I always enjoyed physical activity and was an active gym bunny and runner at the time that I took my first yoga class in 2008. From that moment on, I knew I had found something special and realised that none of my previous exercise regimes could provide me with the overall health benefits I gained through practising yoga. I found that the yoga not only helped me to physically condition my body but also helped to build strength and discipline in the mind. In 2011, I made the decision to leave my job as an accountant in London to pursue this passion further. After an intensive 9 weeks stint in Los Angeles, I completed the Bikram yoga teacher training programme and since then have completed training courses in Power Yoga, Yin Yoga and HIIT Pilates. I spent a few years teaching in the UK before making the move to Australia and I feel privileged to be able to share my passion and knowledge with students as I guide them through their practise.

Lisa

Born and bred in Canada and then after completing my dance degree, I moved to Australia and created my family here which I now call home! I don’t quite remember my first yoga class – it was often integrated into my dance classes, but then after teaching dance for many years, yoga appeared again and it felt so good! A Power Yoga practice for me brought freedom in my body and mind! I teach Power Yoga, Yin, Hot Pilates, and Barre classes.

Carolyn

Over the past 25 years, my passion for yoga has been a guiding light, helping me not only traverse the many varied and challenging styles of asana practise, but also to navigate the changing tides of life off the mat.  My curiosity for exploring this holistic practise has certainly enhanced my understanding of the postures and expertise in the art of yoga, but most importantly, it has grown my love for the practise. For me, yoga is a moving meditation.  I continue to be in awe of the beauty and simplicity of connecting breath with movement and the way in which it can create a sense of inner calm, focus and self-awareness that flows into life off the mat.  I am passionate about sharing my knowledge with my students.  I’d love to see you on the mat!

Lynda

My background is in Remedial Massage Therapy and Reiki (10yrs experience), learning about the anatomy of the body intrigued me to learn more about how the body moves and aligns so from there I went into the fitness industry where I became a personal trainer and group fitness instructor and worked in gyms and physios. 
I came across pilates after realising the importance of slowing down and building a strong foundation. 
I fell in love with the new feeling of strength and alignment pilates offered and I became a pilates instructor 5 yrs ago. 
Within body work and the fitness industry I noticed a deep awareness to the connection of holding our emotions in the body, the energy that is felt and stored and when yoga found me I found a freedom and my life changed. Yoga and pilates were a great balance physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually also. 
I completed my YTT a year ago and I am so grateful that I get to share the gift of movement, breath, freedom, connection and flow to others. 
My classes can be an intuitive mix of dynamic and restorative, this keeps the search for discovering balance interesting. 
I like to create space where you can work hard while the focus is still connecting to your body and working within its limits on that day, I believe each class can have an element of fun, be enjoyable and leave you smiling in your best energy. 

Jessie

Aimee

My yoga and pilates practice has allowed me to heal, connect back into my true self and live a more mindful and balanced life.  I want to share this with every soul who arrives on their mat.  Allowing them the freedom to explore their body, mind and souls in a nurturing space through the movement of yoga and pilates.  My spirited and down to earth nature has the abililty to connect with and hold space for people effortlessly.

I discovered yoga after giving up dancing around 7 years ago and instantly fell in love with the dynamic movement and the invigorating energy it brought to my life. I decided to undergo my yoga teacher training  a year ago to be able to share my love and passion for yoga with others. I teach a Vinyasa style that connects breath to movement with focus on alignment and relaxation. I aim to create a friendly and calm environment that allows yogis to feel comfortable and safe to practise. With the hope that what I teach on the mat can be applied to our everyday lives.

Danielle

​Jeff has always been passionate about the way the body moves and connects, discovering yoga when he curiously attended a yoga for beginners’ course on the Sunshine Coast in 2003. From this course, he fell in love with yoga realising just how powerful yoga can be both as a physical and spiritual practice. From this course, he worked on his own yoga practice and was also introduced to meditation integrating a meditation practice into his personal life.

He was heavily involved in representative level team sports and athletics (track) when he was younger and discovered surfing at twelve years old. He has no doubt that the strength work in track training and the flow of surfing were key in him being drawn to the Vinyasa Flow style of yoga.

Getting serious about his own practice Jeff started to connect the dots between physical asana, energetic pathways and the emotional benefits of the practice of yoga.

