About Be Still Movement

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

Psalm 18:9, NIV

A spacious place … don’t you long for it? I sure do. As a mum of three teenage girls, a pastor’s wife and a type-A overachiever, spaciousness sometimes seems as real as a unicorn. 

But it is real friends. There is a place where we can feel calm, unhurried, present, nurtured, refreshed and whole. I know this place exists because I’ve been there – many times – and I’d love you to take you there too.

This spacious place has been an anchor for my soul for over 20 years. It’s sustained me through a career in journalism, with the demands of daily deadlines. It’s refreshed me when I felt crushed by the weight of parenting three children and being a spouse to a (wonderfully creative) husband with three demanding jobs. And it’s centred me when the storms of life – the trials and disappointments – have threatened to drag me into despair.

This space is where I connect with and nurture myself physically, mentally and spiritually. It’s where I learnt to truly breathe. It’s where I get perspective on the daily grind, and rekindle gratitude, joy and contentment. It’s also where I meet with God – my Lord, Saviour and friend. 

The space is on my yoga mat. 

Along with my Christian faith, yoga has helped me cope with chronic stress, depression and anxiety, panic attacks and insomnia, burnout, infertility, an eating disorder and day-to-day pressures.

And yet many Christians are missing out on the benefits of yoga. Often – with good reason – Christians are wary of engaging with yoga due its Eastern philosophical roots.  

This is exactly why I created Be Still Movement – to provide a safe space for women, in particular, to receive theologically sound, Bible-based teaching, alongside the physical movements, mindfulness and breath techniques of yoga. 

The aim of these classes is to fill the mind (and heart) with God’s Word and to experience his presence in body, mind and spirit. For those who are not Christian, this is absolutely a space for you. Biblical wisdom is shared in a gentle, non-confrontational way, and it’s totally up to you whether you choose to dwell on the Bible verse or simply focus on your breath.

And for those who feel intimidated about exercise or yoga, these classes are also for you! The classes are designed to be beginner-friendly, in a warm community. Be Still Movement teachers are fully qualified yoga teachers and are equipped to safely teach a range of students and adapt movements to their needs. (Personally, I have completed a 460-hour Diploma of Yoga Teaching with the International Yoga Teachers Association). 

So won’t you join me in giving yourself the gift of space? Try a Be Still Movement class for free. You may just find it changes your life, just as it has mine.

With love and blessings,

Bec xx

Founder of Be Still Movement

Meet our leadership

Be Still Movement Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation governed by a committee of passionate, qualified Christian professionals. Our aim is to provide physical, mental and spiritual health benefits, especially to women, from a Christian perspective. 

As we are a not-for-profit, all money that comes into the work we do must be used to continue to grow this work.

Bec Abbott

  • Rebecca is Mum to three incredible, teenage girls; wife to a creative kids’ minister; and the smitten owner of two dogs. She’s a devoted member of her church home at St James Anglican, Turramurra. Bec’s a self-confessed coffee addict and a literature snob.

    Professionally, Rebecca describes herself as a communicator and a contemplative. She loves connecting with people over deep ideas that can change lives.

    A trained journalist, she has spent over 25 years as an editor, writer and communications manager. Coupled with her passion to serve others, this led her to work for some of Australia’s largest charities including Bible Society Australia, The Salvation Army, Church Missionary Society, Anglican Deaconess Ministries and Hamlin Fistula Relief & Aid Fund. In her most recent role as Head of Eternity News, Rebecca had the pleasure of co-hosting the award-winning podcast Run Like a Woman.

    Outside her journalism career, Rebecca has a love of fitness and health, discovering yoga over 20 years ago. Along with her Christian faith, yoga became a place where she found calm amidst the tumult of deadlines and daily life, which helped her work through mental health challenges. So in 2020, Rebecca studied a 460-hour Diploma of Yoga Teaching, through the International Yoga Teachers’ Association, to share aspects of this vital tool with others.

    As well as building Be Still Movement Inc., Bec also serves as Head of Physical Movement for Life to the Full, another not-for-profit which aims to bring holistic Christian flourishing to people and organisations.

    Bec is available for speaking engagements. You can get in touch with her by emailing hello@bestillmovement.com.au or via the form on our contact page.

Josephine Lau

  • Josephine, known as "Jo," is a yoga teacher, mother of two, and the Founder of Grace x Strength, based in Sydney, Australia.

