Upon opening the door to the Light Practice's brand new Richmond studio, you're met with an immediate sense of calm. A large candlelit staircase is flanked by a sign asking you to take off your shoes, and soothing, smoky incense aromas waft down from the upstairs level. This is Elisa Silvert and Prue Barnes' second location – the first being a Morrabin studio that opened in 2021.
While working as a designer in the fashion industry and dealing with the loss of her brother, Barnes (literally) dreamt of leaving it all behind for a yoga studio, combining light and sound to facilitate restorative healing. A yoga novice at the time, the dream led her to quit her job and spend years travelling the world studying the ancient practice. Now, Barnes is a certified yoga and feminine frequency formula teacher with over 20 years of experience.
Founding the studio with somatic healing expert Silvert made perfect sense. The duo set out to create a holistic healing space that combined the benefits of yoga with light therapy and nervous system regulation. Compared to typical studios, the Light Practice offers a multi-sensory experience targeted at improving mental and physical wellbeing at the same time.
The stunning Richmond space features soaring ceilings, hardwood floors and arched, fluted glass doors that open to a cavernous yoga studio complete with Tibetan singing bowls and traditional gongs. In terms of yoga, guests have the choice of a more intensive Vinyasa Flow or the calming Restorative Yin – but if you're just keen on chromotherapy (also known as colour or light therapy), sound healing and breathwork, there are plenty of workshops and immersive events on offer, too.
This isn't a come-for-your-class-and-leave kind of place. Guests are encouraged to sit for a glass of ginger tea pre-practice and hang around post-class for a debrief – you'll leave in a deep meditative state, so taking it slow is encouraged. "These sensory practices have a profound effect on how our nervous system responds to stress, relationships, connections, our bodies, our minds…. Pretty much everything in our lives," says Silbert. “We create powerful and diverse sensory experiences at The Light Practice that all work to regulate the nervous system, in turn allowing students to access deep recovery and mental restoration."
You'll also find the Light Practice at its original 11 Cochranes Road, Moorabbin location – which features an infrared sauna, too. Find out more and book your class online here.