Begin Here

Our story

Kula Body

Heart of community.

A sanctuary where you feel you belong.

Meet our teachers

Our story · Since 2014

Humble beginnings.

A place to call home.

When we first opened our doors on Rohini Street in 2014, we could never have imagined what KULA would become.

Our dream was simple: to create a home away from home. A place to move, breathe, reconnect and nurture a more joyful, connected way of living.

As the years passed, something beautiful began to unfold. People came for yoga and Pilates, but they stayed for the connection, the friendships and the feeling of belonging. Our little studio grew into something much bigger than we had imagined.

In 2020, we opened the doors to a new home, creating space for our growing community. Since then, that sense of connection has only deepened.

Today, KULA is more than a place to practise. It’s a community that feels like home, where we come together to move, grow and celebrate the joy of being alive.

A place to feel good. A community to belong to.

The people behind the practice

Meet your

teachers.
Intelligent support every step of the way.

Jen Best

Yoga. Meditation. Pilates. Movement.

With 25 years of teaching experience, Jen brings a wealth of knowledge, warmth and mentorship to the Kulabody community.

Meet Jen

Melissa

TRE · Sound extraordinaire. Reiki. Yoga. Pilates.

Melissa (25 years experience) specialises in TRE (Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises) and immersive sound.

Meet Melissa

Hayley Driscoll

Vinyasa · Hatha · Yin · Yoga Nidra

Embedded in yoga for over 20 years, Hayley brings boundless energy and a love of yogic philosophy to every class.

Meet Hayley

Dean Galip

Jivamukti Yoga · Sports Science · Nutrition

With 10 years of teaching, Dean offers a strong, thoughtfully sequenced practice rooted in Jivamukti Yoga.

Meet Dean

Stephanie York

Yoga

After 10 years of teaching, Stephanie’s nurturing, intuitive classes meet you exactly where you are.

Meet Stephanie

Poune Parsanejad

Yoga

With a strong fitness background, Pouné weaves movement, breath and yogic philosophy into energising, thoughtful classes.

Meet Poune

Kaz Lenehan

Yoga & Pilates

I’m a passionate pilates and fitness enthusiast with over 30 years experience.

Meet Kaz

Monika

Teacher Educator · Pilates & Yoga

With 30 years of teaching experience, Monika is a mentor and teacher of teachers, sharing her depth of knowledge and passion for movement.

Meet Monika

Troy Terzian

Yoga

Trained in Rishikesh, Troy offers a strong, challenging practice that connects mind, body and breath.

Meet Troy

Doha Martin

Yoga · Meditation

Trained in Hatha yoga and inspired by Iyengar, Ashtanga and meditation, Doha shares the practice that transformed her own life.

Meet Doha

Nadine Kruse

Pilates

Nadine’s creative class flows stay deeply connected to the roots of the original Pilates method.

Meet Nadine

Romy Stewart

Pilates

Vivacious and full of energy, Romy brings enthusiasm and positivity to every class, helping people leave each session feeling stronger, happier and more connected to themselves.

Meet Romy

Janette

Pilates
Meet Janette

Annabel Mance

Meet Annabel

Katrina Bean

Yoga

A movement artist with a background in music, Katrina blends traditional yoga with mindful, expressive movement.

Meet Katrina

Natasha Nicholas

Pilates & Yoga

Natasha is a passionate Pilates teacher with a strong focus on technique, strength and mindful movement.

Meet Natasha

Kirstie Ogilvy

Yin Yoga · Reiki

Kirstie weaves Reiki and breathwork into her Sunday yin classes, so you are always met exactly where you are.

Meet Kirstie

Catherine Tong

Children’s & Family Yoga

Catherine’s playful, imaginative classes help children and families discover the magic of yoga together.

Meet Catherine

Jessica

Yoga · Hatha · Vinyasa · Yin
With 8 years of teaching experience, Jess brings an inclusive, grounded yet playful approach to yoga.
Meet Jessica

More than movement

Your practice.

Your people.

Come as you are. Find your people. Leave feeling more connected.

Yoga
Pilates
Events

Our home in Turramurra

You belong

here.

Located in Turramurra, surrounded by nature — a calm, light-filled studio designed as a pause from everyday life.

Level 2, 4 Forbes Lane, Turramurra Sydney’s North Shore · 2 mins from the station
Begin here
Jen Best
25 years
of teaching experience

Owner and mentor.

We’re still writing Jen Best’s full bio — ask at the studio and we’ll be happy to tell you more.
Melissa
25 years
of teaching experience
Specialises in TRE (nervous system release) and Sound bath experiences that take you somewhere.
Melissa began teaching Pilates after experiencing first hand her own long term back issues beginning to settle after 3 months of clinical Pilates. She has owned studios and mentored students in different parts of Sydney, and began teaching Pilates in 2001 and Yoga in 2008. She is an internationally certified TRE practitioner and certified sound healer and offers these sessions at KULA.
Hayley Driscoll
Over 20 years
of teaching experience
Yoga teacher

Hayley has been embedded in yoga practice and education for over 20 years. Stylistically, she guides students through power vinyasa, Hatha, yin, and yoga Nidra, and her classes are shaped by a deep love of yogic philosophy, not as ancient theory, but as something alive and useful in the middle of modern life.

