Associate Professor, Department of General Practice & Coordinator of Mindfulness Programmes Monash University Melbourne, Australia

Dr. Craig Hassed works at the Department of General Practice and is Coordinator of the Mindfulness programme at the Monash University. His teaching, research and clinical interests include mindfulness-based stress management, mind-body medicine, meditation, health promotion, integrative medicine and medical ethics. Craig is regularly invited to speak and run courses in Australia and overseas in health, professional and educational contexts. He was the founding president of the Australian Teachers of Meditation Association and is a regular media commentator. He writes regularly for medical journals and has published nine books:

• New Frontiers in Medicine (Volumes 1 and 2)
• Know Thyself on mindfulness-based stress management
• The Essence of Health on the lifestyle approach to health and chronic illness, which is a textbook co-authored with Kerryn Phelps
• General Practice: the integrative approach, written with Stephen McKenzie
• Mindfulness for Life, written with Richard Chambers
• Mindful Learning on the role of mindfulness in education
• Playing the genetic hand life dealt you,  a book on epigenetics
• The Mindful Home, written with Deirdre Hassed

Craig was also featured in the documentary, ‘The Connection’ and wrote the companion e-book, The Mindfulness Manual and co-authored with Richard Chambers the free online ‘Mindfulness’ course in collaboration with Monash University and FutureLearn. His  next book on the role of mindfulness in medical education is due for release in mid-2016.

Dr. Craig Hassed’s Presentations:

Medical Director & Dean of Yoga and Life Sciences S-VYASA University of Yoga Sciences Bengaluru, India

Dr. R. Nagaratna is one of the pioneers in the field of yoga therapy. She has over 80 publications in national and international journals and has 11 books on the therapeutic effects of yoga on different ailments. She has been felicitated with numerous awards such as:

• Patanjali Award (2000) for her contributions in the field of yoga by the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy (ISM & H), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India,
• The Vaidyashree award (2001) by Dr. P S Shankar Pratishthan, Gulbarga,
• Woman of Excellence Award (2003) by the Badaganadu Sangha Association, Bengaluru, for service to humanity through yoga therapy,
• Karnataka Kalpavalli award (1995) for ‘Service to women through Yoga’, awarded by ‘Shaswathi’ a women’s organization, NMKRV College, Bengaluru,
• Doctor’s Day award (July 1992) by IMA, Bengaluru branch.

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA

Dr. Khalsa has conducted biomedical research in yoga since 2001. He has practiced yoga since 1971 and is a certified instructor in Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. He is the Director of Research for the Kundalini Research Institute and the Kripalu Centre for Yoga & Health, Research Associate at the Benson Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He has conducted research evaluating yoga for insomnia, stress and anxiety disorders within public schools. He works closely with the International Association of Yoga Therapists, conducts the annual Symposium on Yoga Research and serves as editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Yoga Therapy. He is author of the Harvard Medical School ebook Your Brain on Yoga, and editor of the medical textbook The Principles and Practice of Yoga in Health Care. Since 2005 he has led a Harvard Medical School elective course in mind-body medicine.

Sat Bir Singh Khalsa’s Presentations:

Professor of Complementary Medicine and Head of the Department of Complementary Medicine School of Health Sciences RMIT University Melbourne, Australia

Professor Marc Cohen is one of Australia’s pioneers of integrative and holistic medicine and has made significant impacts on education, research, clinical practice and policy. He is a registered medical practitioner with degrees in western medicine, physiology and psychological medicine along with PhDs in Chinese medicine and biomedical engineering.

In 2002 he became Australia’s first Professor of Complementary Medicine and Head of the Department of Complementary Medicine at RMIT University, which was by far the largest such department in the country with around 100 staff and 1000 students. He currently leads the Wellness Discipline in the School of Health Sciences at RMIT University and serves as Program Leader for RMIT’s online Master of Wellness Program as well as being primary supervisor for 4 PhD students and previously supervising 8 honours, 7 PhD and 2 Master’s students.

