Marlborough Yoga Retreats

Introducing Presenter- Raa

Raa is a holistic wellness facilitator, spiritual guide and somatic movement practitioner. Raa organizes and leads The Cosmic Healing Circle across locations in New Zealand, including events at My Secret Garden. Raa's sessions are designed to invoke shadow healing, support positive thinking and ground individuals into their personal power through a blend of modalities including breathwork, ecstatic dance, meditation and sound and voice healing. Raa will present a class "Dancing with my Shadows".

Introducing presenter - Ayman Khatib

Ayman has been teaching yoga since 2013, often in Spain, India and Thailand. He is currently teaching regular classes with Christchurch City Council and . Ayman's background is in traditional Hatha Yoga and Yin Yoga with a strong emphasis on mindful movement, breath awareness, alignment, and meditation. Alongside yoga, he has been a Thai massage trainer since 2016, and enjoys sharing hands on techniques that help people connect more deeply with their bodies and support one another.
Ayman will be teaching a Traditional Hatha Yoga class and a Thai Massage workshop.

Introducing presenter - Lucy Taylor.

Lucy Taylor is the founder of Wave Wellness , a boutique movement and wellness studio based in New Brighton, Christchurch. She is an experienced, certified Level 2 Yoga Teacher and a fitness professional registered with REPs NZ.
Lucy trained directly under the legendary pioneer of Baptiste Yoga. In Iceland she completed Baron Baptist's intensive Journey into Power and Journey into Mastery teacher certifications. She also trained with Bernie Clark & Diana Batts for her restorative disciplines, Lucy completed her intensive Yin Yoga teacher training under these globally recognised yin educators and authors. She also trained with Hamish Kenworthy in New Zealand. Lucy often blends her pilates and yoga knowledge into 'Mindful Movement' and will be teaching 2 sessions at the Christchurch Yoga Experience, one Power Vinyasa, and one Yin.

Introducing presenter - Chaitanya Deva.
'Chai' is a highly experienced Level 4 senior yoga teacher, meditation guide, and therapeutic bodyworker based in Nelson. He is widely recognized as the co-founder and co-owner of Kindred Studio and the co-organiser of the Evolve Festival. He has over 25–30 years of daily meditation practice, which began in the early 1990s while living at the Osho Ashram in India. With over 22 years of experience in applied anatomy, myofascial release, and articular mobilization, Chai specialises in the anatomy of movement, and his passion and understanding of the human body is evident in every aspect of his teaching. Chai created and leads the comprehensive 200-hour Level One and Two Yoga Teacher Training programs at Kindred Studio. Chai will be presenting two sessions at the Christchurch Yoga Experience.

Introducing presenter - Sama from Yogini Panda - Sama in Christchurch.
Sama discovered Dynamic Meditation during a Yoga Teacher Training Course in Nepal and that breath, music and dance are some of the many gateways that can transport us within and beyond ourselves.
With a background in Vipassana Meditation, RYT 500, Singing Bowl Meditation, Traditional Yoga, Reiki Level 1 and Reflexology, Sama will guide students on their journey while providing a safe and healing space for them to explore within.

Introducing presenter - Hamish Kenworthy of Your Vital Life in Christchurch. Hamish is an award-winning New Zealand yoga teacher, personal development mentor and wellness expert based in Christchurch. Currently 'NZ Yoga Teacher of the Year', he has taught over 10,000 yoga classes and has trained hundreds of yoga teachers. Join Hamish at the Christchurch Yoga Experience on 5th and 6th December at Christ's College, Canterbury

Introducing Presenter Alex Ballagh. Alex Ballagh - Holistic Wellness Coach brings over twenty years experience in the movement industry, with qualifications in hatha and vinyasa yoga, yoga nidra, prenatal & postnatal exercise, mindfulness, mindbody coaching, dance & a Diploma in Nutrition.

Alex teaches at Soul Studio Hot Yoga and loves encouraging people to explore how they can use what they learn on the mat in their everyday lives by weaving in micro moments of ritual, nourishment, and mindful movement.

Under the expert guidance of Hamish Kenworthy, the New Zealand Yoga Teacher of the Year 2025, and Lucy Taylor, of Wave Wellness, you will find your centre and open new avenues of possibility for yourself.
Through a range of practices; pranayama, vinyasa yoga, Pilates, self- inquiry, meditation and yin yoga, you will navigate your own terrain.
Join us at Kimi Ora Eco Resort for peace and seclusion, plus one day exploring the Abel Tasman National Park.