Meet the Teachers

Justine Sydenham
Studio Owner, Yoga Teacher, Reiki Master, Integrative Healing Arts Practitioner
Justine is most passionate about weaving a trauma informed approach through all of her offerings as well as soul retrieval work, somatic mapping & internal tracking, embodied movement, recalibrating & healing the nervous system & changing the brain biology.
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She is trained in Hatha, Yin, Forest, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow, Pre/Post Natal & Trauma Informed Yoga Yoga, as well as Yoga Bodyworkers, Reiki, Internal Tracking, Abhyangam Ayurvedic Massage, Ceremony, Meditation & Mindfulness.
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Her favourite yoga quote is: “We use asana to get into our bodies, not our bodies to get into asana’s.” This sums up how she holds space & what these sacred practises mean to her, a gentle re-wilding approach to arrive back home, remembering our voice, personal power, purpose & who we always were - loving presence. ​
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She is currently studying craniosacral therapy and can't wait to weave this into her teachings & offerings.

Bre Knobel
Yoga Teacher
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.

Bonnie Heidrich
Yoga Teacher
Nicki was fortunate to grow up in a family passionate about health & well-being. It wasn’t until she was a mum herself that the importance of this really kicked in! Nic’s health and yoga journey began when she had difficulty falling pregnant. Nothing was ‘wrong’ but her body was out of balance and exhausted. She soon discovered the mind-blowing power of yoga & meditation which started her on this continuous journey of discovery.
In 2015 Nicki studied a Yoga Therapy teacher training course for kids with Zenergy yoga. A friend of hers convinced her to go on & complete her YTT & she never looked back! Nicki completed her 200hr YTT with Insync. She has been fortunate enough to complete other YTT’s which include Movement Medicine, part of Shiva Rea’s Prana Vinyasa & Creating themed Practices with Delamay Devi, Womankind Pelvic Floor & Hormone Balancing YTT with Liza Fitzpatrick. She completed her Reiki I & II with Justine which opened new doors to spiritual possibilities. Nicki is currently studying Relax Kids, Shamanic Reiki & has also enrolled to study Ayurveda. Nicki loves to dance, do sound healings & be out in nature with her horses. One day she will combine it all together! Nicki loves to teach a yoga flow combining dance, asanas, sound healings & breathing techniques always finishing with a beautiful relaxation to bring it all together leaving you feel free & nurtured. She feels so grateful to all her wonderful teachers for sharing their wisdom.

Dee Brilley
Meditation & Mindfulness 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.

Karen Pike
Yoga 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.

Sammy Higgins
Yoga Teacher, Mother
Greetings my name is Sammy.
I started practicing yoga 10 years ago and completed my TTC in 2018 in Mysore India. After that trip I was hooked and went back the following year to complete a sadhana.
After falling pregnant with my little boy I needed more stillness & space in my practice so completed my Yin yoga training with Bernie Clark.
My classes are for everyone and I will always find away to modify poses for those who need.
My intention is for all students to leave feeling balanced and centred.
Hope to see you at a classes soon.

Nicki Pearce
Yoga Teacher
Nicki was fortunate to grow up in a family passionate about health & well-being. It wasn’t until she was a mum herself that the importance of this really kicked in! Nic’s health and yoga journey began when she had difficulty falling pregnant. Nothing was ‘wrong’ but her body was out of balance and exhausted. She soon discovered the mind-blowing power of yoga & meditation which started her on this continuous journey of discovery.
In 2015 Nicki studied a Yoga Therapy teacher training course for kids with Zenergy yoga. A friend of hers convinced her to go on & complete her YTT & she never looked back! Nicki completed her 200hr YTT with Insync. She has been fortunate enough to complete other YTT’s which include Movement Medicine, part of Shiva Rea’s Prana Vinyasa & Creating themed Practices with Delamay Devi, Womankind Pelvic Floor & Hormone Balancing YTT with Liza Fitzpatrick. She completed her Reiki I & II with Justine which opened new doors to spiritual possibilities. Nicki is currently studying Relax Kids, Shamanic Reiki & has also enrolled to study Ayurveda. Nicki loves to dance, do sound healings & be out in nature with her horses. One day she will combine it all together! Nicki loves to teach a yoga flow combining dance, asanas, sound healings & breathing techniques always finishing with a beautiful relaxation to bring it all together leaving you feel free & nurtured. She feels so grateful to all her wonderful teachers for sharing their wisdom.

Tania
Yoga Teacher
Hi I’m Tania.
I completed Yoga 200hr teacher training in 2020, and 100hr vinyasa flow training in 2021.
My regular yoga studio introduced Barre and Pilates classes and I loved how they complemented my yoga practice. In 2023, I became a certified Barre and mat Pilates instructor.
I love yoga for the joy of using movement to guide energy flow around the body, opening up areas that feel neglected, sluggish, tight or ignored. Through yoga I feel a process of release and healing occurring in my body and mind, each time a slightly different experience. To me yoga is precious gift, a pathway to feel calm and connected to myself in the moment.
The joy of sharing that feeling is what I aim to bring to my classes.
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Emma Piltz
Yoga Teacher
@em.ma.yoga
For me yoga is not the pose, it's a way of life. I'm a committed student and teacher of the ancient art of Yoga and Meditation. Yoga has been a part of my life since my early twenties, committed to a daily practice since completing my first 200hr yoga teacher training in 2020 with Creature Yoga. Since then completing multiple trainings of various yoga subtle practices with some incredible teachers. Most recently completing 100hr of Yin and Myofascial release studies with Lennox Yoga.
In 2022 I undertook a 6-month meditation intensive with The Broadplace - A school for Creativity, Consciousness and Clarity, exploring Vedic, Zen, Contemplation and Concentration techniques. My practice and studies are reflected in my teaching, sitting in stillness with conscious breath as important as building heat, strength, and length. I want to share my experiences and learnings with others guiding and nurturing them to allow for a deeper connection to self. Stripping away the layers of history to enjoy a life of joy, wellness, and creativity.
Im a mum of 3, run a Building Company with my husband in our hometown in Narrandera. Im happiest amongst in nature, with my family and friends with yoga by my side.

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.