FAQs

No. There are no memberships or subscriptions for studio classes.

You can either pay as you go, or you can buy a pass (see next FAQ for more info on passes). 

For workshops and One-Day Retreats, you pay per event.

However, the Online Yin Studio runs on a membership system. It’s like Netflix. For a small monthly fee, you get unlimited (i.e. watch each class video as many times as you like), on-demand (i.e. watch whenever it suits you) access to all the yin yoga videos, including tutorials.

If you plan to come to class even semi-regularly, I recommend buying a 10/20/30 pass.

Advantages:

• It makes each class cheaper (depending which pass you choose, you can save up to $6 per class)
• It’s much easier to transfer or cancel*
• No bank fees on refunds* – your pass is simply credited
• The pass never expires, so you don’t need to come every week, and if you go away, no worries!
• You can use the pass to bring a friend or family member to class.

Note: Passes are non-refundable and non-transferable.

*Subject to the cancellation policy

I am not flexible. Can I still do yoga?

Absolutely! I know this because I am not flexible, and yet I am a yoga teacher. Contrary to popular belief, yoga is not all about flexibility. Becoming more flexible might be a side-effect of doing yoga, but it is not a pre-requisite. So yes – please come even if you’re not flexible.

I am new to yoga. Can I come to any of your classes?

Welcome to the world of yoga! Almost all of my classes, workshops and retreats are suitable for complete beginners. When you first come, I will have a chat with you to make you feel at ease. There is no expectation that you will know any of the poses, or be able to do complex shapes (actually, we don’t do complex shapes in my classes!). So, yes – you can come to almost all of the classes.

The only exception is the workshop “Deep Yin” which is exclusively for my experienced Yin students. This is because Deep Yin is done blindfolded, and with very little instruction / guidance from me. So if you didn’t know the practice well, you would not get very much out of it.

Another option is to join one of my regular Yoga for Beginners workshops. There is one for Hatha Yoga, and one for Yin Yoga. You can find out more about those here.

I am pregnant. Can I do yoga?

Yoga is not recommended in the first trimester of pregnancy.

After that, the general guideline is that as long as you feel good, it’s safe to do. So please listen to your own body.

A couple of things to note:

• There are a couple of poses that we may choose to avoid or modify, eg twists, lying on your back. We will have a chat when you come, and we will work it out together.
• As your baby grows bigger, it might be harder to get into some of the shapes – you just run out of room! So we will find alternative poses for you.
• During pregnancy, you have an increased amount of the hormone relaxin. This will make you feel like you are much more flexible than normal. It’s tempting to try deeper poses when this happens, but I recommend staying within your normal range of movement, so that you don’t injure yourself!

If you have any questions about being inflexible, being a newbie or being pregnant, just drop me a line.

Attending your first yoga class can be daunting (I know, I’ve been there!). But there are a few things you can do to make it easier on yourself…

Firstly and most importantly: Know that you are going to be fine! 

• Don’t worry about not being flexible – neither am I – honestly.
• Don’t worry if it’s your first yoga class – I am not expecting you to ‘be good’ at something you’ve never done before. In fact, while we’re talking about that, keep reading…
• Don’t worry if you’re not ‘good’ at yoga, because guess what? There’s no such thing as being good at yoga. I’m not good at it, and nor is anyone else. Brownie’s Promise!
• Don’t worry that you’ll be the oldest / youngest / smallest / largest / most sick or injured person there – my regulars range in age from 20 to 80+ years old, and include tradies, ballerinas, men, women, osteopaths, office workers, mums and dads, and many suffer from things like MS, MND, thyroid disorders, cancer, arthritis, skiing and ballroom dancing injuries (yes!), mental health issues and more.
• Don’t worry about what anyone else is thinking of you; they’re too busy worrying about what you think of them.
• Simply breathe, relax and enjoy the view of Pittwater…

And, you may not know that:

• The physical aspect of yoga, especially flexibility, is actually only a very tiny part of the whole picture.
• Much more important is learning how to breathe and how to relax.
• Anyone can do yoga – no matter their age, ability, fitness or flexibility. I have worked with an internationally-renowned yoga teacher who was paralysed from the chest down at the age of 13, and took up yoga at the age of 25 (click here to read about him).
• You will never be pushed to do anything that does not suit your body. Promise.
• Yoga is not a competition – flexible people are not ‘better’ at yoga than you are!
• I am a yoga teacher and I am not that flexible – yikes!
• The emphasis at Paradise Yoga is on relaxation – not your performance in a posture.

A great way to ease yourself into the world of yoga is to attend one of my regular Yoga for Beginners workshops. You can choose from a Hatha workshop or a Yin workshop. More information can be found here.

The address will be provided after you have booked your class. I prefer to keep the exact address as private as possible, as this is also our home. 

To give you a vague idea, though – it’s overlooking Pittwater in Avalon Beach. 

