Our Teachers:
Melia Wong
Melia started practising yoga in 2006, after noticing that classes at the local gym relieved the tension in her neck and shoulders from office work. She enjoys the balance of strength and flexibility that comes with daily yoga asana practice. Through her own experience in dealing with stresses from a career in finance, she has found that yoga is a great way of stilling the mind and promoting mental clarity.
Melia specialises in yoga anatomy and in injury prevention, management and recovery.
She has completed a Level 1 Yoga Teacher Training (350 hours), a Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training (300 hours) and an apprenticeship with Jean Campbell and continues to be mentored by Jean. In 2019 Melia became the head teacher and owner of the Melbourne Yoga Shala - taking over from Jean Campbell.
MELIA'S ANATOMY BACKGROUND
”I studied anatomy as part of my Level 1 Teacher Training and realised that I have a passion for anatomy and its relevance to yoga practice. Subsequently, I studied yoga anatomy in-depth in my further training and apprenticeship. I find it rewarding to help students who come to me with injuries to recover as well as learn how to move in a way that is safe but also allows for progression into more challenging postures.”
HER APPROACH TO TEACHING
”I believe that the benefits of yoga should be accessible to everyone, and that practice can be tailored to suit all levels of skill and body condition. I teach with the intention of providing practical tools that can be integrated into the demands of daily life to improve physical and mental well-being.”
CLASSES AT THE SHALA
Since January 2022 Melia has moved all classes at the Melbourne Yoga Shala online.
Jean Campbell
Jean started practicing yoga in 1994. Coming to yoga from a background of martial arts she was instantly inspired by its practice and philosophy. She has been teaching yoga for 26 years and training yoga teachers for the last 18 years.
Over the years Jean has trained in Iyengar yoga, Ashtanga yoga and Vinyasa yoga. She is grateful to her teachers including Murray Lazenby, Greg Cooper, Tracey Cooper, Louisa Sear, Lance Schuler, Matthew Sweeney, Geeta Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, Sharath Rangaswami, Manju Jois, A.G. Mohan, Indra Mohan and Ganesh Mohan as well as many others.
Jean holds a Certificate IV in Yoga Teacher Training (1200 hours) and is an ERYT 500 (Yoga Alliance) and YACEP (Yoga Alliance). She has studied Yoga Therapy with Ganesh Mohan and continues to study with the Mohan family in Yogic Mindfulness.
In 2002, Jean opened the Ashtanga Yoga Studio in Newcastle where she ran general classes, workshops and teacher trainings up until 2009. Since 2004, Jean has been teaching the Anatomy and Asana components on Lance Schuler's Inspya Level 1, 2 & 3 Teacher Trainings both in Australia and internationally as well as many other workshops, intensives and teacher trainings. Since 2003 she has been running her own teacher training courses in Australia (Newcastle, Sydney and Melbourne). In 2014, Jean opened the Melbourne Yoga Shala. Over the next 6 years a community of dedicated practitioners and teachers evolved. At the end of 2019 she handed over the Shala to Melia Wong.
Jean continues her Yoga Teacher Trainings and workshops in Australia and overseas as well as offering online courses for yoga practitioners and teachers. Please visit jeancampbellyoga.com for more details.
JEAN'S ANATOMY BACKGROUND
"My initial interest in anatomy arose due to injuries I had, despite being a dedicated practitioner of yoga. I couldn’t understand why so many people (including myself) who practised so frequently and with such dedication seemed to get hurt on the mat. This led me to research into the fundamentals of anatomy, movement and traditional approaches to yoga practice - then many years of self-practice to test and implement these principles. Now I specialise in the principles of anatomy and yoga therapy to help bring balance and health."
HER APPROACH TO TEACHING
"I believe that anatomy does not have to be boring! All the information we learn can only be useful if we are able to apply it in our practice or our lives. This is the basis for my teaching. Practical useful information that can be directly applied to your yoga practice to create a stronger, healthier, more mobile body as well as creating calmer states of mind to help us live a full and meaningful life."
WHAT SHE ENJOYS ABOUT TRAINING TEACHERS AND FUTURE TEACHERS
"People who decide to do a workshop, course or teacher training obviously have a great interest in yoga. I love to share my passion for yoga with others and explore all the possibilities that yoga offers. Seeing the dedication and enthusiasm of students is inspiring. These times give us the opportunity to be in a “yoga bubble”, allowing time and space for introspection, learning and change that we rarely experience in our day to day lives. To be a part of this process is a joy and a privilege."