Questions and Answers

Q. What experience do you have teaching yoga? 

A. I began practising yoga in 2008, and I taught Les Mills Body Balance between 2010 and 2012 while I attended university in Wollongong. In 2018, I completed a 200 hour hatha yoga teacher training course at Shakti Yoga Peeth in Rishikesh, India. I subsequently taught yoga for 2.5 years at a yoga studio in Canberra. I also taught free yoga classes for 4.5 years to office workers in Canberra and raised approximately $4,500 for myriad charities in lieu of payment for my classes. 

I am currently undertaking a 300 hour yoga teacher training course. 

I primarily teach techniques from the book 'Asana Pranayama Mudra Bandha', which I also use to learn more about yoga and how to practice each technique.

Q. Will you run more classes each week?

A. If there is enough interest, then I will run more classes each week. Please contact me if you are interested in attending more classes, or classes at different times, each week.  

Q. What style of yoga do you teach?

A. I teach hatha yoga. The word 'hatha' is Sanskrit for 'force'. The word 'yoga' is Sanksrit for 'yoke' or 'union', describing the union between mind, spirit, and body. Hatha yoga emphasises physical postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana). While my classes focus solely on asanas, pranayama, and dhyana, it is important to note that traditional yoga encompasses much more than these elements. 

Q. Are your classes appropriate for expert yogis? 

A. My classes are primarily aimed at beginner to advanced yogis. While I provide advanced options throughout the classes, if you are looking for classes that focus on expert techniques, then you will probably be better served at other yoga studios which provide that instruction. 

Q. Are the yoga photos on this website of your yoga classes? 

A. No, I used Canva to source the yoga photos. However, the photos reflect poses that I commonly teach in the classes.

Q. Do I need to be flexible to do your yoga classes? 

A. No. Everyone has different body types and levels of flexibility, and the classes I teach are aimed at assisting you wherever you are on the flexibility and mobility spectrum. 

For example, my glutes are not particularly flexible and there are many advanced poses that I am not flexible enough to do. I also have some sports injuries that make it difficult for me to do certain poses. But these things do not stop me from practising yoga and benefitting from each class, and I find yoga certainly helps with my physical challenges. 

Q. Do you have insurance?

A. Mike's Yoga Shed Pty Ltd is the entity providing the yoga classes and it holds public liability and professional indemnity insurance specifically for yoga classes. 

Q. Can yoga improve all aspects of my life? 

A. While I consider yoga to be an excellent activity that can improve mobility, flexibility, strength, balance, concentration, gratitude, and mindfulness, my view is that it should not be considered a panacea. If you have specific physical or mental health concerns, then I strongly recommend that you consult a relevant medical professional and only attend yoga classes if that medical professional advises that you can participate in yoga classes. 

Q. Do I need to be spiritual or believe in the supernatural to practice yoga?

A. In my view, no. While traditional yoga incorporates spiritual and supernatural elements, my view is that you can practice yoga for the physical and mental benefits alone. I do not refer to any spiritual or supernatural themes in my classes, however, my classes are welcome spaces for people with any respectful belief.