Meet the Team
Our experienced teachers are the heart of our community, bringing diverse backgrounds that make each class at Little Mandarin a unique and enriching journey.
Together we will help you realise your potential and celebrate every step of your progress.
Jowing Zhang (English/普通话)
My yoga journey began as a quest for greater flexibility and a sanctuary from the stresses of my graphic design career. What started as a physical pursuit quickly deepened, drawing me into the meditative and spiritual essence of yoga.
As a dreamer, I envisioned a life intertwined with yoga, and with a leap of faith, I transitioned from graphic design to yoga instruction. Over the past 15 years, my dream has flourished in Melbourne, a city that captivates me with its vibrant culture and charm.
My biggest dream, however, was to create a sanctuary not just for myself but for a global community—a place where individuals from diverse backgrounds could gather, learn, and grow together. This vision came to life with the birth of Little Mandarin.
I invite you to join our welcoming, multicultural family. Experience the unique energy of Little Mandarin, discover your hidden strengths, and connect with a world of new friends and possibilities!
Nurşah Dikmen (English/Turkish)
From an early age, I have been interested in movement disciplines such as pilates and yoga, so after graduating from the physiotherapy undergraduate program as a valedictorian, I have completed my Yoga Teacher Training, Restorative Yoga Teacher Training, Pranayama Training, Mat and Reformer Pilates Instructor Training.
I have run my own physiotherapy, pilates, and yoga clinic for three and a half years in my home country Turkey and one of my specialties as a physiotherapist is pelvic floor rehabilitation & sexual health therapy and I believe pre and postnatal pilates and yoga work best when combining these two modalities together.
I greatly enjoy giving lessons in pilates and yoga, and I also give online ‘Yoga Anatomy’ lessons to students who are in their yoga teacher training. The learning journey never stops, with that motto in my heart, I moved to one of the most liveable cities in the world, Melbourne, to do a postgraduate degree in physiotherapy.
Kelly Foong (English, Malay, 粵語，華語 and 日本語）
I moved to New York City with my husband and dog, Harper in July 2019 and after four amazing years, in August 2023, we moved home and I am ready to settle back into Melbourne and return to the beautiful Little Mandarin community for a new chapter of life. I am so excited to be back!
In 2016, I completed my 200-hour vinyasa yoga teacher training with Meghan Currie. I am always a student and have since completed various other training, such as hands-on adjustments, yin, aerial and Ashtanga. In my personal practice, I am a student of the Ashtanga intermediate series. Whilst I was in NYC, I was an Ashtanga assistant and teacher at Ashtanga Open Practice, and I also taught at various Y7 Studio and CorePower Yoga locations in NYC.
My hope is to share the practice with others in a welcoming and non-judgmental manner. Expect classes that are sneakily challenging, and focused on slow transitions so you can start to build strength and flexibility whilst learning to align as you move with your breath. I love the juxtaposition between the fluid and creative sequences of vinyasa with Ashtanga’s logic and structure and so in my classes, I try to bring aspects of both of my loves into my teaching. Hands-on adjustments are always provided with permission. Leave expectations behind, trust the process and just come play!
Paul Gere (English）
Since a young age, I have been attracted to mindful movement practices founded on functionality. In my youth, I competed nationally in Judo and later went on to study several forms of traditional Chinese Kung Fu. The parallels between martial arts, Yoga, and Pilates were immediately clear to me. I have a personal Yoga practice that spans two decades and have found a daily practice to be the perfect balance to my often demanding work as a designer in the fashion industry.
I have a particular interest in longevity science and consider mindful movement practice to be essential at all stages of life. My goal is to deliver a deliberate-paced class with smooth transitions, extended holds, and a focus on gently encouraging students to discover a strength within themselves and their practice. Expect to be invited to find your edge, wherever that might be today.