Jeff wanted to take his personal practice to the next level choosing to complete his teacher training with Power Living in Sydney in mid-2019, and has been teaching from his first week after teacher training.

He is attending university studying Psychotherapy to become a therapist in private practice. There are clear crossovers between the endless benefits of yoga, and what he's learning studying Psychotherapy. He enjoys teaching yoga and weaving some of what he's learning at university into his yoga classes.

He looks forward to seeing you in his class to be physically challenged, to move, flow, connect with the breath, to get out of your busy mind, and to connect with your true self on the mat in the epic practice that is yoga.

Jeff

My yoga journey began almost 20 years ago, when I practised my first yoga class at the local gym. I continued to practise here and there and felt fabulous! I had found the “yoga high!”

In 2015 I completed my Bikram Yoga Teacher Training in Thailand, and recently have also completed my training in Restorative Yoga and Yin Yoga. I enjoy the physical demands of Bikram Yoga, but also value the more relaxing meditative experience of Yin and Restorative Yoga.

With a regular practise, yoga is my anchor and rock in this crazy world. For me yoga is not exercise, but a way of life.

I started my yoga journey going to Iyengar yoga classes & retreats as a young teenager with my family. In my 20s I did some Hatha yoga & in my 30s found hot yoga. Yoga has always felt like coming home for me, connecting with self. In my 40s I attended a kundalini yoga workshop in Sydney with my sister & it was just an amazing experience. I felt it deeply on a every level. I decided to do teacher training for my own knowledge & practice never thinking I would teach. The practice has given me so much that I feel compelled to share this transformative technology with others.

Kris 

I have been passionate about fitness and nutrition since my teens. A few years ago I decided to take my passion further and completed the teacher training for Inferno Hot Pilates to allow me to share this passion. I love a strong practice however I try to include a bit of fun as well.

Simona

I was initially drawn to yoga as a child by copying yoga asana from my mums’ 1960’s yoga manual - I was fascinated by the animal named poses!

I began to develop a personal practice in my 20’s as a balance to more yang forms of exercise. I studied many different styles over the years which eventually led me to complete my yoga teacher training certification in 2017.

I’m passionate about sharing the ancient teachings of yoga with others as I truely believe the physical, mental and emotional benefits can greatly enhance our lives.

My classes are an intelligent, creative mix of dynamic and intuitive movement together with stillness. Using the breath as a tool we dive in with curiosity and contemplation to re-connect with our true self.

Hannah is well known for her bubbly personality, passion for movement based practices and zest for life. She has spent most of her life immersed in the beauty of nature which heavily inspires her approach to living.

Being physically active has always been a major part of Hannah’s life. She believes that movement should be enjoyable, and sustainable for life.

Hannah started Gymnastics from the age of 8 which helped her gain strength and flexibility and a sense of discipline which has been the foundation of her career. After school she felt something was missing and was fortunate to find adult movement classes which combined elements of gymnastics, calisthenics, mixed martial arts and locomotion flows.

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Hannah lives and breathes what she teachers and her passion for taking people to new heights can’t be missed.

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With an extensive background in Gymnastics, Functional movement and Personal Training, you can rest assure that Hannah will have you feeling confident, strong and help you find your inner courage to turn upside down and move in a way that perhaps you haven’t before, whilst of course have loads of fun along the way.

Tessa has been practicing Bikram Yoga since 2011 and very quickly feel in love with this style of yoga and it’s benefits.

Tessa is a certified hot yoga instructor trained in many hot styles but her passion is for the the 26 + 2 which she teaches with passion and a particular focus on technique, alignment and benefits.

Tessa has Post Graduate qualifications in Psychology  as well as trainings in various energy healing modalities, including kinesiology and reiki.

She combines these to bring a deep knowledge of health and healing to her classes, delivered with a therapeutic and compassionate teaching style.

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Tessa loves teaching yoga and sharing health and wellness with people of all ages and abilities. She believes that a regular hot yoga practice is the key to good physical and mental health and living a vibrant, happy life.

Tessa

After completing my initial studies in Psychological Science, I spent several years running therapeutic and leadership programs for young adults impacted by cancer. Through my own yoga practice, I quickly realised that much of what the Psychology community were ‘discovering’ in their research about human wellbeing, had been well understood by the yoga community for centuries upon centuries. In 2015 I began expanding my toolkit to include qualifications in Yoga teaching (200RYT), meditation therapy, mindfulness, holistic human development, and most recently, Ecotherapy. After a few unexpected detours including a year spent running international yoga festivals, and a trip around Australia, I now spend my days teaching yoga, and running Ecotherapy workshops and holistic nature play for children and parents. I love connecting with like-minded locals and look forward to chatting with you in the studio!

