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the 'space' team
We're proud to bring a variety of teaching styles and yoga philosophies together at Kanuka Yoga!
Raquel Minh
Studio Director
Raquel founded Kanuka to create a community yoga space for all types of bodies and selected an amazing group of teachers to help cultivate inner-awareness for a wide range of personalities.
Her classes take a trauma-informed approach and are typically structured around a vinyasa flow and weaving in yogic philosophy. She invites you to tune into your own inner landscape and wisdom while exploring the physical ground/space around. She has a degree in Psychology, over 500hr+ of Trauma-Informed Yoga Teacher training, and has been practicing yoga for a decade.
She recognises her consistent yoga practice as a tool to stay balanced internally and within relationships in work and in her personal life.
She teaches Slow Flow, Yogalates, and ACC Trauma Sensitive Yoga at Kanuka. You can often find her leading retreats and workshops or in the office sharing yoga within workplaces.
Stu Larsen
Studio Manager
Stu was introduced to yoga as a teenager, and has maintained a regular practice since 2014. He completed his 200HR RYT in 2019 at RAW Yoga on the North Shore.
He loves outdoor adventure sports like surfing, snowboarding and multi-day hikes and his classes reflect his calm demeanour whilst bringing plenty of dynamic, energising physical movement to the class.
When it comes to a yoga practice, Stu is most passionate about being playful with balance, creating more mind-body awareness by using the breath, building physical confidence in challenging poses by taking one step at a time, keeping the core activated and finding regular moments of stillness and appreciation for the present moment. This is what he loves to share in his regular classes.
You'll also find him playing acoustic guitar and sharing sound bath journeys at workshops. He plans to bring more music and creativity to the space so keep a look out for upcoming events.
Megan
Megan received her training and health/wellness education at Wellpark College. Her outdoorsy/adventurous vibe is a great fit for Kanuka.
"I love nature and I am constantly drawn to Being in this space (Kanuka). Yoga is the technology I use to stay connected throughout. I get a kick out of what the animal body can do and the power of my senses."
"I think Kanuka is such a welcoming and friendly, earthy, honest and giving space, and that's how I aim to teach and serve here."
Tanija
With over 10 years of regular yoga practice Tanija has found so much appreciation for having a space to go to where she can find a sense of internal focus, a moment to slow down and re-connect to herself.
In Tanija’s classes you will enjoy a diverse flow and a strong connection to breath. She will encourage you to listen to the rhythm of your body and take options to find stability, ease and comfort within a pose.
Laura
Laura is a great fit at Kanuka because she's been teaching in Hobsonville for a few years now and we're super lucky to retain her knowledge and calming energy in the community.
Laura studies yoga with Adele Kingham of Rise Movement to learn the philosophies of Embodied Flow & Yin.
Laura excels in creating a safe and nurturing space, and she's a star when it comes to cueing postures and providing options to suit all body types.
Carol
Carol is experienced teaching both yin and yang styles of class. Regardless of the class she is teaching, Carol will endeavour to destress the mind by guiding yogis to arrive in their own bodies.
She draws inspiration from Insight Yoga, the principles of Chinese medicine, traditional meditation and breathing techniques, and creative vinyasa sequencing.
Carol is also passionate about supporting pregnant students. Through her own yoga practice while she was pregnant Carol understands the benefits that a safe, gentle practice has for a healthy pregnancy.
Steph
Steph is a yoga and embodiment facilitator who aims to inspire and empower others.
Guided by the principles from the school of Awakening Arts, her offerings are a blend of hatha yoga practises, non-dual tantric insights, and somatic inquiry.
Steph will guide you into a meditative experience of the different systems that make up our forms in order to come into a more integrated way of being.
Meet Our Yoga Instructor, Steph
Luisa
Luisa’s mantra is, "Go with the flow and embody the flow of life."
Luisa has a profound connection to the mindful aspects of Yoga and her love for the practice is rooted in her daily meditation and pranayama routines.
Her main practice is Ashtanga Yoga, a holistic meditative movement practice based on the foundations of Tristhana (Vinyasa, Bandha, Drishti) and rooted in the eight limbed path of Yoga.
When she isn't practicing on the mat then Luisa lives her mantra among the ocean’s waves as a keen surfer.
Meet our Yoga Instructor, Luisa
Mae
A Tamaki local, Mae completed her 200-hour Hatha yoga training at Kindred Studio located in sunny Nelson.
Her practice combines grounding breathwork with invigorating vinyasa heat to offer a balanced and rewarding yoga experience. With a deep commitment to mindful movement, she helps her students connect more fully with their bodies, cultivating strength, flexibility, and inner peace.
She recently completed five years of academic study in nutrition and a Master’s in Dietetics.
Annah
Annah completed a yoga 200HR Teacher Training in India, and Trauma Informed and Community Yoga Trainings (120+hrs). Conjointly, Annah is a practicing social worker, working and volunteering in the community services sector for 7+ years.
Throughout this work Annah has practiced yoga, mindfulness, and meditation. Experiencing a range of benefits that a steady yoga practice has offered her throughout the years, Annah is inspired to share her practice and learnt experiences with others. She’s continually exploring the intersections between embodiment practices, well-being enhancement and social change.
Meet our Yoga Instructor, Annah
Reha
Reha has a background in Psychology and Behaviour Therapy and a passion for culturally respectful education of sacred practices and achieving positive mental health outcomes in the community. She completed her 200-Hr Teacher Training 3 years ago, and has been on a mission to teach yoga from an indigenous perspective rooted in evidence-based approaches. Her experience is in Vinyasa, Hatha, Nidra, Yin, Restorative, Meditation, Power (&Hot) Yoga.
Her values lay in community, safety, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Meet our Yoga Instructor, Reha