Your Yoga Teacher Training Faculty

Your training faculty are acknowledged experts in their field, all with international experience and many years experience in training, education and yoga.
Together we have trained many of the best yoga teachers now working around
the Northern Beaches and Sydney!

Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien has been teaching yoga since 1996. Born in England, he moved to Australia and left a successful career in advertising to open Qi Natural Therapies & Yoga in Sydney in 2001 with a vision to inspire others to lead a vital, healthy and happy life.  He has since become one of Sydney's in-demand teachers and leads regular retreats, workshops and trainings locally and internationally. He holds Senior Membership of Yoga Australia and recently finished 5 years on its National Executive. Mark designed this course and is looking forward to leading it for its 9th year and to sharing the profound wisdom of yoga with sincere students.

Mark had a strong meditation practice before graduating from the “Heart of Yoga” teacher-training with Karen Schaeffer and Mark Breadner and Mark Whitwell, (based on the approach of TKV Desikachar). He has since trained with many respected yoga teachers including further in-depth study with both TKV Desikachar and his son Kausthub Desikachar. Mark continues to study elements of Tantra and Hatha yoga. His current teacher over many years is the inspiring Donna Farhi.

With a diploma in Remedial Massage and a background in meditation and somatic therapy, he remains in awe of the joyful way that skillful physical movement and attention to the breath can dramatically improve our moods, energy, health and outlook on the physical world. Flexibility – or lack of it – is of little importance in this approach, which is open to anyone who can breathe and sincerely wants to improve their life.

Nikola Ellis

Nikola Ellis has been practicing yoga since 1991, studying with teachers in both the UK and Australia. Having explored many styles of yoga, Nikola now teaches according to the principles of Viniyoga.

This style of yoga, as taught by TKV Desikachar, endeavours to provide a practice that is appropriate to each individual class or student. A graduate of Nature Care College's Yoga Teacher Training Diploma, Nikola is also a practicing massage and Shiatsu therapist. She now teaches Asana-sequencing for the NatureCare Yoga Diploma course and recently became a mother for the second time.

Nikola is back for her 10th year on the Qi teacher training program.

Joan Miller

Joan Miller brings a wealth of yoga experience and training to the course. She trained widely in the US graduating from the 650 hour Phoenix-Rising yoga training and the Kripalu teacher training courses in 2000, and has assisted Donna Farhi on several of her training courses and retreats. She brings a warm, human empathy to her teaching, a deep knowledge of the human body and psyche and is passionate about working with her students. Joan is also a qualified Pilates teacher and Reiki Master!

Joan is back for her 9th year on the Qi teacher training program.

Other teachers

We also draw on other specialised teachers to supplement the workshops in term 4 or on other topics as required.