Join us for a Women's Wellness Day - starting with Yoga and Breathwork, followed by a traditional bread-making experience.

Breathwork and Yoga - taught by Nilamani (Soulshine Yoga)

Nilamani will guide you through breathwork, balance, and inner peace.

SoulShine Yoga is a vibrant fusion of rhythm, mudra (hand positions), pranayama (breathwork), mantra (repetitive sounds) and movement to create a practice that harmonises the body, mind, and spirit.

About Nilamani (Soulshine Yoga)

With over three decades of experience in yoga, Nilamani has become a cornerstone of the wellness community in New Zealand, blending ancient traditions with modern teachings to create a transformative experience.

Nilamani’s yoga journey spans a rich lineage of teachings, beginning with seven years of training under Swami Shantimurti Okan, whose teachings are rooted in the practices of Swami Satyananda Saraswati. Her learning continued with nearly three decades of study with Dr. Joseph Michael Levry, the founder of Naam Yoga and Shakti Naam Yoga.

SoulShine Yoga is a practice that harmonises the body, mind, and spirit. This approach enhances physical health, fosters creativity, resilience and a deeper sense of connection.

Māori traditional bread-making - taught by Anastasia (Natura aura)

A Māori traditional bread-making workshop is a special opportunity to learn about the cultural significance of bread-making.

The workshop will cover:

History of rēwana and its uses in the past and present.
Scientific background of the symbiotic relationship between Māori and the rēwana organism (bug).
How to initiate a rēwana bug.
How to care for your rēwana bug.
Benefits of Fermented bread.
How to prepare the rēwana bug, for making bread
How to prepare a rēwana dough for breadmaking.

Each participant will be able to:

Take home a sample of the rēwana bug
Take home a portion of the dough made during class, to bake at home to share with your household
Enjoy lunchtime refreshments of rēwana bread (made prior to the class) by kaiako Anastasia.

About Anastasia Rickard - rēwana breadmaking Kaiako (teacher)

Our facilitator is Anastasia - she will guide you through each step and share insights about the cultural significance behind the techniques.

Anastasia is one of the Co-Founders and Designers of Natura Aura: a high-end fashion label inspired by nature. They have gained global recognition and displayed their designs in national and international fashion showcases.

A talented teacher, Anastasia has taught traditional Maori arts like raranga (weaving and plaiting). These techniques can be used as therapy to create a wide range of practical and decorative objects like mats, baskets, and cloaks.

Anastasia has taught this rēwana bread-making course in several other New Zealand locations - so we are delighted to be bringing her to her home-town of Rotorua to share her knowledge with you.

About Julia Anne and Look After Me

This workshop is co-hosted by Dr Julia Anne from Look After Me, at the Hindu Heritage Centre.

An award winning scientist, Julia switched to tourism and launched Look After Me, originally as an accommodation network to help with the Rugby World Cup in 2011. During Covid-19 the company evolved to become an Events, Wellness and Retreats company - specialising in looking after people - especially women travelling by themselves.