MEET THE TEAM
Pru – Studio Owner, Teacher, Psychotherapist
Pru created The Retreat Yoga Studio in 2016 as a sanctuary for embodied healing and community – a place where people can land, feel accepted and know they belong. As a master’s-qualified psychotherapist, trauma-informed yoga teacher and creator of Mindful Somatic Yoga Therapy, Pru brings more than a decade of experience exploring the connection between body, mind and emotional wellbeing.
Pru’s work brings together the body, mind and nervous system, recognising the important role movement, breath and body awareness can play in our emotional wellbeing. Her integrative approach brings together yoga, somatic therapy, functional movement, myofascial release and psychotherapy-informed practices to support nervous system regulation, release tension and help people develop a deeper connection with themselves and their inner experience.
Her classes are mindful and embodied explorations of self, where strength, mobility and vitality are cultivated alongside self-awareness, acceptance and compassion. Rather than asking the body to perform or fit a particular pose, Pru encourages curiosity, choice and attunement – learning to notice what the body is communicating and respond with greater awareness.
Known for her warmth and presence, Pru teaches meditation, Embodied Flow, Mindful Yin and Somatic Rest in a way that is both therapeutic and empowering. Through movement, breath, stillness and awareness, she supports students to build resilience, find greater ease and reconnect with the wisdom of their bodies – creating a sense of sanctuary not only within The Retreat, but within themselves.
Alex
Client Experience
With nearly a decade of experience in Pilates, somatic movement, yin yoga, and nervous system-supportive practices, Alex brings a warm, grounded, and thoughtful approach to supporting our community. She’s passionate about helping people reconnect with themselves in ways that feel accessible, sustainable, and genuinely supportive.
Alex will help guide you through your first 4 weeks at The Retreat as part of our Supported Start, checking in along the way to help you feel supported as you begin. Outside the studio, she loves dancing, low-tox living, and spending time with her two boys.
Sarah
Sarah is a former journalist turned yoga teacher, with over a decade of personal practice and training in Vinyasa, Yin, meditation, kriya, and breathwork. Her journey began in India, where she immersed herself in the traditional roots of yoga, and continued in Australia, shaping her thoughtful and inclusive teaching style. For the past four years, she has guided students through practice, witnessing the calm, clarity, and transformation yoga can bring.
Sarah believes yoga should feel welcoming and accessible to everyone. Her classes meet you where you are, creating a warm, supportive space to explore movement, breath, and stillness at your own pace. Currently studying Yoga Therapy, she continues to deepen her ability to support students in a holistic and meaningful way.
Jo
Jo’s classes weave tradition, creativity, and mindful awareness. With a background as a professional dancer and choreographer, she brings deep knowledge of the body into her teaching, blending clear alignment with imaginative sequencing. Yoga has been part of her life for more than 20 years, beginning with Iyengar and Shadow Yoga before moving into Vinyasa. Since completing her teacher training with Power Living in 2014, she has guided students to balance energy, connect with breath, and find calm in both movement and stillness. Jo invites you to explore strength and openness while developing awareness of body, breath, and mind – tools that support not only practice, but daily life.
YuYing
What began as stretching for martial arts almost 10 years ago grew into a lifelong yoga practice for YuYing. Training in both Vinyasa and Yin, he now shares yoga as mindful movement, where breath is the anchor for presence and ease. His Vinyasa classes feature fluid transitions and intentional sequencing, while his Yin classes explore meridian theory through nourishing stillness. Beyond teaching, he is a project manager, community yoga organiser, and parent of two teenagers. For YuYing, yoga is about cultivating resilience and joy both on and off the mat – and he loves guiding others to discover that too.
Ben
Ben teaches playful, energising classes that blend strength, breath, and intention. With more than a decade of practice, he draws on yoga’s physical and philosophical roots to create sessions that are both lighthearted and transformative. A dancer by training, Ben has performed internationally, giving him a unique understanding of the mind–body connection. He completed his teacher training with the Australian Yoga Academy and holds a BFA in Dance from the Victorian College of the Arts. Expect flowing movement, breathwork, and meditation to leave you feeling both challenged and restored. For Ben, movement is a pathway to healing, discovery, and joy – and he loves sharing that with others.
