Jacinta Dennett
Jacinta first began practising yoga while studying at university in 1984, although her fascination with yoga started much earlier, watching and following Swami Saraswati on television as a child in the 1970s.
Over the years she has studied with a range of inspiring Iyengar Yoga teachers, including Carolyn Serich (Chatswood), Ruth Willets (Roseville), Ros Buttonshaw (Surfcoast Yoga), Amanda Hood, George King and Geraldine Morey (Yarraville), and Sally Russell (Doutta Galla). After returning to her hometown of Ballarat, Jacinta joined Ballarat Iyengar Yoga in 2017 and commenced teacher training with Shayna Ogden in 2018. She began by demonstrating in beginner classes before commencing teaching in 2020.
Alongside her yoga journey, Jacinta is a professional musician who performs regularly with orchestras and ensembles throughout Australia. She is the harp specialist at the University of Melbourne and holds a PhD in Music Performance, a Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Arts Practice, a Graduate Diploma of Education, and degrees in both Music and Arts.
Her lifelong interest in movement and awareness has also led her to study the Feldenkrais Method, Flamenco dance with Elena Maya, and a range of martial arts, including earning a black belt and a National title in Taekwondo and undertaking many years of training in judo, wushu, and tai chi. A former competitive swimmer, Jacinta brings a deep understanding of discipline, rhythm, and embodied awareness to her teaching.
Her classes reflect a love of movement and precision, encouraging students to develop mindful awareness of what they are doing and a commitment to alignment—in both thought and action. Join her on the mat to explore the four corners of your feet, your all-important buttock bones, and the joy of discovering something