Join these amazing teachers and practitioners who will guide your journey at Yoga Festival Brisbane.
Bhavna Govind is an accomplished yoga teacher, wellness advocate, and community leader with three decades of dedicated practice. Originally from Mauritius, Bhavna’s lifelong journey into yoga began as a personal quest for deeper connection and has since expanded into a global mission to share the transformative power of holistic health.
For Bhavna, yoga extends far beyond physical postures; it is a profound pathway to connecting with the inner self. Her comprehensive approach integrates classical yoga, Ayurveda, and alternative healing therapies to foster true balance in mind, body, and spirit.
An advanced practitioner and educator, Bhavna has completed 350 hours of yoga teacher training with Celia Roberts, alongside 250 hours of Sri Sri Yoga training. For the past 24 years, she has been a dedicated volunteer with the Art of Living Foundation, and for the last decade, she has served as a certified instructor, teaching the Sudarshan Kriya—a powerful, rhythmic breathing practice.
Bhavna’s impactful work spans grassroots community building to international diplomacy. She co-founded the University of Queensland Yoga and Meditation Club alongside her husband, creating a vibrant sanctuary for student wellness. Over the past three years, she has also had the distinct honor of leading specialized yoga sessions for the Indian Consulate, including anchoring their prestigious International Yoga Day celebrations. Having taught thousands of individuals across the globe, Bhavna remains committed to helping people unlock their inner peace and vitality through the ancient wisdom of yoga and breathwork.
I live in Australia since 2002, but my heart kept returning to India. Every year I travelled back multiple times, often staying for long periods to deepen my practice of yoga, kriya, and meditation under my Guru’s guidance.
Since beginning my journey in 2010, daily practice has become my way of life. With the Guru’s blessings, I helped establish Mahayogam in Australia, a charity promoting well-being with love – to share the teachings with sincerity and authenticity.
My classes focus on awareness, energy, breath, flexibility, consciousness and inner stillness, guiding people gently towards balance, emotional clarity, and a peaceful state of mind.
I am Qualified Sound Therapist and I offer Crystal Singing Bowl training specifically tailored to Yoga Teachers and body balancing.
Darci is endlessly curious about what it truly means to be human – a curiosity that is the heartbeat of every training she runs, every retreat she hosts and every class that she teaches.
She is well versed in nervous system awareness, deeply passionate about relational awareness, and is often described as someone who makes those around her feel safe, worthy, capable, seen and heard.
She usually has a big smile on her face and a laugh that can be heard from miles away.
Jackie realised much of her stress and frustration came from an internal tug-of-war within her body and nervous system.
Discovering EFT tapping at a pivotal point in her life became a powerful catalyst for healing, confidence, and growth.
Now devoted to sharing this work, Jackie blends EFT, somatics, and embodiment practices to help others release emotional “handbrakes,” move through life with more peace and resilience, and feel drawn forward by the flourishing future calling them ahead — rather than held back by past stress, fear, or limiting patterns.
Heartfulness Meditation/Yoga Trainer,
Level 3 Senior Yoga Teacher 1000 hours YA
Certified Yoga Therapist YTIA
Yin Yoga Teacher IYTA
Director Heartfulness Institute (Australia)
John has been a student of yoga since 1982 attending Yoga classes at the Australian School of Yoga in Bondi Junction Sydney during the mid eighties. In 1987 his further interest lead him to Mysore, South India to study under Shri Pathabhi Jois a well respected yoga teacher in the field of Ashtanga Yoga. His further searches while in India led him to Chennai (Madras) In Tamil Nadu where he started training in Raja-Yoga (Meditation) technique’s with Shri Parthasarthi Rajagopalachari of the Shri Ram Chandra Mission. John recently re-ignited his interest for yoga asana with the introduction of Heartfulness yoga, doing his 350hours teacher training in 2019, Yin yoga teacher training with IYTA and Yoga Therapy studies with YTIA and is now a level 3 senior yoga teacher.
Business Owner: Aliveness Yoga & Yoga Therapy 2019 -2026
Kate is a qualified yoga teacher who has been guiding others since 2017, with training in Raja Yoga, and is currently deepening her studies in Yoga Therapy. Her work is grounded in both professional study and personal experience, shaped by her own life – through loss, motherhood, and inner transformation.
