our story
We are coming up to our 8th year as a studio.
If you had told me eight years ago that we would be hosting teacher trainings each year, I would have been like, "Whaaaat!? Are you sure that's us?"
"But there is so much to learn about this discipline! How did our little yoga studio in Western Sydney get the gig of training and qualifying other yoga and pilates teachers?"
On the surface, it still feels like we are not worthy.
Here is a lil yoga history 101:
This yoga practice we love to share started in ancient India over 5,000 years ago as a way to connect with our inner selves and the universe by calming the fluctuations of the mind.
It's rooted in spirituality and philosophical ideas, with a focus on achieving harmony between the body, mind AND spirit, and now (lucky us!), in recent decades, has become a popular practice in the Western world, too. Not only for physical health, but stress reduction and mental well-being too
So how did a couple of studios in Western Sydney even get this opportunity to train their own teachers, to then go out into the world that so desperately needs them?
In 2013, I quit my job in people management within the entertainment and hospitality industry (video game arcades and bowling alleys, anyone?) because I was just sick of working my ass into the ground for someone else's KPIs and quarterly bonus. I loved the people I worked with, the customers, and the fun and high-energy environment, but that was only a sliver of the job.
So I took a massive pay cut and started teaching circus (I wasn't anywhere near good enough to be in an actual circus, but I could get away with at least teaching others how to use it as a fun variation of fitness!)
A couple of years into that, and I could see that the students needed something a little extra. Circus is excellent, but it's physically hard and not super accessible, and getting hurt and having injuries was considered "normal."
I also always wanted to travel to India, so I fed two birds with one scone and flew over there to do teacher training (with absolutely no experience, just an open heart and mind ready to learn!).
I came back home and started teaching right away.
I started to meet people from many different walks of life. I could see the healing benefits movement, meditation and mindful breathing had on each of them, as well as being a pretty epic tool to meet others and create a community for the greater good.
So, a year later, I went back to India and spent another month there to learn some more.
After that, I spent a month teaching in China. No one could really speak English, and I, in no way, shape or form, could speak Chinese, but we both knew Sanskrit (the language we sometimes use in yoga classes!), and with that experience under my belt, I came back home wanting to keep up my practice.
I couldn't find anything in the area, so I hired the local Neighbourhood Centre and ran some classes there.
Within three months, we outgrew that spot, and I signed the lease for the St Mary's Studio (which is celebrating its 8th birthday NEXT WEEK!).
I still wanted to learn more, as the teaching environment in India was very different from the actual teaching environment in Western Sydney. So, I enrolled in yet another teacher training course, directly AFTER I signed the lease for the St Marys Studio, this time with Idit at Sukha Mukha Yoga in Bondi.
Idit was an exceptionally experienced and passionate teacher, and I am honoured to have her on our teacher training team, along with Katie Rose, Suzie Q, Gaurav Malik, Ari Hunter, Karen Gruber, and Local Elder Uncle Colin.
Oh, and I'll be teaching a bunch, too!
It took Nin Yoga all these years to create connections and build community, which is how it brought this facility together in what is now known as "Kaya Academy".
And to bring it together in the WEST! What an honour!
There is no longer a need to travel to the city to do something like this. How cool is that?
Regardless of whether you want to teach one day, or want to deepen your own practice and do something to help your own physical, spiritual AND mental health, then this is for you, my fellow Westie
We have three upcoming teacher trainings coming up this year:
- 200 Hour Reformer Pilates, begins 25th October
- 200 Hour Vinyasa Yoga, begins 4th November
- 50 Hour Yin Yoga & Meditation, begins 11th November
Full dates and a bunch of FAQs can be found on our website.
Otherwise, reply to this email! Always happy for a chat :)
Annika xx
P.S Here is a super corny photo of me teaching in China back in the day. I remember it was a one-hour class followed by what felt like nearly two hours of photos.
P.P.S. Maybe one day you will be teaching yoga in China (or maybe the local neighbourhood centre will do it for you, too!).
P.P.S It feels like we haven't earned this honor, but we so totally have. We have worked super hard and passionately to be where we are today, and we love that we get to take you on this journey with us