Quick links; click to jump ahead:

• What to expect in our classes
• Personal experiences
• What is Yin Yoga?
• What is Yoga Nidra?
• Physical benefits
• Mental benefits
• BTY’s Mission + Vision
• Our Team

What to expect in our classes

Our classes include a deliberate combination of meditation, Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra.

It’s through these select styles of yoga that we aim to support members that may be experiencing;

• Stress;
• Injuries;
• Chronic pain;
• Fatigue;
• Physical and mental trauma.

These classes are even suitable for those with PTSD, anxiety and depression. However, this is not only for those experiencing any of the above symptoms; our approach has amazing benefits for all, particularly for athletes who are in peak physical condition, as a decompression from their regular training regime.

It must also be noted, that this practice is adaptive for all ages and practicing levels – for each and every individual student. We guide and encourage every student to respect their body type, injury history, mobility, and skeletal variation.

But don’t take our word, please watch the short video below – words from real students.

Yin Yoga

Yin Yoga targets the fascia / connective tissues, such as the ligaments, bones, even the joints of the body, that are not commonly exercised in more active styles of yoga; generally of the hips, pelvis, and lower spine

This yoga is suitable for all practicing levels of students, with Yin Yoga being a great complement to the dynamic and muscular (Yang) styles of Yoga available; and other physical training that emphasise internal heat and the lengthening and contracting of our muscles.

This more passive style of Yoga can be quite challenging due to the long duration the poses are held for; spending time in the poses from anywhere between three to twenty minutes. Yin and Yang tissues respond quite differently to being exercised; you need to experience this to really know what Yin Yoga is all about.  After you have experienced it, even just once, you will realise that this practice is excellent to balance all levels of physical and mental exercise.

For more information on Yin Yoga, please go to www.yinyoga.com

Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra (or, yogic sleep) is a state of consciousness between waking and sleep.  It is a state in which the body is completely relaxed, and by following a set of verbal instructions the practitioner becomes systematically and increasingly aware of their inner world.

Yoga Nidra is among the deepest possible states of relaxation while still maintaining full consciousness.  This state of consciousness, is different from meditation, in which concentration on a single focus is required.  In Yoga Nidra the practitioner remains in a state of light Pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses), with four of his or her senses internalised and withdrawn; only the sense of hearing connect you to the teacher – in a world of information overload, the Yoga practice of Pratyahara offers us a haven of silence.

The goal of Yoga Nidra is a state called Samadhi (state of intense concentration); this practice of relaxation has been found to reduce tension and anxiety.  The autonomic symptoms of high anxiety such as headache, giddiness, chest pain, palpitations, sweating and abdominal pain respond well. This practice has been used to help soldiers cope with PTSD.

FREE Yoga Nidra recordings are available via ‘Insight Timer’, click here to listen.

Mental Benefits

Include, but not limited to:

• Helping with symptoms of PTSD;
• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Stress reduction;
• Improved sleep;
• Focus;
• Resilience; and
• Overall mental well-being.

Mission

Blind Tiger Yoga’s Mission is to provide Yoga to Military, Veterans and Emergency First Responders. We achieve this by holding closed, open and private classes/events, accessible to these members and the community in various locations throughout Melbourne and Australia.

Vision

BTY’s Vision is to provide Yoga  and meditation as a complimentary modality of health management, both physically and mentally. Together we wish to achieve the following;

• To grow a community of both current and ex-serving members, utilising Yoga as an alternative and complimentary method to maintaining their overall physical, mental health and well being;
• To help those members who have experienced physical and mental trauma, stress and other issues as result of their service;
• Breaking down the barriers of who Yoga is for and how it can be implemented into any lifestyle.
• Introducing members to Yoga and the healing arts.
• Connecting with other Yoga teachers and studios, encouraging members to find a suitable teacher in their location as a means of psycho-social engagement.

