He has trained in teaching hatha and kundalini yoga, and in meditation teaching. He maintains an active and consistent practice himself and an ongoing relationship with his primary teacher, Yogrishi Vishvekatu of Rishikesh, India.

Michael’s teaching is grounded in the classical forms and traditions of yoga and embraces asana, pranayama, mantra, visualisation and meditation. As a yoga teacher his mission is to help every student to establish a relationship with their own inner teacher. His teaching is focused at maintaining and enhancing the connection between mind, body and spirit through a slow and deep engagement with these inner worlds; and bringing this to fruition through action in the outer world.

Michael is also a Clinical Psychologist and somatic psychotherapist and offers these services at The Open Space.

See here for more details of Michael’s clinical work

It was there that Karen had a vision of creating a space for people to gather, reflect, practice, learn, sing and dance together. This inspiration came from years of personal development and seeking in the 70’s and 80’s via travel and participation in many types of spiritual practice. Abandoning her more conservative upbringing, she embarked on a path of deep self discovery and a commitment to the practice of Yoga began. This became a practice not only of movement, but also devotion, learning and Self knowledge. Karen finds great rewards from her regular Kirtan practice and is dedicated to bringing this to The Open Space.

“I’m not the most experienced asana teacher so my intention is to grow with my participants but I do know what it means to be true to self, to live life a life where service is key and to be grateful for that.” Karen strives to bring to her teaching a deep sense of what it means to be you, and what it feels like to be in your body. Her classes are a mix of Hatha yoga, chanting and a reflective space to help you emerge just that little bit different!

Karen will run several workshops and groups.

“I feel blessed to be able to wear so many musical hats. However, my greatest passion is working as a Sound Therapist. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping those in need. Listening, offering to counsel, and performing guided meditations with Tibetan Singing bowls is what really makes my heart sing!”

Twenty years of applied practice has led Karla to see yoga as a way to maintain a healthy life emotionally, physically and spiritually. Her classes offer a meditative experience journeying through the breath, body and felt experience. Committed to ongoing professional development and with over 650 hours of completed teacher training in Hatha and Yin her classes are suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike.

Health Science, Remedial Therapy (2004) from the Melbourne College of Natural Medicine.

Emily brings her training in body work therapies and her passion for yoga together to create classes suitable for all generations, genders and flexibility levels. She will guide each person to their individual capacity through her gentle touch.

In her classes you will be invited to bring your mind's awareness into the present moment, into your feeling body and out of the thinking mind. You will be focusing on your physical, mental and emotional health with these classes through movement, breathwork and meditation. You will feel grounded and refreshed.

Emily also offers Remedial Massage Therapy at The Open Space.

See here for more details

It was not until I stumbled upon an Akhanda yoga class that I finally found my deepest connection to yoga. Essentially Akhanda means whole and complete. It is yoga from the foothills of the Himalayas passed from guru to disciple in the Vedic, Nath tradition.

Pranayama, Asana, Mantra, Yogic philosophy, and Meditation are the key tenets.

I have also studied under my root guru Geshe Doga at Tara institute in Mahayana Buddhism; both philosophy and meditation practices.

As a teacher, I believe that no matter where we are on our path, beginner, intermediate or advanced, we all learn. I am a lifetime student of yoga and my classes aim to take us from the outer grosser levels of awareness through to subtler levels of attention to mind body and breath.

Yoga to me is experiential and transformative, a practice that leads us to know who we are and why we are here, through a continuous process of increasing self-awareness & expansion of consciousness that leads to a way of Being and relating in the world.

This is my philosophy which is deeply rooted in the supreme knowledge of the Veda’s and codified in Yoga Sutras of Pathanjali’s 8-limbs of Yoga.

I trained as a Hatha Yoga teacher. My own practice led me to explore the meditative practices and I became a teacher of Vedic Mantra Meditation. I have trained in Himalayan Kundalini Kriya Yoga & as Mental Health Aware Yoga teacher.

I am also a Holistic Counsellor & Psychotherapist and Nutritionist.

I love how I can weave all of these and my life experiences together to enhance my teachings. In my classes & workshops, I integrate all of the elements of yoga; movement, breath, kriya, mantra, meditation, knowledge & philosophy, in order to create a safe & transformative experience for you.

With about twenty years of experience in healing arts, Hien feels it is an honour to be of service to you and to meet you wherever you are on your life's journey.

As a 2003 graduate of Melbourne College of Natural Medicine (now Endeavour College of Natural Health) I have twenty years of experience in practicing Acupuncture, TCM and other natural holistic healing practices and am a passionate & skilled practitioner of various Eastern and Western forms of natural medicine. I am also a 500+ hr RYT Yoga instructor and have been teaching and providing yoga therapy for ten years.

