About oodia
oodia yoga offers yoga and wellness sessions for all bodies .. from pre-schoolers to kids, tweens and teens, adults and families in the Auckland area. Providing a relaxed, safe space for students to play, discover, connect and relax without fear of judgment. On a physical level, sessions help develop strength and flexibility while providing a framework where we can listen to ourselves, find connection and bring calm to our busy lives.
About Dawn
I started using yoga to help me recover my strength, both physically and emotionally after a period of prolonged illness, (I was fortunate the sessions I started with were taught by Vincent Bolletta, founder of Hansa Yoga). Learning to take each day as it comes was a huge challenge and was a lot easier to say than to put into practice. Using yoga and simple mindful focus proved invaluable in my recovery, and prompted a ‘mind-shift’ for me.
The desire to further my knowledge of yoga led me to my first teacher training course and qualification as a Registered Yoga Teacher in 2018. This was such a positive experience for me. I was aided by outstanding facilitators (Sandey Hoskin, Fiona Liu, Kylie Rook) who encouraged and supported students to ‘step into their power’ and embrace their true calling. Although I had not intended to teach yoga at the conclusion of the course I began to ease my way through the fear of not being enough and gently explored a little teaching (adults) alongside my regular job.
I started to wish that I had discovered yoga as a young person and wondered how much it could have helped me when figuring out ‘who i was’.. So when thinking how I could best share what I had learned, it seemed quite natural to think about teaching kids, and the people who look after the kids – Teachers! This meant additional training – firstly a Kids and Family yoga training with Gopala Amir Yaffa of Rainbow Kids, supplemented with a little Cosmic Kids course and then completing an in-depth training with Charlotta Martinus of the Teen Yoga Foundation in the UK. I am also a trained ‘Pause Breathe Smile’ educator (NZ’s school-based mindfulness programme). I now teach yoga to students from age 3 right up to the twilight years and everything in between.
My adult yoga classes draw on numerous genres – Vinyasa, Slow Flow, Yin Yang and Hansa to name a few. Whatever the style of yoga class being taught, I focus on balancing physical challenge and mental/emotional focus within a relaxed atmosphere to help each member of the class receive whatever it is that they need from their practice that day.
All other yoga classes (preschool, kids, teens and family) are based around fun and connection. Kids yoga is understandably quite different from adult yoga as it needs to be exciting enough to keep young minds engaged. Classes are a mix of exercise, games, activities and relaxation but the aim is always to ‘make it fun’.
Yoga means many different things to practitioners – at it’s core, yoga is a very practical tool that is accessible for anyone, anywhere, at any time. It doesn’t require you to be fit or to use expensive equipment, you don’t even need to attend outside classes if you take up self-study. Yoga provides me with space to disconnect from ‘the busy’ and connect to myself, the opportunity to explore and question what is going on in my body and my headspace. As a teacher, it is a privilege to be able to share that tool with others who are searching for their own ‘clarity’.
Since launching myself as a full-time Yoga Teacher I have trained in other ‘Wellness’ therapies (Sound Healing, Reiki, Crystal Healing and Thai Yoga Massage) – all of which I now use in my practice and teaching, both in my private garden studio and in my client’s homes/workplaces.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find yoga for me and my family?
Classes for Kids, Teens and Families are currently being held at Om Studio in Stonefields during the school term.
Adult Classes are being held at Kohi Yacht Club, Kohimarama on Tuesdays at 6pm
Can I organise sessions for my business?
Absolutely – it’s a pleasure to bring yoga into the workplace! Ideal to bring your workers:
- Muscular relief
- A sense of calm
- Increased energy levels
- Improved mental focus
I can provide mats and props if necessary, or for something less intensive I can offer Chair Yoga and Meditation/Relaxation.
You can email, call or message me to discuss options and pricing.
Am I too old, unfit, inflexible for yoga?
No! Yoga is for every body. It is a practice that can be made accessible to everyone regardless of age or mobility.
You may not be able to put your leg behind your head but you can still benefit from yoga as long as you modify to suit your own body. This is something I am passionate about offering in my classes so you can expect to be offered many options and always given the opportunity to rest.
Is there a Yoga Teacher qualification?
Yes. Although anyone can set themselves up to teach yoga, there are some assurances you can look for when choosing a teacher.
- A Yoga Alliance qualification – I have a 200hr E-RYT (Experienced Yoga Teacher) certificate and a RCYT certificate in Children’s Yoga. I am also a YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider) which allows me to teach other Teachers.
- Additional training in specific areas of yoga – 100 hrs with Teen Yoga Foundation, 40 hrs with Menopause Yoga, 300 hr training modules: Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Anatomy & Physiology, Philosophy, Psychosomatics.
