In 2018, I wrote a brief post about Hikitia te hā for Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori (Māori language week). Hikita te hā is a simple breathing exercise coordinated with gentle movement that uses Te Reo Māori. To date it is still the most popular post on my blog and most people find it by searching for Te Reo Māori and yoga.
That surprised me. I thought there would be far more resources or more in-depth articles on yoga and Te Reo Māori. But when I searched Google (in English), not much came up. So I put a query out to an Aotearoa New Zealand yoga teacher Facebook group.
Through that, I found a few more resources (see the end of this article), but what was far more exciting, was finding teachers offering yoga sessions in-person and online in Te Reo Māori.
I am really excited about the idea of online yoga sessions in Te Reo Māori. As a very basic learner of Te Reo Māori, I think it could be an awesome way to help me connect and learn the language.
Below is a list of people and studios offering yoga sessions in Te Reo Māori that I have found so far. I’m sure there is more. Let me know of other yoga teachers or resources and I will add to the list, or send me corrections or updates to this list. And please feel free to share this information!
Where to find in-person and online yoga sessions in Te Reo Māori
It varies whether sessions are bilingual or only in Te Reo Māori. Many sessions incorporate Te Ao Māori. Contact the studios and instructors for more information:
Linsey Smith of Aroha Nui Yoga offers a range of yoga and meditation sessions online.
Laura Alpe has a collection of free videos online offering a range of yoga in Te Reo Māori. You can also find a series of videos featuring Laura’s yoga sessions in Te Reo Māori from Oho Mauri:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdEFJvOIp_g
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxe0BsS1hzQ
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gejKPXfAI4
Various teachers at Awhi Yoga & Wellbeing in Wellington, including Jase Te Patu, incorporate Te Reo Māori in their classes.
Yoga warriors in Christchurch has previously offered classes and a Yoga in Schools programme that incorporates Te Reo Māori.
Kemetic Yoga Aotearoa incorporates Te Reo Māori and Te Ao Māori featuring NinaKaye Taane-Tinorau and Hiria Te Amo.
Resources
Hikitia te hā is a simple breathing exercise that coordinates gentle movement with your inhale and exhale. Hikitia means to step up, to lengthen, to lift up. And te hā is the breath. There are four videos that offer different movement options including a Taiaha (long wooden weapon), yoga, tai chi and the original version created by Rawiri Hindle. The videos are about 5 minutes each and available for free online.
Yoga Warriors Flash Cards include Ātua Māori, Kararehe poses alongside Te Reo Māori commands and phrases from Letesha Hallett of Yoga Warriors.
The Te Reo Yoga Cards are a set of bilingual instructional yoga cards. The yoga cards have instructions for yoga postures in Te Reo Māori, English and Sanskrit. They were designed by Jase Te Patu and Shirley McLeod.
Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language week)
Meanwhile, Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is just around on the corner, the 14 – 20 September 2020. This year, the week is kicking off with a Māori Language Moment at 12pm on Monday 14 September. The goal is to get 1 million people speaking, singing and celebrating te reo at the same time in an unprecedented Māori Language Moment for Māori Language Week 2020. Get ideas and sign up to participate: https://tuku.reomaori.co.nz/.
