Welcome to essence of living
yoga, pilates & teacher trainings on the gold coast
Affordable classes • Nature-inspired trainings • Community at heart
Welcome to Essence of Living, where movement is sacred, breath is healing, and teaching is an act of love.
Nestled among trees and birdsong on the Gold Coast, we’ve spent the past 20 years offering affordable yoga and Pilates classes and deeply immersive teacher trainings—from Coolangatta to Coomera.
Our offerings are rooted in community, inspired by nature, and infused with soul. Whether you’re joining a morning flow in a local park or diving deep into your path as a teacher, you’ll be held, guided and seen.
what we offer
Community yoga & Pilates classes
Move gently, breathe deeply, and reconnect.
We offer free and low-cost classes through the Gold Coast Active & Healthy Program, taught in local parks and community centres across the coast.
🌿 All levels welcome
🌺 No bookings needed
💛 Come as you are
Teacher Training Programs
For those who feel called to share the practice.
Our award-winning Essence of Living Academy has been nurturing exceptional yoga and Pilates teachers since 2009.
🌀 200hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training
🌙 200hr Yin Yoga Teacher Training
🌼 Pilates Matwork Instructor Training
🌿 75hr Sequencing & Adjusting Training
📚 50hr Thai Massage Course & Assisted Yoga Adjustments
All courses are led by heart-centred mentors, grounded in anatomy and energetics, and recognised globally through Yoga Alliance or government accreditation.
why essence of living?
✨ Nature Holds Us
Train and practise in a space nestled in forest light, where the wind hums through the gums and kookaburras call in the morning sun.
It’s not just a class—it’s a homecoming.
💛 Heart-Led, Soul-Fed Teaching
Every offering is born from love, guided with integrity, and shared in devotion.
🌏 Trusted for Over 20 Years
We’ve supported over a million students since 2004 and helped hundreds become confident, compassionate teachers.
🌿 Accessible Wellness for All
From free community classes to payment plans for training, we make yoga and Pilates more than a luxury—it’s a lifestyle that belongs to everyone.
🌈 Start Your Journey
Wherever you are on your path—starting, returning, or stepping into the role of teacher—we’re here to walk beside you.
🧘♂️ Join a Class
Let movement heal you.
Let teaching transform you.
Let community carry you home.
ESSENCE OF LIVING TV
Hours of different workout videos from the comfort of your own home!
EOLTV members Login Here
Meet Michelle
Founder • Teacher • Devoted Student of Life
With a heart rooted in yoga, Pilates, and the wisdom of nature, Michelle Cassidy has been guiding movement and transformation on the Gold Coast for over 20 years.
She’s taught more than a million students and trained hundreds of teachers through Essence of Living Academy—but she’ll tell you she’s still learning, still listening, still softening into the mystery.
Her classes and trainings are laced with poetry, purpose and deep presence—inviting you to remember who you are, and why you came.
🌿 “My intention is always to lead from love, and to help others return to their essence.”
our popular hybrid courses
200hr Vinyasa Yoga
Pilates Fitness Mat
Yin Yoga
Barre & Pilates Props
Essence of Living acknowledges and pays respect to the First Nations People, the traditional custodians, past, present and emerging of the lands, seas and skies.
Essence of Living values diversity and is committed to providing an inclusive service for all people.
get in touch
Forest Bathing
Among the trees, something soft happens.
Time slows. Breath deepens. The nervous system sighs.
At Essence of Living, we often practise and teach surrounded by nature—under open skies and shaded gums, where forest bathing becomes a natural part of the experience.
Also known as Shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is the simple art of being with trees. It’s a way to reconnect with your body, soothe your mind, and open to the quiet wisdom of the natural world.
🕊️ No cold plunges. No performance. Just presence.
