Refract Yoga Practice: About
About Refract Yoga Practice & Bec
Refract Yoga Practice is located at Studio Take Care in Brunswick (Bulleke-bek) and consists of two yoga classes every Sunday: an 8:30am yoga class (Sun Class) and a 7pm yoga class (Moon Class). Whereas the Sun Class incorporates active and flowing styles of Vinyasa and Hatha, the Moon Class incorporates passive and meditative styles of Yin and Yoga Nidra. Refract Yoga Practice is owned and led by Bec, a Yoga Instructor and Clinical Psychologist. Bec completed her 200 hour Yoga Alliance-certified teacher training in Rishikesh, Northern India in December 2023 and started teaching her friends/friends of friends upon her return to Melbourne in early 2024. Bec has since completed training in Yin, Yoga Nidra, and Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher Training.
Why “Refract”?
Like light changes direction when it passes through a medium (e.g. air, water, or glass) so too do bodies and minds influence the direction of each other when brought together in space. The colour spectrum, implicit to the concept of light, has additional significance: it represents the importance of making yoga accessible and welcoming to people of diverse identities. Namely, those who identify as neurodivergent, BIPOC (Bla(c)k, Indigenous and people of colour), LGBTQIA+, and/or people within the disabled community. It is also important to acknowledge that Refract Yoga Practice/Studio Take Care is situated in Bulleke-bek (Brunswick) on the lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who are the traditional owners and custodians of the land, of which sovereignty was never ceded. Refract Yoga Practice pays respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders: past, present, and emerging. Ultimately, ensuring that Refract Yoga Practice is a welcoming and accessible space for diverse community members remains a work-in-progress, and therefore your constructive feedback is always appreciated.
What makes Refract Yoga Practice different?
Accessibility: The Big Room is wheelchair accessible. If you use a wheelchair or walker, you can access the Big Room via a ramp up one step at the rear of the building. If you require this type of access, please contact Bec at least 8 hours ahead of class via email (refractyoga@gmail.com). If you require the use of a chair due to difficulty standing and/or difficulty sitting on the floor, please advise Bec at least 8 hours in advance, as she will prepare a class designed for both chair and non-chair yoga.
Lyric-based playlists (Sun Class only): Playlists incorporate genres, including but not limited to: pop, folk, RnB, soul, classical, soul, jazz, and soft rock. What's more, there is a themed yoga playlist for the final Sunday of each month. Think: Twilight Saga playlist, or Lana Del Rey playlist, or Julia Gillard playlist (ok that last one might be a joke... emphasis on *might*). What you can be sure of is that there will be a theme for *almost* everyone! Developing a passion for yoga and building one's strength and flexibility takes time and perseverance. Whilst our playlists may be unconventional, the yoga itself remains true to the essence of yoga, that is: encouraging mind-body awareness and connection. Refract Yoga Practice is all about accessibility. Playlists that are genre-diverse ensures a fun and engaging yoga learning/mastery journey for all; whether you are new to yoga, "a once in a while" yoga tryer, or whether you're wanting to advance your practice and potentially become a yoga teacher yourself! In yoga, the "ego" stays outside of the room. At Refract Yoga Practice, we are all about an unserious yet meaningful yoga practice.
Community element: Community is at the heart of Refract Yoga Practice. The following are optional but warmly encouraged.
Sun Class: At 9:45am, we take a 5-minute walk to Wild Life Bakery on Albert Street. If the weather is sunny, we order takeaways and sit in Fleming Park across the road. If the weather's overcast, we find a cosy spot inside. Life in a metropolitan city such as Melbourne can often feel isolated. Regular, in-person, human connection is a way to nurture our mental health, avoid the Sunday scaries, and bond with like-minded folk and friends.
Moon Class: At 8pm, we remain in our circular formulation in the Big Room and over cups of warm, sweetened ceremonial cacao, we take a moment to reflect on our individual practices in a group setting, gaining insight and feeling of togetherness.
