17 Aug 2016
Michael Phelps won his first gold of the Rio Olympics on Sunday with telltale cupping marks on his back and shoulders, putting him in the company of alternative health-loving celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lena Dunham. Read more here, plus grab our special offer of cupping included in your acupuncture treatment!
Rebecca has been teaching fitness for most of her adult life. She trained as a Pilates teacher in 2008 after retiring from a professional fitness career which saw her travelling all over the world, coaching other fitness trainers.
Rebecca is classically trained, however she likes to bring an element of athleticism to her Pilates classes that will challenge students, and offer opportunities for growth. She believes balance is the key to life and this philosophy underpins her workouts, which are always balanced between the core, hips and back, plus a well-designed stretch.
Rebecca brings a wealth of teaching knowledge to her Pilates workouts, and with her meticulous instructions, you are sure to feel muscles you have never felt before. This knowledge, combined with routines set to music, make Rebecca’s classes fun and something to look forward to each week.
Katie’s yoga classes will root you in the here and now. These feelings of being anchored will uplift your spirits simply because by becoming more mindful, you will feel naturally lighter.
Originally from Austria, Katie took her first steps into the expansive world of yoga nearly 10 years ago in South East Asia. This formed the beginning of her ongoing exploration of yoga, meditation and healing studies throughout Central America and Europe. Love brought Katie to Australia where she continued her deep dive into the physical practise of yoga.
For Katie the essence is being present in the moment. It’s about a conscious life lived mindfully and sustainably in tune with nature’s cycles. Katie’s students feel this through her calm spirit and soulful teachings which elevate them so they float happily out the door. Bliss!
“Be the change you wish to see in the world”
– Mahatma Gandhi.
Vicky has been teaching in yoga since 2009 and has had the privilege of being trained by many of the worlds most renowned Yoga Teachers, always with a beginner’s mind and continuing to learn.
Her dynamic, alignment focused classes use a unique blend of styles taken from her varied background, aiming to challenge and nurture each student with a safe and sustainable practice, based on the belief there is an appropriate yoga practice for every body.
Vicky’s love of yoga and thirst for knowledge has lead to her complete more than advanced specialist yoga courses including many varied and interesting teacher trainings. She uses this knowledge to progress each student’s practice with a focus on technique and alignment in an approachable and playful way, inviting her students to move deeper with curiosity and awareness.
An aerial teacher since 2019, Nadean’s classes are dynamic and playful. Nadean has a wonderfully encouraging energy which all her students appreciate.
Nadean leads beginners to great things with her with clear step-by-step instructions. Nadean is also a master at helping her all her high flyers enjoy their journey as they progress and conquer creative moves they never thought possible.
Petra Kennis owned her own Pilates and yoga studio in the Netherlands for many years. Then love struck when she and her husband visited Australia on a holiday. They fell in love with the country and people and decided to move their family to Sydney’s Northern Beaches where they have happily settled.
Petra has a unique skillset. She is phenomenal at reading bodies and she appreciates the individuality in each person. From this connection, her students deeply feel her support and love. Petra’s positivity floats around her and we are sure each of her lucky students will enjoy the experience and respect she feels as they get stronger and more supple.
Petra’s personal life motto is to embrace life, take it the way it comes and make the best of it!
“My aim is to make people feel good about themselves and their bodies. I coach in a positive, challenging way but always with kindness. My workouts are intended to make you feel good, strong & happy”
Elaine is a German trained physiotherapist. She believes that everyone can achieve their highest goals by getting to know, reconnecting, and strengthening their body, mind, and soul through Pilates. Her Pilates classes are well known for the great diversity of exercises. And there exists a good balance between strengthening and stretching every muscle of your body. With her background in physiotherapy, sports science, and teaching different classes, Elaine has taught everyone. From expectant mums to athletes. As such, she has a great awareness for her clients and loves tailoring the classes to exactly what her students want and need.
Elaine finds her own balance between fast, energetic team sports and her unwinding time on the Yoga mat.
“ There is no better reward than a smile from someone who is achieving their goals by getting fitter, stronger, healthier and happier with the place they are living in. Their own body.”
“Anyone can do barre, not just someone from a dance background – you just have to love moving to music, and the exercise will follow.”
Katie has always had a passion for movement. She practiced ballet in Malaysia where she grew up. As a teen fell instantly in love with yoga after she moved to Australia. She journeyed to India for her Yoga Teacher Training in 2016 and completed her Barre Pilates Teacher Training in Sydney in 2018. Katie’s barre based pilates circuit classes welcome all levels — no need for any prior experience as she will guide you through her class leaving you feeling energised. In both barre and yoga she likes to focus on alignment and getting people in touch with their bodies and their potential. ‘What I love about Pilates Circuit is that is it a totally fun way to move your body in a way we aren’t used to, by fusing the best bits of different styles of exercise.’
Katie loves this quote attributed to Buddha:
‘Success is not the key to happiness, happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.’
