Yoga Institute

Michael de Manincor, BA (Hons), Grad Dip Ed, M Psych Course Director, Lecturer, Senior Yoga

Course Director, Lecturer, Senior Yoga Teacher Trainer and Yoga Therapist

The course director, Michael de Manincor, founded the Yoga Institute in 2002. Michael has been practicing and teaching Yoga for over 25 years, including extensive studies in India with his own teachers Kausthub and TKV Desikachar. He is certified as a Yoga Teacher Trainer with the internationally recognised Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, is a Senior Yoga Teacher and is the President of the Yoga Teachers’ Association of Australia. As well as Michael’s experience in Yoga, he also holds degrees in Education and Psychology, and is a registered Counselling Psychologist. Michael is the senior lecturer at the Yoga Institute and responsible for much of the course development.

Sharon Longridge, BA Comms, Certificate of Yoga Teaching, Training Cert IV

Course Manager, Yoga Teacher Trainer and Mentor

As a lecturer at the Yoga Institute, Sharon Longridge merges her background in communications, media and training with teaching yoga. She has practiced yoga under the tutelage of Michael de Manincor for over ten years. In her course development and delivery, she combines her interest in new media and adult education with her understanding of and passion for yoga. Sharon teaches classes, courses and private yoga lessons and also mentors trainee teachers. Sharon is certified as a Yoga Teacher with the internationally recognised Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, and is a member of the Yoga Teachers’ Association of Australia.

Liz Bennett, B.AppSci (Physiotherapy), Acupuncture Certificate (APA)

Physiotherapist, Yoga Teacher Trainer

Liz Bennett has been a practicing Physiotherapist and Yoga Teacher for over a decade. Having the privilege of completing a 3 year training apprenticeship with Yoga Synergy, Liz sought to further her understanding of yoga ‘as taught by Sri Krishnamacharya’, taking on formal training under the direction of Michael De Manincor.

For a number of years, Liz has taught the Anatomy and Physiology component of Yoga Teacher Training programs with the Yoga Institute and YogaWorks. Drawing on her background in both clinical physiotherapy and yoga teaching, Liz has developed an Anatomy and Physiology course that is specific to the yoga teaching profession, presented with the intention of awakening the students’ wonder in the body and providing a framework for a lifetime of learning.

Rosie Caunt, BEd (Hons) kinesiologist, Diploma in Health (yoga)

Yoga Teacher Trainer and Mentor

Rosie has 35 years of teaching experience spanning preschool, primary school, the tertiary sector and special needs education. Rosie has been practicing yoga for over 20 years and owned her own studio for 8 years. Supporting people to take responsibility for their own learning, development, or healing is intrinsic to her therapeutic approach. Her therapy work has supported students who are ready to develop a personal daily practice as well as those with specific therapeutic needs including AD/HD, Asbergers, Anxiety, Depression, Bi-Polar, Menopause, Eating Disorders and Palliative Care.
Rosie currently works in a voluntary capacity with palliative adults and children and dementia patients. Certified as a Yoga Teacher with the internationally recognised Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, Rosie is a yoga lecturer and mentor at the Yoga Institute.

Sharyn Coughlan, Grad Dip Soc Ec, M Pub Pol, Certificate of Yoga Teaching

Yoga Teacher Trainer and Mentor

Sharyn Coughlan brings 25 years of managing action research and workplace learning to the training environment. A particular interest in experiential learning is reflected in a long term commitment to her yoga studies, which began at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai during the 1970s. Sharyn has been studying and teaching with Michael de Manincor for five years. She teaches classes, courses and private yoga lessons and also mentors trainee teachers. Sharyn is certified as a Yoga Teacher with the internationally recognised Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation, and is a member of the Yoga Teachers’ Association of Australia.

Adrian Ward, Certification of Yoga Teaching

Yoga Teacher

Adrian Ward has a life long passion for yoga and the healing arts. A student of Michael de Manincor’s, he holds a Certification of Yoga Teaching and has been teaching for 8 years. He is also an Ayurveda consultation, specialising in diet and cooking.
Living with a degenerative spine condition has inspired Adrian’s special interest in how yoga can best be applied to support backcare.

Lisa Grauaug,

Yoga Teacher & Counselling Psychologist

Annelies Jahn,

Yoga Teacher

Annelies trained as a yoga teacher at Yoga Sanga, under the guidance of Michael de Manincor, in the tradition of Krishnamacharya. Annelies enjoys working with small groups and individuals on their specific needs. She has a deep interest in the philosophy of yoga and it’s relevance to our modern lives, applying the many tools that yoga offers to the teaching of adults, teenagers, and mums and bubs.

Campbell Wilson,

Yoga Teacher

Campbell has practiced Yoga and Meditation for over 14 years. Using classical techniques and a sensitive approach he provides a framework that is safe and challenging. With strength and flexibility at the heart of his classes, Campbell isn’t shy of applying the many tools that Yoga offers inspiring students to grow as individuals.

Genevieve Doyle,

Yoga Teacher

Sumi Dorairaj,

Yoga Teacher

Ngaire Hutchinson,

Yoga Teacher

Vasudha Rao,

Yoga Teacher

Vasudha has been practising yoga for over 10 years and completed her formal training in 2010 with the Yoga Institute. She practices and teaches yoga to bring a dynamic balance and harmony in life amidst the busyness and stress of modern living. Vasudha aims to create a nourishing space in her classes so that people can re-connect to themselves and build long-term health and wellbeing.

"Australia is very lucky to have access to such a talented yoga teacher as Michael de Manincor. Michael had carefully and accurately digested the mental, physical and spiritual knowledge and wisdom that surrounds traditional yoga. It takes enormous dedication and focus to hold such depth and breath of knowledge of yoga and to have access to this on our doorstep is indeed a gift."

Derek Leddie
Student of Michael’s 2007 to 2009
Founder, CEO, Chairman and now adviser to The Leading Edge