IYNZ Convention Apparel

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026.

To mark this special occasion, we have designed beautiful Convention t-shirts and tanks which are available for pre-order before 23 January 2026.

As part of this celebration, IYNZ is proud to announce the launch of its refreshed website name IYENGARYOGA.NZ and to mark this milestone, we have released  the inaugural IYNZ Hoodie with the new website name and a picture of Mr Iyengar in Natarajasana.

These pieces represent both a celebration of community and a tribute to the enduring luminosity of B.K.S Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar.

Click here to view the range and download the order form.

With the Sun chosen as the central symbol; a source of warmth, life and growth, a presence far beyond light alone. We look through its rays to our lineage and honour B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar whose wisdom continues to guide us in this spirit, and whose teachings shine on, even beyond their physical presence.

“Awareness must be like the rays of the sun:

extending everywhere, illuminating all.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

May the Sun continue to guide and support each of us on our own journeys.

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026.

To mark this special occasion, we have designed beautiful Convention t-shirts and tanks which are available for pre-order before 23 January 2026.

As part of this celebration, IYNZ is proud to announce the launch of its refreshed website name IYENGARYOGA.NZ and to mark this milestone, we have released  the inaugural IYNZ Hoodie with the new website name and a picture of Mr Iyengar in Natarajasana.

These pieces represent both a celebration of community and a tribute to the enduring luminosity of B.K.S Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar.

Click here to view the range and download the order form.

With the Sun chosen as the central symbol; a source of warmth, life and growth, a presence far beyond light alone. We look through its rays to our lineage and honour B.K.S. Iyengar and Geeta Iyengar whose wisdom continues to guide us in this spirit, and whose teachings shine on, even beyond their physical presence.

“Awareness must be like the rays of the sun:

extending everywhere, illuminating all.”

B.K.S. Iyengar

May the Sun continue to guide and support each of us on our own journeys.

Older news

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

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Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

YOGA LINK Summer 2025

Click here to read the latest edition of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly newsletter.

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day:

International Day of Yoga 21 June _practice sequence

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day:

International Day of Yoga 21 June _practice sequence

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

YOGA LINK Summer 2025

Click here to read the latest edition of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly newsletter.

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

YOGA LINK Summer 2025

YOGA LINK Summer 2025

Click here to read the latest edition of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly newsletter.

Click here to read the latest edition of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly newsletter.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Four seasons of free online workshops in 2025

Four seasons of free online workshops in 2025

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of RIMYI – established on 19th January 1975, IYNZ is hosting four seasonal workshops over 2024/2025 offered free of charge to members of IYNZ.

Summer – Sunday 23rd Feb 5-7pm  Musculoskeletal Awareness with Jaki Nett

Autumn – Sunday 18th May 5-7pm Exploration of ‘The Tree of Yoga’ with Agi Wittich (Yoga Readers)

Winter – Sunday 31st August time to be confirmed – Pranayama with Gulnaaz Dashti

Spring – Sunday 2nd November 12.30-2pm Online class with Lois Steinberg

General Membership of IYNZ is $45 p.a. and you can sign up here https://iyengar-yoga.org.nz/about-iynz/become-a-member/

For more information email secretary@iyengar-yoga.org.nz

To celebrate the 50th Anniversary of RIMYI – established on 19th January 1975, IYNZ is hosting four seasonal workshops over 2024/2025 offered free of charge to members of IYNZ.

Summer – Sunday 23rd Feb 5-7pm  Musculoskeletal Awareness with Jaki Nett

Autumn – Sunday 18th May 5-7pm Exploration of ‘The Tree of Yoga’ with Agi Wittich (Yoga Readers)

Winter – Sunday 31st August time to be confirmed – Pranayama with Gulnaaz Dashti

Spring – Sunday 2nd November 12.30-2pm Online class with Lois Steinberg

General Membership of IYNZ is $45 p.a. and you can sign up here https://iyengar-yoga.org.nz/about-iynz/become-a-member/

For more information email secretary@iyengar-yoga.org.nz

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

YOGA LINK Spring 2024

YOGA LINK Spring 2024

Click here to read the Spring issue of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly e-newsletter.

