MALVINA RISBY

Malvina Risby is the Founder of Hom Yoga. Her passion for yoga began at age fourteen, when her love for ballet gradually evolved into a deep and profound love for yoga. Since then she has studied, and practiced many forms of yoga between Singapore, Sydney, and Los Angeles where she spent most of her young adult life.

Upon graduation from University of Southern California, and equipped with a BA in International Relations and Journalism, Malvina founded Hom Yoga with the intention to create a contemporary and fresh yoga space where all yogis can not only be physically, and mentally challenged but also feel nurtured and empowered in their practice.

With a keen interest and eye for fashion, Malvina recently founded Hipwidth, an Australian made sweatshop free yoga apparel brand designing yoga wear for the modern day person.

Malvina is dedicated to advocating for women’s empowerment and gender equality through her support for campaigns like Say No to Violence Against Women. She now works closely with UN Women and IWDA to raise awareness about the importance of livelihood and economic empowerment programs for women throughout the world. An avid reader and traveller, Malvina hopes to continue to empower young women to live truly and authentically so that they too can inspire others.

VICKY ARUNDEL

Vicky’s love affair with yoga began when she was 15; after a knee injury forced her to give up her much loved dancing classes. Her doctor recommended yoga for its gentle strengthening benefits - as it happened, her mother owned a hatha yoga book in which all the postures were demonstrated by an ex-dancer in a striking all-in-one green cat suit. Needless to say, she was immediately hooked!

After a few years of working in the computer games industry, she longed for a change of scenery and an opportunity to explore her developing Ashtanga practice further. She took the plunge and in 2009 bought a one-way ticket to Thailand to continue her yoga training.

Originally from London, Vicky has been teaching full-time in Sydney since 2009. She teaches a variety of styles such as hatha, yin, ashtanga and vinyasa.

Vicky’s classes focus extensively on alignment to help develop better physical balance, and as a vehicle for harnessing greater mental focus and powers of attention. Students are encouraged to explore their own physical edge, whilst learning to respect and listen intuitively to their own physical/mental boundaries. The emphasis is on moving mindfully, moving at your own pace and above all finding enjoyment in the practice. Vicky also enjoys teaching some of the more inherently playful aspects of the physical practice and her flow/vinyasa classes often incorporate creative sequencing, arm balances and inversions.

CRISTINA SALAZAR

Cristina has practiced many different sports during her life. It was only 5 years ago when she discovered yoga - something that she thought might be too 'soft' considering her very physical nature. Still, she gave yoga a try and quickly fell in love with it.

After she realized the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of yoga, she decided to continue on her yoga path, to learn and try different styles and eventually share it with as many people as possible.

Cristina is inspired by Bikram, Baptiste and Bryan Kest. However, her main inspiration is to truly see the change in everyone as they begin their yoga journey. She hopes to inspire and challenge her students in their yoga practice.

Cristina is from Germany and Peru and is currently living in Sydney. Cristina looks forward to share and learn with the students of Hom!

MARIA JAACSON

Maria’s yoga journey first started 15 years ago when she was at home bringing up two young children. She read an article on Bikram Yoga, which cited a few benefits; namely lifting the butt, flattening the stomach and toning the thighs.

She thought, “I’ve got to get to a Bikram class!” She came out after a sweaty 90 minutes, completely surprised that yoga could be such a great workout. She was immediately hooked!

Since then, hot yoga has remained a constant in her life while she travelled and lived around the globe with her family.

Maria is a certified 200-hour hot yoga teacher and she is now on the path to help others feel the way she feels in her own practice – a fulfillment in mind, body and soul.

ERICA PERRY

Erica has experienced an amazing transformation because of her Baptiste training. Her biggest obstacle has been suffering from severe anxiety for most of her teenage and adult life. For years, Erica went from therapist to therapist and none of them were able to relieve her from her agony.

It wasn’t until completing her level 1 and 2 teacher training bootcamps with Baron Baptiste that she was able to discover the true source of her worry.

Erica knows now that no matter what happens, she has what it takes to get through it. She also knows now, deep down, she is good enough and worthy of greatness. When Erica is practicing yoga, her mind is at ease and all the stress of life fades away.

It is Erica's goal to help you discover a new way of being. She wants you to know that you are ok, just the way you are; sometimes you need to walk through the fire to come out the other side; and you have the power to live the life you truly desire!

FIONA WISSINK

Fiona remembers her first hot yoga class as tough, enjoyable and inspirational and she wanted more!

Yoga did not come naturally to Fiona, but as she overcame her physical and personal hurdles through yoga, a whole new world opened up for her. Fiona found her inner balance and gained a happier "Self".

When Fiona realized what a big influence yoga had in her world, she put her social life on hold and took up a 101-day yoga challenge. She began to take steps to make big changes in her life.

Fiona is a certified yoga teacher and looks to share her love for nutrition and hot yoga with everyone.

THY NGUYEN

Thy began practicing yoga over 8 years ago as a way to find calm and peace from the stresses of school and everyday life. She first stumbled upon ashtanga yoga and it was amazing – love at first practice. Breathing and sweating and fully living in the moment, she never felt more connected to life.

She soon after discovered hot yoga and her life was changed forever. After a number of yoga trainings, Thy made the decision to pursue her passion for yoga and become a full-time teacher. She has followed her heart and recently moved to Sydney from Canada and is very excited to be a part of the Hom Yoga community!

Thy truly loves teaching yoga and spreading the yoga love to everyone. She feels lucky and blessed to have studied with a number of brilliant teachers and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion of yoga with all her students.

She also believes that the best part of teaching is learning; learning more about the postures, about people and their bodies, and mostly, more about herself. Her classes are fun and dynamic with a sense of lightness. Her hope is that students carry their positive energy from practice off their mats and into their daily lives.

CLAUDINE LAFOND

Initially, Claudine’s yoga journey was a means for self-improvement. Over time, it has evolved into a journey of self-acceptance. Claudine's teaching is filled with compassion and humour. Her unique approach provides a foundation of support for students to reach for their full potential in an atmosphere of comfort and safety. She uses yoga, acrobatics and healing arts to teach strength and endurance while encouraging the gentle but powerful art of surrender.

Since her first yoga class in New York City over 15 years ago, Claudine felt as though she had been touched by something magical.

Since then, she has passionately sought every opportunity possible to practice and learn from teachers around the world within various lineages. These include Kripalu, Anusara, Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa and AcroYoga. Claudine is also a Certified Fitness Trainer, Pilates Mat Instructor, Holistic Health Counselor and a Thai Massage/Cranio-sacral therapist.

Her intention is to create an environment where students can experience the infinite possibilities within themselves, to move freely without pain, to feel good no matter what may come their way, and to simply have fun! As she likes to say, "in every breath, there is opportunity for transformation". Claudine's humble guidance points her students towards the wisdom and strength they already possess.

ABBIE PLUMMER

Abbie grew up on the East coast of America playing sports and running. Always assuming that Yoga was “too soft” for her, she never tried it until finally, at University, a persistent friend convinced her to come to a class. She left the hot class after 90 minutes feeling thoroughly worked out, and amazingly calm. Her running had always kept her in shape but never offered her the peace of mind and love for herself, and her body that the yoga class did.

Abbie completed her teacher training in Singapore with Leah Kim, a modern and liberal yogini.

Yoga has since helped Abbie understand and deal with her anxiety and body issues. She believes that Yoga can be for everyone. You don’t have to be a vegan or a hippy to be a yogi, just have to have an open mind and heart.

Abbie is studying at the University of Sydney and works part time at an Animal Shelter, she looks forward to spreading her love of yoga to all who come to their mats!