Come visit our wonderful yoga centre situated at 20 Stewart Street, Marton
Our company name is Sadhana Yoga. Our yoga studio, Sadhana Yoga, was previously located next door to the Roxy Cinema, in Miramar Wellington. The studio serviced the yoga community of Wellington for over 10 years. Being at the centre of Peter Jackson’s vibrant film industry, statue of Gandalf the Wizard guarded the entrance!
In 2017, I moved premises from Miramar in Wellington to Marton, and reopened the studio with a new name -NZ Yoga Centre. The move was primarily because I was able to get an affordable property, and the property at 20 Stewart Street, Marton has allowed me to teach yoga in a new studio and run an art studio and retreat space as well.
Ali Hale Tilley (Studio director)
Who am I?
My name is Ali and I first learnt yoga at age 6 from my godmother/ Aunty Pauline, who was a popular yoga teacher in Christchurch. She planted the seed that I too would teach yoga one day.
As a young adult, I worked full time in the Fitness Industry, both in London and NZ. Over those 15 years, I qualified as a fitness trainer, and group exercise teacher. I also opened and managed gyms, and ran a NZ gym franchise. This experience gave me a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and well being management both with members and team mates.
Feeling the calling to teach yoga, I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2003. Then, to deepen my knowledge of traditional yoga systems, I traveled to India, met my Guruji, did the Mt. Kailash yatra, attended Kumbha Mela, and traveled to numerous sacred sites across India, Tibet, and Nepal.
Over the 11 years of running my own yoga studio in Wellington – Sadhana Yoga Ltd – I have taught around 6000 classes and seen over 50,000 yoga students of varying experience levels.
While I was running my yoga studio in Miramar, I began a course an undergraduate at Victoria University in Religious Studies (2009-2011). A passion for academic knowledge and critical thinking took me right through to Honours, gaining a first-class Honours achievement. Then, in 2016, interested in the growing consumer expectations of the Yoga Industry, I embarked on and finished a Master’s degree in 2017. My thesis focused on the New Zealand Yoga Industry and yoga communities in Aotearoa.
https://www.academia.edu/34710890/final-ali-hale-tilley-yoga-communities-in-new-zealand-ma-thesis-submission-1.docx
About the space
Yoga studio
The atmosphere at NZ Yoga Centre is relaxed and friendly, integrating a practical, physical western approach to yoga, within a calm eastern-inspired setting.
The different classes on the timetable give practitioners a chance to work towards beneficial results. Regular practice (sadhana) helps participants remove physical and mental stiffness, gain overall flexibility, and increase self-awareness. Combining breath and movement in a non-competitive setting gives you the opportunity to release tension and revitalize the energy body. All levels and age groups are welcome. Even if you arrive feeling tired and worn out you should feel great after class. The studio is open 5-10 minutes before each class.
Ali is a qualified Yoga Alliance Instructor, Fitness Training Instructor, and Celebrant. She also holds a BA (Hons. 1st Class) in Religious Studies (Victoria University). Ali finished her Master’s study of yoga with Victoria University, doing an ethnographic study on yoga communities in New Zealand.
What clients say …
“I really get a lot out of your classes … You provide a great community service, and a focus for less committed yogis in our part of the world.” – Pene “Great to hear your still going strong – proof that you are a real asset to the community. Miss your classes and the company of like minds but just want to wish you all the best for the rest of the year.” – Savita (Auckland) Kia ora Ali, I thought I would write to say hello and also thank you for sharing your yoga teachings. I came to your yoga classes in Miramar for about a year I think in about 2012 and absolutely loved it. I then moved to Auckland to complete my studies in naturopathy/herbal medicine and am now living back in the South Island. I really want to say thank you so much as you are an amazing yoga teacher with so much knowledge that you freely share and I am really grateful to have attended your class. I know sometimes you take classes to India at the end of the year and if you were doing this this year I am potentially interested so would love to know. There is a yoga class where I am but I prefer to do my own practice as it wasn’t really the style/didn’t have the same knowledge that I was looking for. – AnnaClient testimonials
Dear Ali, All the very best for the next stage of your yoga journey! Of course, we will miss you but your contribution to our little corner of the world in the last ten years has been immense on lots of levels and has been more than welcome in my own life. I am sure that going to Marton will bring you a new zest for life, yoga, teaching and art, and both you and the people of Marton and the surrounding areas will benefit. I can see that it will also be a fantastic opportunity for you to physically ‘step away’ from your recent academic focus. Plus, you will be right in the heart of asparagus country! Thanks for all you have done and been in the time we have spent together. Yoga, on all its levels, has made a profound difference to how I live and interact and to how I want to be in my life. Even when I practice yoga at home, your voice pops into my head gently reminding me about my mūla bandha, my breathing, or my awareness of mind and body. I will continue to practise and seek out other teachers on my own journey.
