Even if you only come along occasionally to practice yoga at Flex, it's likely you have seen Miranda's radiant smile on some of our newsletters or posters. Her easy, effortless charm is palpable and since graduating from Flex' Teacher Training in 2019, she has been on the casual roster, ready to fill in for teachers who are away on a break.

Miranda (32), was introduced to yoga by her mum, who has been practicing ever since her daughter can remember. “She would never force yoga on me, but I saw it, and it sparked an interest. I remember looking into her yoga books and trying kids asanas as a child.“

Fit and healthy from a young age

Loving exercise, Miranda practiced gymnastics, acrobatics and circus as a child and even made it to a show in Melbourne. She enjoyed all things physical and, quite naturally, reconnected to yoga in her mid 20s. “Once I went to a yoga class, I instantly fell in love with the aspect of exercising on your own terms, without the usual gym vibe. In addition, I was drawn to the internal aspect of yoga - the quiet, solitude and peace you can enter during and after your practice.”

Yoga in pregnancy, birth and postnatal care

Like mother, like daughter, Miranda kept up and deepened her practice and stuck with yoga throughout her pregnancy, drawing on prenatal and kundalini elements to prepare for a natural birth. As she had hoped, she had a great, drug free and positive birth experience with both her girls (now 6 and 2 years old). To get back in shape after, she drew on Yoga and Pilates, followed by a kids yoga teacher training not long after having her 2nd daughter.

Finally training to teach

In 2019, Miranda felt ready to train as a teacher and was signed up for a yoga teacher training, when it got cancelled at the last minute. In her determination to become a teacher, she connected to a few friends, among them Flex studio manager Cam, who she knew through another studio. Miraculously, Flex’ own Teacher Training had not only just started - and lined up to a tee with Miranda’s husband’s FiFo schedule. It was clearly meant to be, and with her extensive previous experience it was agreed that she could join late and catch up.

After working in hospitality for a long time and experiencing admin, child care and even some time as a flight attendant, Miranda was ready to become a full time teacher. Except, she first had to go through a literal trial by fire…

The day life as we knew it was reduced to ashes

Even when everything seems fine, you can never know what life has in store for you… On 9 September 2019, not even 6 weeks after graduating from her teacher training, her family’s life changed forever when they watched their home burn down in a freak house fire, the cause of which hasn’t been found to this day.

It was a massive shock, but Miranda recollects “it was a lesson in santosha - the yogic principle of finding contentment in no matter what is… Amidst the tragedy I realised ‘We’ve got each other, that’s what matters the most’.”

Trusting the journey of life and its unfolding

It would be foolish to think that all it takes is a yogi mindset to get past such a tragedy with ease. Miranda shares that she is just starting to properly grieve now, 6 months later. “My immediate coping mechanism was to soldier on and support the family. First, we moved in with a friend while letting the kids finish school. Then recently, we found a nice place on the Sunshine Coast and are starting to settle in.”

Miranda shares it’s only now that she’s starting to pull down her walls and grieve. To heal, she is drawing on kinesiology as well as yoga to do the inner work and unpack her feelings. “I feel less attached than I thought to most things we’ve lost. I’ve been wondering whether that’s a yogic thing. Recently we found old letters, photos and postcards from my best friend though - that was a true reminder of what’s important in life and where to invest your energy.”

Onwards and upwards

“As of now, I trust whatever it is that is bigger than me - the universe being at play and having my back. What’s meant to happen will happen.”

For now, Miranda is taking it slowly while settling into her new home, the kids’ new school and a newfound routine. Yoga is still very much in the cards though. The other day, a teacher told her that 6yo daughter Clover had taught the kids a few of mum’s yoga moves. So now there are conversations under way about kids yoga classes at their new primary school.

In addition, she has recently found teaching gigs in yoga studios in Mooloolbaba and Caloundra. We trust that her light will shine brightly at both those studios and - eventually - on her own terms with private classes or a small venue of her own.