OUR TEACHERS

All of our teachers at KAI YOGA have been hand selected, yes for their ever-expanding wisdom, but more for their ever-expanding hearts! Who our teachers are off the mat is just as important to us as who they are on the mat.  We absolutely love our team, known for delivering the highest quality of Yoga in a way that is down-to-earth, accessible and inspiring. 

FRASER GUTHRIE

A beach boy at heart, Fraser first found yoga via surfing. ‘I needed something to do when there were no waves!’ he says. Pastime quickly became passion when Fraser noticed how yoga had increased his strength and balance.

‘I was hooked, but it was when I noticed the balance it brought to my whole life that I fell in love with yoga and wanted to share it with others.’

This passion led him to teacher training with Power Living. Most recent, Fraser completed a Yin Teacher Training with Mel McClaughlin from the Yin Space.  Having experienced both the Yin and the Yang, Fraser believes this is the key to balancing it all - they compliment each other.

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Becoming a dad changed how he looked at the world. "Every single day offers something new. A chance to really appreciate the small things and acknowledge the wonders around us and the beauty we can create from within us"

Fraser brings an infectious enthusiasm to all his classes. There is something about his sweet Scottish accent and his calm smile, that gets you working hard deep into your practise without you even realising! He is loved because he knows how to keep it real, keep it light in amongst all the power.

 'We never stop learning with yoga. It’s when we’re on the mat that we can truly find out what we’re made of.'

ELISHA YOUNG

Elisha fell in love with Yoga because it spoke to her body in a very powerful way. From there it was undeniable, the impact was more than physical…

Elisha's love for movement inspired her 10 year professional dance career. However, It was when she found her yoga mat that she truly experienced what it was to ‘just be’ -  Bhavana.  To be creative & strong, to be expansive without apology. A feeling of freedom that could not be kept to herself! :)

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Elisha has trained with some amazing master teachers from all over the world. The journey began with Duncan Peak from Power Living in 2007. Throughout the years she then went on to train with Baron Baptiste, Kathryn Budig, Sarah Powers, Simon Park, Maty Ezraty and most recently, Rod Stryker.

Elisha's greatest teacher and GURU (the giver of light)) is her daughter, Willow.

Her sequencing is playful, her alignment is articulate and her philosophy sparks deep curiosity. Via anatomical and energetic exploration, Elisha's classes take you on a journey within to awaken the inner landscape. She offers herself completely to every class and truly challenges her students to hold their own space. Witnessing her students explore their own boundaries and play with their potential is the most fulfilling gift of teaching yoga for Elisha.

MARK ASHMORE

Mark first discovered yoga in the 90s with his mum at a Body Balance gym class and liked how it calmed the mind and stretched the body. Mark’s practice has ebbed and flowed into a way of ‘being’ since then. From trainings in Sydney at Samadhi and Sukha Mukha 200hr to ashrams in India at Sivananda Trivandrum and intensive retreats with much-loved guru Clive Sheridan where the adventure toward consciousness has been transforming.

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“As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul…”  Hermes Trismegistus

Mark has also been studying astrology for almost two decades, holding lunar astrology workshops and interweaves the cycles of the planets and seasons into his teachings. Holding kirtans in Sydney for the past 2 years has also been a personal and rewarding sadhana as a means to uplift the heart through this beautiful bhakti practice.

Mindfulness, acceptance, kindness, joy and the art of ‘sitting with’ are what he wishes to bring to his practices he shares.

PHILLIDA BARTIK

For Philli, yoga is a way of life and a state of being. The non-dualistic experience of unification that yoga offers, has been the most nourishing inclusion in supporting and celebrating our existence and awakening. It is both the space holder and the stabilizer as we master the dynamism of the beauty and the challenges that we may encounter throughout our lives. Passionately inspired by the teachings that follow the tradition of Tantra from the Kashmir Shaivism lineage, Philli honours the potency of these teachings and offers them to our community to share the liberation and joy of the science and practice of Yoga. 

Beyond the mat, studying the yoga philosophy, Ayurveda and meditation Philli enriches her life by adventuring and being active in nature, drawing and offering her time working with children with disability. 

