International Day of Yoga Wānaka - 7th edition
A two-day, donation-based community celebration of the International Day of Yoga in Wānaka. Movement, stillness and connection for wellness, wisdom and peace.
Time & Location
20 Jun 2026, 9:00 am – 21 Jun 2026, 5:00 pm
The Rippon Hall, 246 Wanaka Mount Aspiring Road, Wānaka 9382, New Zealand
About the Event
Join us for a meaningful two-day celebration of the International Day of Yoga in Wānaka: a donation-based community event bringing people together through movement, stillness and connection.
Across the weekend, you’ll be guided through a thoughtfully curated journey including practices such as Kundalini, Iyengar, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa, meditation and more. The programme is designed to create a natural rhythm, from uplifting and energising sessions to deeply grounding and restorative experiences.
This year’s theme, Yoga for Wellness, Wisdom & World Peace, gently weaves through the event, inviting not only practice, but reflection on how we relate to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.
What makes this event special is its intention: teachers offering their time as a gift to the community, a space that feels welcoming and inclusive, and the opportunity to be part of something shared and meaningful.
All proceeds, after costs, are donated to Hato Hone…
Schedule
30 minutesLaughter Yoga
Main Hall
45 minutesFace Yoga
Upstairs Room
Sessions
Sat, 9am - Laughter Yoga
Facilitator: Meetu 30 minutes Join the unique laughter session of yoga powered by Meetu. It’s an introduction to anyone who wants to know what the fuss is all about. It will begin with an introduction to laughter yoga and Meetu sharing personal experiences from her growing up years followed by up-to 15 minutes of the session. This session is aimed to ignite the hidden energy within your mind body and soul.
$Sat, 10am - Kundalini Yoga
Teacher: Elle Smith 60 Minutes Kundalini Yoga is an uplifting and dynamic practice that combines yogic technologies such as breathwork (pranayama), chanting (mantra), visualisation, meditation, and movement, interwoven with stillness, integration and sounds from the gong. Suitable for all levels, with modifications offered.
$Sat, 10am - Face Yoga
Teacher: Anaïs Come as you are and join our circle for 45 minutes of kindness, intention and presence. Starting by calming down the mind. Using a little oil and the warmth of our own hands (oil provided), I’ll guide you through gentle movements to release the tension we all carry in our face. It’s a rhythmic, soothing practice to drain away stress, hydrate the skin, and wake up your natural glow from the inside out. This isn’t just about the face; it’s about taking a breath together, softening,
$Sat, 12pm - Meditation
Teacher: Kate Wolf 60 Minutes
$Sat, 1:30pm - Iyengar Yoga
Teacher: Sirpa Garden 60 Minutes Join us this International Day of Yoga for an Iyengar Yoga session focused on hip-opening standing and seated poses. Through precision, alignment, and mindful movement, we’ll explore how yoga can create greater stability, mobility, and ease in both body and mind. In harmony with this year’s theme—Wellness, Wisdom & World Peace—this practice invites awareness, balance, and inner clarity beyond the mat. All levels welcome.
$Sat, 2:45pm - Breathe to Calm
Breathe to Calm your Mind Teacher: Gareth Laheen 45 Minutes Gareth will guide you all through a gentle, down regulating breathwork practice with the intention of slowing down and cultivating presence.
$Sat, 3:30pm - iRest Yoga Nidra
Teacher: Sandy Fischer 60 Minutes Come and explore the intimate iRest® Yoga Nidra experience . As an evidence-based practice, iRest helps nurture you along the journey toward discovering the unchanging truth of well-being and peace within all of us. It’s a time of restoration and ease.
$Sat, 4:45pm: Yin Yoga+Ceremony
Teacher: Alexis 75 minutes total A 60 minutes practice base on restore and/or enhance connecting tissues and joints with the benefits of mindfulness/meditative approach working on principles such as 1-Finding the edge of the body, 2-Holding poses and 3-Stillness. All followed by flute moments to help the stillness and quiet the mind. A 15 minutes meaningful closing ceremony to finalise our first day of the event.
$Sun, 9:00am - Flow for Life
Flow for Real Life - in Wanaka Teacher: Alli Marie 60 Minutes Flow for Real Life - in Wanaka: A mindful vinyasa flow to prepare your body for the next season of mountain adventure — whether that’s skiing, hiking, biking, or simply moving well day to day. We’ll build strength, body awareness, and a deeper connection to your attention, both in class and beyond the mat. All levels welcome.
$Sun, 10:15 am: iRest Yog Nidra
Teacher: Sandy Fischer Come and explore the intimate iRest® Yoga Nidra experience . As an evidence-based practice, iRest helps nurture you along the journey toward discovering the unchanging truth of well-being and peace within all of us. It’s a time of restoration and ease.
$Sun, 10:30 am: Qigong
Teacher: Barbara Jungen Celebrate Yoga Day with a revitalising Qigong experience designed to awaken your body and calm your mind. We begin with breathwork to centre your awareness and connect you to the present moment. From there, you’ll move through a series of stretches and guided exercises to activate your Qi (your natural life force) while building strength, balance, and flexibility. In the second half of the session, you’ll be guided through smooth, flowing movements that encourage energy t
$Sun, 12pm - Warrier Heart Flow
Teacher: Julie Williamson 60 minutes A strong and dynamic yoga practice exploring the connection between inner balance and collective harmony. Through grounding postures, balance challenges, breath and mindful movement, we cultivate presence, resilience and unity — recognising that the energy we embody within ourselves ripples outward into the world around us.
$Sun, 1:30pm- Yoga Menopause
Yoga for Peri/Meno/Pos menopausa Teacher: Julls Moore 60 Minutes This class begins with an open and supportive circle of communication, followed by an asana practice focused on creating balance, regulation and sustainability through the different phases of womanhood. Together, we’ll explore yoga and practical insights to better understand and support the changes of this stage of life.
$Sun, 1:30pm - Mind on the Mat
Are you really practicing yoga? Teacher: Keity Garcia 60 Minutes What if the poses are not the practice? You can move through every asana and still miss what yoga is truly pointing to. In this reflective session, we’ll explore yoga beyond the physical shapes, looking at it as a system of tools designed to train the mind and cultivate presence. Because yoga doesn’t happen only in the pose.
$Sun, 3:00pm Somatic Yoga
Facilitator: Tala Duncan 90 minutes session + Final ceremony What if your body already holds the wisdom to heal and restore itself? In this experiential session, we’ll explore how stress and emotions are stored in the body, blending somatic therapy, energy work and nervous system regulation. Through learning and guided practice, you’ll gently release tension and reconnect with balance and presence. No experience needed. All are welcome. Followed by a fire ceremony to close and honour the end of
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Total
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