Michelle (Mitch) Gibson Ever since I was young I’ve always been driven to do something that involves movement. After 8 years classical ballet, I quit at age 13 and then moved onto competitive softball and volleyball. My career in fitness started at Chase Fitness Centre (Chatswood) in the early 80’s– a pretty scary & funny time in hindsight. In amongst all that Lycra & legwarmers, the very young fitness industry’s growth was initially trial and error – mostly based on how people looked and how much an exercise hurt. It was when instructing developed into a skill, and exercise began to evolve as a science that it all started making sense to me. My fitness industry career evolved into training new generation instructors, presenting at fitness conventions nationally and internationally, and teaching fitness classes (mostly step, muscle conditioning, stretch classes and later on Pilates) for 18 years before making the delicious transition into yoga in 2002. My teachers and mentors include Dede Daniels and Denise Klatte www.flow-yoga.com , Claire Norgate, Seane Corn www.seanecorn.com , and the amazing Twee Merigan www.tweeyoga.com AND each one of my students. What a blessing to have crossed paths with you all. My philosophy around yoga continues to evolve. While maintaining utmost respect for the original yogic teachings, my enquiring mind, sense of logic AND 26 years teaching experience strongly believes in a necessity to modify poses and teaching styles for some individuals in order for the practice to be not only accessible, but functional. As a generation, our body types and postural issues aren’t even close to what they were hundreds or thousands of years ago back in India. I believe in an underlying enquiry of "How is this practice serving me NOW?" My class has a flowing (dynamic) Hatha style, drawing influence from Prana-Flow and Vinyasa style yoga, infusing traditional yoga poses with safety guidelines, making the practice safe, effective/functional and accessible to most individuals. Music is another passion I'm able to combine with yoga, and I adore creating playlists and music to support what we do on the mat. I’m hugely passionate about how and what I do, being one of those lucky ones who genuinely loves her work. The energy exchange I experience when I teach is a total pleasure. I also seem to be developing a passionate interest in helping women trying to conceive AND those who are already pregnant, with Yoga. I have been the proud and nurturing owner of Yogabowl since October 2005, and am passionately focused on continually making small changes that align client needs with my vision for my business. I'm blessed to have such amazing staff to share this teaching journey with me at YOGABOWL, and who have largely contributed to the growth of YOGABOWL - from our humble beginnings in the bowling club in Longueville, to now operating a multi-venue yoga school in Sydney including CBD, Sydney Olympic Park, Darling Park and Greenwich. We also bring Corporate Yoga and Pilates to the workplace of clients including Ernst and Young, NSW Bar Association and Supreme Court. I look forward to welcoming you into a class soon. Namaste. "When you do things from your soul, you feel a current moving in you, a joy." RUMI.
		Jolie Brook I’ve completed my formal yoga teacher training at Nature Care College (Advanced Diploma) alongside of 14 years of practicing in Sydney with various teachers of yoga (mainly Hatha yoga in it’s various forms ie. Ashtanga, Iyengar and Hatha classes taught in a Vinyasa (flowing) style . Having a career as a professional dancer I have worked for companies such as Opera Australia, One Extra Dance Company, Dance North, Darc Swan, Queensland Opera, The New Zealand Opera and for the last 5 years toured extensively internationally with dance/theatre company Stretch Mk 1 (work that merges masks, movement, design & sculpture). As a teacher I am always in awe that such an ancient practice such as yoga can still be so relevant in today’s times and respect this lineage. I aim to teach from a place of authenticity making students feel comfortable in their quest for a stronger body, looser limbs, a fuller breath and a quieter mind. I look forward meeting you all soon. Namaste.
		John McWhorter John McWhorter R.Y.T. has been practicing for 14 years and teaching for nine. While yoga initially brought physical stability, strength and openness, over time it created the same mental result. In 2003 he let go of his career as a journalist to pursue full time study at Yoga Arts in Byron Bay Australia. Since graduating in 2003, he has worked as a river guide, carpenter, writer and yoga teacher. His classes combine physical challenge with philosophical instruction, helping students gain the skills needed to face the challenge of being human. They learn that by following the yoga path, they can more gracefully accept life’s challenges while helping create a more beautiful world for themselves and others. His training is eclectic, ranging from Ashtanga and Iyengar asana styles to Vipassana meditation and Kirtan chanting. His lighthearted approach encourages students to engage the mind, open the body and touch the spirit within. “Twenty years from now, you’ll be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the things you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
		Barbara Hoadley Current Career Since 1998 I have been running my own Learning and Development Consultancy. This involves training people in Leadership, Recruitment, Business Development, Goal Setting, Time Management, Reception and Customer Service Skills. Volunteer Lifeline Telephone Counsellor 1 day per week since Feb 2002. Previous Career Experience 5 Years Recruitment Industry – from Consultant to Manager. 6 Years Microsoft – National Seminar Presenter and Trainer. 8 Years Yoga Teacher at Lane Cove Fitness Centre – Part Time. Related Qualifications Yoga Teacher’s Certificate 1983. Swami Sarasvati School. Yoga Teacher’s Advanced Diploma 1997. Swami Sarasvati School. Workplace Trainer Certificate 4 1998. Motto Yoga is not a competitive sport! Yoga is a journey, and every step in that journey is of value – the more steps you take, the greater the benefits you’ll enjoy. Yoga brings the benefits of improvement in your fitness, strength, flexibility, body-shape, posture, grace and peace of mind. It’s also fun!
		Tanya Voges I have been performing as a dancer nationally and internationally for many years. Discovering yoga has given me balance, allowed me to move away from the ego and find a sense of self as well as develop strength for injury prevention. I have recently been furthering my studies of Anatomy with one of Australia’s leading Yoga teachers- Simon Borg-Oliver- on an Applied Anatomy and Physiology course for Hatha Yoga. I travelled to India earlier this year, then spent a month in Tasmania on a dance contract - and expect to be back on the mat in Sydney again in April '09. “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”- Albert Einstein My classes focus on moving mindfully with the breath, allowing you to develop core strength and relieve muscle tension. The occasional challenging pose which we practice in the safety of yoga class, gives you the opportunity to be more prepared to deal with challenges in your career and personal lives. Yoga can enrich your life off the mat and the only flexibility required is to have an open mind! I look forward to meeting you, sharing my experience and taking this journey through yoga together. Namaste.
		Jessica Sands I have been practicing yoga for 10 years. It has provided me with a greater sense of self, community and health as I have lived in different countries, teaching English. In 2009 I decided that the benefits of yoga are of so much value to its practitioners that I wanted to make it a greater part of the work that I do. My classes have a strong focus on the importance of breath and alignment in addition to physical and philosophical instruction, helping students gain the skills needed to face the practical challenges of life. Yoga can be practiced any time and anywhere and some of its greatest benefits occur off the mat. My training began in Iyengar studies before I developed a holistic, Hatha-based method, flexible to needs of my students. (R.Y.T.) “ Yogash Citta Vritti Nirodhah.” When you stop identifying with your thoughts; fluctuations of the mind, then there is Yoga, identity with self, which is Samadhi. Patanjali Yoga Sutra 1.2