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Note that there was another Event for this class to cover the whole 2026 year but it has somehow locked, which meant that changes could not be made. Here is a new updated copy for Terms 2 to 4! The first Wednesday classes in Term 2 are on 22 April.Our Wednesday Maungatāpere yoga is in the beautiful Kara Kokopu Community hall. This is a gorgeous spot in the country and yet so close to the CBD. Allow a bit more travel time in the evening if coming from the city.
Running from 5.30 until 6.45pm, it is a 75-minute general (for all) class of traditional hatha yoga - āsana (poses/postures/exercises) with breath awareness, sometimes a little prānāyāma (specialized breathing techniques), and a short version of yoga nidrā (deep relaxation).
A gently facilitated hatha yoga class suitable for all age groups and levels of experience and ability. Any pose can be worked at along a continuum of 'softly' to 'strongly'. Always see how you feel when you begin a pose and adapt the pose to you, not adapt yourself to the pose.
Only $10 to try then get a concession card to keep it at this excellent rate. See more info in FEES (below)
INSTRUCTOR: Rādhe
Rādhe is both a yoga and a secondary school teacher, having mainly taught maths in the school system but also some chemistry and science ... yoga, too - at times. She also did a masters degree in Special Education, her project for this involving an intervention with a small group of intermediate age students who were underachieving in maths; this involved using yoga breathing as well as metacognitive problem solving strategies.
She has been a yoga teacher of āsana, prānāyāma (breathing techniques), yoga nidrā (deep relaxation) and meditation for over 40 years. This has been of mainly Satyananda-style hatha (traditional/classical poses and breathing techniques) and yoga nidrā. When she lived in the Beachlands/Maraetai area, she ran a yoga centre. During this time, she was teaching 8 to 12 general yoga classes a week there or in other South East Auckland venues, as well as some weekend workshops, from Awhitu Peninsula through to Orewa. She continued this in the Bay of Plenty region upon moving to Katikati,
Rādhe also has experience in Iyengar yoga, practising this during university years in her mid to late 20's, having started university and teachers' college then after earlier first having two children.
She has taught many students over the years, both in weekly classes and in weekend masterclasses, mini-workshops, 1-day and 2-day workshops and retreats. The weekend sessions have covered many aspects of yoga, including 'yoga for backs', 'yoga for stress relief' and 'prenatal yoga'.
Rādhe's son, Rishi (her third - and youngest - tamariki), now teaches most of the Shraddha Yoga and Meditation classes.
OUR TYPE OF YOGA
✨60 minutes of hatha yoga, a classical style of yoga including āsana (postures) practiced with breath awareness – and sometimes a few minutes of pranayama (specialized breathing techniques) – makes up the main part of Shraddha Yoga and Meditation's 75 minute sessions.
✨Although our approach to āsana practice is gentle, anyone can work in a way that feels 'stronger' or 'softer' in their practice of any āsana, to better suit ability/need, e.g. choosing to extend/shorten practice of an āsana or substitute a variation of that āsana ... or perhaps do another āsana altogether, possibly a more/less challenging alternative āsana ... or perhaps just something else that you know you want/need to do.
✨We give a short yoga nidrā (deep relaxation) of 10-15 minutes at the end of each class, this practice also being known as 'psychic sleep' and adapted by Swami Satyananda from earlier teachings for use in more modern times.
✨Our classes are largely Satyananda-focused, with practices from the Bihar School of Yoga forming the foundation. A book that is very useful for learning more about this style of yoga is 'Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Bandha' by Swami Satyananda Saraswati.
✨We like to keep up-to-date with Satyananda-based teachings, attending the Satyananda Yoga Lifestyle Immersion weekend with Swami Ratnashakti from Monghyr, India held at Aio Wira Retreat, 10-12 January, 2025.
✨Both Rishi and Rādhe are trustees of Shraddha Yoga and Meditation, a registered charitable trust in NZ.
WHAT YOGA CAN DO FOR YOU
Yoga is a science that can have huge benefits for body, mind and emotions (all benefits are interconnected - hence experienced in no specific order - and sometimes can be noticed in a very obvious way and other times the effects are more subtle):
🌿 strengthening and toning of muscles (note that stronger abdominal muscles also help the back ... and the back muscles need yogic strengthening, which is a totally different feeling to just having tight back muscles from our normal stresses!);
🌿stretching to reduce over-tight muscles and rotations and bending/stretching movements to increase flexibility in joints (very important for all joints, including the spinal vertebrae);
🌿awareness and care of the fascia, the protective tissue that provides support and structure to organs, bones and muscles, as well as the blood vessels, and even to more subtle levels including the nerves. Yoga stretches, often with optional holding of poses, which can be strong ones but are always done with softness and gentle awareness to an individually comfortable level (restorative use of aids, such as bolster or cushion/s can be used), and some controlled dynamic poses too;
🌿balance improvement in standing poses, both still and moving (this also transfers to improvement in day-to-day activities, such as walking and turning) and overall enhancement of physical coordination and posture;
🌿energizing to facilitate releasing energy blockages;
🌿improved function of the body's systems (skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive);
🌿balance and harmony of mind and emotions;
🌿clearer, better focused, aware/knowing and more peaceful state of mind;
🌿stress release and relaxation;
🌿assisting recovery from injuries/improving healing from illnesses;
🌿enhancing the spiritual aspect of existence, or wairua, improving both self-esteem and sense of belongingness
…
OUR STUDENTS AND HOW TO PRACTICE
Our students are local people from a range of ages and varied backgrounds. Overall, about a quarter of our students are men. We teach 8 classes of 75 minutes in 6 lovely venues in Whangārei and districts, all being small community classes.
