Melissa Knapp - Pregnancy Yoga/ Birthlight Mother & Baby Yoga/ Stretch, Move & Relax Together for Tiny Little Kids, Little Kids and Big Kids/ Teen Spirit Yoga/ Hatha Yoga/ Yoga for Beginners/ Family Yoga/ Baby Massage.
Melissa is the Creator of Yoganic. After graduating in 1999 from the University of Wollongong with a BA (Japanese) & BCOM (Economics & Marketing), she travelled to Hokkaido in Japan where she taught English to children from the ages of 4- 18 years. It was here that she discovered her love of working with children of all ages. After observing an 80 year old Japanese woman doing a headstand, she was inspired to purchase a Bryan Kest Yoga DVD which soon became a daily ritual. Upon her return to Australia in 2001, she was hit by a car as a pedestrian and took up Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga to manage her chronic back pain. She tried Massage,
Acupuncture, Osteo, Chiro and Physio to relieve the pain, but found the most effective form of rehabilitation was yoga.
At this time, she found herself unfulfilled in a fast paced role at one of Sydney's largest advertising agencies. In 2003, inspired by her vision for teaching yoga to children of all ages, Melissa exchanged her corporate career for her yoga mat and completed the Centered Yoga Teacher Training programme with Paul Dallaghan in Koh Samui Thailand (Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga), and later studied with Angelika Knoerzer at North Sydney Yoga (Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga) and more recently, Power Yoga with Bryan Kest in the USA. She has also been inspired by Nikki Fulford at Yoga Studio in Bondi Junction, Sharath Rangaswamy, the Director of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) in Mysore (India) and Shakti and Lotus (her two cats who practise 'Catoga'). She has also participated in workshops with the following: Matthew Sweeney, John Scott, Dena Kingsburg and Manju Jois (Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga), Sharon Gannon and David Life (Jivamukti Yoga) Twee Merrigan (Prana Flow) and Eve Grzybowski (Yoga for Seniors).
Melissa has completed the birthlight Perinatal Yoga Diploma with Francoise Barbira Freedman and Sally Lomas and has also studied Prenatal Yoga with Janice Clarfield from Urban Yoga, Ana Davis from Bondi Bliss and Katie Spiers from Samadhi Bliss.
Melissa has a birthlight Baby Yoga Diploma and SMART Toddler Yoga Certificate from birthlight International (Francoise Barbira Freedman) and is currently the only SMART Toddler Yoga Teacher in Australia and the first qualified birthlight Baby Yoga Teacher in Australia.
Melissa has completed the Rainbow Kids Yoga Teacher Training, the Radiant Child Yoga Program (Levels 1 - 3) with Shakta Kaur Khalsa and the Mini Yogis Teacher Training with Shana Meyerson. Teaching Kids since 2003, she was one of the first Kids Yoga Teachers in Australia. Melissa is also accredited as a Community Coach with the Australian Sports Commission to provide yoga for the Active After-School Communities Program and a certified Infant Massage Instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM).
Melissa is wildly passionate about teaching Yoga to people of all ages and stages including the NSW cricket team, Beginners, Grown- Ups, Pre and Postnatal women, Children of all ages and Teenagers.
Trish Flynn- Yin Yoga and Hatha Yoga
Trish began a professional dancing career in her late teens. She danced professionally in Europe with the Monte-Carlo Opera Company and performed for Princess Grace on many occasions.
Moving to South East Asia she opened ballet schools in both Indonesia and Singapore, and began teaching fitness and aerobics.
Returning to Sydney in the mid 80's she attained her Level 2 coaching status and focused on the development and teaching of Elite Gymnastics for 13 years.
Trish started Yoga when she became pregnant with her first daughter 21 years ago, and the rest as they say is Yoga history!
Trish completed her teacher training at Samadhi Yoga in 2004 and enjoyed the all embracing style of Samadhi's training. She began teaching Yin Yoga in 2006 after studying with Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley.
Currently Trish teaches both Hatha and Yin Yoga as they are a wonderful complement to each other.
Trish enjoys working with a variety of clients ranging in ages from school students to the elderly. Trish has a particular interest in working with those who have various health issues and limitations to improve their enjoyment of life. She continues to support professional sports people like the Canterbury Bulldogs Football Team, working to minimize their injuries and manage their stress in a professional performance driven environment. Trish is a certified teacher with YTAA.
Mirella Parry- Yogalates, Pregnancy Yogalates, Mums & Bubs Yogalates
Mirella has been on the path of yoga and personal transformation for 24 years since introduced to yoga in her pregnancy. She studied with Janet Balaskas (Active Birth UK) in Bali and then pursued the path of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga with Louisa Seer, Hatha yoga with John Olgivie and Japanese style Okido Yoga. At this time she was working as a massage therapist, both studying and teaching various types of bodywork techniques. After a car accident in 1993, which left her incapacitated for over a year, I was unable to continue my yoga practice. During her recovery, she discovered the rehabilitative power of pilates, and it's role in allowing her to
safely resume yoga.
This experience and her road to recovery inspired her to teach yoga for preventative health and injury. In 2003, she did her "Yogalates" teacher training with Louise Solomom in Byron Bay. It transformed her yoga into a deeper level of mind body awareness, which is still a strong component in her classes. In 2007, she moved to the USA, studying with various yoga therapists including Shiva Rae (Fluid Power Yoga -India & Colorado), Judith Lassater (Restorative Yoga- San Francisco), Elise Browning Miller (Yoga for Scoliosis - USA), Gary Craftslow (physio, yogi, USA), Muktnana Stiles (USA) and Twee Merrigan (Barcelona). In 2010 she studied "intenSati" with Patricia Moreno (New York) - an empowering cardio style work-out for mind, body & spirit.
Mirella loves working with a variety of people of different ages, ability and background. She specialise in Yogalates, a fusion of yoga and pilates.
Sarah Corbett- Yin and Hatha Yoga
Sarah's fascination with yoga began as a child copying poses from her Grandmother's books! Growing up in Asia with an English mother and a Chinese father, the principles of Yin and Yang came naturally to her. Sarah was schooled in the United Kingdom and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Business and later became one of the first female Underwriters at Lloyds' of London. She met her Australian husband in London who was keen to return to Sarah's roots and there began a period of 17 years of travel all over the world ending here in Sydney with 2 young boys and puppy dogs from their time in Asia. During her travels, Sarah also trained as teacher with the
University of Cambridge teaching English to children and adults and Speech and Drama to children for many years.
Sarah had a traumatic birth with her first baby, nearly losing him and life took a turn in a different direction after that. She began her real journey into yoga. She trained in the USA where she lived for 7 years studying with yoga masters such as Dharma Mittra, Rodney Yee, Twee Merrigan and Sarah Powers. Sarah is passionate about helping students and pregnant women to deepen their understanding of their practice. She has taught many different styles of yoga from Vinyasa flow to Hatha and Yin. These days Sarah firmly believes in an individualist approach to yoga, following your own intuition and believing in yourself. She uses guided breath work in her teachings to help build a strong foundation for a more meditative practice.
Sarah is a Level 2 teacher with Yoga Australia and Yoga Alliance USA and a Certified Yin /Yang teacher with Sarah Powers. She is also a qualified Senior First Aid member with the Australian Surf Life Saving Academy.
Marlo Slavin-Yoga & Meditation, Teen Spirit Yoga (Willoughby Girls High)
Marlo was raised in a remote rural alternative community and introduced to yoga and meditation as a child. During four years at Art College her yoga practice was a very important artistic influence and great help to the process of manifesting creative ideas. While still at Art College she also completed trainings in Zen Shiatsu & Yoga at the Zen Renaissance Centre run by Jack Marshall. In 2000 she completed a bachelor degree in visual arts at Sydney College of Arts.
She subsequently completed a hatha yoga teacher training in 2003 with the late Acharya
Upendra Roy, (senior Indian Hatha Yoga teacher in Sydney since 1969). Additional trainings were then taken with Ana Davis for prenatal yoga; Shakta Kaur Khalsa, level one Radiant Child Yoga Program; massage with NSW School of massage and poetry writing workshops with Judith Beverage.
Tamara Ogilvie-Pregnancy Yoga
When Tamara committed to making yoga a cornerstone of her world, yoga had been in her life for a decade or so. It was the profound positive impact that yoga had on her pregnancy and her enchanting day giving birth to daughter Ivy that demonstrated toTamara just how transformative a committed yoga practice could be. Her prenatal practice was blessed with time at Janet Balaskas's Active Birth Centre in London, and with Yoganic's very own Melissa Knapp where Tamara practised during her third trimester of pregnancy.
Having already completed the British Wheel of Yoga foundation course in London in 2009, Tamara undertook her formal teacher training in 2011 at Rose Bay Yoga studio in Sydney.
Tamara is deeply committed to the creation of a space and time during pregnancy to connect the mother's mind with her body, and with her baby. As well as a love for yoga's impact on the prenatal experience, Tamara is aware of the goodness it can bring to one and all. As a busy working Mum and aspiring yogi she has learnt that committing oneself to a yoga practise balances our sometimes overwhelming world.
Her own personal practice has evolved over time, changing with the ebbs and flows of her maturing mind and body and influenced by many beautiful teachers she has and continues to encounter.
Katherine Rothwell - Postnatal Fitness
Katherine is passionate about health and fitness and loves to share her enthusiasm and expertise with others. As a mother of 2 children, Katherine understands the needs and requirements physically and nutritionally through pregnancy and beyond. Katherine can help you to reach your health and fitness goals; be it increases in fitness, strength, weight loss or pre/post natal care. Katherine is highly qualified with a Bachelor Social Science (Physical Education & Recreation), a Diploma of Nutrition & Advanced Certificate of Iridology, a Certificate III & Certificate IVin Fitness- Personal Trainer and a Registered
Gym Instructor & Personal Trainer with Fitness Australia.
Karen- Anne Wong- Family Yoga
Karen is an aspiring modern yogi who has been practicing yoga and pilates for ten years. As a child and teenager Karen was a dancer, and can only imagine what her life would have been like if she had been introduced to yoga as a child. Today Karen is passionate about bringing empowerment and laughter to young people's lives - and doing so through their bodies.
Karen loves to play, dance, move and breath with everyone she comes into contact with. Having worked for six years at the Art Gallery of New South Wales helping to curate photography and running after kids of all ages from
preschool age to tertiary level, Karen now combines creative learning with physical movement by teaching yoga.
Karen is currently writing her PhD at the University of Sydney on yoga, kids and how we imagine through our bodies, drawing on the theories of Gilles Deleuze. In 2011 Karen qualified as a Vinyasa yoga teacher with BodyMindLife.
Karen has been influenced by so many amazing teachers, and can only begin by sending out enormous thanks and respect to Nicole Goodwin, Heather Moritz, Murray Hatton, Melanie Mclaughlin, Beth Borowsky, Bruce Lee, Gilles Deleuze, Virginia Woolf, W. B. Yeats, Rudyard Kipling, Oscar Wilde and J. K. Rowling.
Margie Lim - Birthlight Mother & Baby Yoga for Crawlers and Early Walkers
My interest in Yoga began when I was in my early years of working in the corporate world. I felt like I needed an exercise that would counteract all the long working hours in front of computers and dealing with stresses at work. In 1998 I came across Liz Coon, my very first yoga teacher and till today I am still one of her biggest fan! Since then, yoga has been part of my life.
I started my first baby yoga class with Melissa when my son was only 7 weeks old! I enjoyed the classes so much with my son that when the opportunity came up to do the Baby yoga course, I just had to do it! I have not looked back
since then. The special time spent with son during baby yoga has been invaluable. There has been so much fun and laughter! You never stop learning and growing from each other! I've been truly inspired by Francoise Freedman through the course. I've always loved babies and baby yoga just gives me the opportunity to do what I love! I'm inspired to share this wonderful experience with new mums and dads and their babies.
Kathi Janssens - Discreetly Fit
Kathi has spent the past 20 years working as a fitness club manager, international presenter and personal trainer with special focus on rehabilitative exercise. She was a national gymnast in Hungary and began a career in the fitness industry shortly after moving to Australia. Kathi was involved in international competitive aerobics, as a competitor and coach, for 6 years.
After the joyful birth of her daughter, Kathi's attention turned from general fitness to feminine fitness. She became aware of the need to take care of the hidden part of the female body - the pelvic floor. Kathi realised that changes
affecting the pelvic floor following pregnancy and childbirth could be permanent and could deteriorate with additional pregnancies and ageing - unless specific action is taken to reverse the weakness.
Since 2004 Kathi has dedicated herself to helping women become active participants in their health by tackling pelvic floor weakness. She is incredibly passionate about sharing the secrets of lifelong intimate fitness and offers her information with love, joy and sincerity. She is deeply grateful for the opportunity to help women improve their quality of life.
Ann Bridges - Energyflow Hypnobirthing
Ann Bridges is a registered nurse with over 14 years experience. After the birth of her 2 children several years ago, she retrained to assist birthing mothers and their partners to experience birth free from fear, thus reducing greatly or in some cases eliminating pain completely. Ann's simple philosophy that mums dads and babies deserve a gentle birthing experience which the body is designed to create, is the fundamental basis in preparing them mentally and emotionally. With practical techniques, new understanding and fun exercises in a nurturing environment the classes are designed to prepare parents to be fully equipped for the amazing journey of birth.
Ann is a professional member of the Australian Society of Clinical Hypnotherapists, and is currently serving on their Board. She is also trained as a doula (birthing attendant), and NLP practitioner. She brings a wealth of experience from her work in the field of the human potential movement, and is dedicated in helping the next generation birth with ease.
Judy Cameron- Super Nanny
Judy is a Graphic Artist by trade but currently work as a high performance swim coach and stroke technician and also as a children's gymnastic coach. I have worked in the aquatics industry for over 20 years teaching babies through to Adults and also coach the Can Too Ocean swimmers in the hope to raise enough money to find a cure for that rotten C word! I also nanny throughout the week. In my spare time (what's that?) my favourite things to do are stroll along a beach (preferably deserted), compete in ocean swims, paddle my kayak, walk through the bush or read a good book and spend time with my two gorgeous boys and my pet lorikeet Sorriso (pr. Soheesu - Portuguese for smile)
