YOGA AND EXPANSIVE WELLBEING WORKSHOPS
When we recognise our true nature, we can truly be ourselves to be open, to find space and to experience freedom.
Saturday 10 October | 2:30 – 5 pm
Saturday 17 October | 2:30 – 5 pm
Saturday 24 October | 2:30 – 6:30 pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
She Who Feels
Reconnect with your body. Return to yourself.
A 3-Part Women’s Embodiment Series
Saturday 10 October | 2:30 – 5 pm
Saturday 17 October | 2:30 – 5 pm
Saturday 24 October | 2:30 – 6:30 pm (extended session)
For the woman who spends a lot of time in her head, this is an invitation to pause, feel, and come home to yourself.
She Who Feels is a three-part journey back to the body and into feminine expression.
Through movement and guided exploration, you’ll be invited to notice sensation, follow your inner impulses, and discover what emerges when you let the body lead.
No performing, no experience required. Just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to meet your own authentic way of moving and being feminine.
-= Investment =-
$180 The Open Space Members
$180 Non-members, Early-Bird (until 20/9)
$220 Regular, Non-Members
* Limited to 8 Women - please book early to ensure your place.
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This Series May Support You To:
Feel more grounded in your body
Improve emotional awareness and regulation
Gently unwind stored tension and held emotions
Build self-trust
Experience meaningful connection without comparison
The Journey
Session One ~ Returning to the Body
Building foundations of embodied awareness.
Rebuilding trust in sensation as guidance, and moving from internal cues rather than habit.Session Two ~ Release & Expanding Expression
Gently releasing patterns of holding.
Exploring new movement pathways and discovering unfamiliar aspects of self.Session Three ~ Archetypal Embodiment (Extended Session)
An immersive afternoon journey into authentic feminine expressions (from grounded and compassionate to assertive, expressive, and sensual).
Not stereotypes. Not performance.
But embodied qualities that already live within you.
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The journey weaves together:
Non-Linear Movement
Archetypal exploration through the body
Paired reflection and integration journaling
An optional closing sharing circle
The circle is a space for reflection and learning from one another. Sharing is always by choice.
Workshop flow
2:15 pm – Studio space opens for settling in
2:30 pm – 5 pm/6:30 pm (including breaks)
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With years of dedicated study and practice, Cristina brings a grounded, heartfelt approach to embodiment and mindfulness. Since 2018, she has been sharing practices rooted in lived experience, drawing from extensive training in India and beyond (including yoga philosophy, meditation, non-linear movement, and diverse yogic traditions).
Her teaching invites you not to “fix” yourself, but to meet yourself with awareness, softness, and truth.
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"I feel deeply reconnected to my body, emotions, and inner voice. It was a transformative journey of connection, reflection, and self-discovery"
~ Mila“This experience helped me release grief and discover my purpose, leaving me stronger and centred.”
~ A. Zito“Cristina’s workshop helped me trust my body and move toward being my authentic self. Sharing the space with other women made it even more powerful.”
~ Chelsea
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Sunday 11 October
3.00pm - 5.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Nervous System Reset
An Embodied Nervous System Practice at Open Space
With Martin Soerensen & Rosa Ferraro
from Shekinah3 Healing Sanctuary
A 90-minute guided embodied practice designed to help you tune into, reconnect with, and support the regulation of your autonomic nervous system through movement, breath, deep rest, vagus nerve integration, and reflection.
For anyone experiencing the effects of stress, overwhelm, burnout, trauma, or nervous system depletion—or for those simply seeking greater balance, resilience, and a deeper connection with themselves. No previous experience is necessary.
Leave feeling calmer, more grounded, and deeply restored, with practical tools to support nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and greater resilience in everyday life.
Restore your nervous system.
Renew your life force.
Remember your innate capacity to heal.
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In a world that constantly asks us to give more of ourselves, many of us find ourselves disconnected from our natural vitality and life force. Complex trauma, chronic stress, and the relentless demands of modern life can leave the nervous system caught in patterns of survival, making it difficult to access deep rest, vitality, and a genuine sense of wellbeing.
Drawing on decades of combined experience in bodywork, trauma healing, and nervous system regulation, Martin and Rosa have created a carefully sequenced journey that supports your innate capacity to regulate, restore, and reconnect with your natural vitality.
-= Who Is This For? =-
This practice is for anyone longing to restore balance, resilience, and vitality.
It may be especially supportive if you are experiencing:
Chronic stress or burnout
Emotional overwhelm
Complex trauma or PTSD
Fatigue or nervous system depletion
Difficulty relaxing or switching off
Feeling disconnected from your body
A desire to reconnect with calm, presence, and your natural life force
No previous experience is necessary.
You are warmly welcomed exactly as you are.
-= Tickets =-
Investment: $50
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/nervous-system-reset-october-2026
* Limited Spaces - please book early to ensure your place.-= Our Intention =-
May this practice gently guide you back to the wisdom of your body, the steadiness of your nervous system, and the quiet remembrance that healing has always lived within you.
* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are currently unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
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Stage One: Activation & Rejuvenation
Through intentional movement, conscious breath, and embodied awareness, we gently awaken the body, mobilising stagnant energy and restoring the healthy flow of life force.
This phase invites the release of accumulated tension while reconnecting you with vitality, resilience, and embodied presence.
Stage Two: Deep Restoration
As the body begins to settle, we guide you through a carefully curated sequence of restorative practices that invite the nervous system into profound relaxation.
As your nervous system settles into a state of deep rest, the body and mind are offered the opportunity to recover, restore, and soften from the ongoing effects of stress, overwhelm, and emotional fatigue.
Stage Three: Vagus Nerve Integration
The practice concludes by supporting healthy vagal tone and activating the Social Engagement System.
This final stage encourages emotional regulation, connection, balance, and a renewed sense of safety within yourself and in relationship with others.
Reflection & Integration
Following the practice, we gather in circle to gently reflect on our experience, deepen our understanding, and allow the insights of the evening to settle while sharing a nourishing Shekinah3 Herbal Infusion Tea.
Supporting Your Nervous System at Home
For those who wish to continue nurturing their nervous system beyond the practice, we are offering our handcrafted:
Nervous System Reset Spagyric
Nervous System Reset Herbal Infusion Tea Blend
Created to continue supporting nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and deep restoration at home.
Valued at $50 - Available exclusively to participants for $35.
