Yogic masters including Simon Borg-Olivier, John Ogilvie, Twee Merrigan and Mark O’Brien gave packed classes and yogic lectures to a full house at the Sydney Yoga Expo on Sunday, October 19. Byron Yoga Centre sponsored this year’s expo in line with the Centre’s philosophy of the benefits of yoga rippling out to advantage wider society, and tied in well with this year’s Expo theme of ‘Come as one, bring two.’

Byron Yoga Centre teachers were kept busy all day, answering questions about yoga teacher training offered in Sydney part-time, at Govinda Valley Spiritual Retreat Centre south of Sydney and at the Yoga Room and Life Centre on Sydney’s north shore. Others were keen to travel to Byron to immerse themselves in a full-time course or yoga retreat, the first of which begins November 1.

With more than 50 local and international yoga businesses represented, five venues of back-to-back yoga classes and an entertainment line-up including kung fu and dance demonstrations and live performance by popular new-age ensemble Sacred Earth, Sydneysiders packed into Wharf 8 to stretch, talk, taste and sample.

John taught a general class in the morning, starting in down-face warrior and challenging more experienced students into back-bends, handstands and arm balances.

Later in the day, John facilitated two forums – the first with long-time teacher Eve Grzybowski of Simply Yoga, Simon Borg-Olivier of Yoga Synergy, Michael de Manincor of Yoga Sanga, Percy Garcia, Director of the Yoga Expo, and Debra McCormick of Soul Inspiration; the second with Katie Manitas of Samadhi Yoga, Mark O’Brien of Qi Yoga, Sevapuri Hurst from Yoga in Daily Life and Suraj from Kundalini Yoga.

People were able to put questions to the experts, including what practises to prioritise if your time to practise at home was limited, whether attending class or doing a home practice was more beneficial, and how to keep up inspiration and stamina when undergoing a long teacher training.

Many were curious about these senior teachers’ experiences, asking about defining moments in their yoga journeys and how their yoga practice changed during different life stages.

The day ended with a rousing kirtan led by the Govinda Valley Kirtan Band, igniting more community spirit as Sydney came together in celebration of all things yoga.