I was thoroughly impressed with my first experience here. I came with a friend for the introductory…read morecourse, a level 2 Vinyasa class. I do practice yoga and while I do it at home I find classes are much better, you just get more out of practicing. I had been going to Bikram yoga classes for several months, I wanted to mix things up a bit and get more into the poses and building up strength in other parts of my body. This seemed like a good way to do it. The class was fun. The instructor Steve was fantastic. Very charismatic, he provided equal does of instruction with humour and personal stories throughout the session which made it way more fun. Steve both does the poses and walks around ensuring that everyone is in the poses correctly, readjusts where necessary and provides encouragement throughout the class too. Steve understands why you come, to relieve stress and to find balance and the breathing exercises focus on detoxing yourself from the negativity in your life, what ever that may be. A great class and needless to say I will be adding this to my Bikram classes and cycling.

I have been to around three different yoga studios in Auckland. I'm not an expert but then I'm not…read morea full on beginner either. The Yoga Sanctuary is my favourite of the lot. I think it's a combination of the tutors and the comfortable surroundings. I don't feel like anyone is looking at me in a weird way like I do at East West (bikram yoga) and everyone seems to be really friendly and relaxed and accommodating to your needs. I did the align and flow class one time, which I thought was a little bit boring, or easy or something. The next day I was in more muscle pain (the good kind) than I've had in years, so obviously I was wrong. Usually I go to the Level 1 Vinyasa class and I feel pretty happy about it. They mix it up a lot, which is cool for me because as soon as I start getting bored during exercising I want to go home. One other thing I think is cool, is that the tutors seem to be pretty 'normal' - they do go through a lot of the spiritual stuff when they talk, but not in a way that makes me feel like, 'oh my god these bloody hippies let's get on with it', if that makes sense.

I could not rate this place more highly. Stepping in from the bustle of Auckland city's Custom…read moreStreet you immediately feel a sense of zen, the dimmed lighting and dark wood floors. The ascent to a better self is only two flights of stairs away and I was blown away by the interiors. You feel so relaxed, a type of Bohemian luxe, the Moroccan furniture and ikat prints make you want to just chill. The classes themselves are liberating, a place to come to let go of everything and just focus on yourself. Each time you come to class you become stronger, both mentally and physically, Bikram is one of the best things you can do for yourself I think. Each of the instructors have slightly different styles, I love Tyronne and his bongo! Rebeckh the owner of Bikram Yoga Britomart is such a lovely person, just wanting to help others enhance their lives through yoga, if you go often enough you'll see her in the odd class too, taking not teaching. The classes are all beginners, anyone could do and would benefit from taking Bikram yoga. I started going more regularly in the last month and noticed a huge difference in my body, flexibility, posture, muscle tone, state of mind. I couldn't recommend it more highly.

I took advantage of their 30 days offer - which was very cheap. I found the staff friendly - but…read morelacked any real "care" on filling in the forms I noted I had a recent shoulder injury, which they did ask me about - the only advice "take it easy" - as someone who has done minimal yoga I would have expected some instruction on what that means... the lockers are not secure... but the facilities are clean and quite fitting for being a yoga studio. The location is great if you live locally or have a car space -but closest car park charge over $21 for the time you would need to attend... could make this an expensive option.

Not until my last morning in Auckland did I discover the 06:30 Ashtanga class (your first is $10;…read moreone month membership for $99 if purchased on the same day). Had I known how much I'd like it, I would've definitely headed there as soon as I arrived in NZ. The Yoga Academy is the sort of place I'd love to live in walking distance of - it's super chill, there are classes throughout the day, you're made to feel at home as soon as you walk in. Mats, blankets, bolsters and such are all available to borrow and they're in good condition. I'd recommend the Yoga Academy for those brand new to yoga and seasoned practitioners alike.

Repeat after me: I will try Helen's Hatha class. I will try Helen's Hatha class. I will try Helen's…read moreHatha class... Yoga Academy is that rare blend of yoga studio where the instructors take the practice of yoga seriously, without taking themselves too seriously. There's a meditation room and a statue of Ganesh in the reception area, but you never feel like you're about to be brainwashed into a cult (hey, you know those places, right?). Aside from the wonderful Helen and her Hatha class, there's Ashtanga (the sweaty, weight-loss kind of yoga), and various workshops and retreats on offer. And as you might have guessed by it's name, the Academy also does yoga teacher training, and the professionalism of the instruction on offer is undoubtable.

This great wee studio is located right in the middle of the city, above CityFitness. I recently…read morecame here with a friend who is an avid fan to try their 'body beautiful' class, which is a mixture of pilates, yoga and ballet barre work. We had a first time instructor but she did a fantastic job of making sure we all had the technique down whilst still making the class challenging. Halfway through the class my legs were shaking and I swear I was using muscles I didn't even know existed! Not sure if they offer this all the time but I got an unlimited pass for a week for only $10 b/c it was my first time. Looking forward to going back and trying their Yoga classes.

