We Grow Together
Level One
243 Trafalgar St.
Nelson Central
Koru Studio Teachers
OMANA EVE
SOMA Breath® Instructor
After over 25 years working in holistic health I was led to SOMA Breath® at a low point. I'd had a series of major life stresses fearing that I'd never be well in body or soul again. Committing to a daily breathwork practice stopped the cycle of chronic pain, calmed anxiety, returned me to joy, supercharged my energy, and had me feeling more alive, connected, and more creative than ever.
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Trained through SOMA Breath®, I create sessions with the keen knowledge of how to impact our physiology through breath. As a transformational hypnotherapist, coach and facilitator I take participants on a transformative journey with immediate impact and the potential for life changing benefit with a regular path of practice.
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SOMA Breath® is a full methodology, allowing for techniques to be woven to meet specific needs. Some breathing patterns are calming, others stimulating, allowing for classes to be choreographed to support people on various stages of their journeys. Powerful voice guidance, hypnotic music, embodiment movement, vocal toning, rhythmic breathing and intermittent hypoxic training are engaged in a way to meet the focus and intention of the session.
Step into CALM if life is a bit too much, and you need to build resilience. If life is challenging and leaving you feeling low, ENERGISE will uplift you and reconnect you to empowerment.
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To support you in your path of practice, I record sessions and make them available to purchase at low cost to allow you take your practice anywhere.
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Contact Omana for further details and to register:
Email: omana@connectedbreath.life
App: https://www.mobileapp.app/to/VuIc6n3?ref=cl
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CALM - 9:30am Tuesdays (60 min)
ENERGISE - 9:30am Thursdays (60 min)​
Emma Saunders
Modified Pilates
Internationally certified Pilates instructor, with a background as a Physiotherapist. Emma studied Modified Pilates at the Australian Physiotherapy & Pilates Institute (APPI) based in the U.K. She maintains skills with annual courses around Australasia. Emma is passionate about helping people with their personal body awareness, ability to better perform daily activities and enhancing individuals sport performance.
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‘Modified’ is a term used by the APPI Institute. Founded by Physiotherapists it specializes in applying current research relative to Pilates and the ongoing Professional Development of its Instructors.
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Contact: modifiedpilates@outlook.com 021 293 2709
Tuesdays @ 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:15pm
Thursdays @ 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 2:00pm
Jana Sojka
Bodylight® Instructor
I am a certified Bodylight® teacher (Fusion of Yoga, Pilates, and Qi-gong), Certified Yoga Instructor (Bhagsu Yoga Institue in India) and Massage Therapist. From a young age I became interested in muscle strengthening. I didn't know that I was applying Pilates key principles or Yogic asanas in these exercises. Intuitively, I knew what I wanted to achieve, I felt what was right for my body, and learnt discipline. I created a routine to keep my body toned, flexible, and strong yet relaxed.
In 2016, Bodylight® studio in Auckland stepped into my life and I deeply connected to my teacher, mentor, and friend Edna Levy and the practice itself. Edna educated me on every aspect of being an intuitive, loving, always-listening, and caring yet professional instructor and guide through any movement.
If you are new to this, we will break down exercises to understand the purpose and modify positions if needed. If you are an experienced yogi/yogini or Pilates practitioner we'll take the journey further. With injuries to rehabilitate, we'll find a way to reduce the pain, strengthen the area if it's weak, get the joints moving if they're stiff, improve balance if unstable, or improve the elasticity and flexibility of muscles. Anyone is welcome (general level).
Website: www.janasojka.co.nz
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/JanaSojkaMassageMovement
Email: janasojkanz@gmail.com
Mobile number: 0210 880 0233
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Thursdays - Bodylight @ 7:00 - 8:00am
Jen Holmes Beamer
Trauma Sensitive Yoga
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Jen’s experience of anxiety, panic attacks and the effects of trauma, alongside growing up with a father diagnosed with schizophrenia fostered a vast curiosity about human nature in all its manifestations. Mind-body practices and yoga are an important part of her healing journey, inspiring her to train as a yoga teacher, yoga therapist and trauma-sensitive yoga facilitator.
Jen has developed and facilitated yoga as healing programs within community mental health programs, psychiatric units, community agencies and non-profit organisations.
For the past three years, Jen has developed and facilitated fully funded body-based group therapy programs under ACC Sensitive Claims for survivors of sexual violence in Nelson; holding space to re-connect with the body after trauma. As a sensitive claims provider, she offers a gentle and intuitive approach to her one-to-one and group programs.
