MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS

Nathan Strauss

Yoga

Nathan gained his 200 hour YTT certification in Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore, India and has returned to India for 6 months for advanced asana training in Mysore, Vrindavan and Rishikesh, as well as studying Acro Yoga in Croatia. He has completed the Breathe Diploma of Clinical Pilates. He is fascinated with the role of neurology in movement.

Nathan's affinity for both yin and yang is manifested in his other dual loves: Cross Fit and Yin Yoga. Permaculture and gardening are also hobbies, but most notably he's obsessed with fermenting anything. Especially beer. But also yogurt, kombucha and cabbage. He scours regional Victoria to obtain the purest ingredients. (Outside Warburton has the best water).

Georgia Cato

Yoga

Georgia first began practising Yoga in 2007 and discovered that Yoga really helped balance the demands of a busy modern life with solace and relaxation. Georgia was attracted to Iyengar Yoga with its focus on body alignment and precision in asana practice, and she has found the integration and discipline hugely beneficial.

As a qualified Iyengar Yoga & Prenatal Yoga teacher, Georgia has also spent time training in India with the Iyengar family in Pune and in Rishikesh. As a side interest & self-confessed 'body nerd', she has also studied the Breathe Education Diploma in Clinical Pilates.

In Georgia’s classes, you can expect a focus on body alignment, making occasional use of props to access and make progress in the full range of yoga poses, no matter what your physical state you're in. She wishes people to share her love of yoga and to leave classes feeling more mobile, happy with feeling physically and mentally lighter.

Bianca Milione

Yoga & Meditation

Bianca began her practice of yoga in 1998. She has completed her teacher training with Peter Scott (Senior Intermediate Iyengar yoga teacher) and continues her study with him on a regular basis. Bianca holds a Junior Intermediate 1 certificate in Iyengar yoga. She has also previously trained in Hatha yoga with Acharya Venkatesh, and in the Knoff style of yoga with Nicky Knoff.

In Bianca's classes you can expect to find emphasis on connecting to stillness in the midst of a dynamic physical practice. Iyengar yoga differs from other styles in its sequencing, timing and intricacies. Iyengar yoga includes the practice of a broader range of more challenging asanas including inversions and backbends, while developing steadiness of mind and the ability to look inside. Sequences vary from week to week.

Bianca is a naturopath. Her roots are in Italy, she is an Italian speaker and comes from a long line of organic farmers.

Angela Stoler

Yoga

Angela began practising Yoga in 2008 as an alternative to the gym. After her first class she was immediately addicted. Nothing else she had tried offered the same variety of movement or left her feeling so peaceful. Angela decided to take her practice to a new level and completed her level I and II teacher training with Byron Yoga Centre.

Angela's Vinyasa classes are dynamic, creative, and safe. In teaching yoga, she hopes to share with students what she loves most about the practice: the building of strength (expect some serious core work) and flexibility, the free flow of breath and a sense of challenge without struggle. She believes that anyone can "do Yoga" - most important is how you approach it, and not whether you can put your legs around your head (not that trying it isn't fun). Angela draws inspiration from diverse sources, Yoga-related or otherwise. She continues to improve her knowledge of all forms of yoga through private study and various courses. Having grown up in Geneva, Switzerland, Angela also enjoys travel - whenever she's away, she makes it a mission to sample the local Yoga offerings.

Ferry Lubis

Pilates & Functional Fitness

Ferry's infectious warmth, sunny smile and incredible attention to detail make him a natural-born instructor. He holds a Breathe Certificate IV in Pilates and a Certificate IV in Fitness, and is currently completing a Diploma of Clinical Pilates. He has also spent considerable time in Kerala, India studying yoga.

Ferry is a big fan of the great outdoors and for him, nothing beats a good long trek; his most memorable being the legendary Druk path in Bhutan and the grueling Machame trail to the summit of Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

When he's not teaching Pilates, Ferry loves nothing better than to relax with his favourite music, enjoy a glass of bubbles and spend time with his two dogs, Ilha and Kibo.

Georgia Herford

Pilates

Georgia holds a Breathe Certificate IV in Pilates, a Certificate IV in Fitness and the Breathe Diploma of Clinical Pilates. She has also studied Posture and Flexibility with Kit Laughlin, and completed comprehensive STOTT PILATES instructor training.

After her years of training in classical and contemporary dance with a Bachelor of Arts (Dance) from Deakin University, Pilates was a natural evolution for Georgia, and teaching Pilates has been her full-time career since 2005.

In Georgia's classes, you'll benefit from her 13 years experience and an emphasis on form and technique.

