Teacher Profiles

Robert Becker - Narayan

Robert Becker has been practising and teaching yoga for over 36 years in South Africa, Mauritius, India and Australia. Robert was initiated into yoga and meditation as a young man by his Diksha Guru HH Sri Swami Venkatesanandaji Maharaj of the Sivananda tradition, Rishikesh and was given the spiritual name Narayan. Robert spent many years practising intensively living in ashrams and travelling in India before settling into family life. In the 1990s Robert built the Kookbaurra Creek Yoga Centre in honour of his Guru which he now co-directs with Mandy, with whom he shares the spiritual journey.

The centre has been blessed by many great souls (Mahatmas) over the last decade. Sri Swami Ramakrishna of the Amritanandamayi Mission has visited a number of times, Sri Somanatha Maharishi of Hyderabad introduced the centre to Mano Yoga. More recently Sri Swami Satyanarayana Chillapa initiated Robert as a preceptor in the path of Pranahuti meditation which is now practiced daily and with a group of devotees on a weekly basis. Sri Swami AtmaChaitanya has also recently initiated the centre into Kundalini Kriya meditation, a subtle and powerful form of Laya Yoga and monthly Kundalini satsangs are now held on the first Friday evening of each month.

Robert teaches a dynamic style of Integral Hatha Yoga based on the tradition of Patanjali's Raja Yoga. Asanas and Pranayama are used to guide aspirants seeking a deeper experience of meditation.

Robert works as a Social Worker in Child Protection Services and strives to integrate a working life in the world with a love of yoga and meditation and the responsibilities of being a householder, husband and father. This is the challenge many face today, spiritualising day to day life.

Kookaburra Creek Centre is based on the principle of inclusiveness and all are welcome whatever their tradition or practice.

Mandy BeckerKnox

Mandy has been studying and practicing yoga since 1990 in both India and Australia. She has had the great privilege of studying directly with AG and Indra Mohan of the Svastha Yoga and Ayurveda Academy in Chennai; with senior teachers of the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai; with Maharshi Somanatha of the Somanatha Kshetram in Hyderabad; and with acharyas in the Ananda Marga tradition. She has also been a student of Sri Sri Anandamurti and resident at Ananda Nagar in Bihar; the Satyananda Yoga Academy in Bihar, the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh, and at the Anandamayi Ma Ashram in Haridwar. Her yoga journey has been an integration of these teachings and deep personal experience.

Mandy's teaching style is practical, relevant and spiritual - with an emphasis on a safe and meaningful practice which leads students towards health of the body and peace of mind. The breath is fundamental to Hatha Yoga and is emphasised in Mandy's classes for the healing benefit integrated breathing pratices bring.

Mandy is also a specialist children's yoga teacher, and has developed a yoga program and resources for primary school aged children.

She also conducts yoga tours to India, taking groups of yoga students to meet yoga masters (such as A.G. Mohand Indra Mohan) they would otherwise not have access to, and to visit inspiring, majestic landscapes including the Himalayas.

Her practice of yoga and the integration of the teachings of yoga inform every aspect of Mandy's life, including her roles as wife and mother, and fulltime position as Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Support Association, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to wellness, healing and education for people with cancer.

Raje Deva 

Raje teaches a beautiful, soulful style of yoga and incorporates meditation and chanting of the sacred mantras into her classes.

Completing her training at the Bihar school of yoga in India, Raje studied with various teachers and has been instructing yoga in the Sivananda style since 2000.  This style is predominantly meditative and slow, incorporating  breath and awareness within each pose.   

Raje has worked as a Shiatsu Practitioner, Yoga Instructor, Water Therapist and Musician. Currently Raje conducts meditation circles, facilitates chanting and kirtan gatherings and has recorded her second album of Mantras.