Dear Ali, All the very best for the next stage of your yoga journey! Of course, we will miss you but your contribution to our little corner of the world in the last ten years has been immense on lots of levels and has been more than welcome in my own life. I am sure that going to Marton will bring you a new zest for life, yoga, teaching and art, and both you and the people of Marton and the surrounding areas will benefit. I can see that it will also be a fantastic opportunity for you to physically ‘step away’ from your recent academic focus. Plus, you will be right in the heart of asparagus country! Thanks for all you have done and been in the time we have spent together. Yoga, on all its levels, has made a profound difference to how I live and interact and to how I want to be in my life. Even when I practice yoga at home, your voice pops into my head gently reminding me about my mūla bandha, my breathing, or my awareness of mind and body. I will continue to practice and seek out other teachers on my own journey. Namaste, Liz
Dear Ali,
Thank you for your lovely email and congratulations on your news – I think it sounds so exciting, liberating and fortunate for the people of Marton! I would love to visit your studio once you’re up and running.
In the meantime I just want to say a huge thank you to you for providing such a wonderful place in my community to laugh, breathe, love, relax, and unwind as a brought up two young children, coped with having my partner in the film industry and a full on job myself. I will miss the presence of your studio but I totally understand that new adventures await.
I loved getting to know you and so enjoy your energy and playful take on life. All the very, very best and I hope to make the farewell on the 31st Mar.
Much love,
Steph
xx
Dear Ali,
And fellow yogis. I’m both excited for you and sad. Miramar just won’t be the same without you here Ali. I feel sad that our little community that we’ve built up over the last half dozen years or so will fragment and break apart without you here. On the other hand, that’s up to us isn’t it. And, I’m sure between A-bomb, Minxy, Kim and myself and others too, we can keep something going. I’m up for it.
I can honestly say Yoga with you Ali changed my life. I’ve always seen it as more than just a physical workout thing. And I just laugh when people ask me what style of yoga do I do, and do I go to hot yoga because “omg you so have to go”. I try to explain to them that yoga isn’t the gym.
The trip to India was life changing, that little group of us forever bonded by that wonderful experience, lots of highlights, but sitting in Arakashan Road on the last night drinking whisky with you and solving the problems of the universe stands out. Times with Guruji, and the Tuktuk ride back from Rishikesh, meditating high up on the banks of the Ganga, seeing the funeral pyre at Dev Prayag. Tahlia’s bright red hair and her laugh, stroking Annabelle’s hair and telling her she wasn’t going to die when she was spewing her guts out… haha. I could go on for hours. I won’t. All I can say to other yogis. Go to India. Make a deal with yourself. It is life changing. I still relive that trip in my mind often.
It has also been wonderful following your academic journey as you have taken an interest in mine. You are a wonderful beautiful human that I feel privileged to have got to know and spend some time with. 2.5hrs away, pft. I look forward to visiting you in your new place and wish you all the best.
I know I speak for everyone, you will be sorely missed here. But, thanks to you Ali, I have met some amazing new friends and the laughs and fun we’ve had along the way – as well as the great yogic experiences along the way will be with me forever.
I know I haven’t been the perfect student. But I appreciate the times you have pulled me into line and “told me off” which hasn’t been that often, only when required. Looking forward to my final few classes with you. And finally, thank you Jo Watson for convincing me I needed yoga in my life. xx
Love always
Shiv
In her spare time Ali paints and draws.
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