YOGA COLLECTIVE - Key Persons
Hanieh Esmaielzadeh Nobari Annia's passion for yoga started in her early twenties while working in a stressful corporate job for a Bank. What started as exercise & stress relief, quickly transformed into something more. After a decision to travel to Rishkesh, India, the birthplace of Yoga in 2017, she discovered Sattva Yoga. Rooted in the V
Benji came to yoga from a long background in martial arts, was intrigued by how yoga could compliment his karate and began to work yoga into his dojo training and teaching; suns are great for kicks! He has also been a UK Scout leader and member of the Scouting Movement. Benji teaches and practices full time in Auckland and is trained in
Yoga has been a part of Brooke's life for almost 3 decades. Originally from the Gold Coast in Australia, Brooke has lived in Auckland for 20 years.
Brooke had a successful career in athletics and netball, until being overcome by recurring injuries. Discovering that yoga was the only activity that helped her with her chronic pain, it was in
Daneil gained his 200HR yoga teacher qualification from the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta centre in Kerala, India. After this period of training he undertook a pilgrimage through Kerala and Tamil Nadu, witnessing oracular rituals and pre-Vedic traditions of worship of the Divine Mother.
He has been practicing Ashtanga, Iyengar and Gitananda Yoga
Jemila's yoga journey began in Boston in the early 1980s with tree, frog, and butterfly poses in primary school, before ballet and Bharatanatyam became her main forms of physical expression. It wasn't until the late 1990s--after injuries and disordered eating forced her to stop dancing--that she began a regular practice. Then an adult in
Kimmy is from Petaluma, a small town in California. She became passionate about yoga while at university in Australia, and completed a 200 hour certification in India at Rishikesh Vinyasa Yoga School. The rigorous daily Vinyasa and Ashtanga practice schedule, along with in-depth classes on anatomy, philosophy, and alignment, sparked her
Spud, Potato, Bolster, Pork Chop, Fatty Bum, Rooney Tunes Rooney is a fan favourite at Yoga Collective. He loves a good tummy rub and is always happy to welcome you in with a big smile. Rooney's yoga journey began when his 'human mummy' started bringing him into the studio to keep her company. What started out as a way to sleep more, has mo
Shannon hails from Dallas, Texas, and it was while at university in South Carolina studying psychology that she first discovered yoga in 2008. Shortly after she moved to Santa Cruz, California to delve deeper into her practice by participating in Mark Stephen's 200-hour yoga teacher training and in-depth studies program.
Originally from Indonesia, Naomi discovered yoga due to an injury. Yoga has been an integral part during her recovery from a hip injury over the past 4 years. During this process of recovery, she learned that the body is deeply connected to the mind.
Having completed her level 1 RYT-200 Hatha Teacher Training a few years ago, Susze has also recently completed her RYT-300 Advanced Ashtanga Vinyasa Teacher Training this year.
She thrives on a sweaty and energising flow, but also enjoys leading yin classes just as much. More recently, she's into gentle flow and sound healing.
Through consistent mindfulness and yoga practice, she recovered from severe anxiety and depression. After years of learning how to manage anxiety and strong emotions through her own experience and extensive study, she is now ready to share what she has learned over the years with the wider community.
Вікторія Квасняк Victoria, originally from Ukraine, arrived in New Zealand over 10 years ago and it's been my home since then. Yoga has been a part of her life for many years now. It started from a Russian internet video and body balance classes in a gym. She loves movement in different forms and has also been practicing Muay Thai for over