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Martin Soerensen
Bodyworker • Craniosacral Therapist • Alchemist
Martin brings many years of experience supporting people through physical tension, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. His work centres on helping people reconnect with their bodies through movement, breath, and embodied awareness, cultivating resilience, vitality, and lasting wellbeing.
Rosa Ferraro
Integrative Spiritual Healer • Complex Trauma Specialist • Medicine Woman • Seer
With over 36 years of professional experience, Rosa has devoted her life to supporting people navigating complex trauma, PTSD, grief, and the profound process of Spiritual Emergence Integration.
Her work weaves together trauma-informed care, nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, spiritual healing, and compassionate presence, empowering people to reconnect with themselves in safe, meaningful, and life-affirming ways.
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Sunday 25 October
12.00pm - 4.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Sound And Vocal Toning Workshop
Experience the transformational and healing power of your own voice
This sound healing vocal workshop is a joyous and profound vocal exploration. Learn some simple vocal toning exercises and practices to gain powerful tools for your own use everyday for relaxation, stress management, emotional regulation and spiritual practice and healing.
Toning has a neurochemical effect on the body, boosting the immune system and causing the release of endorphins. Toning assists in good breathing and posture, giving the body an inner massage and stimulation. It also helps us to release stress and repressed emotions. Regular toning and humming helps to re-energize the body and restore health to the mind, body and spirit.
In a safe supportive environment, you will learn how your voice will naturally release stress and blockages, increasing harmony and clarity and raising your vibration. This is not a singing workshop! You don't need to be a singer! In fact, if you feel shy or constricted with your voice and expression, this can be a great gift.
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-= What you can learn =-
Learn some simple vocal toning exercises and overtones.
Learn to use your voice for releasing stress and stuck energy.
Get introduced to the power of your own voice to help achieve a better mental and emotional state.
Receive practical tools to help maintain wellbeing and raise your vibration.
Bring more harmony into your life.
Here’s a short video to give you more info: https://youtu.be/K7UcEqNSMao
-= Tickets =-
Investment: $110
Vocal Workshop & Soundshower Combo: $150
(Save $15 by attending the Vocal Workshop @ 12pm and the Soundshower @ 6pm - both on the same day.)
* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
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Is a Multi instrumentalist, producer and Sound therapist. Since 1990 he has been exploring the nature of sound and its therapeutic qualities as a tool for physical & emotional transformation and healing. Inspired by modern scientific research as well as ancient esoteric and mystic knowledge, he has developed his own approach and style of soundhealing . He facilitates group and private sessions for the general public as well as with people of diverse conditions such as various addictions, anxiety and stress-related symptoms, applying different techniques of vibrational therapy. These sessions are a deeply nourishing experience.
Avishai has facilitated “Soundshowers” in festivals such as Wanderlust, Byron Spirit festival, Evolve Yoga fest, Jerusalem Sacred Music Festival and Uplift festival. He regularly holds sessions at venues around Australia.
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
PAST EVENTS
Sunday 6 September
3.00pm - 5.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Nervous System Reset
An Embodied Nervous System Practice at Open Space
With Martin Soerensen & Rosa Ferraro
from Shekinah3 Healing Sanctuary
A 90-minute guided embodied practice designed to help you tune into, reconnect with, and support the regulation of your autonomic nervous system through movement, breath, deep rest, vagus nerve integration, and reflection.
For anyone experiencing the effects of stress, overwhelm, burnout, trauma, or nervous system depletion—or for those simply seeking greater balance, resilience, and a deeper connection with themselves. No previous experience is necessary.
Leave feeling calmer, more grounded, and deeply restored, with practical tools to support nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and greater resilience in everyday life.
Restore your nervous system.
Renew your life force.
Remember your innate capacity to heal.
-
In a world that constantly asks us to give more of ourselves, many of us find ourselves disconnected from our natural vitality and life force. Complex trauma, chronic stress, and the relentless demands of modern life can leave the nervous system caught in patterns of survival, making it difficult to access deep rest, vitality, and a genuine sense of wellbeing.
Drawing on decades of combined experience in bodywork, trauma healing, and nervous system regulation, Martin and Rosa have created a carefully sequenced journey that supports your innate capacity to regulate, restore, and reconnect with your natural vitality.
-= Who Is This For? =-
This practice is for anyone longing to restore balance, resilience, and vitality.
It may be especially supportive if you are experiencing:
Chronic stress or burnout
Emotional overwhelm
Complex trauma or PTSD
Fatigue or nervous system depletion
Difficulty relaxing or switching off
Feeling disconnected from your body
A desire to reconnect with calm, presence, and your natural life force
No previous experience is necessary.
You are warmly welcomed exactly as you are.
-= Tickets =-
Investment: $50
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/nervous-system-reset-os
* Limited Spaces - please book early to ensure your place.-= Our Intention =-
May this practice gently guide you back to the wisdom of your body, the steadiness of your nervous system, and the quiet remembrance that healing has always lived within you.
* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are currently unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
-
Stage One: Activation & Rejuvenation
Through intentional movement, conscious breath, and embodied awareness, we gently awaken the body, mobilising stagnant energy and restoring the healthy flow of life force.
This phase invites the release of accumulated tension while reconnecting you with vitality, resilience, and embodied presence.
Stage Two: Deep Restoration
As the body begins to settle, we guide you through a carefully curated sequence of restorative practices that invite the nervous system into profound relaxation.
As your nervous system settles into a state of deep rest, the body and mind are offered the opportunity to recover, restore, and soften from the ongoing effects of stress, overwhelm, and emotional fatigue.
Stage Three: Vagus Nerve Integration
The practice concludes by supporting healthy vagal tone and activating the Social Engagement System.
This final stage encourages emotional regulation, connection, balance, and a renewed sense of safety within yourself and in relationship with others.
Reflection & Integration
Following the practice, we gather in circle to gently reflect on our experience, deepen our understanding, and allow the insights of the evening to settle while sharing a nourishing Shekinah3 Herbal Infusion Tea.
Supporting Your Nervous System at Home
For those who wish to continue nurturing their nervous system beyond the practice, we are offering our handcrafted:
Nervous System Reset Spagyric
Nervous System Reset Herbal Infusion Tea Blend
Created to continue supporting nervous system regulation, emotional wellbeing, and deep restoration at home.
Valued at $50 - Available exclusively to participants for $35.