Click here to read the Spring issue of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly e-newsletter.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Abhijata is coming to Aotearoa in February 2026

Abhijata is coming to Aotearoa in February 2026

SAVE THE DATE!

We are excited to confirm that Abhijata Iyengar will teach at our 2026 Convention which will start on Friday 13th February 2026 and run for 4-5 days.  Details of venue, duration, cost and session times will be communicated as soon as they are confirmed.

SAVE THE DATE!

We are excited to confirm that Abhijata Iyengar will teach at our 2026 Convention which will start on Friday 13th February 2026 and run for 4-5 days.  Details of venue, duration, cost and session times will be communicated as soon as they are confirmed.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Yoga Link – Winter 2024

Yoga Link – Winter 2024

Click the link below to read the Winter issue of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly e-newsletter:

YOGA LINK – Winter 2024

 

Click the link below to read the Winter issue of the Yoga Link, IYNZ’s quarterly e-newsletter:

YOGA LINK – Winter 2024

 

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

My Journey to RIMYI

My Journey to RIMYI

I had been thinking about doing one final visit to the institute for a while when my friend Lydie Driviere (France), contacted me early last year and asked me to accompany her to Pune in March 2024, to stay for the month.

The idea was to have a quiet time without other western student distractions and really study what was going on in the Indian Iyengar Yoga Community as far as the new system and syllabus was concerned.

Well, to our great surprise, our plans were promptly derailed as on our arrival we learnt that a 70-student (mainly teachers) strong Polish group had just arrived for a two-week Intensive at the Institute. 

When Lydie and I arrived to say hello to Abhijata and Raya, they were well aware of our shock finding the yoga hall full of Europeans. We all laughed at the fact that there was going to be no quiet time apart from bedtime in our apartment!

Lydie and I had booked in for General Classes which consisted of one or two classes a day with Abhijata, Prashant, Raya, Rajlaxmir and once a week, Sunita. But now, on top of that we were invited to participate in all the extra intensive classes with the Polish group run by Abhijata and Raya. This meant we would have three even four classes a day plus practice at times!

The theme for the Polish intensive was ‘how to teach beginners,’ and we attended special classes where a mixture of adjustments in Standing poses, Inversions, Backbends and some remedials were taught. It was fantastic to be able to be part of all that, guided by such good teachers.

That was the Yoga learning part of our visit.

My personal journey is that I am loving every minute of this visit. It is my 26th visit since 1993 and being back here I could not believe I had decided that this would be my last. It really has been like coming home. All the local teachers and friends have greeted us with such warmth. Everything seems so familiar that I wonder ‘how could it be 4 years since my last visit?’
Yes, there are a few new developments and real estate is booming.  There are a lot of flash cars and it is a little less polluted but generally it is the same old….

The Indian culture is still colourful and rich in all aspects. Most people are generous and honest and respectful. It is a real joy being amongst it all.
Lastly, I have observed the teacher training that is going on here with both Abhijata and Rajlaxmir. Their trainees are doing really well. In every class that their particular mentor teaches, they quietly move around the room adjusting us all with such firm but sensitive hands. Many of the trainees are young with other jobs as well, but they are always there when their mentor conducts a class and they also often spend practice times together.
I have great hopes for the future of Iyengar Yoga because of this trip and for that I am very grateful and wish that you all, who might be reading this, feel inspired to take the leap if you have never done it before, or if you thought it might be too late.

I now think that I might be back one day, of course taking in consideration the state of my body and economy.

Namaste,
Moni x

Monica Haar

I had been thinking about doing one final visit to the institute for a while when my friend Lydie Driviere (France), contacted me early last year and asked me to accompany her to Pune in March 2024, to stay for the month.

The idea was to have a quiet time without other western student distractions and really study what was going on in the Indian Iyengar Yoga Community as far as the new system and syllabus was concerned.

