Danielle O’Donoghue –
I feel so blessed to be able to share the power of this transformative style of yoga from the beautiful intimate studio of The Octagonal Space. I love the holistic and seasonal aspect of the system I teach. It touches on so many aspects of health and wellbeing. All these elements weave together in a natural and beautiful way to support us in our wellbeing endeavours. Creating a safe space for people to explore and play with these elements nourishes me deeply.
I have been teaching yoga for over 20 years. I hold a Diploma in Ryoho Yoga Therapy, having studied with its founder and creator, Andzej Gospadarczyk. I furthered my yoga and movement studies with trips to Oki-do Yoga retreats in Japan, Intensive trainings with Donna Farhi, Yoga for Kids teacher trainings with Lorraine Rushton, and other movement and energetic wellness systems such as Qi Gong, Tai Chi, Nei Gong and Feldenkrais. I have also completed study with The School of Shamanic Womancraft, and have a deep interest in supporting women to live more fully connected to their divine and sacred selves as well as experiencing their rites of passage in positive life enriching ways. Wholefood nutrition and Food as Medicine philosophy is another huge passion of mine. I love to inspire people to take greater care and awareness with the nourishment they take into their bodies. I hold a diploma of Traditional Herbal Medicine from Dorothy Hall and have a lifetime of self study in various wholefood, natural health dietary systems as well as experience in co-owning wholefood cafés and running a yoga retreat catering business. I infuse my yoga classes, cleanses an individual sessions with my knowledge and experience in these areas as well as holding wholefood cooking classes, and degustation dinners to celebrate the gifts of each season.
Steve Penn –
As Co-Founder of The Octagonal Space, I offer a range of courses, classes and one-on-one coaching in functional breathing and functional movement.
I began practising martial arts as a child. This early attraction to the Eastern Arts developed further when I was introduced to yoga in 1983 and completed my first teacher training, shortly after. Since then, I have gravitated more and more to the internal energetic disciplines of Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Nei Gong which I continue to practice and have practised in some form for more than fifteen years.
As I have grown and developed in these practices, I have come to understand in greater depth that what connects all these disciplines is the breath.
Inspired to explore this further, I completed the Oxygen Advantage® Functional Breathing Instructor Training and later the Oxygen Advantage® Advanced Instructor Training with Patrick McKeown, in 2017 and 2022 respectively.
My courses and classes now integrate functional breathing with functional movement. These tools help support my clients to move themselves out of their heads and into their bodies. Together these practices can help improve quality of life, alleviate stress, anxiety, activity-induced asthma and sleep disorders; enhance sports performance and endurance; and strengthen overall health and wellbeing by increasing circulation of energy (qi), blood and oxygen throughout the body.
I also work one on one with clients, creating and guiding them through individual programs.
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Photographs of Danielle, Steve and
The Octagonal Space by
Hayley Melrose – Soul Photography &
Elizabeth O’Donnell Photography
We acknowledge the Darug and Gundungurra peoples, as the traditional custodians of the Blue Mountains, the area where The Octagonal Space stands. The Darug and Gundungurra peoples have a rich and long history of deep connection to and care of country and we honour their cultures and customs that continue to nurture this land. We pay our deep respects to elders past, present, and emerging.
