YOGA TEACHER

I was dragged to my first yoga class in 2009 and, despite struggling with the postures, I was immediately hooked by the feeling of release and calm that came with the finishing savasana. Eventually I started enjoying the practice itself (not just the final ‘reward’), to the point that I began teaching. After beginning to teach Hatha and Vinyasa in 2012, I discovered Ashtanga yoga in 2014 and shifted my focus back to being a student. In 2019, a 5-month stint training in India reinvigorated my desire to teach.

I currently teach both Vinyasa and Ashtanga, but all of my classes are ultimately inspired by the Ashtanga foundation of tristana (the synchronization of breath, bandhas, and drsti to move energy in the body and cultivate stillness in the mind).

I am indebted to my Ashtanga teachers Nancy Gilgoff, Philippa Asher, and Peter Sanson, as well as Vinay Kumar (Prana Vashya), and my very first teacher, Gareth Hewitt (Vinyasa).

Alongside yoga, I also teach Playwriting and Dramaturgy at the University of Otago.

YOGA TEACHER

Yoga has been a big part of my life, starting at age 14 when I picked up a dog-eared book by Richard Hittleman from a second hand book store. I taught myself the asanas from the book and then later found an Ashtanga studio. I had a wonderful Iyengar-based teacher at dance school who strongly motivated my practice. Her approach gave me the foundations and deep understanding of the mind-body aspect of yoga that has nourished and informed my dance practice. In turn this has been integral to preventing injury, implementing breath and alignment.

I have always been curious about all kinds of movement and the relationship we have with our bodies both metaphysically and in a grounded physical way. I am interested in how we can invigorate our lives with vitality, direct energy through our form and move with a greater sense of ease and flow. The various movement techniques I have studied are pilates, axis syllabus, wing chun, qi gong, capoeira, somatics and I took my yoga qualification course in Sydney and Bali in 2014.

My classes involve consideration of healthy biomechanics and joint integrity as I believe safety and longevity of our muscles and bones are paramount. With a clear set up and strong foundations I focus on moving breath through the body to create length, expansion and grace. I like to build themes and develop them over the class and enjoy creating a sense of gentle flow.

It brings me enormous joy to share my explorations of movement with others and especially my life long relationship and passion for yoga. I wish to bring a sense of tranquility and internal stillness to the classes I teach so that movement stems from sensation within.

YOGA TEACHER

I started practicing Yoga in 2012, following along with YouTube videos in my university room, I spent the next few years practicing in the comfort of my own space. When I began to travel extensively from 2015 I always brought my mat along with me. 

I completed my 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Koh in New Zealand and my 50 Hour Rainbow Kids Yoga Teacher Training online, and continue to expand my knowledge through reading and learning from my teachers.  

I currently teach Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin and Prāṇāyāma. My offerings focus on creating strong and steady foundations to grow a safe and sustainable āsana practice. I give students the guidance and encouragement to create a mind-body connection, ensuring everyone feels confident and empowered to explore their limits safely and in a fun way. 

From 2021 I started practicing Ashtanga more regularly and devoted my personal practice to the lineage. Subsequently making two trips to Mysore India, the birthplace of Ashtanga in 2023 and 2024 to practice with renowned teacher Vijay Kumar. Alongside my practice I studied Prāṇāyāma with Sri BNS Iyengar, a former student of Krishnamacharya, the father of modern Yoga. As well as completing a backbending course with Vinay Kumar. My time spent in India has further ignited my passion for sharing Yoga and what I learnt continues to inform my teaching. 

Outside of Yoga I love to rock climb and hike, as well as spend time at the beach. Whenever I can I love to go see live music and you’ll probably find me at a local gig with friends. 

YOGA TEACHER

After my initial introduction to yoga when in high school, I rediscovered yoga years later as a wonderful way to combat not only my work stress, but also the results of years of work-related back pain and exercise-related injuries. I was hooked - not only for the physical and mental benefits that yoga offered, but also the positive changes I noted in all other aspects of my life.

After seven years of a regular yoga practice, I felt it was time to share with others what I had gained through my own personal practice and travelled to Nepal to complete my Ashtanga and Vinyasa yoga teacher training. Recognising the importance of a Yang-Yin balance in both life and in yoga, I have also completed both Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra trainings.

With my background as a healthcare professional, I enjoy seeing the positive effect to people’s overall health through providing a balanced and nurturing yoga practice. Particularly in today’s challenging times, we all deserve the opportunity that yoga offers us to disconnect from outside distractions, to feel safe and nurtured, and to just be and breathe.

QI GONG TEACHER

Like many western kids, my first exposure to Tai Chi and Qi Gong was through Kung Fu movies. I thought it looked cool, and a little funny, but never really considered practicing it. In my teens and 20s, I was drawn to different styles of meditation, movement, and spiritual practices, but also spent a fair bit of time just hanging with friends and surfing.

