Raw Power Yoga 250-Hour Teacher Training

From Elite Athlete to Embodied Leadership Guide & Yoga Educator

Simon Kerle is a former professional basketball player, internationally respected yoga educator, and performance coach. Known for bridging physical power with mental clarity and emotional depth, Simon’s work transforms lives through strength, presence, and purpose. With over three decades of high-performance experience—first on the basketball court, now in the studio and boardroom—he has earned a reputation for excellence in every field.

Elite Basketball Career: A Foundation in High Performance
Simon’s professional basketball career spanned more than 18 years in the National Basketball League (NBL), playing for iconic teams such as:
• Brisbane Bullets
• Townsville Crocodiles
• Melbourne Magic

He also played professionally in Italy, gaining valuable international experience. Known for his relentless drive and deep understanding of team dynamics, Simon captained squads and led them to finals appearances, earning a reputation for elite performance under pressure.

The Turning Point: Yoga, Injury & Inner Awareness
After years of pushing his body at the highest level, Simon turned to yoga for rehabilitation. What started as physical therapy soon evolved into a personal awakening. Yoga became a complete system for mental clarity, emotional strength, and personal leadership. Immersing himself in multiple yoga traditions, meditation, breathwork, and modern neuroscience, Simon developed an integrated approach that fuses ancient wisdom with modern resilience.

Founder of Raw Power Yoga
Simon founded Raw Power Yoga in Brisbane, which has been voted Brisbane’s Best Yoga Studio and is now regarded as one of Australia’s most influential yoga spaces. Raw Power Yoga is more than a workout—it’s an experience that awakens strength, clears the mind, and reconnects
students with their potential. Simon’s classes are athletic, intentional, and powerful anchored in breath, focus, and embodiment. His teaching style blends elite sports experience with yoga mastery, making his sessions accessible for all levels.

Master Educator & Teacher Trainer
As the lead facilitator of Raw Power Yoga’s 250HR and 300HR Teacher Training Programs, Simon has trained and mentored hundreds of yoga teachers across Australia and internationally. His
training is considered one of the most well-rounded and impactful programs available, combining:
• Functional movement and intelligent sequencing
• Breathwork and nervous system regulation
• Teaching skills and public speaking
• Ancient and modern yoga philosophy
• Business-building for yoga professionals
• Personal development and embodied leadership
Graduates leave with more than a certification—they leave transformed, ready to lead and teach from lived experience.
Trusted by Professionals & Industry Leaders
Simon is a trusted advisor to elite sports teams, corporate leaders, and high achievers seeking clarity, resilience, and alignment. He has trained and guided:
• Australian Defence Force
• Brisbane Broncos (NRL)
• Brisbane Lions (AFL)
• Brisbane Bullets (NBL)
• Queensland Firebirds (Netball)
• QLD Reds (Rugby Union)
• Australian Rugby League
• Nicola Curry – The Australian Ballet

Simon also works closely with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and leadership teams, offering tailored
programs in:
• Meditation and breath training
• High-performance mindfulness
• Emotional resilience and nervous system recovery
• Executive presence and communication
• Embodied leadership and sustainable performance
His work empowers leaders to move from reactive to responsive, burnout to balance, and from doing to being.

Today Simon Kerle is recognised as a pioneer in performance-based yoga and a mentor for those ready to live and lead with intention. Whether in the studio, at a corporate retreat, or on the sports field, Simon brings the same unwavering presence and integrity that defined his basketball career—now transformed into a mission to help others awaken their full potential.
Train the body. Calm the mind. Lead from the heart!

Meet a World-Class Teacher, Healer, and Embodied Leadership Guide

This internationally respected educator and facilitator brings together a rare fusion of ancient
wisdom, modern neuroscience, and lived experience across diverse landscapes—both human and ecological. With a background spanning outdoor adventure leadership, wildlife conservation, trauma-informed therapy, and nervous system education, her work empowers others to reconnect with their own wisdom, resilience, and potential.