He is a current President of the Australasian Wellness Association, a Board Member of the Global Wellness Summit, Past-President (from 2000-2007) of the Australasian Integrative Medicine Association (AIMA), a member of the RACGP-AIMA Joint Working party and sits on the Editorial Board of five international journals.

Prof Cohen has published more than 80 peer–reviewed articles, authored more than 20 book chapters and edited 8 books on holistic health as well as co-authoring the landmark text; Herbs and Natural Supplements an Evidenced Based Guide, with the first two editions being short-listed for an Australian Publishing Award in the scholarly reference section. He is also co-editor with Oxford University’s Prof Gerry Bodeker of the landmark text Understanding the Global Spa Industry which is the first academic book documenting the global spa and wellness industry. He writes a regular monthly column for Prevention Magazine and is regularly requested to examine PhD thesis from many local and international universities and peer-review articles for numerous international scientific journals.

Prof Cohen has extensive experience in running clinical trials and other multidisciplinary projects. He has been involved in running more than 10 industry-funded randomized controlled trials as well as being CIA on two NHMRC funded trials on the use of yoga for geriatric insomnia and the use of acupuncture for analgesia in Emergency Departments. Prof Cohen is currently involved in research into various aspects of holistic health including the use of organic foods in reducing pesticide exposure, the use of yoga and meditation for insomnia and stress, and the use of various therapies and lifestyle interventions for detoxification from environmental chemicals.

Prof Cohen’s impact on the field is recognized by the media and he has received four consecutive RMIT Media Star Awards as well as the inaugural award for leadership and collaboration from the National Institute of Complementary Medicine.

Dr. Marc Cohen's Presentations:

Faculty of Health Science University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Dr. Pauline Jensen has conducted research for a period of twelve years on the effect of yoga on behaviour disorders including hyperactivity, anxiety and aggression in children. She is a yoga teacher, researcher and the co-author of a study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders entitled ‘The effects of yoga on the attention and behaviour of boys with Attention - Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Dr. Jensen’s study into the benefits of yoga found that young males who practiced yoga displayed decreased emotional liability, restlessness, and impulsive behaviour.

Dr. Jensen grew up in the suburbs of Melbourne, where the word yoga was not a part of anyone’s vocabulary. In her early 20s, life took her in a most unexpected direction. In searching for greater purpose and meaning, she discovered yoga through a book she found at a health food shop Yoga for Daily Life, by Elizabeth Haich with Yehudi Menuhin. Dr. Jensen taught herself to practice yoga from this book and continued to practice yoga for about ten years.

Trained as a primary school teacher, Dr. Jensen was introduced to Satyananda Yoga at the Bellingen Ashram. During this time, as a teacher at  a small school, she also taught yoga to the children. She travelled to the Kimberley to teach in a public school where she included yoga in the curriculum for the Aboriginal children. She became a yoga teacher with IYTA in 1996 and gained a diploma in massage therapy.

Dr. Pauline Jensen’s Presentations:

Professor, Head of Anvesana Research Laboratory S-VYASA University of Yoga Sciences Bengaluru, India

Dr. Manjunath Heads the Research Department (Anvesana Research Laboratories), at S-VYASA University of Yoga Sciences, Bengaluru. He is also the Editor of International Journal of Yoga (IJOY), a PubMed indexed yoga research publication of S-VYASA University of Yoga Sciences. He is also the Director of VYASA Health Care Global Pvt Ltd, which is an outreach partner of VYASA and industry partner of S-VYASA University of Yoga Sciences. He has 25 years of research experience and more than 30 research publications on yoga to his credit. He has guided more than 15 M.Sc. & 8 M.D. students in yoga. He has presented a number of papers on yoga and Naturopathy at many national and international conferences. He is also a member of Scientific Advisory Committee, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

Dr. Manjunath’s Presentations:

Founder/Director of Yoga and integrated mind body therapies, Alternative Medicine Practitioner, Auckland, New Zealand

Pooja is a master yoga teacher/mentor, yoga therapist, yoga teacher trainer and clinician. She runs a busy clinic with an emphasis on yoga therapy, ayurveda and Eastern naturopathy. She worked for many years as Assistant Head of Faculty and Senior Tutor at Wellpark College of Natural Therapies, Auckland, New Zealand.

