Danika Michelle, Yoga Therapist 
​(NZQA Dip Yoga,  NZQA Dip Yoga Therapy, C-IAYT, C-BBM,
​Cert buteyko breathing specialist) 

Danika is an experienced Yoga Therapist and Buteyko Breathing Instructor, certified by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT),  and the Buteyko Clinic International. She is the founder of Yoga Wellness Clinic and Breathing to Heal.

She uses the holistic framework of yoga therapy, an ancient tradition of mind-body medicine that combines physical practices, mindfulness, and positive psychology to promote complete health of body, mind, and spirit.

Being an avid reader of research in areas such as yoga therapy, nutrition, clinical exercise, behavioural psychology, and manual therapy, she incorporates the latest evidence-based techniques into her programs.

​Danika is a compassionate instructor who teaches yoga from the heart. She brings a unique combination of strong intuition and rigorous analysis to every session, and to every program, so that her clients can lead healthier, happier, and more fulfilling lives.
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Outside of yoga therapy, Danika spends her time with her young daughter and the occasional animal rescue; both remind her of the sanctity of life, and the joy of simply being. 

Dr. Christian Thoma
​(BSc, MSc, PhD, ACSM-Certified Clinical Exercise PHYSIOLOGIST)

Christian is a nutritionist (MSc), clinical exercise physiologist (PhD) and aspiring neuroscientist.  He is fascinated by the rhythms and cycles of the body, how the dysregulation of these results in disease, and how we can use both high-tech and natural techniques to measure and restore our natural rhythms and thereby our health. 

He gained his PhD from Newcastle University (UK) in 2013 doing research into the role of exercise and lifestyle in the treatment of metabolic diseases, specifically type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. He graduated with a BSc in microbiology in 1998, and an MSc in human nutrition in 2004, both from Otago University, and is an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist.

Working as a senior public health nutritionist for Food Standards Australia New Zealand, gave him a strong focus on evidence-based approaches to achieving good health. While the last ten years of working with patients enrolled in research has taught him that everyone's journey to health is different, and guiding people to better health is as much an art as a science. 
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He is currently a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology and adviser to Yoga Wellness Clinic. ​

Hedgepig McDiggery 
​(Zen Master and Mascot)

Hedgepig McDiggery (aka Hodge Podge) is a rescue animal and the first member of our McDiggery Clan of rescued hogs. During her time with us, she taught many valuable lessons in; interesting pranayama techniques (breath control), handling with great care, and the importance of the unfettered mind. She startles easily and recovers quickly by shaking off the surplus energy, letting go of 'the story' and returning to the present moment peacefully, as if nothing ever happened. We would do well to treat our stresses the same way. ​Hedgepig is back roaming around in the wilderness of Grey Lynn.
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McDiggery Blog

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