Ananda Kennard

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July 2, 2013 by Ananda Kennard

Ananda Chats With Stilettos And Green Juice.

ananda pose

Our director Ananda had a chat with Lyn from health and wellbeing website, Stilettos and Green Juice. Lyn is passionate about teaching women new strategies to cope with their stress and emotions that doesn’t involve binge eating and partying. We love her passion so check out her interview with Ananda!

Lyn: What drew you to yoga over other exercise practices?

Ananda: Initially, my mother introduced me to the practice of yoga. Later in life I was drawn to yoga because I was seeking something deeper. I wasn’t interested in going into a space and sweating. At this time, I had many issues with my body and felt that if was going to a gym class and sweating, it instilled something in my mind that made me feel as though I needed to eat more. At the beginning, I was struggling with eating disorders and found the practice was one of nourishment and nurturing for this body that had become such a battleground for me. Through yoga I began to nourish my body, feel safe and re-establish a relationship with myself.

I’ve heard yogis say that you can deal with any of life’s challenges on the yoga mat. Can you explain how yoga can help every area of your life? Has it helped you overcome challenges? What has yoga taught you about life?

It is true that a lot of yoga teachers say that this practice can generate something that you can pull from into your daily life. On the matt, if you breathe through the exercises, you’ll be able to breathe through other situations in your life. On a very real level, I believe this whole-heartedly.

What the practice has instilled in my life is more of a storage bank. Through a long period of time, showing up time and time again no matter what state of mind I am in- that dedication and discipline has built within me a bank of strength to turn to during life’s challenges. It has given me the space to observe myself and how I am participating in the world. It has given me time and space to breathe and listen.

For me, it is not so much what I get from the practice anymore on a day to day basis, but rather the experiences that have happened from day to day over time. I have had the opportunity to discover who I am and wish to be in the world.

People perceive yoga teachers as zen like all the time, but I am sure you get stressed out too! What do you do to calm down when you can’t do yoga? (e.g in a meeting, in traffic, talking to a difficult client! etc)

This is an interesting question. One of my practices as being a teacher is to not come across as a guru, Zen or someone higher. I am just sharing my experiences of dedicated practice and a commitment to a something that has shifted my experience in the world and given me tools to find freedom, connection and happiness. This is not to say that I no longer get stressed or find life challenging on a daily basis. When I am in a confronting situation, the build up of practice gives me strength and is a solid foundation to which I can turn.

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Testimonials

I have attended many of Ananda’s classes over the last few years, and I love to be her student whenever I can. Being a teacher myself I am discerning when it comes to attending a yoga class and Ananda is my favourite teacher in Sydney. She is one of those rare person who you know is meant to be a yo…
Dominique Marill
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After practicing all different types of yoga for over 15 years you know when you’ve come across a special teacher. Ananda is one of those rare teachers with the ability to teach with ease, humour and technical precision all at the same time. She can sense what each student needs at so it feels like …
Jared
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Ananda is a special teacher and unlike any other that I have had the privilege to study under. Her passion for yoga is evident in everything that she does and she walks a path of truth and understanding. Her classes are taught with a clear and thorough understanding of the body so that her students …
Cassy teacher
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I am writing this as a personal reference for Ananda Trettin. Ananda has been my yoga teacher for over 5 years, during which time she has guided me through a truly unique physical and spiritual yoga journey. I had been practicing for many years, various styles of yoga, before joining Ananda’s cl…
Karen McLeod
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My first class with Ananda completely changed my view on yoga and sparked a sense of curiosity that I had not had before. She has an acute awareness and understanding of the body and movement, which she so clearing articulates. She explores movement and alignment seamlessly and effortlessly. He…
Heidi Ancich
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Ananda has awaken my practice. Her presence in the yoga room draws attention to a person’s body, mind and soul. She teaches with passion in her heart. Her classes are never easy but her tough love for students pays off. Her constructive and detailed instructions brought me out of my comfort zone and…
June Chard
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I have had the pleasure of working with Ananda since early 2014. Preshana was the first studio to bring international teachers to Australia, and through Ananda and Preshana I have participated in teacher trainings and workshops put on by the studio, including in a 200hr training with Naoh Mazé and …
Rachel Falconer
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Ananda is among the best of teachers. And the best of teachers constantly learn, grow, shift and expand. I have witnessed and experienced this in her classes. Her passion for the craft is infectious. While guiding and prompting and encouraging with rigour, the element of play is ever present…
Tracy Mann
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Ananda is intuitive and her classes uncannily sensitive to the current mood. She has challenged me to work toward my individual capabilities. Perhaps more importantly, Ananda has presented yoga in a way philosophically that can be taken out of the yoga class and into everyday life. Yoga has been a…
Christine Price
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I began practicing yoga as a beginner with Ananda five years ago. At the time I experienced frequent, severe migraines, back and neck pain and wrist pain which all resolved themselves within several months of attending Ananda’s classes. I have taken Ananda’s classes as a beginner, during pregnancy a…
Student
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