Classes - Mandy BeckerKnox

Centre Director Mandy BeckerKnox teaches Holistic Hatha Yoga. Mandy's classes include a balance of traditional yoga and methodology with modern details from Sivananda, Yin, Vinyasa and Yogic Mindfulness. Classes are intuitive and intelligently structured to ensure a safe, holistic and meditative experience. 

Embodying grace, strength and ease

Mandy's teaching style is practical, relevant and spiritual - with an emphasis on a safe and meaningful practice which leads students towards health of the body and peace of mind. The breath is fundamental to Hatha Yoga and is emphasised in Mandy's classes for the healing benefit dedicated breathing practices bring.

In the traditional Hatha Yoga system, asanas are of 4 types which align with and bring into focus the values and characteristics of the 4 paths of Traditional Yoga (service, knowledge, purification and self-realisation) leading us towards an integrated and true experience of yoga.

The 4 types of asanas can be characterised by: those which bring inner quiet; those which bring focus and body awareness; those which bring humility and detachment; and those which increase confidence and vitality.​

Classes also Incorporate pranayama (yogic breath control), pratyahara (guided relaxation cues), mindfulness practices, chanting to bring softness and length to the breath and heart, and often meditation for a holistic and integrative yoga experience.

When combined with modern objectives and an intelligent, sensitive approach to teaching, the potential and power of traditional yoga is accessible to all students and practitioners.

Each class commences with chanting, centering mindfulness meditation and pranayama, and then simple warm up movements with integrated yogic breathing, asanas (both dynamic sequences and static restorative poses),s followed by a guided relaxation incorporating chimes and tibetan bowls, and often a short meditation.

Mandy's classes draw upon her decades of experience in both traditional and modern yoga disciplines such as Vini Yoga, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga and also Ayurveda - which means there is an interweaving of aspects of each of these disciplines. Therefore the teachings are diverse, intuitive and are adapted and changed depending on the students in attendance, the seasons, the mood, and what is fundamentally required.

The aim of the class on a material level is to stretch, strengthen and increase the stability and ease of the muscular/skeletal systems, to enhance the functioning of the body's internal systems, particularly to bring calmness and rest to the nervous system. On a mental/emotional level the aim of the class is to bring about a meditative calm and objectivity allowing the student to experience respite from an overactive mind.

This often results in deep peacefulness, increased clarity and understanding, reconciliation of conflictual or painful emotions, an increased sense of purpose, and a renewed interest in and connection with the spiritual aspects of life.

Mandy currently teaches on Kookaburra Yoga retreats and trainings. You can find many of her classes online on the Kookaburra Yoga Online Classes facebook group which your are welcome to join.

More about Mandy BeckerKnox