Sunny Richards

Santosha has been running trainings and retreats since 2008 – meaning we can celebrate 10 amazing years of helping our students transform their lives and step into their strength.
Sunny has gathered an incredible team of teachers and support staff, who share her passion for sharing the benefits of yoga and sincere desire to help others live their best, most fulfilled and openhearted life. They can’t wait to meet you and get started with you on this journey.
Tasmanian born Yoga Alliance USA ERYT-500, and a ERYT- 500 Plus Yoga Alliance International Teacher Sunny Richards is the founder and director of Santosha Yoga. She has devoted her life to Santosha, which was born from a dream to create a sacred place for healing, transformation and to awaken the incredible potential of happiness and connection to ourselves.
Sunny has been teaching for over 22 years and began her yoga teaching journey in Japan where she experienced a broad spectrum of Yoga Therapy needs. She started Santosha Yoga in 2008 and the company has steadily grown through dedication, love and an impeccable reputation. She has 3 children and currently splits her time between homes in Bali and Australia.
Over the years Sunny has trained in Ashtanga Yoga, Vinyasa Yoga, Vini Yoga, Yoga Therapy, Pre and Post Natal Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Yin Yoga, Children’s Yoga, Restorative Yoga and Meditation.
Sunny is passionate about dedicating time for continual studies and a deep personal practice, so that what she shares is rooted deeply in the process and understanding and integration of real yoga. Sunny is eternally grateful for her teachers including, Ganesh Mohan, Indra Mohan, AJ Mohan, Dr N Chandrasekaran, Mark Whitwell, Leslie Kaminoff, Jean Campbell, Peter Clifford, Dr Sanjay Pisharodi, Barbara Kuendig, Janice Clarefield, David Svenson, Doug Svenson, and significantly guided by Gary Kraftsow teachings as well as many others.
Sunny feels so grateful for the opportunity to share what she has learned, and what she feels is needed in this world, her life and all it brings, to her family, her friends and fellow students. She is humbly in gratitude for her teachers and for the opportunities that has allowed her to create and expand her business, Santosha Yoga.
As an ex-pro surfer, Sunny understands the essence of mother nature. Sunny loves to make sure our trainings are always close to the healing ocean waves or to nature, so students and teachers both can swap mat for board and hit the surf or be lost in the trees and mountains.
Sunny’s teachings are layered with depth and understanding, are lively and fun, whilst allowing moments of deep introspection and reflection to find awareness and peace for each student. Sunny feels genuinely guided by a desire to inspire her students to understand the application of the authentic teachings through one’s current life situation, relationships with Self, others, and the realisations of choice to bring peace to their lives so that their teachings evolve from this space of a deeper awakening.
She believes that no one person who calls themselves a teacher, has a higher status – she is no more than a friend and no less than a friend, and welcomes all with an open heart. She considers all who walk through Santosha Yoga’s doors as family and promises to be available to her students/teachers throughout her life, whenever needed.