Karen Wightman

Karen is the founder of Creative Yogis. She is an experienced, local and international children’s yoga instructor, yoga teacher trainer, and children’s art teacher.

Karen began her yoga practice in Thailand in 1995, and began assisting in kid’s yoga classes in Bangkok in 2003, under the guidance of yoga master Justin Herold at the Iyengar Yoga School. She went on to coordinate a 2-year yoga program at Satit Kaset International Program in Bangkok.

In 2006, Karen moved to Australia to follow her passions and immerse herself further in the study of yoga. She studied the foundation, intermediate and pregnancy teacher training with Nicky Knoff in the Knoff Yoga system and completed the 200 hour Yoga Alliance RYT. She then went on to complete her second yoga teacher training in the Ishta system with world-famous Rachel Zinman, from 2007 – 2014.

Karen continues to develop her skills in children's yoga since 2006/7 training with a number of leading teachers and pioneers in the field. Kylie Peters of Simply Kids Yoga, Christy Brock Miele of YogaMinded, Loraine Rushton of Zenergy Yoga and Charlotta Martinus of Teen Yoga. Karen loves learning and views it as a life long practice which is paramount to remaining current, creative and inspired.

She recently moved back to live in the Northern Rivers in NSW, Australia after being based in the UK for a few years. She facilitates both local and international teacher trainings and workshops in Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, Philippines and Europe. Karen also dedicates her time to teaching yoga to children of all ages, from pre-school to high school, with 18 years of experience.

Karen has been a children’s art teacher for 30 years, and is passionate about offering a variety of unique educational yoga resources to stimulate the imagination and capture the hearts of children. Check out her beautiful mandalas to color in the Creative Yogis shop!

Yoga Alliance Registrations

RCYS, Registered Children's Yoga School
Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher 500 hours
Specialty RCYT, Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher
YACEP, Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider

Lisa Fitzpatrick

Lisa is an experienced coach, yoga teacher, workshop facilitator, best-selling author and physiotherapist with over 25 years of experience. Lisa is committed and passionate about holistic health and has enjoyed teaching yoga anatomy and physiology on yoga teacher trainings for over a decade. Lisa specialises in women’s physiology and empowerment workshops at yoga schools and in businesses to support heart-centred marketing and service.

Lisa graduated as a Physiotherapist in 1993 and completed her first yoga teacher training with Rachel Zinman in 2007 in Ishta Yoga (an Integrated System of Hatha, Tantra and Ayurvedic Medicine). Lisa has also comprehensively studied women’s health and pelvic physiology, acupuncture, reiki masters, eastern and western philosophy and nutrition and has completed a diploma in life and business coaching at The Coaching Institute.

As a mother of two sons and past experience in paediatrics working as a children’s physiotherapist for Disability Services from 1998-2001, Lisa understands the developmental stages of children. She is passionate about bringing the light of holistic health awareness to every stage of the life journey.

Lisa brings her wealth of knowledge of the body to us providing the comprehensive Anatomy and Physiology component in our 95hr Children's Yoga Teacher Training.

Frankie Chan

Frankie began her yoga journey in 2003, instantly falling in love with its physical, mental, and spiritual aspects. Inspired by her visits to India and time with her guruji in the ashram, she is passionate about serving others. Her studies include training with Vivekananda (SVASA), Patrick Creelman at PURE Yoga, pre-natal yoga, and becoming a 95-hr Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher with Creative Yogis.

A devoted mother of two wonderful boys, Frankie was inspired to study yoga and mindfulness to support them. She began studying with Karen in 2016 completing the 95-hr RCYT program. As a guest teacher, she shares practical tips and supports trainees in teaching primary and high school students.

Currently teaching at PURE Yoga, Frankie balances her role as a super mum with leading fun, encouraging, and joyful classes for students of all ages.

Children are almost like butterflies of differing types - size, shape, colour and marks, some are heavier and others are lighter.... the thing they seem to have most in common is a willingness to transform moment to moment, demonstrate courage as they fly and giggle as they attempt it. What an inspiration they truly are!

KAREN WIGHTMAN | Founder of Creative Yogis

Karen Wightman
Founder of Creative Yogis
Director & Senior Trainer