My Why

Determined to find an alternative to pain management, Tristan kind of fell into Yoga.  After sustaining several injuries whilst serving in the Australian Army, and the consequential surgeries that followed, Tristan would not accept that pain medication was his only option.  He stumbled on a Yin Yoga class by mistake, it was from that moment that he was hooked.

Practicing regularly, Tristan’s quality of life began to improved immensely.  From initially attending Yoga to increase his physical range of movement, what he received was the mental release, which was more profound than he ever imagined.

He is a certified Yoga teacher and has studied in various places such as the Himalayan International Yoga Academy in Nepal, Canada with Bernie Clark, The USA with Paul and Suzee Grilley and he is also the first coalition Veteran to study at VETOGA in the USA, to name just a few.

Tristan has a deep passion and appreciation for Yin Yoga, along with Yoga Nidra and Meditation. He believes when you take your attention away from the aesthetics of the pose and pay attention to the target areas and skeletal variations amongst the students, you can then modify all poses to accommodate every students physical ability.

Breaking down the barriers of what Yoga is and who it is for is one of Tristan’s driving forces. There is a style and teacher out there for everyone, they just need to find theirs.

My story

“Truth be told, like many people, what initially brought me to a Yoga mat was the desire to move differently.. and maybe touch my toes which seemed so far from reach!

I had always been active, but that also came at a price, with knee and ankle injuries a plenty from years of start-stop sport, aerobics and the odd Winter day-trips to the snowfields to board. After returning from New Zealand nursing a twisted knee, and not long after spinal x-rays confirming an arthritic lumbar spine (unrelated to NZ), if I was to stay active I was to seek an alternative, gentler form of exercise; wise advice from my chiro – cue Yoga.

Over a number of years, a sporadic practice took me to Vinyasa, Yin and Bikram classes; I even attended a Winter Yoga Retreat. I felt happy when I practiced. Feeling both physically (and emotionally better), combined with a strong desire to transition from my stagnant office role, brings me to where I am today.

Having completed over 600 hours of Yoga training, in both Vinyasa and Yin styles; I now co-own 432 Yoga in Rowville; and am one of the facilitators at Blind Tiger Yoga.

Being the partner of a Veteran (one of whom practices Yoga!), I have stood by during discharge, multiple surgeries and medical diagnosis; I have personally witnessed the impact Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra can make to a person’s life and general ability to cope with all that it throws at you.

I’m a witness to change, and strongly believe that through the teachings of Yoga, that others have an opportunity to experience a positive shift also.”

432 Yoga Rowville, Melbourne
http://432yoga.com.au/timetable/
10% discount available for Defence & First Response personnel
Membership & Class Passes available

My Story

“Encouraged to practice mindfulness and meditation as a child, I walked into my first hatha yoga class at a local gym. I was immediately captivated by the effects particularly how I experienced myself whilst practising yoga. Compared to my other movement practices (strength, dance, sports and martial arts), it was yoga that deepened my awareness of mind, body and soul.

During two decades in top tier corporate and working internationally, I became chronically ill. For 5+ years, I experienced CNS dysfunction, chronic pain, adrenal fatigue, at times unable to walk. This journey found me depressed, angry and unable to move as I was so used to doing. Every medical specialist told me this may be how I will experience the rest of my life but I refused to accept this. During these dark days, I found the healing practices of yin yoga, restorative yoga and yoga nidra that have now become my passion. Leaving corporate to rebuild my wellbeing, I turned to studying yoga as a way to heal. My path to recovery found me completing 500+ hours training with local and international yoga teachers including Tara Judelle, Jo Phee, Lizzie Lassiter and Donna Farhi. 

As a yoga, mindfulness and mediation facilitator, my passion is to support the journey of everyone I have the opportunity to share the mat with.  I am no stranger to the impact of military service with every generation of my family serving from WW1 to present day. My late grandfather served in WW2, my late uncle in Tongan Army and four of my first cousins in RAN and RAAF. “