Joanne Smallwood has been a devoted yoga practitioner since her early twenties, and has taught internationally for the past 11 years. Completing her Teacher Training in 2005 at The Downward Dog Yoga Centre in Toronto, with Ron Reid and Diane Bruni, she soon traded the infamous Canadian winters for warmer shores of India. Since 2005, Joanne has been working in Goa, India, as the general manager of Brahmani Yoga, one of the leading yoga centres in the region. This enabled her to expand her knowledge and love of yoga, her teaching, whilst allowing her to further develop her passion through courses and in her own practice.
Joanne has developed a strong focus on Brahmani Style Vinyasa Flow, Prenatal and Restorative yoga.
As a certified Prenatal Yoga teacher, Joanne’s passion for the practice brought her to train and work closely with Jodi Boone and Corinna Stahlhofen to guide women through their pregnancy with yoga. Allowing women to evolve naturally through maternity, providing a safe environment for their yoga practice whilst offering tools and techniques for a natural childbirth is essential for a increased sense of well-being of both mother and child. Joanne loves witnessing those beautiful changes, whilst being acting as a guide for women to maintain a healthy state of body and mind throughout the birth – and beyond. She is inspired by natural childbirth, and the potential benefits brought by a natural approach in the journey of pregnancy to motherhood.
Her classes incorporate yoga postures and breathing techniques which are safe for all stages of pregnancy, and help create a more balanced, calmer nervous system, leading to an increased state of relaxation.
By leading the 90 hrs Prenatal Teacher Training course, Joanne will be bringing together key techniques, tools and knowledge for yoga teachers who wish to specialize on teaching yoga to pregnant women in a safe, effective and uplifting manner. Joanne is also studying to be a Birth and Postpartum Doula.
Joanne also leads a Restorative Yoga Training and she hopes to deepen her understanding of this practice by studying with Judith Hanson Lasater.