Krishnamacharyan Viniyoga & Yoga with Elise, my journey...
About me
My name is Elise Curnow and I live in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast just north of Wellington, New Zealand.  I am a fully qualified teacher and forever student of yoga in the tradition of Krishnamacharya.  I also incorporate Ayurvedic practices into my daily life for health and balance. 
I have completed  750 hours of Yoga teacher to obtain my Yoga teacher certification with the Krishnamacharya Healing and Yoga Foundation (KHYF). This involved  deep and intensive training with my teacher Ruth Diggins and my sangha known as the Tahi sangha as we were the first group of trainees to complete this training in Aotearoa. Since then there the Rua sangha have also completed their training and currently the third batch, the Toru sangha, are currently in training. Krishnamacharya yoga has an ancient and growing lineage and  I feel blessed and honoured to be involved in the training, seminars and teachings which take place here in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
In January 2020 I begin a new journey into 1000 hours of Yoga Therapy training over three years. More to come on this soon...
I am registered with the organization which is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu in South India. 
To find out more about the KHYF and to view my registration  with the organization click on the following link;  
​khyf.net/viniyoga-registry/?pn=2
My teacher/mentor/trainer, is Ruth Diggins. To view her website and other teachers trained in the Krishnamacharya tradition go www.yogawithruth.co.nz/teachers-trained-by-ruth/


About the classes
In the class we explore the tools of yoga including, Asana (movement), Pranayama (the breath), sound (in the form of chant) ending with a relaxation/guided meditation.
The aim of the practice is to allow more comfort within the body enabling a more focused and conscious mind state. This encourages a place of stability and clarity from which to make our choices in life.
The ethos of  Viniyoga is that your capabilities as an individual are respected and catered for by each student being given tools with which to judge and adapt the practice accordingly.

I teach group classes suitable for beginners and experienced practitioners here in Waikanae and Otaki. 
I also teach restorative classes for those who may need a little extra rest and support. These include chair yoga and teaches students how to breathe, stretch and relax in a way which caters for individual capacity.
 I am also available to teach on a one to one basis.  
To view my timetable and access the contact form please click here; Yoga with Elise, timetable
Please don't hesitate to contact me through my email, phone, Facebook or the contact page  to make a booking or an enquiry.

Elise Curnow
Email: eliseyoganz@gmail.com
Tel: 021 1653898
or like my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/yogawithEliseC to follow any news on classes or events.

The tradition of Krishnamacharyan Yoga
Here is a little more information about the yoga I practice and teach;

"Yoga was conceived as a way to come out of suffering and the practice of yoga is thought to be at least four thousand years old.  The Yoga that we teach is not a style.  It is classical yoga that comes to us through teaching that has been passed down in the lineage of T. Krishnamacharya.  With an emphasis on the breath, from which each pose originates, the aim is a balanced union of the breath within the body, which brings harmony to our bodies and minds.
Krishnamacharya claimed that anyone who can breath can do Yoga.
The popularity of Yoga today has been hugely influenced by this South Indian man T. Krishnamacharya, even though he never traveled out of India. Following intensive study (the equivalent of seven Phds) and extensive travel (mostly by foot) including eight years with his yoga teacher in Tibet, T. Krishnamacharya (who lived to be over 100), became one of the people responsible for bringing Yoga to the attention of the West in the 1930s. He was both a pioneer in the revival of ancient teachings and a firm believer in applying these teachings to the modern world. For example sweeping aside prohibitions laid down thousands of years ago against the teaching of chanting to women.  He advocated an intelligent approach to Yoga, whereby Yoga's tools and techniques are adapted to respect the needs, abilities and requirements for each individual.
The popularity and impact of his students such as Indra Devi, Pattabi Jois (teacher of Astana yoga), BKS Iyengar (teacher of lyengar yoga), his son T.K.V.Desikachar and his grandson Kausthub Desikachar are a testament to his significance.
Desikachar established the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandarim in Chennai , India in 1976 as a tribute to his father. The KYM is a Government recognized Charitable Trust.  The focus of all the activities of the KYM is that anyone who wants to can practice Yoga that is specifically suited to their needs."
For more info on Krishnamacharyan yoga explore the organizations website by clicking on the following links:

KHYF website;  khyf.net/the-tradition/ 
 
​Yoga journal article www.yogajournal.com/yoga-101/krishnamacharya

The onward jouney
The journey of yoga and exploring of the self in continuous, therefore it is vital for me to continue to study and learn so I can pass this learning onto my students. As well as continuous mentoring, ongoing training and seminars, my wish is to continue my  training to become a qualified  yoga therapist. On my website you can find some of the books and items which have been so helpful to me along my personal journey.  All proceeds from sales from this site will help sustain my onward Yoga training journey.
The right for people to live and work in a non-exploitative environment is essential.  Therefore I will do everything within my ability to ensure that the products brought to you are manufactured and distributed with respect to those rights.
It is possible to request the order of a book which is not featured in this website.  If there is an item your would like to order please contact me and I shall see what can be done.

I look forward to joining you on this remarkable journey into the self.
Namaste, Ngā mihi, with thanks,
​Elise

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