Rhys Latton – Co-owner
Rhys has practiced Yoga for over 20 years. His primary teachers include Nicky Knoff, James Bryan and Simon Borg-Olivier. Rhys is also trained in contemporary dance, physical theatre and Tae Kwon Do. His yoga practice has enabled him to slide head first down an aerial silk 15 metres above the stage at WOW World of Wearable Arts, dance on 1.5 metre high stilts at the Hong Kong Chinese New Year street parade under blinding lights, while keeping a good sense of humour. Rhys helps our students develop strength, grace and focus of mind to explore their working edge with stabilty and confidence.
Jessica Latton (Kāi Tahu) – Co-owner
Ko wai ahau? Ko Uruao tōku waka, ko Āoraki tōku mauka, ko Waitaha, Kāi Tahu ōku iwi, nō Ōtepoti ahau, nō reira tēnā koutou katoa.
I am a practicing theatre director and mother of two teenagers. I live on the Otago Peninsula and I have practiced yoga for over 25 years.
My primary Yoga teachers are Ruth Diggins from the classical Krishnamacharya lineage, and Nicky Knoff who fuses the heat of Astanga Vinyasa with an Iyengar-based alignment.
I run Ake Ake Theatre Company with my husband Rhys, creating beautiful unique theatre to nourish the world soul. This is also our kaupapa in holding the mauri for Dunedin Yoga. I trained in theatre directing at Toi Whakaari, École Jaques Lecoq, Paris and Dah Teatar in Serbia and am very happy to be on the Dunedin Summer Shakespeare leadership team. I am grateful to all my teachers and students – who we learn from every day. Yoga practice and sangha (community) keeps my feet on the ground, my spirit in my body and my mind and heart working as one. Yoga is for the stilling of the mind, so we can settle down and see how glorious we already are. Mauri ora whānau.