Eventually, I decided to study acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine at NZSATCM in Auckland. In my third year of study, after my first shift treating patients in the student clinic, my supervisor asked how often I practice Qi Gong. I told him, “never.” Then he told me “you must,” and taught me a sequence of movements and breath. I’ve been practicing nearly every day since, and find the rhythmic movements and breathing patterns an excellent way to warm up the body and mind.

My Qi Gong classes are suitable for all levels and abilities, and are based on traditional sets of movements, including The 8 Pieces of Brocade, and 5 Animals.

YOGA TEACHER

I am a ERYT500+ yoga teacher and student counsellor, passionate about offering practices to come home to oneself. My classes are a synthesis of haṭha yoga, somatic inquiry and embodied awareness / earth connection. With playful, open and invitational style, I hope to support you to feel empowered through movement and meditation.

Outside of yoga, I love surfing, hiking, reading and a good coffee. I am originally from England, but after a few years of travelling the world have found my home here in New Zealand.

STUDIO MANAGER & TEACHER

I have collaborated and cooperated on and in yoga studios in Auckland, but it was time to return to my hometown of Dunedin in 2019. I am very happy to have serendipitously met Sandy and her golden opportunity to create a space that, by design, offers support specifically to alleviate stress at a time when stress management couldn’t be more essential.

Tertiary study (BPhEd, Dip Contemporary Dance) and years of teaching yoga classes, private sessions, and retreats have illuminated in neon the physical stresses we carry as a result of acute and chronic life events that we accept as normal. Some cannot be avoided and that’s the nature of living, but I do believe we need to press pause as a more integral part of our daily lives, so we can improve the quality of our health and wellbeing.

It’s not a cure-all but with nu I hope to, at least in-part, rewrite the script and offer people the time, space, and knowledge to reset their nervous systems.

My approach to general yoga classes starts with simplicity. Bred from the breath and rooted in physicality, my classes are a hybrid of the subtle and the gross. A biomechanically-based approach requiring attention to detail while incrementally building physical effort, everything is geared towards optimising balance between strength and mobility, and in so doing, maximising ease.

YOGA TEACHER

I have a deep love and respect for yoga which has spanned and supported me over four decades. I started practicing yoga at 19 in the hope of finding a solution to my addiction to alcohol. This was the beginning of a lifetime commitment to yoga which eventually lead to my freedom from addiction. I was mostly interested in meditation in those early days but over time I ventured into the physical practices of mainly Ashtanga and Kundalini.

I completed the NZIYTA training in 1997 and began teaching in Hawkes Bay. After a decade of teaching, I finally found what I was looking for – a traditional lineage that was not Guru-based. I embarked on more training with the Krishnamacharya Foundation to become a Viniyoga teacher which I continue to study to become a Yoga Therapist.

Yoga has supported me through addiction, divorce, and menopause, and I now help others facing life's challenges with the most appropriate yoga for them.

YOGA TEACHER - COVER

Sat nam, I am a Dunedin based yoga facilitator offering Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin and Ecstatic Dance.

An epiphany led me to India in 2013 where I attended my first teacher training in Ashtanga Vinyasa. Shortly after this training I discovered Kundalini Yoga, and it was during a Kundalini class that the idea of Lotus Moda was born. Beauty and Joy. This is what yoga has given me.

Fast forward several years, I quit the corporate world, travelled the world studying yoga before a family crisis brought me home to New Zealand. Since being on the path of yoga, life has been one continuous flow of opportunities. From studio ownership to retreats - an abundance of opportunities have allowed me to continue offering what I feel passionate about. Guiding people to have an experience of themselves through the vastness of yoga.

Being on this path has opened me to the magic and miracles that appear when you trust in the flow of life and it is an honour to share these practices with those looking to expand and evolve.

Whether you are new to yoga or have an established practice, I look forward to seeing you on the mat soon and sharing the gift of yoga!

YOGA TEACHER

Yoga has changed my life! I first started practicing yoga 10 years ago whilst studying medicine at university. I very quickly felt the benefits in my physical and emotional body and continued to practice ever since. Whilst studying medicine, I noticed a missing part of the health care system which I found through eastern philosophical teachings of yoga to create more holistic care. This was something I wanted to incorporate into my consultations, so I completed my 200hr Vinyasa yoga teacher training with YogaKoh in Whangaruru in 2022. I then completed my 100hr Yin training in Queenstown and 100hr training in the Art and Science of Rest with Awakening Arts. This has showed me the importance of both movement and rest to balance our nervous systems and feel in alignment with our bodies, minds and spirits. I like to teach the basics and build upon them throughout the class to create a wave formation that you can travel with at your own pace. I feel passionate about these teachings to create a community where we can feel connected to our true authentic selves, be our own best teachers and live in harmony with nature.

