Karen’s ( Mahima) Story
I first stepped onto a yoga mat back in 1998, but it wasn’t until 2004 that yoga really became part of my everyday life. When I moved from the UK to Australia in 2007, I discovered Satyananda Yoga – and that’s when everything clicked for me.
What started as exercise completely transformed how I approach life, health, and wellbeing. For me, yoga isn’t just something I do – it’s how I live.
Experience & Training
It was in Australia that I completed a two-year, government-accredited 1,500-hour diploma with the Satyananda Yoga Academy (that’s the Bihar School of Yoga in India), and I’ve now been teaching for ten years.
My training encompasses a holistic approach: classical yoga techniques including breathwork, meditation, and Yoga Nidra. I have studied yoga philosophy, yoga psychology, and Ayurveda.
My teaching experience spans diverse settings across multiple continents. I’ve taught in ashrams, on retreats, and in yoga centres in Europe, Australia, India, and New Zealand. For two years, I also had the privilege of running Sydney’s oldest not-for-profit yoga centre before its closure in 2019.
As well as Satyananda Yoga, my teaching is influenced by my years of practising Yoga Synergy, which has its roots in the Ashtanga and Iyengar systems of yoga.
My teaching philosophy.
I offer an authentic teaching style. My classes are well-rounded and thoughtfully balanced, with a focus on overall wellbeing, leaving students feeling nourished physically, mentally, and emotionally.
I place particular emphasis on observing how students respond to practices, adapting my teaching to meet the needs of the class rather than following rigid sequences.
When I teach, I feel like I’m sharing the most incredible gift. Even after all these years, there’s so much depth to this science and philosophy – I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what yoga and Ayurveda have to offer.
I love nothing more than seeing the transformation in students from when they arrive to how they leave each class.
What to expect in my classes.
Everyone is welcome, whether they are new to yoga or have been practising for many years. I aim to create a friendly and supportive environment, grounded in the teachings of classical yoga and meditation.
A typical class will include:
- Yoga Asanas (Postures): Designed to relieve tension, build strength, and enhance flexibility
- Pranayama (Breathwork): To calm the mind and balance the nervous system
- Yoga Nidra or Guided Meditation: Every class ends with one of these practices
As one student recently said of the Yoga Nidra:
“I’ve always played a lot of sports so I was fine on a physical level, but found the last part of your class soooo relaxing.”
In my classes, you’ll find a supportive environment focused on mindful movement and creating space for inner stillness.
My corporate background gives me a unique insight into the daily demands of juggling a career and busy home life. It allows me to offer practical ways to weave yoga into the reality of modern living.