About
Life is about movement!
Every day the world and our lives change...so too with our bodies. We are made to move, if not, things get stuck! Personal health and well-being has been a great focus for me and I have always appreciated the overall benefits of leading an active lifestyle.
After participating in many sports I came across Yoga over 25 years ago and since then I have developed a great love of this ancient science and philosophy. I believe that it can provide a set of guidelines for healthy living including postures, breathing techniques, relaxation & meditation. All of which can help me to live life in a more thoughtful, mindful manner that can enhance my body, mind and spirit.
Grateful thanks to my teacher and journeyman Jean-Alain d’Argent Director of Dharma Yoga Health Centre who has fostered the love of Yoga in me along with being continually guided by the classic Yoga texts and fellow Yoga colleagues.
Some of the benefits I have personally experienced include: improved fitness, balance and coordination, better posture, increased self-esteem, training in discipline and responsibility, building strong bones, muscles and greater flexibility, enhanced mental focus and concentration, the awakening of creativity, self-expression and imagination and the soothing our emotions, calming anxiety and increasing relaxation.
Yoga to me is like a vitamin tablet to my whole life! So I invite you to come and join me – your experience will be heartfelt and joyful. You will be in a supportive and caring environment where your individual needs will be catered for.
About Bernadette
Bernadette is a fully qualified registered classroom teacher with an Advanced Diploma of Yoga Teaching from CAE/Box Hill TAFE (1000+hours), she also holds a Master’s Degree in Education and works professionally in education and elite sport. Bernadette has worked in senior education roles and then was employed at the Victorian Institute of Sport (for 17 years) in the role of Personal Excellence/Athlete Career and Education Coordinator and recently completed 3 years and 4 seasons as the Well-being and Personal Development Manager at St Kilda Football Club for the inaugural Women's Team. Bernadette consults part time now and is currently teaching Yoga and Aqua Yoga in a range of settings listed below. She is a Yoga Australia Registered Teacher, who is firmly committed to promoting “safe health and well-being”. For more detail - Bernadette's professional portfolio can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/bernadettesierakowski
Classes
Hatha Yoga is a guided process of postures (asana) flowing movements and stretches linking breathing patterns, yoga philosophy, and relaxation with the aim of building strength and flexibility of mind and body. Class Duration is one hour.
GROUP - Classes are suitable to all levels of experience and age. In the group session we focus on building overall health and well-being. We progress through a specifically designed program for an overall body workout and often focus on a relevant theme and aspect of the body. Each session will include a warm up, completion of a range of poses, breath awareness, some deeper understanding of the ancient science of yoga and some relaxation time at the end.
INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE TUITION - Private classes can be a great way to build confidence and learning in Yoga. The class can be completely “tailor made” to your personal needs whether a beginner or more experienced, or recovering from an injury or a particular life circumstance. Progress can be adapted and modified to your particular body and lifestyle. This can occur within your own home if you wish or privately in my home studio. This scenario can be a little less structured and less formal than a group class. You may wish to include a partner, family member or friend.
IN THE WORK PLACE - More organisations are realising the overall benefits of having a healthy and well staff. Businesses are now providing Yoga classes prior to, at lunch time or after hours on site. Yoga has proven benefits of enhanced well-being, the ability to focus better, builds creativity, and it can strengthen and provide greater flexibility of mind and body. It can be a calming and reduce the stresses enabling clarity of thinking along with supporting mental health and well-being. Research has shown that by having yoga at work available – it can lessen absenteeism, reduces hostility and aggression, guards against burn out and builds healthier bodies and minds. All equipment needs can be provided at suitable times for your workforce.
SPECIAL EVENTS - Yoga sessions are also available for special events including: key family celebrations, hens parties, men's health groups, well-being expos, schools and educational environments, along with rural and urban retreats. It's a lovely surprise for participants.
AQUA YOGA - This session is conducted in a heated therapy pool providing the opportunity to undertake yoga stretches and relaxation in this serene aquatic environment. During the session we move through a range of postures and breathing techniques that allow for increased flexibility, building strength and balance, reducing joint pressure and bone stress with the buoyancy of the water, increasing postural control and core strength, along with decreasing stress and anxiety. The session "weaves its magic" to improve your overall wellbeing and fitness. Attendees are to bring their own bathers, towel and drink bottle - all other equipment will be provided.
WORKSHOPS - (Duration 2 hour sessions) Themed restorative 2 hour workshops are available in personalised small groups (up to 4).
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Breathe and Be Calm
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Restore and Renew
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Health and Healing
Next workshops to be advised for 2024
Currently Teaching @
Public B Well Aqua Yoga Sessions at the new Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing in Moorabbin (adjacent to the St Kilda Football Club) 32 - 60 Linton St Moorabbin Vic www. dannyfrawleycentre.com.au Tel 03 8567 3700
Sessions are Mondays 11.OOam - 11.55am & 12.OO noon - 12.55pm I Tuesdays 11.OOam - 11.55 noon
Thursdays 12.OO noon - 12.55pm
(Please note Membership to Wellness/Aquatic Programs is required and advance booking is essential).
B Wellers - Private Community Street Group - Hampton Wednesday evenings during the School Terms 5.30pm – 6.30pm
Private and Corporate Setting - see above for offerings
Past Teaching Settings
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club - Morning Classes for members and open to the public.
From Wednesday 20th Dec 2023 every morning at 7.30am - 8.30am until 25th January 2024
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club - Members Morning Classes from late Dec 22 to late January 2023
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club - Members Morning Classes from 18th Dec 21 to mid January 2022
Guest Sessional Teacher at the St Kilda FC AFLW and the SFNL Development Squad 2021 and 2022
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club - Members Morning Classes during December 2020 and January 2021
Portsea Surf Life Saving Club - Bronze Camp in December 2019 and Members Morning Classes during December/January 2020
Guest Teacher at the St Kilda AFL Womens Team Camp and the SaintsFit Program in December 2019
Public Yoga Teaching at B Well Yoga @ Classic Wellness, Hampton March till Nov 2019
B Well - Private 1 - 1 Individual Private sessions for strengthening, relaxation and healing in preparation and recovery from surgery
B Well - Private Couple Private sessions for a couple wishing to strengthen and tone their bodies and for overall well-being
B Well - Private Group sessions Tailor made group session on a particular theme e.g. hip openers, lower back support, relaxation and mindfulness, abdominal toning, leg and shoulder strengthening etc.
B Well Yoga @ Lululemon Store A series of 5 classes conducted at the Brighton Lululemon Store
B Well Yoga @ Sweatmaster Health & Fitness Gym Hampton April 2015 till March 2018