Sue Wilson - Dip Teach, I.Y.T.A.(NZ) Inc.

After a long career in television post production I was relatively late starting yoga in my thirties, but immediately knew yoga was for me.

My experience has been predominately in Iyengar Yoga, and I am certified in the Satyananda Yoga style as well as Pre-natal Yoga where I trained at Ashram Yoga in Parnell, Auckland.

I first started teaching Yoga in the Community Education sector and am certified to teach adults here at the top level, Level Two. More recently I have graduated from the International Yoga Teachers’ Association (NZ) Diploma Teacher Training course which is recognised internationally and locally recognised by REPs (NZ) - Register of Exercise professionals.

I.Y.T.A Course Coordinator
Yoga Teachers Training Courses

My interest in movement systems led me to become certified as a Personal Trainer as well as teaching Pilates for which I am certified to teach both Studio and Matwork Pilates at an advanced level in the Peak Pilates System. With this experience I am able to provide a variety of specialist programmes to clients to help them to achieve their goals.

Hailing from an old Nelson family and growing up in Nelson, it wasn’t until the Millennium that I was able to return home to settle again and run Body Power as it is today.

It was in the geographical location of the beautiful Nelson Region that I developed my interest in nature, animal welfare and environmental protection. I am passionate about recycling and reducing society’s’ need to over consume as well as carbon reduction relating to climate change and Global Warming in the acknowledgement of Gaia, the Earth System Science.

Gaia is an ecological theory that proposes that the total living matter of planet Earth functions like one single organism

Susan Lamont

Yoga has been a part of my life since 1988, when I attended Iyengar yoga beginner’s classes at the encouragement of a flatmate. I’m very grateful to that friend, and to my early teachers in Christchurch, for starting me on this incredible path. Although I have practised other forms of yoga over the years, I am particularly drawn to the precise alignment and supportive props that are integral to the Iyengar approach.

My work experience has been varied, drawing on both my ‘formal’ education in science – B.Sc. (Biology) and postgraduate diploma in Molecular Biology – and my other interests. The years I spent as an outdoor educator/instructor, and working in adventure tourism (including my own small educational-tour business), helped me develop many skills which are now relevant to my yoga teaching.

I completed a 2-year teacher training programme under Rosie Holland, presently the South Island’s most-qualified Iyengar teacher. I have been teaching classes since 2002, both as part of a studio teaching team, and as an independent teacher. I continue to attend regular workshops with senior Iyengar teachers. I am presently working towards Introductory level teacher certification through the Iyengar Yoga Association of New Zealand.

My partner and I have lived in Nelson since 1999, and we share our home with an energetic, young dog. Besides yoga, my other interests include tramping, sea kayaking, dog-training, movies, and fantasy/science-fiction.

Margot - M.A.

I have practiced yoga all my adult life. Every morning I greet the day with a salute to the sun, and prepare to face its challenges. Yoga brings a balance and self-awareness to my life. 
When I retired from teaching secondary school Latin and Classical Studies in 2000, Kim Merry encouraged me to start an Over 50s Yoga class. I felt a desire to bring a dynamic energy, based on balance and alignment, to the yoga practice of more mature students.

I am a member of the Iyengar Association of New Zealand, and have attended workshops by Geeta Iyengar, Pixie Lillas, Paul Barton and Rosie Holland, all of whom have been inspiring and helpful. I have am M.A. in Philosophy from Sussex University, England.

I have not driven a car for 35 years, and use my sturdy bicycle or public transport for most journeys.

I am a violinist in the Nelson Symphony Orchestra and the Nelson String Quartet.

My partner, Eddie Saxon, runs a Sports Clinic from our home. He is a wonderful companion and inspiration.

Valda - BA (VUW) Dip Teach; Dip Teach, I.Y.T.A.

My introduction to Yoga began when I was eleven years old, attending a local children¹s class. I was immediately captivated and readily embraced Yoga as a way of life from then on.

I started training as a Yoga teacher in 1982 with the International Yoga Teachers¹ Association of N.Z., and graduated 2 years later with the Diploma of Teaching and Practicing Certificate. I have been teaching continuously for 25 years during which time I have attended many workshops, conventions and retreats with well-known teachers from a variety of Œschools¹ of Yoga, with particular experience in the Satyananda tradition.

Since moving to Nelson 11 years ago, my professional development has been in the Iyengar method, attending many classes and workshops taken by senior Iyengar teachers.

8 years ago I trained with Maria, an Iyengar teacher from the Netherlands, to teach PRE NATAL Yoga which I passionately still teach today. I also taught Post Natal Yoga and Girls¹ College Yoga classes for some years.

My Yoga experience and qualifications have been recognised by REPs.

For 16 of my 25 Yoga teaching years, I was also a secondary school teacher and mother of three. Now as a grandmother of two, I have chosen to devote more of my time and energy to Yoga. I also enjoy tramping, gardening, living sustainably, singing and playing the piano and guitar, painting and drawing..