Lori Campagnolo

Pilates & Functional Fitness

Lori was always sporty and active as a child, yet did not find a love of Pilates and Fitness until later in her adult life. She was wondering how she could possibly improve her energy levels and get the most of life. Firstly, by visiting a nutritionist, who encouraged altering her diet to include natural, whole foods. Secondly, she indulged in the world of exercise. With the help of a Strength and Conditioning Coach she smashing out chin ups quicker than she could say ‘Is training 7 days a week enough?!’ Not long after, she tried reformer Pilates. The rest they say, is history!

Lori has completed her Cert IV in Pilates and Fitness in 2015 and is dedicated to continually learning and challenging herself. She is driven by the thought she may be able to improve other’s lives as she did her own. Lori firmly believes in trying new things, getting out of her comfort zone and, most importantly, having a laugh whilst doing so.

Victoria Brockfield

Pilates & Barre

Victoria is a qualified Pilates and Barre instructor, and holds the Breathe Certificate IV in Pilates, as well as a Certificate IV in Fitness. She is also the Co-Director of Holistic HQ, a wellness community running retreats and workshops in Melbourne.
Victoria has taught Pilates for almost a decade, although her past incarnations as a competitive sportsmodel, soccer player as well as an event coordinator for the 100km Oxfam Trailwalker have greatly contributed to her keen appreciation for competitive sports training and endurance events. She loves working one-on-one to take clients to the next level in their work, passion or play.

Victoria delights in finding the slow burn in class, and approaches functional movement with a diligent eye for perfect posture and flow. Fifteen years of personal yoga practice has also greatly influenced the atmosphere she creates in classes, emphasising mindfulness, breath patterns and finding the calm amidst the challenge.

Georgina Hagerty

Barre

Georgina worked as a professional dancer for 15 years. She worked with major ballet companies in Australia and Europe as well as in musical theatre and film in London.
She began teaching adult ballet classes and recently transitioned into teaching Barre. Georgina has a wealth of experience and understanding of ballet technique, pilates, yoga and dance. She enjoys combining all of these disciplines and sharing her love of movement in her classes.

Anita Del Testa

Yoga

Anita began practising yoga in 2002, initially to help her manage her back pain. Her yoga practice began to heal years of back issues but also had a huge transformative effect on her life which led her to train as an Iyengar teacher. She began attending classes with Senior Teacher Peter Scott in 2006 and commenced teacher training with him in 2007. She continues to study with Peter and Sue Scott and is fully qualified at Junior Intermediate Level 1 teacher.

Anita enjoys teaching as she sees how the power of yoga can transform her students’ lives, releasing them, like it did her from a lifetime of stored tension and pain. Anita returns biennially to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune India to study with the Iyengar family.

Anita is also a member of the BKS Iyengar Association of Australia Events Committee.

Heidi Currington

Pilates

Heidi holds a Breathe Certificate IV in Pilates & Certificate IV in Fitness and is currently completing the Breathe Diploma of Clinical Pilates. In Heidi’s reformer classes you’ll enjoy pushing your mental and physical limits to improve your strength & flexibility. However it's not all hard work: You'll also improve your awareness, posture and physical ease. You’ll leave with an uplifting mix of exhaustion and optimism.
Heidi also loves working 1-on-1 and focussing her considerable problem solving skills to help you break through old boundaries and get the most out of your body. Her small group sessions are characterised by lightness combined with highly focussed attention to detail.

Heidi's favourite things are mornings, coffee, cooking and eating botanically diverse meals, emojis, making people sweat, her bike, sunny Melbourne days, bush runs… and of course, Pilates!

Emily Altis

Pilates

Emily holds a Diploma in Professional Pilates Instruction from National Pilates Training. She discovered Pilates while rehabilitating some minor injuries during the completion of her Bachelor of Creative Arts: Contemporary Dance/Drama, at Deakin University.

Her group classes have a strong focus on the fundamentals of Pilates. She wants you to feel connected and well worked, maybe crack a smile, and discover all those little muscles you didn’t know about. Learn while you burn and you will earn a better practice! In small group class, she loves pulling apart the particulars of pathologies or symptoms and finding the best formula for improving the health of each individual.

Courtney Holm

Pilates

I was first exposed to pilates back in 2001 when I was a ballet dancer. We learned a very classical pilates style and I found it incredibly beneficial for my ongoing back and hip pain.

Coming from a family of Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, I was also frequently exposed to my mother’s physiotherapy and pilates practice. Eventually, I left the ballet world to focus on my main passion; fashion and textile design. Studying to become a fashion designer, I continued my pilates practice along-side my studies and found it helped give me the physical and mental strength I needed to work full time and study full time.

After graduating from my degree, I decided to become a certified pilates instructor as a complimentary career parallel to my fashion business. Specialising in clinical pilates, I studied my Certificate in Pilates, Certificate IV in Fitness and Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (Physiotherapy) at Breathe education in 2013.