Louisa discovered aerial in 2019 and it was love at first flight. She went to every class she could possibly find before completing her first teacher training in early 2020. Louisa went on to do a more comprehensive aerial teacher training at the Aerial Fitness Institute.
Louisa appreciates the mental benefits as she found aerial calmed any natural anxieties and produced a sense of achievement.
‘I love that the hammock helps you take your yoga poses further. I love how you can see and feel yourself becoming stronger and that it gives me support as well as more challenge when I need it.”
Bronwyn’s love of yoga started in high school in those times when yoga classes were still tucked away in quiet halls. Since then she completed a one year yoga teacher training devised by Christina Brown, founder of Transform and multiple other trainings, exploring all the trends and avenues of yoga
As her body has been in corporate roles for many decades, Bronwyn understands about that desk bound tightness. She also loves running and knows what stretches and moves work well to maintain healthy stride patterns. Bronwyn comes to the yoga mat with a deep understanding of how our bodies need nurturing and how our souls can thrive in the shared connections of the yoga space.
Bronwyn loves this quote by Donna Farhi who she has spent many hours with. “Yoga is thus not something we can make happen but something that happens to us. But it does not happen by accident”.
Heidi’s classes are full of nurturing and love and we are delighted to welcome her in leading our Sunday yin yoga class
Heidi fell in love with yoga more than fifteen years ago. Since then she has studied and practiced here in Australia, India, Guatemala and the United States, including three years spent teaching at her own studio in New York City.
She is excited to share all the love and light that yoga offers with the Transform community!
Martina loves how yoga delivers the full package of physical, mental and spiritual health.
Many years ago, Martina was an Environmental Scientist for a large engineering firm and she soon realised that the highlight of her day was her precious lunchtime yoga class, spent in conscious breathwork and movement.
Fast-forward a few years and she decided to become her first yoga teacher training, and then several course and retreats to expand her knowledge. Martina works with vinyasa yoga, a dynamic practice that connects one posture to the next using the rhythm of the breath, and also slower styles, where there is time to explore the more subtle aspects of the practice, like breathwork and meditation techniques.
“Learning how to live deeply
Each moment of our daily life
Is our true practice”Thich Nhat Hanh
“Healthy living starts from the inside-with body and mind connected and working in harmony.
Do the inner work, and the results will reflect on the outside in how you look and feel.”
Ali understands that mobility is a vital ingredient to spinal and bodily health and loves to incorporate a range of movements into her classes to build strength and increase mobility. Ali knows how Pilates practice will keep your body moving well, which will keep your body balanced and in turn prevent injury.
Ali first discovered and fell in love with Pilates over 20 years ago. Pilates helped her recover from a frozen shoulder injury which then led her undertake her teacher training, graduating in 2012.
“If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old.
If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young.”
– Joseph Pilates
Internationally renowned teacher, teacher trainer and bestselling author Christina Brown teaches yoga, Pilates, barre and aerial classes. She is the author of 6 books on fitness and health. Christina created Transform as a sanctuary for people to positively shape their lives, to be nourished with love and support, to encourage them to step up where they can, or to be able to lay their hearts down to rest when they need. Each visit reminds a guest at Transform of their infinite potential and shines a light on how beautiful they are.
Christina has been practising Yoga since 1989 and teaching since 1996.
Since her first Yoga teacher trainings in 1995 and ‘96, she completed her Pilates teacher certification in 1999. In 2013 Christina obtained her Barre certification and went on to gain her aerial teaching certification. Christina adores teaching this variety of classes as it feels her creative spirit and she knows how good it is for body and soul for us to experience difference tastes and flavours in movement. Christina delights in tailoring her classes to suit the needs and ability of each student. Her students love her expert adjustments for postural correction and the chance to squeeze more juice out of their experience. Her students say her classes are both ‘like physiotherapy’ and ‘like having a day in a day spa’.
Christina has authored many books. The Classic Yoga Bible: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Postures, became a classic reference for those who appreciate quality yoga. It has been constantly in print for the past 20 years. It has sold millions and is available in more in a dozen foreign languages. Tracking the evolution of yoga in modern times, Christina wrote a companion volume, The Modern Yoga Bible: The Definitive Guide to Yoga Today. Published in 2017, this book has already been translated several times since.
Christina ran yoga teacher training courses for many years and yoga retreats led by Christina have been voted ‘Best in NSW’.
Christina is the founder and director of Transform where her classes are curated with love and her aim for each visitor is for them to appreciate their own good efforts and delight in their inner beauty. Transform has become a space where great friendships form, and that feels like a sanctuary should the outer world feel harsh.
Christina sees each person as perfect already and understands that sometimes their busy lives get in the way of clearly experiencing that feeling. Every class she teaches is an opportunity for each participant to experience that awe-inspiring sense of connection. It is this connection that will soothe your heart into peace and allow you to greet the world with wonder and joy.
‘If your practices give you a sense of expansion and joy, then they are the right practices for you.’