Vinyasa – Mai i te pō ki te ao mārama is a four part workshop series themed on the phases of the Māori creation story (te kore, te pō, te whaiao, and te ao mārama) as a metaphor and framework for confronting the cyclical nature of life. Through vinyasa practice, we explore and embody the phases of the creation story, drawing parallels to yogic wisdom and setting a foundation and spark of curiosity for the wānanga that follows. After a short break, we'll reconvene in a wānanga space to further explore the deep wisdom of the creation story, learn more about the roles of the atua, and begin to unearth the relevance of it all to our own lives.
No prior experience of knowledge required. All are welcome - haere mai!
What to expect:
We will practice vinyasa flow together, sometimes incorporating meditation or breathwork. After a short break for showers/ lunch/coffee, we'll reconvene in a wānanga space to explore the relevant aspects of the Māori creation story for that workshop.
What will people take away from the experience?
A deeper understanding and appreciation of the Māori creation story and how its wisdom can help guide us through life, learned through wānanga and discussion but also through the embodied practice of vinyasa yoga and by drawing parallels with yogic wisdom.
Why Enrol?
To enjoy challenging and fun vinyasa flows themed around the phases of the Māori creation story. To engage in a safe space to ask questions and learn more about the Māori creation story, the phases of creation, the atua, and how the story offers us a framework for moving through the cycles of human life, from darkness to enlightenment.
What to bring:
Bring an open mind, perhaps a journal to gather thoughts down after the workshop. Light kai/food/snacks , as options for buying food are quite limited on the weekends. Mat hire and complementary herbal tea are included in your ticket. Towels can be hired for $3 if needed.
Also optional to bring an eye mask or even a scarf for the second workshop to explore practicing in the dark.
Deatils:
Dates: Saturday, 2 May, 16 May, 30 May, and 13 June (fortnightly)
Time: 12pm - 3:30pm
Location: AWHI Yoga & Wellbeing, Level 2, 15 Johnston Street, Wellington Central
Investment: Early Bird Rate (before 20 April) - $249.00 for the series or $65.00 per session.
Full Rate (after 20th April) - $299 for the series or $75.00 per session
Facilitators
Ani Morris Iwi affiliations: Ngāti Kahungunu, Te Āti Awa, Rangitāne, Ngāti Mutunga, Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Tūkorehe, Tūhoe, Ngāti Pāhauwera. I pakeke mai a Ani i Te Matau a Māui, Te Papaioea me Te Awakairangi. Kei Te Whanganui a Tara rātau ko tōna whānau e noho ana.
Ani is passionate about hauora and the ongoing journey of strengthening her connection to whakapapa, identity, and wellbeing. With a background in Education, Te Ao Māori facilitation, and cultural services for marae and central government, she brings deep cultural insight to her mahi as a public servant.
Ani is committed to kaupapa that elevates communities and empower rangatahi, contributing voluntarily to national movements such as Tuia, Matariki, and Te Ara ki Mātangireia. She aspires to continue growing with her whānau as they explore mana motuhake and tino rangatiratanga for future generations and mokopuna.
Jenny Oliver is a 200 hr certified yoga teacher with a career in the public service and background in marine science. After 13 years in central government, she is now returning to her marine roots and working towards a PhD in marine biology.
Motivated by the values of connection, nature, and beauty, Jenny is fascinated by systems – ecological systems, thought systems, social systems – and particularly how different thought systems and cosmologies can offer an antidote to the overly rationalistic and individualistic culture that currently dominates our society.
Weaving together learnings from her personal studies into yogic philosophy, ecology, and different world views, Jenny likes to offer vinyasa classes that challenge people but also leave them with the felt sense of a deeper connection to self and others, and the beauty that arises from interdependency.
Jenny grew up on a farm in Rotorua with three siblings, an American mother and New Zealand father. While her home now is Ngaio, where she lives with her husband and two children, she still feels a strong connection to her family farm, to California where her mother grew up, and most especially to a little beach in the Coromandel that her family has been visiting for a couple generations.