Meet the Teachers
Who We Are
Justine Sydenham
Founder/Owner, Teacher,
Reiki Master, Bodyworker
My name is Justine and I have been practicing & exploring Integrative Healing Art forms for twenty years.
I am a Reiki Practitioner/Master, Integrative Bodyworker, Sound Medicine Healer, Yoga/Meditation Teacher, Retreat Facilitator & the Founder of Sangha Yoga Studio.
Integrity, authenticity, honesty, humility, non-judgement, non-violent communication, sacred internal boundaries & love is what’s most import for me, to consistently hold a safe space for my students & clients to 'do the work', unravel, unfurl, shed the layers, open their hearts & come home.
My favourite yoga quote is:
“We use asana to get into our bodies, not our bodies to get into asana’s.”
This sums up how I hold space & what these sacred practises means to me, a gentle re-wilding approach to arrive back home, remembering our voice, personal power, purpose & who we always were - loving presence.
I am most passionate about weaving a trauma informed approach through all of my methods, as well as somatic mapping, intuitive embodied movement, recalibrating & healing the nervous system & working with elemental energy medicines for deep everlasting healing & change.
My life’s work has always been inspired by Moksha – A Sanskrit term meaning Freedom & liberation; in the mind, body & life itself.
0413332505
Karen Pike
Owner, Teacher
As a student of life for 50+ years, I like all of us, have witnessed and experienced lifes ups and down, darkness and lightness, good times and bad. Times where I've felt alone and disconnected and times I've felt deeply connected and integrated. Yoga has taught me to respect it all as opportunities to grow, heal, transcend. Simply put, to me, life is like one big yoga practice. Interweaving and incorporating the "practice", off the mat and into life. And while at times there's been resistance or discomfort to meet myself in one moment, remembering "my yoga" be it movement through asana, dance or walking in nature, or listening to or singing a song, perhaps reflecting and journalling, I'm immediately bought back to my centre, my connection, my bliss. I have a deep appreciation for the cycles of life that help to stir my energies within signalling transition and change is about to occur. And the cycle begins again. We are all living the human experience at our own pace, I respect, honour and recognise this in you, in me, in us all.
It is through sharing my human-ness, through my teaching, and my wish, that all of us know how to be in and live in the vibration of peace, love, gratitude and truth.
0438983702
Bre Knobel
Teacher, Social Media Manager
Bre’s yoga journey began at age 16 when she attended her first yoga class. Then, yoga was a way to keep fit, and create an excuse to have a whole pizza to herself afterwards (now she does that unashamedly). In 2019 this changed when she attended one of Justine’s chakra yoga classes, and yoga took on a whole new meaning. It became a way to ground, connect with self, and begin navigating the frightening path to self-love and acceptance. Yoga became a way to heal, to express, and find a new way of being. Bre completed her Yin/Yang Yoga Teacher Training with Justine & Lyssa in 2020, and since then has also completed levels I & II of Usui Reiki, 20hr Meditation & the Chakras, and a 20hr Trauma Sensitive Yoga.Bre’s favourite yoga quote is: “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”– The Bhagavad GitaWhen teaching yoga, Bre’s utmost intention is to create a space in which people can feel safe, seen, and empowered to be themselves. In Bre’s yoga classes you can expect to be invited to get curious, explorative, and self-expressive. There is never a right or wrong way, only the way that best serves you in the present moment.
0447767889
Liv Glynn
Teacher
Liv has recently moved back to Australia after living amongst the mountains of Queenstown, New Zealand for 6 years. As a rambunctious child growing up on a small cattle farm outside Byron Bay, NSW she has sustained many injuries that - while cool in primary school- began to manifest difficulties for her growth and movement as age crept in.
Liv found yoga at 25 after several different health emergencies left her body with limited function. Working with healing practitioners, Liv found layers of strength within the yogic philosophy, not only for physical health but also psychological. She undertook her teacher training in 2022 with Awakening Arts in Golden Bay, New Zealand. A 6 week immersive training in a style of yoga called "Terra Soma", with rivers of influence from mind/body centering, poetry, eco-psychology and eco-somatics; giving freedom to expression in movement and balancing the connection of the self.
Her classes are a gentle invitational Hatha style, with a slow, considered approach. A space to move, or to rest. Whatever the call of your body desires is welcome.
