About Us | Noosa Yoga | Downward Dog Hot Yoga

The Studio

We are a boutique Yoga Studio located at the stunning Noosa Marina. An amazing location to immerse yourself to watch the world go by. We represent all things Yoga and are proud of our ethos and mission. At Downward Dog Hot Yoga we offer a range of Yoga classes to suit all styles and abilities. Our teachers come from all walks of life and are here to nurture and guide you through your own personal yoga journey. Some of our classes will be gently warmed with infrared heat which naturally enhances the effects of your yoga practise - be prepared to detox, sweat and smile. To compliment the heated classes we offer plenty of cool classes, where you can concentrate on long-slow-deep stretching and find yourself drifting away to a blissful meditation. Our goal is to help you improve every aspect of your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being.

We look forward to seeing you on the mat.

Infrared Technology

We use the latest technology in our infrared panels to make your hot yoga experience an unforgettable one. The body heats in a way that does not feel uncomfortable or unbearable. The body starts to cleanse, detoxify and sweat like never before!

Here's some of the amazing benefits of practicing in infrared heat:

Can help strengthen the immune system
Helps detoxify the body of heavy metals, pollutants, and other toxins
Can aid in weight loss and increase the metabolism
Reduces stress
Strengthens the cardiovascular system
Helps to repair tissue damage
Boosts circulation and increases oxygen levels
Can increase whole body flexibility and strengthen and tone muscles
Improves complexion and skin tone
Helps you to adjust to warmer climates, perfect for the Sunshine Coast!

Meet the Team

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 M

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 have always been an active person and enjoyed gymnastics a lot as a child.

After moving to Australia and reevaluating what is important to me I couldn’t imagine going back to an office job.

I discovered Yoga through a friend in Germany who taught Hatha Yoga to a few expats once a week.

After moving to Australia I discovered Ashtanga Yoga and was hooked to the way the class flowed in combination with the breath.

Balancing a big family, Yoga became my “me” place for a long time.

Nowadays I enjoy a more gentle practice like a slow flow class or a yin yoga class.

Pilates found me very early on when I was still working in an office and struggling with back pain.

But only years later would I start a regular practice and this time around it was my hips that weren’t happy.

Being hyper mobile for me it meant to pay a bit more attention to how I move and to invest some time into strengthening the muscles around the joints.

When I fall in love with something that works and makes me feel good I like to share it with others and Pilates and Yoga is a passion that I love to pass on to other people of all ages and abilities to move better and to feel good.

I have been teaching Pilates and Barre for nearly 10 Years now and completed my Yoga Teacher Training last year with the Australian Yoga Academy.

Diana

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.

Shelly

I am an intuitive healer, student of life, chocolate lover, yoga and health addict, music lover, pianist, a loving mum and five elements study geek that loves nothing more than to support and celebrate others. I’m deeply passionate about the human landscape. The more we inquire, the more we learn about ourselves. However, the more we surrender and let go of all we know, the more we return to our true nature. I have completed a Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education, RYT 50 Certification Yoga Teaching at Byron Yoga, Zenthai Shiatsu Therapist Certification at Mt. Ninderry Healing Centre, Zenthai Flow Yoga Teacher 300hrs Certification in Bali with Gwyn Williams, Vinyasa Teaching Certificate at Australian Yoga Academy and Reiki and Level 1 Certification with Pip Coleman. It is my dharma (life purpose) to guide and support individuals on their healing path to be free of pain, imbalances and trauma in the body and mind so they find strength and freedom.

Nadine

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

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

I often reflect back on my first class with a smile, with no idea where it would lead me over the years. But one thing is for sure, I am forever grateful for it!

I have been teaching since 2003. I spent my first few years teaching and training with Gabrielle Riaz, the "Hot Yoga Doctor".

To each of us, yoga may mean so many different things. You connect on whatever level you feel, it is your practice, so whatever it is to you...stick with it. Your body will be thankful, your mind will be appreciative and your heart will be grateful.

You don't have to have a reason to do it, nor do you need to know anything to try it. Your teacher will guide you. All you need, is to do your best and be free and open to the experience.

The Bikram 26+2 hot series..... Quite simply, it works.

Heat...Breath...Discipline...Precision...Repetition....Intensity!

Yoga can literally change your life!

Wayne

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.

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).

Samantha

My yoga practise has been a beautiful journey to improving my relationship with myself. Yoga fills me with joy and guides me to lead from the heart. It is my intention with teaching to nurture, support and challenge you in your practise, one breath at a time.

My first teacher training was with Bikram Choudhury in Mexico 2018. I went on to teach and manage the studio in Brisbane where I practised my first Bikram class. Since moving to the Sunshine Coast I have continued my education. Completing 200Hr YTT with Tammy Williams, 30 HR Restorative yoga, 50 Hr Hatha with Donald Shakes, level one Zen Thai Shiatsu with Gwyn Williams and currently 500hr YTT with Tammy Williams.

The trainings have had a strong focus on connection to subtle body energy, meditation, mindfulness practices, pranayama, asana practise, alignment, therapeutic benefit and philosophy. I am passionate about all aspects of health and well - being and believe when we can harness our breath we can tap into our unlimited potential, transform the way we feel and take back our power to heal ourselves.

Always say yes to Yoga. You will love yourself for it.

Jessie L

Courtney is dedicated to sharing practices that support students in reducing stress, cultivating a clear mind and living from the heart. Her classes offer students a space to connect more deeply to themselves and align with their true nature

Courtney

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.

Carolina

Wolfie teaches a Warm Hath/Vinyasa style class every Wednesday. He's been teaching yoga for over 15 year and quite simply is a legend!

Wolfie