She offers accessible practices that support physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, weaving together movement, pranayama, meditation and philosophy. With a background in vocal training, Kate also passionately incorporates voice and sound, creating a calm and supportive space where students can slow down, regulate and build a more compassionate relationship with themselves.
Kathryn is a yoga teacher and women’s mentor passionate about helping women create calm, connected and wildly abundant lives. Blending yoga, self-awareness and manifestation practices, she guides women back to their inner power, helping them shift from survival mode into expansion, intention and possibility.
Her work supports women who are ready to want more from life, reconnect with themselves, and show up as their most grounded, radiant and aligned selves.
Kathryn’s teaching offers a pathway into deeper self-trust, nervous system regulation and beautiful abundance.
Kylie has been teaching various styles of Yoga on the Bayside for 9 years.
She is passionate about supporting people on their journey to quieten their mind, reconnect with their body and listen to their own inner wisdom.
Kylie is also a Personal Success Coach and combines her coaching and yoga to host Transformational Retreats.
She works with women who are tired of saying ‘I need to, I want to, I have to’ to prioritise their own needs, without feeling guilty, so they can live a life that inspires and excites them.
Well over 20,000 people have experienced the fun, joy and transformation of Laxmi’s yoga classes. He has been the teacher of teachers for over 20 years.
His initial training was his 16 years in a Bhakti yoga monastery, studying the yoga cannons and absorbing himself in yogic lifestyle. He then trained and gained a 3-year Satyananda Diploma of Yoga teaching. Jumping to the ‘other side of the fence’, he then found his passion and trained with Baron Baptriste, where he gained his Level 2 Power Viniyasa certification.
Laxmi has facilitated and co-facilitated dozens and dozens of teacher trainings here in Australia and is currently Senior Trainer at Krishna Village Eco Yoga Retreat Centre in the beautiful Tweed Valley.
Lila Kirtana is the head yoga teacher and kirtan facilitator from the Krishna Village in Northern NSW, passionate about creating grounding, heart-centred spaces for connection and inner reflection.
Drawing inspiration from Hatha yoga, mantra, breathwork, and Ayurvedic seasonal living, she weaves movement, music, and mindfulness into her classes.
Lila’s approach is warm, inclusive, and soulful, encouraging students to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and cultivate balance both on and off the mat. Through yoga and sacred sound, she aims to nurture community, presence, and a deeper sense of peace.
I am a passionate yoga teacher and natural-born people person.
My teaching style focuses on gentle yet strong movement, with discipline from Iyengar and Hatha yoga.
I attend many workshops throughout the year. Rooted in a deep love for nature, I often draw from its wisdom to bring grounding and peace into each class.
In addition to my weekly yoga classes, and a deep restorative class in my little studio at home, I will be hosting my first One Day Yoga Retreat soon – a nourishing experience filled with mindful movement, wholesome meals, and peaceful meditation in a serene setting.
Matangi Devi is a singer, composer, and mantra artist whose music blends sacred sound, handpan, and ambient elements to create deeply transformative experiences.
With a background in vocal performance and music production, she weaves ancient mantra traditions with modern soundscapes, offering listeners a space for healing, meditation, and inner connection.
Her work is devoted to awakening the voice, expanding consciousness, and reconnecting with the feminine creative energy through sound.
Michael spreads relational self-awareness.
He is a philosophy teacher and personal development facilitator.
He collaborates with Australia-based studios and teachers to facilitate specialised, immersive workshops, blending age-old yogic philosophy with modern self-development tools.
Padma here, Sydney, originally from Holland.
Started my yoga journey in Perth with a few classes, took it more serious in Sydney. Lived in a Bhakti ashram for 12 years, now married and still kind of live in the ashram with my wife Malini.
We live and serve at Govinda Valley retreat. I do men’s circles, practice and learn Iyengar yoga and am in the teacher training for it. Will be nice to meet you and hang out.
Po Mei Kwong’s journey into Laughter Yoga began during one of the most challenging times of her life, when stress and disillusionment had quietly stolen her joy.
Discovering the healing power of laughter changed everything.