Forever a student, the love for experiential learning runs deep. Philli completed her 200hr YTT with Ana Forrest, her advanced 300hr Embodied Flow YTT with Tara Judelle, has studied Foundations of 5 Element Theory, and has also studied with master teachers Rod Stryker, Sally Kempton, Carlos Pomeda, Andrea Boni and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen. 

Astonished by the sophisticated nature of the human organism, Philli feels that the body is a cloak for our creative consciousness and that it is the perfect vehicle for awakening to the vast possibilities of this life. 

As a facilitator, Philli guides her students into anatomical and energetic explorations in-order to focus attention inwards, creating a greater overall body-mind connection.

Philli’s classes are woven with pranayama, bhanda, kriyas, meditation and yoga philosophy as a means for offering the true essence of yoga. 

Always striving to create a safe and nurturing environment for discovery and transformation Phillis orientation is to empower students with the agency to curate their own vitality through becoming more aware of their true nature. 

OLIVIA BURLEY-KNOX

Olivia grew up dancing all of the time at every possible opportunity. Her passion and dedication saw her graduate from dance college and work as a professional dancer and musical theatre performer on West End stages, a life long dream!

This love affair of movement is what led Olivia to first find yoga. More and more she began to enjoy the freedom and space her asana practise gave her both physically and mentally.

In 2016 Olivia completed her teacher training at The House of Yoga, London. This training brought out the courage within her and once completed Olivia took a bold step to move across the world to Sydney in 2017! Expect a vibrant and powerful class! 

Marty Coles has been coaching sport and involved in health and fitness for over 15 years. After years of soccer it was his dodgy knee that brought him to yoga! And what started out as a simple rehab/stretch treatment, soon became an integral part of his life - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Marty’s path is a spiritual one and his practice centres around how to find a deeper connection through the ancient wisdom of yoga.

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Marty has been blessed with three beautiful children who help to keep him striving to be the best he can. His children are his greatest teachers and a constant reminder of when not present, which is often!

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Marty offers a strong physical practice whilst delivering a powerful message, with plenty of fun. He values enthusiasm, compassion and authenticity. His aim is to inspire students to leave their mats after class and continue the practice in their daily lives.

BIANCA KENVYN

Bianca's Yoga journey began many years ago upon arriving in Sydney from her hometown in the UK. After exploring with many different sports and an array of physical alternatives to move her body she discovered that what was missing was the connection to her heart and spirit.

Yoga then became a safe haven for her to step away from the 'chaos of life' and tune into the inner realms of her being by recognising and deeply nurturing her relationship between breath and body.  

After years of consistent practise Bianca finally submerged herself into the depths of teacher training and discovered a newfound connection and desire to want to share her experiences of the practise with her students in order to cultivate that same sense of inner peace and freedom.

Always curious and forever questioning the nature of our reality; Bianca loves to infuse the traditional philosophies of Yoga in a modern way and weave them throughout a fun and dynamic class to spark inquiry into the self and use the physical postures as a gateway into the mind. 

With a strong focus on receptive presence and breath as a means to access inner stillness, Bianca loves how Yoga is all encompassing of body, mind and spirit and hopes that her students can leave feeling like they can take something with them from their practise into their everyday lives.

Bianca has the ability to remain in tune with her students and nurture them throughout their practise whilst still holding a strong space for physical challenge! Once we can slow down our breathing and steady our mind we can experience what it’s like to 'feel' rather 'think' and come from a place of 'Being' rather than doing. This is truly why Bianca loves to teach Yoga! :)

ROSE MOORE

An ocean girl at heart, Rose grew up on the Sunshine Coast, where the salty air and slower pace instilled in her a love for the simple things. Enjoying an active lifestyle, immersed in nature, is vital she believes, in maintaining a healthy body and balanced mind. 

Rose’s journey into Yoga began ten years ago. Having always played a lot of sport, she was first drawn to the vinyasa practice for the physical element, however a deeply felt appreciation grew for the mental clarity and perspective it brings. While pursuing a demanding career in the fashion and photographic industry, lunch time Yoga and meditation got her through the long days, and she realised she had found a greater sense of contentment and purpose on the mat. 

