SCOUT INSTRUCTOR SERIES - Mandi

For this third edition of our Scout instructor profile series, meet Mandi! You may have practiced with her already in either Reformer or Yoga classes as she has a passion for both! She absolutely LOVES people - her energy and happy vibes are contagious so make sure you try out one of her classes.

MANDI ROSE JACKSON

Age: 33

Star sign: Aries.

How long have you been teaching Yoga/Pilates?: Yoga for 13 years and Pilates for 10.

How did you first get into Yoga/Pilates? It started with Yoga in 2008. I was traveling in Central America and picked up a book on meditation. When I got home from my travels the first thing I did was join a Yoga studio. I got lucky and found an amazing Yoga teacher who changed my life. A few years after starting to teach Yoga I jumped into a Pilates class and was instantly hooked.

What's your favourite Pilates/Yoga pose? What a hard question. This constantly changes for me. My favourite Yoga Pose is currently handstand and I love any type of plank on the Reformer.

What's your favourite thing about Scout Pilates? I love our diverse, funky community. Everyone is so nice! I also love working for Lucy and Ellen. Lucy is super involved with helping us teachers be the best at what we do, and Ellen is so caring and easy to talk with.

Enough Yoga & Pilates chat, what in your life gives you the most energy? Making people smile. I LOVE making people feel happy.

Tell us your favourite place to eat in the inner west and what you order there? My favourite place to eat is at home... I love cooking. It's such a fun and satisfying art form. Right now I'm really into making soups.

What advice would you give to your 15-year-old self? Start doing Yoga. Don't date until you're 21, and be more careful with the friends you surround yourself with.

Last great book that you read? Currently reading Caged Lion. It's a story about the life of Joseph Pilates. Thanx Ellen! I'll return your book soon.

If you could travel ANYWHERE tomorrow, where would you go? Japan! I went for cherry blossom season 4 years ago and fell in LOVE with Japanese culture.

What goal do you want to achieve by the end of the year? Build my brand & run 13 kilometers without stopping.