Our Studio

Yoga is one of India’s greatest gifts to the world. An ancient holistic practice of transcending the limitations of the mind.

It is a multi-faceted discipline, offering many practices that affect the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual body.

At first glance, the modern/Western perception of yoga is a movement based protocol to still and relieve tensions of the mind and body. But it is much more than that.

Via the awareness that meditation brings and by touching your toes, bending your spine and so forth, one starts to unwind the years that have wrapped or bound us to things that no longer matter.

In the stillness of making these physical shapes and the quiet of listening only to your breath and how you feel, things start to look a little different. There can be relationship gained, of our ourselves and of something deeper.

The shala you see today has formed over many years of committed work since opening it’s doors in July 2011 by Katie Deare.

Sun Salute studio has been running though, since 2007, when Katie first started classes at a hall in Ham East.

We are a good mix of personnel now, lovely human beings all with a passion for yoga and it’s aligning healing arts.

As yoga teachers we have varying backgrounds and have pursued serious study. Together we bring a rich fabric of complementary knowledge from different lineages.

Our members are particularly diverse in age. We are honoured that our seniors find this place comfortable as well as the young. It’s a great combo.

Facilitating kaupapa Māori practices including sound healing (Tāonga Puōrō), plant medicine (Rōngōa) and Te Reo Māori waananga is also an honour.

The shala is much about you, our members, as much is it is about the staff and owners.

Together we’ve created something great.

Feel the community spirit as soon as you walk through the door. There’s a relaxed home away from home feel. Knowing you are accepted and part of community is as essential to mental health as any core need and we pride ourselves in our welcoming vibe.

There are plenty of social gatherings to get involved in, most of them involving food!

There are so many challenges in life, but there’s good stuff too. If we keep discovering the things that are important to us and we help each other out, we find connection and trust and this helps us navigate the tricky changes and challenges of life. Luckily yoga practice nurtures these things too; resilience, kindness, empathy.

Please arrive 5-10 minutes early for group classes.

Turn your phone off or on silent. Place your shoes along the hall cubby.

Yoga is for people of all levels of mobility. There are props and chairs if needed and ways of modifying poses for all shapes and sizes. Safely moving in and out of poses is key.

Consider your personal hygiene, arrive for class fresh and in clean practice clothes. Yoga is often performed in close proximity to one another, please limit the use of strong deodorants, especially perfumes.

Keep conversation to a minimum in the practice room and enjoy the serene space yourself.

With yoga, emotional shifts can happen, so the practice room is a sacred space. We ‘hold space’ for each other, no matter what may come up.

How do you prioritise commitment to your health and wellbeing? You sign up to a community of like-minded people, you book in your classes, you set the wheels in motion and then stick to a routine.

Routine makes things easier.

And commitment brings results! 

You might feel different after one yoga class, but it’s through sustained practice over months or years that you’ll see the most change.

Often in the disciplined pursuit of yoga knowing you have the connection and camaraderie of your fellow travellers can bring a helpful sense of support and belonging. You know you’re not alone. There’s a shared experience.

We absolutely recommend you become a member.

There are so many benefits: You’ll feel the commitment build as you stick to a routine and the feeling of being part of a team can speak to our need to belong. Also, memberships can feel easy, in a set and forget kind of way … to just be able to walk in whenever you can and get to a class can feel liberating.

Sign up to one of our memberships.

Come and feel a part of a ‘great little community’.

Advise your teacher in confidence, if you become pregnant or are pregnant. It’s important for us to know, so we can offer you modified poses and the right care. Ashtanga yoga should not be commenced as a beginner if you are pregnant. If you have a regular Ashtanga practice and you become pregnant, you should be fine to continue — however please let your teacher know.

There are many helpful poses and techniques to help you during this very special time. We welcome your enquires.

If your health changes in any way or you are suffering the negative effects of any ailment please advise your teacher in complete confidence.