Our Team
FOUNDER and DIRECTOR - Yoga on the Inside
Sonia Brown-Diaz
I'm Sonia Bown-Diaz, a yoga practitioner since 2005. I'm the Founder and Director of Yoga on the Inside (founded in mid 2018) and the humble Australian Ambassador of Prison Yoga Project. Since starting this work of 'service' I've been pleasantly surprised and inspired by those who come to practice each week, regardless of whether they are in incarcerated settings or part of a program offered by support organisations that assist people impacted by trauma, addiction and / or mental health concerns. This work is empowering for those who participate and their feedback on a continual basis is what fuels my passion to bring this service to those who are in the most need.
Catherine Clancy
Catherine has been a Yoga facilitator for the Yoga on the Inside/Prison Yoga Project-AU team since early 2021, at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, Wacol, Queensland. Through this work, Catherine hopes to bring the benefits she has experience in her own practice of yoga to incarcerated people.
She also has her own yoga studio, White Crane Yoga, where she facilitates various yoga class styles for her local community.
Catherine completed a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice as a mature student in 2020 and is in the final months of completing an Honours degree in the same. She believes in procedural justice and post study will persue further research in criminal justice that can lead to changes for the better for justice involved individuals.
In her downtime, Catherine enjoys her own practice of yoga, tai chi, and most of all, spending time with her family and pet Rua (a lovely, very clingy Irish red setter).
YOGA FACILITATOR
Corrie Skuse
Corrie has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga classes to the women at Townsville Womens' Correctional Centre since May 2022, and brings along with her a wealth of experience.
Not only is Corrie a certified yoga teacher, but she has had a self-practice for over over 25 years, and works as a counsellor for Relationships Australia.
What keeps her returning to the practice was a feeling of inner peace, strength and resilience with an overall balance that spilled over into many aspects of life when practicing Yoga regularly.
Corrie is passionate about making yoga & movement accessible for everybody who wishes to try, as she appreciates the benefits can be far-reaching for people’s overall health and well-being.
Corrie also teaches yoga in multiple locations in Townsville including: Lighten Up Studio; a women’s gym; Wellness spaces & an Outdoor Yoga class approved by Townsville City Council.
"It is an honour to be facilitating Yoga classes for people willing to try and trust in the process of discovering the benefits for themselves, which I acknowledge can be a different pace and practice for each person." ...Corrie
YOGA FACILITATOR
Ana Viglione
Ana comes from Patagonia Argentina, she is 35 years old and has been facilitating yoga for the last eleven years, not only in yoga studios but also in different scenarios and institutions such as Prisons (9 years in a Men's Federal Prison in Argentina). From September 2022 to November 2023, Ana was the the lead facilitator at Helana Jones Centre (women's prison in Brisbane). In late 2023, Ana was also facilitating classes at the Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre From June 2023, Ana was also delivering our program with the young people at the West Moreton Youth Detention Centre.
Ana also shared this practice with our clients at Beyond DV, and with the Men’s Walk and Talk groups that we’ve had the honour of collaborating with.
As a yoga teacher, she is constantly training and deepening her practice and ways of sharing it meaningfully with people from all backgrounds and ages, in Spanish and English. She has now returned to her beloved home country of Argentina where she continues to follow her passion and purpose in yoga, wellbeing, and meditation.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Sandra Lamari
Sandra is a Yoga Therapist and meditation teacher living in North Queensland. She's recently joined the Yoga on the Inside Team facilitating enriching yoga practices for the women at the Townsville Women’s Correctional Centre.
Sandra is a firm believer of yoga to fit the person rather than the person forcing themselves to fit the yoga. As the Director of Your Yoga Therapy in Townsville, she has experienced great satisfaction through witnessing her student’s trajectory on their path to strength and wholeness through her Yoga Therapy sessions and Yoga classes. She prides herself on creating practices to access people from all walks of life and abilities - allowing an opportunity for the benefits of yoga to reach far and wide, to as many people as possible.
Being a lover of nature, Sandra enjoys hiking and camping and has, for over 4 years, volunteered as a hike leader for Townsville Hike and Explore mostly guiding beginners who are commencing their journeys into hiking. More recently, she is holding Accessible Walks for the group, wanting to open up the joys of hiking, nature and friendship connections to differently abled people in the hopes of creating a safe space for social, emotional and physical growth..
YOGA FACILITATOR
Bianca Wooldridge
Bianca has been facilitating Yoga with Yoga on The Inside since October 2022, at Ron Barwick Prison , and O’Hara Cottages and Mary Hutchinson Women's Prison in Risdon, Tasmania.
Bianca started her personal yoga journey to manage stress and burnout, and began to teach yoga in 2018 in Spain. She currently facilitates yoga in different spaces around nipaluna/ Hobart including Yoga Studios, Community Centres, and partnering with The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens to offer classes outdoors throughout the warmer months.