She has received several awards including:

• ‘Tutor of the year 2010 NZ’ (NZAPEP) for Excellence in Teaching and facilitating Yoga Philosophy, Practice and Therapy in tertiary education,
• ‘Yogini Award’ for Excellence in Teaching and Practicing Yoga.

Her expertise in sculpting the mind and the body through the traditional practice of natural therapies has transformed numerous students. Pooja has also initiated and been actively involved with many community health programmes in yoga with the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education. Pooja sees her role as promoting the Indian Traditional Art of Yoga and Naturopathy to the Western world.
Pooja teaches group classes, workshops and courses as well as running a busy clinical practice specializing in the therapeutic applications of yoga, ayurveda, and naturopathy. She has many years of experience in successfully managing a wide range of health disorders such as muscular-skeletal problems, arthritis, obesity, depression, asthma, hypertension and many other chronic health conditions. She also specializes in women’s healthcare including hormonal imbalances and pre- and post-natal management.

Ms. Pooja Maddela’s Presentations:

General Manager, ADFNSW- Kathleen York House Sydney (A Women’s Residential Addiction Centre)

Dr. Latha Nithyanandam has over 30 years of experience as a psychologist using the theory and practice of yoga in her clinical practice. She began her psychology career in Chennai, South India working with intellectually disabled children, where she first came into contact with, and later trained under, Shri TKV Desikachar. She eventually became the Research Director at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (1984- 2001). Her doctoral thesis was entitled Yoga as a Mind Body Approach for Well Being. Her specialization integrates ancient complementary philosophies with contemporary international trends and practices to improve the quality of life. She has many publications and has presented many papers in national and international conferences.  She has been working as a Consultant, Faculty, Therapist and Supervisor at various Hospitals, De-addiction Centres, Teaching Institutes, and Facilities for people with Intellectual Disabilities, Corporate and Schools in Australia and India. She has undertaken an internship in West Germany and has conducted various workshops in India, Germany, Holland and Australia. Since moving to Australia she has been using yoga in her clinical practices, especially in working with children and adults with intellectual disabilities and women with drug and alcohol problems.

Dr. Latha Nithyanandam’s Presentations:

Ayurveda / Alternative Medicine Practitioner, Sydney Ayurveda Centre Sydney, Australia

Dr. Rama Prasad has taught and presented the practice of Ayurveda at an international level for over 25 years. Dr. Prasad’s presentation style is absorbing with pure devotion and a strong sense of logic. He promotes Ayurveda education with science and common sense so that students and practitioners get an accurate understanding of its principles and application. He has organized and participated in numerous international Ayurveda and Yoga conferences in India and Australia. He has identified around 2000 classical Ayurveda herbs in Australia, including many species which are endangered in India. At his Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne clinics, he specializes in "stress and its effect on the body" and uses effective mind-body treatment techniques. Currently he is working on a number of projects internationally, including an Ayurveda Conference in Melbourne 2017, an Ayurveda dictionary, a online training programme for practioners - “ The Story of Ayurveda” and an Ayurveda eco-health farm in Australia. He is part of a vibrant Ayurveda community with passionate professionals and participants in Australia.

Dr. Rama Prasad’s Presentations:

CEO Rezilium & Chair of RUOK’s Conversation Think Tank Sydney, Australia

Kamal Sarma is one of the world’s leading experts on resilience and human connection with a particular focus on creating resilient leaders so that they can go on to create resilient organizations. Kamal is the CEO of Rezilium, which is a strategic leadership development firm specializing in taking organizations to their next stage of growth by letting go of past assumptions and creating a new future.
Kamal has had a unique background of training as a monk for 6 years as well as pursuing a corporate career.  Kamal has held senior executive positions in organizations including McKinsey & Company, Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, St George Bank and AMP Capital Investors. Kamal has also been the co-founder of two venture capital businesses in the IT and biotech sector.

