Sarcha Thurston
Sarcha is an advanced practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga yoga. She has practiced Iyengar yoga since 1990 and has practiced Ashtanga yoga daily in the Mysore tradition since 1997.
As our principal Ashtanga and Mysore teacher Sarcha focuses on helping her students develop breath integration with functional movement and alignment patterns. Off the mat her wish is that this translates to more grace, stability and compassion in her students’ lives.
Her own lifelong commitment to yoga includes maintaining a steady daily practice through injury, life’s ups and downs, raising children and adapting to ageing. Sarcha teaches with a humility that comes from many years of dedicated practice and she infuses her teaching with kindness and humour. Grounded and highly knowledgeable in the Ashtanga yoga tradition, Sarcha’s approach welcomes both beginners and advanced students alike.
Sarcha began her yoga journey as one of the original students of Monica Gauci and Gregor Maehle in 1997. She completed a 3 year (500 hours) teacher training in 2009 and an additional year of senior training which allowed her to teach advanced postures and assume the lead teaching role in the early morning Mysore classes, as well as undertake teacher training roles. After 18 years with her beloved teachers and with many additional trainings under belt, Sarcha embarked on a new adventure, opening Yogahub in Mount Hawthorn.
Sarcha holds a Level 3 Senior Teacher Qualification with Yoga Australia. Her formal qualifications include a Psychology Degree from the University of Western Australia; a Post Graduate Diploma in Couples and Family Therapy: and Sanskrit language studies at the Australian National University.
Sarcha practices and is competent to teach the Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A Series of Ashtanga Yoga, and also teaches pranayama, yoga meditation and yoga philosophy. Much of her time these days is dedicated to training and mentoring yoga teachers through her various training programs.
Sarcha is dedicated to mentoring her students through unhurried and deep learning of the whole system of yoga. She remains a curious student of yoga and is committed to sharing the gifts of yoga with everyone.
“Yoga is both my anchor and my sail, the discipline of daily practice provides a grounding to life’s challenges and triumphs. The spiritual practice helps to illuminate the path ahead and keeps me growing in the right direction. To develop a sincere and consistent practice over time brings yoga’s gifts of a strong and healthy body, the ability to focus the mind, and a place where I can turn inwards towards my true nature. Teaching is a joyful experience for me. My approach is warm and inclusive, catering to the individual’s capabilities with a strong focus on correct technique. It’s a real highlight helping to connect my students with the practice and then seeing them embrace their own journey along the yogic path.”
Read more about Sarcha and her approach to teaching at http://perthashtangayoga.com.au
