My soft tissue training
My formal education in soft tissue therapy began in 2007 with a Certificate IV in Relaxation Massage, Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine. I went on to complete a Diploma of Remedial Massage and an Advanced Diploma of Myotherapy, and currently practise as a myotherapist at Elwood Osteopathy in Elwood, Victoria.
These early foundations introduced me to Eastern philosophies, where mindfulness, awareness and the mind-body connection were already part of the conversation.
While these traditions opened the door, it was science that gave me the framework I was looking for and eventually led me into myotherapy. Teaching in the massage programs at Victoria University and RMIT further shaped how I thought about the work, and it was during this time that I began introducing mindfulness skills to students.
Over time, my learning has continued to be shaped by training and working alongside osteopaths, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists, scientists and movement-based practitioners.
My mindfulness training
A journey spanning more than three decades of contemplative practice, bodywork, travel, formal meditation training, mindfulness education, performance learning, clinical practice, and teaching.
Meet the teachers, communities and places that have shaped my journey of learning and practice.
1990's Iyenga Yoga & Taoism
My exploration of the body-mind connection began through Iyengar yoga, with its emphasis on posture, alignment, breath, discipline, stillness and body awareness.
I also began exploring Taoism, learning about balance, simplicity, natural rhythm and the value of working with change rather than resisting it. These ideas offered another perspective on the relationship between the body, mind and the way we move through life.
2007: India - Hinduism - Ayurvedic & Vedic Traditions
My time at an ashram in Kerala, studying with Guru Balachandran, was an immersive introduction to Vedic traditions.
Learning took place through Ayurvedic massage, mantra, meditation, philosophy, and participation in temple rituals and ceremonies, all woven into the rhythm of daily ashram life.
The collective sound of Om remains one of my most vivid memories of that experience.
2010: Diamond Way Buddhism - Vajrayana Buddhism
Exploration of Diamond Way Buddhism within the Karma Kagyu lineage, including Buddhist meditation, philosophy and lineage-based practice.
This involved learning the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism and its teachings on the nature of mind, awareness, compassion, cause and effect, and the relationship between our thoughts, words and actions.
These teachings broadened my understanding of how the mind shapes our experience.
2012: Melbourne Meditation Centre - Secular practice begins
Meditation training through the Melbourne Meditation Centre with Matt Young marked a shift from traditional Eastern practices to a secular, evidence-informed approach to mindfulness.
This secular approach gave me a clearer structure and language for bringing these ideas into contemporary education and clinical practice.
2014 -18: West Africa - Ghana & Burkina Faso - Rhythm as practice
Travelling through Ghana and Burkina Faso, West Africa, gave me the opportunity to study West African polyrhythms through drumming, movement and shared musical practice.
The layered rhythms required close listening, coordination and an awareness of where my own beat sat within the group. It showed me that attention is not always cultivated through stillness; it can also be found through rhythm, movement and connection.
2020: Mental skills training for sport - Working with Emma Murray - High performance mindfulness and Ben Crowe, mindset coach
Two years immersed in road cycling and structured athletic training, including training alongside professional riders and receiving individual coaching, sparked a real interest in the mental side of performance.
That curiosity led me to the work of mindset coaches Emma Murray and Ben Crowe, both of whom have worked extensively with elite athletes as well as the broader community. I went on to complete courses with Emma through High Performance Mindfulness and with Ben through Mojo Crowe.
This learning broadened my understanding of the mental skills that can support resilience, recovery, wellbeing and sustained performance, both in sport and beyond it.
And no, I never crossed the line first at the crits, but I certainly enjoyed chasing it!!
2020: - Present - Monash University - Monash Centre for Consciousness & Contemplative Studies
I began my studies with Monash University through the Monash Centre for Consciousness and Contemplative Studies, led by Professor Craig Hassed. I was drawn to its psychological, evidence-based approach and to the way its courses and research connected mindfulness with neuroscience. For someone who loves reading research, it offered an abundance of papers, ideas and new areas to explore.
My learning with Monash continues, providing an ongoing connection to current research and evidence-based thinking in mindfulness and contemplative science.
2022: Certified Meditation Teacher - Melbourne Meditation Centre
Certification as a meditation teacher through the Melbourne Meditation Centre marked an important shift in my own understanding of mindfulness. As part of my training, I began developing and writing my own meditation scripts, and something changed for me in that process. To guide someone else through a meditation, I needed to understand what I was asking them to notice, why I was asking it, and the mechanisms of mindfulness behind the practice.
Joining Meditation Australia introduced me to a wider professional community of meditation teachers, along with different approaches, perspectives and an ever-growing body of research.
I continue to train and be mentored by Matthew Young and the Melbourne Meditation Centre.
There is always more to read, practise, question and understand!
2023: Mindfulness consultations for manual therapists
I began offering consultation sessions for individuals and clinics wanting to explore mindfulness, wellbeing, therapist support and more sustainable approaches to clinical practice.
These sessions focused on helping manual therapists develop their own understanding of mindfulness and guiding them towards a practice that suited them personally, their work and the demands of clinical practice.
2025: Zen Meditation Kyoto, Japan
Experiencing Zen meditation at Myōshin-ji in Kyoto was a memorable part of my learning. I had the opportunity to practise zazen, take part in tea practice and experience the traditional use of the kyosaku during meditation. What made the experience especially meaningful was not only sitting in meditation, but spending time with the Zen monks and talking with them about their practice, their teaching and the place meditation holds in everyday life. They also had a wonderful sense of humour, which brought a warmth and lightness to the experience that I hadn’t expected.
Forest Bathing, Shinrin-yoku and Nature Awareness
I also experienced Shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, in the place where the practice originated. It is a Japanese practice of slowing down in nature and using the senses to become more aware of the environment around you.