Teachers
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Students at Kookaburra Creek are supported by dedicated and experienced teachers with diverse skills and backgrounds. This enables us to offer a variety of styles of Hatha Yoga to ensure there is yoga for everyone!
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Biographies
about Robert's classes |
Robert BeckerRobert spent many years practising yoga intensively living in ashrams and travelling in India before settling into family life.
In the 1990s Robert built the Kookbaurra Creek Yoga Centre in honour of his Guru which he co-directs with Mandy, with whom he shares the spiritual journey. The centre has been blessed by some great souls (Mahatmas) over fifteen years. Sri Swami Ramakrishna of the Amritanandamayi Mission has visited a number of times, Sri Somanatha Maharishi of Hyderabad introduced the centre to Mano Yoga. More recently Sri Swami Satyanarayana Chillapa initiated Robert as a preceptor in the path of Pranahuti meditation which is now practiced daily and with a group of devotees on a weekly basis. Robert has been practising and teaching yoga for over 36 years in South Africa, Mauritius, India and Australia. Robert was initiated into yoga and meditation at the age of 20 by his Diksha Guru HH Sri Swami Venkatesanandaji Maharaj of the Sivananda tradition, Rishikesh and was given the spiritual name Narayan. Robert teaches a dynamic style of Integral Hatha Yoga based on the tradition of Patanjali's Raja Yoga. Asanas and Pranayama are used to guide aspirants seeking a deeper experience of meditation. Robert has a Masters degree in Psychiatric Social Work and is a skillful life coach and group facilitator. He works professionally in the field and strives to integrate a working life in the world with a love of yoga and meditation and the responsibilities of being a householder, husband and father. This is the challenge many face today, spiritualising day to day life. |
about Mandy's classes |
Mandy BeckerKnoxMandy has been studying and practicing yoga since 1990 when she was twenty years old in both India and Australia. She has taught yoga for over twenty years in Perth, India, and on international retreats.
Over this time she has had the great privilege of travelling to India many times for extended periods studying directly with teachers and masters of yoga including current mentors AG and Indra Mohan of the Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda Academy, Chennai, and teachers within the Sivananda (Divine Life Society) tradition. Mandy has been a resident in the ashrams and spiritual centres in India, and these experiences have helped shape her spiritually focussed approach to yoga. Mandy has also studied towards a diploma in Ayurveda at the Australian Institute of Holistic Medicine. She is certified in Hatha Yoga (by Svastha Yoga & Ayurveda) and Yin Yoga (Jo Phee). Mandy is currently advancing her knowledge through her continuing studies with AG Mohan and Indra Mohan. Mandy considers being still in nature to be the greatest of all spiritual teachers. Mandy’s yoga journey has been an integration of these teachings over time and deep personal experience. Her 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. Mandy has developed comprehensive courses, programs and manuals for all levels of students and is particularly focussed on absolute beginners - ensuring people new to yoga receive a comprehensive introduction to the often misrepresented teachings of traditional yoga. Mandy focuses on teaching and sharing yoga as a holistic and comprehensive model of self care and self development. There is a strong focus on yogic diet and lifestyle in retreats and courses. Professionally, Mandy has a BA in English, is a qualified graphic designer and continues to work as a consultant editor, designer and publishing specialist after a recent career as Chief Executive Officer of a not-for-profit health organisation. She is an inspiring leader and brings together her creativity, love of organising, and passion for yoga to create and deliver Kookaburra's yoga and retreat program. Mandy’s personal practice and the integration of the wisdom teachings of yoga inform every aspect of her life, and have been a guiding influence through the challenges and joys of raising a family and professional life. |
about Di's classes |
Di JonesDi has been a yoga practitioner for over two decades, and has been teaching classes at Kookaburra Yoga Centre since 2013.
Di has recently renewed her formal yoga studies, after a break, with Yin yoga teacher, Sarah Powers to complete her 500 hours certification with Insight Yoga Training, which interweaves yoga, Buddhism and psychology. Professionally, Di has a B.ED. Honours degree in Education and has recently retired from her job as a Performing Arts Teacher. She is a vibrant and creative teacher who brings her decades of teaching experience and energy into all her yoga classes and is currently a registered level 2 teacher with Yoga Australia. Her first reference point, however, through all her undertakings is sourced from the ancient teachings of Kriya Yoga, under the direction of her Guru Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, in which she was given initiation in 2017. Through this Kriya path, she has naturally moved into the tradition of Bhakti yoga, and incorporates this tradition seamlessly into her classes, considering the chanting and singing of mantras as ‘Medicine for the soul’. She looks forward to connecting with you this year. |
about Sue's classes |
Sue BarbourSue is a Hatha Yoga and Meditation Teacher in the Himalayan Yoga Tradition - teaching an authentic meditative style of Yoga.
After 15 years practicing Yoga, Sue had the calling to deepen her practices in Yoga and Meditation and began her ongoing studies at Swami Rama Ashram in Rishikesh, India. Sue is a registered RYT200hr teacher with over 450 hours of training accomplished to date. Working towards her RYT500hr level to be completed in India, which of course hasn’t manifested yet. Sue's mission is to spread inspiration, self-love, peace and healthy lifestyle choices through the practice of Yoga and Meditation, through making Yoga accessible to people from all walks of life and capabilities, there is no requirement to be strong or flexible. Through regular practice this will happen naturally. Sue has a passion for healthy living and teaching people to learn to connect with their inner qualities through the practice of Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama and Relaxation. With regular yoga practice we learn to free our minds and bodies from the stress and busyness of life which so often leads to health problems. Sue's goal as a Yoga teacher is to be here to help others find this release so that they can comfortably and competently move their through life. Training ❖ April 2015 – Kundalini and breath work - 3 day workshop - Perth, WA ❖ March 2016 – Hatha Yoga Level 1 TTP - Himalayan Yoga Tradition, Rishikesh, India ❖ November 2016 – Anatomy Basics workshop – Integral Yoga Association of WA ❖ March 2017 – Hatha Vinyasa 200hr TTP Anandavan Yog Peeth, Kalimpong, India ❖ November 2017 - Interactive Applied Anatomy & Physiology of Yoga Intensive - Yoga Synergy – Brisbane, QLD ❖ November 2017 – January 2018 – Path of Alchemy Coaching – Byron Bay NSW ❖ March 2018- Hatha Yoga Level 2 TTP - Himalayan Yoga Tradition, Rishikesh, India ❖ March 2018 – 6 day Yoga Nidra Intensive, Himalayan Yoga Tradition, Rishikesh, India ❖ March 2019 - Yoga for Arthritis teacher training – Wisdom Yoga Institute, Perth |
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Susanna ChoiSusanna first came to yoga when she was pregnant with her first child. After the birth she continued to practice yoga in the Beacon Yoga Centre and a few years later decided it was the time to understand more about Yoga. She then undertook the teacher training course by the Mohans in 2019.
Susanna was keen to introduce yoga to her sons (and still is!), therefore she went for training to become a children yoga teacher in the same year. She has taught at schools and currently in daycare centres. She is very excited to be able to bring children’s yoga to Kookaburra Creek. Susanna’s kids classes and workshops plant seeds of mindfulness for children with story, craft, yoga movement and breathing. |
