Our Yoga Teachers
High quality yoga teachers identify as a student of yoga in all areas of life, not just on the mat. The teaching roster at Te Aro Astanga yoga are trained to have a fundamental understanding of human energy, and also a keen sensitivity to other people’s boundaries. As a group we work to help our students cultivate a strong body, vibrant mind and soft, nurturing heart. Whether you are interested in yoga teachers training, beginners yoga or advanced Astanga practice, our team is here to help.
Mike Berghan (Director)
Mike found Astanga yoga in 1992 and it has become a major focus in his life. With 7 trips to India to study with Sri K Pattabhi Jois, as well as attending workshops in New Zealand and Australia, he is deeply immersed in this practice.
Mike brings a wealth of personal experience to his teaching, having worked through the Astanga primary series, intermediate series, and the majority of the third series of postures (asanas) under the guidance of Pattabhi Jois and Peter Sanson. This has given him an in-depth understanding of many issues that students face when they approach yoga and an enormous faith in the power of this process to alter our lives in a positive way.
Prior to establishing Te Aro Astanga Yoga with his wife Victoria, Mike taught in Gisborne and Sydney.
Becs Belchambers
Becs started yoga in 2000. Practising for ten years with Roger Livingstone before embarking on teacher studies. Becs has completed 500 hours of Level 2 registered yoga teacher (RYT) training in traditional yoga, anatomy, pranayama, meditation, philosophy and teacher methodology with Himalaya Yoga Valley Centre in Goa, India. And has been fortunate to learn from many great yogis in New Zealand, Australia, America, and India.
“My philosophy encompasses moving the body whenever possible, living with abundance and empowerment and focusing on being happy, healthy, and mindful. I like the mantras of “living in the moment”, “going with the flow”, “holding true to moral code” and “striving for balance and harmony”.
I believe in safe and sustainable yoga that is nourishing and healing. Essentially this means to me, applying Cikitsaa (yoga therapy) as a method to positively influence the way our bodies respond to yoga, not just on a physical level, but on all levels – mentally, emotionally and spiritually as well – and to enjoy the resulting peace and bliss outcomes.
I love seeing people start to progress in their practise and hopefully to be a positive part of that! In teaching my approach is to allow students the space to explore and find their own subtleties that suit them on any given day and to be sensitive to this.”
Guadalupe Salinas
Guadalupe is a yogi from Santiago, Chile. She began practicing yoga in 2011 after developing an awareness with her body. This new relationship led her to travel to Goa, India in 2012 and complete a yoga teacher training.
In 2013 she traveled to Mysore, India to practice at the Shri K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI). This is where her practice deepened, she began to recognize physical and emotional changes within her body. She became more aware of her breath, energy and mind; began loving herself more and feeling compassion towards others.
Guadalupe’s positive experience with the practice has inspired her to teach yoga to others. For her, teaching is a gift. She enjoys teaching for the opportunity to lovingly guide people throughout their day. “When I adjust people I’m with them for a short period of 5 breaths, but I try to connect with them and wish them happiness and best for their day”.