Alongside her practice, Hayley holds a Bachelor of Psychology, is an End-of-life doula, and is completing a Master of Psychotherapy. This dual grounding of spirit and mind shows up in how she teaches: drawn to existentialism, questions of living purposefully, end-of-life care, the ongoing work of authenticity and self-acceptance, and a deep desire to help others face their shadows. Hayley is most at home when listening, and brings a boundless energy to her teaching, a love of the natural world, and a genuine sense of privilege in getting to hold space for people as they move, breathe, and grow. Being a mother, Hayley is a deeply curious student of life herself, and a proud part of the Kula community.

Dean Galip
10 years
of teaching experience

Sports Scientist · Nutritionist · Personal Trainer · Jivamukti Yoga Teacher

Originally from Germany, Dean’s journey has taken him from working in gyms, on cruise ships and at wellness retreats around the world to running his own yoga school in Münster. After three years of medical school, he moved to Australia in 2020 and has since been sharing his teachings across Sydney.

Dean’s journey into yoga began with a search for something deeper than physical practice. He discovered a path that brings together body, mind and spirit, offering a way to live with greater awareness, compassion and connection. His teaching is rooted in Jivamukti Yoga, combining strong, flowing asana with meditation, mantra, philosophy and the study of sacred texts.

Passionate about veganism, activism and environmentalism, Dean sees yoga as a practice that extends beyond the mat — encouraging us to move beyond the ego and recognise our connection with all beings.

What to expect in Dean’s classes: A strong, thoughtfully sequenced practice that challenges you physically while inviting you to explore your limits, shift your perspective and discover what you’re capable of.

Outside the studio, Dean loves immersing himself in nature with his children, exploring philosophical ideas and solving a good puzzle. And, if you ask him, he’s also rather good at telling jokes.

Stephanie York
10 years
of teaching experience
Vinyasa flow and yin yoga
Stephanie is a devoted student of yoga, both on and off the mat. She has been teaching for 10 years with a passion for sharing its transformative wisdom through movement, breath, and as a way of life. For her, yoga is far more than a physical practice — it is the lens through which she sees the world. Stephanie’s teaching weaves together dynamic vinyasa flow and deeply nourishing yin yoga, creating space for students to explore the seasons of their body and reconnect with their True Self. With a nurturing and intuitive approach, Stephanie believes yoga should meet you where you are. Her classes blend thoughtful sequencing, personalised guidance, and hands-on assists to create a practice that is both grounding and empowering. Stephanie encourages each student to honour their own body in the present, embrace curiosity and rediscover the joy of being alive. Through her offerings, she hopes to share a little more peace and heartfelt connection with every person who steps onto the mat, creating a welcome sanctuary where you can come back to the essentials – slow down, breathe deeply and simply be.
Poune Parsanejad
25 years
of teaching experience

Pouné’s journey with yoga began many years ago, drawn initially to its physical challenge and intensity. Over time, her practice revealed something deeper — a way to connect movement with breath, build awareness and find balance. In 2013, she completed her yoga teacher training, knowing she wanted to share the practice with others.

With a strong background in fitness, Pouné brings energy, strength and a deep understanding of the body to her teaching. Her experience spans yoga, boxing, spin and group fitness, giving her a dynamic approach to movement that celebrates both physical challenge and the importance of balance.

Her classes weave together movement, breath and yogic philosophy, inviting students to look beyond the mat and become more curious and insightful about how they live. Through these moments of reflection, Pouné encourages a deeper awareness of ourselves, our choices and the way we move through the world.

Beyond the studio, Pouné is an accomplished architect whose work combines creativity, thoughtful design and a deep appreciation for how spaces make us feel. She brought this same sensibility to the design of Kulabody, helping shape a space that feels welcoming, considered and connected to the experience of wellbeing.

At Kulabody, Pouné brings together her love of movement, her understanding of the body and her eye for thoughtful design — creating experiences that invite you to move, reconnect and feel at home in yourself.

Kaz Lenehan
Over 30 years
of teaching experience
Australian Gladiator Champion

I’m a passionate pilates and fitness enthusiast with over 30 years experience.

I love helping others build strength, improve mobility, move confidently, and create lasting wellbeing through mindful movement and functional training.

Monika
30 years
of teaching experience
A teacher of teachers.
We’re still writing Monika’s full bio — ask at the studio and we’ll be happy to tell you more.
Troy Terzian
10 years
of teaching experience

Yoga came into my life after a deep need to reconnect and recenter after working tirelessly overseas in the corporate world. I was hooked from the moment I first stepped onto a mat and after many years of practice, wanting to learn more and be able to share this gift with others, I completed my teacher training in Rishikesh, India.