Kamal has conducted leadership programmes for a number of top tier organizations such as Google, Facebook, T Rowe Price, Bank of New York Mellon, Reserve Bank of Australia, PwC, Ernst and Young, Westpac, Biogen, Commonwealth Bank and ING Global.

Kamal is the author of the international bestseller Mental Resilience: The Power of Clarity – How to develop the focus of a warrior and the peace of a monk’. He speaks globally on resilience and leadership. Kamal’s book, The Leadership Leap-(Un) Learning How to Lead’ was featured on Google talks. His latest book is WinWin Conversations: The Art and Science of Human Connection.
In addition to his corporate work, Kamal is a co-founder of the Institute for Mental Resilience. This is an organization that, amongst other activities, supports rescuing young children from sex slavery in India, Nepal and Cambodia. He was recognized for his peace work between the Chinese and Tibetans in 2008. 

He is currently the Chair of RUOK’s Conversation Think Tank.

Mr. Kamal Sarma’s Presentation:

Founder Yoga Circle & Yoga Therapist Queensland, Australia

Vivianne has been practicing, studying and breathing yoga for more than twenty years.  Yoga was the source of clarity, calm and connection for Vivianne during a challenging corporate career and busy lifestyle.   The desire to learn more about yoga took her to India many times, learning direct from the source in the Iyengar and Ashtanga traditions. On returning to Australia, after a decade away, Vivianne studied with Radiant Light Yoga teachers, Adam and Akash Bornstein to further her yoga qualifications as well as with various other teachers.

Vivianne loves connecting to the energy of nature and expressing through the body: swimming the ocean, riding the forest and running the beach. She finds that yoga is a wonderful way to ensure the body stays grounded, stretched and strong to support and enhance our life, also giving freedom of mind and spirit.

Vivianne teaches Vinyasa yoga as a meditation of breath, movement and positive intention. She guides us to channel energy from around and within, to clear internal energetic pathways and heal the body, so feeling connection to Self and Universe. Her classes are set with the intention of a deep transformational mind-body experience.

Yoga Circle is the inspiration of Vivianne, who has created this tranquil space supported by experienced and passionate teachers. A place that facilitates self-awareness, union and connectedness through the joyful transmission of yoga and other healing modalities. The intention is to grow a strong local yoga community, as well as inviting visitors to connect with our circle and deepen their experience with Noosa.

Vivianne teaches group and private yoga classes as well as offering Kahuna massage, crystal bowl sound meditation at the studio.

Vivianne Barry’s Presentations:

Saraswati Yoga Acharya, Bihar School of Yoga, Yoga Therapist and Psychotherapist Sydney, Australia

“I read my first book on yoga and meditation when I was 13 years old: The Third Eye by Lobsang Rampa tells the story of a young boy who enters a Tibetan Monastery and undergoes rigorous training to become a spiritual adept. This story awoke a deep longing and set the course for my life.”

As a western medical doctor, yoga acharya (authority), yoga therapist, psychotherapist, author and teacher, Shankardev’s work integrates western mind-body medicine and psychotherapy with eastern methods of mind-body development and awakening consciousness. He treats chronic physical and psychological diseases by combining western medicine with yoga, yoga-tantra, Ayurveda, and other systems of self-development.

As the co-founder and director of Big Shakti, Shankardev ‘s guided meditations and courses derived from techniques that have developed over 40 years of live teaching and running a yoga therapy medical practice. After attaining his medical degree in 1976, he travelled to India to study at the Bihar School of Yoga for 10 years. During this time Shankardev wrote several books on yoga and yoga therapy returning to Australia in 1985 to research the physiology of yoga at the University of New South Wales, completing a Master of Science degree in 1990.

