Feel the stillness within at New Zealand’s first NZ Yoga Day

Feel the stillness within at New Zealand’s first NZ Yoga Day

The inaugural NZ Yoga Day on Saturday 1 December is an opportunity to feel the grass under your toes, the sun on your back and experience the collective energy of doing gentle yoga poses and a meditation practice en mass – all at the beautiful lake side setting of Auckland’s Western Springs park.

NZ Yoga Day will have a unique New Zealand flavour, with yoga teacher Taane Mete taking a Te Reo Maori-infused yoga class backed by DJ-powered beats.

Nikki Rhodes, with partner Franko Heke, are the event’s founders.

Nikki says: “In our modern society we are disconnecting from one another and NZ Yoga Day is designed to be inclusive, bringing everyone together, of every shape, size and ability - all stretching together and practicing the ancient ritual of unity through yoga and meditation”.

Everyone is welcome, and no prior yoga experience is necessary.

There is neither elitism nor hard poses: “The purpose is to show that yoga is for everyone. The only thing you need to bring is an open mind to experience the benefits of a group doing a healthy activity together.”

NZ Yoga Day is about more than bendy bodies; it is also about emotional well-being. In keeping with this sentiment, it has partnered with Mike King’s mental health charitable trust ‘Key to Life’ with a percentage of ticket sales going directly to the charity.

Franko, who has suffered from his own mental health issues, says meditation and yoga helped him through hard times and the partnership with Mike King’s charity felt logical given the benefits of mindfulness at alleviating anxiety and other mental health issues.

“Mental illness is not dealt with very well in New Zealand; we have the highest rate of teen suicide in the developed world. We believe that practicing yoga and meditation can help people deal better with the stress that everyday life can bring”.

The event will include a Mike King korero on mental health in Aotearoa (centre stage 1.30 pm).

Nikki and Franko’s shared vision is to grow NZ Yoga Day so it happens in every major city on the first Saturday of December.

Priced at only $25 for the whole day (kids under 12 are free), making it an affordable fun day out for families.

The gates will open at 11am and the event runs for six hours until 4pm.

Key Facts - NZ Yoga Day

Ticket price: Adult general admission $25 Kids under 12 are free

Time and date: 11am – 4pm Saturday 1 December 2018

Place: Western Springs Park, Auckland

Timetable:

11am: Gates and marketplace open, live music, workshops
12pm: Yoga class with Taane Mete - Te Reo Maori infused class backed by DJ-powered beats
1pm: Mass meditation with Nikki Rhodes followed by relaxing sound journey
1:30pm: Korero on mental health in Aotearoa with Mike King
2pm: Sound of Yoga with Franko Heke
2:30pm: Local yoga studio showcase - a chance to find your place of practice
4pm: Event close

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