The magic of New Zealand has captured me since I moved here in 2020 from the UK. Outside of yoga I enjoy Surfing, running, painting and being out in nature. 

I look forward to practicing with you! 

KID’S YOGA TEACHER

Kia ora koutou

I am honoured to be guiding Kid's Yoga at Nu over the summer holidays. I am a trained Kid's Yoga teacher and have also completed my 200 YTT. I believe the holistic benefits of yoga can benefit all ages and stages of life! I have been lucky enough to have guided Kid's Yoga, Teen Yoga, Family Yoga, Yoga in Schools, Disconnect To Reconnect yoga retreats and community yoga classes all around Ōtepoti. I have also just completed my primary school teacher training, so I'm excited to incorporate yoga into as many classrooms and schools as I can.

Introducing yoga to your precious tamariki will serve them well for life! I look forward to seeing you all at Nu in January. Kā mihi nui, Moana.

YOGA TEACHER

Yoga has been woven into my life since childhood, growing up in the US. My mum, a yoga teacher, introduced me to the practice early on. For her, yoga was an intermittent practice, but for me, it shaped how I learned to move and breathe in my body. Though my practice was sporadic throughout the years, yoga took on new meaning when I moved to Aotearoa eight years ago. At a time when I was searching for community and a deeper connection to myself, I found solace in Ashtanga yoga. It nourished my need for routine, expression, and movement, and as I traveled through different parts of the country, I explored various other styles, solidifying yoga as a cornerstone in my life.

In 2020, I attended The Krishna Village Centre for Yogic Studies and completed my 200-hour YTT course. Since then, I’ve been teaching Vinyasa and Hatha yoga, pranayama, and guided meditation. By day, I work as a mental health social worker, driven by a deep passion for somatic, trauma-informed care. My strength-based approach influences my yoga teaching, which centers on promoting accessibility, personal safety, connection to the present moment, and a sense of playfulness.

YOGA TEACHER

My first yoga class was in a very basic (cold!) weightlifting gym on Te Tai Poutini/ West Coast as a teenager, accompanying my lovely mum. I will never forget the sensation of my thighs struggling in that first warrior position. As someone who had found the idea of sport completely intimidating, yoga for me provided an opportunity to connect with movement in a very non-confrontational way.

Since then, I have been an eager student of yoga and mindfulness practices- It's been incredibly healing for me in times of overwhelm, grief, and change.

While most of my mahi is actually as a chiropractor, yoga still plays an integral part in my work. I completed a foundational yoga teacher training in Tāmaki Makaurau with Inspire Teacher Training in 2019, and have since trained in teaching with a trauma-sensitive lens. My teaching style involves slow, functional movement with a focus on building stability and strength.

STUDIO OWNER & MANAGER

I have lived all over the world, with husband Mike and our three children, teaching where I could, mostly music in primary and secondary schools in mining towns, and practiced a wide range of yoga styles.

I have a Vini yoga background, taught by Gary Kraftsow. My style is mainly slow smooth breath and movement, as I’m more interested in what it does to and for the nervous system, rather than fitness.

I’m an extrovert and I get my energy and wellbeing from other people.

Wherever I’ve moved, what gives me energy is people coming together around an activity like a hike, or community singing, or doing a yoga class together. I really love that sense of deeper understanding and connection that’s not about opinions and background. They’re participating in a group experience that doesn’t revolve around subjectivity, the yumminess of just being humans together.

This comes back to community, which is what I’m hoping to build at nu by providing an accessible space where all people are comfortable and welcome.

When you’re doing these communal things, (when you’re rolling around on a yoga mat with your legs in the air!) you can’t pretend to be someone else. Everyone is just being authentic and true to themselves.

The studio should be a place where people can come and be authentic, not have to put on an act or a mask, just be their real self and enjoy that experience, rather than judging themselves. It’s more about people walking out with a soft smile.

YOGA TEACHER & EDUCATOR

Founder of Hañsa, I have been teaching and practicing yoga since 1990 and since then have become New Zealand’s foremost yoga instructor and teacher trainer with a wealth of knowledge in biomechanics, yoga therapy, movement therapy, and postural analysis.

The Hañsa International Therapy & Flow Systems & Hañsa Wellness online platform is a unique style that integrates Eastern and Western thought and methodologies to the practice of yoga and wellbeing. Hañsa Yoga has developed an 800 hours yoga therapy professional training programme that supports a process of healing and awakening through principles of human fundamental movement patterns and embodiment. We use this as the basis to gain greater insight into individual function as well as understanding one’s physical, mental and energetic needs.