Gaynor has an established daily yoga practice, and has practiced Ashtanga yoga for nearly twenty years, including pre and post natal yoga practice when becoming a mother to her two sons. She has been teaching yoga since 2005.
Gaynor takes the approach of nurturing students in beginning a journey, developing the student’s connection and deeper understanding of yoga and its benefits, rather than just taking a class. Her philosophy is that everyone is able to do yoga despite limitations, the key to success is having the right teacher to offer guidance and support, so the student is able to find a willingness to work through these, and diligent application to a regular practice, as little as attending one class per week.
Ashtanga yoga is Gaynor’s practice and passion, where students are taught a self practice style of yoga, memorising and practicing a set sequence of postures. Each posture is done with a specific breath (vinyasa), with the breath playing a starring role during and between each posture, to cultivate firmness (sthira), and ease (sukham), and becoming meditation in motion. In each class the art and science of yoga is applied through focal point (dristi), breath (pranayama) and posture. She also studied and teaches hatha vinyasa, a slow flow easy stretch style class, children’s yoga, private and corporate classes.
Gaynor has taught classes and conducted workshops in Fremantle, the Perth metro and throughout Western Australia. As an extension of her own yoga practice and teaching, she founded Mala Yoga, an ashtanga studio on Wray Avenue in Fremantle, Western Australia, opening in April 2012. She now lives in Melbourne, Victoria, where she currently teaches private and group yoga classes by appointment.
She travels to Mysore India to further her own practice and inquiry with Sharath Jois, and has been recognised as a Level 1 Authorised Ashtanga Yoga Teacher by the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI). Gaynor takes the opportunity to develop her teaching skills and attend classes and workshops with internationally recognised Ashtanga teachers worldwide.
Gaynor completed Yoga Alliance recognised and registered 500 hour level teacher training, is a Level 1 Authorised Ashtanga Yoga Teacher, Senior Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Australia, and Experienced Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance.