The Open Mind Space is for the student, the teacher, the soul searcher.
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A place to connect with a conscious community and grow into your full potential.
We offer yoga, meditation, movement classes, events and personal healing. Our intention for The O.M. Space is to approach self-development, wellness and spirituality with an open mind, making its tools and concepts, simple, approachable and accessible to all.
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We could say the sky is the limit… but it’s really not. Together, let’s look to the edges of the Universe and beyond.
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Our teachers and practitioners are all on their own journey of growth, and are here to hold space and welcome you to explore inner and outer worlds.
Click through the links below to meet our people, view the timetable, and read more about how The Open Mind Space came to be.
Our Manifesto
No matter your age, gender, income, world view, beliefs, what you wear, who you love, where you live, why you’ve come… The Open Mind Space is here for you. Whether you’re not quite sure about the whole ‘woo-woo’ side of things, or you wholeheartedly accept the existence of unicorns and dragons (they are both totes real), you are welcome here. Let’s experience, share, connect, learn and grow together.
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Our wish for the Open Mind Space:
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To create a safe environment that is free from judgement, welcoming everyone (or everything!)
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To support each other through learning, teaching and sharing
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To understand that everyone is equal, and each human adds value to the space
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To create a shift in the wider community, by uplifting the individual
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To support the growth of conscious community, in Newcastle and beyond.
Our teachers are passionate about sharing and learning.
They bring their own unique life experiences to their teachings and are here to ensure you have a safe and supportive environment for your open-minded explorations.
Brooke Barrett
Yoga Teacher
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Brooke is a devoted student and dedicated teacher of the practice of yoga. Since Brooke’s first introduction to yoga, she has devoted her life to learning everything she can about this practice. She strives to make yoga accessible yet challenging and encourages you to look beyond the asana.
By combining yoga philosophy through stories and ancient myths, Brooke invites relevance and a tangible approach to experience the state of yoga.
Murray Smith
Teacher/Co-founder
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Coming from a background in construction with a passion for surfing, Murray totally understands the need to maintain a healthy body. On a deeper level and through his own life experiences, he also knows how important it is to maintain mental wellness.
Murray is extremely passionate about men’s mental wellness, connecting people to nature, aiding people in rediscovering their true selves, and cultivating a safe environment in which people can continue to build a healthy relationship with their mind, body, and spirit. He builds smart programs and classes tailored to achieve long-term benefits.
Murray offers one-on-one sessions and healing Thai Yoga Massage in our upstairs treatment rooms. Find out more about his sessions here.
Renée Wilkinson
Teacher/Co-founder
Renée has been working in areas of complementary therapy and healing for more than ten years. In 2014, yoga became Renée’s go-to moving through PTSD. It helped her re-connect her mind and body, and she is now honoured to share and create a similar experience for you.
Renée combines her yoga studies with her intuition and insights to deliver classes that go beyond the purely physical experience.
Renée is also a Kinesiologist and Energy Healer, offering sessions in our upstairs treatment rooms. Find out more about her Kinesiology practice here.
Our People
Edward Bissaker
Yoga Teacher
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Edward has been teaching yoga since 2015 and understands how the practice can complement different individual life goals and athletic training regimes. Edward has a strong sporting background, racing as a road and track cyclist for many years at an international level. He tries to help everyone improve their relationship with their body and mind with posture, strength, flexibility and breath awareness incorporated as central components of every practice.
Edward has taught a diverse range of clients and constructs and adapts all aspects of the practice when required to make yoga as fun, accessible and beneficial as possible for all levels of experience and capability.
Edward is currently focusing on completing his studies and trying to spend as much time surfing as he can.
Cat Mead
Yoga Teacher
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Cat began teaching yoga in 2015 at a time when she was looking for change and a deeper experience with life. Since her introduction to yoga more than 5 years ago, she has spent much time testing and trying different styles of yoga, and has since found that her love and strength is in the simplicity of it.
Yin is Cat's favourite, to both practice and teach. An alignment-based class for the 'yang' side of her practice gives her a buzz as it allows time to feel the effects of a pose while you're in it.
So whether she's doing handstands, making music or being still in Savasana, Cat believes that you can learn a lot about yourself when you're simply being in your body.
Mark Penkala
Meditation Teacher
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Mark is a gifted meditation and energy-healing teacher.
Tapped into the universe, Mark channels strong meditations designed to take you into deep states of rest, healing and transformation.
Once a pastor for Newcastle Spiritualist Church, Mark has been teaching meditation, offering energy healings and much more in Newcastle since 1990, and he has been mentoring Renée through her gifts since she was 13.
We are honored to have him as our resident meditation teacher.