Completing her 200hr YTT with Body Mind Life, was like dipping a toe into the ocean of life long learning through the art and science of Yoga. Rose continues to study and practice with her teachers Noelle Connolly, Simon Park, Aimee Pedersen, and Mel McLaughlin. Ever inspired by her mentors, the intricacies of life and relationships, and the beauty of nature, Rose is passionate about sharing the way in which Yoga deepens our capacity for self love and awareness, evolving how we show up to meet our challenges and live out our dharma. 

Rose teaches vinyasa flow classes that encompass traditional yogic philosophy, and unfold in creative sequences. There is a focus on the importance of alignment, mindfulness and breath, as she encourages students to delve inward and explore the layers of the self through connected and intuitive movement

GEORGIA LLOYD

Having stumbled into her first Yoga class at 19, Georgia has found endless refuge in the practise of Yoga. Not long after her first yoga class Georgia sought to dive deeper into the path of meditation which helped to seal her fate as a lifelong yoga student. As if preconceived by the universe, Georgia found herself working at a Yoga studio where she began to undergo a more devoted practise to Yoga asana as well as continue her journey of meditation.

By the time Georgia had finished her Business degree, much to the surprise of those around her, she committed to the path of Yoga by undergoing her first 200hr Yoga Teacher Training followed by a mentorship with Kylie Hennessy. This solidified her hopes and aspirations to continue to share as much heart-felt yoga as she had received from her teachers. 

Always remaining grounded, Georgia was grateful for the path of yoga, this has led her to become a student of Shiva Rea, currently completing her Prana Vinyasa certification as well as having the privilege of assisting some of her teachers on their respective yoga retreats and yoga teacher trainings.
 

Georgia hopes to fill her classes with the love and compassion that she has received from yoga. Her classes provide flow and embodiment to bring people back into their nature and relish being in the present, coupled with endeavouring to remind us of the power of the breath and the magnificence of moving meditation.   

To continue her path of encouraging healing and support, she is currently undergoing the study of Traditional Chinese Medicine at UTS.

SKYE PHILLIPS

Skye is a passionate yogi, with ten years of experience in ‘vinyasa’ (breath synchronised) styles of yoga.  Her grounding as a teacher began with a giant leap of faith; what stated as a month-led sojourn in India in 2010 then paved the way for a fascinating journey through Asia, Europe and the USA, studying and practicing with some incredible teachers. 

Skye is currently training under Tiffany Cruikshank (www.yogamedicine.com), and is part of a global network of teachers who are looking to create awareness around the healing power of yoga.  Off the mat, Skye is a also a change agent and a thought leader helping to drive large-scale behaviour change initiatives in Australia and abroad.

Skye’s approach to teaching honours tradition, yet is fresh, authentic, and designed with the modern yogi in mind.  She brings forth her eclectic knowledge of movement to her yoga classes, drawing from experience in gymnastics, rock climbing, dance and snowboarding.  It is Skye’s mission that every student leaves their mat more nourished, more balanced and more vibrant than when they arrived.

STEVE MAZABOW

As well as being an amazing yin yoga teacher, Steve is also a passionate musician and sound healer with specific focus on the ancient and ceremonial instruments – Didgeridoo and Yidaki. He has been teaching yin and holding workshops and events with 
live ceremonial music since 2014. 

Having travelled and explored the yoga path in it’s many different forms for over 15 years, Steve brings a multi-dimensional approach to each class and workshop, integrating the practices and arts of sound healing, meditation, mantra, kirtan and ancient Australian live ceremonial music. 

Steve completed his Yin training with Mel McLaughlin and Bernie Clark and has also partaken in many other teacher trainings including, Meditation, Special Needs, Kirtan, Forrest Yoga and Sound Healing. Steve regularly holds events, workshops and retreats around Sydney with his wife and partner Vanessa.

SAM SALES

Sam first discovered Yoga whilst living in Bali. Coming from a background in dance it was the asana that drew her in initially, fluid movements and the strength that it created in her body, it just felt like home from the first practise. Traveling the world as a dancer lead to a feeling of instability and there was always a level of competitiveness trying to get the next job. It was only on the mat that Sam started to realise the only person she was competing with was herself. 

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As Sam's personal practise grew she started to discover there was so much more to Yoga and this is where the real passion was ignited. Yoga soon came to influence her whole life as she continues to delve deep on and off the mat to understand and connect with her body and learn the ability to 'just be'. 

