Our Amazing Instructors

Nicki’s yoga journey began in childhood, leafing through her Gran’s old yoga picture book. She was fascinated by the image of Lion Pose, with its playful roar and tongue sticking out — a pose that still makes her smile and remains one of her favorites today, always reminding her of her Gran.

While yoga has been a part of Nicki’s life for many years, in 2018 she felt called to dive deeper, completing her Yoga Teacher Training at Kawai Pura-Pura in Albany. This step opened a new chapter, allowing her to explore yoga more fully and to share its gifts with others. Since then, she has continued to nurture her practice through further training in Hansa Flow with Vincent Bolletta, and with Maria Kirsten in Yoga for Older Grown Ups.

For Nicki, yoga is not just about movement — it’s about connection, balance, and joy. She is inspired by the words of B.K.S. Iyengar: “Yoga is like music. The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul creates the symphony of life.”

Nicki teaches Strengthen, Gentle, Yogalates, Chair and General Yoga classes and is also a Level 2 Reiki Practitioner

Mignon Opmeer’s journey with movement began at a young age in her home country, the Netherlands, where dance and body awareness quickly became a natural part of her life. After moving to New Zealand in 2017, she expanded her focus to yoga and has been sharing her practice with a wide range of students ever since. Along the way, she discovered the joy of guiding others toward strength, flexibility, and balance.

She is a registered yoga teacher (RYT 200) and a registered children’s yoga teacher (RCYT) with Yoga Alliance. Mignon teaches both adults and children, including kids’ yoga classes at Orewa Primary, and classes for staff and students at Albany Primary. She also leads beach yoga at Stanmore Bay for Auckland Council’s Out and About program, regular classes at Stanmore Bay Leisure Centre, and occasionally at Northern Arena in Silverdale.

Mignon’s classes are welcoming and accessible for all levels. Known for her warm and encouraging approach, she enjoys learning from her students just as much as she enjoys guiding. Yoga is a shared experience of growth, connection, and discovery.

When she’s not on the mat, Mignon can often be found hiking or travelling, soaking up the beauty of New Zealand’s landscapes.

Meet Sophie Rado, Sophie is a yoga teacher with a deep love of movement, mindfulness, and holistic healing. Originally from the UK, she has called New Zealand home for many years, where she lives with her husband Nick, their two children, and their fluffy pets.

With a background in professional dance and musical theatre, Sophie has spent over 15 years teaching yoga and guiding students toward balance, connection, and wellbeing. She is trained in a wide range of practices including Yoga, Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, Reiki, Barre, Pilates, Peter Hess Sound Massage, and First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand®.

Her classes are known for being grounding and nurturing, creating space for students to feel supported and renewed.

Sophie also enjoys riding her bike, dance, musical theatre, travelling, doing anything creative like painting & crafting and spending time with her friends and family. 

• Diploma in Yoga Wellpark College of Natural Therapies.

• Diploma in Psychology of Stress Management (2008)

• Bliss baby, Pre Natal and post natal.

• Master Reiki Practitioner, Third-degree master training with Rainbow Heart Reiki 

• Certified Barre training & Pilates Mat with Xtend Barre (2013) Refresher training with The Method NZ (2021 & 2023)

• First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand® Flowers of Transformation

• Sound Massage, Peter Hess Level 1 (2021)

• Thai Yoga Massage beginners training (2023)

• NZ certificate in floristry

Meet Aleasia Morrissey, Lease is a kiwi mum of two gorgeous kids, who lives in Hatfields Beach with her pilot husband. Lease is extremely passionate about Yoga, movement, fitness and health and wellness. 

She loves building strength for both mind and body. 

Lighting the inner flame to help foster trust that strength lies inside all of us.

"We are stronger today than we were yesterday, tomorrow we will be stronger than we are today." Lease

2022

• Vinyasa – Yoga teacher training 200 hours: Queenstown, New Zealand, Facilitator – Nadi Wellness

2023

• Barre teacher training with The Method NZ at Yoga House, Orewa.

Anna is a warm, compassionate yoga teacher who has been teaching yoga since 2010. With her natural sense of humour, and intuitive teaching style, she creates space for students to slow down, unwind and become deeply present in their bodies.

After growing up in Auckland, Anna lived abroad for almost 20 years and has taught and studied Yoga in Bali, Hong Kong, Dubai and Australia. Having navigated her own journey with chronic stress, she understands firsthand the profound healing that comes from having a regular stillness practice (one of the reasons she now chooses to specialise in Yin and Restorative Yoga).