Well, to our great surprise, our plans were promptly derailed as on our arrival we learnt that a 70-student (mainly teachers) strong Polish group had just arrived for a two-week Intensive at the Institute. 

When Lydie and I arrived to say hello to Abhijata and Raya, they were well aware of our shock finding the yoga hall full of Europeans. We all laughed at the fact that there was going to be no quiet time apart from bedtime in our apartment!

Lydie and I had booked in for General Classes which consisted of one or two classes a day with Abhijata, Prashant, Raya, Rajlaxmir and once a week, Sunita. But now, on top of that we were invited to participate in all the extra intensive classes with the Polish group run by Abhijata and Raya. This meant we would have three even four classes a day plus practice at times!

The theme for the Polish intensive was ‘how to teach beginners,’ and we attended special classes where a mixture of adjustments in Standing poses, Inversions, Backbends and some remedials were taught. It was fantastic to be able to be part of all that, guided by such good teachers.

That was the Yoga learning part of our visit.

My personal journey is that I am loving every minute of this visit. It is my 26th visit since 1993 and being back here I could not believe I had decided that this would be my last. It really has been like coming home. All the local teachers and friends have greeted us with such warmth. Everything seems so familiar that I wonder ‘how could it be 4 years since my last visit?’
Yes, there are a few new developments and real estate is booming.  There are a lot of flash cars and it is a little less polluted but generally it is the same old….

The Indian culture is still colourful and rich in all aspects. Most people are generous and honest and respectful. It is a real joy being amongst it all.
Lastly, I have observed the teacher training that is going on here with both Abhijata and Rajlaxmir. Their trainees are doing really well. In every class that their particular mentor teaches, they quietly move around the room adjusting us all with such firm but sensitive hands. Many of the trainees are young with other jobs as well, but they are always there when their mentor conducts a class and they also often spend practice times together.
I have great hopes for the future of Iyengar Yoga because of this trip and for that I am very grateful and wish that you all, who might be reading this, feel inspired to take the leap if you have never done it before, or if you thought it might be too late.

I now think that I might be back one day, of course taking in consideration the state of my body and economy.

Namaste,
Moni x

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Yoga Link – Autumn 2024

Yoga Link – Autumn 2024

To read the Autumn edition of the YOGA LINK newsletter click here.

To read the Autumn edition of the YOGA LINK newsletter click here.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Yoga Link – Summer 2023

Yoga Link – Summer 2023

To read the summer edition of the YOGA LINK please click here.

To read the summer edition of the YOGA LINK please click here.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Yoga Link – Spring 2023

Yoga Link – Spring 2023

To read the Spring issue of the YOGA LINK please click here.

To read the Spring issue of the YOGA LINK please click here.

Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

Seeing and Understanding from the Base 2 with Stephanie Quirk

Photo by Vivian Wong on Unsplash

Seeing and Understanding from the Base 2 with Stephanie Quirk

As the alarm went off at 4.30am to catch my flight to Christchurch from Tauranga, I have to say I questioned my sanity. The reason for the early flight was that I was heading to Christchurch for the second of seven four-day workshops in Stephanie Quirk’s yoga therapy series, “Seeing and Understanding from the Base”.  But get up I did, and before I knew it, I had landed in Christchurch to be greeted by my brother (with a spare car to use – yay!).

An hour or two later my mat was set up in the lovely Christchurch East Yoga Studio.  It felt a little weird to set my mat up with others, as almost all my input now is online as there is no Iyengar teacher where I live.  But that little bit of weirdness was quickly transformed as familiar faces (and a few new ones) warmly welcomed me. I knew I was once again “home” with my yoga family.

For four days, we explored the upper body with Stephanie Quirk – a legend in the Iyengar yoga world, particularly around therapeutics.  Stephanie has a wonderful way of imparting some of her bounteous knowledge.

