7th Edition
Saturday 20 June | from 9:00 am
Sunday 21 June | from 9:00 am
Yoga for Wellness, Wisdom & World Peace
Rippon Hall
246 Mt Aspiring Road - Wanaka
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, 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.
The Delhi Hut Food Truck will be there on both days, offering delicious authentic Indian food available to purchase directly from them. Please note that food is not included as part of your donation to the event.
All proceeds, after costs, are donated to Hato Hone St John Wānaka.
Come for a single session or stay for the whole journey. Everyone is welcome!
Disclosure & Photography
Participation in this event is at your own risk. The organiser, teachers, and venue accept no responsibility for injuries or medical conditions that may occur during or after the sessions. We strongly recommend that you consult your doctor before attending, especially if you have any existing health concerns.
By registering for this event, you acknowledge and accept these terms, and you give permission for the organiser and teachers to use photos or videos taken during the event for promotional purposes (website, social media, and others).
This program is subject to change.
Please read before proceeding 😊
• Please select only ONE place per class.
• This is a donation-based event, so you can choose how much you would like to contribute.
• You may add your donation amount across multiple classes or add the full amount to just one class and enter $0 for the others, both options work exactly the same.
• The total amount added to your booking will be considered your donation to the event.
• Please note that donations are non-refundable.
• The Delhi Hut Food Truck will be available on both days with delicious authentic Indian food available to purchase directly from them. Food is not included as part of your donation to the event.
We kindly suggest a minimum donation of $30 for the whole event (not per session) to help cover event costs.
All donations remaining after event costs will be donated to Hato Hone St John Wānaka.
Thank you so much for supporting the International Day of Yoga Wānaka.
Bookings are required for all sessions.
Teachers & Sessions
Alexis Perez
My intention is to share wellness through the practice of Yoga—Asana, meditation, sound, and nature. I recently opened Shala Wellness Retreat on the West Coast, nestled in the rainforest by Lake Kaniere, as a space to continue nurturing this vision.
After completing my 500hrs YTT in Rishikesh, India, and experiencing the depth of yoga by the Ganges and the Himalayas, this path has brought balance, freedom, and wisdom into my life. It is with gratitude that I share this journey with you at IDY 2026. Namaste 🙏
Barbara Jungen
Originally from Switzerland, I’ve lived in New Zealand for over 30 years, always embracing a healthy, nature-connected lifestyle.
Around 20 years ago, I discovered Qigong, a gentle yet powerful practice that helped relieve chronic back issues and transformed my wellbeing. Inspired by teacher Lee Holden’s modern approach, I completed my training with him and have been teaching for the past three years. I love how Qigong reflects the flow of nature and deepens the mind-body connection.
Elle Smith
My deepest passion is sharing practices that illuminate, transform, and connect us, both inwardly and outwardly. I discovered sound journeying eight years ago, and was struck by its power as a medium for meditation, inner enquiry, and deep cellular restoration. For the past four years, I’ve been playing the symphonic gong in collaborative journeys and, more recently, as a part of my Kundalini Yoga classes
Gareth Laheen
Gareth is a breathwork & mindfullness coach from Ireland. His breathing education background is in Functional & performance breathing, Pranayama & Conscious Conneced breathwork. In this 45 minute class, Gareth will guide a variety of breathwork techniques with the intention of cultivating presence.
Julie Williamson
I’m an ultra runner in my mid-50s and have stayed injury-free through decades of yoga. After recently going through bowel cancer, yoga remained a steady support throughout. I trained in India (Iyengar) in my early 20s and later opened a studio in Invercargill. After time focused on family and completing a Masters in counselling, I returned to teaching and recently completed another 200hr YTT in Nelson. I now teach senior and sports-focused classes and am also a trauma-informed teacher. My approach is student-centred, meeting people where they are and encouraging awareness and connection with the body.
Juls Moore
I'm Juls. I have been teaching yoga since 2017 when I completed my first 200hr training with Katie Lane in Christchurch. My go to would be anything Restoratively Yin as my life outside of yoga is pretty Yang. I teach a broad spectrum of classes at my studio Yoga by Juls, encouraging students of all abilities to listen and adapt to their bodies feedback as the practise unfolds. My background is Personal Training and Les Mills Group Fitness. I have extended my studies past my initial 200hrs to Yin, Yoga Nidra, Shoulder anatomy, Stotts Mat Pilates, Sound Baths and Yoga for Menopause and beyond. This is what I am offering on this International Day of Yoga. An understanding of Yoga through perimenopause, menopause and beyond. You will always find me authentic in my offerings and open in my heart.
Kate Wolfe
Kate has been practising yoga for over 25 years, beginning with Satyananda Yoga, and five months in a traditional Indian ashram. She and taught at Yoga Ground for seven years. Now, she runs Dome Yoga in Hāwea Flat and continues her studies in therapeutic yoga and Tibetan Buddhist meditation (Mahamudra).
Keity Garcia
I’m a yoga teacher who blends movement, breath, reflection, and humour to make yoga feel real, accessible, and deeply human. I’m probably not your “typical” yoga teacher: I believe we often take life too seriously, so laughter and lightness naturally become part of my classes. My approach is deeply inspired by classical Vedanta teachings, and I’m passionate about sharing ancient wisdom in a simple, accessible, and relatable way that people can genuinely understand and apply in daily life. Through my classes and talks, I invite people to explore yoga beyond the mat, as a path towards presence, clarity, and self-understanding.
Meetu Saklani
Meetu is your yogi next door, who has been a local resident of Wanaka for past 18 years. Growing up on Indian soil, yoga was a natural concept of day to day life. It has formed a base of how Meetu looks at her day now. For her, Yoga is like that almost dying fire that sits inside the centre of the heart and gets ignited every time it is aired. That fire shapes her perspective on life, health and well-being.
Sandy Fischer
I believe that yoga is most powerful when approached with joy, connection and compassion. My approach is Integrative, and embraces philosophy, meditation, gentle slow movement and breath.
As the founder of nu yoga studio in Dunedin, I am constantly reminded that we all possess the potential for wisdom, wellness, and peace, no matter how challenging the journey may feel.
Sirpa Garden
Level 2 Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher
I have been practising Iyengar Yoga since 2006 and teaching since 2016. Before becoming a full-time yoga teacher, I worked as a Registered Nurse for over 30 years and also completed a Master of Health Sciences in Finland.
Yoga, for me, is a lifelong journey of learning and discovery. I continue to study with senior Iyengar teachers internationally and have visited the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune, India. What inspires me most about Iyengar Yoga is its depth, precision, and joy. I will always remain a student of yoga, and I hope to inspire others to do the same.
Tala Duncan
Tala Duncan is an Integrative Physiotherapist, somatic practitioner and energy healer devoted to helping people reconnect with the innate wisdom of their bodies.
Blending science, nervous system education, somatic therapy and energy healing, Tala creates transformative experiences that support the release of stored stress, tension and emotion while cultivating greater coherence across mind, body and spirit.
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