Anna brings extensive experience in the more subtle aspects of yoga; she weaves pranayama, meditation, yoga nidra and subtle anatomy awareness into her classes, to help her students access deep relaxation and connect to the essence of who they are.

She lives in Orewa with her husband and 2 lively boys and loves calling this special community home. When she's not teaching yoga, she can be found at the beach, doing the school run, meditating, having chai at Drifters or playing her crystal sound bowls.

Anna is RYT500 and E-RYT200 certified with Yoga Alliance, and also works as a Consciousness Guide and Sound Healer.

Monique discovered the supportive benefits of yoga in 2012, in the midst of her communication degree and a serious family injury. She noticed many of her interests were present in a yoga class, from creativity to music, the power of language, and a focus on fitness and mental health all rolled into one. She went on to complete her 200 hours yoga teacher training at a hot yoga studio in her hometown of Wellington in 2018, with her final exams in Bali.

Monique now resides in Matakana where she began teaching in 2021. She enjoys teaching a challenging vinyasa, along with a sense of playfulness, highlighting an importance on the breath and awareness of the mind. She intertwines nuggets of philosophy and relevance to help you take your yoga practice off your mat and into your daily life, often including themes around her appreciation for nature, interest in astrology and inviting a sense of resilience; something that yoga gave to her.

After extensive travel in Monique's other career as a travel nanny, she is enjoying incorporating a slower pace of teaching Yin, after completing her 100 hours training in Greece in 2024.

Meet Eleanor Fala, Elle has recently moved to the Hibiscus Coast from Melbourne. 

Elle is both serious and irreverent. She makes the complex feel approachable and weaves a thread of ease through tricky thoughts and shapes. Elle loves a strong flow, deep stillness and all the in betweens. The constant? Curiosity and compassion. 

Elle is mostly barefoot, often hands in dirt, loves to chase waterfalls.

A certified Master Health Coach, Elle loves to move - vinyasa, slow flow, yin and more.

"I love attending Elle's vinyasa class. She changes the class up each week. She's so bubbly and energetic, but soothing, taking us on a beautiful journey each week." 

~ Nicola Y.

Originally from France, Louise recently relocated from the UK to the Hibiscus Coast, returning to New Zealand where she first discovered the joy of yoga as a teenager.

Louise teaches both vinyasa yoga and mat Pilates and is passionate about sharing the magic of breath and movement with everybody, looking to build strength, improve flexibility and nurture their overall wellbeing.

Since first qualifying in 2019, she has continued her education through various Pilates training in the UK and has taught students of all ages and levels, from dancers and seasoned practitioners to complete beginners.

In her classes, you can expect to move from head to toe in a functional and strong -yet always mindful and playful - flow.

From a young age Emma has been immersed in the world of dance, which led her to pursue a Bachelor of Dance Studies at the University of Auckland. During her final year in 2021, she discovered Barre and immediately fell in love with its blend of movement and artistry. Emma loves Barre, because it’s where her passions of movement and Dance combine, and she can’t get enough of it! Emma attained her Barre Certification through ‘The Method NZ’ and is currently working towards her Mat Pilates Certification.

Emma loves that Barre is low impact, ensuring a great workout that still reaps benefits. She has a particular focus on posture and technique, ensuring clients feel safe and supported during their session. Witnessing clients progress is incredibly rewarding to Emma and she hopes you’ll fall in love with Barre as much as she has. You’ll be sure to get that Barre burn during her classes, and walk out feeling stronger mentally and physically. 

Introducing Sarah - A Yoga Instructor with a Passion for Empowering Others

Sarah discovered her love for yoga in 2015, when she was just 20 years old. From the very first class, she felt an awakening in her body and a sense of peace in her mind. For Sarah, yoga was the perfect way to nurture herself and she quickly became dedicated to her practice.

In 2021, Sarah became a solo mother and turned to yoga as a source of strength and courage during this challenging time. Through her practice, she found the resilience to move forward and inspire others to be brave.

Sarah's commitment to yoga led her to study under Nikki Ralston in 2022, where she completed her 250hr teacher training program. This deepened her understanding of human anatomy and fuelled her curiosity for knowledge.

As a yoga instructor, Sarah teaches a steady paced Vinyasa flow that creates a safe and playful environment for all. Her inclusive and enthusiastic spirit is evident in every class and she inspires her students to live in their truth, embrace growth, and find joy and health in their lives.

Beyond the mat, Sarah loves to connect with her community, spend time in nature with her son, and explore her creativity in various forms.

Join Sarah on the mat and discover the transformative power of yoga in your life.