About us

Come visit our wonderful yoga centre situated at 20 Stewart Street, Marton

Sadhana Yoga Ltd (operating as the New Zealand Yoga Centre in Marton) – was previously situated next door to the Roxy Cinema, Miramar (the centre of Peter Jackson’s vibrant film industry). The studio serviced the yoga community of Wellington for over 10 years. A statue of Gandalf the Wizard guarded the entrance!

Now, Ali Hale Tilley, the studio director, took a bold move and opened a new yoga centre in Marton, the heart of Rangitikei. This new centre services the whole of the lower North Island and runs yoga classes, meditation, yoga masterclasses, as well as weekend and overseas retreats.

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 various yoga classes on offer 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 Hale Tilley (Director)

Ali started practicing yoga when she was a child, under the instruction of her godmother-aunt Pauline Jarvey . Pauline Jarvey was a popular yoga teacher in New Zealand during the 1960’s and 70’s.

Who am I?

I first learnt some yoga at age 6 from my godmother, who was a popular yoga teacher in Christchurch. She planted the fertile 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 wellbeing.

Feeling the calling to teach yoga, I qualified as a yoga teacher in 2003.

Then, to deepen my knowledge of traditional yoga systems, I travelled to India, met my Guruji, did the Mt. Kailash yatra, attended Kumbha Mela, and travelled to numerous sacred sites across India, Tibet, and Nepal. This year will be my 15^th India trip.

Over the 14 years of running my own yoga studio, Sadhana Yoga, I have taught around 6000 classes, and seen over 50,000 yoga students of varying experience levels.

A need to extend my academic knowledge and critical thinking, led me to become an undergraduate at Victoria University in Religious Studies in 2009. I taught and ran my studio during that time right through doing Honours.

Then, in 2016, frustrated with the growing consumer expectations of some of my yoga students, I embarked on and finished a Master’s degree in 2017. My thesis focused on consumerism in the New Zealand Yoga Industry.

https://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/xmlui/handle/10063/6596

Ali has spent her whole adult life teaching health related fitness and yoga. She set up Sadhana Yoga in 2006. Ali has taught thousands of students in health-related fitness, yoga and meditation.

Ali is also a qualified Yoga Alliance Instructor, Fitness Training Instructor, and Celebrant. She also holds a BA (Hons. 1st Class) in Religious Studies (Victoria University). Ali has also recently finished her Master’s study of yoga with Victoria University, doing an ethnographic study on yoga communities in New Zealand.

What clients say …

Client testimonials

“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. – Anna

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,

Dear Ali,  I am very sad that you are leaving us and the Miramar studio is closing.  I am however happy for you with a wonderful new adventure ahead of you. As I have said before (and Steve also said in his email) doing yoga with you
changed my life.  My twice weekly yoga classes are such an important part of
my life.  Not just the yoga, but the feeling of never quite knowing what a
yoga class with you will bring!  Such fun, so interesting, and always
something new to learn.
So, thank you Ali for bringing yoga much more fully into my life, for
getting me started on meditation and for all the fun and laughter.
I will miss you but look forward to visiting you in your new Marton studio
for some of your Saturday workshops.
Thank you so much for all you have given me.
Best wishes and love,
Pippa

In her spare time Ali paints and draws. Here are a few of Ali’s paintings.