About Happy Mountain

THIS IS THE TIME…

For Honouring your Self

For Connection

For Transformation

…it is our privilege to be on this journey with you.

Celebrating 24 years

Happy Mountain’s story started 24 years ago after founder Geraldine felt a strong desire to extend her experience in the fitness industry and embrace holistic health and happiness. Training in the Les Mills Bodybalance program and Vipassana Meditation awakened Geraldine’s idea of a yoga-based class choreographed to music, incorporating meditation techniques.

Classes have evolved into what they are now and will keep developing. WE are all evolving and forever changing and learning (hopefully!).

This time of uncertainty and change allows us the opportunity to check in and reset our lives, our relationship with ourselves and our world. With all the challenges, there is still so much to celebrate, and a new level of appreciation for even the simplest things.

We are so blessed to live in this part of the world, and we should honour that.

Our lovely room (sometimes referred to as “womb” or “cave”) in Wollongar has become a special space where we come together as a community to find stillness, to nurture ourselves physically, mentally and spiritually.

“Connection and time shared with members of the community, and having a team who have inspired me and enriched the Happy Mountain home, is such a joy.” – Geraldine Loong

Meet our instructors…

Geraldine

Yoga Instructor/Manager

Geraldine has been instructing classes and managing the Happy Mountain Yoga Studio for 24 years. Over the years she has remained passionate about bringing the community together, be it through yoga, concerts, Sound Healing, dancing, movies, meditation, or guest speakers, for wellness of the whole Self.

She believes that as humans, there is a longing to experience a deeper truth about ourselves, and everything, on some level, and we all want to be happy.

Meditation, music, and creativity play a big part in her life. Her intention is to keep on learning, while continuing to provide a place where people have the opportunity to keep learning also, and having fun.

Geraldine has trained in and taught yoga for children and teens and is currently teaching Yin Yoga and “Flow”..a combination of Qigong based moves, Pranayama (yogic breathing exercises), Hatha yoga, Yin yoga stretches, Relaxation and Meditation….to music.

Workshops include Trauma-sensitive Yoga and Tai Chi.

Geraldine holds an Assoc. Dip in Health Science (Sport & Exercise), 200 hr YTT, and ongoing yoga training.

Liz

Iyengar Yoga instructor

Liz Costigan is a Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher with a background as a Registered Nurse. She has practiced and taught in the Northern rivers for over 30 years. Liz studied Iyengar Yoga for over 12 years and formally ran Byron Yoga Lounge as well as conducting Yoga Retreats both in Australia and exotic overseas locations.

Iyengar Yoga is a traditional alignment based practice which is ideal of all ages and levels and for anyone suffering injury. Liz is passionate about making yoga accessible for all with the use of props/ modifications and recognising every body is different.

Postures are spoken in Sanskrit ( the root of many Indian languages) to preserve and pay respect to the ancient yogic tradition. You do not need to know the Sanskrit names as the postures are demonstrated and the methodology for this alignment based practice explained.

All levels are most welcome!

Heidi

Sound Healing Practitioner

Heidi uses a range of instruments, including her voice, to create a deeply healing sound space. Having trained with a range of teachers, she is a certified Sound Healing Practitioner and therapeutic Kundalini Yoga Teacher. Her sound healing business is ReSounding..realigning to health with sacred vibration.

Brenda

Yoga Instructor

Brenda is an internationally accredited QiYoga instructor and healing foods “activist”. She is a mother of four and passionate about holistic living, community, and empowered consciousness. Yoga is important to her because it revitalises the mind and body, allowing her to embrace life with both hands.

Brenda teaches Yin Yoga and QiYoga. QiYoga is a therapeutic blend of flowing Hatha yoga and Qigong, designed to open the meridian lines within the body, allowing the rivers of energy to flow freely. Classes engage the mind/body/spirit in a flowing, moving meditation and create the sacred space for the transformational stillness of meditation. Structural alignment and protection of the spine are key to creating an experience of profound health, free of injury and stress.

Rebecca

Craniosacral Therapist/Japanese Shiatsu Practitioner

Treatments starting at Happy Mountain on Sat 4th May.

Rebecca is a Craniosacral and Shiatsu therapist with a deep reverence for the body’s innate capacity to heal and move toward health. Fascinated by the ever-changing nature of health and how it shifts to adapt to a changing environment, she endeavours to support this natural healing force to restore vitality, and cultivate wellbeing and connection to one’s body.

Rebecca’s treatments are about tuning in and listening to our body. Curious and open, she listens to what is being spoken through the body’s tissues. Often patterns tension held in the body reflect mental and emotional states. In this way, the body offers us an honest and truthful reflection of our internal state if we allow ourselves to feel what is there. It is in this meeting with ourselves transformation occurs. Rebecca’s treatments create a space and an invitation to explore this realm where the body, mind and heart meet. Rebecca uses her knowledge of meridians (energy channels), Kyo (deficiency) and jitsu (excess) as well as structural anatomy of the body in combination with intuition, to guide her sessions.

Her journey in complementary health began in 2008 studying Craniosacral Therapy. In 2010 she completed a Diploma of Remedial Massage and over three years worked alongside an acupuncturist as a moxibustion therapist. Rebecca’s growing interest in Traditional East Asian Medicine led her to study a Diploma of Shiatsu and Oriental Therapies in 2016.

Rebecca values and encourages the development of self-care practices and other ways in which you can better manage your own health through diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. She values the power of a potential for transformation found in the felt sense of safety in your own skin. She acknowledges this as your own journey, where she is there to support. With this felt sense of safety and ease, the innate potentials within for healing are given space to flourish and emerge.