about me
Hello, I’m Tanya.
The older I get, the more myself I become.
I’m 56, a wife, a mother to Laura and Ewen, and a very new and delighted grandmother to baby Arthur. I teach yoga, dance, write poetry, and have spent my life as a student of being human. I’m neurodivergent, with ADHD, and I’ve recovered from an eating disorder. Both have taught me a great deal about the body, suffering and belonging.
I live in Pullenvale, Brisbane, on land I steward and hold with great care and reverence. It’s my home and my workplace, and it has become a place where people come to rest and restore themselves. The land is also one of my greatest teachers; it slows me down and keeps me in rhythm with the seasons.
Yoga has been part of my life for more than twenty years. These days I care much less about what it looks like and much more about what it feels like. We forget, and we remember. That’s part of being human. Yoga is how I keep remembering: learning to live in my body rather than leave it, meeting myself where I am, and becoming more me.
My teaching is grounded in compassion, trauma-sensitivity and nervous system awareness. You don’t need to be flexible, fit or calm to practise with me. You just need to arrive as you are. I’m especially glad to welcome people who have felt excluded from wellness spaces, including neurodivergent people and anyone living with anxiety or body image struggles.
I care fiercely about restoring ethical foundations to yoga, wellness and healing spaces. Through my work and writing, I am exploring what it means to restore the relational heart of these spaces, which I believe have become increasingly transactional and commodified.
That is the work of The Duty of Care, a book and body of work I am bringing forward into the world very soon.
I believe life is our practice, and we will never have it all figured out. I don’t have it all figured out, but I’m so glad you’re here. I look forward to meeting you.
Tanya
My training
2026 - Mental Health Awareness Training - Dr Lauren Tober
2024 - Heart Centred Leadership Training - Danielle La Porte
2023 - Deathwalker Training - Zenith Virago
2023 - Peer Mentor Training with Eating Disorders Queensland - Active Peer Mentor role
2021 - Online training - Yoga For Mental Health - Dr Lauren Tober
2019 - 50 hour Trauma Informed Teacher Training for Anxiety, Depression & Body Image - Sarah Ball
2016 - Kundalini Teacher Training - Vicky Murtagh/Aftab Singh
2014 - 100 hour Vedic Chanting Intensive - Chennai, India
2014 - 100 hour Meditation As Therapy Training - YIMI Australia - Celia Roberts
2013 - 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training - YIMI Australia - Celia Roberts
2012 - Angel Yoga For Kids – Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
My gratitudes
This business was created from the heart. But I could not have done it without the following beautiful people in my life…
My biggest thank you is to the kindest, funniest, gentlest man on this Earth — my hubby Pete — who has worked so incredibly hard to support me on my journey.
Heartfelt gratitude to Kathryn and Haydie who introduced me to the art of yoga and have encouraged my own yogic expression.
To my teacher and friend Celia, who saw the light in me and helped me fan it.
To my children, Laura and Ewen, who remind me every day of what is truly important.
To my brave sisters, Stacey and Gabby, you both have so much courage.
To Aunty Sue (my wise and funny godmother) for your care and friendship.
Deep gratitude to my funny, salt-of-the-earth, sweet, loving, inspirational girlfriends (I hope you know who you are). Having you in my life means the world and I cherish you all for the unique qualities you bring.
To my students for showing up not only for my classes but for themselves (and their parents) for guiding their children towards a positive future.
Thank you to Shannon Deutrom and Sweet Spot Images for the beautiful photos on this site.
And last but not least, to my mum and my dad, for giving me the precious gift of life. I miss you both every day.
Thank you all.