Ling
Ling teaches yoga that is both grounding and playful. Her classes are intuitive, mindful, and adapted to the energy of the moment, weaving in stories and lessons with warmth and humour. Known for her cheeky yet nurturing approach, she guides deliberate, thoughtful movements that connect body and heart. Currently, her biggest teachers are her boys – a daily reminder to stay present and flexible. Ling shares yoga simply because she loves it, and hopes to inspire the same love in others. Her classes invite enjoyment, empowerment, and the chance to feel more at home within yourself.
Vickie
Vickie began her yoga journey in 2016 and soon realised its transformative impact. She has since completed her 200-hour training with the Australian Yoga Academy, along with studies in Yin, Restorative, Seniors Yoga, and more. She loves the rhythm of Vinyasa for flow and breath, and is especially passionate about Yin for its meditative, healing qualities. Vickie sees yoga as a lifelong journey of growth, and teaching as her way of sharing that joy. Her classes encourage both strength and surrender, offering students tools for balance in body and mind. Off the mat, she enjoys family, nature walks, and sunny escapes.
Nigel
Nigel came to yoga after years of chronic back pain from bodybuilding and orchard work. Seeking healing led him into meditation, yoga philosophy, and a shift in lifestyle – giving up alcohol, embracing vegetarianism, and finding purpose beyond real estate. What began as soul-searching became a way of life, inspiring him to share yoga’s benefits with others. His classes are grounded in both discipline and compassion, offering students the chance to strengthen the body while exploring self-discovery. Nigel believes yoga is more than movement – it’s a lifelong process of transformation, supporting balance, purpose, and wellbeing.
Rachel
Kristen
Gwyn
Community Support
A calm and caring presence behind the scenes, helping The Retreat run smoothly. Gwyn is often the one reaching out to check in, following up requests, answering questions, and helping ensure everything feels seamless and supported.
Yoga found Gwyn at a time she needed to slow down and reconnect with herself, and she now loves gentle flows and sound healing as anchors of balance and presence. With a background in stage management, she brings warmth, attentiveness, and grounded organisation to everything she does, helping The Retreat remain a calm and welcoming space.
Yuliya
Amanda
Amanda fell in love with yoga after her very first class, captivated by the strength and self-compassion it awakened. She has since completed 1000 hours of advanced training and taught full-time for more than six years. Her classes range from energising Vinyasa flows to restful Yin taught with warmth and humour. Amanda believes yoga helps us build an intimate relationship with body, mind, and spirit, on and off the mat. Off the mat, she is a world traveller, retreat host, and creator of essential oil blends to support healing and wellbeing.
Kristie
Kristie has practiced yoga around the world for over 20 years, finding balance through life’s trials and triumphs. As a wife and mother of four, teaching became a natural way to share her love of yoga and community. She values both dynamic Yang practice for strength and Yin for calm, believing the blend creates true balance. Kristie’s classes are guided with openness, authenticity, and encouragement, offering a space where students can meet themselves exactly as they are. For her, yoga is not about perfection but presence – a lifelong practice that continues to evolve. She welcomes you to explore strength, rest, and self-compassion alongside her.
Amber
Amber rediscovered yoga after years of dedicating herself to her family, seeking balance and space for herself. It became a journey of healing that inspired her to teach. Her classes combine mindful movement with nourishing breath, delivered with warmth, playfulness, and encouragement. Amber loves helping students discover strength, vitality, and calm in their own bodies. Off the mat, she is mum to three boys, enjoys high-intensity workouts, and treasures quiet moments with a book and a hot bath. Amber believes yoga offers freedom – physically and emotionally – and loves supporting others as they uncover that within themselves.
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