Safe, sustainable yoga practices at heart of new Whangarei yoga studio Loka Yoga

Donelle Mason and Sharon Thatcher have opened Loka Yoga, a new yoga studio in Whangarei. Photo / Bryant Sia

A new yoga studio has opened.

Loka Yoga, co-owned by Sharon Thatcher and Donelle Mason, opened for business on Monday offering classes in central Whangarei.

Both Sharon and Donelle are highly trained and experienced yoga teachers who place emphasis on safe, sustainable yoga practices that are suitable for all people.

"We believe that yoga should be accessible to everyone and we like to keep things real and down to earth. You don't have to have flash yoga outfits and push yourself to the extreme - just comfy clothes, and a willingness to work with and listen to your body.

"Our classes are uncomplicated but still challenging, and are adapted to suit the participants of each class, whether they are absolute beginners or experienced practitioners," the pair said.

Donelle is from Whangarei and has been teaching in some shape or form in the fitness industry for several years.

Her qualifications include Advanced Yoga Teachers Certification RYT 500 , Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, Yin Yoga certified, and a Diploma in Teaching.

When not teaching yoga, Donelle can be found teaching fitness and mobility to seniors in Whangarei, cooking, gardening, keeping tabs on the teenagers, or rubbing the dog's tummy.

Any other spare moments, and she's off on an adventure in the camper.

Sharon is from Marlborough and owned her own very successful yoga studio (Loka Yoga Marlborough) in Blenheim for three years. She taught yoga in Fiji for three years before that.

She moved to Whangarei last year as her husband took a job in Auckland.

Outside of yoga, she can often be found along the Hatea River walk or up the Goetzee track with her two dogs Dougal and Skye, at home with her husband, dogs, three cats and four sheep, in the kitchen baking, or tending to her vege garden and small fruit orchard.

Both Donelle and Sharon had been teaching at another yoga studio and discovered that their foundational approach to yoga was "very well aligned".

"So we decided to work together and open our own studio. Loka Yoga Marlborough became Loka Yoga Whangarei on Monday," Sharon said.

Loka Yoga's point of difference is that they focus on safe, sustainable yoga for life.

"Yoga shouldn't be intimidating and isn't about being flexible or fit. If you can breathe, you can do yoga. We believe yoga isn't a one size fits all and that yoga needs to adapt to suit individual bodies.

"We're all built differently and have different genetics, bone structure, injuries etc and we cater for those, which means that often a teenager and a grandparent can attend the same class and gain benefit and enjoyment from it. There is no judgement, no expectations. Just yoga," Sharon said.

Visit www.lokayoga.co.nz for more information.