When Mary discovered yoga at a high school P.E. class in the 70s, it was love at first Tadasana. ‘Yoga made me feel empowered, strong and courageous,’ says Mary. Inspired by teachers such as Donna Fahri, Andrew Mournehis, Nischala Joy Devi and Judith Lasater, Mary’s background in the fitness industry also shows in her classes. ‘I bring a strong focus on core strength to all my classes,’ says Mary, and although this can be challenging, fortunately this is complemented by Mary’s other teaching philosophy: ‘Laugh and have fun!’ Mary derives great satisfaction from seeing how her students evolve with their practice. ‘It may be that their back is stronger, they handle stress better, or perhaps they just have a great night’s sleep after class. When I see students notice those changes in themselves, teaching becomes a pure joy.’