A new future for the Yoga School in Hervey Bay

Polly and Vera will cease trading as The Hervey Bay School of Yoga at the end of September 2026 and will trade under the business name of Woodgate Beach Yoga.  However, we are very happy to announce that 54 Torquay Road Pialba yoga space will continue as an Iyengar studio. How wonderful for our community.

Troy Johnson will commence trading as Hervey Bay Yoga and will use the web domain that the school used for the last 14 years. www.herveybayyoga.com.au He will also use the same email: office@herveybayyoga.com.au He now has management of the school face book and instagram accounts. These changes are unfolding at the moment and you will hear more about it as new websites and timetables are launched.

For the individuals involved in the transition of the yoga space at 54 Torquay road in Hervey Bay, including Polly and Vera who for 10 years managed and taught daily in the space;  Susan from MoveFreelyLiveFully, who, since November 2023, has been managing the space under a “Yoga space for hire” model;  to Troy who will reassert the Iyengar lineage in the imminent launch of Hervey Bay Yoga, each had/has a story, a dream, hopes and attachments about what might unfold. 

The below picture is a good example.  It was taken during the demolition of the space.  We were sure that wall had to come down. Funny to think that we rebuilt this wall about 10 years ago. 🙂

Each of us involved in the leasing and management of the space, are Yoga practitioners. We have all been touched by and held within a Yoga practice – and specifically a practice strongly influenced by Prashant Iyengar. This is how the lineage filters through.  Prashant changed my orbit and in turn my orbit draws my students along the same path. 

Let me explain.

In 2008, Prashant Iyengar, in a simple statement made in class changed what I understood a yoga practice to be.  My memory of the event of his teaching has percolated within me and today this is how I explain it. Prashant taught that the function of practice was to cultivate a force, like gravity… that the force was an experience of stability, space, stillness and silence.  When we practice with reverence and attention to these attributes, they become established in us. Living from the subjective experience of these as “conditions” cultivates our authentic presence in the world.

These terms “the gravity of stability, space, stillness and silence” are heard in nearly every class.  Every instruction is an invitation for a student to move deeper into these experiences. 

Prashant Iyengar also introduced me to “Modes of practice” – which many of you know from this poster.  For a long time it was on the wall in the Hervey Bay studio.  Now is welcomes people to the studio in Woodgate.  We use it to give the asana context and to help student understand what is involved in a practice.  Troy has asked if he can make a copy and put it up in the studio in Hervey Bay.. and of course we are very happy to know this will happen.  

Flowing through us as practitioners, are the flavours of yoga that our teachers and their teachers before them have tasted. 

It is also important to remember the work that has been done in the space at 54 Torquay Road for the children of the Hervey Bay community.

See below, the lovely picture of some of the children who attended classes at the studio with Vera.  They are exploring breath.  Vera certainly left a legacy with her work with Childrens Yoga.  For years, each term more than 50 children attended. Truely incredible effort from Vera and such a blessing for all of those children.  So knowing this, understand why we are very excited that Troy and the other teachers of Hervey Bay Yoga will recommence yoga for  children.  Vera kept all of her Yoga for children, teaching resources and will be running training sessions with the new group of teachers of Hervey Bay Yoga. 

Now, here we are in November 2026. And a practitioner, Troy, who came to The Hervey Bay School of Yoga when it opened the doors in November 2013, will become the Business Owner of Hervey Bay Yoga.  This act of courage and commitment to a community of yogis, is not so much about Troy, just as The Hervey Bay School of Yoga, was not about Vera and Polly.  It is an act arising from the inevitable expression of the force that is Yoga. 

The people who find their way to a Yoga practice such as this become equipped to be real with themselves, and to find both purpose and peace.   Actions come through us. Through the quiet still places in our hearts and minds.  I encourage you all now to start sharing the news of Hervey Bay Yoga in 2027. There will be lots of Introduction to Yoga courses and drop in classes and it is your word of mouth and your excitement to be part of this community that will fill those classes and courses.

A lovely memory along the journey of this last 10 years was the BKS Iyengar Centenary Celebration.  The picture below, was of the free class in the Pialba hall.  There was such an incredible effort by our student body to bring this huge event to the Hervey Bay community. From Chris Cullen growing plants and flowers for months in the lead up, (because the stage was huge and had to be decorated); to the trainees getting Tee Shirts printed to be Public Helpers, guiding people in and supervising the huge numbers who attended.   It was truely amazing. And so the process continues.

 

With heartfelt thanks to Susan for holding the space for these last few years; and also for her journey ahead, we offer blessings of health happiness and contentment.  For Troy and the unfolding of his new role of business owner of Hervey Bay Yoga, on behalf of the yoga community, we bow with gratitude and pray you continue to rest into your practice for support and guidance.

We look forward to seeing you all at 54 Torquay Road in Hervey Bay Yoga soon and for many many years to come.   

Namaste

Polly and Vera

 

Facebook

Teacher Training

Students who have been working with Polly for a minimum of 3
years, and who have been attending events such as the Sunday Practice Development sessions (events listed on the Woodgate Retreat page) ; and who have an established personal practice can apply to Polly to become a Trainee. Polly is an accredited teacher trainer with Iyengar Yoga Australia.  

Within the Iyengar tradition, trainees must have completed at least 300 hours of Teacher Training and 100 hours of assisting in classes, to be eligible to sit an assessment at Level 1 Teacher Certification. This level of certification allows you to teach as a recognised Iyengar Yoga teacher and make use of the Iyengar Certification Mark.

The Iyengar Yoga Association requires that a candidate for assessment is formally referred by their training teacher.  Referral (by Polly) of a trainee for
assessment is provided once a trainee demonstrates a capacity to teach and practice at the required level. Many trainees take longer than they anticipate to develop the required capacity, whilst others achieve readiness in a shorter period of time. Hence it is critical to note that readiness to be referred for assessment, is not determined by completing hours of training.
“Assessment” is better understood as a ritual rite of passage.  

If you are interested to apply for a teacher traineeship
with Polly, please email via the school to set up a time to meet with Polly.

BOOK NOW

Submit The Form To Book Your Selection
Selected :
 
Price :
 

After you submit the form you will be redirect to a confirmation page which will contain our direct deposit information to make your payment. If you have any questions please contact us.