I teach clinical and group reformer classes. With my love for fresh and functional exercises blended with the classic pilates style, you can expect an upbeat workout, focus on breathing and fine tuning technique. I am very hands-on and detailed and love helping clients achieve their goals whilst ensuring proper form for optimal results and injury prevention.

Lara Richardson

Pilates, Functional Fitness & Barre

Lara was first introduced to pilates at 15 by her ballet teacher to help in recovering from a back injury. Lara completed her Cert IV in Pilates and Fitness in 2015 and a Diploma of Clinical Pilates in 2017. She has experimented with many training methods over the years from Crossfit and marathons to Muay Thai and enjoys a disciplined approach to exercise. Lara loves to learn and is always on the lookout to find new courses and workshops with industry leaders to expand her knowledge and stay up to date.

In a class with Lara, you can expect a fun atmosphere where you will be pushed to work hard. Lara keeps an open dialogue with plenty of laughs and is dedicated to modifying and accommodating all clients no matter the class. Lara loves to trigger point so you will likely get into the habit of trigger pointing before and after class when you train with her.

Grace Darling

Yoga

A lifelong fascination with anatomy, neuroscience and meditation have given Grace Darling a unique viewpoint on Yoga guidance. The employment of 4 modalities of yoga training, over 12 years of meditation instruction and her fierce passion for communion with the self, combine to promote deep connection in the lives of her students.

Grace believes yogic practice can be the conduit between body and mind—bringing the whole being closer to equilibrium. Grace’s classes are designed to break the body out of its typical movements patterns, shake the mind free from its repetitive thoughts and engage the mat as a mirror for how we are and who we want to be. Expect juicy flows, deep release and a space held for you to commune with yourself.

Christina Traychevska

Pilates & Functional Fitness

Christina holds a Breathe Education Certificate IV in Pilates, a passion she pursued after completing a Bachelor Degree in Interior Design. In her classes, you can expect to be challenged through a wide variety of movements, drawing from both classical Pilates exercises and more contemporary dynamic movements. With her background in Crossfit and love of all things movement and mobility, Christina will get you working hard, moving freely and feeling good. Your hard work will be rewarded with a beautiful stretch, letting you leave long, strong and (hopefully) smiling.

Sara Zavik

Yoga

Sara, E-RYT200, originally from Virginia, USA, competed as an artistic gymnast for 14 years until a knee injury forced her to retire. She initially practised 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 10+ years of practice that the mental and spiritual benefits have benefited her self-development.

Sara uniquely blends traditional Eastern practice with the modern Western anatomical knowledge to creatively and intelligently combine dynamic and static movements to help find ease and accessibility at various levels. She sets the tone of working intimately with the breath so that even when a pose is held, the student can make subtle adjustments through detailed action alignment cueing. Sara is extremely dedicated to her practice and continuing education, and through her yearly Iyengar/Hatha based training in India and Melbourne, she has developed a precise eye to detail and alignment, which she uses to encourage practitioners to move in a way that is more mindful and aware.

Tess Branchflower

Functional Fitness & Barre

With a Cert III/IV in Fitness and a Bachelor Degree in Musical Theatre, Tess aims to make her classes fun with her enthusiasm and daggy personality. She is a Barre and HIIT instructor with a strong belief in technique and alignment for optimum performance in class. Her personal challenge in classes is to watch people thrive and achieve their own fitness goals, and to be their friendly guidance for the journey.

Julia Jones

Yoga & Meditation

Julia’s contemporary classical Hatha Yoga classes focus on balancing strength and flexibility. Her sessions are opened to all levels of practitioners as she encourages you to tune into your individual, ever-changing, needs. Julia will informatively guide you through slow flowing movements, integrated with breath, to create a sense of well-being and inner harmony. Her sessions are interwoven with philosophy and practical ways of bringing the benefits of yoga into your everyday life. Julia’s aim is to have you leaving her sessions feeling energised, nurtured and uplifted.

With an interest in all things related to health and wellbeing, Julia first discovered yoga, and its holistic benefits, 30 years ago. Since graduating with an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teacher Training (1120 hours) through the Australian Institute of Yoga in 2006, Julia has been an ongoing and long-term teacher in Melbourne yoga studios, gyms and corporate firms. She created Affinity Yoga where she runs monthly urban yoga retreats and weekend and international retreats throughout the year. Julia is a registered member of Yoga Australia, a Mat Pilates instructor and holds a Diploma of Holistic Counselling and is a Level 2 Reiki practitioner. As an eternal student, she thrives on continuously studying the ancient Eastern philosophies and current Western science, to share the ever-growing multitude of physical, mental and emotional benefits of yoga with you.