Off the mat
The word ‘yoga’ means so many things to so many people. For us in the West it can simply refer to a movement practice, or perhaps conscious movement with breath. To others it is a rich and deep spiritual practice, a history, a culture, a way of seeing and being in the world.
Whilst there is much benefit to be gained from moving our bodies, paying attention and refining our control of breath and focus on the mat, it’s also important to remember that our practice extends beyond, into our daily lives. It can be the way we talk to others, the things we do, the way we reflect on ourselves and grow — how we care for and take part in our community.
Here are some of the ways we practice off of the mat.
The Karioi Project
You’ll find Bexie working to educate and inspire our community and protect our local Maunga. Once a thriving seabird mountain, the project aims to restore Karioi as a sanctuary, a place where sea and forest birds can flourish. Learn more about the project here.
Green Wave Raglan at The Space
Welcoming new faces, and supporting local businesses
At The Space we work closely with local businesses to welcome travellers into our community. Whether they come to The Space once or many times during their stay, we often learn something about where they're from, where they’re going, and what they love about Raglan, (which helps with our gratitude practice!). Bethany also works with wider tour operators to offer fun and grounding classes to people on the move, giving them space to reconnect and land.
Rehabilitation and recovery
Tessa, our Pilate’s teacher, is also a physiotherapist and acupuncturist. Working to benefit all types of bodies, Tessa promotes healthy movement, and helps those who need it rehabilitate injury, discomfort or pain, whilst getting the rest of us feeling stronger, more stable and centred.
Photo: Molly McCabe
Encouraging everyone to dance
When Patti is not teaching you graceful transitions on your mat, she’s working with all ages of the community in dance. She founded Whaingaroa Youth Movement in 2003, and since has been teaching connection to body and expression of Self to even the youngest in our town. It’s so important to feel free and comfortable in your body — a valuable thing to learn early on.
Low impact lifestyles
We each make choices in our daily lives that influence our community and the planet we live on. Amy lives out in Ruapuke with her family and a large veggie garden. After living off-grid, in various small dwellings, her and her partner are building a Tiny House — a home where there is space just for what you need. She has a close relationship with her neighbours, sharing time and energy to be as self-sufficient as possible.
Even though our actions may seem small, and even flawed, every change we make can cause a ripple, effecting at the very least those closest to us, but often our wider community. With a conscious effort to do our best and consider others, we might even be able to change our larger community and heal our world.