About Salt & Wood
Two Words that explain exactly who we are
We are salt, it surrounds us by the sea, in the air that we breathe, smell and taste, it pulses within our bodies as conductors of nerves that contract and relax our every fibre to maintain balance and motion.
We are wood, in every meandering tree in our garden, we are strong and flexible, we are the tree roots that dive deep into the earth, connecting us and grounding us, we are the tree branches that reach and extend to the sky, pushing into sunlight.
We believe in the wood element of Chinese Medicine, cultivating this space for you as a sanctuary for renewal, awaking and rebirth.
"Our aim is from the moment your feet hit the earth you feel nurtured, nourished and held. We want to bring a different way to experience wellness to the community where movement modalities and clinical treatment modalities are combined all within a serene space where time stops still."
— Phoebe
In a world where costs are sky-rocketing and life is becoming more about choices, we wanted to create a model where under the one membership you can experience yoga, pilates, strength and fitness classes, small group fitness sessions, beach challenges and many more, as well as to sample from our wellness offerings such as massage (relaxation and Zen Thai), facials and osteopathy.
Our vibe is laid-back, friendly and positive. Our goal is to foster an empowered, healthy and mindful community. We welcome beginners right through to the most experienced individual in any movement practice we offer.
Phoebe
Co-Founder & Yoga Teacher
Phoebe's yoga journey started while volunteering in the Philippines, teaching yoga to amputees. That experience shaped what came next: she completed her 200 hour yoga teacher training and specialised further in amputee yoga, prenatal yoga and yin.
She spent 20 years before that working as a healthcare professional in prosthetics and orthotics, and it still shows in how she teaches. Her classes balance strong, flowing sequences with real attention to alignment and biomechanics (the kind of detail you only get from someone who's spent decades thinking about how bodies actually move).
Three years ago Phoebe moved to the Bellarine with her husband and two young children and started teaching yoga locally. Expect classes that are carefully sequenced, set to music, always with modifications on offer. Come ready to move, flow and smile.
Kat
Co-Founder, Yoga Teacher & Massage Therapist
Kat has been practising Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga for over 20 years, teaching in studios and on retreats everywhere from Melbourne to London, Bali, Ibiza and the south of Spain. Her Ashtanga inspired flow keeps things simple and repetitive, built around the cue of breath to movement. She also leads a gentler Yin inspired class, one that tends to wind down into a sound bath (part meditation, part permission to nap).
Alongside yoga, Kat has spent over 15 years as a massage therapist. She started out in day spas, then moved into working alongside chiropractors, before treating retreat guests in the south of Spain. These days she works with women navigating their own wellness journeys, weaving yoga and other movement modalities into that support.
Kat lives in Barwon Heads with her husband and two young kids, and brings that same instinct for care (and a little indulgence) to her work with Salt & Wood members.
Murphy
Studio Asistant
Murphy is a glorious border terrier who is wise beyond his 5 human years. An easy going fellow, he enjoys spending his days pottering around the garden taking in the scents and chasing his lizard friends.
He lives in the house behind the studio, right on the dog beach but due to his dislike for dogs he prefers to spend his time with humans.
Tummy tickles and digging holes are more his thing, and being a great listener he will happily join you in the garden room for a chat and a cup of tea. During class you'll find him meandering into the studio taking pride of place on the mat next to you. He doesn't like to miss out on anything!
The Studio sits just behind the Ocean Grove sand dunes. Nestled in the lee of the cold south westerly winds of Bass Strait, the hardy Australian natives rest at peace with Coastal Heaths entwined as a twisted woodland.
As our pathway winds between and below the Moonah canopy, take your time to enjoy the tranquil surrounds and calming sounds of the sea, as you walk and wind down, bathing in the life of the woods (Shinrin - Yoku).
Metal whale sculptures dance in the gentle breeze (Lucky Monkey Blacksmith - artist Ernie Terry) as you walk slowly through the Japanese garden gate onto our Garden Room area. Look for the Japanese mill wheels scattered about the garden as a space for quiet mindfulness.
The pathway will end at The Salt and Wood studio, a private space for all movement, wellness and community.
You have arrived.
The Studio
The perfect environment to learn, discover and expand your heart, mind and body.
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We have a vision for inclusivity. Our goal is to be a neuro affirming space where we teach, manage and work in a way that supports, embodies and respects people’s differences. We cater for variation of peoples bodies, abilities and experience levels and we aim to be inclusive for people with different brains, of different ages and different genders.
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With our vaulted ceiling spaces and double-glazed timber sliding doors, we invite the beautiful garden and sounds of the sea into this calm, warm and quiet environment for all to enjoy.
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We keep our classes small, no more than 20 students maximum. The layout of the studio may change from class to call – with mats facing the garden or the curtains depending on the teacher and the class.
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Purpose designed and built with hydronically heated Bamboo flooring, you are kept in a climate controlled environment which is hygienic, environmentally sustainable, warm in winter, cool in summer, and best of all - soft on your joints.
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We primarily use hydronic heating, which does not cause dehydration. Hydronic heating is the healthiest choice for your body (and the environment), as it allows heat to be built internally and safely.
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Latex-free Manduka mats are provided for complimentary use at the Studio. These mats are closed-cell, which means they are hygienic and won’t absorb sweat. All equipment is supplied for each class, no need to bring anything.
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We ask for shoes to be left outside of the studio in our shoe box and as you enter the studio there are neat little wicker baskets for you to leave your belongings and hooks to hang your jackets.
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