Health wellbeing resiliency for every body
194 Henley Beach Road, Torrensville, SA
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Phone: 8352 7823
Email: info@yogaspirit.com.au
Teachers
We have the most amazing team of teachers! Many are graduates of the Yoga Spirit Studios teacher training program and are eligible for membership of Yoga Australia. Each teacher brings their own unique interests and passions to the teaching of yoga. With high levels of experience and training you can be assured that you are in safe and skilful hands. Let us introduce ourselves!
Tina Shettigara
Studio Director, Spiritual Teacher, through Yoga, Meditation and Somatic Movement
Yoga Australia Registered Level 3 (Senior) teacher; Yoga Australia Registered Mentor; Advanced Teacher Training (Donna Farhi); Certified iRest® Teacher; Level 2 Somatics Exercise Coach (Essential Somatics)
Tina has been the Director of Yoga Spirit Studios since 2010.
Tina knows that the gentle path of yoga she walks can therapeutically affect the whole person and that psychological resilience can be discovered through yoga. Her students discover freedom of movement and joy of heart, and develop deep resilience to serve them in daily life. Some will move towards the pursuit of spiritual awakening, a goal to which Tina dedicates her own practice and teaching.
Tina is well versed in yoga history and philosophy and yogic maps of the energy body. She chants Sanskrit prayers and chants with a clear and melodic voice to melt your heart.
Find out more about working with Tina
Jo Bentley
Yoga Teacher, Clinical Somatic Educator
Level 2; Level 2 Somatics Exercise Coach (Essential Somatics); Clinical Somatics Educator (Essential Somatics)
Jo's draws on a wealth of life experience and intuition to influence her teachings. She creates an environment for students to explore yoga through a somatic lens and adopt an attitude of receptiveness to the body’s wisdom. Learning to trust internal sensations can unearth one’s potential for yoga to become a truly transformative practice. She will lead you through a flowing practice that is creative, thought provoking, sometimes challenging, sometimes playful. You will learn different alignment cues and modifications that will support you, and guide you toward 'owning your practice'.
In her early 30's, Jo was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (a chronic neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system) that left half her body paralyzed and taking over a month to be able to walk again. The positive she has taken out of her diagnosis is a greater body awareness; how it moves, heals and breathes. Over the past 14 years, Jo has fought back to reclaim some semblance of her former health using yoga, improved nutrition and balanced choices.
This transformation is what led Jo to leave the corporate world behind in 2009 and enroll in the highly regarded teacher training program offered at Yoga Spirit Studios. She is also assistant to Yoga Spirit Studios Director, Tina Shettigara, and is an important team member in the administration of the teacher training course.
Jo was also instrumental in introducing Hanna Somatics to Adelaide and facilitated the visits of Martha Peterson (author of Move without Pain) to Adelaide in 2013 and 2014 to run Somatic Exercise Coach training. Jo has assisted Martha at her trainings in both Adelaide and Melbourne and runs courses in Hanna Somatics at Yoga Spirit Studios.
Charlton Lane
Yoga Teacher, Somatic Movement Coach
Yoga Australia Level 2; Advanced Yoga Teaching (Donna Farhi); Level 1 Somatics Exercise Coach (Essential Somatics); Yin Yoga; Barkan Method Hot Yoga Level 1; Pilates; Level 2 Teacher Training (John Ogilvie)
Charlton was first introduced to yoga nearly 30 years ago and has been practicing regularly for the past 12 years.
A former martial arts (Tae Kwon Do) student, marathon runner, and a triathlete, Charlton noticed over time the difference that the yoga postures and stretching made to his training and recovery. The benefits to his wellbeing have not been just physical, but also spiritual. He is learning the power of the breath, and the importance of relaxation, and meditation to balance a busy and hectic lifestyle.
Charlton gained his Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification at Yoga Spirit Studios in Adelaide in 2010, and is a member of Yoga Australia, and Yoga Teachers Institute of South Australia Inc.
He is continuing his yoga journey through teaching others, as well as attending further teacher training such as Donna Farhi's 21 day Advanced Teacher Training, level 1 Somatic Exercise Coach Training with Martha Peterson, Level 2 Certificate 500 Hours at the Byron Yoga Centre’s Purna Yoga with John Ogilvie, Hot Yoga Teacher training level 1 with Jimmy Barkan, and has his Pilates Teacher training certification.
Charlton is also found behind the desk as an administrative assistant in the studio and has an important role in the administration of the teacher training course.
Ginny Holmes
Yoga Teacher, Somatic Movement Coach
Yoga Australia Level 1; Level 2 Somatics Exercise Coach (Essential Somatics); Chair Yoga
Ginny began her practice of yoga 13 years ago, not only seeking to bring emotional balance back into her life, but strength to an injured back.
