Teachers

 

Frederique Fouche

Teaches Yoga

Fred was born in the Bordeaux region of France. Her natural athletic talent led to competitive gymnastics at a national level in France.  She moved to Paris to train as an actor at the Conservatoire national superieur d'art dramatique and l'Atelier Charles Dullin.  In 1992 she was cast in a television series set in Australia, and now, twenty years later, she is thrilled to have made this country her home. Her gymnastic talent led to the practice of yoga, particularly the vinyasa style. Fred trained with Baron Baptiste and teaches his power flow style. 

 

 

Njala Sankhulani

Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

 

 

Carolyn Diaz

Teaches Pilates

Carolyn Diaz has worked with the Pilates method since 1993. Injuries sustained as a professional dancer led her to begin as a clinical Pilates instructor, working in physiotherapy clinics. Carolyn’s interest in eastern-based body therapies has led her to study Butoh muscle and bone with Min Tanaka in Japan. She is also a qualified Shiatsu practitioner, a traditional Thai massage therapist and is currently studying Shaolin martial arts.  Outside the studio, Carolyn works with Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company, leading body-based workshops in women’s prisons and with marginalised youth in rural Victoria. APMA Level 1; Diploma Shiatsu & Oriental Therapies

 

 

Kristy Pilcher

Teaches Pilates

Kristy is a STOTT PILATES trained instructor, having completed Intensive Mat Pilates, and Injuries & Special Populations. She also holds a Cert III in Fitness, and Certificate in Hatha Yoga. Kristy has practiced yoga and pilates for over ten years. Her pilates style is strong and dynamic; she often integrates yoga asanas into her pilates classes. Prior to becoming an instructor,  N ew Zealand born Kristy worked in investment consulting. She is the proud mother of Zara, and has a keen interest in all things health and fitness.

 

Lucinda Marshall

Teaches Yoga

Lucinda's first experience of yoga was as a teenager. She went to a class in a friend's lounge room; there was a tie-dyed parachute on the ceiling, thick incense smoke and a teacher in fisherman's pants. She didn't like it at all, and waited 8 years to try another class - this time at an Iyengar studio. She was smitten. She booked straight into a course, finished that and went on an intensive immersion in Bali, and her love of the genius of yoga has continued to grow ever since. She has spent the last decade teaching, practising and studying with many modern masters in Australia, America, Asia and Europe, but she continually returns to her primary mentor Nicky Knoff. She will have you working hard softly.

 

Karyn Grenfell

Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

Karyn began yoga in 1994, mainly as a tool to help her deal with stressful situations while working as a registered nurse. She began a daily Ashtanga practice in 1997, captivated by the use of the breath and the openness to change that the practice demanded. At the end of ’97, Karyn made her first trip to Mysore, India, to further her journey, studying with Guruji (Sri K Pattabhi Jois) and R Sharath (his grandson), the masters of Ashtanga yoga. Karyn returns annually to her teachers in India, where she is currently an advanced practitioner. In 2001, Guruji authorised her to teach.  Karyn has been teaching yoga full-time since 2002. She tries to inspire others to practise with dedication and patience as her teachers have inspired her.

 

 

Jenni Juokslahti

Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

Jenni grew up in Helsinki, Finland. Naturally sporty she was a rhythmic
gymnast then took up diving and athletics including high jump and long jump. She has a Masters Degree in Finance from the Helsinki School of Economics. Jenni began practicing yoga in 2000. Yoga had a transformative effect that led her to train as a teacher. While travelling in Spain she met an Australian to whom she is now engaged. Jenni is certified by the Pranava Yogadhama Trust in Mysore, India to teach classical Ashtanga Yoga and has an advance diploma of yoga teaching from the Australian Yoga Academy

 

 

Jennifer Crescenzo

Teaches Yoga

A native of Washington D.C Jennifer grew up being sporty and arty, and very into food!

As a documentary filmmaker, she has worked with many inspiring people, from legendary rock guitarists to Afghan women defying the Taliban.  Along the way she discovered yoga which has become a lifelong relationship.   Being naturally curious she has also trained in various martial arts and belly dancing.

Jennifer and her husband moved to Melbourne in 2010. When not teaching yoga, you'll find her playing Ultimate Frisbee in Albert Park, drinking coffee at Padre, indulging in bread and pastries at D. Chirico, or walking on the beach with friends and a mischievous Pointer named Duke.

 

Joao Oliviera

Teaches Pilates

A native of Brazil, Joao grew up in Rio de Janiero where he began acting and dancing at the age of 8.   He has been teaching Pilates since 1999 and in 2001 joined Polestar and has been mentoring new teachers since 2004. He has a bachelor’s degree in Theatre and has completed studies in dance, Pilates,and movement reeducation. His diverse background has allowed him to bring a unique approach to the Pilates method. “Technique is related to practice not to talent. There is no right or wrong, as long as each experience is used to improve the next one, each one has the best body he or she could have and it’s the starting point for any work”.

