A gently facilitated hatha yoga class suitable for all age groups and levels of experience and ability, with Rishi in the hall at St John's Church Centre (the Golden Church). https://www.facebook.com/share/17WCPfsWMA/
A 75-minute general (for all) class of traditional hatha yoga āsana (postures/exercises) with breath awareness, sometimes a little pranayama (specialized breathing techniques), and a short yoga nidra (deep relaxation).
Come along and experience it for $30 for your first 3 times, with a 3-class pass for those new to us. You can try any combination of our 8 x 75-min classes on this pass.
Keep it at this fantastic $10 per class rate on a concession card that has no expiry and is shareable.
All welcome, from beginners to more experienced. Work on the poses in a way that is manageable for you - and comfortable - for your level and pace. Softer or stronger, as suits you in each pose each time that you practice.
INSTRUCTOR: Rishi Iyer
Rishi has a BMus(Hons), specializing in classical singing. He has worked with NZ Opera in the chorus of various productions and is often in local shows with Opera North and the Whangārei Choral Society.
Growing up in a yoga teaching environment, he decided to do his yoga teacher training. In 2022, Rishi attended a series of week long sessions - with follow up study and practice required after each one - to obtain a RYT200 yoga teaching qualification from Prema-Heart Yoga School at Ritual Yoga on Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf. He intends to follow up with a 300-hour course there.
Over the past 10 years, he has worked with Swami Ānandarādhā Saraswati (Rādhe) in the Northland classes and workshops, teaching all classes run by Shraddha Yoga and Meditation in 2024, and most of them in 2025 and 2026 also.
Having a father who is Brahmin, from India, it seems that Rishi may have genetically inherited an ability with pronunciation of Sanskrit. Admittedly, this is probably enhanced by proficiency singing in other languages. However, he has a particular interest in chanting and/or singing Sanskrit mantra and kirtan. He usually chants the short universal mantra Om (A-U-M) 3 times to both open and close. This only takes a minute; you can listen or joined in.
OUR TYPE OF YOGA
Our classes are largely Satyananda-focused, with practices from the Bihar School of Yoga forming the foundation.
Although our approach to āsana practice is gentle, anyone can work in a way that feels 'stronger' - or you can make an āsana 'softer' - to better suit ability/need
We give a short yoga nidra (deep relaxation) of 10-15 minutes at the end of each class.
WHAT YOGA CAN DO FOR YOU
Yoga is a science that can have huge benefits for body, mind and emotions. All benefits are interconnected and could include:
•strengthening and toning of muscles
•stretching to reduce over-tight muscles
•rotations and bending/stretching movements to increase flexibility in joints (very important for all joints, including the spinal vertebrae)
•balance improvement in standing and other poses, both still and moving
Prices through us:
3-class pass $30 then a concession card is usually purchased to maintain this excellent rate.
The standard casual/drop-in fee is $20.
This is reduced to $15 with a Community Services Card or Super Gold Card.
The $20 fee is based on a rate of $15 per hour for classes and courses (our classes are one-and-a-quarter hours).
Concession cards
There is NO EXPIRY on any of our concession cards, so keep using them at any venue in any term (of any year!) until completed. You can even use these with a partner/whānau/friend/friends.
•$78 for a 6-class concession card ($13 per class).
•$110 for an 11-class concession card ($10 per class). This remains the most popular option.
•$210 for 22 classes - 2 x 11-class cards (~$9.50 per class).
027 7104 347 (Rishi)
Another city day class is here on Thursday at 10am. Also in the Bowie Room at Old Library on Wednesday at 9.30am.