My passion is sharing knowledge, skills and wisdom to empower and guide clients to take care of themselves to feel optimally well on all levels. It is tremendously fulfilling to be able to facilitate safe, compassionate, nurturing and supportive spaces in which clients/ students can heal, deeply relax, transform, rejuvenate and connect with their True nature, bliss, wholeness, inspiration and vitality. I am interested in identifying and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to ill health and emphasize the importance of preventative health and encourage clients to take time out regularly to receive health maintenance treatments and develop a self care practice that will offer them the nourishment they need to thrive and develop resilience to the inevitable challenges of life. I seek to help clients harmonise with the wisdom of Nature and with their own True Nature.

I strive to attend to each client's individual needs and take a whole person approach to healing - mind, body, soul and spirit and create an inclusive space for all to feel cared for.

Working together, we can develop a holistic approach to healing using a variety of modalities. Some of the techniques I have used with clients now and in the past may include Acupuncture / Acupressure, Moxibustion, Cupping, Gua sha, Lifestyle/ Dietary & Nutritional support, Stress Management/Nervous system regulation support, Chinese and Western herbal medicine, Holistic Counselling, Flower Essence Therapy, Pranic healing (Energy healing), Zero Balancing (An integrative form of bodywork and energy healing that has it's roots in Osteopathy, Chinese Medicine and Yoga), Hatha, Yin and Restorative Yoga instruction and various other forms of natural healing arts.

I am also experienced and specialised in specific areas of TCM such as Mental Health, Women's health, Fertility, Pregnancy, Labor, Birth and Postpartum, and IVF support, Digestive Health, Immune system support and directly experienced with trauma-informed practice to work with vulnerable persons.

I am also interested in helping clients with their general health and wellbeing needs, and often have great outcomes supporting clients with concerns such as stress, depression, anxiety, grief, major life transitions, addiction, insomnia, emotional traumas and other life challenges.

I've recently moved back to Melbourne after over a decade living in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States, and I am building my private practice to offer my services as a TCM practitioner in the greater Melbourne area. I also volunteer at the Windana Detox & Community Clinic as a volunteer Acupuncturist where I support clients on the road to recovery.

Looking forward to working with you on your journey to health & wellness!

In 1996 Tao moved to northern India and studied more intensively. Undertaking both Buddhist studies as well as meditation retreats, in India and Nepal. From that time Tao has studied in many Buddhist countries absorbing this 2500 year old wisdom and integrating it into a modern western life. With a practice that spans over three decades Tao seeks to bring eastern wisdom to western lives in a clear and practical package that meets us where we are at, free from religious trappings or dogma.

Over the years I’ve formed a deeper understanding and communication with my body and how it responds to movement and stillness on the mat so I can navigate more presently off the mat in the outside world. “

Claudia has been to India twice now and studied under the guidance of Laruga Glaser and John Scott. In 2019, she completed her yoga teacher training with the Australian Yoga Academy in Melbourne. Claudia has studied Primordial Sound Meditation and Perfect Health - Ayurvedic Lifestyle with Manjula Nadarajah who is an educator at the Chopra centre. She has also completed the Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N Goenka. Just recently, Claudia completed her teacher instructor training in breathwork with Flow Institute Australia.

Claudia’s classes incorporate a combination of ashtanga, hatha and vinyasa sequencing with the intention of releasing tension in the body and mind by connecting breath with asana. Claudia uses her combined knowledge of mindfulness and pranayama techniques to allow her students to form more of a curiosity with self and connection to body awareness through breath and movement.

‘Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”

- The Bhagavad Gita.

I love teaching and sharing all that I have learned and experienced in my personal practice, my teaching and studies of Yoga and Ayurveda.

I started practicing 16 years ago when I dedicated my life to Dance, I travelled and worked internationally as a professional dancer. I was looking for knowledge and practices that could help me with my physical and mental pain and struggles, and I found it in Yoga and Ayurveda!

In 2010 I started my first teacher training in Ashtanga, from there my journey started in studying and exploring the different styles of yoga, Ashtanga, Hatha, Yin, Yoga Therapy, Ayurveda, Pranayama, Kids Yoga, Pre and Post Natal.

I had the privileged to study with international teachers and gurus such as Dr.Yogananth Andiappan, Sri Dharma Mittra, Sarah Powers, David Swenson, Sadhguru, Sri O.P Tiwari, Ganesh Mohan (Svastha yoga).

My teaching I would say is nurturing, traditional and therapeutic. Incorporating philosophy, breath awareness, and body alignment. It’s important for me that my students receive a full practice, and experience a union of their physical body, breath and mind.

I love helping others to feel their own body, their own self, their own power within, which is their key to acceptance, happiness and healing.

See you on the mat,
Chantal

With a background in health, Denise appreciates how the philosophy of yoga is vital both on and off the mat.

I practice yoga as it brings me a sense of calm and clarity, giving me the time and space to move my body. I love being part of the community who shares this experience.

Since then, she’s earned her RYT 200 certification in 2016 with a focus on Ashtanga yoga, and she recently completed her RYT 300 in 2024, with a focus on social justice and honouring the roots of yoga. Her teaching style blends pranayama (breathing), dhyana (meditation) and a balance of vinyasa and yin, offering an inclusive and accessible practice that welcomes all bodies and walks of life.