Inaugural conference explores better structures for burgeoning New Zealand yoga sector

Issues in New Zealand’s fast growing yoga sector are to be explored at a new event, the Hauora Yoga Conference, taking place in Auckland from 23rd to 25th November 2018.

Presented by the Exercise Association of New Zealand (ExerciseNZ) and being held alongside FitEx, the conference will be the only yoga event of its type in New Zealand, bringing together some of the biggest names in yoga, both locally and international, together with New Zealand’s yoga community.

Designed to educate and empower yoga teachers and develop the national yoga community, one of the issues that the Hauora Yoga Conference will explore is the introduction of quality standards for yoga teacher training and support in New Zealand for yoga teachers.

Richard Beddie (pictured), Chief Executive of Exercise NZ, says New Zealand is changing the way it supports yoga, commenting “the staging of the inaugural New Zealand yoga conference is the first step in a new direction and will be a memorable one.

“While yoga values and respects Indian teachings, a strong belief in our Kiwi identity has led to discusion on how yoga standards can include New Zealand needs.

“Many see the value of joining a yoga professional organisation which reflects the qualifications and experience of each member, supports them and provides representation and advocacy for the yoga community.

“The yoga community sees the relevance of aligning teacher training with best practice worldwide. The basic de facto qualification for yoga teaching in New Zealand is the Yoga Alliance 200 hour standard.

“Most training providers include the 200 hour standard and teachers with this qualification may join the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) administered by Exercise New Zealand. Some training providers also meet the more demanding standards of Yoga Australia.

“The conference’s teacher training panel will discuss standards and New Zealand. Could standards be more relevant to New Zealand, such as including a module in Te Ao Māori – the Māori world?

“The conference will discuss a proposal for a professional and representative Yoga New Zealand organisation, with support from Yoga Australia and Exercise New Zealand.

“Yoga NZ would be run by a council representing the NZ yoga community, provide member benefits, and recognise teachers and training providers who meet basic and Yoga Australia standards for yoga teaching.”

Yoga is one of New Zealand’s most popular forms of exercise, with more than figures showing its practice has grown by as many yoga providers as gyms around the country.

Seeing that yoga is surging in popularity while organised sport is in decline, Beddie adds “it has got so big as an exercise that we are staging the inaugural yoga conference in Auckland in November. “(It) has doubled in the last five years and just keeps growing largely due to its versatility.”

The Hauora Yoga Conference will include opportunities to practice yoga and be part of national discussions with a selection of clinics, masterclasses, workshops, discussion panels and keynote addresses.

Click here for information on the Hauora Yoga Conference in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Click here to view FitEx details in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.