Guided by a lifelong curiosity about nature and the human experience, she has worked in some of the most remote and ecologically sensitive parts of the world. Her early career in conservation and guiding fostered a profound respect for the wild, while her passion for healing led her to train extensively in therapeutic practices that support deep transformation.

Simon Kerle is recognised as a pioneer in performance-based yoga and a mentor for those ready to live and lead with intention. Whether in the studio, at a corporate retreat, or on the sports field, Simon brings the same unwavering presence and integrity that defined his basketball career—now transformed into a mission to help others awaken their full potential.

Train the body. Calm the mind. Lead from the heart!

Visionary Yoga Educator, Embodied Wisdom Guide, and Changemaker

Melissa Elvira Billington is a globally respected yoga teacher, somatic educator, performance artist, and environmental advocate. With over three decades of experience in yoga and personal transformation, she is known for her deeply integrative, heart-centred approach that weaves ancient traditions with modern embodiment science.

Melissa is the founder of MYOGA – Freedom to Unfold, a methodology and former studio based in Wellington, New Zealand, where she taught for 15 years. Her classes and trainings have inspired thousands to reconnect with their breath, body, and inner truth through a lens of inclusivity, empowerment, and presence.

Born to a yoga teacher in the United States, Melissa’s journey began early. She was raised with pranayama, asana, and a deep respect for the inner life. She went on to train at the Kripalu Centre and immerse herself in the philosophies of Kundalini, Tantra, and Hatha Yoga, as well as trauma- sensitive and nervous system-informed somatic practices. Her teaching reflects this expansive lineage—offering not just movement, but a profound return to self through breath, stillness, sound, and mindful inquiry.

Meditation Teacher, Wisdom Keeper, and Inner Journey Facilitator

Sailesh and Marina are deeply respected meditation teachers and spiritual guides known for their ability to transmit ancient teachings in a grounded, accessible, and transformative way.

With over 25 years of personal practice and facilitation experience, they bridge Eastern wisdom and Western understanding, creating spaces where individuals can reconnect with stillness, insight, and inner truth.

Rooted in classical yogic traditions, Vedanta philosophy, and mindfulness-based contemplative practices, their work invites students into the heart of meditation—not as escape, but as direct engagement with life. Their sessions are gentle yet profound, focused on inner clarity, nervous system regulation, and the return to presence.

They are core faculty member at Raw Power Yoga’s Teacher Training programs, where they lead the Philosophy, Meditation, and Inner Awareness modules. They are known for distilling complex spiritual concepts into language that resonates with modern seekers—while always honouring the sacred origins of the practices they share.

Integrated Strength, Mindfulness, and Movement Specialist 

Jai Hoffman is a seasoned Strength and Conditioning Coach, known for his unique fusion of military precision, elite athletic performance, and holistic wellness. With ten years of service in the Australian Army, Jai led teams through high-risk training activities and operational deployment in the Middle East, where he cultivated deep leadership, resilience, and discipline under pressure.

Following his military career, Jai dedicated over a decade to the practice and teaching of yoga, breathwork, and meditation. He approaches human development as a whole-system process— combining physical strength with mental clarity and emotional balance.

As a corporate keynote speaker and mindfulness coach, Jai works with individuals and
organisations to enhance performance, reduce stress, and build sustainable well-being. His
teachings are informed by both science and experience, offering grounded tools for thriving in high-pressure environments. Jai’s credentials extend into the realm of elite sport. He has worked with the Queensland Reds, delivering high-performance strength and conditioning programs to optimise player outcomes. His ability to combine cutting-edge athletic programming with nervous system awareness has made him a sought-after coach among professional athletes and high-performing teams.

At Raw Power Yoga, Jai leads the Anatomy and Physiology training modules within the 250HR and 300HR Teacher Training programs. His sessions bridge Western anatomical knowledge with yogic philosophy, giving students a practical, embodied understanding of how the human body moves, breathes, and responds to stress.