday night at the West End Australian School of Meditation and Yoga centre. Classes always finish with relaxation and meditation completing the overall picture of what yoga has to offer.

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Simon has been passionate about yoga since he started practicing 7 years ago. He is particularly focused on alignment which sets a good foundation for one’s yoga practice and helps people to develop good habits. His style of teaching and practice are greatly influenced by using the “breath” as a guide to finding one’s own pace, allowing the release of tension and stress and at the same time being able to re-energize. Simon creates a warm and friendly atmosphere and encourages people in their yoga practice. His Wednesday night class is flowing and fun, bringing about a balance in strength and flexibility. Saturday morning is refreshing and energizing, the perfect solution to a long week at work and his Sunday morning has a relaxed Sunday morning vibe. During the weekdays, driven by his keen interest in the environment and animal welfare he works for charities to help raise money to make a difference. Simon teaches at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga West End centre.

I started doing yoga 12 years ago and I wasn’t flexible at all because I’d spent my life till then training hard at swimming, with not much stretching, and partying! I’ve made slow progress over the years and although I’m still not super flexible I feel a lot lighter and stronger. I feel good most of the time now, both at work and at play and not just when I’m out having ‘fun’ on the weekend like before.

I’ve always been interested in music and performance arts, and I teach English as a profession – so for me personally, the serenity and lucidity that yoga brings is perfect for getting inspiration, polishing artistic expression and explaining tricky grammar!

Essentially I appreciate the way that yoga has made me healthier and freer both mentally and physically, and it’s wonderful to be able to teach others how to be that way too… it’s a gradual process of uncovering our true potential.