YogaNZ was founded in 2015, by a collection of Yoga teachers who saw the need to bring standards and support to the growing community of Yoga teachers here. With technical support from some founding members of Yoga Australia, in collaboration with senior New Zealand Yoga teachers, YogaNZ was born.
We’re a not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to nurturing and elevating the practice of Yoga throughout the country, run out of our sunny Christchurch office with operational support from ExerciseNZ and guidance from the Yoga New Zealand Council.
We ensure standards in the field of teaching Yoga by registering members at the level appropriate to their training and experience. Our members are also required to maintain a valid first aid certificate, complete ongoing Continued Education, and adhere to our Statement of Ethics, and Scope of Practice.
We value feedback and collaboration – please be in touch if you have any questions or suggestions for our team.
The Yoga New Zealand Council comprises experts across the country, and gives guidance on all matters appropriate to Yoga New Zealand. Members meet regularly and are tasked with acting in the best interests of YogaNZ and the broader yoga community in Aotearoa.
The current members are:
Chaitanya is the co-owner, founder and senior teacher at Kindred Studio Nelson, where he teaches weekly classes, practices therapeutic massage and created and leads their 200hr Teacher Training programs levels One and Two.
Specialising in applied anatomy (the anatomy of movement) myofascial release and articular mobilization as a bodyworker since 2001, he brings a great passion and understanding of anatomy, skeletal variation and how the body works to his classes, workshops and trainings. Combining this with thousands of hours of yoga teaching and study and 25 years of, intensive meditation practice with various Enlightened Masters, Chaitanya has a depth and broad and experiential knowledge base, which he loves to share with humour and compassion on and off the mat addressing all aspects of our existence, body, mind and soul.
He has presented at various conferences, festivals and teacher trainings around the country. Chaitanya and his wife Bex also run Evolve Festival, a biennial wellness event in the heart of Nelson dedicated to inspire, educate and transform individuals and communities.
As a member of the Yoga NZ Council, Chai is passionate in exploring the growth of yoga in Aotearoa in a sustainable way that serves us as a nation of students, teachers, trainers and business owners both nationally and within our own communities, staying with the philosophy and heritage of traditional yoga while embracing new models and research.
Chaitanya Deva E-RYT 500, YACEP, Dip Therapeutic Massage, Yin Yoga Certification, Yoga Therapy, More To Life- Life Coach Certificate
Sannyasi Pragyadhara is the Director of Pure Yoga – a home based studio on the north shore in Auckland. She teaches community level classes including progressive hatha, restorative and meditation courses and regular community events of havan, kirtan and mantra sadhana, as well as one to one classes supporting people with personal practice design & implementation.
She travels to other locations around the country running workshops and immersions on specialist topics such as mantra, yogic lifestyle, home practice design, tools of Tantra, Yoga Nidra and meditation. She has taught internationally and at the Bihar School of Yoga, India.
She has been training teachers since 2009 after living at the Bihar School of Yoga where she completed a masters in Yoga Psychology – a two year residential post graduate training.
As a member of the Yoga NZ Council, Pragyadhara is dedicated to maintaining the connection to the tradition so that it may continue to find its unique expression in the growth of Yoga in Aotearoa in a way that serves us as a nation that is part of a global community.
“It is my mission in life to serve you through the purity & richness of the Yoga Tradition, one that is practical, clear in its aims & processes, reinforces yoga as life, life as yoga and acts as a positive force in the sacred alchemy of your life”
CEO, Exercise Association of New Zealand
Richard has worked in the exercise industry for over 30 years, having owned clubs, and been involved in governance of national and international organisations involved in guiding and supporting the exercise industry – from large gym chains, to industry bodies and registration organisations.
Richard speaks internationally on a range of business topics from exercise trends to sustainable business practices. His current role is CEO of ExerciseNZ where is actively involved in advocating for the collective exercise/movement industry, as well as supporting those that are involved in getting and keeping kiwis moving and physically active. Richard is also a member of the YogaNZ Council.
Swami Karma Karuna Saraswati is an engaging, intuitive yoga and meditation teacher, inspirational speaker, writer, and IAYT certified Yoga Therapist with more than 25 years of experience.
Swami Karma Karuna is a co-founder and director of Anahata Yoga Retreat, New Zealand, and also travels throughout the world, leading workshops, training yoga teachers, presenting at international events, guiding spiritual sadhana retreats and offering therapeutic one to one yoga sessions as well as mentoring.
She is passionate about sharing an authentic and down to earth approach, weaving together the ancient practices with a touch of psychology and brain science aimed at motivating people to live their yoga here and now.
Sandy Farquhar is a yoga teacher based in Taupō. She is a both a graduate of, and a tutor with, Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training – one of YogaNZ’s registered Training Providers.
Her yoga practice began in California where she engaged with a range of yoga and movement approaches. Sandy has also had a lengthy academic career focussed on philosophy of education, childhood studies, teacher education as well as curriculum design and development.
ExerciseNZ is a non-profit representative organisation, representing the Exercise and Fitness Industry, with a guiding mission to bring the benefits of exercise to more New Zealanders. ExerciseNZ support YogaNZ’s work operationally.
ExerciseNZ supports YogaNZ in a variety of ways including providing access to resources, funding, and specialized expertise. They advocate for YogaNZ in conversations at a governmental and legislative level. More info
REPs operates a registration body for exercise professionals, exercise facilities and education providers in New Zealand, to enable quality assurance of these services to the public. YogaNZ and REPs have collaborated to make REPs registration an automatically included benefit of YogaNZ Membership.
Many facilities now require REPs Registration of all of their instructors, this means that YogaNZ members are eligible to teach in these fitness environments and premises. Additionally, the highly discounted insurance, negotiated by REPs, is available to YogaNZ members. For more information on this, and the other benefits a NZREPs membership offers, click here
The Yoga Lunchbox, an established online resource, is owned and operated by YogaNZ, with an aim to share information and ideas about the practice of Yoga to teachers and the public alike. While YogaNZ focuses on supporting its membership base, the Yoga Lunchbox has a broader audience of Yoga teachers and practitioners. More info
Dedicated to nurturing and elevating Yoga throughout New Zealand.
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