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
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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. |
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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 by undertaking advanced training in Vinyasa Yoga with Shiva Rea. 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. |
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Di JonesDi has been a yoga practitioner for 20 years, and has been teaching at Kookaburra Creek yoga centre since 2013, where she began her yoga teaching journey as a children’s yoga teacher.
Di currently facilitates hatha and yin yoga at Kookaburra yoga centre, chair yoga for seniors at the Addie Mills Seniors Centre, and children’s yoga, as part of her professional duties as a school teacher. Professionally, Di has a B.ED. Honours degree in Education and works as a teacher at a local Primary School, where she shares her love of music, dance, and movement teaching Performing Arts program for primary school children. Di’s yoga training has been varied and rich in depth. She is currently a registered level 2 teacher with ‘Yoga Australia’ and has undergone the following yoga training:
Di’s personal daily practice is centred on the ancient teachings of Kriya Yoga, which are her source of direction in responding to the daily events and challenges of her life. She spends time weekly in group satsang and meditation, and has committed to retreating annually to study with her Guru, Paramahamsa Prajnanananda, based in India, and her teachers Swami Gurupriyananda and Swami Sarvatmananda who reside at the Kriya Yoga Australian ashram in Sydney. Over the course of time, Di’s love of music has naturally drawn her towards the beautiful healing properties of sound and yogic chant, which she now integrates into her yoga classes. Di is currently deepening her understanding and personal practice in this area with further study planned for 2020. |
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Lani NobleLani is a lover of life and the wonderment of simple things. Dedicated to a life of deep inner enquiry she has an insatiable thirst for truth, nature and sharing the message of the Heart through yoga, meditation, ceremonial cacao and writing.
After living overseas for 6 years studying and teaching yoga and meditation Lani is now based back in Perth. Her yoga classes are a fusion of yin and gentle Hridaya Hatha yoga accessible for all, from beginner to advanced practitioners. Each class is infused with a touch of mysticism as Lani blends classical yoga, Advaita Vedanta and Sufi teachings with somatic practices to encourage her students to explore the mind body connection, to feel each movement from within, to breathe, to accept, to let go and to feel free within the body. With a passion for embracing life in all its beautiful humanness Lani gently guides her students on a deep journey through the body into the Heart. Lani holds a 500-hour RYT Certificate as a Hridaya hatha yoga and meditation instructor and she is also a 200hr certified Yin yoga instructor. |