    In 2015, after a 12-year career in digital marketing, her battle with Chronic Migraine led her to transition into yoga teaching, where she combines her passion for wellness with her Christian faith. Jo’s platform, Grace x Strength, offers online yoga classes that are accessible and infused with messages of peace and love. 

    A Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500) with certifications in Yoga Therapy, Chair Yoga, and Kids Yoga, Jo is also an Ambassador for Migraine Australia. She is dedicated to adapting yoga for those living with Chronic Illness, drawing on her study and knowledge of neuroscience. 

    Alongside her yoga practice, Jo manages her corporate career and embraces her role as a soccer mum.

Natalie Cook

  • Natalie is a devoted mother of six, including biological, adopted and foster children, whose journey through motherhood has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Her experiences as a parent, particularly in managing the complexities of raising children with special needs and trauma, have profoundly shaped her approach to life, work and faith.

    Professionally, Natalie has a diverse and accomplished background. She has owned and successfully operated her own retail business, held executive roles in education and private enterprise, and delivered major construction projects that have had a lasting impact. These experiences have equipped her with a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, strategic leadership and project management expertise.

    In her new venture as an executive coach, Natalie continues to draw upon her extensive experience while integrating Christian principles into her coaching practice, Blue Sky Mastery. She believes that faith and business are not mutually exclusive, and she guides her clients through a journey of personal and professional growth that is grounded in integrity, compassion and purpose. Natalie's mission is to help business owners and executives discover their true potential and achieve success that is both meaningful and sustainable.

Matthew Sykes

  • Matt is a corporate advisor with extensive experience across consulting, finance, mergers and acquisitions, strategy and transformation. He brings all this experience together through his consultancy, Chiswick Advisory, founded in 2023, where he helps clients solve their hardest problems and make the most of their biggest opportunities.

    Prior to this role, Matt served as Chief Executive Officer at Precinct and Chief Strategy Officer with Prosegur, where he worked for almost a decade. 

    Matt has completed a PhD through Macquarie University examining HR and people practices, organisational psychology and organisational performance. He has also obtained an MBA in human resource management and leadership. 

    Matt is married to Tan, and they have four children. Matt is actively involved in the community at All Saints Anglican Church in North Epping. 

Emily Mann

  • Emily is a lawyer based in Sydney, and has worked primarily in government and the non-for-profit sector. She has studied law, history and sociology at the University of Sydney, and has recently commenced theological study at Moore College.

    Emily grew up in a Christian family and came to have a personal faith as a teenager. She currently worships at St James Turramurra and counts it a joy to use her gifts to serve with God’s people.

    Emily is single and lives with her cavoodle, Winston. She comes from a large family and is a devoted aunty to a growing number of nieces and nephews. In her spare time, she loves reading, going to pilates and yoga, sharing meals with friends and spending time near the ocean.

Our values

We want you to move with joy! And so, these are the values we strive to uphold, both on and off the mat.

  • We are a friendly, safe space. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. We care about you – we want to get to know you and make you feel welcome. We want you to feel at home in our classes and part of our community.

  • Care is our commitment to our students. We will strive to help keep your body safe as you practice our classes. Our teachers are professionally trained and able to help adapt the postures to meet your limitations. 

    We ask that you also strive to care for yourself as you practice. Please inform us before the class if you have a new injury, pregnancy or anything else that impacts your movement. And listen to your body throughout each class – take the easier option or have a break anytime you need. Our classes are designed to make you feel better at the end! That requires care from both you and your teacher.

  • We’re not aiming for perfection – for ourselves or our students – but we do aim to be consistently excellent. Be Still Movement strives to deliver a well-rounded, inspiring, worthwhile class every single time we teach. It’s our joy to see participants grow in confidence, strength and peace. And of course, the more you practice, the more benefits you will gain. So we do recommend that you commit to being consistent. Show up. Make class attendance a habit. And you will see the benefits. It may even change your life.

  • Jesus Christ, we believe, was the most inspiring human (and God) to ever walk this earth. There is so much we can learn from his teaching and his example. Billions of people across the world agree! So, in all we do at Be Still Movement, we aim to be more like him; to share his wisdom with others; and to bring honour to him. If you haven’t met Jesus and want to find out why he’s such a big deal, we recommend finding an Alpha course in your local area. Or get in touch with us – we’d love to connect and chat.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

John 14:27, NIV