Te Awamutu women open yoga studio

Zen Yoga Collective owners Jaimie Bowers-Anstis, left, and Renee Page.

Two Te Awamutu women have launched a yoga company that promises to support health and wellbeing and offer affordable classes.

Zen Yoga Collective, on 60 Vaile St, was opened last weekend by friends Renee Page and Jaimie Bowers-Anstis.

The co-owners say yoga has improved their physical and mental wellbeing.

Jaimie and Renee are both busy mums - but yoga allows them to slow down and find their breath.

They want to offer the same opportunity to the Te Awamutu community.

Jaimie started yoga nine years ago after suffering from adrenal fatigue.

"I got to a point where all I could manage was yoga," she says.

"Then I realised yoga was all I needed.

"We can lose ourselves in a busy life of work and family. It's so important to nurture and love ourselves first - then we can best look after others."

Zen Yoga classes will include the use of essential oils - a practice that makes the Te Awamutu classes unique.

Renee owns essential oil company Spade to Spoon and will use a range of oils in the classes.

She says the combination of yoga and essential oils can improve sleep, stress, anxiety, digestion, muscles, immunity and emotional health.

There will also be essential oils available for purchase in the studio.

The third yoga teacher is Te Awamutu woman Di Johnson, who integrates the practice of shiatsu into her yin yoga classes.

All three teachers are fully qualified yoga instructors and each has their own style of practice.

The range of classes include aroma yoga, aroma yin, vinyasa flow, gentle foundations, open self-practice and more.

They are all suitable for beginners and are offered from Monday to Friday.

There is a 45 minute express class on Tuesday and Thursday from 12.10pm-12.55pm.

"The timetable meets the needs of the community," Renee says.

"There is a class for every body to practise the beautiful flow of yoga in a safe and non-judgmental environment."

She says the studio is a place to relax and unwind - you are welcome to linger for a cup of tea after your class finishes.

Classes are $14, or you can snap up a 20-session card for $200.

Yoga mats are provided or you are welcome to bring your own.

She says the opening of the studio is "just the beginning" of what they have planned for the community.

Zen Yoga will be offering workshops with guest yoga instructors, starting next month with a workshop led by the founder of Yogatribe, Coka Klug.

Zen Yoga also has a goal to offer yoga to children and teenagers who are struggling with anxiety.

The studio is also largely community-orientated and once a month will host a fundraising yoga class - kicking off tonight.

Tonight's 7pm class involves an essential oils workshop and a 45 minute class. The cost is $10 per person and all funds will be donated to Korakonui School.

For more information and to view the yoga classes timetable visit www.facebook.com/zenyogacollective/

The Zen Yoga studio is on 60 Vaile St.