Contemporary Yoga

31/07/2025

At Contemporary Yoga, we're super excited and delighted to be hosting world-renowned Yoga teacher Donna Farhi, for a 5-day intensive in Auckland.

EVOLVING TOWARDS SIMPLICITY
10th-14th April 2026
Herne Bay, Auckland

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.” Doctor Seuss

Sometimes the simplest yoga practices can be the most potent. Small and gentle movements, when applied with sensitivity can reap powerful changes, restoring elasticity, balance and ease.

In this special intensive, Donna invites you to join her in a shared inquiry to deepen your connection with core asana, breathing, and meditative practices. These practices can form the bedrock for a sustainable (and enjoyable) yoga practice, whatever your age.

Find out more and register at:

Evolving Towards Simplicity, a 5 day Yoga Intensive with Donna Farhi, Herne Bay, Auckland, Deepen your connection with core asana, breathing, and meditative practices.

04/04/2025

For The Joy of Rest

A Restorative Yoga Retreat with Neal and Karla

13 • 14 • 15 June 2025

In the deepest days of winter this joy-centred
retreat gifts space to rest,
nourish and revitalise. Join us for
ease-full practices of Restorative and gentle Yoga as well as iRest
Yoga Nidra - complemented by
the seasonal offerings of Mana:
wood fires, delicious food and
forest wanders.

“A wonderful weekend of restoration, friendship, good food and lovely Yoga. It’s not a regimented structure, so plenty of scope to do your own thing in the beautiful surroundings of Mana. Your body and soul will thank you for it!”

T & D

Bookings are open

manaretreat.com

03/04/2025

Contemporary Yoga Teacher Training

Interested in deepening your understanding and experience of Yoga practice?

Not sure if you would like to teach?

Many of our trainees join us to deepen their understanding of all aspects of Yoga not necessarily to teach. Although, often through the process of training, students change their mind and want to teach - sometimes beginning with their family, friends and community.

Part one - Diving into Practice
5 - 13 July

We offer part one as a standalone immersion into the principles and practice of Yoga including history, philosophy, essential anatomy, guidance on developing a personalised self practice.

Part two - Emerging to Teach
20 - 28 September

This is a practical, in-depth immersion into Yoga pedagogy, the ethics of teaching, developing effective and inspiring class plans, in-depth and relevant learning about anatomy and physiology, teaching skills, creating a brand, safe and supportive teaching practicums. The programme includes introductions to somatics, irest - yoga nidra, Restorative Yoga and more.

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“Authentic, meaningful, real. Has added value to my personal practice and daily life. Has laid the foundations to build my own teaching practice upon. What a gift!”

Pamela
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Enrolments are open, feel welcome to be in touch.
More info www.yogateachertraining.nz

03/04/2025

https://www.stuff.co.nz/wellbeing/360611835/former-news-presenter-kanoa-lloyd-her-new-career-yoga-teacher celebrating all that you are and all that you are offering into the world Kanoa x

The former co-host of TV3’s The Project has shifted her focus towards balance and self-discovery.

27/10/2024

“The way to do is to be” – Lao Tzu

Very much looking forward to offering this workshop at the lovely Yoga Ground Studio in Grey Lynn, on the 9th November:

PATHWAYS TO BEING
Gentle movement and meditation.

Gentle movement and self-care practices to release excess tension.

Meditation and iRest® Yoga Nidra orientated to experience being.

Rest deeply and be nourished within the quiet ease and home ground of being.

Find out more here:

Gentle movement, meditation and yoga nidra practices guiding us home to the ground of being, with Neal Ghoshal, 9th November, Yoga Ground, Auckland.

08/10/2024

Very much looking forward to offering this workshop at the lovely Yoga Ground Studio in Grey Lynn, on the 9th November -
PATHWAYS TO BEING
Gentle movement and meditation

Find out more here:

Gentle movement, meditation and yoga nidra practices guiding us home to the ground of being, with Neal Ghoshal, 9th November, Yoga Ground, Auckland.

14/09/2024

Hello yoga friends,

Denizen magazine has listed Contemporary Yoga in the Best Specialty Wellness category for an award, if you would like to vote I have included the link: https://www.thedenizen.co.nz/everyday-heroes/vote-everyday-heroes-win/

Wonderful for the Centre to be nominated in this way.

Karla

Denizen Everyday Heroes is back for 2024, shining a light on almost 400 fantastic community businesses — vote now and be in to win!

12/09/2024

ONE PLACE has become available on the upcoming iRest Yoga Nidra Level 1 course, 18-23rd October... Full details and registration here:

Join us for this special, limited iRest Yoga Nidra Level Training on Waiheke Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Only 10 places available.

23/06/2024

Sandra Gay Palmer
14 October 1965 - 14 June 2024, aged 58

Live stream of the funeral service starts here on Monday Jun 24th

Tributes

21/06/2024

A funeral service for Sandra will be held at Dil’s Funeral Services at 185 Schnapper Rock Road in Albany on Monday the 24th of June at 2.30pm.

A live stream will be available for those who cannot attend and this link will be provided closer to the time.

21/06/2024

Some more special photos of Sandra, with Karla, with Neal, with her Yoga training groups ...

21/06/2024

Dear Contemporary Yoga community and friends - we share the news here of our dear friend and colleague Sandra Palmers passing one week ago.

We were at Mana Retreat Centre when we heard and were able to dedicate song, prayers and words for her in the sacred Tara sanctuary, the sun beamed in on two of Sandra's friends who were with us - it was a deeply moving experience.

We send our prayers and love to Sandra’s family and close friends. Her legacy lives on in us and in the many students she has inspired.

Close friend, colleague and director of Contemporary Yoga, Neal Ghoshal, offers the following tribute:

At this deeply sad time, I reflect on and honour Sandra Palmer and her legacy ...

I met Sandra in 2015 when she completed her Yoga teacher training, and then later as an iRest Yoga Nidra certified teacher. Sandra joined the faculty on our teacher training, offering her wisdom and immense experience in understanding trauma and what it means to create safe, engaging trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive Yoga and meditation classes. She was also instrumental in leading the way in accessing ACC-funded trauma-sensitive Yoga and meditation classes.

Sandra was an incredible being, inspiration to so many and a complete privilege to know - full of life and love, funny too, grounded and strong amongst it all. Her journey through cancer was full of grace.

Reflecting on Sandra's life, and the times I have spent with her, she was always so present, interested, kind, passionate and wise.

We will miss her sorely on our trainings, where we will continue to share her teachings. In my own classes, I will miss her voice and the language she used, which seeps into my own cueing and language.

She leaves a huge legacy in the countless people she has helped throughout her life, not only as a Yoga teacher, but also in the decades of service on the front line of mental health as a psychologist. The healing ripples of her offerings will last for generations.

Sandra, may you be resting in deep peace. I'm full of gratitude for knowing you and for your life.
Neal Ghoshal