“As a teacher I value that Melissa is able to work with all levels and bodies to give us, her students a great Yoga experience. Kindly and mindfully she is always in tune with her class and individual pupils, getting us to be in the “now” with the experience while maintaining breathing and carefully moving our bodies to the levels we are ready for. The longer I am in Melissa’s classes the more value I gain. She is a wonderful teacher with an awesome personality that cares for us all I feel.”
~ Kathy Guard
“I have been attending Melissa’s Yoga classes for over three years now and I find the pace and delivery perfect. Melissa’s calm tone and instructional technique is spot on. I leave the class feeling very refreshed and relaxed and have found the video sequence (which she recently introduced) helpful in enabling me to keep up my practice in the holiday breaks. I can thoroughly recommend these classes for all levels and ages.”
~ Jill McChesney
“Melissa is so warm, welcoming and down to earth! I have been attending classes with Melissa from 2014. The experience has been amazing and has helped me to negotiate life in a more grounded way….for that thank you many times over Melissa!”
~ Michelle Ramsay
“Melissa has helped me to transform my life after having an awful time going through breast cancer treatments for 18 months. It left me unsure of my ability to move through each day and exercise. I have learnt to trust in my body, how to use my breath to help ease movements that otherwise I would not be able to do without tension and pain. The knowledge I have gained will help me through future surgeries and has provided me with tools to get back to optimum health at a much faster rate.”
~ Sarah McKelvey
” I can honestly say I have learned more in the past 9 weeks of doing the Beginners Course with Melissa then I have in the last 9 years of doing Yoga. The most important thing I learned was not to push it. In my past experiences of Yoga I never learned that one simple, priceless piece of advice. My body has felt fantastic and everything felt like it was working properly and in harmony. You are a fantastic instructor and have an awesome environment to teach in. I have a renewed love for Yoga and a much better understanding of what it is. Anyways, just wanted to say thanks! You’re an awesome individual!”
~ Jeanette Adriatico
“The Beginners Course with Melissa was fantastic!
My wife says, I float through the door on Tuesday evenings and that I am so much more relaxed having Yoga in my week.”
~ Matt Rowley
“Manaia is a space of safety, sanctuary, deep relaxation and consequent growth and replenishment. Become acquainted with your body and the wisdom it holds through Yoga classes and bodywork with Melissa.”
~ Jill Montgomery
“Thank you for your easy going approach to teaching. I always feel relaxed and comfortable in every class.”
~ Alana Young
“Melissa is a very knowledgeable and took the time to help everyone individually if they were struggling with anything. You helped me a lot with my back… more than any chiropractor or physio has in regards to keeping it healthy long term. Melissa is a warm, calm and respectful teacher who has inspired me to continue with regular yoga practice both at home and at Manaia. The beginners course has been a perfect reintroduction to Yoga for me after many, many years! I recommend it whole-heartedly.”
~ Nicola Surtees
“Manaia was a very welcoming place to come in to. I loved the sense of calm and peace that you create there, and I immediately relaxed into the atmosphere. My first session ended and I drove home with an amazing sense of peaceful happiness – that I was doing something that was really, really good and worthwhile for myself. Which surprised me. I didn’t expect to have such a strong feeling about it.”
~ Janine Taylor
“Your classes are a great source of peace in a busy life.”
~ Maree Davis
“I am really enjoying your classes… they are a very positive and a welcome interlude at a very stressful time. I have battled anxiety/depression for a long time and have done everything in my power to overcome my difficulties. Exercise is important to me, running is my place of freedom but Yoga has now become a part of my routine and I think is the one that will sustain, balance and calm me and help me find a place to go when I need to affirm my actions. What surprises me is that I have always had to work at things but Yoga with you felt right from the very first class.”
~ Lorna-Jean
“I think I would say that it is due to your ‘easing in ‘ and gentle manner that I have continued. You don’t let anybody have difficulty and always offer a more comfortable alternative. This is really good for older folk ! I have noticed a big difference in my legs as they were stiff and sore at night and even crossing my legs was uncomfortable.”
~ Frances Hay
“Having dabbled in Yoga and Pilates for many years- I took the plunge to begin at the beginning again. Melissa your quiet approach has really makes me think about my body and its position- neck in relation to body, – movement from ones center, -yielding, just to name a few. All of the above mentioned adds to a renewed lightness in my step, which continues to all parts of my life (well most of the time!) I am so much more aware of my body. Thank you Melissa.”
~ Di Wallace
“I think you strike a good balance of teaching and giving feedback and help, as well as allowing students space and time to practice their Yoga postures. You have a lovely warm manner, communicate really clearly and always create a welcoming harmonious environment to practise in. Awesome! Thank you.”
~ Janine Taylor