The body, mind and spirit are connected. When we find space, we can restore a deeper connection with ourselves and listen to the deeper meaning within the messages of our inner world to find hope and healing.
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For class information please contact Jen:
Email: info@findingspacewellness.com
Call: 022 500 1648
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Hester Phillips
My Body My Balance
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Hester Phillips is a registered Arts Therapist, group facilitator and movement teacher who supports others to live their unique potential. She holds a first class clinical Master's degree in Arts Therapy, is a certified Open Floor movement meditation teacher and a graduate of the Restorative Movement Psychotherapy for Trauma Survivors programme.
Hester is also the co-founder and director of Conscious Dance Aotearoa, New Zealand's annual festival of Conscious Dance. Hester's Master's thesis research explored the efficacy of trauma informed movement for clients with physical symptoms of trauma. Hester specialises in somatic approaches to trauma recovery in her busy private practice in Nelson.
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My Body My Balance classes are provided through The Nelson Clinic and ACC.
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For class information please contact Hester:
Email: hester@hester.nz
Call: 021 202 1573
Jade Ferrière
Trauma-informed Movement Facilitator
Jade is a holistic therapist and trauma-informed movement facilitator with over 20 years of experience in body-mind integration and nervous system well-being. She specialises in blending the therapeutic benefits of Clinical Somatics, and Open Floor Movement Practice, with Holistic Counseling and contemporary self-care rituals to support healing.
If there is one thing she has learned from her own inner work and work with clients, it's that holding space for yourSelf is tiring and although recovering from trauma is a solo journey... it is a path that can't be walked alone. Her invitation is to do it together, at a pace and depth that feels safe to you.
Jade facilitates My Body My Balance Group Therapy Classes funded by ACC during school terms at Koru Centre.
Website: dailyalchemy.co.nz
Instagram: @daily.alchemy
Email: jade@dailyalchemy.co.nz
Mobile number: 022 404 4549
Helen Nott
Clinical Pilates
Helen operates a Nelson based physiotherapy clinic providing rehabilitation to help clients recover from surgery, sports injuries, joint and muscle conditions, chronic pain, breathing disorders and cancer treatment.
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Her goal is to create a positive, personalised experience for her clients within a relaxing and holistic environment conducive to movement. She is dedicated to helping her clients regain confidence in their bodies after major setbacks.
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She offers both one-to-one physiotherapy and exercise sessions, and small group pilates classes. Helen has an active, hands on approach to rehabilitation and is passionate about engaging her clients in their treatment plan, encouraging a self-management approach and involving them as active participants as they regain full health and fitness.
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Helen's strong commitment to education and injury prevention help her clients to safely return to all aspects of life following injury.
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Contact Activate Physiotherapy for further details and to register:
Email: reception@activatephysiotherapy.co.nz
Phone: 03 548 2622
Website - https://www.activatephysiotherapy.co.nz/
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Mondays - Clinical Pilates 4:00 - 5:00pm
Thursdays - Next Steps Cancer Rehabilitation 8:45 - 9:45am (TBC)
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adrianne jerrett
Yin Yoga
After practicing various styles of asana yoga and meditation for many years, in 2020 I lept into a 250-hour Vinyasa Teacher Trainer Certificate with Aura Wellness Center to deepen my understanding of this ancient practice. My mind was blown and my thirst for more increased.
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While pregnant I was drawn into yin yoga and fell in love with how unexpectedly challenging and restorative this practice is. While 7 months pregnant in January 2024 I graduated from the Yoga Renew Yin Yoga Teacher Certification.
The more I learn about Yoga, the deeper I fall in love. I genuinely believe the more people who practice yoga the better our world and societies will be. So now I'm here to share with you this modern-style yin yoga practice that retains deep philosophical roots from both Indian Yogic philosophy and Taoism.
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Suitable for both beginners and established practitioners!
Investment: $150 (payment plans are available).
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Contact Adrianne:
Website: www.adriannejerrett.com
Email: hello@adriannejerrett.com
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Wednesdays: Yin yoga @ 5:30pm
Chelsi-lee Wilde
Yoga Therapist &
Sound Healing Practitioner
Chelsi-Lee is a certified Yoga Therapist and experienced Sound Healing Practitioner with over 1,000 hours of training in various styles of yoga- including Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, Bliss, and Yoga Therapy- most of which were completed in India.