Yoga has provided me with the tools to:
explore, challenge, change and enhance myself and move through the stresses and vagaries of life

Kate - F.I.D.T.A Dip. D.EX

My qualifications are in Dance and the teaching of Modern Jazz and Contemporary. My professional development has been overseen by the International Dance Teachers Association of Great Britain who are now also associated with the Royal Academy of Dancing.
Through my love of dance I have developed an appreciation of the human body and an understanding of its capabilities and limitations. This understanding has been enhanced by my study of Pilates and other body practices such as yoga and gym training, and my development of stretch classes and special-needs dance programmes. I have been teaching in Nelson for 20 years. I am also a member of REPs (NZ) - Register of Exercise professionals.

I believe that life is short and needs to be appreciated and enjoyed through work that is satisfying. We should keep it simple, worry less and spend more time doing nice things we enjoy, like music and food and friends. We must look after this world and her creatures and in doing so learn to look after ourselves with charity, kindness and decency.

Birgitta

In the early 70s I was introduced to yoga and have been practicing and teaching ever since. Born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, I have lived on four continents and was fortunate to get excellent yoga training from around the world. I graduated from the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, Quebec, Canada in 1977. Thereafter I trained extensively in the Iyengar yoga style and also the Classical Indian style of yoga from Mysore, India.

After settling in Nelson at the end of 1989, In 1994 I completed the IYTA (International Yoga Teachers Association) Diploma course. The latter is recognised by REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals). In Nelson I have been involved in teaching yoga to people in recovery from addictions and have been an Adult Community Education tutor for over 10 years now. I have been a tutor with the Nelson Yoga Centre from the start in 1994 and continued my association when it evolved into BodyPower Pilates and Yoga Centre. Sue Wilson, the Director, introduced me to Pilates which I presently both practise and teach.

I find that yoga and Pilates have points in common that complement both programmes.

My interests include human development, psychology and philosophy.  I love being in the outdoors, spending time on the beach and going on nature walks.

Sue Hallas

I encountered yoga in my late teens, in Canada, where I grew up, practicing using a now out-of-print book and a daily television programme. I reaped the physical benefits and emotional stability that hatha yoga and pranayama brings. Through my twenties and later, I left and came back to yoga several times until, finally, over 12 years ago, I made Iyengar yoga an integral part of my life. I was drawn to this style because of its focus on the postures and the calibre of its teachers in Nelson. I joined the BKS Iyengar Yoga Association of New Zealand Inc. and went on to train as a teacher, and in 2001 became a certified Iyengar Introductory Level II teacher. I enjoy the challenge of applying my extensive experience as an anatomy and physiology tutor to my teaching, and I get great pleasure in helping my students experience the benefits of yoga.

When I am not doing or teaching yoga, I work as a freelance science and non-fiction editor and writer and get out and about in our great Nelson region –  appreciating its natural beauty through tramping, canoeing and gardening, and its many talented artisans through visiting studios and galleries, cafés and eateries. I have Green political tendencies, and try to interact with the environment in a considerate way. I am a keen member of the Alliance Française de Nelson, and relish the brainwork associated with studying languages. I also love to read, and learning more and more about our complex human bodies, which supports my ongoing commitment to human health and wellbeing.

Denise

I discovered yoga in my mid-thirties and from the second class I knew that I wanted to teach. That this was something I wanted to share with others.

As soon as I could I went to study at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India to understand how to incorporate yoga into my everyday life.

It wasn't until much later that I met with an Australian instructor, Lousia Sear (www.yogarts.com.au) that I decided to actually pursue my desire to teach. So I went to study ashtanga, hatha vinyasa in sunny Byron Bay. The same year I also strengthened my ties to the Sivananda organisation by traveling to Val Morin, Canada to undertake further studies in yoga asana, philosophy and sanskrit.

While teaching at a yoga studio in Asia I have continued studying when ever the opportunity has arisen as I love all the variations of yoga that are available. In particular I have undertaken further teacher training in Forest Yoga with Ana Forrest (www.forrestyoga.com) and hot yoga with Jimmy Barkan (www.barkanmethod.com).

I am also a qualified Ananda trained meditation teacher following the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda (www.yogananda-srf.org). I have also been very lucky to have practiced a variety of styles with the most renowned instructors including Patricia Walden (Iyengar), Erich Schiffmann (hatha), Sean Corn (vinyasa).

Revti

My interest in sports, health or welfare of my body had not previously been a priority in my life. My first introduction to sport was in my early 30s when I took up tramping and running with the intention of traveling to South America and using public transport and walking.
Running still is a passion and since those early days I have also added tennis and squash to my sports routine.

In 2003 I started learning Pilates. Pilates, as an exercise, had an immense effect on my physical ability, being able to recover quickly, endurance, flexibility and lack of tiredness. Now, hardly a day goes by when I don’t practice Pilates. In the past year and a half I have also been teaching Pilates and found that some of the people I have been teaching have found similar benefits, as I have since I became serious about the practice. I am recognized REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals) in New Zealand and Australia.

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