The Yoga Practice
There are an infinite amount of ways one can experience and benefit from a dedicated yoga practice. Yoga gives us an opportunity to reconnect within ourselves and to give back to the body that does so much for us. Through mindful movement and conscious breath, yoga provides a chance to reflect, reset and refresh. We learn that there is no perfect way to perform an asana, to breathe, to move or to feel. Instead, this connection of body, mind and breath helps us to look within and gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our experiences.
Not solely a physical practice, yoga is an opportunity for introspection; a way for us to get to know ourselves at our essence state, without any influence, be it internal or external. We learn to be present and purposeful in our thoughts, actions and intentions, and cultivate the patience, kindness and empathy we so freely give to others, within ourselves.
No matter when or where we begin our yoga practice, there is always more for us to explore, learn and understand.
Meet Your Teacher
Well, hello! I'm Vanessa.
I first came to yoga nearly 10 years ago, with a very stiff body and the all too common misconception that I didn't have the 'right' body type for yoga. I worried that I'd be judged for not knowing the proper names for the poses or for being too inflexible to achieve them, so I had always written off yoga as 'boring' and 'too slow'. It didn’t take long for me to realise how misinformed I had been. I fell in love with how this practice made me feel within and about myself. I had never felt more at home in my body, and grateful for all it had enabled me to do and carried me through. I found my purpose in helping others to feel the same, and have been sharing yoga since 2016.
I am a big believer in moulding your yoga practice to fit your body and your needs. Rather than contorting into the idea of what we think a pose should look or feel like, there is so much more to be learned and enjoyed when there is permission to play and explore. In my classes, there is no expectation, nor particular way that anyone needs to move, breathe, feel or think in their practice. Instead, there is simply an invitation to explore movement and breath in a way that fosters introspection and the joy of reconnecting to self.
My role is to guide you safely into each posture and find the expression that is right for you and your body, and help you to further explore the more subtle practices of pranayama (breathwork) and meditation. Whether it's your first yoga class or you've been practising for years, my hope is that you'll leave your practice feeling nourished, refreshed and rested.
I feel very privileged to be able to share what I have learned through my own personal practice, self study and formal trainings, coupled with the knowledge and experience passed on to me by many wonderful teachers and fellow students over the years.
Education and Training
Aerial Yoga, Aadi Yoga School
Breathwork & Meditation, Just Breathe x Awakening Yoga Academy
Effective Sequencing, Awakening Yoga Academy
Mobility & Movement Mechanics, Awakening Yoga Academy
Yoga For Mental Health, Maria Kirsten
Pranayama, Dr. Gaurav Malik
Teaching with Wisdom & Grace, Patrick Beach & Carling Harps
Lightness of Being, Maria Kirsten & Judy Krupp
Yin and Mindfulness, Sarah Owen
Level 1 Purna Yoga, Byron Yoga Centre