With her unique energy and natural ability to engage, Po Mei invites us to drop barriers and embrace the childlike spirit of curiosity, playfulness and awe.
Through Laughter Yoga, she brings people together in communities, festivals, retreats, and corporate spaces to spark the Light to shine even brighter.
I found Sound Healing 8 years ago as a way to help me deal with the pain and discomfort a spinal injury . The different frequencies and vibrations were also helping with my mental chatter and crippling anxiety and panic attacks. Over time I started to notice the benefits of listening to frequency music, my mental health started to improve and my panic attacks were less intense.
I wanted to understand more how this was happening which led to my first sound healing workshop learning the basics. I was amazed at all the different healing instruments and how they could be used for healing. I was hooked! I took this further and now have 2 diplomas in Sound Healing- 1 diploma for individual 1 on 1 clients and 1 diploma for group work.
I now incorporate all of this knowledge to help others with their healing journey and for deep rest and relaxation with group sessions.
I am also Reiki trained and love to incorporate sound in with my reiki sessions as an added layer to the reiki healing energy.
It is an honour to share it all with you.
Riley is a soulful kirtan singer whose music weaves sacred mantra with the emotional depth of devotional ballads.
With over 11 years of practice in the Bhakti path, he invites listeners into a meditative space of peace, presence, and heart-centered connection.
Whether at festivals, intimate gatherings, or spiritual events, Riley’s voice carries the power of deep devotion.
I am a hypnotherapist and mental health practitioner with over 8 years of experience working within the mental health and disability sector.
With more than 2 years in hypnotherapy practice, my work blends emotional wellbeing, nervous system awareness, and subconscious healing in a grounded and compassionate way.
Drawing from both science and spirituality, Rupanjali creates safe spaces for people to I work with emotional patterns, self-awareness, and inner healing.
As a Level 2 QHHT practitioner, counsellor, and registered nurse my approach focuses on helping individuals reconnect with themselves through reflection, mindfulness, and deeper subconscious understanding in a gentle, supportive environment.
Rupanuga Varya Das is a practitioner of Bhakti Yoga with over 10 years of dedicated study and practice.
He has trained in Hatha and Bhakti Yoga across India, Colombia, and Australia, integrating traditional yogic teachings with community-centred approaches to wellbeing and personal growth.
As the founder of SuperSoul Yoga Community, a vibrant and expanding collective on the Gold Coast, he draws on his PhD background in Community Development and Communication for Social Change to create spaces of connection and transformation.
He also studied Vedic astrology in India, and is passionate about sharing practical principles of Vedic philosophy to support people in everyday life.
I’m Shannon, a yoga teacher of over 15 years who blends gentle movement, breathwork, mindfulness, and playful connection to help people feel grounded, calm, and more at home in themselves.
Inspired by water, nature, and community, I create welcoming spaces where yoga feels accessible, nourishing, and joyful.
My sessions often weave in music, and I’m delighted to be joined by Troy Jason Troutman on guitar, whose soulful live sound brings an extra layer of warmth, rhythm, and connection to the practice.
I am a facial yoga and body yoga teacher from Mongolia, with over 9 years of teaching experience.
Since 2017, I have been grateful to guide many women through facial yoga, body yoga, women’s wellness, and mindful movement practices.
I am known as one of the leading facial yoga teachers in Mongolia, and my teaching style is warm, supportive, and easy to follow.
I love helping women feel more confident, naturally beautiful, and connected to their body through gentle guidance and practical techniques.
Vraja Dhama Das is a Bhakti Yogi, multi-instrumentalist, kirtaniya and music producer and teacher.
After an award winning career in NZ as an ambient techno producer in the late 90’s, he took up Bhakti Yoga as a full time practice living in asrama’s in Sth America, Australia and NZ for 7 years before he settled in Brisbane to start family life.
He currently channels his energy for music into kirtan and yoga soundscapes that aim to give people an experience of the Divine presence that dwells within.
He also teaches the art of kirtan in it’s traditional instrumentation forms of harmonium, karatalas and mrdanga.
Join Their Sessions
Each of our presenters brings their unique expertise and passion to the festival.
Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from these incredible teachers.