Suellen Zhang (English/普通话/Français)
A friend's invitation to yoga opened a new world for me, where I quickly fell in love with the practice. Yoga has not only sculpted my body but also enriched my soul, guiding me toward a happier, more authentic self.
My journey took me around the world until Melbourne became my cherished home, where I live my dream as a Yoga teacher. In teaching, I celebrate joy and togetherness, inviting everyone to join in this collective exploration of life.
My practice blends the strength and alignment of Vinyasa with the introspective calm of Yin, embodying the perfect balance between power and peace. I invite you to join me in class, to find your own harmony in mind, body, and spirit.
Emma Cartwright (English)
I am a yoga/aerial/yin teacher and Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist. My passion for health and well-being is constantly growing and evolving. I began in remedial massage and aromatherapy amongst many other modalities.
As a therapist, I dived into yoga to keep my body and mind balanced and grounded. I am now very excited to be spreading my wings further with Little Mandarin! I love connecting with like minded souls creating a vibrant community.
I encourage students to listen to their bodies and forget about what the pose is ‘supposed’ to look like. I aim to inspire yogis into moving, feeling and adapting into the shape to serve their individual anatomy. I love to incorporate massage skills in adjustments to facilitate a deep experience. My love of pranayama and the subtle yet powerful aspect of energetics are intuitively woven into my classes, leaving students feeling connected and whole. See you on the mat :)
Ellen Lee (English/한국어/普通话）
After completing my masters in both Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine, I practised as a kidney specialist in Shanghai. After relocating to Australia, I have been practising TCM for over ten years and have a clinic in Camberwell.
As I became a mother of two girls and witnessed the musculoskeletal and mental health illnesses of my patients, I wanted to discover a way to help connect body and mind.
I felt positive energy to help connect the body and mind through my Pilates practice and now I have found an effective way to achieve a holistic mind-body-lifestyle.
My group sessions include alignment and sculpting, like Yin-and Yang, focusing on toning the body, correcting posture to reduce pain and balancing mind and body to ENJOY life more.
Join my journey together to balance mind, body and LIFE.
Jin Xiong (English/普通话）
In the banking and financial industry, I was easily getting anxious about my work. I started my yoga journey a few years ago. I was quite surprised when I started to practice, emotions came up more like joy and happiness, and it eased a lot of negative thoughts in my mind. As I spent more time practising, I found the truth that the practice of yoga is not about changing the brain, body, or headstands, or even about gaining greater happiness and joy. I practiced hard as I was addicted to it because I found yoga opened up the possibility of connecting to what I already have — to who I am already. Then I recognised the capacity to relax with the clarity, the space, and the open-ended awareness that already exists in minds. I’m still on this journey to practice and teach. I also like to share my deep passion for teaching and transmitting my practice energy.
Claudia Aparicio (English/Spanish)
I am a professional choreogrpaher, dancer and Pilates instructor from Bolivia, South America. From an early age, I discovered a passion for movement and wellness. I became a Pilates instructor in Argentine due to my belief in its potential for training and toning the body, correcting posture and balancing the mind and body.
I have a range of professional experience teaching Pilates in Bolivia, Argentina, Mexico, Cambodia and Australia, and enjoy teaching diverse groups of students from all around the world. I have found that teaching Pilates is a great way for me to get to know and stay connected to my community, and to make a valuable contribution to the people around me.
I love to help my students realise their fitness objectives, and nothing makes me happier than to see my students grow and become more confident in their movement and in themselves.
Yan Zhong (English/粤语/普通话)
I have shown an interest in yoga at a young age. Yoga makes me feel calm and healthy. Guiding me through dark periods.
I believe yoga is not only an exercise, art or philosophy but a way of life. It’s my life’s journey.
I studied anatomy, functional holistic rehabilitation, and dietetics in China, and completed reformer Pilates and mat Pilates courses in Australia.
I’m a qualified Yoga and Pilates instructor specialising in
- Alignment Hatha Yoga
- Flow Yoga (Slow Flow & Vinyasa)
- Yin Yoga
- Reformer and Mat Pilates.
