My relationship with yoga began in childhood. Growing up in an Indian family, yoga was connected to my cultural roots, and over time it became a practice I turned to for grounding, reflection and connection with myself.
Through movement, breath and meditation, yoga has helped me find steadiness during challenging times and become more aware of my body, emotions and needs. It continues to offer me space to pause, soften and reconnect.
E M B O D I E D H E A L I N G
These personal experiences inspired me to complete a 1,200-hour Diploma in Yoga. I wanted to deepen my understanding and share these practices in ways that could support others, particularly people navigating distress, trauma and disconnection. I later completed certification in Trauma Center Trauma-Sensitive Yoga, bringing together my longstanding relationship with yoga and my work as a counsellor.
Over the past 16 years, I have worked with vulnerable communities through counselling, crisis support and group programmes.
My experience offering yoga within these communities includes working with:
- Young women completing sentences within a correctional facility in a lower socio-economic area. - People in a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility receiving treatment related to substance use and associated offending. - Trauma counsellors working in the community experiencing high levels of stress and burnout. - Individuals living with PTSD following family and sexual violence. - Tertiary students through wellness initiatives, with particular focus on supporting Pacific Island students.
These experiences continue to shape my approach, placing choice, compassion and respect for each person’s lived experience at the heart of my teaching. I offer invitations to explore movement and bodily awareness at a pace that feels right for each person.
My vision for community...
My vision for Soma Integrative Therapy is to create welcoming spaces where people can reconnect with themselves and experience a sense of belonging.
Through individual work, group programmes and retreats, I hope to bring together counselling, embodied movement and community connection. I have a particular passion for supporting women to reconnect with themselves, understand and embrace all parts of who they are, and heal the wounds that can leave them feeling stuck.
My vision is to offer a safe, supportive space where women can grow into a version of themselves rooted in deep feminine strength, moving through life with grace and gumption.
'The mat is where we practice, the life is where we integrate.'
What is Trauma Sensitive Yoga?
Trauma Centre Trauma-Sensitive Yoga (TCTSY) is a clinically informed, evidence based practice that uses simple movements, breath, and reinforces choice-making to support reconnection to the body. The primary focus for TCTSY is on creating awareness, complete agency, physical and emotional safety and nervous system regulation on a somatic level in a non-coercive environment - for people living with the impacts of trauma. There is no emphasis placed on 'perfecting' or 'achieving' a particular yoga pose. The guided session uses language that is invitational and places emphasis on creating simple, gentle paced movements with focus on sensations, with plenty of modified options to cater to the diverse needs in the group. ***For all our offered in-person sessions all yoga equipment is provided: yoga mat, bolster cushion, foam blocks, and yoga blankets.
Benefits experienced... Many people find that with regular practice of TSY they notice a reduction in feelings of anxiety, hyperarousal, and the experience of shutting down caused by overwhelm. They notice a better ability to access and name feelings, including the ability to identify the part of their body the particular feeling show up in. Some people notice inner strength in having the ability to choose the level at which they participate in the sessions.
ACC T R A U M A S E N S I T I V E Y O G A OFFERINGS: Term 4, 2026
Registrations are currently underway for groups commencing Term 4 in October. If you have an ACC Sensitive Claim and are currently engaged in therapy with an ACC Registered Therapist, you may be eligible. Talk with your therapist and make contact here for more info.
IN-STUDIO (Auckland)
Tuesday 6th October, 10:30am-11:30am - full, group closed Kanuka Space in Hobsonville, West Harbour Marina Women only (including Trans-communities) 8 Week Programme Yoga Specialist / Lead Facilitator: Raquel Minh Lead Service Provider / Co-Facilitator: Asrita Singh
Tuesday 27th October, 1:30pm-2:30pm - limited spaces available Yoga West, Titirangi, West Auckland Mixed gender 8 Week Programme Yoga Specialist / Lead Facilitator: Dani Affleck Lead Service Provider / Co-Facilitator: Asrita Singh
Wednesday 28th October, 7:30pm-8:30pm - spaces available Kete Aronui, Onehunga, East Auckland Women only (including Trans-communities) 8 Week Programme Yoga Specialist / Lead Facilitator: Dani Affleck Lead Service Provider / Co-Facilitator: Asrita Singh
VIRTUAL ONLINE (Nation-wide)
Thursday 8th October, 6:30pm-7.30pm - open to enrollments Virtually Online via Zoom platform in Collaboration with Kanuka Space Women only (including Trans-communities) 8 week Programme Yoga Specialist / Lead Facilitator: Raquel Minh Lead Service Provider / Co-Facilitator: Asrita Singh
**Self-funded options are also available if you do not have a Sensitive Claim but would like to join us. Please make contact for more information.
ACC T R A U M A S E N S I T I V E Y O G A OFFERINGS: Term 1, 2027
Groups commence in February for Term One and registrations are open to explore this option for you. Please enquire now.