-
Martin Soerensen
Bodyworker • Craniosacral Therapist • Alchemist
Martin brings many years of experience supporting people through physical tension, chronic stress, and nervous system dysregulation. His work centres on helping people reconnect with their bodies through movement, breath, and embodied awareness, cultivating resilience, vitality, and lasting wellbeing.
Rosa Ferraro
Integrative Spiritual Healer • Complex Trauma Specialist • Medicine Woman • Seer
With over 36 years of professional experience, Rosa has devoted her life to supporting people navigating complex trauma, PTSD, grief, and the profound process of Spiritual Emergence Integration.
Her work weaves together trauma-informed care, nervous system regulation, embodied awareness, spiritual healing, and compassionate presence, empowering people to reconnect with themselves in safe, meaningful, and life-affirming ways.
-
Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Saturday 29 August
12.45pm - 5.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
To register or for any enquiries, please contact Julia:
Aligned
Living in rhythm with the seasons - Spring's seeds of becoming
A Half Day Urban Yoga Retreat
As the stillness of winter begins to soften and the first whispers of spring emerge, nature reminds us that transformation often begins quietly, unseen beneath the surface.
Like a seed gathering strength in the darkness of the earth, we too have seasons of preparation before we are ready to emerge, grow and bloom.
Spring’s Seeds of Becoming is an afternoon devoted to nurturing body, mind and spirit as we prepare for a new season — creating space for renewal, possibility and becoming.
It is an invitation to pause, to gently clear away what is no longer needed, and to make room for what is ready to emerge.
Please email julia@affinityyoga.com.au to reserve your space and for payment details.
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What are you ready to release - nurture?
And what might become possible when you create space for something new?
Our guiding focus for the day is Saucha, one of the Niyamas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Often translated as purity or cleanliness, Saucha invites us to explore what we might gently clear — physically, energetically, mentally and emotionally — to cultivate greater clarity, spaciousness and freedom within.
In the energy of spring, Yin Yoga connects us with the Wood element of Traditional Chinese Medicine, inviting us to explore themes of growth, flexibility, vision, direction and courageous emergence. Like a seed reaching towards the light, our practice will delve into the balance between being deeply rooted and remaining open to growth — finding the courage to move towards what truly matters and what feels most meaningful.
Aligned is an invitation to pause, recalibrate and listen to the quiet intelligence within. Interweaving Hatha flow, pranayama, Yin, meditation and deep relaxation. Time and space to honour where you are, release what you no longer need, and gently nurture the seeds of what is yet to become.
Open to new and long term Yoga practitioners.-= Details & Investment =-
Time: 12:45pm - 5pm
Investment: $90
Studio opens 12:30pm to settle in
Includes 30 minute break with Chai and snacks
Mats and all yoga props are provided but feel free to bring your own mat for extra padding
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Julia Jones is a Yoga Australia registered Senior level Yoga Teacher and Pilates Instructor. Beginning her yoga exploration in the early 90s for the physical and meditative aspects, Julia’s deep affinity formed through a Yoga Philosophy course that brought a true ‘aha’ moment. It was then she realised the extensive potential of this ancient and ageless system, growing her passion and desire to share the benefits. In 2006 Julia completed an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teacher training and is honoured to be sharing the benefits in Melbourne gyms, studios, workplaces and online for ease of accessibility. Julia also facilitates annual Yoga retreats in Bali.
Blending her passion for the scientific and the spiritual, philosophical, poetic and practical, Julia’s teaching incorporates language to deeply resonate with the individual. With slow flowing breath infused movement, guided relaxation, mantra and meditation she will support and guide you through an informative and embodied practice to nourish you, body, mind and spirit.
-
Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Sunday 2 August
10.30am - 5.00pm
@ Vine & Branches
27 Bonds Rd, Lower Plenty VIC 3093 (map)
Mind-Body Connection Retreat
A Day of Healing, Nervous System Regulation & Inner Reconnection
In our fast-paced world, many of us live disconnected from our bodies—caught in cycles of stress, anxiety, and self-limiting patterns that can feel difficult to shift.
This immersive one-day retreat at the Vine and Branches Retreat Centre set in beautiful surrounds on 10 acres in the inner east of Melbourne, offers an opportunity to slow down, reconnect, and gently reset.
Throughout the day, we’ll explore practical and compassionate ways to work with stress, emotional patterns, and the deeper beliefs that shape our inner lives.
Together, we explore how the mind and body are deeply interconnected—and how working with both can support meaningful, lasting change.
Please contact Virginia 0423 299 778 for any enquiries about the retreat.
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What This Day Offers
This retreat is designed as an experiential journey, moving from understanding → awareness → transformation → integration.
Throughout the day, you will be gently guided to:
Understand how stress, anxiety, and emotional patterns are held in the body
Learn how the nervous system shapes your experience of safety, connection, and wellbeing
Develop practical tools to regulate your body and mind
Explore the role of core beliefs and how they influence thoughts, emotions, and behaviour and be gently guided to identify and transform core beliefs that are directing unhelpful patterns with self and others
Learn how to transform triggers and self-limiting patterns with compassion and awareness
Experience a deeper sense of presence, clarity, and inner steadiness
An Integrated Approach
This retreat weaves together complementary perspectives to support whole-person healing:
Western Psychology & Neuroscience
Understanding the nervous system, trauma patterns, and emotional regulationSomatic Therapy
Working with the body as a pathway to healing and transformationYoga & Breathwork
Gentle, accessible movement and breath practices to support regulation and embodimentChinese Medicine
Exploring the flow of Qi, organ–emotion relationships, and restoring balance within the bodyMeditation & Contemplative Practice
Drawing from Buddhist psychology/philos0phy and mantra to cultivate insight, compassion, and inner peaceWhat You’ll Experience
Guided meditations for grounding, healing, and awareness
Gentle yoga and movement practices to support nervous system regulation
Practical exercises to identify and transform core beliefs
Somatic practices to release tension and restore balance
Teachings that bridge Eastern and Western approaches to wellbeing including learning and working with a traditional Buddhist healing mantra and Chinese medicine techniques and practices
A supportive, reflective space to reconnect with yourself
Who This Is For
This retreat is for anyone who:
Feels overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious and wants to discover pragmatic and lifelong practices and tools for flourishing
Wants to better understand the connection between mind and body
Is interested in personal growth and healing
Is drawn to both psychological and holistic approaches
No prior experience with meditation or yoga is required.
No prior experience with meditation or yoga is required.
