Yoga with Shona

Hello all,

I just wanted to thank you all for your support this year. I've really enjoyed teaching my Monday and Thursday night classes. I'll be back in the New Year to let you know about upcoming yoga classes with me :) Have a lovely festive season and take care.

Good Morning all,

Who is joining me for my last class 😢at Z Health tonight at 5:30pm? Let me know or book online through the Z Healths website. I look forward to seeing all those who can make it 💖 # # #

https://bookings.gettimely.com/zhealthstudio/book

Put your hand up if you are joining me for yoga tonight at 5:30pm at Z Health.

I know it’s getting to the busy time of year and there is lots going on but trust me you will feel better if you do something for yourself to slow down and breathe fully. You might even find by taking a moment to slow you get more done and feel relaxed while doing it.

Please book in or let me know. I've only got 2 more classes left in Zuri's beautiful Studio.

Who's joining me Thursday at 5:30pm at Z Health for yoga? Please book in or let me know.

We only have 3 more classes together at Zuri's beautiful studio so let's make the most of this space and time together. x

Who's joining me on Thursday at 5:30pm at Z Health for yoga flow? I'm looking forward to those who can make it, I've missed you for the past few weeks. x

Here is a snap from the walk I recently did. I'm feeling so thankful for such an amazing trip to Queen Charlotte Sounds. It was so nice to be able to spend multiple days in the bush and slow down. I highly recommend it to everyone. x

Hello lovely people,
Just reminding you Zuri will be taking the 5:30pm yoga class while I go on my tramp.
I will look forward to seeing you next week 💖 x

Yoga at 5:30pm tonight will be with Zuri.
It turns out I'm not invincible and have picked up a head cold. I'm on the tail need but feel like a need the extra day to recover. I will miss you all. I hope you have a lovely class tonight. x

Who's joining me for yoga tomorrow night, 5:30pm at Z Health. Don't forget to book online or let me know.

https://zhealthstudio.co.nz/

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend. I had such a great time with my family. I managed to share my special place (Hemi matenga) with them.

P.s I did not do yoga on top of the hill. The photo is just for attention.

Who's joining me for yoga tomorrow at 5:30pm at Z Health Studio. Don't forget to book in or let me know.

In the ashtanga practice we do alot of Chaturanga Dandasana. I thought these photos have some great tips for you to think about next time you are practice. I look forward to seeing you that can make it tomorrow night.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjvECYXthtH/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Build strength in your shoulders and scapula 👉 Chaturanga Dandasana helps you strengthen your core, quads, shoulders, biceps, and triceps along with building flexibility in the wrists. And if you want to learn all the modifications and progressions to the foundational poses of yoga (Including Chaturanga dandasana), click the link in our @inflexibleyogis & @howtopracticeYoga bio ✨ Make sure to share this with someone that could benefit and save it for your practice! 😊 Probably one of my favorite poses. Chaturanga dandasana. I couldn’t do it at first when I showed up to yoga, took some upper body strengthening but it makes me feel strong now. It is important to have a proper technique for this pose to build good habits. I hope this helps. For more, click the link in our @inflexibleyogis & @howtopracticeYoga bio 💗 Thanks for sharing @simonagyoga #inflexibleyogis

Hello all, just a reminder there is yoga tomorrow night at 5:30pm. Remember to book in or let me know if you are coming.🧘💖

Who's joining me for yoga tomorrow at 5:30pm? It might be the school holidays and you are busy with kids, but maybe that is more of a reason to give yourself some time out to breathe.💖🧘🌈

Remember to book in or let me know. :)

I’ve been enjoying listing to “The proof with Simon Hill” on my way to and from work recently. I had to share this podcast about Exercising For Brain Health With Drs Dean & Ayesha Sherzai. If you get a chance check it out 😊

https://theproof.com/exercising-for-brain-health-with-drs-dean-ayesha-sherzai/

This photo is from Hemi Matenga Memorial Park. I try and get up at least once a week. It's one of my happy places.

Yoga tonight at 5:30pm with me at Z health. Don't forget to book in or let me know.

Yoga is a great tool to help with mental health such as stress, depression, and anxiety.
Yoga helps to make you feel relaxed by focusing on the breath, which helps the mind to slow down and allows us to focus on the present moment. By slowing the breath down, it helps to active the parasympathetic nervous system, which is known as rest and digest (a relax state). When the body is in a relaxed state your heart rate, blood pressure decreases, lowering cortisol levels (known as the stress hormone), allows blood to flow to the internal organs and supporting the immune system.

I found this great journal if you wanted to read a little more on the benefits of yoga
“Exploring the therapeutic effects of yoga and its ability to increase quality of life”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/

Who's joining my for yoga flow tonight at 5:30pm Z Health Community ?
Don't forget to book in or let me know. X

It's so lovely to wake up to the sun shining again!

Yoga tonight at 5:30pm, Don't forget to book in or let me know if you're coming. tonight. I look forward to seeing you. x

So lovely to see the sun out this morning.
Join me for a Modify primary Ashtanga yoga sequence tonight at 5:30pm. Don't forget to book in or let me know. I look forward to seeing you. x

Yoga with me tomorrow night at 5:30pm Z Health Community . Don't forget to book in or let me know.

