Teachers

View Teacher asana photos below or view more photos in our photo gallery

Suzanne Gray    Asana Photos	Hi my name is Suzanne. I am the Director here at the GCYC. and one of the teachers. I have been involved in yoga full time for over seventeen years. I was lucky to study under Cameron Storey in Sydney and help him set up a centre there. After moving to the Gold Coast in May 1996, we began the Gold Coast Yoga Centre together. Initially he was the teacher and I ran the centre. After completing 3 and ½ years immersed in yoga study under Cameron he suggested I start teaching. I didn't believe I could, but he asked me if I thought I could take a person completely new to yoga just one step further. My answer was yes and so I began teaching classes in October 1996, and assisted him in the teacher training program the following year. We began in a church hall, with a few extra class times at home, until we got our first venue at the Burleigh Theatre Arcade, where Mark joined our team. Growing out of that, we moved to West Burleigh where we spent 6 happy years. In January 2001, I took over as sole Director of the Centre. Cam has remained a senior teacher here. Kathy completed  her training with us and began teaching, with Danny beginning his teacher training. In 2003 we moved to Palm Beach, Danny joined our team of teachers, and we have grown into a strong team. I loved yoga from day one. It quickly became the most important thing in my life. Nothing was more important, not even work. I read, practised, ate, slept and breathed yoga. It was the culmination of my life's journey to that point which included years studying Tai Chi, Aikido, Massage, Buddhism, Zen, psychology, energy work, and an interest in Eastern philosophies that had begun at the tender age of 13 thanks to an “enlightened” social science teacher. Other teachers who have inspired me include B.K.S Iyengar, Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Sivananda, Sri Ramakrishna, Rami Sivan, and many others through workshops, classes and books. Some texts that guide my life include Patajali's Yoga Sutras, the Bhagavad Gita and many other yoga and ayurveda texts. Many other people have contributed to my learning and experience of life. I was able to overcome significant back and neck injuries, digestive and menstrual problems and lack of focus and purpose in life. Yoga for me felt like, and still does, a complete system. There has not been a problem in my life I have not been able to solve in some way through yoga. I was especially thankful for the teachings of being present that yoga offers during my father's illness and death, and through the many challenges of the last 7-8 years. I feel that I have come through relatively intact and relatively sane thanks to the teachings and practice of yoga in all its forms. Yoga brings me closer to my truth and contentment.
Mark Togni Asana Photos Workshops 16-23 March 2012 Om Yoga Centre, Perth   May 2012 Brisbane Dates TBA	I have been practicing and teaching Yoga for nearly 20 years. My first yoga practice started in 1991 and I started teacher training in 1994 when I lived and trained with my principle yoga teacher Nicky knoff and her husband James Bryan for about 2 years in full-time teacher training.  I assisted them and studied with them at the Ashtanga Yoga Academy in Cairns. I then spent another 6 months in Iyengar training with John Leebold at the Western Australia School of Yoga in Perth.  I have been teaching Yoga full-time since 1995 and have been teaching here at the Gold Coast Yoga Centre since 1997. Since my training, teachers who have greatly influenced my practice and teaching are Pattabhi Jois, BKS Iyengar, Richard Freeman and Tim Miller. After a number of years studying Zen meditation with Zen Master Hogen-san, I ordained as a monk in the Zen tradition and am a practicing Buddhist. I have spent many years living and travelling in India, studying Yoga and being with my Spiritual Master HWL Poonja (Papaji), a disciple of one of India's most revered Masters, Ramana Maharshi. I am also a keen student of Ayurvedic medicine and Gestalt psychotherapy.   I feel that I bring a fresh and innovative approach, combining all of these influences into my practice, and teaching, of Ashtanga Yoga. Here is a link to my 4th series youtube. I have also taught workshops in Chile, South America and I am available for workshops in Australia and overseas.
Cameron Storey Asana Photos	Cameron came to yoga with numerous physical ailments including knee, back & neck problems, multiple shoulder dislocations & chronic fatigue. Yoga helped him gradually heal these conditions. The most pressing issues internally however were 'what was the purpose of life ?' & 'why it contained suffering?' Meditation enabled him to understand more of life's natural direction & harmony & how to dissolve sufferings. Cameron completed a five & a half year yoga apprenticeship with Shandor Remete in Oct '95 & has attended workshops with other teachers including B.K.S Iyengar & Pattabhi Jois. During those early years there were two to three classes per day to teach & practice, most days. These were either group classes or individual therapy sessions. Read complete Bio
Kathy Mason Asana Photos	I have been practicing yoga since 1996 and started teaching in 1999. I trained at the Gold Coast Yoga Centre under the guidance of  Kameron Storey, Suzanne Gray and Mark Togni for a period of 1.5 years.  I have continued to refine my knowledge and teaching skills under Suzanne over the last 12 years; and I am continually learning even more about myself, through my own practice and teaching. I have been lucky enough to work with a number of teachers including Shandor Remete, Glen Ceresoli, Simon Morocco, Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Peter Scott and Nicky Knoff. My teaching is similar to the Iyengar style, but with slightly more flow. I teach using Iyengar techniques, together with my own flavour and experience.  Teaching all levels, beginners, level I & II, supportive and replenishing practices included, I believe in a balanced practice for a balanced life. As well as teaching classes during the week, I also teach private sessions to aid in advancing an individuals self practice. Yoga has inspired me to pass on my experiences through teaching.  On a personal level I feel I am a more contented and patient person with a deeper understanding of myself and others. I do try to live my daily life according to the philosophy of yoga. Yoga has this wonderful way of bringing out the best in ourselves and I have no hesitation in recommending yoga to anyone.
Danny Hill Asana Photos	I attended my first yoga class in late 1999 and have been practicing yoga consistently ever since. I completed my 18 month teacher training in 2003 at the Gold Coast Yoga Centre under the guidance of Cameron Storey, Mark Togni and Suzanne Gray. I continued on as a teacher at the Gold Coast Yoga Centre developing as a teacher and furthering my studies and practice. I have been fortunate to work with some very inspirational teachers, Sri Pattabhi Jois, Glen Ceresoli  Nicky Knoff, David Williams, Graham Northfield, Dena Kingsberg. I have a keen interest in meditation practices and have had a regular formal sitting practice for the past 8 years. I also have a keen interest in Ayurvedic Medicine and Process Oriented Psychology. "Yoga has helped to bring me out of my shell" and transform me into someone who feels more confident more joyful and more clarity in all aspects of my life.
Christine Atwood  Asana Photos	I came to yoga with alot of suffering.  In my first yoga class I cried and from that class on I began unraveling and releasing painful thoughts, emotions and tensions in the body. My journey in yoga has been over 8 years and I have observed yoga to be a powerful way to transform darkness into the light . I owe a lot of happiness to yoga. I feel more in my body, healthier, more aware and confident. I was drawn to do teacher training and was lucky enough to be supported, nourished and taught by Suzanne the director of Gold Coast Yoga Centre. Suzanne is an excellent example of a great teacher and I am glad some it has been transmitted to me. I have a great interest in Ayerveda which is complimentary to yoga and has been very beneficial to my health and understanding my mind. Zen Buddhism is my other spiritual path. I feel very blessed to have an amazing teacher Doko who is a beacon of light and wisdom in my life. My enthusiasm for teaching is based on sharing what I have been taught by my great teachers and what they have sparked in me. At the end of the day I am very much an every day yogi. I have a family life and I work as a Kindy teacher. My spiritual life is in meditation, yoga and pooy nappies. Namaste