-= Registrations =-
Investment: $222
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/mind-body-connection-retreat
* Limited Spaces (maximum of 18 participants) - please book early to ensure your place.
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Virginia Golding
Virginia is a psychotherapist and meditation teacher with over 20 years’ experience working at the intersection of Western psychology and contemplative traditions.
BA. (Psych/Phil of Mind), Graduate Dip in Family Therapy, Post Grad Cert Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, MA Social Work. Her clinical work integrates modalities such as somatic therapy, mindfulness-based approaches, Internal Family Systems, and trauma-informed care and working with expanded states through mediation, guided visulalistation and plant medicines.
Virginia also lived and studied in India for over a decade, including extended time in Dharamshala, where she studied and attended reteats with her principal teacher, Yangten Rinpoche along with His Holiness Dalia Lama, Chamtrul Rinpoche and Mingyur Rinpoche.
Virginia’s work brings together these contemplative foundations with contemporary neuroscience and psychotherapy in a way that is grounded, compassionate, and practical, supporting people to develop a steadier, kinder relationship with themselves.
Hien
Hien is a Doctor of Chinese/East Asian Medicine, Acupuncturist, Yoga and Meditation teacher, Bodyworker and Pranic healer with over 20 years experience supporting holistic health and wellbeing.
Her work integrates Eastern and Western healing approaches, combining movement, breathwork, therapeutic touch and energy-based practices to support the nervous system, emotional wellbeing and the natural flow of Qi. Drawing on East Asian Medicine principles, she helps participants understand the connection between mind, emotions, physical health and overall wellbeing.
Hien has a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, a Bachelor of Arts degree, RYT 200 and RYT 300 Advanced Yoga Therapy training, Certificate IV in Remedial Therapies, Pranic Healing and Zero Balancing
She creates warm, safe, compassionate and nurturing spaces to support participants to experience deep rest, relaxation, healing, reconnection to their true self, transformation, restoration, grounding and insight.
Her work may incorporate Acupuncture/Acupressure, Gentle Yoga (Hatha, Yin and Restorative), embodied practices, Meditation, Breathwork, Bodywork, Pranic healing, Herbal Medicine, Flower Essences and holistic dietary and lifestyle support, with a focus on sustainable self-care (Yang Sheng- Nourishing life practices) , cultivating equilibrium, vitality, inner resilience and wellbeing.
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Held @ Vine & Branches Personal Growth Centre
27 Bonds Rd, Lower Plenty VIC 3093 (map)
Saturday 11 July
12.30pm - 5.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
To register or for any enquiries, please contact Julia:
Half Day Urban Yoga ReTreat
ALIGNED
Living in rhythm with the seasons - Winter's inner sanctuary
Retreat yourself into an afternoon of nourishing Yoga with Julia Jones
The half day yoga retreats offer an afternoon of balancing, nourishing and purifying Yoga. Open to new and long-term yoga practitioners the retreat will allow you time to deepen and fully integrate all aspects of Yoga Asana (physical movement), Pranayama (energetic breath work), deep Relaxation and Meditation.
This seasonal retreat series is a cyclical journey through the wisdom of nature and the subtle layers of yogic practice, inviting you to attune to the rhythms of the year and the intelligence within.
Please email julia@affinityyoga.com.au or phone Julia 0421 790 117 to register your spot or for any enquiries.
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Moving from the grace of letting go in autumn, into the restorative depths of winter’s inner sanctuary, through the awakening momentum of spring’s seeds of becoming, and culminating in summer’s full bloom, each retreat offers a distinct yet interconnected experience.
Together they weave classical yoga philosophy, Asana, Yin, chakra awareness, and Patañjali’s Eight Limbs into embodied practices of movement, breath, stillness, and meditation.
Rather than striving toward transformation, the series gently reveals it - supporting release, rest, renewal, and expression as natural processes that unfold when we listen deeply, practice seasonally, and align with the quiet intelligence of life itself.
-= Details & Investment =-
Arrive 12:30pm for 12:45pm start until 5pm.
Afternoon tea provided - chai and snacks.
Mats and props provided - please feel free to bring your own mat and anything else that gives you support and comfort.
Investment $90 - pay in details provided when you book.
-
Julia Jones is a Yoga Australia registered Senior level Yoga Teacher and Pilates Instructor. Beginning her yoga exploration in the early 90s for the physical and meditative aspects, Julia’s deep affinity formed through a Yoga Philosophy course that brought a true ‘aha’ moment. It was then she realised the extensive potential of this ancient and ageless system, growing her passion and desire to share the benefits. In 2006 Julia completed an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teacher training and is honoured to be sharing the benefits in Melbourne gyms, studios, workplaces and online for ease of accessibility. Julia also facilitates annual Yoga retreats in Bali.
Blending her passion for the scientific and the spiritual, philosophical, poetic and practical, Julia’s teaching incorporates language to deeply resonate with the individual. With slow flowing breath infused movement, guided relaxation, mantra and meditation she will support and guide you through an informative and embodied practice to nourish you, body, mind and spirit.
-
Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Sunday 28 June
2.00pm - 5.00pm
* 4th Sunday of every month
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Honest Body
Bodywork is a 3-hour monthly session held in Abbotsford
Atlas is back with a monthly offering: Honest Body, where meditation, embodiment and honest human interaction meet.
The next session is Sunday, 28 June, from 2-5pm, and will continue every fourth Sunday of the month.
Perfect for those ready for deep somatic enquiry and a commitment to being more honest with themselves, their bodies and others.
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We begin with a meditative enquiry into the subtle layers of the body. You'll slow down and learn to read sensation as a source of information.
What you'll train
Awareness of internal signals
Staying present with discomfort
Softening resistance
Expanding your range of sensation
Beyond the body
This work extends into how you relate with others.
You'll explore:
Speaking honestly
Sensing group dynamics
Feeling at home in unfamiliar situations
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are currently unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
Sunday 21 June
3:15pm - 5.45pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
The Dance Of Kali Shiva
With Andrew Mournehis
An evening Yoga, Mythology, Mantra and Dance!!! “Dance of the Deities” is a powerful ceremonial space to honour Deities within - held on the WINTER SOLSTICE!!!
This will be one of the RARE opportunities to connect, learn and practice with Andrew Mournehis, who will not be returning again to teach in Melb until 2027.
Its been a while since dances, so we hope you can take up this opportunity to immerse yourself into his always TRANSFORMATIVE OFFERINGS… DANCE OF THE DEITIES !!!
