Our Passion & Philosophy
“Yoga has been described as wisdom in work or skillful living amongst activities, harmony and moderation” / B.K.S Iyengar
Our passion is to share the gift of Yoga in it’s deepest essence which is beyond the Physical, and to empower the individuals. To be reminded of the immense strength and intuition that reside within each and everyone of us. To reclaim our power and support each other on this path called Life.
Our main form of practice and the lineage from which we come is Vinyasa yoga, a dynamic flow which gives the freedom to creatively express oneself. This is what we consider the essence of Yoga, linking Breath and Movement with Intention, celebrating the joy in life and the wisdom of Yoga as a lifestyle.
We see Yoga as a way of life — something to practice both on and off the mat. Yoga allows us to become more present and free of stress, to reconnect with our spirit and the truth of who we are. At Sukha Mukha our classes are physically challenging and spiritually uplifting. We always draw back to the meaning, source and Philosophy of Yoga and realize just how relevant they are to our lives today. At the end of class you will leave feeling in harmony with your body, mind and soul.
Our classes are suitable for all people, all ages and all religions.
What does
Sukha Mukha mean?
Sukha is joyous, happy, blissed and Mukha is face, hence; Happy Face Yoga.
I was looking for a name that would present what I believe yoga is and should be. Going through many different names and Sanskrit terms I was blessed to have Jasmine, my teacher from NYC come to teach in Sydney, and during her workshop she kept saying “bring some Sukha to your Mukha”. it took me a few times hearing it to be able to translate it in my brain, and I immediately knew in my heart that that was the name I had been waiting for.
This is how Sukha Mukha Yoga was born into this world.
Idit Hefer Tamir
Idit is the founder of Sukha Mukha Yoga and the Director of Sukha Mukha Yoga teacher training .
Idit started practicing yoga when she was 25 years ago while traveling in India. This has been a pivotal moment that changed and impacted her whole life. She since then kept diving deeper into this method and philosophy and completed her first teacher training in 2006 with Katie Rose. Since then she studied with many beautiful and inspiring teachers.
Yoga gave Idit a language to many aspects she has been reflecting upon and battling with. Realizing there was a whole ancient philosophy that was asking the questions she was always interested at and offering answers and pathways to overcome challenges and difficulties in life.
Inspired by beautiful teachers who embodied the teachings both on and off the mat, a new journey began that keeps unfolding with every day that arises.
Her first influential teacher, who inspired her to keep growing her and planted the seed of potentially becoming a yoga teacher is Jasmine Tarkeshi. When she moved to Australia in 2006 she met Katie Rose, who became a long time teacher and friend, with whom she keeps studying, growing and developing advanced training programs.
Inspired by how much Yoga have changed her life for the better she continues to share the teachings, the wisdom, the philosophy and the joy that Yoga has to offer with the hope that she will be able to help more people to heal, to be empowered and to be reminded by the immense knowledge, power and wisdom that resides within each and everyone of us.
Idit is mostly interested in Vinyasa flow as a form of body poetry and expression, in Alignment as ways to align the bodymindspirit through the body, and in Restorative Yoga as an essential practice to relax the nervous system and digest life as we take this magical and often challenging journey.
“If you make up your mind to find joy within yourself, sooner or later you shall find it” / Paramahansa Yogananda
Come and join her on this journey of celebration and exploration.
Our lineage
Jasmine Tarkeshi is the Co-Founder of Laughing Lotus Yoga Centers in NYC and SF and co-creator of Lotus Flow TM Vinyasa Yoga and Teacher Training. Jasmine has studied with a large number of the great teachers, saints, sages, mystics, masters and madmen of yoga’s vast healing traditions of Integral Yoga, Sivananda, Kundalini, Iyengar,vinyasa, bhakti, aryuveda, karma, tantra, yantra, meditation and mantra as well as with the great contemporary masters Sharon Gannon and David Life who truly turned her on to being a Yogi in the world.
The gurus and founders of the Jivamukti Yoga method are Sharon Gannon and David Life who in 1984 created Jivamukti Yoga. Through the innovations of Jivamukti Yoga, Sharon and David have brought ancient teachings alive, going to the root of their wisdom and making it relevant to the contemporary world. They are pioneers in teaching yoga as spiritual activism/activation, demonstrating that yoga is a living tradition, a complete system for accessing the lasting happiness that is available to all beings.
Seane Corn is an internationally celebrated yoga teacher known for her impassioned activism, unique self-expression, and inspirational style of teaching that incorporates both the physical and mystical aspects of the practice of yoga. Her classes integrate dynamic vinyasa flow asana with the application of precise alignment, meditation, visualization, intention and prayer to create an inner journey towards healing and empowerment.
Katie Manitsas was the director of Jivamukti Yoga Sydney (formerly Samadhi Yoga) for many years but has now handed over to advanced certified Jivamukti Yoga teacher Doug Whittaker, so that she can focus on her young family, her passion for activism and her studies. Katie was the first certified Advanced Jivamukti Yoga teacher in Australia and has also studied extensively with the Wise Earth School of Ayurveda under the guidance of Mother Maya, as well as being a qualified Kundalini Yoga teacher. She completed training as a doula (birthing companion) in 2009.