My Training
How I study, choose mentors, and let learning shape my teaching.
I don’t collect certificates.
I study slowly, selectively, and with teachers I trust.
I’ve been practising yoga for decades and teaching for over ten years — and I’m still learning. That part is non-negotiable.
Some years that looks like immersive, in-person training.
Other years it looks like revisiting, refining, and deeply integrating work I’ve already done.
Both matter.
Learning, for me, isn’t about novelty or accumulation.
It’s about discernment.
I choose teachers who think clearly.
Who question assumptions.
Who can hold nuance without collapsing into dogma.
I’m interested in biomechanics, movement science, and intelligent sequencing — yes — but I’m just as interested in how those ideas are translated into real rooms, real bodies, and real lives.
Not everything needs to be new.
Some things need time.
A lot of my current work is about letting ideas mature: returning to foundational teachings, noticing what still holds up, and allowing repetition to do its quiet work. That’s what shapes the way I design my six-week modules — deliberate, progressive, and spacious enough for people to actually feel change over time.
There’s a lot of noise in the yoga world.
I’m not here to add to it.
My job is to stay curious, keep my standards high, and teach in a way that’s thoughtful, grounded, and genuinely useful — not just impressive on paper.
If that resonates, you’ll probably feel at home here.
What shapes my teaching now.
The way I teach today is shaped less by chasing what’s new, and more by staying in relationship with ideas that continue to hold up over time.
Some of that work is current.
Some of it is revisited.
All of it is actively integrated.
Mentors I return to.
These are the teachers whose work I return to again and again — because it holds up.
Jason Crandell
Clear structure, intelligent sequencing, and modern vinyasa taught with precision and care.
Jason’s work has shaped the way I think about teaching: not as performance, but as a thoughtful craft — built on repetition, progression, and trust in the long game.
His influence shows up in how I teach week-to-week, with practices that are steady, intentional, and never thrown together.
How it shows up in class:
— Progressive sequencing across each six-week module
— Strength and mobility woven into flow
— Clear, grounded cues that support understanding
Jules Mitchell
Biomechanics, nuance, and a deep respect for how real bodies actually move.
Jules has been a major influence in helping me step away from yoga-by-default and into something more evidence-informed, spacious, and adaptive.
Her work reinforces that there is no single “right” way to practise — only thoughtful options, intelligent loading, and curiosity over dogma.
How it shows up in class:
— More choice, less rigidity
— Stronger emphasis on function over form
— Movement that supports longevity and resilience
Cecily Milne
Strength, clarity, and the kind of teaching that meets modern life head-on.
Cecily’s approach has helped shape the way I think about yoga as a physical practice — one that can be both grounded and strong, especially for women in midlife.
Her influence is felt in my interest in strength-based movement, progressive challenge, and practical body literacy.
How it shows up in class:
— Strong, steady sequences that build capacity
— Movement that supports real-life demands
— A calm focus on what works, not what looks good
Duncan Parviainen
Breath-led vinyasa, rhythmic sequencing, and the art of presence in motion.
Duncan’s work has shaped my love of vinyasa as something more than choreography — a practice of breath, attention, and intelligent unfolding over time.
His influence shows up in the way I build flow slowly, layer by layer, always in service of clarity and feeling.
How it shows up in class:
— Breath-forward movement with a steady rhythm
— Sequences that reveal themselves gradually
— A strong emphasis on awareness over effort
Annie Carpenter
Embodied wisdom, depth of practice, and the quiet maturity that comes with time.
Annie’s teaching reminds me that yoga isn’t about doing more — it’s about inhabiting what’s already here with steadiness, honesty, and care.
Her influence brings a sense of restraint and richness to the way I hold space, especially in slower practices.
How it shows up in class:
— Thoughtful pacing and intelligent simplicity
— More emphasis on sensation than performance
— A deep respect for rest and integration
Foundations.
My teaching is grounded in a strong, in-person foundation.
I completed my original teacher training with Kate Pell and Dan Alder at The Yoga Den in Brisbane — a year-long, small-group program that moved slowly and thoughtfully.
That training taught me something I still hold close: how to lead from presence rather than performance, and how to stay connected to the room instead of a script.
Those early lessons continue to underpin how I teach today.
Professional standing.
I’m a Level 2 Yoga Teacher, registered with Yoga Australia — a framework that reflects my commitment to ongoing education and ethical teaching.
Formal Advanced Training.
300hr Advanced Teacher Training – Jason Crandell (12-month cohort format 2024)
300hr Advanced Teacher Training – Jules Mitchell (12-month cohort format, biomechanics focus — in progress)
300hr Advanced Teacher Training – Duncan Parviainen (3-week in-person intensive — completing 2026)
350hr Foundational Teacher Training – Kate Pell & Dan Alder, Brisbane (12-month program, 2014)
7-day in-person immersion – Donna Farhi 2014
7-day in-person + online advanced training – Cecily Milne 2019
In-person intensive workshop – Annie Carpenter 2025
The mentor who changed everything.
Amber Karnes | Mentor, Teacher, Community Builder
Amber entered my world just when I needed her most. After years of doing this work on my own, I found in her not just a mentor — but a true ally, creative collaborator, and wise friend.
She’s helped me navigate burnout, build retreats that feel like home, and hold boundaries that honour my time, my energy, and my values.
Amber is not only a powerhouse teacher with decades of experience — she’s also an artist, a podcaster, a community builder, and an advocate for body-liberated, soul-led practice. And she has a beautifully honest relationship with the wellness world — one that keeps me anchored, too.
These days, we meet most weeks. And now, I don’t know how I did any of this without her.
If you’ve ever felt clarity, permission, or depth in the way I hold space — chances are, Amber’s fingerprints are quietly woven through it too.
In short.
I don’t teach from scripts, and I don’t chase trends.
What I offer is thoughtful, progressive teaching — shaped by experience, mentorship, and a long relationship with practice.
I teach in a way that supports your body, your nervous system, and your life.