She runs Postnatal Mums & Bubs yoga programmes to help support new Mums in the local community.
As a yoga teacher and Health Coach, Bianca brings a trauma informed approach to supporting people of all backgrounds improve their mental and physical wellbeing.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Jasmine Pummer
Jasmine joined the team in the latter half of 2023 as the lead facilitator at Banksia Hill Youth Detention Centre in Perth, WA, where she facilitates the fortnightly classes for young people. In October 2024 we welcomed Jasmine commenced facilitating weekly yoga classes at Acacia Prison in Perth (WA).
A lifelong yoga practitioner, Jasmine has been formally teaching since 2013, after completing her Level 1 foundational yoga teacher training.
Jasmine has a strong interest in the cross section of mental health, trauma and yoga and has maintained a steady trajectory towards a specialised skillset in the area of evidence based, trauma sensitive therapeutic yoga.
Jasmine brings a calm and gentle presence to her work as well as invaluable lived experience.
Jasmine believes that “If we can slow down and listen to our body, we can encourage deep relaxation. It is from this place that deeply stored stress and tension is released, helping us to regulate the nervous system. Ultimately, the practice of yoga connects us to ourselves and what we need on and off the mat.’”
You can find out more about Jasmine and her amazing work on Instagram
YOGA FACILITATOR
Denise Watson
Denise joined the team in mid 2022 and facilitates at at Brisbane Women's Correctional Centre, Wacol, Queensland; as well as Southern Queensland Correctional Centre, Gatton, Queensland, and the West Moreton Youth Detention Centre.
Denise first started her yoga journey in the early 2000s. It wasn’t until she met her current teacher, almost 10 years ago, that she came to see how yoga can work on different levels of your psyche and she really fell in love with it more deeply.
Denise has extensive training in yoga teaching and has continued with her professional development in Meditation and Pranayama and has a special interest in trauma informed Yoga.
She is an avid lover of animals and when she's not teaching or practicing yoga you can find her hanging out with her animal friends.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Jess Hardley
Jess (she/they) is a yoga and somatic movement facilitator. They are qualified in Embodied Flow™, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra, and advanced pranayama. Jess is also qualified and experienced in trauma informed Yin Yoga and trauma sensitive yoga. Jess has joined the team in May 2024 where she’s sharing the weekly yoga practice at the Acacia Prison in Perth (WA).
Jess has taught yoga to people aged 8 to 78 across a range of studio, private, institutional and online settings, and passionately believes that yoga can be for every-body. They are committed to creating spaces where participants can explore safety, freedom and joy in breath, movement and stillness.
Jess holds a PhD in Media and Communication, along with a Research Master's degree in Gender Studies. They have been an interdisciplinary teaching and research academic for 15 years, specialising in feminist theories of embodiment and safety - with research spanning across Gender Studies, Digital Cultures, Criminology and Education.
With an academic background in Gender Studies and theories of embodiment, Jess is passionate about bridging social justice with yoga and embodiment practices.
Jill Ayres
Jill joined the team in June 2023 as a facilitator for a pilot program being run at Fulham Correctional Centre with maximum security and low security incarerated men at Fulham Correctional Centre , in the Gippsland region, Victoria.
Health, fitness and an appreciation of nature have been her life partners and passions ever since she was a little girl riding horses on her grandparent’s farm.
Jill has experienced profound “ah ha” moments in her decades of practising, studying, and delving into further professional development surrounding yoga.
Jill’s yoga studies have included Yoga Advanced Therapy (400hrs), Somatic Movement and Embodied Anatomy, Yoga Nidra Meditation to name a few.
Jill recognises that everyone that comes to the mat is on their own journey. Jill also facilitates classes in Sale at Yoga Space Gippsland on a regular basis.
With this mindset it is now that she has reached a place that confirms her passionate life mission through yoga – to teach people the ability to connect with their inner still place, connect with their bodies and their minds, bring healing and belief to aid their personal relationships and provide people with an appreciation of community and nature.
YOGA FACILITATOR
YOGA FACILITATOR
Hayley Rowley
Hayley has joined the Yoga on the Inside team in July 2023, facilitating trauma-informed yoga classes to frontline workers for the 000 Foundation in collaboration with Frontline Yoga .
Hayley is a dedicated and compassionate trauma-informed yoga teacher, whose life-changing journey with yoga ignited a calling to share its gifts with others. Understanding that every individual's path is unique, she offers a safe and nurturing space for students to embark on their personal exploration of body and mind at their own pace.
Holistic wellbeing lies at the heart of Hayley's passion, and deeply values the mind-body connection. She aims is to foster resilience, self-acceptance, and inner peace in her students, empowering them to embrace their authentic selves.
