Meet Gemma
My yoga journey began in 2012 while I was living in Melbourne. At the time, I was navigating my own struggles and searching for a way to heal and reconnect with myself. What started as a way to move and breathe soon became a path of recovery and self-discovery. Yoga offered me a space to heal, to find inner calm and—perhaps most importantly—to find myself again.
In 2014, I travelled to Thailand to complete my 200-hour teacher training at the Wise Living Yoga Academy. That training opened my eyes to yoga as a complete way of life, grounded in the ancient wisdom of the Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali. His teaching, yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ—“yoga is the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind”—resonated deeply.
When I first began, I was a keen, strength-based student, always striving to achieve the next posture. Over time, the practice invited me to turn inward: to observe my own ego, to soften the drive to be “the best”, and to welcome stillness. I was taught to slow down, to listen, and to discover the grounding of my true centre—what in Sanskrit is called svadhyaya (self-study). Yoga has become for me a journey of uncovering the self, calming the mind (citta), and allowing the body to settle.
Since those early days, I’ve gained further qualifications in Yin Yoga and love blending the dynamic “fire” of a flowing practice with the cooling, restorative qualities of Yin. My classes guide students through a complete journey—from energising movement to the quiet release that soothes the nervous system and restores balance. Breathwork and guided relaxation are woven through everything I teach; the simple act of conscious breathing has been profoundly transformational in my own life.
Alongside my yoga teaching, I work as a mental health trainer and am passionate about nurturing wellbeing in all its forms. For me, yoga and mental health are inseparable: both invite us to cultivate awareness, compassion and resilience. My aim is to hold space where mind, body and soul can all be nourished, and where each person can gently return to their own true centre.
What our classes can do for you
At Calmways Yoga you will be guided on a soothing journey of self‑discovery and healing through yoga. Your practice flows from energising movement into calm, restorative poses, underpinned by breath‑work and gentle guided relaxation. Headed by a teacher who brings deep experience in both dynamic and Yin styles, the class creates a nurturing space where body, mind and soul are invited to reconnect and settle.