Teachers & Practitioners

Christine Villiers

Christine Villiers trained with Shanti Gowans of the Shanti Niketan Yoga Academy, and has practised yoga for 31 years and still sees herself as a student of Yoga.  She sees Yoga as a way to know ourselves and realise our potential as human beings.  It is a tool for transformation and harmonious living, and her classes incorporate deep, deep relaxation, slow stretches, meditation and philosophy.

She has been running the Southern Yoga and Health Centre for over 21 years and has travelled extensively overseas, studying Zen and Tibetan Buddhism, natural health and diet.  She attends Shanti's weekend retreats several times each year.

Laurel Buxton

I was first drawn to yoga at the age 18 as a way to maintain health and fitness and to relieve stress. Over time I realized that yoga was much more and that with regular practice, by combining deep relaxation, breathing practices and meditation with asana (postures) and also studying the Philosophies of Yoga, an overall feeling of health and wellbeing is experienced.

Physically your circulation, respiration and digestion are stimulated, your elimination is normalized, tension is relieved and sleep improved. There is also an increase in mental and physical well being, energy, drive, vitality and endurance. My passion for yoga increased and in 2002 I commenced my teacher training at The Meditation Institute in Queensland, the centre is run by my guru Shanti Gowans.

This course is Government Accredited and I received a “Cert IV in Yoga Education” and a “Diploma of Yoga Teaching”.  

Yoga is a holistic practice and a way of life. And through the practice of Yoga and Ayurveda (the sister science of yoga that includes diet and lifestyle recommendations for a happy and healthy life), I was inspired to study to be an Ayurveda Lifestyle consultant.

Over the years I have also studied Massage and have attained various certificates in massage, and also received a ”Certificate in Vitamin and Herbal remedies”.

My studies are ongoing and I have been expanding my knowledge by attending Yoga Master Classes. Recently I received a “Certificate in Yoga Anatomy”, “Certificate in Meditation” and a “Certificate in Vinyasa alignment and adjustment”.

I believe in constantly upgrading my Yoga skills and that you are never too old to learn.

Jarrod Peterson

Jarrod trained with Shanti Gowans and teaches on alternate Wednesday nights at the Centre. 

He is very committed to his own practice and to the classes he teaches, bringing warmth and a sense of fun to them.

Tania Truccolo

In 2001 Tania began practicing yoga and quickly developed a passion for the art.

She has described her discovery of yoga as a life changing experience that she wants to help others achieve. Since this discovery she has taken up teaching yoga in 2008 to all ages and capabilities.

She has a Diploma in Hatha Yoga and a Certificate III and IV in fitness.  

Students have described Tania’s teaching style as a very peaceful, calming and enlightening experience.

Tania teaches Hatha yoga – a classical form of yoga, which focuses on holding postures and maintaining breathing patterns that allows students to calm their minds.

Michelle Bampfield

Synergy Counselling services is an affordable child and family therapy service. Michelle is a qualified mental health social worker and child and family therapist with a wide professional experience in the public and private sector.

She specialises in a diverse range of specialist counselling services including: child centered play therapy, grief and loss, anxiety/depression, parent-child relationship, reactions to trauma, parenting concerns ie. behaviour problems and family adjustment/change.

She is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), a clinical member of the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association and listed on the National Register of Psychotherapists and Counsellors Federation of Australia. She is also an active member of the Mental Health Professional Network.

Flexible and after hour appointments are available. Bulk billing is available for children, young people and those with a valid Health Care Card and GP referral. Medicare rebates are available for those who are not eligible for bulk billing

Jo Ryan

Can you remember when you were a child playing barefoot, carefree and confident? You lived for the moment, had limitless potential and would dream about how wonderful life would be when you were big. When we grow up, we develop beliefs about ourselves that hold us back, feel uncertain about our future and are overwhelmed with fear and worry.

Life coaching involves working to close the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. It is about finding out what is really important to you, identifying your goals and developing strategies to achieve them. It is about feeling confident all the time, embracing challenges and giving yourself the opportunity to enjoy your life.

Jo is also offering Reiki Healings here at the Centre. The underlying philosophy of Reiki is that if a person's "life force energy" is low, they are more likely to be unwell or stressed. If it is high, they are more capable of being happy and feeling well.

In a Reiki treatment, positive healing energy flows from the hands of the practitioner into the client, increasing their energy levels, releasing tension and promoting wellbeing.

If you would like an appointment with Jo please call her direct on 0409 183 677.

Catherine Moro

Catherine Moro is a Counsellor whose aim is to provide a safe and supportive counselling environment in order to facilitate personal growth and self-understanding. Counselling is a process that focuses on enhancing your psychological well-being, so that you are able to reach your full potential.

Often, this involves removing 'stubborn road blocks' that have been present in our lives for quite some time. Counselling can help you to foster a clearer understanding of your concerns and support you as you acquire new skills to better manage personal issues. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with someone not personally involved in your life can be most helpful.

Catherine's aim is that clients can make decisions based on being true to themselves, not as a reaction to something that happened in their past. Catherine's services include personal counselling, marriage/relationship counselling, depression, stress/anxiety relief, self-esteem development, anger management, sex therapy and weight issues.

Judy Minshull

Judy is a fully qualified Physiotherapist and is available for treatments here at the Centre. She runs the Psyiotherapy Gentle Exercise Class for Older Ladies  and believes that postural pains are too often attributed to age or disease.  Every body should have access to the health benefits of regular exercise.  Chronic pain and stress states respond well to apprioriately prescribed and paced exercise. 

Judy's class incorporates Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates and is suitable for rehabilitation, reconditioning, revitalizing and managing stress.   Please call Judy first on 9775 2347 after 7.00pm to assess your needs, as Physiotherapy rebates may apply.