Phoenix Harrison

Yoga/Pilates Instructor

We dive into philosophy, breathing, mindfulness, meditation. Everyone in the world gets stressed or anxious at times, and I find that mindfulness and breathing exercises are just so calming and therapeutic. Everyone can benefit from that, especially if you have a busy life.

Moving with ease through her yoga practice, Phoenix Harrison exudes a quiet strength that belies the journey it took to get here.

She teaches both yoga and Reformer Pilates at a studio in Hobart, blending movement with mindfulness in a way that feels almost effortless. But it wasn’t always this way. In fact, growing up, she never imagined herself as someone who would enjoy being physically active.

“As a child, as a teenager, I was always lanky and skinny. I wasn’t a good runner or a good jumper, and I always came last at every sports event,” Phoenix recalls, laughing. “I hated sports. And I didn’t love my body, because I felt it was really my limitation – I wasn’t a physical person.”

Her first exposure to yoga came in an unexpected way: through DVDs featuring a Hawaiian instructor practicing against a beautiful, tropical backdrop. “I used to do her meditation, her asana practice, breathing exercises,” Phoenix says. “It was really a good time.”

It wasn’t until adulthood that yoga became a central part of Phoenix’s life. She had always longed to be a dancer but never felt she had the talent. She wanted something more than lifting weights or going to the gym. She wanted something expressive, something welcoming. She found her community in yoga.

When she became pregnant, that connection only deepened. “I had this amazing supportive community, and supportive teachers who got me through my whole pregnancy,” she says. But after a difficult birth and the exhaustion of early motherhood, she took a break. It was then that Phoenix discovered Pilates. “I healed myself through Pilates, and I thought, ‘Okay, I need this to heal my body.’ And then I was able to go back to yoga.

Becoming a mother and then returning to the expression and freedom of yoga proved to be a turning point. “It was time for a new chapter,” says Phoenix. “I thought, ‘Why don’t I start doing some teacher training, and maybe I can teach – or maybe just deepen my own knowledge of yoga.’ And I really enjoyed it. The rest is history.”

Teaching came naturally to Phoenix. She started small, picking up classes at a local gym (“I got free gym membership!” she laughs), and then moved into studios, forming deeper connections with students. “I really loved it, because I got to create my own little community.”

For Phoenix, yoga has never just been about the physical postures. “It’s really much deeper than that,” she explains. “We dive into philosophy, breathing, mindfulness, meditation. Everyone in the world gets stressed or anxious at times, and I find that mindfulness and breathing exercises are just so calming and therapeutic. Everyone can benefit from that, especially if you have a busy life.”

Yoga is very personal, but there is a yoga space for everyone, where you will find people to connect with.

Her own journey from feeling uncoordinated and disconnected from her body to finding confidence through yoga has shaped the way she teaches. “I realised, oh my goodness, there are different levels of yoga classes. I can start slow, and make it accessible for everyone. Because yoga is not just the physical exercises. You start to understand how important it is to build body awareness. You can’t really use your body to full capacity when you don’t have that connection to yourself.”

These days, Phoenix is passionate about making yoga accessible to everyone, regardless of their background or experience. She sees firsthand how the practice can empower people. “Yoga was the first thing that made me feel, ‘Okay. Maybe I am not a giraffe – I’m not uncoordinated and lanky. Maybe I can do things, and build up my strength, flexibility, and balance all at the same time. At the same time, I’m de-stressing as well – this is perfect.’”

Whether it’s Yin yoga, where students hold postures for long periods in deep stillness, or a dynamic flow class, Phoenix believes yoga has something to offer everyone. “People think Yin is easy, but it’s so hard,” she says. “We are all challenged when we are just with ourselves, with our thoughts. But it’s a practice that grows over time. It’s such a powerful practice in yoga, just to learn to be with your own thoughts.”

For anyone who is curious about yoga but unsure where to start, Phoenix’s advice is to just give it a go – and don’t be concerned if it takes a couple of tries to find the studio that feels right for you. “Yoga is very personal, but there is a yoga space for everyone, where you will find people to connect with. I would encourage anyone to try yoga, and get comfortable with who you are, in every way – and then you can expand that into every other aspect of your life as well.”