My journey is my client’s journey to better health.
Elva Wei (English/普通话)
After completing my Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne, I started working as a solicitor. Three years into this desk-bound job, my chronic back pain became unbearable. I then began practicing aerial yoga as a sort of physical exercise relief for my back pain. I cherished the physical aspect of yoga and the way a vigorous, sweaty practice made me feel. It didn't take me long to commit to a daily practice, which not only soothed my back pain but also gifted resilience and serenity to my mind.
Yoga has humbled and inspired me in ways I never anticipated, and it sparked a desire that led me to finish an aerial yoga teacher training program. Now I am ready to share my love and joy of practicing yoga with anyone who is willing to step on the mat and take a hold of the silk.
Lyda Chan (English/粤语）
I delved into the fitness world after moving to Melbourne from Hong Kong, and I realised that yoga is an important part of my wellness journey. Through practising yoga poses and mindful breathing, I find that yoga provides stillness when I desire calm; it is a place of energy when I want to be uplifted. As my passion for yoga grew, I decided to undertake my teacher training in 2017 to understand yoga more deeply.
I am not only a yoga instructor, but also a Pilates instructor, an Australian qualified personal trainer, and a fitness professional. I like to incorporate my knowledge of anatomy and human body movement into my yoga classes, with dynamic sequences and the Sanskrit names of poses. I will also explain how the poses affect the body, and make adjustments for people of all ages, abilities, and fitness levels.
With a passion for yoga, I want my students to find strength in their bodies and calmness in their minds.
Yihan Hu (English/华语）
With nearly a decade of yoga practice and teaching experience in Asia, I have personally witnessed and embraced the profound benefits of yoga for both myself and my students. Yoga embodies a way of life, and my true calling lies in sharing this holistic practice with a wider audience. My firm belief in the unique advantages of all yoga forms drives my classes, which focus on harmonizing the yin and yang aspects of physical and mental practice. Whether gentle, strong, or intense, my ultimate goal is for the students to find joy in their yoga journey, always emphasizing safety and enjoyment. A blissful savasana at the end provides a serene oasis of calm and grounding.
The selflessness and generosity of my own teachers continue to inspire and motivate me as a dedicated teacher today. Additionally, I express immense gratitude to my students, who have given me the privilege of humbly sharing their passion.
Lela Jamil (English/华话）
With a family history of chronic back pain, I made a promise to myself to be the one to break the cycle. Like most people, my perception of yoga is that it was a slow and gentle form of exercise until I attended one power yoga class. From then on I was hooked. Yoga now is more than an asana practice; it’s my form of moving meditation, it clears my mind, brings peace, and reminds me to be present. 8 years after my ruptured disc in my spine, I strongly believe that because of yoga I am not in any form of pain.
One of the eight limbs of yoga that resonate with me, sthira-sukham asanam, strength and ease, which I am constantly working on during my practice and that I take with me off my mat.
My practice has evolved, I have also included reformer pilates and aerial yoga to complement my mat practice.
I am forever grateful to yoga for not only my physical health but my mental health. I love sharing my love for yoga and reformer with you, hoping that you will find the same joy I do and how it changes life for the better.
Jas Kaur (English/华语/Bahasa）
I began my journey in Pilates and Wellness in 2021 when I moved to Melbourne. I work professionally in the financial services industry and I realised I needed something energising and therapeutic to add to my work-life balance. Pilates was my answer and I became an instructor because I love interacting with people and helping them improve their fitness.
I have worked in Pilates studios teaching reformer and also personalised one-on-one mat work with individual clients.
As an instructor, I enjoy being vocal and encouraging. I place an emphasis on technique and enjoyment so clients can get the most out of my classes and have fun doing it.
I’ve met so many lovely people through Pilates who have become friends of mine. I’m looking forward to meeting even more people through Little Mandarin and I can’t wait to say hello and have a chat.