For the first session, we did a practice consisting of a few asana from all the major classes of yoga poses.  Our task was simple: focus our sensation on the upper body- what’s difficult, what’s easy, what’s similar, what’s different, what might be problematic for a person who has challenges with their upper body?   

This session was illuminating and set us up for the rest of the workshop – it served to attune us to our areas of focus.  Over the next three and a half days we explored different areas of the upper body (wrists, elbows, shoulders, dorsal spine, neck) in more detail with a special focus on inversions, as they can be particularly challenging with upper body issues.

Stephanie was clear that the purpose of this teaching (and yoga therapy more generally) is being able to continue your yoga practice when you have challenges. It is not an alternative to physio, western medicine, osteopathy etc., but it is an amazing adjunct.

Stephanie’s teaching is practical.  Yes, some things used less common props, but most of what we worked through can be done with common props.

Stephanie’s teaching is highly experiential.  While she considers anatomy along the way, the primary modality is learning from experience.  Stephanie encouraged us to try things and learn from each other.  We are all different and thus we will all have different experiences and something to share (in my case, the trials and tribulations of having a large carrying angle in my elbows!).  All in all, it’s a nurturing, inclusive and enriching environment.

Stephanie’s teaching encourages curiosity. She doesn’t always tell you “the answer” straight away – she invites you to explore.  If you find something different from others, it’s not “wrong”.  Instead it’s something to be curious about – it might even work better for you than the given or standard instruction!  Yes, Stephanie, like all Iyengar teachers, holds “strong opinions” but they are much more lightly held than some, and personally, I find that refreshing.

Stephanie interlaces her practical teaching with short discussions and discourses.  Sometimes she covers principles that you can build from and take throughout your practice.  But she also recounts some wonderful stories of her twenty years in Pune with the Iyengar family. All in all, the teaching is a rich, multi-layered experience.

We were also lucky to have Hasu Opa-Clark, from Marrickville Yoga Centre in Sydney accompany her again.  Hasu has a beaming smile, lots of knowledge and a gentle way of supporting everybody be the best they can.  Thanks Hasu for coming over.

There are seven four-day modules in the series.  The next one is #3 and the workshops are open to dedicated students as well as teachers.  So come along!  And the Christchurch crew – led by Julie, Colleen, Annemarie, Frances, and others – who organised it and hosted the workshop are such lovely people to be around. The studio itself has a great vibe and is well equipped and as a bonus the beach and an awesome coffee cart are just around the corner.  Thank you all, and especially Stephanie.

A final comment.  I do almost all my yoga study online these days – for where I am right now in my life and for where I live, studying online is much easier to fit around family, work and other personal commitments (and easier on the finances).  But I got a huge amount out of being there in person – a sense of community, the benefits of partner work, seeing what others are doing and hearing what they are feeling, and individual attention that is only possible in person.  It was also good to get a few bad habits pointed out – habits that come with practicing on your own most of the time!

So, I encourage you to attend in person if you can.  But if you can’t, then the good news is that the bountiful knowledge of Stephanie is only a click away.

  • Marrickville Yoga Centre (www.marrickvilleyogacentre.com.au) has a phenomenal library of Stephanie’s workshops (and others too – a great resource).
  • Marrickville Yoga is offering the same series hybrid style with the first workshop (focusing on the feet, knees and hips) starting in August.
  • Stephanie offers pranayama classes directly online as well (www.stephaniequirk.com.au).

Duncan Catanach

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Older news

IYNZ Convention Apparel

Iyengar Yoga New Zealand welcomes Abhijata Iyengar to New Zealand this summer, February 2026. To mark this special...

Treating Chronic Ailments with Yoga – Lower Back Pain

Reprinted from Yoga Rahasya COMPILATION 1994 -1996 – Volume A The spine is the most subtle part of...

Geeta Iyengar’s Practice Sequence for International Yoga Day 21st June

Click the link below to view Geetaji’s practice sequence for International Yoga Day: International Day of Yoga 21...

Find out about members benefits

Iyengar Yoga practitioner or certified Iyengar Yoga teacher looking to join our community?

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