Meet Kirsty
Kirsty is a multi-passionate yogi, foodie, musician and writer. She has been a practitioner of yoga for 20+ years and leading classes since 2009, when she began teaching Body Balance – a combination of yoga, tai chi and pilates. In 2011 she completed her Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching at the Australian Yoga Academy. While teaching part-time, Kirsty furthered her studies at Endeavour College of Natural Health, graduating in 2017 with a Bachelor of Health Science in nutrition. She is enthusiastic about using food as medicine, combining modern nutritional knowledge with ancient Ayurvedic methods.
Kirsty grew up singing and has spent years performing in bands, writing, recording music and filming music videos. In 2008, she studied a Bachelor of Music in classical voice but her studies were halted when she was diagnosed with a spinal tumour. As you can imagine this was a harrowing time but it has been one of Kirsty’s biggest teachers. As part of her recovery she underwent a full spinal resection leaving her with titanium rods lining her spine, restricting her mobility. Having her own limitations has made Kirsty a thoughtful and compassionate teacher. She is less interested in moulding her students into pretzels, and rather meeting them where they are at and encouraging the use of props to deepen their practice in a safe and accessible way. As a teacher she is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun.
During her extensive healing process, Kirsty discovered the profound power of pranayama (breath work) and meditation, which she relied on heavily while unable to practice the physical aspects of yoga. These have since become fundamental parts of her personal practice and teachings. She is able to skilfully weave together yogic philosophy with modern scientific learning, empowering her students to understand the ‘why’ behind the practice.
Kirsty is also an author, having written a memoir (Gutter Glitter) about her battle with spinal cancer, and the whirlwind of events that followed. Kirsty’s life has been anything but easy, and when tragedy strikes often our health takes a back seat. She understands this all too well. She wants people to know that living a healthy life isn’t about being ‘perfect’ or turning ourselves inside out to make sure we eat well, exercise, meditate, sleep eight hours a night, drink enough water…on and on it goes. It’s about balance and doing the best we can with what is available to us. That will look different to each of us on any given day and that’s okay. Practicing self-compassion is intrinsic to living a healthy life.
Currently, Kirsty teaches a dedicated group of students in the north-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, leading them in slow flow, yin and vinyasa practices.
She also offers private 1:1 or small group, and corporate sessions. Please get in contact with any expressions of interest.