OUR TEACHERS

 

Yanyan is a dedicated yoga practitioner (Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa, Hatha and Yin), a devotional yoga student (>1000 hours yoga teacher training), a passionate yoga teacher and a massage therapist.

Yanyan is forever grateful to receive her teaching from her main incredible yoga teachers, Bec Issacs and Dena Kingsberg who embodies the true essence of yoga practice in their daily life. Their strict and simple teaching constantly reminds her the integrity of yoga: self-discipline, devotion, extending the yoga practice (sadhana) on and off the mat to be real, be humble, be patient and grounded. She sees yoga as an Art and a Science that is healing, grounding, powerful and soothing.

Yanyan’s classes are simple yet comprehensive. She loves weaving key elements of yoga into classes to help students dive deeper into their own self-healing and self-discovery journey. Her class includes intelligent sequencing, mantra chanting (her new passion), pranayama (breath work), yoga philosophy and meditation etc. She loves linking each movement with breath and guides students to a smooth flow where they simply dance with their breath in a meditative state. She truly believes yoga is for everyone, so all levels are welcome.

Cornelia started dancing at the age of 3, her journey as a professional dancer began at the age of 15 when she started a part time education of classical ballet and modern dance. Her journey lead her to Spain at the age of 19 where she studied contemporary dance, following 4 years of dance education in Cologne, Germany where she graduated with a Diploma for Contemporary Dance in Performing Arts. 

Cornelia’s passion for movement lead her to various forms of experiencing, healing and strengthening the body and her biggest joy today is to share her knowledge with others in her classes and treatment sessions.

Towards the end of her career as a professional dancer, Cornelia discovered her passion in the healing arts and became a practitioner of the Ilan Lev Method, a body awareness practice, developed in Israel. After leaving Israel, she traveled to India, where she finished a 200h Hatha Yoga teacher training. 

Living in Australia since 2016 she then studied and completed a 3 year long course of 800hrs Yoga Teacher Training and Management of Yoga Business at the Byron Yoga Center. And for the past 5 years Cornelia has been teaching Hatha and Yin Yoga.

Cornelia teaches weekly Yin Restore classes aiding fascia release at our Bangalow Studio. 

Sarah Allely 

A student of Yogalates for the past 12 years, Sarah completed our Yogalates Academy Teacher Training program and teaches Saturday morning classes in the Bangalow studio. Coming from a dance background (with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance/Drama from Queensland University of Technology and many years working locally and overseas in dance-theatre), Sarah understands that all movement, whether on stage or in daily life, must come from a foundation of strength, stability, and flexibility, in order for us to move with ease and poise throughout the course of our lives.

She believes that Yogalates is the perfect exercise regime for those wishing to complement their existing practice in sports or other physical activities, as well as a stand-alone, wholistic practice, accessible to all participants regardless of their age or level of experience. She is excited to bring her passion for movement to the Yogalates mat.

Sarah teaches weekly classes at our Bangalow Studio. 

Stroma Lawson

Restore & Relax – Gentle Yogalates
New class starting Wednesday 24 January at Bangalow Studio

Specially designed for those seeking to move their body gently – releasing
tension & relaxing the nervous system.

• Gradually building deep core strength from the inside out to support healthy functional movement.
• Self-paced & adaptable to support injuries or conditions you may be navigating.
• Exploring breath & meditation practices to calm & soothe the mind

About Stroma
"Let me share with you what I love about Yogalates. For me it’s a deeper kind of exercise, gentler on my joints, more about turning my awareness inwards & listening to my body, bringing kindness & compassion to my stretching & strengthening rather than pushing myself to do what the instructor can do."

"It’s about turning up with whatever body you’ve got & starting from there; accepting the aches & pains that come & go being grateful for the capabilities you have, & letting go of how it used to be or how you’d like it to be."

Acceptance. Kindness. Compassion. A Willingness to be Curious. My ageing body needs more TLC than it used to; I have osteoporosis, restrictions in my shoulders, elbows, wrists; sore hips and knees at times. Yet Yogalates has supported me over the last 20 years to nurture and strengthen my body, to find balance in body & mind.

Now in my 60s, I appreciate the strengthening from the inside that Yogalates has given me.

I've been a student of Yogalates for the past 15 years and decided it was time to embark on the teachers journey. I completed the 350hr Yogalates Certificate Course registered with Yoga Australia.

I’d love you to join this exploration in a gentler way of being on your yoga mat.

Stella Wildforestor

Stella's Yoga journey began some years ago in Germany whilst studying for her Masters Degree in Special Needs Education. She first started practicing Hatha and Vinyasa and was very passionate about moving her body and building strength. In Australia she deepened her practice and understood that Yoga is about much more than movement of the body. During some difficult months Yoga became her anchor and she experienced the connection between body and mind. Her growing interest in spirituality and the philosophy of Yoga motivated her to complete a Certificate IV in Yoga Teaching at Byron Yoga Centre.

Stella teaches a weekly Gentle Hatha Yoga with Meditation and Breathwork at our Bangalow Studio. 

She loves to create her classes using aspects of Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin. In the beginning of the class you will find asanas and flowing sequences to energise the body, build heat and strength, she then likes to infuse Yin poses to wind down. Long holds help to stretch the body deeply, targeting fascia and connective tissue. Her classes also include meditation and pranayama techniques to help still your mind and connect inward.