The union of the body, mind and breath in yoga brought her peace of mind and the ability to move and strengthen her body with care and love. She loves the way yoga can be so beautifully adapted to any age, to any states of physical or emotional well being and to all aspects of life. It has been a life-changing gift and she enjoys sharing the gift of yoga with others.
Ginny is a graduate of the 2013 Yoga Spirit Studios Teacher Training Program and has also completed Level 1 Somatic Exercise Coach training with Martha Peterson, director of Essential Somatics.
Anne Rodgers
Yoga and Meditation Teacher
Yoga Australia Level 1; Diploma, Positive Psychology; Level 1 Mindfulness Teacher (Mindfulness Training Institute Australia)
Anne specialises in teaching meditation skills and regularly delivers a course on Mindfulness for Beginners at Yoga Spirit Studios. Anne has completed a Diploma of Positive Psychology and Wellbeing and is a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Facilitator trained in the Jon Kabat-Zinn lineage. Learn more about Anne here.
Vittala Shettigara
Yoga Teacher, Somatic Movement Coach, co-owner
Yoga Australia Level 1; Level 1 Somatics Exercise Coach (Essential Somatics)
Vittala is a certified Yoga Teacher who has practised Pranayama and Hatha Yoga for over ten years. He practises both regularly and he brings his personal experience to his teaching.
Vittala is also a retired Senior Research Scientist. One of his passions is to document scientific evidence on the application of yoga to our wellbeing. You can find this documentation at his blog "Yoga Proof". http://yogaproof.blogspot.com.au
Megan Semczuk
Yoga Teacher
Yin Yoga
Yoga was initially a physical practice for me, being an A-type personality, always pushing my body to its limits. However after a few injuries, I was obliged re-think my perspective on my practice, acceptance, self-compassion and a chance to be content with stillness.
I have been practicing yoga for approximately 8 years, and teaching for the last 2. I completed my 200hours in 2017, followed by my advanced vinyasa, advanced assisting and yin yoga training in 2018, all with Powerliving.
In my Yin classes I provide space for my students to play the observer to their thoughts, their body sensations, their emotions and their reactions to all the above. In my vinyasa classes, I focus on alignment, posture and muscle engagement. I allow time for my students to reflect and recentre, allowing them to feel balanced and centered with the ultimate goal of equanimity. I weave philosophy through the based on ancient yogic traditions and relate this to modern day life, including scientific based psychology techniques.
I am a registered psychologist during the week, which I find complementary to yoga, both practicing and teaching. On days when I feel I'm running on empty, yoga provides new energy. On days where I feel overwhelmed, yoga assists with letting go. I see yoga as a practice, that develops and expends, ebbs and flows. The deeper within yourself you go, the more there is to learn. I look forward to holding space for my students, so they have an opportunity for self discovery.
Pat Dantas
Yoga Teacher
Yoga Australia Level 2, Yoga for Kids Teacher Training with Zenergy Yoga.
Pat’s background in yoga goes back to Brazil where she learned various styles including Swasthya, Ashtanga and Vinyasa. In 2007 she came to Australia to follow her dream of living overseas, learning English and seeing where it would lead. Here she completed the Hatha Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Spirit Studios with Rebecca Richards, graduating in 2009.
Since then she’s been a relief teacher and volunteer, and has attended different workshops and short courses. Her classes are normally very energetic, designed to choreograph the mind and body with a fun and mindful approach. She is passionate about bringing the benefits of yoga to everyone and is a true believer that yoga can have a deep and positive effect on our lives.
Frank McCann
Yoga Teacher
Frank has been a student of yoga for 15 years and a yoga teacher for the last 5 of those years. His first experience of yoga was at Yoga Spirit Studios with Rebecca Richards and Yoga Spirit Studios was his yoga home until he graduated from the Yoga Spirit Studios Teacher Training Program under the guidance of Rebecca Richards and Neal Ghoshal in 2013. Since that time, he has been teaching hatha yoga at Sandra Bryant’s lovely studio, Essence of Yoga in Valley View, with the occasional visit to Yoga Spirit Studios. Frank joins the Yoga Spirit Studios staff, returning home to his yoga roots.
Yoga Teacher
Michelle began exploring Yoga twenty-five years ago, firstly in the UK then in various locations
around the globe. After attending a rejuvenating yoga retreat in rural Spain, she was inspired to
make the transition to yoga teacher and undertook training at Yoga Spirit.
In 2016 Michelle also trained as a children's yoga teacher, undertaking courses with Zenergy Yoga.
She teaches weekly in a South Australian primary school.
With a rich tapestry of experiences on which to draw, Michelle believes we can all find the strength,
flexibility and stillness to live life to the full in these busy times. By weaving together the time-
honoured practice of Yoga with current knowledge and innovation, we can revitalise our bodies,
minds and spirits, gaining a new lease of life in the process. Whether you’re an experienced yoga
practitioner or a complete beginner, Michelle’s classes will provide guidance to safely explore and
challenge yourself.