So here is the INVITATION TO JOIN Andrew FOR THIS NIGHT OF MANTRA, MOVEMENT, STORYTELLING and the LATEST BRAND NEW “DANCE OF THE DEITIES” honouring the TWO most powerful TRANSFORMATION DEITIES KALI and SHIVA within.
~ If you are going through a big change
~ The end of something old and the birthing of something new and/or
~ Feeling a deep internal metamorphosis taking place within your Life ……
~ or simply wishing too connect to a more Conscious Potent part of you
THEN THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING IS FOR YOU !!!
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The Dance will be to the Bhakti Mantra track "KALI SHIVA INSEPARABLE” track by Heidi Mellican (featuring Andrew Mournehis himself)
A transcendent weaving of mantra, music and spoken word.
Here is Spotify Link:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3Y7PxnLPSEO4cKvGLe24Y1?si=maJdnDyoTSOCq6aQ6iVK6Q
WHAT YOU WILL OUT OF THE EVENING:
Connection to our Melb Yoga Community and more importantly connecting with your inner World.
Amazing Mythology and Storytelling about the Myths of both Kali and Shiva, and how they are relevant to our own Lives.
How to Connect with these two primary Deities and Bring them to Life.
Illumination and Insights into places that you feel stuck or potentially blocked.
Transforming our shadow (undeveloped/neglected parts) to Light
A Kineasthetic movement practice that will connect you to deeply with the Archetypal energies of these Inseparable Deities within you.
Time to move and Time to rest. Time to Listen, Learn and access the GURU ( the transformative teacher) within you…not outside of you!!
A wonderful opportunity to go deep whilst still having SO MUCH FUN, Play, Dance and BE FREE!!!
WHAT TO BRING:
Something you feel free to move and dance in.
PLEASE WEAR SOMETHING BLACK AND/OR WHITE
BRING A JOURNAL AND A PEN
A TEALIGHT CANDLE AND HOLDER (if you have one )
“PREPARE NOT ONLY TO MOVE…BUT TO BE MOVED”
This Dance of Kali Shiva will not come again!!!
Dance of the Deities is a powerful ceremonial space to honour Deities through intentional movement and Sacred Dance.
So go ahead and give this evening as a gift to yourself to connect with your Highest Truth, Beauty and Grace…and by all means invite your loved ones and friends to join you!!!!
Please note: NO DANCE EXPERIENCE NECESSARYALL GENDERS AND LEVELS OF EXPERIENCE (Including absolute beginners) are WELCOME.
FOR THOSE THAT MISSED OUT LAST YEAR, THIS WILL BE THE LAST OFFERING OF THIS DANCE IN MELB and THOSE who DID come last Solstice, this workshop and dance has been revamped in many ways to honour the energy of the Year of the Fire Horse and How that relates to Kali and Shiva!!!
AN EVENT NOT TO BE MISSED!!!
-= Investment =-
Price: $75 + booking fee
Open Space members: $60 + booking fee
Booking link: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-dance-of-kali-shiva-tickets-1988696692341
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What is “Dance of the Deities” ? "Dance of the Deities" is a combination of Andrew's 5 great loves: Storytelling, Philosophy, Mythology, Yoga and Dance. Through these themes we experience a beautiful, powerful, and divinely inspired movement practice that allows us to truly embody the qualities of each deity and bring them to life.
DANCE OF THE DEITIES STRUCTURE: The 2.5 hour workshop has 4 sections;
Section 1: Mythology and Symbology of The Deities (KALI/SHIVA) Introduction: Philosophy talk, storytelling and sharing the Mythology of Deity
Section 2 : Warm Up Warm up Practice that reflects the Philosophy of Deity
Section 3: Dance of The Deity: (KALI/SHIVA ) 2 parts: • Dance will be mindfully taught in sections with mudras and fluid movements choreographed specifically to learn the core teachings of KALI AND SHIVA as inseparable Deities
Section 4: Integration: Cool down, relaxation, meditation and final integration in a relaxed state revisiting teachings, key points and take homes
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Andrew is an Australian born Yogi and Dancer who was living his dream as a dancer and choreographer for Tina Turner’s "Wildest Dreams World Tour”, when a year later, his career was cut short by a life-changing injury and serious illness in 1996. It was Tina Turner who initiated him into the world of Spirituality, Buddhism and the Divine. His crisis forced him to seek a healing path, and he turned to yoga to heal his body and soul, falling in love with the practice and teaching to packed classes by 1999.
Passionate about the healing power of group, mythology and stories, he combined his love for yoga with transpersonal healing to create transformative spaces for participants. Andrew teaches a combination of Hatha, Bhakti and Tantra Yoga, and his unique teaching style is rich in Heart and Soul, Tantric Philosophy, Inspiration, Storytelling, Mantra and the Spirit of the Divine.
Dance of The Deities was conceived in Bali in 2017, as has now toured the world for 6 years to over 8 Countries and 3 Continents, featuring for 2 years at IMPULSTANZ (The Vienna International Dance Festival)
Andrew has spent over 25 years facilitating healing groups, workshops, and retreats in Yoga, Movement, Tantra, Mythology, and Transpersonal Modalities. He boasts over 20 years of experience in Transpersonal Counselling and Art Therapy Techniques, 25 years of Yoga Teaching and over 28 years experience in the fields of Creative Arts and Dance.
IG: divinegraceyoga ~ FB: Andrew Mournehis
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
6 Saturdays | 13 June - 18 July
12.00pm - 1.45pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Yoga for Beginners
A Workshop Series for Yoga Exploration, with Julia & Bobbi
Have you ever wanted to try Yoga or explore more of your current Yoga practice?
Are you looking to improve your physical and mental wellbeing?
Are you looking for a safe and easeful teaching style?
Our Yoga for Beginners course is suitable to all ages and body types. This workshop series is ideal for beginners or for consistent practitioners seeking additional guidance and deeper knowledge of Yoga.
Discover how your unique body takes the shape of each pose while receiving guidance on the structure, science and philosophy behind this magical practice we call Yoga.
This workshop series is not about forcing your body into a certain shape or looking a certain way in a pose. It's about understanding how your body and mind respond to each pose, breathing technique, and somatic cue.
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Yoga for Beginners is an accessible introduction to the postural practice of Yoga and is a grounding start for you to explore other Yoga classes. This series is also an opportunity to learn ways in which Yoga can be applied to wellness in your everyday life!