What she shares today is a gentle blend of these traditions, combining the ancient wisdom of yoga with modern, evidence-based therapeutic techniques, gained from her training as an Internationally Accredited Yoga Therapist.
Her teachings remain rooted in the essence of how she was taught in India: weaving philosophy, meditation, pranayama, mantra, and mudra throughout her offerings.
Sessions are gentle, somatic, and deeply mindful- encouraging students to tune in, move intuitively, and honour their own inner experience over any external shape or goal. She believes that true progress arises from deep presence, self-awareness and any final pose will naturally become accessible as the body learns to open, soften and trust.
Chelsi-Lee works with both individuals and groups, offering personalised yoga therapy that meets people exactly where they are.
While her training spans a wide range of physical and emotional health needs, she is currently running programmes that support those navigating stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm- recognising a need for this kind of support within the community.
These programmes are rooted in ancient techniques validated by modern science, and the sessions are designed not only to offer relief in the moment but also to equip participants with practical tools they can return to throughout their lives—guiding them to build a sustainable ‘life toolbox’ that empowers and supports the self-management of long-term mental health.
She also offers one-on-one sound healing sessions and holds regular sound baths that combine guided meditation with the vibrational resonance of instruments to support deep rest and nervous system regulation.
Now based in Nelson, Chelsi-Lee is known for holding grounded, supportive spaces where individuals can reconnect with themselves and leave feeling freer in their body and calmer in their mind.
She feels honoured to walk alongside others on their journey of healing, resilience, and self-discovery.
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Email: info@chelsi-leeyogatherapy.com
​Phone: 0223487486
Website: www.chelsi-leeyogatherapy.com
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Thursdays @ 5:30pm - 8 Week Yoga Therapy Programme
Adam Thomas
Hatha Yoga
Adam is a Hridaya Yoga teacher. He offers Hridaya Hatha Yoga classes, meditation workshops and Hridaya Silent Meditation retreats. Hridaya is a Sanskrit word that means Heart or Spiritual Heart. It is really just another word that points towards the heart or centre of our being. When we return to the heart of our being, we return home to our true self.
Hridaya Yoga supports practitioners in this reconnection to our true self. When we reconnect to or open our heart, we reconnect to the intuition of our heart and slowly we can develop the courage to live from the heart. We begin to open more and more to the fullness of life, embracing both joy and sorrow in equal measures.
Adam has practiced Hridaya Yoga since 2016 and has been sharing the practice since 2019. He has completed the Hridaya Teacher Training Course, which is a 500 hour course and includes two 10 day silent meditation retreats and a solitary retreat in the dark room. He has also completed four additional yoga modules at the school and various other group and solitary retreats across the world.
Contact: namaste@kalyanyoga.com
Website: https://kalyanyoga.com/
Mondays: Hridaya Hatha Yoga @ 5:30pm​
Peter Sterios
LEVITYoGA
TM
Peter Sterios is an internationally recognized author, yoga teacher (ERYT-500), and architect. He is the founder of LEVITYoGA™, MANDUKA™, and creator of the popular yoga DVD series “Gravity & Grace” which is one of YOGA JOURNAL’s “top 15 yoga DVDs of all time”. For three years (2011-2013) Peter taught yoga at the White House for Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity initiatives. In 2018, he was invited to the Pentagon to share his ideas about yoga’s therapeutic effects for the US Marine Corps.
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Peter's first book Gravity & Grace: How to Awaken Your Subtle Body and the Healing Power of Yoga was selected as the Nautilus Book Awards 2019 Gold Medal Winner in the "Health, Healing, Wellness & Vitality" category.
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For those who teach LEVITYoGA™, our goal is to create simple language for communicating general principles so those who practice and study can connect with themselves in an authentic way – not from a place imposed by a rigid technique, script, or series of movements, but through a re-discovery of our own intuition. With subtle encouragement during classes or in trainings, students can “stretch” into the intuitive parts of their mind, and re-establish confidence in personal discretion – the ability to make appropriate choices in how we move, how we think, and how we relate to ourselves and others.
Contact: peter@levityoga.com
Peter returns regularly to Nelson. Watch this space for future opportunities to learn from a true master.
Pricing
Teachers at Koru Studio are independent and each have their own pricing structures depending on class length and area of specialty. Please contact individual teacher to confirm pricing.