I personally practice yoga to create a connection between mind, body and breath and my mission as a teacher is to share those benefits with others. Through my classes I strive to provide a strong and challenging practice, one that allows students to not only connect within themselves but to also inspire and support each other to be better.

Doha Martin
6 years
of teaching experience

Yoga teacher

My yoga journey began 9 years ago when I attended a Bikram Yoga class. After practicing yoga I began to notice changes within myself. The more I practiced the more noticeable these changes became. Yoga transformed my life on many different levels, from physical, emotional, mental to spiritual. These changes are what made me fall in love with yoga.

I am extremely passionate about yoga and I want to help people experience the changes I experienced. This is what inspired me to become a yoga teacher. I completed a diploma in yoga teacher training at Victorian Institute of Yoga, in Hatha yoga. I then started exploring and practicing different styles of yoga like, Iyengar Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga. I believe that yoga is far more deeper than just physical movement. I truly believe that with commitment and continuous practice of yoga, a person may start to experience good health, inner peace and happiness.

Furthermore these qualities have transpired into my daily life through my eating and sleeping habits, to daily meditation practices. Realising that meditation is medicine for the mind, I decided to attend a 10 day Vipassana meditation course, to balance my physical yoga practice with my mental yoga practice. As a lover of movement it was inevitable that I would go down the pilates path which has also continued to inspire me.

I have studied naturopathy to become more knowledgeable in how food nourishes the body and learn how the body can heal itself naturally, by empowering an individual to achieve their highest possible level of health.

Nadine Kruse
Over 5 years
of teaching experience
Pilates teacher

Nadine is passionate about sparking passion for healthy movement in her clients.

Following a hip reconstruction in 2016 Nadine has discovered the life changing benefits of pilates for herself. Feeling healthier and stronger with every session, she knew she had found her passion and is now hoping to sprinkle some of this magic in her classes and help her clients discover the same change within themselves.

Nadine balances her creative class flows with staying deeply connected to the roots and history of the original pilates method.

Romy Stewart

I’m passionate about helping people feel their best, both physically and mentally. I love empowering members to feel stronger, more confident and energised, and to appreciate what their bodies are capable of.

I am vivacious and full of energy and like to bring enthusiasm and positivity to every class. Creating an uplifting environment where members feel motivated, supported and proud of what they achieve. Whether the goal is to build core strength, improve posture or simply enjoy mindful movement, I love helping people leave each session feeling stronger, happier and more connected to themselves.

Janette
Pilates teacher

We’re still writing Janette’s full bio — ask at the studio and we’ll be happy to tell you more.

Annabel Mance
We’re still writing Annabel Mance’s full bio — ask at the studio and we’ll be happy to tell you more.
Katrina Bean

Katrina is a yoga teacher and movement artist with a background in music and embodied practice.

Her classes blend traditional yoga with contemporary movement, weaving together asana, breathwork, mantra and philosophy.

Expect intelligently sequenced classes that balance flow and stillness, with options for all levels and an emphasis on mindful, expressive movement.

Natasha Nicholas
Pilates & Yoga teacher

Natasha is a passionate Pilates teacher with a strong focus on technique, strength and mindful movement. As the founder of Three Points Clinic, specialising in lymphatic health and integrative therapies, she brings a wealth of knowledge in healthcare and wellbeing to her teaching. Natasha is passionate about helping people build strength, improve body awareness and move with greater confidence, supporting overall health and wellbeing through mindful, purposeful movement.

Kirstie Ogilvy

Kirstie Ogilvy is a Reiki Master Teacher, holistic practitioner and certified yin yoga teacher based on Sydney’s North Shore. She brings a deeply intuitive approach to her Sunday classes at Kula Body, weaving Reiki energy and breathwork into every session to support the nervous system, soften the body and restore a sense of genuine ease. Whether you are new to yin or a long-time practitioner, you will always be met exactly where you are.

Catherine Tong

10 years

of teaching experience
Family Yoga teacher

Catherine is a children’s and family yoga teacher with 10 years of experience. Her classes are playful, creative and full of imagination, blending yoga, mindfulness, meditation and sound in ways that are accessible and engaging for children. She loves creating spaces where families can connect, and where children can playfully discover the magic and benefits of yoga.

Jessica
8 years
of teaching experience
Pilates teacher

With over 20 years of personal yoga practice and 8 years of teaching experience, Jess brings an inclusive, grounded yet playful approach to yoga.

Trained in Hatha, Vinyasa and Yin modalities of yoga, Jess’s classes blend mindful movement, connection and challenge.

Focused on accessibility and with specialised training in trauma-informed yoga teaching, Jess creates classes that honour individual needs while encouraging students to explore their practice with curiosity and confidence.

Jess loves connecting with people of all ages, backgrounds, social groups, vocations and needs through yoga, and values the many different ways yoga can support people in their day to day lives, and promote opportunities for growth and physical, mental, and emotional well-being.