Apart from yoga, you can generally find Liv out and about with her Golden Retriever X Kelpie named Jeff; walking along the river collecting cool rocks, sticks and feathers.
Liv will be teaching Moon Flow on Mondays at 6pm.
0448912181
Maryanne Gray
Yoga teacher, Art therapist and Community Dance Facilitator
With a Yoga practise based in both Hatha and Iyengar, Maryanne has been a student of Yoga for 40 years. In fact, Maryanne attended her first Yoga class here in Wagga as a tween in the 1980s, with her mother Helen as the teacher!
Yoga has always helped Maryanne to stay grounded and connected to her body, breath and energy systems. It’s not until she formalised her learning with Danny from Divine Wellbeing that Maryanne discovered the importance of the mind within her practise of Yoga.
Maryanne also loves to freely move and dance with the body. Come and join her relaxed and slow moving classes.
0432626693
Dee Brilley
Meditation & Mindfulness Teacher, Kids Yoga Teacher, Early Childhood Educator
Hi, I am Dee from embracingembodiedminds, I have over 15 years’ experience as an Early Childhood Teacher and have completed a Certificate in Teaching and Guiding Meditation and Mindfulness. My teaching style is interest and emergent based, thriving when in flow and deeply connected with those that I am able to share space with.
Enlightenment, authenticity, connection, and a nurturing environment are of high importance to me, allowing a safe space for others to explore a deep sense of emotional awareness.
My goal for our mindful sessions is to explore adaptable techniques through interest based, fun, mindful tools. My vision is to broaden and bring awareness around trauma informed education. Whilst highlighting the deep importance of emotional literacy; the way in which emotions arise, sit, and feel even for our youngest generation. 80% of the brain is developed within the first five years. For children connecting to what appears and arises in present moment situations, may be expressed through heightened behaviours and reactions. If we can expose children to these tools, they can carry them for life. Being able to pull on them throughout any hardship over their lifetime. I believe we must sit alongside children in coregulation. Whilst scaffolding, role modelling and co creating with children to explore these mindful practises. Once children are able to lean into their window of tolerance or sense a more balanced level of regulation, their learning flourishes. Each child blooms beyond our expectations. I want children to have a voice, feel seen, safe, soothed, and secure. We have the capacity to create change and continue to set these children up with amazing life skills.
I am excited to be a part of the Sangha community and look forward to sharing these amazing skills that I have observed make positive waves within my classrooms.
0401958664
Bonnie Heidrich
Teacher
(On maternity leave)
My name is Bonnie, and I am a yoga teacher based in Wagga Wagga. I would like to be known for embodying the essence of yoga on and off the mat. My goal is to inspire others to practice yoga, embrace their unique gifts & cultivate mind/body awareness.
I first found yoga through a DVD when I was 12 years old. I was inspired by the strength and flexibility gained through a consistent practice. That path led me on a journey to learn more about the benefits of yoga and living each moment more mindfully. I travelled to Bali and completed my 200 hour Yoga Teaching Training with Abode Yoga in 2018. I love being a student have since completed further training focussing on yoga philosophy, pranayama and meditation.
My mission is to empower others through yoga, and give students a deep understanding of their yoga practice. My classes combine dynamic vinyasa flows with soothing restorative poses to help present the balance that is the ebb and flow of life.
I look forward to meeting you on the mat.
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Alanna La Cioppa
Teacher, Somatic Coach
"Take a breath, and meet yourself - Alanna"
Like many others, I first found yoga during a time of emotional turmoil. I came out of my first class with that ‘yoga glow’, elated and somehow lighter. With each class, I noticed my worries seemed smaller, my trauma more okay, my fears less prevalent. I was more peaceful, present and calm, and felt called to share this ancient medicine with others :)
Originally a Sydneysider, I have 375hrs of training in Vinyasa yoga, yoga therapy, philosophy, advanced energetics and trauma aware yoga from BodyMindLife and Byron Yoga Centre.
The yoga breath and movement practices I'll explore in my sun flows are designed to get you out of your head, into your body, and aligned with your true self - creating distance from the narratives in our heads and helping you to get REAL. My classes will be dynamic and strong, heating you up to burn away whatever is no longer serving you. Bring along a towel because it will likely get sweaty!'
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