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In 2015 Sam went and lived along the beautiful lake of Lake Atitlan in Guatemala to complete her 200hr Vinyasa training with School Yoga Institute and later completed her Yin Yoga training in Rishikesh India. She recently traveled to India to delve deeper into understanding the rich history and background of yoga and has come back inspired and ready to share all her new knowledge, hoping to empower her students on and off their mats. 

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With over 8 years experience as a Pilates instructor Sam comes with a depth of knowledge of anatomy and how the body moves. Sam's classes are strongly influenced by alignment and core strength with a focus on connecting to the breathe to drive each movement. She aims to support her students as they connect to their bodies and find that balance internally as well as externally through a grounding practise.

JESSIE-ANNE VANDERTAK

Jessie-Anne grew up in a mountainous region of Victoria surrounded by vast forests and picturess scenery. It was this playground that ingrained in her a deep connection to nature and the seasons. With an abundance of space and an affinity to the outdoors Jessie-Anne was sports mad as a youth. She found yoga in her 20’s as a balance to her love for running. Yoga quickly became an integral part of her life, which enabled her to find strength and flexibility in her body that also enhanced her mental and emotional wellbeing. This deeper connection to yoga enabled her to find  confidence in her uniqueness and reduce life's stresses and this is what motivates her to show up on her mat every day.

After living abroad and travelling throughout Australia Jessie-Anne settled in Sydney and after 5 years in Bondi now calls Manly home with her partner and their Cocker Spaniel. She has completed trainings with Power Living, Melanie Mclaughlin and Mysan Sidbho. She currently teaches Vinyasa flow and has a great passion for the art of Yin Yoga.

Jessie-Anne aims to support and guide her students through a practice that strengthens the body, increases flexibility and balance, with her vibrant but also tender approach to teaching. She will encourage students to enquire into the subtle practices of yoga to help combat the stresses of their busy Sydney lives and find a deeper more holistic connection to themselves. Yoga is a practise that can create freedom through the body and mind collectively.

ANNA YOUNG-FERRIS

Anna first learnt to meditate at the age of 18 during her university studies and so commenced a lifelong spiritual enquiry. In 2003 she began a regular practice of Buddhist meditation but it was in 2012 that Anna discovered the simple and effortless technique of Vedic meditation and her practice and direct experiences of pure consciousness literally soared. She studies with Thom Knoles, Jeff Kober and Gary Gorrow and has undergone rigorous training with Jacqui Lewis of The Broad Place to become a recognised Vedic meditation initiator/teacher. In this way Anna, will share the gift of mindfulness and compassion, assisting one to transcend the chatter of the mind and cultivate more gratitude, lovingkindness and calm for themselves and others.

Anna is an established academic at the University of Sydney Business School, and holds a PhD that focused on the integration of social and environmental issues into institutional investment. She is now working to integrate meditation into her research career. Prior to this she worked for several years in the corporate sector as a climate change and sustainability professional.

Apart from her love of meditation, Anna has been practicing yoga since the age of 16. A power vinyasa devotee, she has tried all styles over the years. At home Anna loves being with her husband, two beautiful daughters, family and friends. 

Kai Yoga is delighted to welcome Anna to guide students through meditation using a simple technique, explain its scientific benefits, and share her insights and tips on how to integrate a regular meditation practice with the demands of modern life, children, family, friends, work and study.

SARA ZAVIK

Sara, originally from Virginia, USA, competed as an artistic gymnast for 14 years until a knee injury forced her to retire. She initially practiced Yoga as an alternative therapy for her injury, a way to focus her physical energy, and keep up her strength & flexibility, but has found over her 12+ years of practice that the mental and spiritual aspects of the practice have benefited her self development tremendously.

Sara's has recently moved to Manly after living in Melbourne for 8 years, where she taught across the city and also internationally for the past 7 years. She has helped co-facilitate on 200hr YTT's in Indonesia and this past year she collaborated with her husband to host their first retreat in Portugal, starting EONA YOGA. 

Sara uniquely blends the traditional practice with a modern perspective, influenced by her yearly Iyengar based trainings in India and her growing interest in scientific based studies on anatomy and movement. She weaves these inspirations together to creatively and intelligently combine dynamic and static movements to help find ease and accessibility for various levels and bodies. Expect interesting and fun use of props plus an exploration of similar shapes in interesting ways!