Teachers
Highly trained, experienced yoga teachers are critical to the success of our work. The teachers' ability to inspire change and improve the quality of life of the individuals we work with through the tools of yoga is at the heart of the service we provide to the vulnerable communities we serve.
We select teachers with highest levels of competence in their area of specialisation (i.e. senior yoga, adolescents, etc.). Teachers working on our programs where mental illness or severe symptoms of anxiety and depression and/or trauma are present must also meet our stringent standards. This includes 500+ hours of training and teaching; Level 2 membership of Yoga Australia; Mental Health First Aid certificate and experience working in a therapeutic way with people experiencing mental health challenges or disadvantaged communities.
If you are interested in teaching with us please complete our Yoga Teacher Expression of Interest form HERE, and we will contact you!
Sam Bijok
Sam is a senior registered yoga teacher with Yoga Australia and a registered Yoga Therapist with AAYT. She has over 1000 hours of training and teaching experience.
She began practicing yoga in 1999 and found the combination of swimming and yoga very beneficial for her chronic back pain. Sam has taught for many years for The Yoga Foundation with a focus on people impacted by serious mental health challenges, trauma and domestic violence.
Natalie Haider
Natalie is a Registered Yoga Teacher (500 hours), and Yoga Therapist (650 hours). She is also Health At Every Size ® practitioner and a Registered Psychologist.
Natalie’s practices are gentle breath-centred yoga, aimed at helping individuals find acceptance and compassion for their mind, body and whole being. Her special interest lies in helping women to develop a positive relationship with their mind, body, and movement. Natalie’s teaching is trauma-sensitive, body positive and accessible.
Jacqui Jarrett
Jacqui is a proud Dharawal & Gumbaynnirri First Nations woman and Elder from the Sydney Basin region. She is a trauma-informed yoga teacher who guides participants to enhanced body awareness to promote emotional and psychological wellbeing. Her classes support people to reconnect, heal and foster a conscious approach to trauma recovery.
Jacqui believes that understanding and compassion through Yoga connects people to the rich and valuable contribution First Nations people and their culture bring to all Australians and the world.
Sabina Lompartova
Sabina has practiced yoga for over 13 years and been a teacher for 7 years. She works with a range of clients with diverse needs and has a passion for supporting vulnerable people recovering from adversity with yoga. Her clients range in age from 12 to 89.
At The Yoga Foundation Sabina teaches domestic violence survivors, intellectually disabled adults and people accessing services at The Wayside Chapel, Bondi.
Moira Medcalf
Moira holds a Diploma of Yoga Teaching (500hrs), is a Certified TCTSY (Trauma Centre Trauma Sensitive Yoga) Facilitator (300hrs) and a Yoga Australia member.
Moira aims to facilitate a caring, safe and non-judgmental space in which to offer the practice of yoga. She is committed to sharing yoga, making it accessible for each and every individual, whatever their experience. Her teaching experience has encompassed diverse groups such as refugees, seniors, and those in the criminal justice system. As a certified TCTSY Facilitator she is passionate that her clients are respected, safe and empowered in their journey of embodiment.
Natasha Nicholas
Natasha is a registered yoga teacher, clinical yoga therapeutic specialist, certified Oncology Rehab and Rehab support specialist and integrative therapist. She work with groups and people 1:1 to support and help them manage life challenges such as cancer treatment, chronic pain, grief, stress and anxiety. She is passionate about enabling people to access their body’s own inner wisdom and healing.
Her specialty programs are Persistent Pain Clinic; Somatic De-Griefing, Wellness for Healthcare Warriors, The Balanced Athlete, Active Aging ; Sacred Space for people facing terminal prognosis or on-going critically-chronic condition.
Ivy Rivett
Ivy is a certified Level 2 Yoga Instructor with over 25 years experience of practicing and teaching yoga. She also has a BA Hons in Movement and a Diploma in Mental Health.
Always exploring holistic avenues, Ivy completed her teacher training in Wu Tao Dance with Michelle Locke, studied Movement, the Brain and Learning with Kinesiologist Brendan O’Hara and continues to attend many workshops and courses to develop her interests.
Ivy is particularly adept at working with kids, teens and seniors. She is teaching The Yoga Foundation’s intergenerational program, adults with an intellectual disability and young people recovering from trauma and mental health challenges. She brings joy and lightness to every class.
Melissa Shadforth
Melissa is a Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Australia, the Integral Yoga Teachers Association, and an Accessible Yoga Ambassador with further specialised training in neuroscience, yoga, and mindfulness for mental health, accessible yoga, and yoga for children and adolescents.
Melissa also holds a Master of Counselling, working with clients to explore a more integrated way of being and has shared the teachings of yoga in nature, schools, community organisations, with refugees, women in prison or at-risk, and through the counselling process.
Mischa Telford
Mischa is a Senior Level 3 Registered Teacher and Member of Yoga Australia. She holds a International Association of Yoga Therapists accredited Graduate Diploma of Yoga Therapy. Mischa also has a Diploma of Remedial Massage and an Advanced Diploma of Gestalt Psychotherapy and continues her professional development in the field of “Yoga and the Traumatised Body”. She believes in a holistic person centred and relational approach to health and wellbeing.