Over the last 40 years, Shankardev has travelled widely through many countries, learning and teaching esoteric Eastern traditions. Being privileged to meet and study with many wonderful gurus, teachers and mentors, he has made many spiritual friends. As a result, he has attained a broad range of both inner and outer experiences, and many wonderful synchronicities.

These experiences have convinced Shankardev of the validity of yoga and meditation as potent ways of rejuvenating ourselves, of uplifting our minds and hearts, and awakening greater insight into the nature of life and the world we live in.

Authorship of Books:

• Yogic Management of Asthma and Diabetes
• The Effects of Yoga on Hypertension
• The Practice of Yoga for the Digestive System

Contributions to Books:

• Kundalini Tantra (Bihar School of Yoga)

Edited Works:

• Surya Namaskara: a technique of solar vitalization
• Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Moola Bandha: The master key
• Prana and Pranayama
• Sure Ways to Self-Realization

Swami Shankardev Saraswati’s Presentations:

Founder Yogaphysio & Senior Physiotherapist Queensland, Australia

Tam has been a qualified and registered physiotherapist since 1994. She has extensive experience in treating a variety of problems ranging from acute injury to long term persisting pain. Wide ranging hospital and outpatient experience have equipped her to consider the needs of clients with different health conditions. She worked for 8 years in pain management centres alongside doctors, psychologists and occupational therapists including St Thomas’ Hospital, London and PainLogic, Brisbane. During this time she was trained to incorporate principles of cognitive behavioural therapy into her physiotherapy practice. In recent years she has moved to use the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) into her one-on-one sessions with clients to enhance their physical rehabilitation.

Tam has been practising yoga since 1994 and teaching since 1998. She obtained her yoga teaching qualification with the British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) in the United Kingdom. She is currently a senior level 3 member of Yoga Australia (YA), having completed a Diploma of Yoga Therapy with Yoga Therapy Australia. She is also a member of the Australian Association of Yoga Therapists (AAYT).

She has studied yoga with senior teachers in the United Kingdom, India and Australia. Her yoga therapy training was with Dr. NC (N Chandrasekaran) who is a medical doctor and yoga therapist with over 25 years of practice. His training expounds how traditional yoga complements medical practices. This 3 year training included an internship in Dr. NC's Chennai Clinic, a unique and rewarding opportunity.

Tam has studied yoga and meditation beyond her yoga teacher training with various teachers in India and spent regular retreat periods in guided and self directed, silent meditation.

Ms. Tamara James’s Presentations:

Yoga Therapist and Teacher, Sydney, Australia

Remy first discovered Hatha yoga after being injured in an automobile accident. After many months of rehabilitation, he was not satisfied with his level of mobility, or pain. Yoga helped Remy significantly, and soon he was practicing 6 days a week. Remy then became steadily attracted to other aspects of yoga, including the literature and meditation techniques.

Remy’s classes are a mixture of enthusiasm, depth, humour and vitality. For his regular weekly classes, he incorporates Vinyasa-style strength and breath synchronization during standing asanas and Yin-style holds for seated asanas. He also teaches a variety of popular workshops focusing on all aspects of yoga, including meditation, breath work and philosophy. He is a strong proponent of adapting the postures to fit the needs of the student and working positively with what a student brings to class in the moment. Remy continues to study under masters in such diverse disciplines as Aikido and transpersonal psychology.

“Yoga provides me with a positive framework for living. It is multifaceted and respectful of all traditions and levels of development, allowing a practitioner or aspirant to go as deep as they want. It is a great source of stability and joy for me.”

Yoga Teacher, Spirit of India (NSW) Inc., Sydney, Australia

Suresh Yogi is founder of Spirit of India (NSW) Inc. a not for profit organisation promoting Hatha Yoga in Sydney since 2004. Spirit of India (NSW) Inc. conducts Yoga workshops, Yoga awareness programmes and assists Yoga conferences.

Suresh Yogi's Demonstrations: