Our Teachers
Simone Litchfield
Simone has used the Yoga Synergy methods to inform a range of classes that accommodate a variety of people in our diverse society. Yoga Synergy method works actively, using stretch reflexes to engage and release muscles, and in this way strengthens and lengthens the body at the same time.
Experience and background
Simone has completed 400 hours of Yoga Synergy Teacher Training to become a Level 3 YS teacher. She has been teaching Yoga since 2011, and is also an experienced dance teacher/choreographer.
She has been teaching yoga and dance to adults with additional needs since 2011 and in 2020 completed Level 1 Training: Yoga for Children with Autism and Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy.
Simone lived in Ireland for 6.5 years and returned to Australia in 2002. She reconnected with Yoga Synergy attending Simon Borg Olivier’s Melbourne Workshops and later began her teacher training with Simon and Bianca Machliss to become a qualified Yoga Teacher.
Dynamic practice
Which does not mean it has to be fast, although for more experienced practitioners momentum may be included. Generally working with the breath to stimulate the Parasympathetic Nervous System, will invite a state of calm meditation and reduce the fight/flight response associated with stress and anxiety.
Yoga may become a dance
Simone had always loved to dance and had a professional career as a contemporary dancer, working nationally and internationally. At 17 years, she discovered Yoga as taught by Simon Borg Olivier. Simon taught yoga classes for Darc Swan Dance Company and before long the dancers were travelling to the Yoga Synergy studio in Newtown. Yoga has always complimented Simone’s dance practice and her favourite dancing experiences are when the dance feels like yoga.
Angela Koutsofrigas
Angela took her first yoga class at the ripe age of 16 and despite giggling her way through it with her best friend at the time, a seed was planted.
She continued her personal practice through her 20's with a devoted Iyengar practice, softening into a hatha/vinyasa flow in her 30's and finally after the birth of her 3 children stumbled across a kundalini yoga class. After many years of practising yoga it was one of the most transforming experiences she'd ever had.
She under took her year long Level 1 teacher training through Kundalini Research Institute and has been teaching for the last 7 years. Angela has completed Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training with Anahata Giri and continues to undertake modules in Yoga Therapy training including yoga for PTSD, transforming anxiety and depression.
With her background in bodywork and her long standing practice in Chinese Medicine she was naturally drawn to the subtle and profound benefits of Yin yoga and completed 200 hours of Yin Yoga training with international teachers and assistants to Paul Grilley, Markus Geiss and Karin Sang.
"Embrace solitude and trust your inner vision to see your oneness with the whole universe. Go deep internally instead of always living on the surface externally."
- Tao de Ching
Georgia Karstens
Georgia has been a passionate yoga teacher teaching in Melbourne for over 20 years.
She was immediately drawn to the serenity…
that yoga provided, when a friend of hers returned from India and introduced her to yoga practice. Since then, she has slowly evolved her practice in tune with her daily life. Her early learning was in the Iyengar style of yoga, which incorporates alignment, strength and flexibility. She completed her Yoga teacher training with Murray and Gillian Lazenby of Genius Wellbeing which was an “apprentice” style of practical training. Since her initial training, Georgia has broadened her yoga training to include “Yin Yoga” with Leonie Lockwood, “Kids Yoga“ with Rainbow Kids Yoga and a skills training of Yoga for Children with Autism and Special Needs with Shawnee Thornton Hardy, which is where Georgia and Simone first met.
Georgia teaches the principles of pose alignment in yoga. Each pose is based on her deep understanding and recognition that alignment can be refined to accommodate the unique qualities of every individual body. Her experience and teachings are significant, as she incorporates her knowledge of the human body with her current study of Neuro-energetic Kinesiology with NK Institute.
This study encompassing chakras, meridians and acupressure points, offers inspiration to Georgia’s unique classes, sharing knowledge of both the physical and energetic bodies.