Simone Abbott

Simone first found yoga about 20 years ago after suffering burnout from many years of strenuous training playing high level netball, and also from the effects of various chronic health issues like asthma and glandular fever. She turned to yoga as a gentle form of exercise on her body – her favourite styles being slow/gentle flow and Iyengar. Then whilst recovering from chronic viral fatigue issues, she discovered Yin Yoga and it quickly became part of her regular routine. It was one of the things she credits for the recovery of her health. During times of fatigue and exhaustion when she could barely manage exercise, Yin Yoga was something she found she could tolerate and helped her with deep healing and restoration. 

Whilst on holiday in Bali in 2018 and practicing at the “Yoga Barn”, she by chance saw a poster advertising a 200-hour Yin Yoga training by Jo Phee and Joe Barnett who are the Senior Assistants to Yin Yoga Founder Paul Grilley. She had been waiting for something to propel her forward into a new direction in life and felt completely drawn to doing this training, so took a chance and returned to Bali a few months later to complete her month of immersion – one of the best decisions she has ever made! 

From this time, Simone became a certified 200-hour Yin Yoga Teacher registered with Yoga Alliance (RYT200) and now has over hundreds of teaching hours under her belt. Yin Yoga is her specialty. Her training was based on a solid foundation of functional skeletal anatomy with two of the most prominent Yin Yoga teachers in the world. 

Simone is also a certified Studio/Rehab & Matwork Comprehensive Pilates Instructor, studying through Polestar Pilates and is currently completing her Diploma. 

Simone is so grateful for the opportunity to teach Yin at Zenko, as she adores the Noosa studio and loves the people she gets to meet and work with through her teaching. 

Simone is passionate about health & wellness, and has been her whole life - exploring, studying and/or working in many different aspects including nutrition, exercise science, community health programs and personal development/counselling. She truly believes in the balance of mind, body & spirit for optimal health and natural healing. It is her passion, and has been for a long time.  

Do you have a mantra/quote that you often turn to? 
Not one in particular, but I love quotes in general! The symbol of being a lighthouse or a beacon for people is something that I often return to.

How do you fill up your love tank?
Regular long walks in the national park with my partner Tim (we call them walkies and talkies)

What advice would you give someone wondering whether to try yoga for the first time? 
Definitely give it a go, it could be life-changing! But my personal advice would be to try more than one style and more than one teacher, as you may resonate with a particular style or a particular teacher and that can make all the difference in finding the perfect yoga for you.