Ana Davis: 30 plus years practice, 25 plus years teaching, 20 years teacher training

I started my yoga journey as a child, tagging along to my mother’s Satyananda classes. But my love affair with yoga began in earnest when I took it up while at university. Yoga has been a core part of my life ever since. Yoga and mindful, embodied movement are like food and water to me—essential.

I began teaching in 1996 after a 12-month training with the Sydney Yoga Centre under the tutelage of the wonderful Eve Grzybowsky, Collyn Rivers and Mardi Kendall.

In 2002 I started my own yoga school, Bondi Bliss Yoga, which developed a dedicated following of students.

After teaching and practising more dynamic forms of yoga like Vinyasa Flow, Astanga, and Iyengar, my pregancy with my son in 2003 shifted my focus to a gentler, more feminine approach. And my studio, Bondi Bliss Yoga was one of the early adopters of prenatal, mums n bubs yoga, restorative yoga, gentle yoga (for seniors ), and kids yoga. Since then I’ve specialised in teaching restorative and women’s yoga: prenatal & postnatal yoga, yoga for fertility, yoga for menstruation and menopause.

In 2008 I began sharing my specialised knowledge and experience in teacher trainings courses and Bliss Baby Yoga was born. I feel blessed to have run our teacher training courses and women’s yoga workshops across Australia, Asia, New Zealand and Europe.

Between 2010-2015 I worked as a guest women’s health teacher trainer as well as a general teacher trainer on Byron Yoga Centre’s 200 and 500 hr Teacher Training Courses. I also founded their yoga therapy teacher training that included teachers like Eve Gryzbowski, Maria Kirsten and Judy Krupp on faculty.

In 2022, I stepped down from my active role as director of Bliss Baby Yoga, leaving the company in the capable hands of Nadine O’Mara.

I am now working on a freelance, ad hoc basis as a yoga/ pilates teacher and teacher trainer.

My qualifications & experience

  • Senior Level 3 Yoga Australia Teacher

  • Yoga Alliance certified E-RYT 500hr teacher trainer

  • Yoga Alliance certified RYT 500 hr (500 hr Registered Yoga Teacher)

  • RPYT Yoga Alliance (Registered Prenatal Yoga Teacher)

  • Buff Bones® Pilates Instructor

  • Founder & lead teacher of Bliss Baby Yoga

  • LifeCoach Accredited Coach (Lifecoach Pty Ltd, 1999)

  • DRM (Diploma of Remedial Massage)

I have been teaching yoga for almost 30 years, teacher training for almost 20 years and practising yoga for over 30 years.

I also have a background in many types of dance.

And, I’m a big fan of Pilates, having practiced pilates for almost 20 years. That’s why I am excited to announce that in 2023 I became a Buff Bones® Pilates Instructor. This is a safe, pilates-based work out that can support bone health.

I am also the author of the top-selling book Moving with the Moon: Yoga, Movement & Meditation for Every Phase of your Menstrual Cycle & Beyond, which is a comprehensive treatise on my unique Moving with the Moon® approach to yoga and embodied movement and meditation.

My influences

I have been inspired by and/ or studied with (to name a few!):

  • Eve Gryzbowski (yoga teacher)

  • Maria Kirsten (yoga teacher)

  • Judy Krupp (yoga teacher)

  • Donna Farhi (yoga teacher)

  • Judith Hanson-Lasater (yoga teacher)

  • Patricia Walden (yoga teacher)

  • Liz Koch (somatic therapist)

  • Dr Kristin Neff & Christopher Germer (Mindful Self-Compassion teachers & psychologists)

  • Dr Willow Brown (Taoist Sexologist)

  • Rebekah Rotstein (Buff Bones® pilates)

My eclectic approach to yoga and movement draws from the following influences:

  • Iyengar Yoga (particularly Geeta Iyengar)

  • Iyengar-based yoga - Sydney Yoga Centre-style

  • Astanga Yoga

  • Viniyoga

  • Satyananda Yoga

  • Vinyasa Flow Yoga

  • Chi Kung

  • Somatic therapy

Reach out and say hi

I now offer one-on-one yoga/pilates/movement classes as well as mentoring for yoga teachers and business owners. Book your free 15 minute intro chat to discuss how we might work together to best support your practice, your teaching and/or your business.