4 of the 8 classes are also available on Zoom.
Whether a complete beginner or someone who has experience in home yoga practice/different yoga classes, you are very welcome to come along.
More experienced practitioners simply extend in whatever way that they want to.
However, no matter the reason, there is no need to go further than what is manageable for you.
You will notice improvement over time.
All students work at their own level and pace, which will often be different not only for each individual but also for each āsana – usually relating to varying levels of flexibility, strength, balance and experience – to appropriately and safely suit their current individual capabilities and needs. Sometimes we need to relax for longer after particular poses so students are encouraged to be aware of their own bodies and energy levels at any point in time and to do what they feel they need to do.
Those who have been coming for some time still abide by this adage, aptly called 'know YOUR body'; different body types and past experiences (including old or current injuries/illnesses) definitely shape what we can do.
Eventually a student may also start a small daily practice, or sadhana, at home too. Even doing just 10 or 15 minutes each day, e.g. a couple of specific āsana for you and some breath awareness relaxation, can be helpful.
Some students come to more than one class a week but most do one class.
🧡🕉🙏🏽🧘♀️
DATES OF OUR CLASSES
Come along during any part of our 4-term year (from immediately after Waitangi Day to just prior to Xmas, with breaks as for school holidays).
No classes on public holidays.
Term 2 starts on July 20.
FEES
🍀Casual/drop-in
🪷🪷🪷Your first class with us can be attended for $10 - cash or internet banking - which is half the casual adult fee of $20, without any obligation to continue after that.
This standard casual/drop-in fee of $20 is reduced to $15 with a Community Services Card or Super Gold Card, if students holding a CSC or SGC want to continue casually after the first time.
The $20 fee is based on a rate of $15 per hour for classes and courses (our classes are one-and-a-quarter hours).
🍀Concession cards
A repeat casual fee is very rarely used, as concession cards reduce the price per class by such a lot,
e.g. a concession card can keep the cost for a class at $10 if purchasing an 11-class card and ~$9.50 if getting 22 classes - definitely good value as $10 is an excellent deal for a 75-minute yoga session.
There is NO EXPIRY on any of our concession cards, so keep using them at any venue in any term (of any year!) until completed.
You can even use these with a partner/whānau/friend/friends.
🍁$78 for a 6-class concession card ($13 per class).
🍁 $110 for an 11-class concession card ($10 per class). The 11-class card still remains the most popular option.
🍁$210 for 22 classes - 2 x 11-class cards (~$9.50 per class).
🍀Please always feel welcome to contact us privately if you need to make a special payment arrangement to be able to manage to come.
WHAT TO BRING
Wear comfortable clothing. Bring your own yoga mat (or ask us if you need to borrow one), water bottle and a blanket (or cotton/light throw in the summer) for covering yourself during the relaxation.
You are welcome to bring any props, e.g. bolster/cushion/s, blocks, if you generally use them.
For any queries re the classes, or to request bank account details for fee payment, please contact us.
CONTACT DETAILS
You can message via Facebook or by email:
[email protected]
For calls or texting:
Rādhe 0273928220
Om 🕉️
💚
This is our longest running class. It was first held on August 27, 2016. Due to a drop in student numbers, we were unsure if it would continue throughout 2026. I booked the hall to offer 3 sessions on Feb 11, 18 and 25 to see how it fared, as we wanted to keep teaching in our favourite hall. Fortunately, with enough new and former students attending to cover hall rental, we will continue at least through all of Term 2 (20 April - 2 July). So pleasing!
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🧡There is also another evening yoga class nearby at Mangakahia Sports Complex, Poroti on Mondays at 5.30pm.🧡
Note that as Shraddha Yoga and Meditation is a registered charitable trust, any donations are tax deductible. Save receipts for all donations that are over $5 made to any approved organizations. 1/3 of the total value of donations, up to the level of your taxable income, are tax deductible.
https://www.ird.govt.nz/.../individu.../donation-tax-credits
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Event Venue
Kara Kokopu Community Hall, 527 Kara Road,Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand
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