 

 

Brett Webster

Teaches Pilates

Brett completed his teacher training in the United Kingdom through The Pilates Foundation.While living in the UK, Brett taught Pilates in some of the top London gyms and private studios specialising in a dynamic style of group matwork and Private 1-on-1 training.  He was fortunate to also train with James D’Silva – one of the leading gurus of Pilates and Yoga in the UK. Brett is also a qualified sports and remedial massage therapist and fitness instructor, and is now fully qualified in the KX Pilates High Performance method.

Bronwyn Meyrick

Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

Bronwyn has a committed Ashtanga yoga practice, which helps her to ground a sometimes-dizzying schedule that includes writing a PhD and a career in the public service. Bronwyn aspires to share with people the joys of discovering the body from the inside out.

Zac Jones

Teaches Pilates

Zac is a level 2 APMA certified Pilates teacher.  In between teaching he is also studying choreography at VCA.  He has an advanced diploma in dance from the Australian Ballet School and has been a member of Expressions Dance Company and the Queensland Ballet. Zac is a 2^nd dan and teacher of Yoshinkan Aikido, and recently received a black belt in the Filipino marshall art, Arnis.

 

 

Camilla Allen

Teaches Ashtanga Yoga

Camilla first encountered yoga while working at a ski resort in Vail, Colorado.  A snowboard injury led her to yoga as a way of getting strong in readiness for the slopes.  Inspired, she moved to India to learn more and spent a year studying and practising at Yoga India and Mandala Yoga Shala in Mysore where she learned yoga philosophy and pranayama by the great yoga guru BNS Iyengar.  Back home in Melbourne, Camilla approaches the teaching as something that can transform lives, releasing a lifetime of stored tension and pain.

 

Cara Fairbanks

Teaches Pilates

A recent arrival from Sydney, Cara has a background in ballet and the performing arts. She is now practicing corporate law at one of the big city firms. In addition to being a certified in Polestar and Stott Pilates, she does yoga and runs and maintains an active interest in live theatre.

 

Aimee Challies

Teaches Pilates

Aimee began her Pilates training in 2002 as a student at the NZ School of Dance. Her love of movement prompted her to certify with Polestar Pilates and she has since enjoyed teaching in NZ, Melbourne and London. Her teaching style has a strong emphasis on precision and form, encouraging you to train intelligently towards your personal goals. She recently trained with Garuda; a growing exercise system developed by James da Silva in London.

 

Holly Cooper

Teaches Pilates

Holly brings thirty years experience to her Pilates teaching. Her background is in bodywork/somatics including yoga, dance, fitness and physical theatre. She is also completing a PhD researching the relationship between training and performance. At Studio Cirq she specialises in one-on-one training devising programs for general fitness, rehabilitation and general health and well-being. She is qualified in the APMA system of Pilates.

 

 

Antonia Pont

Teaches Vijnana Yoga

Antonia has been practicing the Zen form of meditation for more than 13 years. She is a also a qualified yoga teacher and runs retreats combining yoga and meditation practice, She is doing further study in the Vijnana style of yoga in Europe with her teacher Orit Sen-Gupta and is nearing the end of her PhD. in Creative Writing and Philosophy.

 

 

Jasmine Johnston

Teaches Yoga

Orignally trained as a silver and goldsmith, Jasmin teaches Sakshin Ghatastha Yoga, a flowing style of Yoga with strong emphasis on the breath and correct structural alignment of the body.  

 

 

Katie De Araujo

Teaches Yoga

Inspired by the teachings of Pralad of Yoga Arts Academy, Katie teaches a flowing style of yoga that is also informed by her practice of tai chi and chi kung. She has a Bachelor of Arts from Melbourne University and an Advanced Diploma in Yoga. She enjoys the lifestyle of full-time yoga teaching and the time it allows her to be with her family.

Sharon Hibbin

Teaches Pilates

Sharon is a Level 2 STOTT pilates instructor . Originally from England, Sharon discovered pilates to maintain her fitness after selling her horse to make the move to Melbourne with her Australian boyfriend. Prior to teachig Pilates Sharon was an investigator. In her spare time she likes horse riding, running and playing golf.

 

 

Georgia King

Teaches Iyengar Yoga

Georgia began practising yoga in 1991, spending a decade studying with Iyengar Yoga teachers, Lulu Bull and Alan Goode. She completed her teacher training in the Iyengar system in 2004, and is currently holding her Introductory Level 2 certificate, issued by the BKS Iyengar Association of Australia.