It is very good yoga etiquette to arrive at least five minutes before the class starts. So please allow time for parking and walking down to the studio.

If you are new to yoga / this studio, please arrive 10 mins early. This will give you time to orient yourself, and we’ll be able to have a little chat too.

The Owl Door (the street access to the studio) opens 10 minutes before class. If you get there, and the door is not yet opened, please wait – I’ll be there in two shakes of a lamb’s tail!

If you are going to be late, please SMS me on 0416 147 009. When you do arrive, please do so silently.

Please note that on-time and late arrivals disrupt the flow of the class, for both teacher and the other students.

There is a limited amount of street parking. If you can’t see a space, drive just around the corner where there are always lots of spots.

Please:

• Don’t park across / in our driveway. My husband regularly comes and goes during class times, and he will have to interrupt us to ask you to move your car.
• Be mindful of our neighbours and their driveways.
• Don’t park within 3m of the double white lines in the middle of the road. You will get a very expensive ticket!

What do I wear?

• Loose, comfortable clothing that you feel good in. No need to spend hundreds at Lululemon!
• I recommend bringing a jumper and socks to every class, because we do a lot of lying down and relaxing, so I want you to always be warm and cosy.
• If it’s raining / wet – please don’t wear thongs (flip flops). There are a lot of steps down to the studio, and they can get very slippery. There’s a handrail – please use it. 

What do I bring?

No need to bring anything. I will provide all the mats and props. You’ll also find fresh water, clean bamboo cups, mozzie repellent and hand sanitiser at the studio.

Just bring yourself, and maybe even leave your phone behind!

Can I bring my child?

• No, please don’t bring your child.

Can I bring my cat? 

• No, please don’t bring your cat.

Can I bring my dog? 

• No, please don’t bring your dog.

Can I bring my bike? 

• It is possible to – slightly awkwardly – leave your bike hidden behind the Owl Door. There’s a handrail that you can chain it to. The studio is down about 50 steps from here, so you will not be able to keep an eye on your bike during the class.
• No responsibility will be taken for the safety of your bike.
• And, please be very careful when moving it through the Owl Door. Any damages will need to be paid for.

Why can’t I bring my child / cat / dog? 

A variety of reasons including (but not limited to):

• Insurance, liability and all that jazz
• Your child will definitely get bored waiting for you, and come and tell you something really urgent every few minutes
• We have chickens – I speak from experience when I say a lot of noise ensues when cats / dogs are added into the mix 
• I’m not a dog person (sorry! I don’t hate them, but also don’t love being around them)
• There’s lots of bush turkeys and other wildlife around
• Risk of disturbing other yoga students
• If you bring yours, everyone else will want to bring theirs

Come on, you’re joking – surely no-one has tried to bring their child / cat / dog! 

• Yep – all of the above!

Paradise Yoga is in our private back garden. We are on a steep block, overlooking Pittwater. There are around 50 steps down to the studio (and back up again!). 

There is a handrail 90% of the way. The only part without a handrail is a small, flat area.

The steps may not be suitable for everyone. As an alternative, you may like to join my Online Yin Yoga Studio. This features pre-recorded videos which you can do at your leisure, as often as you like.

If you can manage the steps, then the yoga will be easy!

There is a single bathroom which you are welcome to use at any time. 

It is pretty small. You could get changed in there, but there are no dedicated changing rooms. 

Yes, you do need to book in advance. 

This is because Paradise Yoga is pretty small, and so classes get booked out quickly. 

Also, it’s because it’s our home too, and I like to know who is coming into it. 

No, this is not an option. 

In my years of teaching yoga, I have come across many students who are definitely, 100% without a doubt going to come to class. And then they don’t come. 

The knock-on effect of this is that other students miss out on an opportunity to come. Plus, I miss out on the opportunity to make a small living. 

If your chosen class is full, click the Join Waiting List button. 

If a spot becomes available (happens all the time) you will get a notification by email. Be sure to check your Spam folder regularly.

If you can come – click the link to book yourself in. 

If you can’t come – no worries, you have not committed to anything. Simply ignore the email. 

Can’t make it? That’s ok, life happens. Here’s what you need to know:

• More than 24 hours before? Easy, click here to manage your booking – i.e. cancel entirely, or transfer to another class of equal value.
• Less than 24 hours before? Easy, SMS me on 0416 147 009.
• There are different cancellation policies, depending on the type of event you were booked into. Click here for more info.

Great question! 

And I’ve answered it in detail over here.

Hopefully this answers your question. If not, drop me a line at hello@paradiseyoga.com.au.

Classes

• There are six weekly classes for you to choose from. They are either 75 or 90 minutes long.
• These classes do not form part of a course, so you can come to whichever classes you like, whenever you like.
• The classes are ongoing (unless I’m away). There are no terms or blocks of classes. So you can join at any time during the year.
• All of these weekly classes are suitable for beginners.
• Click here for the timetable.