I love Steph's prints, what a great reminder. Your never too old to start a yoga practice infact it might be just what your body needs. 💖

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ch2ZEJZMJy8/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

You’re never too old and it’s not too late 🤍 That thing that you think you’re too old to try or do, please get out of your own way and just do it 🫶🏼 Cheers, Steph x . . . . #Toyoufromsteph #digitalart #digitalillustration #procreate #illustratoroninstagram #procreateart #thejourneybegins #adventureawaits #spiritualart #lookwithin #quotestagram #dailymotivation #trusttheprocess #illustrationoftheday #womenofillustration #womenwhodraw #procreateillustration #ladieswhodesign #girlsmakingmagic #illustragram #illustratorsoninstagram #ipadart #womenempowerment #best_of_illustrations #illistration #illustrationoninstagram #illustratorart #picturebookart #womenillustrators #illustratorlife

Come join me at 5:30pm for yoga tomorrow night. x

Yoga tonight at 5:30 pm. Don’t forget to book in with Z Health Community or let me know if you’re coming.

The Sanskrit word Om is pronounced like “Aum,”. I thought I’d talk a little about why I choose to open and close my class by chanting OM.

I love how chanting OM gives me a clear starting point for my yoga practice. It allows me to become aligned with my breath relaxing my body and calming my mind. I love the vibration and energy it creates and the idea that the frequency of chanting Om is the same vibrational frequency found throughout everything in nature. This helps reminds me we are all balls of energy, and we/everything is connected.

Thinking back to the first time I went to a yoga class that chanted Om, I wasn’t sure what it was all about, but loved listening to the teacher and the rest of the class chant together. It took me a while to become comfortable joining in as I wasn’t born a natural singer. For a while, I choose to listen and sometimes found myself whispering along with everyone while they chanted. It wasn’t until years later that I allowed myself to join in with sound, I’m not sure what changed or why, but I was glad I got over worrying about what I sounded like as it really didn’t matter.

If you are new to chanting don’t be afraid to join in you can’t get it wrong, you might find you really enjoy it. If you prefer not to join in that is also okay, you get to choose what is best for your own practice.

I found this journal “How to chant Om mantra and its benefits” if you were interested in reading some more.https://www.journalofsports.com/pdf/2018/vol3issue2/PartS/3-2-159-160.pdf

This blog is a quick easy read “OM: What Is It & Why Do We Chant It” https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-7565/om-what-is-it-why-do-we-chant-it.html

So who's coming tonight for yoga at 5:30pm? Don't forget to book in. x

I felt this quote was a great reminder to prioritize the things you love and the rest will fall into place.

I know personally, my balance is a little off at the moment having a new routine, but I'm always so thankful to have my yoga.

Who's joining me for yoga tonight at 5:30pm Z Health ? I know it's cold out there this morning, but don't worry I'll have the studio nice and warm for you all :)

Zuri is offering this deal at Health for next week. Book in via Z Healths website or let me know. Plenty of classes to try out. x

Who is joining me for yoga tomorrow night at 5:30pm?

When did I start practicing yoga?

When I was 16, I discovered a ashtanga yoga video tape of my mothers. I’d do a few of the asanas, then fast forward to savasana (co**se pose) as I loved the idea of relaxation at the end. I am a very active person and find it hard to stay still, but when it comes to savasana I can allow my body to sink into my mat and enjoy the benefits of the practice.

It wasn’t until years later, living in Noosa, that a workmate said she was “off to a yoga class” and I said “I’ve always wanted to try going to a class”. Since then I’ve been hooked.

I’ve had many amazing teachers who have guided me through my practise as I traveled overseas. I thank everyone of them for guiding me on my path, each teacher oftering something different I needed at the time.

While living in Perth, I found 8limbs Shala (studio) and meet Gregor Maehle and Monica Gauci, who I completed my 200 hour teacher training with in Bali.

When I moved back to Wellington I found Te Aro Ashtanga Shala. I was lucky to have Mike Berghan guide me throught the art of adjustments during mysore classes over 4 years. I loved being able to assit people through their practice and give adjustments to allow their body to lengthen that little bit more and help with their alignment.

I’m loving teaching a modify primary vinyasa sequence at Z Health and look forward to helping grow the Ashtanga community in Kāpiti.

I love the flow of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and how it draws your attention inwards rather than thinking about what your limbs are doing. It lets me check in with myself physical and emotionally to see what I need and what I need to be aware of. I love the positive energy it provides and how it can help to deal with everyday challenges.

Yoga tomorrow at 5:30pm at Z Health . Don't forget to book in or contact me.

I have been teaching for Zuri at Z Health for the past year. I am forever grateful for this opportunity and thankful for everyone's support. It's such a lovely space that Zuri has created. If you are keen to check it out I teach Monday and Thursday at 5:30pm.
If you would like to come along feel free to contact me or book directly on the Z Healths website.

Hello Kapiti friends,
I'm teaching a modified Ashtanga primary series yoga class tonight at 5:30pm at Z Health Community . If anyone is keen to try it out let me know, your first class in the studio is half priced.

The style of yoga I teach is a led modify primary Ashtanga vinyasa sequence.

Ashtanga yoga consists of a traditional sequence of asanas (postures) practised in the same order while using the Ujjayi breath and Drishti (focal point) and bandha (energy locks or seals) to move from one asana to the next. Having a set sequence allows the body to slowly go deeper into the asana and allows your mind to go within rather than focusing on what your limbs are doing. This eventually creates a lovely flowing meditative movement helping to focus the mind. While the ujjayi breath helps to heat and purify the body allowing the body to stretch deeper without injury as well as helping to slow the breath to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.