Ko wai ahau - Who am I ?
Linsey Smith
Founder, Lead Teacher, Programme Designer — Aroha Nui Yoga
Kia ora, Ko Linsey tōku ingoa. Ko Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Rangiwewehi, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Makino, Ngāti Whātua – Te Uri o Hau ngā iwi, Scottish, English, Irish.
I guide Aroha Nui Yoga participants through inclusive, trauma-informed yoga that nurtures the tinana/ body, hinengaro/ mind and wairua/ spirit/ essence.
With over 20 years’ experience, I offer online and in-person classes, retreats and wānanga grounded in gentle movement, guided relaxation, and holistic healing.
My teaching respectfully weaves te reo and te Ao Māori, Atua Wāhine, and nervous system–aware practices to uplift mauri - life force energy- to restore and maintain balance.
I hold advanced certifications in yoga teaching, restorative yoga, Yoga Nidra, pre-natal yoga, and have training in rongoā Māori and mirimiri , I continue to train in nervous system–informed approaches to wellbeing.
Whether you’re new to yoga or returning home to your body, I offer a calm, aroha-infused space to restore, regulate and reconnect.
I have a career background in fashion, art and design, have owned several fashion related businesses, have worked in the jewellery industry, and continue to study art, design, weaving, healing modalities and te reo māori.
I'm a mother, grandmother, animal lover and avid gardener.
Aroha Nui x
Nā, Linsey 💜
P.S to work with me please contact admin@arohanuiyoga.co.nz or see my offerings here
My training and work highlights
I believe in continually learning as a teacher, and under go professional development on a regular basis.
IYTA NZ Introduction to Yoga Teaching Certificate 2000
Ashram Yoga - Teaching Certification 2001
Certificate in Intermediate and Advanced Teaching Ashram Yoga NZ 2005
Pre-Natal Yoga - Teaching Certification 2014
Yoga Nidra - training in guided deep relaxation- 2001/2005/2014
Restorative and Therapeutic Yoga, Living your Yoga with Judith Hanson- Lasater Phd. Pt. 2010 and 2014
Yoga for the Nervous System - Subtle Yoga - 2022
Rongoā Level 1 - with Donna Kerridge 2019
Eastern Institute of Technology -Certificate in Karanga level 3 2019
Te Pōkaitahi Reo Māori Certificate (Level 4) Te Wānanga o Aotearoa 2018
Kāwai Raupapa Certificate in Māori & Indigenous Art (Level 4) 2024 Te Wānanga o Aotearoa
My career includes twenty years experience owning and operating my studio in Helensville, as well as Community Education, private and corporate sessions, speaking, and wellbeing presentations.
While my yoga classes offer a chance to stay balanced and restored for everyday life - workshops/ wānanga and retreats go deeper, encourage healing and promote holistic wellbeing / Hauora.
I offer a regular yoga wāhine wellness class on Tuesday nights through out the school terms. Yoga for Wāhine is an online space and open to all women seeking wellbeing through holistic yoga and meditation practices.
I also offer custom designed retreats, waananga and workshops for your corporate or private group, and have offered custom designed programmes for the following :
Kurawaka Retreat Centre/ Eastern Institute of Technology - sunrise beach yoga classes for waahine, karanga wānanaga 2018 - 2019
iWahine Leadership Hui - Presenter at the 2019 Wāhine Maori Leadership Hui
Māori Tourism NZ - classes for members online 2021
Massey University Alumni - Te Whare Tapa Wha based yoga for wellbeing programme - 8 week course incorporating te reo maori for alumni online 2022
Waipareira Trust - yoga for rangatahi 2019
Mahitahi/ collaboration with Jerome Kavanagh Poutama - Oro Atua and Aroha Nui Yoga - A collaboration of taonga puoro and yoga. Yoga and sound healing workshops 2018 - 2021
Hei Ahuru Mowai Maori Cancer Research Hui a Tau - AGM
A custom class for members to experience Aroha Nui Yoga 2023
Aroha Mai Cancer Support Services -
Gentle chair yoga for Wellbeing 2023 /24, for cancer patients and survivors.
Aroha means Love and compassion,
Aro- to direct, turn to face
Ha- the breath, the essence
Nui- abundant, vast, plentiful, important
Yoga - union, unity, oneness, to join
This name guides me in my practice of teaching, and personal practice of yoga.
It also connects me to my tūpuna/ ancestors.
Design your own class, presentation, workshop or course with me. Contact me to learn more about my availability for your next workshop, wānanga or retreat, or a collaborative with Aroha Nui Yoga. Together we can co-create an offering for your participants.
Please contact me at linsey@arohanuiyoga.co.nz to see what we can co-create together!
Right now I only offer a regular weekly class online for women. Classes in person do happen from time to time or by arrangement- please join my email list ( form below) to keep up to date with all the latest news and in person offerings.
Yes, I currently offer Yoga for Calm, an online self paced course, Rongoā Moemoeā, a guided audio deep relaxation, and private and corporate sessions by arrangement for both Tāne and Wāhine. Yoga for Wāhine is my only exclusively for women programme.
You can join Yoga for Wāhine here. There are four intakes per year in alignment with the school terms. Once the term begins you can still join with the Tui four class pass if you can't make all the sessions or don't want the recordings.
No, the classes are in English, with some simple easy to follow te reo woven gently in, and a short karakia to begin each class and set our intention. By arrangement private sessions with more te reo are available.