Mandy Habener (Lead Trainer)

"Mandy is what yoga is all about.  Mandy's delivery and equanimity in her teaching is perfect for the course and will definitely have people falling in love with the practice and wanting to follow in her footsteps!  I would call Mandy a true "teacher" and have not met anyone before who has been so generous, sharing and forthcoming with their knowledge.  
​Her combination of passion, seriousness, logic and humour are really special.  Nothing but the utmost respect and love for everything Mandy has to offer!"

Mandy is a self-confessed yoga nerd, her passion and love for the practice along with her willingness to share her personal insights and wisdom, shine through during our teacher trainings.

She first came to yoga as a practitioner in 2007 seeking life balance and improved flexibility.  She soon found so much more as the practice began to reveal some deeper truths.  Significant life changes followed including walking away from her comfortable yet unsatisfying life as a Consulting Engineer.
This created the space she desired to dive deeply into the practice and teachings of the ancient traditions of yoga.  Several overseas immersions in Bali and India followed as Mandy begun to satisfy her deep curiosity and desire to discover and learn more.

Over the years Mandy has completed more than 1000hrs of formal training covering a range of different styles including Vinyasa, Hatha, Therapy and Yin.  She's taught classes and workshops in several locations across Australia and Asia but now calls the Sunshine Coast in Australia home.  Mandy holds E-RYT 500 and YACEP Certifications with Yoga Alliance.

She's been blessed to have many inspirational teachers along the way, each of them having greatly influenced the way she practices and teaches.

Planning and facilitating Yoga Teacher Trainings was a natural, logical progression in Mandy's evolution as a teacher and student. Her love of detail, learning, and sharing her knowledge and passions, all came together in one place. Mandy has a unique talent for making difficult yogic concepts easier to grasp and also makes the principles of yogic philosophy simple to understand and apply in every day life.

Mandy believes there is a yoga practice suitable for everyone. She views our yoga mats as the perfect training ground for life: always inviting the opportunity for self-enquiry, growth and transformation.
​Her students are her greatest teachers and she is humbled and honoured for each and every opportunity she has to guide others on this path.

 Helen Boniface (Lead Trainer)

Helen first discovered Yoga in her early twenties, at a time she was experiencing severe anxiety and stress in her life. Through her own healing, Helen became deeply inspired by both the physical benefits of a regular yoga practice as well as the spiritual and emotional discovery that pranayama, meditation and asana delivers. 
 
Through a consistent physical practice, Helen began to recognize that her dharma (purpose) was to learn more, to dive deep and to share this transformational practice with others.  She soon embarked on her first 200 hour teacher training in Kerala, India, an experience that changed her life forever.  
 
Helen taught in various locations throughout Queensland before finally settling in the beautiful Sunshine Coast in 2014.  Her style of teaching has evolved over the years, however her passion to help others to balance the body and mind through yoga, meditation and relaxation remains the same.  Whilst still enjoying flow, movement and the physical benefits of asana, Helen connects most with the spiritual aspects of yoga and is deeply drawn to the healing that restorative and meditation practices can offer. 
 
Becoming a mother of twins in 2017 has highlighted to her that yoga is constantly evolving within you, as with all of life’s hills and valleys. She is passionate about supporting all students to find that foothold on their own path. 
 
With the continuation of trainings, teaching and life experience and her own personal development over the last 10 years, Helen was inspired to co-create a platform for others to learn and this naturally led to the organic growth of our teacher training courses as a way to share this life changing practice further. 
 
Helen is filled with great joy by sharing these ancient teachings and feels honoured to witness the transformation and growth of our students. She has a deep love and respect for the practice and its ability to bring us back to our centre or atman (soul)… and that which we already know.

 "Helen's caring, loving energy shines through every word she speaks.  I used to love just sitting there watching her drop into meditation and hope that one day I'll be as amazing as she is.  Nothing but love and appreciation for her peaceful, calm teaching skills and knowledge".

Lauren Verona (Lead Trainer)

Lauren is a passionate business woman, yoga teacher and business mentor who has created and grown three thriving yoga communities across Australia.  She is also the creator of The Love Tank - an online community that helps women to embrace self-love, seize opportunities and create the life they truly desire.  Lauren’s energy and enthusiasm for life is contagious and she has a unique talent for helping others knock down the barriers that are holding them back.  

Her insights, compassion for people of all abilities and a light sense of humour bring a unique blend of instruction and guidance that is refreshing and down to earth.

Lauren discovered yoga whilst she was running a full time PR company in Melbourne and within months of completing her teacher training was teaching full time. As a mother of two, she understands life’s challenges of finding time for ourselves and is passionate about assisting others with finding that balance.
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"There is no precise description of what yoga is, for each of us it is ever changing and evolving, such as in  life.  Yoga is about accepting yourself, getting to know yourself and learning to love that self. 
Despite mental and physical barriers, disabilities and injuries, yoga is about practicing being in the 
presence of your self, rolling out your mat and accepting what comes. Even if this means resting in child’s pose or laying on your back, the benefits are reaped and the motivation filtrates 
into all  areas of your life.  Yoga is as much to do with the breathing and letting go as it is to do with the  stretching and strengthening of muscles."
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Dr Sophie Toland (Anatomy)

​Sophie brings to each of our Zenko Teacher Trainings her university level knowledge of practical based anatomy, human biomechanics and injuries.
 
Over six years Sophie studied to become a qualified Osteopath, through a double degree in a Bachelor of Health Science, and a Bachelor of Applied Science. Throughout her study she began to develop not only a deep understanding, but also a deep passion for the human body, the way it moved, and especially the way it could move more optimally to minimise an individuals pain and maximise their bodies potential.
 
Sophie is the facilitator for anatomy based teacher training at Zenko Yoga, and has also tutored anatomy at University level. She is a fully qualified yoga teacher who can be found sharing Vinyasa Flow classes on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.
 
Sophie has found both personally and professionally, yoga to be a gateway to better movement, and improved overall health.
 
Sophie’s passion for teaching safety and applied anatomy to yoga teachers has stemmed from her own injuries through yoga. Additionally, through treating yoga teachers in her osteo practice, Sophie found there to be evident gaps in the current teachings and knowledge of asanas and anatomy for already qualified teachers. It is through this that Sophie’s enthusiasm for safe and thorough anatomy teaching has grown.

Bettina Rae (Pre and Post Natal)

Bettina began yoga teaching after moving to a small rural community for work and finding there was no where to go for yoga - so she decided would have to create the space herself!  She completed her initial teacher training at The Byron Yoga School and later went on to specialise in pre and postnatal yoga.  

While she was already teaching yoga well before she became a Mother, it was this transformation that really showed her the power of the yoga practice.

Being a mum to three boys (Rory, Eamon and Luca), Bettina openly and honestly shares her experiences   of pregnancy and motherhood. Inspired to empower other women on their own personal journeys Bettina founded YogaKin. 

She specialises in yoga for fertility, pregnancy and mums and bubs yoga. She also writes and creates resources to help women get out of their heads and into their bodies, to feel more like their old selves and perhaps even find a little more zen amongst the craziness of motherhood.