ABOUT | OUR TEAM
We are a GLOBAL community of seekers, dreamers, yoga teachers, therapists, speakers, authors and curious humans
MEET THE TEACHING
TEAM
With decades of studying, practicing, teaching and educating behind them, our core teaching team are dedicated to ongoing study and self-enquiry, and to sharing their rich personal and clinical experience with you.
While their yoga practice is deeply informed by the yoga teachings of India, they also draw on contemporary psychology traditions.
PROGRAMS
Dr Lauren Tober (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of around two decades, based in Byron Bay, Australia. With a passion for health, healing, happiness and awakening, Dr Lauren integrates the best of western psychology with yogic wisdom, both on and off the mat.
DR LAUREN TOBERBSc (Hons) DPsych (Clin) RYT (she/her)Clinical Psychologist & Yoga Teacher
- Mental Health Aware Yoga Training
- Introduction to Yoga + Mental Health Training
- Yoga Skills for Therapists Training
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
- FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
- LEAD TEACHER
- SUMMIT HOST
Sandra Palmer (she/her) is a Registered Psychologist and Yoga Teacher, based in Auckland and Waipū, New Zealand. She focusses on teaching accessible, slow, embodied and trauma informed yoga practices which support healing and awareness of self. Sandra is a Senior Mentor and Guest Teacher on our Mental Health Aware Yoga program and Guest Speaker at the Mental Health and Yoga Summit.
SANDRA PALMERBSc (Hons) RYT (she/her)Registered Psychologist & Yoga Teacher
- Mental Health Aware Yoga Training
-
Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
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Sandra sadly passed away in 2024, but s will always be an important part of our team.
Annabel McLisky (she/her) is a recently retired Psychologist and Yoga Teacher of over 40 years, based in Byron Bay, Australia. A co-founder of Trauma Sensitive Yoga Australia and yoga and meditation teacher trainer at Dru Yoga Australia, Annabel is now a Senior Mentor and Guest Teacher on our Mental Health Aware Yoga program and Guest Speaker at the Mental Health and Yoga Summit.
ANNABEL MCLISKYBPsych (Hons) RYT (she/her)Psychologist & Yoga Teacher
- Mental Health Aware Yoga Training
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- SENIOR MENTOR
- GUEST TEACHER & SPEAKER
Sarah Truman (she/her) is an experienced Yoga Therapist with a specialization in trauma-sensitive practices, focusing on mental health support for children, adolescents, and adults. She integrates modern psychological principles with ancient wisdom to create personalized, evidence-based yoga therapy programs. Sarah is a Senior Mentor on our Mental Health Aware Yoga program.
SARAH TRUMANRYT (she/her)Yoga Therapist
- Mental Health Aware Yoga Training
- SENIOR MENTOR
FIND OUT MORE
MEET THE GUEST
SPEAKERS
Our Guest Speakers are world-leaders in yoga and mental health, and generously share their wisdom on our Mental Health + Yoga Summits.
Saraswathi Vasudevan (she/her) is the co-founder of Yoga Vahini Foundation and serves on the Voluntary Board of Directors of Yoga Alliance.
SARASWATHI VASUDEVAN
Yoga Vahini
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Dr Arielle Schwartz (she/her) is a licensed clinical psychologist, certified complex trauma professional, author and Kripalu yoga teacher.
DR ARIELLE SCHWARTZ
Center for Resilience Informed Therapy
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Jivana Heyman (he/him) is a yoga teacher, author, and founder & director of the Accessible Yoga Association.
JIVANA HEYMAN
Accessible Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Amy Weintraub (she/her) is the founder of the LifeForce Yoga® Healing Institute, an acclaimed yoga therapist, author and a pioneer in the field of yoga and mental health.
AMY WEINTRAUB
LifeForce Yoga
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James Fox (he/him) is the founder of the Prison Yoga Project and has developed trauma informed approaches to teaching yoga in correctional facilities.
JAMES FOX
Prison Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Dr Ganesh Mohan (he/him) is a medical doctor trained in ancient studies and directs Ayurveda trainings and Svastha Yoga Therapy Program.
DR GANESH MOHAN
Svastha Yoga Therapy
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Stephanie Lopez (she/her) is a certified yoga therapist, the Senior Director of Teachings & Programs and Senior iRest Trainer for iRest Institute.
STEPHANIE LOPEZ
iRest Institute
-
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Ann Swanson (she/her) is a certified yoga therapist and author of the best-selling book, SCIENCE OF YOGA.
ANN SWANSON
Science of Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Stephen Cope (he/him) is a best-selling author, scholar, and founder and former director of the Kripalu Institute for Extraordinary Living.
STEPHEN COPE
Kripalu Institute
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Rachel Zinman (she/her) is a certified yoga teacher, teacher trainer, author of Yoga for Diabetes an Mental Health Aware Yoga graduate.
RACHEL ZINMAN
Yoga for Diabetes
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Chara Caruthers (she/her) is a certified Yoga Therapist, writer and professional Ayurvedic practitioner.
