Balanced Practice Yoga

Liz Bennett is the founder of Balanced Practice Yoga and A Balanced Practice Physiotherapy. Liz is one of the handful of physiotherapists in Australia who is also a specialised yoga therapist and a long term yoga teacher and practitioner of over 20 years. Bringing together studies in eastern medicine and modern science, her classes are guided by her ability to apply an anatomical focus to the practice of yoga in an accessible and relevant way. As a therapist, Liz integrates assessment and therapy with education and lifestyle changes, applying principles of individualised yoga, Traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda. Liz began training with Simon Borg Oliver and Bianca Machliss before she finished her physiotherapy degree in 1999. She completed a three year yoga teaching apprenticeship with Yoga Synergy in 2006, then a further 500 hours of teacher training at the Yoga Institute, where she delivered Leslie Kaminoff’s Yoga Anatomy course for several years. A Vipassana practitioner, and initiate of Vedic meditation, with Certificates in Shiatsu and Acupuncture and extensive Yoga Therapy studies with Ganesh Mohan of Svastha Yoga. Liz's Yoga Anatomy Labs are sourced by Yoga Teachers Training courses around Australia. Liz runs Balanced Practice Yoga Teacher Trainings Amelia Disspain and together, they co-host popular yoga retreats in Australia and abroad.

Director and senior yoga teacher at Yoga Bellingen Co founder of Balanced Practice Yoga Teacher Training and Retreats Yoga Australia Senior Member, Yoga Alliance International Expert registered teacher 1500+ Amelia was first introduced to yoga in 1999. Inspired by the joy and serenity it brought her, Amelia began a regular practice before going on to complete her teacher training with Katie Manitsis (now Katie Rose)at Samadhi Bliss Yoga, Sydney in 2002. Amelia taught Yoga full time at Samadhi Bliss until she was selected to undertake a one-on-one apprenticeship in 2006 with Simon Borg Olivier and Bianca Machliss of Yoga Synergy Sydney, one of the few schools left in Australia still instructing teachers in this traditional way.Both Bianca and Simon are members of the Australian Physiotherapists Association, and as such Amelias teaching integrates modern medical knowledge with the traditional forms and practices of Yoga. Amelia taught as a senior level teacher at Yoga Synergy Sydney, instructing group classes from brand new beginners to advanced practitioners as well as private lessons, working with students with injuries and also training yoga instructors, until 2013 when she relocated to Bellingen There she opened her own studio, Yoga Bellingen. Amelia’s classes are informed by her many years of yoga practice, teaching and study, her classes are inclusive and always incorporate the deeper teachings of Yoga. Amelia has continued to study Yoga philosophy, particularly concentrating on how we can integrate the tools of meditation and inner focus to recognize the patterns of our individual mind, and in so doing experience the joy hidden in everyday life. Amelia is currently enrolled in the Svastha Yoga Therapy Course In 2015 Amelia co-founded Balanced Practice Yoga and co-teaches Yoga Teacher Training Courses and international retreats with her sister in Yoga, Liz Bennett a physiotherapist and yoga therapist and director of YogaEssentia in Warriewood.

Jane Macnaught counsellor, yoga teacher Jane is founder of Tranquillo Place. An experienced counsellor, psychotherapist, group therapist, trainer and workshop facilitator. Foundation chairperson, trainer and group facilitator at Community of Calm Inc, offering trauma awareness training and support to practitioners and broader community members. Recently awarded Community Event of the Year 2020 at the Northern Beaches Australia Day Awards for the Arts for Wellness, a trauma informed arts community event. Jane’s therapy niche is grief, trauma, and anxiety. Extensive clinical experience working with refugees and asylum seekers steered her career towards training in trauma recovery & healing, grief & loss, complex trauma, intergenerational trauma, PTSD, and adult survivors of childhood abuse & trauma. With an eclectic approach, she draws from a diverse tool kit of training, professional development, clinical work and life experiences. In 2016 she trained in the clinicians course with Trauma Sensitive Yoga Australia and throughout 2017 offered trauma sensitive yoga classes collaborating with a yoga teacher. Further studies on trauma, the brain and biology with Bessel van der Kolk, Pat Ogden, Janina Fisher and many others led Jane to complete yoga teacher training 350hr with Balanced Practice. Research continues to provide evidence that talking therapy is not enough for trauma recovery - all of Jane’s clients benefit from her yoga informed therapeutic style. Jane teaches one to one yoga sessions at Tranquillo Place and via zoom to clients locally and across Australia. She specialises in small group yoga sessions (max 4) that are soothing for the nervous system, ideal for anyone that feels stressed, anxious, overworked, and/or exhausted. All her classes are trauma sensitive, rhythmic, easeful and calming. Jane trains yoga teachers and other practitioners in developing trauma sensitive approaches to their practice. Currently studying to become Polyvagal Informed therapist via the Rhythm of Regulation workshop - with Deb Dana. She is known for her creative, holistic, warm and friendly approach. Jane will inspire you to learn more about the much needed and burgeoning field of trauma sensitive practices.