Discover the power of mind-body medicine with Danika, an internationally certified yoga therapist and buteyko breathing instructor who has spent almost 20 years helping people with chronic illnesses achieve complete health of body, mind, and spirit.
As the founder of Breathing to Heal and Yoga Wellness Clinic, Danika has observed that even experienced yoga practitioners can have dysfunctional breathing patterns that affect their overall health. By correcting these patterns and employing a range of breathing techniques including the Wim Hoff and Buteyko Breathing methods, Danika has resolved her own lifelong struggle with chronic asthma and accelerated the progress of her yoga therapy clients. Danika was trained by renowned experts such as Drs Pooja and Sridhar Maddela in yoga therapy and Patrick McKeown, a leading buteyko practitioner and author in Ireland. She's also an avid reader of research in respiratory health, yoga therapy, nutrition, clinical exercise, behavioural psychology, and manual therapy, and incorporates the latest evidence-based techniques into her programs. Danika's compassionate and intuitive approach sets her apart. She approaches every session from the heart, keeping longer-term goals in mind while meeting her clients where they are at on the day. Her life is defined by a sense of reverence for all living beings and a desire to contribute more kindness and compassion to the world. With Danika's unique combination of strong intuition and rigorous analysis, you can trust that you're in good hands. Experience a healthier, happier, and more fulfilling life with Danika's holistic approach to yoga therapy and buteyko breathing. |
Christian is a nutritionist, clinical exercise physiologist, and senior lecturer with an enduring fascination for how diet, physical activity, sleep, staying in tune with nature’s rhythms, and breathing can be used to restore health and optimise mental and physical performance.
His previous research reflects this broad interest and includes work looking at the effects of diet and/or exercise on vitamin status, cholesterol, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and type 2 diabetes. His current research is examining the effects of different traditional breathing techniques and technology augmented breathing on the central and autonomic nervous systems, so the brain, and the part of the nervous system that shifts us between a fight, flight, or freeze state, and rest and digest state. As a lecturer he teaches courses on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, physical activity, health and wellness to health science and allied health students. He also enjoys sharing his passion with the broader public in-person and online via videos and workshops on similar topics, but with more focus on application. Although mostly blessed with reasonable health, a lifetime of hay fever and animal allergies leading to a lot of mouth breathing in his sleep and during exercise, meant that he has had to be proactive about retraining his breathing. The development of some food intolerances in later life also gave him an appreciation for the importance of personalising diet and indeed all therapies to the individual. When not working, Christian enjoys spending time with his family. His daughter in particular is a great source of joy and learning, especially of the self-knowledge kind. Qualifications: MSc in Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand American College of Sports Medicine – Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist PhD titled Exercise, Glucose Control, and Liver Fat: Providing the Evidence for Translation into Clinical Care, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, United Kingdom |
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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“I offer you peace. I offer you love. I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty. I hear your need. I feel your feelings. My wisdom flows from the Highest Source. I salute that Source in you. Let us work together for unity and love.” – Mahatma Gandhi – |