With qualifications in trauma-aware and vinyasa yoga, as well as additional training in wellbeing, mindfulness, public safety, leadership & management and adaptive leadership sees Hayley bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her practice. Her diverse background enriches the experience she provides, ensuring her students receive a well-rounded and supportive experience.
Beyond the yoga mat, Hayley is a leadership development facilitator a proud mental health advocate.
Julie
Julie has been with the Yoga on the Inside team since 2023 and sharing the trauma-informed and embodied mindfulness practice with the justice-involved women at the low-security Helana Jones Centre (QLD).
Since gaining yoga teacher training credentials in 2016 she has provided private classes in her own small private practice. She also runs a small trauma sensitive yoga group for women with lived experience of domestic and family violence at a local neighbourhood community centre on the northside of Brisbane.
Julie says “I feel passionate about bringing the practice of yoga and mindfulness to those who are less able to access it and for those who think it is not for them. To me, yoga is about the connection we have to ourselves, which we can access through the awareness of our breath and holding in our awareness the gentle movement of our bodies. It is about kindness and patience towards ourselves, which in turn we radiate out to others without even realising it. This has been my experience and is the essence of what I hope to share with others. “
Julie is also holds a Bachelor of Counselling degree and works part-time as a counsellor for Relationships Australia. She is also a certified trauma informed coaching, and holds certifications in recognise and respond to DFV, restorative yoga teacher, trauma aware yoga teacher, and mindfulness meditation.
YOGA FACILITATOR
YOGA FACILITATOR
Gayle Newbolt
Gayle is a trauma-informed yoga facilitator and somatic practitioner living on the beautiful island of lutruwita/Tasmania where she supports people facing mental health challenges to restore holistic wellbeing to body, mind and spirit. Gayle joined the Yoga on the Inside team in 2023 facilitating trauma-informed yoga at the Risdon Prison Complex in Hobart.
She also shares her work at Hobart Women's Shelter and in her private practice offering somatic healing to groups and in one to one work.
Originally from the UK, Gayle completed her yoga teacher training in India in 2017 before making her home in Australia where she has pursued her passion for trauma recovery by completing several trainings in mental health, somatic healing and trauma-informed care. Having applied the principles of trauma-informed yoga in her own recovery from PTSD and anxiety, she is now honoured to play a part in bringing this work to her local community and is constantly inspired and humbled by the folks she gets to share trauma-informed yoga with.
Elise Douglas
Elise joined the Yoga on the Inside team in 2023, facilitating trauma-informed yoga classes to survivors of family violence in collaboration with Safe Steps. She now is leading the classes at Foundation House for a 10 week program.
Elise is a dedicated and compassionate trauma-informed yoga teacher and, with a personal yoga journey spanning over two decades, Elise has cultivated a deep understanding of the transformative power of yoga. Elise understands what it is to experience and be impacted by trauma, her own lived experience has been felt by exposure to accumulated traumas and chronic stress in her professional life. Elise recognises that very often the hardest work of all is to find your way on to the yoga mat. But, despite this, she has intimately come to know that the mat is always there for you and will allow you to show you exactly as you are and practice in any way you choose.
This awareness informs Elise's approach to yoga, creating a space that is rejuvenating and supportive, and which encourages choice and agency. Elise is passionate about sharing the transformative potential of yoga as a powerful wellness tool.
She also delivers weekly trauma-informed yoga classes to First Responders as a co-founder for Frontline Wellness in Melbourne.
Elise compassionately fuses service with serenity, offering a space where trauma can be explored with grace, navigated with kindness, and where healing can be unlocked from within.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Sandy King
Sandy (they/them) became a yoga teacher at the age of 19 and has spent the past decade and a half studying, practicing and teaching yoga across the word.
Sandy is one of our group of 3 facilitators at Ron Barwick Prison and O’Hara Cottages in Risdon, Tasmania.
As a queer person in a larger body, Sandy is passionate about creating a safe environment in which students feel empowered to practice in a way that feels beneficial to them: however they are meeting themselves on a given day.
Currently based in Nipaluna/Hobart, Sandy is now facilitating yoga teacher trainings with a focus of accessibility, diversity and inclusivity through their virtual studio Golden Yoga School.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Cecile Galiazzo
Cecile is a certified Yoga teacher who has been practising and teaching Yoga since 1992 - teacher in the tradition of Sri Krishnamacharya and TKV Desikachar and The Heart of Yoga.
A mother, grandmother, nurse and artist - she believes that creativity and good health are mutually supportive and complimentary.
Cecilie is the lead facilitator at Yoga on the Inside’s program at Alice Springs Correctional Centre, leading the women their in a weekly practice.
