Hamford McDonald

Instructor

Yoga Tree Elsternwick

After venturing into yoga as a recreational athlete in 2004, and surviving the painfully humbling experience of my first vinyasa class, I conjured the willingness from my bruised ego to give it a second shot. Shortly thereafter my commitment to the practice evolved, and with steadfast regularity, I noticed a shift in my overall health and well-being, that extended to other facets of my life. A transformation process that inspired me to complete my 200-hr teacher training at the Joschi Institute in New York in 2010 while on hiatus from my former career as a recording artist. After expatriating to Australia in 2011 I began teaching at various studios around Melbourne. Throughout my time as a teacher and facilitator I’ve undertaken additional trainings, and have completed over 1,000 hours across a wide spectrum of different styles, disciplines, and movement modalities, including Jivamutki, mat Pilates, Yin Yoga, Barre Attack, Applied Anatomy & Yoga Physiology, Mindfulness, Origins of Alignment & Somatic Movement, as well as Advanced Asana sequencing, and the Ashtanga Primary Series.My classes are rooted in the Ashtanga discipline of breath-guided movement, with dynamic, and Alignment-focused sequencing allowing practitioners to explore the edges of their practice with balanced integration. At the crux of my teaching methodology is the aim to improve whole-body functionality, and the kinaesthetic awareness that allows students to be self-guided in utilising these techniques for optimal movement on and off the mat. In my ever-evolving roles as student, teacher, and facilitator my aim is to offer the practice of yoga as an empowering and infinitely inspiring journey into unlocking our full potential.