Jaimie

Samantha Fallon (Sita Gian Kaur) is a certified Level 1 Kundalini Yoga and Meditation Teacher through the Kundalini Research Institute and has been a practicing Kundalini yogini for over a decade.

Sam has also completed extensive study in Clinical Nutrition, Western and Eastern Herbal Medicine, Holistic Integrative Nutrition Counselling; Trauma Sensitive Yoga and Trauma Release and is a certified Reiki Master. A Master Product Formulator and having studied Naturopathy, Herbal Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Samantha is Founder and Creative Director of her own successful company (SHE), a nutraceutical consulting business specialising in the formulation and development of Natural Health Products, health research, regulatory compliance and product commercialisation for companies across the globe.

She is an author and presenter within the Natural Medicine Industry and is passionate about sharing Kundalini Yoga and Meditation technologies as tools for support, healing, relaxation, balance and evolution. Samantha is a registered teacher with Yoga Australia, IKYTA (International Kundalini Yoga Teacher Association) and KYTANZ (Kundalini Yoga Teachers Australia and New Zealand).

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Samantha

Robyne was born and raised in Edinburgh,Scotland. She comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience as a professional performer with Universal Studios (Singapore & Japan) and most recently Norwegian Creative Studios travelling the world as a lead singer and co-dance captain, working with Chase Benz (Choreographer for Britney Spears, JLO, Rihanna). She is expanding her expertise in all things fitness and is thrilled to be a part of the team at Downward Dog! 

Robyne

21 years ago I qualified to teach yoga – back then yoga was not as popular or as accepted as it is now – so I was considered somewhat “unusual”.  Daily exercise has been part of my life for as long as I can remember – my father was seriously into his own fitness and into the training of others – so as soon as I could keep up I joined in – and the rest as they say is history.  I can still remember teaching my first ever yoga class.I was so nervous that I had to ask the class to close their eyes whilst I took some deep breaths and got my s**t together – eventually courage prevailed! – Thankfully I have mastered and overcome this to enjoy every aspect and privilege that teaching offers.

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Jackie

Nathalie’s Yoga journey began in the Bikram Hot Yoga tradition in 2003. Initially drawn to Yoga for its therapeutic, calming and healing powers after becoming a sleep-deprived mum, it immediately became evident there was a major shift within her every time she was on the mat. This thing called Yoga wasn’t just a fitness phase; it was going to be a life-long discipline and a journey of the SELF.

In 2019, Nathalie’s Yoga journey took her to the beautiful and serene island of Oahu (Hawaii), where she completed a RYT 250hr Teacher Training with Evolation.

Nathalie is grateful and honoured to lead her students through a sequence where they can hold space for a healing and calming transition. She invites her yogis to cultivate and experience a mindful moving meditation through the breath, focus and stillness for growth of the mind, body, spirit and soul.

Forever a student, Nathalie is devoted and passionate about spreading the Yoga love, and encourages her students to maintain a regular practice and dive deeply onto the mat, as it truly is life changing!

Nathalie

Pre Covid, Ash lived in LA working as the Assistant Creative Director at the Cirque Du Soleil Entertainment Group.

She directed shows spanning Europe, Asia, the Middle East, New Zealand, UK, USA and Australia.

Her favorites were being a part of the directing team for shows on Broadway and Sydney Opera House for 2 consecutive years. 

Coming from being a performer herself, (dancer) and having practiced Yoga and Pilates for most of her adult life… becoming an instructor was a natural progression and seamless fusion of directing and performing.

Having worked with high performance circus artists, she loves how resilient, strong and truly amazing the human mind and body can be.

She discovered through her own practice that Hot Pilates is a beautiful fusion of the mind and body combined with working hard on the mat which creates astonishing results. 

All that seriousness aside - Ash loves to work hard and sweat with some epic music that will make you feel fabulous Inside and out both mind and body!

Ash

Molly is our Downward Dog studio mascot. She does an amazing
downward and upward dog after every snooze and loves to lie in
reclining butterfly pose for most of the day.

Molly