Her focus is teaching one-on-one Yoga for the individual - a practice in which the breath is the primary focus. She has witnessed her students embrace the principles of Yoga and develop a personal practice, a practice that is age and culturally appropriate. “If you can breathe – you can do Yoga” my teacher says!
Recently, Cecile facilitated “Wonder Walks” to take participants into landscapes that were fire affected during the 2019/20 bushfires and to see first-hand the regeneration and resilience of Mother Nature, and the community.
“We are not separate from nature. We are that. Walking, especially in the bush, reminds me of this connection – one breath, one step at a time, breathing in, breathing out.”
YOGA FACILITATOR
Amy Hill
Amy has been facilitating trauma-informed yoga classes at Adelaide Women's Prison since July 2024.
Amy is an advocate for trauma-informed yoga for those who have experience deep trauma (especially that which is related to domestic violence).
Amy’s work also sees her facilitating free/donation based yoga classes for domestic violence survivors fortnightly in Adelaide. She also facilitates her own yoga classes (vinyasa, sunrise, slow flow & yin) at community centres around Prospect, SA with her partner who teaches meditation. Together they offer classes, introduction courses (yoga & meditation), monthly relaxation events (yin + yoga nidra) and retreats, through Meditation Yoga Relationships.
For the past 4 years, Amy has also been supporting domestic violence survivors through - facilitating workshops (Healthy Communications) through the Zahra Foundation, and has written her own book on her own lived experience “My Life on Eggshells”.
Besides from teaching, Amy likes to practice yoga (when possible!), has a daily meditation practice, keeps active with her family, and is a life-long learner of personal transformation and growth. You can find out more about Amy via the links below.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Sophie Hayat
Sophie lives and works on Kaurna country in the south of Adelaide
She has taught yoga since 2013 in the styles of hatha, flow, yin and restorative. She also facilitates meditation, retreats and workshops, soundbaths, nature connection and deep ecology.
Sophie will be facilitating trauma informed classes on a weekly basis to participants who obtain supports from The Yellow Gate in Noarlunga.
Sophie has previously worked as an educator and project administrator in adult and community education, and currently works as an event, volunteer and inclusive coordinator and snorkel guide. She applies a trauma-informed approach in all of her work with people, and focuses on making yoga and other activities accessible to people of all abilities and backgrounds.
Sophie is passionate about community, permaculture, sustainability, ocean conservation and other environmental issues. She loves teaching outdoor yoga each summer at the beautiful Port Willunga Beach. You can find out more about Sophie via the links below.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Patti McBain
Patti started facilitating for Yoga on the Inside in August 2024 at Yongah Hill Immigration Detention Centre just outside Northam in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.
She also enjoys facilitating yoga and meditation classes for Cancer Council Western Australia.
In 1974 not long after her 13th birthday Patti started practising meditation & yoga and then became a teacher in the 1980’s.
Patti has valued additional training in yoga and meditation and completed a Certificate IV in Life Coaching & Mentoring and a Diploma of Transformational Counselling.
Over 10 years ago Patti created, and continues to love delivering, a 6-month Meditation Facilitation Training. Patti also offers spiritual coaching and mentoring that is focused on what she wished she had learned years ago, tools for energetic hygiene and awareness, self-esteem foundations and heart mastery.
YOGA FACILITATOR
Renée Robson
Renée is a trauma informed yoga facilitator residing on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria and is facilitating with Yoga on the Inside at the Melbourne Immigration Detention Centre (managed by Serco).
She volunteers with communities who benefit from trauma-informed yoga and teaches trauma-informed practice, facilitation and leadership practices within the workplace.
A passionate believer that the world being more trauma-informed makes it better for everyone, Renée is currently diving deep into her training with the Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) program and continuing her studies in traumatic stress.
She’s also a vocal advocate for complex trauma survivors, mental health and the workplace, regularly speaking and writing about the importance of trauma-informed practices and better leadership practices to benefit communities and workplaces. Renée is trained in Hatha and Vinyasa flow, Yin & Yoga Nidra.
YOGA FACILITATOR
YOGA FACILITATOR
Maree Goulden
Maree’s journey began in 1970 when she undertook her first 8 week introduction to yoga course in a shearing shed.
Today, Maree facilitates trauma informed yoga on behalf of Yoga on the Inside at the Hudson Road Family Centre to the clients that they support.
Maree has been a firm believer in the power of community and for 20 years since 1970, “Yoga would become my ‘holy grail’ of surviving many of my own personal stress’s”; as she puts it.
Maree says that “Over the years Yoga has changed, and I’ve seen many transformations. However, non-more than the introduction and scientific research into Trauma Informed Yoga.”
Maree has more recently undertaken Prison Yoga Projects “Foundational Training – Through the Lens of Trauma & Incarceration” training which has given her another lens of how yoga can bring about healing and other benefits to the practitioner..