Carman Ng (English/粤语/普通话）
Before I practised yoga, I was someone who focused on work and neglected rest, which eventually affected my physical health. When a friend invited me to a yoga class, I initially thought yoga was just a form of exercise, aiming to sweat and lose weight. However, as I continued practising, I realised that yoga not only brought physical changes but also a sense of inner calm.
I enjoy teaching and I had the chance to teach students with different backgrounds. My teaching philosophy is everyone can practice yoga. Because yoga is not a competitive sport, it’s about the development of students’ mind, body and spirit.
Now I am in Melbourne, I am excited to share the beautiful philosophy of yoga with everyone. Hope can see you on the mat. Namaste!
JoJo Wu (English/普通话）
Being a dedicated yoga and Pilates instructor, I embody the essence of breath, control, and awareness. With a profound journey that began in 2009, my yoga path was forever altered when I encountered Jowing, who emphasized to me the need for a yoga practice. Inspired by her in 2012, I made the decision to leave my banking career and embark on a transformative training journey.
As a mother of three and having experienced an injury which took 11 months to heal, I understand the unique and diverse nature of every individual's physical body. I recognize that each person’s needs and abilities are distinct, and thus, my approach is tailored to focus on the finest details during practice.
Together with the practice of Yoga and Pilates, I discovered more sense in balance and inner strength with flexibility. This newfound equilibrium has not only enriched my personal journey but also informs my teachings, ensuring a comprehensive experience for all participants.
Come and join me to discover the transformative power of these practices as you embark on your own journey towards physical and mental well-being.
Jane Zhan Shen (普通话/English)
I was an aerobics teacher in China. I found that practicing yoga was really helpful in relieving my pressure both physically and mentally from my teaching job. I enjoyed how yoga helped me to improve my body alignment and mental stress in a more static way rather than an intense activity.
With such thoughts in mind, after moving to Melbourne with my family, I began practicing aerial yoga regularly at Little Mandarin. During my practice, I had a new cognition of aerial yoga that it is not just those hard poses and fancy moves. It taught me that we can look at things from different angles.
I was pregnant during covid lockdown. It was a very difficult time for many of us. Yoga became my spiritual support. Although we couldn’t attend face-to-face lessons, I still persisted in mat yoga on Zoom. After the birth, I could regain low silk alignment which not just eased the stress from my upper back but also corrected lots of physical changes caused by my pregnancy. Meanwhile, I completed a small goal that I always wanted to achieve “aerial yoga training”. Thanks to Little Mandarin for giving me this opportunity to communicate and learn with others.
Namaste🙏
Chloe Wong (English/粤语/普通话)
Being curious about how Pilates benefits our health, I began my Pilates journey when I was a fourth-year physiotherapy student. After two years of practice, I started to teach private and group Pilates in Macau.
As a physiotherapist, my speciality is movement analysis, and I am confident in providing clinical assessment as well as prescribing tailored exercise in a safe environment.
Pilates has been my one and only exercise for the past four years. I realize my own strengths and limitations by practicing Pilates therefore I am very keen to share this amazing art with people.
In my class, I encourage the integration of breathing, mind and body which allows my students to listen to and control themselves. It is always rewarding to see the progression of my students, and this is why I love teaching Pilates. Come to join our community and glow up together!
Nicole Yuen (English/粤语/普通话)
My yoga journey began when I was living in Hong Kong and working as a finance professional in the corporate world with a hectic work schedule. Initially, I practised yoga to alleviate my work stress and chronic pain. However, it wasn't until I moved to Melbourne in 2020 that my yoga path expanded to a broader and deeper level. That's when I started practising Iyengar yoga and Aerial Yoga, and eventually completed the Aerial Yoga Teacher Training in October 2022.