CHARA CARUTHERS
Bliss Body & Soul
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Shannon Crow (she/her) is a yoga teacher consultant, host of The Connected Yoga Teacher podcast, and founder of Pelvic Health Professionals.
SHANNON CROW
Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Simon Borg-Olivier (he/him) is a teacher trainer, a research scientist, university lecturer and co-director of YogaSynergy Australia.
SIMON BORG-OLIVIER
YogaSynergy
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Ana Davis (she/her) is a Yoga Teacher, author, Doula and founder of Bliss Baby Yoga.
ANA DAVIS
Bliss Baby Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Neal Ghoshal (he/him) is a Yoga Teacher Trainer, co-founder of Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training in New Zealand, and a Mental Health Aware Yoga graduate.
NEAL GHOSHAL
Contemporary Yoga
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Fiona Sutherland (she/her) is a yoga teacher, accredited practising Dietitian, Director of The Mindful Dietitian and a Podcast host.
FIONA SUTHERLAND
The Mindful Dietitian
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Dr Miguel Farias (he/him) is an experimental psychologist, author, and founding director of the Brain, Belief, & Behaviour Lab at Coventry University.
DR MIGUEL FARIAS
The Psychology of Belief
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Sunita Baste Patil (she/her) is a Yoga Teacher & mentor who offers comprehensive teachings on yoga, Ayurveda, and the healing science of India.
SUNITA BASTE PATIL
Sunita Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Nikola Ellis (she/her) is a certified Yoga Therapist, Psychotherapist and founder of Adore Yoga in Sydney, Australia.
NIKOLA ELLIS
Adore Yoga
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Ella Noah Bancroft (she/her) is a Yoga Teacher, the mentor & founder of The Returning and Yhi Collective, and pioneer for The Decolonisation movement.
ELLA NOAH BANCROFT
The Returning
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Dr Kaitlin Harkess (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist, Senior Yoga Instructor and founder of Wisdom for Wellbeing.
DR KAITLIN HARKESS
Wisdom for Wellbeing
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Eve White is a Wirridjuri woman, Yoga Instructor, Professional Dancer, Indigenous Cultural Educator & MermaidFit creator.
EVE WHITE
Connection to Country Yoga
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Diane Liska (she/her) is a Psychotherapist & Yoga Teacher specialising in neuroscience, offering Yoga-Informed Psychotherapy.
DIANE LISKA
Diane Liska Yoga Psychotherapy
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Brook McCarthy (she/her) is a business coach, Yoga Teacher and trainer with a background in Public Relations.
BROOK MCCARTHY
Hustle and Heart
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Anneke Sips (she/her) is a Registered Nurse and Yoga Therapist, working in psychiatry since 1998. Based in Den Haag in the Netherlands, Anneke is founder of Network Yoga Therapy and The Yoga Therapy Conference in Amsterdam. Anneke is a Senior Mentor on our Mental Health Aware Yoga program and Guest Speaker at the Mental Health and Yoga Summit.
ANNEKE SIPS
Terrapy
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Lisa Fitzpatrick (she/her) is a registered Physiotherapist with a special interest in pelvic floor rehabilitation, yoga, mindfulness meditation and women’s health.
LISA FITZPATRICK
Sacred Women’s Business
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
Tara D’cruz-Noble (she/her) is a Photographer and Yoga Yeacher who weaves the philosophical teachings of yoga into her work through creative inquiry.
TARA D’CRUZ-NOBLE
Yoga Teacher & Photographer
- Mental Health + Yoga Summit 2022
MEET THE SUPPORT
TEAM
These amazing humans go above and beyond to create our programs and support our students, partners and teaching team.
Stefan (he/him) is our all-round IT and finance guy. With decades in IT and corporate training experience, he is also a Yoga Teacher and Firefighter. When not at work, you can find him playing soccer, dancing and hanging out with his family.
STEFAN TOBERTrainer and Yoga TeacherIT, Operations & Finance
Jel (she/her) manages the admin side of things as our Support Coordinator. She is also a Yoga Teacher and Mental Health Advocate. When not at work, she loves live music, exploring new cafes and biking at a leisurely pace.
JERALDINE (JEL)BSc Psych, MA Primary Health, RYTStudent Support & Partnerships
Trixie (she/her) is involved with all things marketing at the Yoga Psychology Institute. When not at work, you can find her surfing the big waves of the Pacific Ocean or working out at the gym.
TRIXIEBS Computer EngineeringMarketing
Kass (she/her) works her magic to edit and share our video blogs and trainings. When not at work, you can find her reading and watching movies.
KASSANDRA (KASS)AB PsychologyVideo Editing
Mich (she/her) creates web magic on our websites. Turning this digital space into a home. When not at work, you can find her driving across town exploring the beaches and food hubs.
MICHBS MarketingWeb Development
JOIN OUR ONLINE
COMMUNITY
Become part of our community of inclusive and supportive seekers, dreamers, yoga teachers, therapists/health professionals, students and curious humans.
You'll get regular emails from our founder, Dr Lauren Tober, with free inspiration, education, podcasts and mini-trainings, and be the very first to hear when our latest programs are open.
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