I used to do Barre classes in San Fran so I was stoked when I heard that Marysa was opening a…read morestudio here. Located above Richmond Road, the studio is open and light with a gorgeous view out west. As for the class itself, don't let the description fool you - it's hard! I'm always amazed at how such small movements can make your legs (or arms) shake so uncontrollably. As for co-ordination, you don't need it....well, not really. You do use a ballet barre but it is surprisingly unballetic bar the pointing and flexing of toes. Marysa is doing a 2 for 1 offer at the moment and also an introductory $150 unlimited month so if you looking for a new regime heading into Summer I'd definitely recommend giving this a go

I was so lucky to have the chance to join in on a studio class recently, meet Marysa who is so…read morefriendly and made me feel excited and happy. The class combines, yoga, Pilates and barre work, and from the warmup to the workout and finally the relaxing stretch out at the end, your heart is pumping away and your body reaping its toning rewards. I along with my good friend, glanced over at each other, not knowing what we were in for, but never daring to slow down. I really love the tempo and movement of the class it was as though we were in our very own dance routine workout. I always like a good music soundtrack, and I definitely approve of the song choices, all very current dance tracks. The studio is very easy to find up some stairs from a well signed Barrefigure at 166 Richmond rd. Parking was not hard to find at all across the road. Inside the studio, carpet lines the studio floor which faces floor to ceiling mirrors, and to the other side is Marysa sign in desk/reception and a block of cubby holes perfect for storing away your bag etc. Views out the window, to glimpse as I noticed during workout a beautiful church up on Ponsonby rd. This is the definite winner of a class for women, it targets all those areas we want toned up and perky- abs,thighs,and bum of course! I want to be back in soon for this amazing class as the feeling of revival and stamina I got from just one class I am actually begging for more!

I'm visiting Auckland from Los Angeles for a couple of months, so I needed to find myself a yoga…read morestudio. I tried the one closest to me: Eastwest Bikram on Ponsonby. This was a huge mistake. If you want to know why, you can find that review in my profile. Haha. Then I searched google for more hot yoga places. Hot Yoga in Newmarket showed up. I did a quick look through the pictures and saw that it had a wood floor. Score. This studio is extremely clean with great amenities. Organic shampoo, conditioner, body wash.... even organic body lotion and deodorant spray. There are very private showers and two hair dryers as well. The practice room is a bit smaller than I am used to, but the practice was decent. I prefer to have a bit more of a guided meditation through out the practice, but perhaps the express class doesn't have time for that. I'm looking forward to trying their Flow class and their Candle lit Yin class.

I love this place, yes I enjoy yoga and that is probably a prerequisite but even if you haven't…read morebeen, you might too. You never know until you try. Being a person that really feels the cold, the idea of doing yoga in a room heated to 35 degrees seemed pretty good. Classes are easily booked online, you just rock up with your yoga mat and a lot of water (they have this stuff available at the studio though if you are new or can't be bothered bringing your own). There are a variety of classes, different levels and types of yoga here and the timetables are on the website so you can take your pick. The studio itself is very nice, good showering and changing facilities. So great in fact you leave and no one would know you had just sweat out a large percentage of your body's water volume. It's a great workout, this yoga burns on average 3000kj per session! All the classes I have taken have been with Fiona, she is one of the most nicest people on the planet. During class she makes sure everyone is in the positions correctly so you really get the most out of your session and the benefits through correct positioning. If you have not tried hot yoga before, but have done yoga at room temperature give it a go, it's yoga amplified.

My team hires out the main YMCA stadium to hold games there. With all the lower bleachers pulled…read morein, the space is larger than a basketball court, and with them all pulled it, the front row is courtside. The track we need for roller derby is slightly larger than a basketball court, which means when we hire the place, half of the downstairs seats have to be pushed into the wall, decreasing the capacity, but that's okay. If you're hiring out the stadium on a Saturday, you need to hire the place out for the whole day - we're usually out by 10pm but we have to pay for the place until midnight. The staff are really helpful - there's a staff member who helps with the bleachers and a safety officer who checks all the entrances are clear. The venue itself is a bit old - everything is wooden and probably circa 70s or 80s. You could go elsewhere to find more up-to-date facilities, but you won't get anything as close to town as this.

Seems like people in NZ aren't gym crazed like in the US. I am in auckland for a couple of days and…read moremy hotel didn't have a gym, so i ventured out to find one. I first went to a City Fitness where the only option they could offer me was $20NZ per visit (and the gym was being remodeled, so half the equipment wasn't even there). I saw there was a YMCA closeby so i went to give it a try. WOW! The staff couldn't have been nicer. It's not a huge gym but it has a couple of squat racks, free weights, a decent amount of weight machines and cardio equipment. They also have group fitness classes. They also charged me $28NZ for a "casual week" (7 days) which is very reasonable. Glad i found this!

This is a spacious fully equipped Pilates studio with Gyrotonic System equipment, Yamuna Ball…read moreequipment, Teeter inversion and excellent instructors to boot. The focus is on one-on-one instruction and small group sessions and classes. Raewyn owns and manages the place and to see her long list of qualifications and achievements do visit the IQ Pilates website. Not only is she super smart and qualified but she is also very approachable, friendly and caring on a personal level. You must book a one-on-one assessment before joining classes. You'll see all types of people training here, from elite athletes to elderly and from super strong middle-aged men and women to the injured. Everyone is welcome, but don't expect the pumped up full throttle yelling gym style power workout, the focus is strictly on quality movement in a relaxed environment. There are highly trained massage therapists and physiotherapy rooms inside.