Travelling to India 18 times since 1996 to study 2 months at a time with her late Guru, Ashtanga Master Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Jude's grasp of the Yogic teachings is vast and honoured on a daily basis. Having practiced yoga since 1988 and taught since 1991, Jude's passion and love for her practice is clearly evident.
She completed the 3 year Yoga Academy apprenticeship in 1993, became a Yoga Alliance Registered Teacher in 2006 (E500 T500: see www.yogaalliance.org) and has since then cultivated a holistic approach to health and happiness through yoga poses, yogic breathing, relaxation, vegetarian diet and meditation.
Jude is the Yoga Academy's Training Director; mentoring future Yoga Teachers in the ways of the ancients. Prior to becoming a Yoga teacher, Jude was a Senior Tutor and Course Coordinator for an NZQA recognized Early Childhood Teachers Training establishment. From this environment she brings over ten years of teacher training experience to the workshops and courses she facilitates. In particular, her skills in course development, communication and facilitation, as well as knowledge of educational and developmental psychology. All modules are therefore reference based, professionally written and structured to cater for all types of learning styles. Jude has experience of teaching as both an Iyengar and Ashtanga Vinyasa practitioner and in both a classroom and one-on-one environment. In relation to these modules and training courses Jude has:
1. Authorization from the late Pattabhi Jois to teach Ashtanga Vinyasa.
2.Certification as an Experienced Yoga Alliance 500 hours Registered Teacher (E-RYT500).
3. Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program totalling 300 :Module 1 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 22-26 August, 2011 in Auckland (4o hours) on the Musculoskeletal System (Part 1): Functional Approach to Disorders of the Lumbar Spine and Lower Limb. Module 2 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 15-19 March, 2012 in Auckland (40 hours) on the Musculoskeletal System (Part 2): Functional Approach to Disorders of the Cervical & Thoracic Spine and Upper Limb, and Functional Anatomy of Breathing. Module 3 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 21-25 August, 2012 in Auckland (40 hours) on Anatomy, Physiology, and Sequencing of the Breath, Yoga Therapy for Respiratory and Cardiovascular Disorders. Module 4 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 3-7 November, 2012 in Auckland (40 hours) on Pranayama, Ayurveda, Neurological, Digestive, Hormonal & Immune systems. Module 5 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 14-18 March, 2013 in Auckland (40 hours) on Yoga Psychology for Well-Being, Depression, Addictions. Module 6 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program from 23-27 November, 2013 in Auckland (40 hours) on Yoga Psychology for Well-Being, Stress, Anxiety. Module 7 of the Svastha Yoga of Krishnamacharya: Therapy Program in Auckland (40 hours) on Holistic Health and Systems Review.
This has further enhanced her skills as a Yoga teacher as she keeps the essence of this 5000 year old teaching alive and true, thus embodying her lifelong commitment to learning and a personal belief in strength through diversity and growth through empowerment. She passes her knowledge on to her students with the love, grace and the compassion of a true Yogini.