Each week we will:Refine our basic knowledge of our structural anatomy and nervous systems.
Learn foundational Yoga poses (asana in Sanskrit) and cover common issues that arise in classes that could potentially lead to injury.
Discover new breathing techniques (Pranayama in Sanskrit) which will be applied to somatic releasing of muscular and mental tension.
Experience and direct the flow of energy/life force (Prana in Sanskrit) through body-breath-mind connection practices.
Tap into the physical and psychological aspects of each of the 7 main Charkas for physical and mental health.
Explore mudras (hand, finger and arm positions), mantra (vocal practices and sonic vibrations), and bandhas (energy locks) as they apply to our physical and mental wellbeing.
Prepare the body to sit comfortably and the mind to sit quietly in guided meditation.
Receive gentle, hands-on attunements in postures for those wishing to receive it.
Each 75-min session ends with a casual conversation about individual experiences and an open Q&A about the class.Julia and Bobbi will guide you gently and wisely with individual attention to support your own exploration of Yoga through this gentle and foundational workshop rooted in tradition, philosophy, attunement, and sacred self awareness.
Details:This series will allow us the time and the space to understand the foundations and nuances we generally may not otherwise explore in a 60 minute class. It explains why and how we do certain things in our practice - such as bringing our hands to heart's centre and saying Namaste at the end of a practice.
These 6 classes are not about doing poses in any one strict way, but in a safe way that feels right to your own body type and abilities. This series is designed to set up a strong, confident, and beautiful foundation for you to explore your own authentic embodied experience of Yoga and sacred self exploration.
WK 1. Grounding - seated and lying poses connecting us to the Earth and body-breath-mind connection. Creating safety through sense of touch and sound.
WK 2. Balance - various ways to find balance in the hips, spine and nervous system. Exploring proprioception, the body's sense of itself in space.
WK 3. Centering - core strengtheners, twists & standing poses. Exploring interoception, the awareness of the body's internal functions.
WK 4. Opening - Heart openers, backbends, neck and throat openers. Exploring sense of vibration through the voice and breathing muscles.
WK 5. Subtle Body - body-breath-mind connection, neck, face, and scalp releasing. Sensing subtle energy and discovering poses as a way to prepare the body for meditation.
WK 6. Bring it all together - Combining previous lessons to experience a well rounded class ending in a guided meditation.
Julia and Bobbi will guide you gently and wisely with individual attention and compassionate support.
Registrations are Closed:
Open Space Members can still drop-in for classes each week (for $20)
Past details:
Investment: $200 + Bonus: 50% Off Intro Pass
🎟 https://clients.mindbodyonline.com/classic/ws?studioid=5735466&stype=-7&sTG=29&sVT=38&sView=day&sLoc=0&date=06/13/26
* Limited Spaces (maximum of 12 participants) - please book early to ensure your place.* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
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Bobbi discovered the healing benefits of Yoga at the age of 17 during a physical and mental health crisis. Yoga continues to be her main source of physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing over 30 years later. She completed her certification as an instructor of Hatha and Kundalini Yoga in 1997 and has developed her lifestyle around its practices and philosophies. Bobbi blends her calm, intuitive and compassionate style of Yoga instruction with decades of helping people become well through Chiropactic, Somatic Trauma Therapy, and bodywork. She is passionate about guiding others on how to integrate Yoga into their own healthy lifestyles.
As a seasoned bodyworker, Bobbi loves to teach anatomy, sciences, and the peaceful philosophies that form the foundation of Yoga. She has been fortunate to teach Yoga around the world and is dedicated to helping each individual discover their own unique experiences in their personal practice. Bobbi believes that Yoga has saved, and continues to save, her life in many ways. She is honored and grateful to be able to share the magic of Yoga with others.
Julia found yoga at a time in her life when she was starting to learn how to navigate her own mental health. For her, the whole experience of the philosophy and practice of Yoga has enriched many aspects of her life beyond just her mental health. She has dedicated her life and studies to Yoga, as well as areas such as Yoga for mental health, tantra, hatha, meditation, and Yoga Nidra. Learning and education is something she truly values and she feels like she will forever be a student of Yoga.
Her teaching style is calm, patient, integrative and fosters a curious and embodied relationship with your inner-world; physically, emotionally and energetically. She is passionate about guiding beginners and feels it is an absolute pleasure to be able to share Yoga with others.
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Monday 15th June
2.00pm – 4.30pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Breath Medicine - June
Breath Medicine weaves together ideas from breathwork, mindfulness, somatic therapy, earth-connection practices and psychedelic therapy.
It is a trauma-informed approach to using the breath to access expanded states of consciousness, and integrate those experiences into meaningful action and lasting change in your life.
In this 2.5 hour workshop, we will take some time and do some movement to land in the space, receive instruction on the practice and ask questions before embarking on a 70 minute Breath Medicine journey. There will be time to share as a group before we finish for the day.
The practice is supportive of each individual's needs, and empowers participants to tune into their intuition and take the lead in their journeys. Any given session can be quiet, peaceful and regenerative, loud and expressive, anywhere in between.
This workshop is facilitated by Trudi Hayes, Shannon London and Scott Edwards.
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-= Workshop Flow =-
1.30pm - Studio space opens for settling in
2pm - 4:30pm - Breath Medicine journey
-= Bring with you =-
Wear comfortable loose clothing
We provide yoga mats, cushions and blankets, but do bring your own if you feel that is more comfortable for you.
An eye-mask is recommended but not essential
-= Tickets =-
Investment: $50 + booking fee
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/breath-medicine-june
* Limited Spaces (maximum of 15 participants) - please book early to ensure your place.* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
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This workshop will have a photographer present to document the session for use in Breath Medicine's promotional and educational materials. Photography will focus on the space and atmosphere, and will be handled with care and discretion throughout. Following the workshop, you will have the opportunity to review any images in which you appear and withdraw consent for their use before anything is published. In recognition of your participation in this process, the ticket price for this session has been reduced from our standard rate. If you have any questions or concerns about photography, please get in touch before booking.
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-= About Scott =-
Scott is a somatic facilitator with over 10 years' experience weaving together breathwork, bodywork, somatic therapies and Buddhist meditation to support deep healing and growth for individuals and groups alike.
As a co-founder of Breath Medicine, Scott brings a rare combination of embodied practice and broad expertise to his facilitation. His work is grounded in a deep commitment to creating spaces that feel both expansive and safe, where people can look deeply within to find the insight and healing they are seeking.
Outside his work as a facilitator, Scott works at the forefront of integrating expanded states of consciousness and spirituality into mainstream culture. He was part of the team that successfully advocated for the clinical use of psychedelics in Australia, and he developed the country's first and largest training program for psychedelic-assisted therapies.
-= About Trudi =-
Trudi Hayes is a somatic practitioner and Mental Health Social Worker with over 25 years’ experience in community development and therapeutic work. She integrates Somatic Experiencing, Breath Medicine and Kinesiology to support deep personal exploration, nervous system regulation and embodied healing in both individual and group settings.
Alongside her therapeutic practice, Trudi is a co-facilitator for Mind Medicine Australia’s Certificate in Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies (CPAT). She brings a grounded, relational approach, supporting participants to gently release long-held patterns, reconnect with their inner resources, and cultivate a deeper sense of connection with self, others and the natural world.
-= About Shannon =-
Shannon London has been working around the community field for the last two decades, and developed a strong passion for education and empowerment supporting growth, care and healing. Now a mother, it has become even clearer we must heal to heal the world, if the world and our children are to have a future. Having worked in various fields and modalities such as advocacy and case management, bodywork and massage, various yoga styles, anthroposophical medicines, breathwork, and allopathic care. Shannon has found that there are many ways up the mountain.
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Saturday 18 April & 23 May
2.00pm – 4.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Breath Medicine
Breath Medicine weaves together ideas from breathwork, mindfulness, somatic therapy, earth-connection practices and psychedelic therapy.
It is a trauma-informed approach to using the breath to access expanded states of consciousness, and integrate those experiences into meaningful action and lasting change in your life.
In this 2 hour workshop, you will take time to land in the space, receive instruction on the practice and ask questions before embarking on a 70 minute Breath Medicine journey. There will be time to share as a group before we finish for the day.
The practice is supportive of each individual's needs, and empowers participants to tune into their intuition and take the lead in their journeys. Any given session can be quiet, peaceful and regenerative, loud and expressive, anywhere in between.
-
-= Workshop Flow =-
1.30pm - Studio space opens for settling in
2pm - 4pm - Breath Medicine journey-= Bring with you =-
Wear comfortable loose clothing
We provide yoga mats, cushions and blankets, but do bring your own if you feel that is more comfortable for you.
An eye-mask is recommended but not essential
-= Tickets =-
Investment: $80 + booking fee
🎟 https://events.humanitix.com/breath-medicine-os
* Limited Spaces (maximum of 8 participants) - please book early to ensure your place.* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
-
Scott is a somatic facilitator with over 10 years' experience weaving together breathwork, bodywork, somatic therapies and Buddhist meditation to support deep healing and growth for individuals and groups alike.
As a co-founder of Breath Medicine, Scott brings a rare combination of embodied practice and broad expertise to his facilitation. His work is grounded in a deep commitment to creating spaces that feel both expansive and safe, where people can look deeply within to find the insight and healing they are seeking.
Outside his work as a facilitator, Scott works at the forefront of integrating expanded states of consciousness and spirituality into mainstream culture. He was part of the team that successfully advocated for the clinical use of psychedelics in Australia, and he developed the country's first and largest training program for psychedelic-assisted therapies.
-
Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Friday 10 April | 7:30pm – 10:00pm
Friday 17 April | 7:30pm – 10:00pm
Saturday 25 April | 2:30pm – 7:00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
She Who Feels
Reconnect with your body. Return to inner trust.
A 3-Part Women’s Embodiment Series
Friday 10 April | 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Friday 17 April | 7:30 – 10:00 pm
Saturday 25 April | 2:30 – 7:00 pm
-= Investment =-
$180 The Open Space Members and Early-Bird (until 21/3)
$220 Full Journey Non-Members
* Limited to 12 Women - please book early to ensure your place.
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You can be holding everything together, and still feel disconnected from yourself.
Strong. Capable. Responsible.
Yet quietly tired of living from the neck up.
She Who Feels is a structured, supportive space to slow down and return to your body.
Across three guided sessions, you’ll explore body-based practices that help you release accumulated tension, access emotional clarity, and reconnect with authentic feminine expression, without performance, pressure, or expectation.This is experiential work. You won’t be performing or trying to “get it right.” You’ll be invited to connect with your own movement, sensations, and insights.
No prior movement or embodiment experience is required. You will be gently supported throughout, and everything is offered as an open invitation.
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The journey weaves together:
Non-Linear Movement (self-directed, intuitive movement)
Archetypal exploration through the body
Paired reflection and integration journaling
An optional closing sharing circle
The circle is a space for reflection and learning from one another. Sharing is always by choice.
The Journey
Session One ~ Returning to the Body
Building foundations of embodied awareness.
Rebuilding trust in sensation as guidance, and moving from internal cues rather than habit.Session Two ~ Release & Expanding Expression
Gently releasing patterns of holding.
Exploring new movement pathways and discovering unfamiliar aspects of self.Session Three ~ Archetypal Embodiment (Extended Session)
An immersive afternoon journey into authentic feminine expressions (from grounded and compassionate to assertive, expressive, and sensual).
Not stereotypes. Not performance.
But embodied qualities that already live within you.This Series May Support You To:
Feel more grounded in your body
Improve emotional awareness and regulation
Gently unwind stored tension and held emotions
Build self-trust
Experience meaningful connection without comparison
-= Workshop flow =-On Fridays:
7:20 pm – Studio space opens for settling in7:30 pm – 10 pm
On Saturday:
2:20 pm – Studio space opens for settling in2:30 pm – 7 pm (including breaks)
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With years of dedicated study and practice, Cristina brings a grounded, heartfelt approach to embodiment and mindfulness. Since 2018, she has been sharing practices rooted in lived experience, drawing from extensive training in India and beyond (including yoga philosophy, meditation, non-linear movement, and diverse yogic traditions).
Her teaching invites you not to “fix” yourself, but to meet yourself with awareness, softness, and truth.
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"I feel deeply reconnected to my body, emotions, and inner voice. It was a transformative journey of connection, reflection, and self-discovery"
~ Mila“This experience helped me release grief and discover my purpose, leaving me stronger and centred.”
~ A. Zito“Cristina’s workshop helped me trust my body and move toward being my authentic self. Sharing the space with other women made it even more powerful.”