As I dedicated myself more to yoga, I further realised yoga is a philosophy and a way of life that unifies our body, mind, and soul, bringing about balance and centeredness. The essence of alignment is not just about perfecting physical forms of poses (Asana), but rather directing awareness and consciousness towards our body movement, breath control, and concentration of our mind. I cherish the sense of peace and bliss that yoga has brought to my life, and I'm still learning and growing every day on this journey. I have also explored other forms of meditation and mindfulness practices. I find that these practices complement my yoga practice and help me to stay grounded and present in my daily life.
Whether you are new to yoga or a regular looking to achieve physical and mental liberation or to restore and rejuvenate your well-being, I am happy to listen and share my joy and experiences with all of you. Namaste.
Yinan Chen (English/普通话)
I have shown my interest in Pilates since 2018. My journey with Pilates began as a personal quest for holistic well-being, but it slowly evolved into a passion and a profession. With a keen eye for detail and a focus on individual needs, I strive to create a supportive and empowering environment in my classes. I believe in the importance of building a strong and resilient body, not just for fitness goals, but also for overall health and vitality.
I work part-time as a registered nurse, and I've witnessed firsthand the impact of lifestyle choices on health outcomes. This perspective informs my approach to Pilates instruction, emphasizing not only physical fitness but also long-term wellness. Beyond the studio, I find inspiration in the connections between mind, body, and spirit that Pilates fosters. My goal is to empower each person I work with to unlock their full potential and embrace a life of strength, balance, and well-being through the practice of Pilates.
Vika Nguyen (English/Russian/Vietnamese)
My wellness journey began with a passion for helping people achieve their best health through diet and nutrition. After completing my dietetics degree and working as a dietitian, I saw firsthand how eating a healthy, balanced diet can change lives. Witnessing these positive transformations was incredibly rewarding, but I wanted to do more – to help people move, feel, and live better. Recognising the powerful connection between nutrition and physical well-being, I decided to expand my expertise by becoming a Pilates instructor.
My clients are the reason I do what I do. Your progress, strength, and dedication inspire and fuel my passion every single day. Whether you aim to build strength, improve flexibility, or find balance in your busy life, I am here to support you and excited to be part of your wellness journey.
Lilian Yuan (English/國語/台語)
From a young age, my passion for sports led me to explore various activities. However, as the challenges intensified, so did the risk of injury and bodily imbalances. At that time, I began practising mat Pilates as a form of rehabilitation and regular exercise. I discovered its profound benefits, addressing physical and mental well-being, particularly in managing my spine issues and finding inner calm.
As a physiotherapist, I have experience working with athletes from various disciplines, including track and field and football teams, as well as diverse populations in my home country of Taiwan. I have applied Pilates in clinical settings and recognised its transformative potential across diverse populations. Witnessing its positive impact, I decided to deepen my expertise by undertaking comprehensive training in mat and equipment Pilates in Melbourne.
I enjoy giving Pilates lessons and firmly believe in its universal benefits and ability to enhance all practitioners' lives. Currently pursuing my postgraduate degree in physiotherapy in Melbourne, I firmly believe in the lifelong journey of learning. Beyond teaching, I cherish connecting with lovely people and gleaning insights from every encounter.
Summer Liu (English/普通话)
I began practicing yoga as a university student to maintain my figure, but over time, especially after becoming a mother and working as a nurse, I discovered its profound impact on achieving balance in life. Aerial Yoga, which I started three years ago, has particularly rejuvenated me, boosting my confidence and improving my posture.
Dreaming of becoming a Yoga teacher, I finally pursued Aerial Yoga training. Reflecting on each practice, I aim to share the beauty and strength I've found in yoga with others, focusing on the holistic enhancement of physical and mental health. My classes are an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery, understanding the world, and living a better life by aligning with the universe's principles. I look forward to welcoming you to experience this journey together.
Together We Grow
Please submit your cover letter and CV to hello@littlemandarin.melbourne if you’d like to join our growing team.