Workshops

• There are three styles of workshop to choose from. They are either two or three hours long.
• Yoga for Beginners workshops are three hours long. There is one for Hatha Yoga, and another one for Yin Yoga. These are a great way for anyone new – or even newish – to yoga to explore the practice in welcoming and supportive environment. More info here.
• Zen Sessions are two hours long, and are held monthly, on Friday or Sunday afternoons/evenings. They are suitable for beginners. Click here for more information.
• Deep Yin workshops are three hours long, and are held quarterly, on Sunday afternoons. They are suitable only for experienced yin yoga students. Click here for more information.

Retreats

• One-Day Retreats are held quarterly.
  • They are from 10am – 4.30pm.
  • We do not do yoga all day long! There is morning hatha yoga, and afternoon yin yoga, as well as yoga nidra, breathing and relaxation practices. There is plenty of space during the day for chatting, eating (lunch is provided) and relaxing.
  • These are suitable for beginners.
  • Click here for more info.
• The Rainforest Yoga Retreat will be held again in 2024
  • This is a six-night luxury retreat in tropical North Queensland.
  • Again, we don’t do yoga all day long. There’s a blend of yoga, free time, relaxing and eating delicious gourmet foods.
  • This is suitable for beginners.
  • Details will be released soon – email me to be added to the mailing list.

No, I do not take bookings for private classes, either at Paradise Yoga or any other location.

I get asked this question a lot!

The answer is no.

My husband and I spent a lot of time and money (not to mention blood, sweat and sometimes tears!) to create this little sanctuary away from the world.

I like to keep it just that – a sanctuary – exclusively for the use of my regular students.

Plus, this is also our home and we value our privacy.

I hope you understand.

No. I don’t sell products at my studio. I just stick to what I’m good at and what I love – teaching yoga.

Unfortunately, I cannot accept anyone under the age of 18 in my classes, workshops or retreats.

Try Avalon Yoga Co-op for teen and kids classes.

If your child is an adult child – by all means, bring them along. We have quite a few parent-and-adult-child groups who come along 😉

Absolutely! 

In our modern world, yoga is most often associated with women. But actually, thousands of years ago when the practice and science of yoga was developed, it was exclusively for men! 

So yes, men can do yoga! 

Anyone of any gender is welcome at Paradise Yoga.

No worries if you’re having trouble. I am here to help. 

Firstly, check out this handy Guide to Booking Classes. You may also find this Guide to Buying Passes useful too.

Note that your screen might look different than the screen shots shown in those guides. It will depend on the type of device you are using (laptop, phone, Mac, iPhone, Android etc). The correct buttons and options should all still be there. 

If you are really struggling, try these tips:

• Use a laptop instead of a phone
• Close your browser. Try another browser (eg Safari, Chrome, Firefox)
• Reboot your device. I hear kicking them sometimes helps! 
• Walk away from all the tech, have a cup of tea and come back to it later. 
• Delete your cookies. I have no idea what it means, but techy people say it and it does seem to help. Google “How to delete cookies for…” and insert the name of your browser. 
• Re-read the step-by-step guides above. 
• Find a teenager to do it for you. 
• Try the Help pages created by the booking software company 

Still not working? 

Reach out to me here, but before you do so, please take screenshots of each step and the error message you are getting. This will make it much easier for me to diagnose the problem (just saying “It doesn’t work” won’t help either of us!). 

During the checkout process, there is a field where you can enter your Promo Code.

It actually says “Enter a discount code”.

Pop it in there, and click Apply.

Note: If you have a 10/20/30 pass, I believe that you cannot use a Promo Code until all the credits are used up first. I haven’t tested this… So if you find yourself in this situation and cannot figure out how to apply your Promo Code – email me and we will sort it out together.

Yes!

You can easily buy a gift voucher online here.

Just put your own email address. I will email the voucher to you, and you can pass on to the recipient when appropriate. This avoids any risk of me emailing them and spoiling the surprise.

When you buy a voucher, you are not making a booking for a class or an event. The voucher will have instructions for the recipient to book themselves in at a time of their choosing.

If you want to book someone else in for a specific date, and want to keep it a secret from them, just make a booking as normal with your email address, but with their name. Then drop me an email to let me know, so I know what’s going on.

Good question…

But the answer involves a little local secret. So, shhhhh – promise not to tell anyone else? 

Just below us is a little beach called Paradise Beach. It’s so well-hidden that even some Avalon locals don’t know about it! 

It’s small, secluded and absolutely stunning. 

Our property doesn’t front on to the beach; there’s a row of houses below us. But you can see it from the studio, and we spend a lot of time down there. So when I was coming up with a name for the studio, it just had to be Paradise Yoga. 

I hope that when you come to my classes, you will find a little bit of Paradise – both in the location, and within yourself.