~ Chelsea
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Tram line 109 towards Box Hill, stop #25 River Blvd/Victoria St.Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Saturday 14 March - 23 May
12.00pm - 1.30pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Foundations of Yoga
The Eight Limbs (Astanga) Philosophy & Practice (10 Week Course)
A 90-minute foundational class, offered in packs of 10 sessions, grounded in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
This class offers a structured and accessible introduction to Astanga Yoga as a complete and integrated system of practice, rather than a collection of separate techniques. Participants are guided step by step through the essential elements of Hatha Yoga, while learning how the broader Aṣṭanga framework naturally includes the principles of Raja Yoga — the path of meditation and inner refinement.
-= Investment =-
$250 for full course (10 weeks)
* Limited Spaces - please book early to ensure your place.
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The practice weaves together asana, pranayama, and meditation, supported throughout by the philosophy and method of Astanga Yoga as outlined in the Yoga Sutras. Students are introduced not only to what to practice, but how and why — cultivating understanding of breath, movement, attention, inner focus, and ethical orientation as integral aspects of yoga as a spiritual discipline.
The emphasis is on learning how to practice: building awareness, consistency, discernment, and a lived understanding of yoga as a holistic path of transformation, not merely a physical practice. The gradual, methodical approach supports confidence, continuity, and the development of a sustainable personal practice under the guidance of a teacher.
This offering is suitable for complete beginners as well as those with prior experience who wish to return to the foundations with greater clarity and depth and for those seeking to explore yoga as a spiritual path. This course offers a grounded and supportive entry point into the living system of yoga — designed to educate, empower, and guide students into a complete and integrated practice.
Beginning:
Saturdays, 12 pm – 1:30 pm
March: 14, 21, 28
April: 4, 11, 18, 25
May: 2, *16, 23
* There will be no class on Saturday, 9 May - Avril is on Retreat
* Please take a moment to select your event thoughtfully, as we are currently unable to provide refunds. However, all tickets are transferable to the person(s) of your choice. The only time we can make an exception to our no-refund policy is if the event is sold out and we're able to help find a new home for your tickets. Your understanding is greatly appreciated.
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YOGA TEACHER, HOLISTIC COUNSELLOR, PSYCHOTHERAPIST & NUTRITIONIST
I love to teach. I love to learn. I have been a dedicated yogi for over a decade, practicing, teaching, learning and integrating yoga into my lifestyle. I teach with the highest end-goal in mind – Yoga as a pathway to the Self (Vedanta).
Yoga to me is experiential and transformative, a practice that leads us to know who we are and why we are here, through a continuous process of increasing self-awareness & expansion of consciousness that leads to a way of Being and relating in the world.
This is my philosophy which is deeply rooted in the supreme knowledge of the Veda’s and codified in Yoga Sutras of Pathanjali’s 8-limbs of Yoga.
I trained as a Hatha Yoga teacher. My own practice led me to explore the meditative practices and I became a teacher of Vedic Mantra Meditation. I have trained in Himalayan Kundalini Kriya Yoga & as Mental Health Aware Yoga teacher.
I am also a Holistic Counsellor & Psychotherapist and Nutritionist.
I love how I can weave all of these and my life experiences together to enhance my teachings. In my classes & workshops, I integrate all of the elements of yoga; movement, breath, kriya, mantra, meditation, knowledge & philosophy, in order to create a safe & transformative experience for you.
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-= Location =-
Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.
Saturday 28 February
12.30pm - 5.00pm
@ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Half Day Urban Yoga ReTreat
ALIGNED
Living in rhythm with the seasons - Autumn's graceful release
Retreat yourself into an afternoon of nourishing Yoga with Julia Jones
The half day yoga retreats offer an afternoon of balancing, nourishing and purifying Yoga. Open to new and long-term yoga practitioners the retreat will allow you time to deepen and fully integrate all aspects of Yoga Asana (physical movement), Pranayama (energetic breath work), deep Relaxation and Meditation.
This seasonal retreat series is a cyclical journey through the wisdom of nature and the subtle layers of yogic practice, inviting you to attune to the rhythms of the year and the intelligence within.
Please email julia@affinityyoga.com.au or phone Julia 0421 790 117 for any enquiries about future workshop dates.
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Moving from the grace of letting go in autumn, into the restorative depths of winter’s inner sanctuary, through the awakening momentum of spring’s seeds of becoming, and culminating in summer’s full bloom, each retreat offers a distinct yet interconnected experience.
Together they weave classical yoga philosophy, Asana, Yin, chakra awareness, and Patañjali’s Eight Limbs into embodied practices of movement, breath, stillness, and meditation.
Rather than striving toward transformation, the series gently reveals it - supporting release, rest, renewal, and expression as natural processes that unfold when we listen deeply, practice seasonally, and align with the quiet intelligence of life itself.
-= Details & Investment =-
Arrive 12:30pm for 12:45pm start until 5pm.
Afternoon tea provided - chai and snacks.
Mats and props provided - please feel free to bring your own mat and anything else that gives you support and comfort.
Investment $90 - pay in details provided when you book.
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Julia Jones is a Yoga Australia registered Senior level Yoga Teacher and Pilates Instructor. Beginning her yoga exploration in the early 90s for the physical and meditative aspects, Julia’s deep affinity formed through a Yoga Philosophy course that brought a true ‘aha’ moment. It was then she realised the extensive potential of this ancient and ageless system, growing her passion and desire to share the benefits. In 2006 Julia completed an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teacher training and is honoured to be sharing the benefits in Melbourne gyms, studios, workplaces and online for ease of accessibility. Julia also facilitates annual Yoga retreats in Bali.
Blending her passion for the scientific and the spiritual, philosophical, poetic and practical, Julia’s teaching incorporates language to deeply resonate with the individual. With slow flowing breath infused movement, guided relaxation, mantra and meditation she will support and guide you through an informative and embodied practice to nourish you, body, mind and spirit.
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Held @ The Open Space
11 Acacia Pl, Abbotsford VIC 3067 (map)
Paid parking is available in the public car park at Acacia Place, and across Victoria Street in Victoria Gardens shopping complex. Free parking in Harrison court and surrounds. We are on the lower ground level of Acacia Place.
Disabled access: If you park within the paid parking station off Acacia Place you will be on the same level as our studio. If you enter from Victoria Street level, a lift is available at the top of the first set of steps leading down to the river.