SUN ZONE

Sync with the Moon is a cyclical, holistic yoga practice inspired by the rhythms of the lunar cycle. Each month, we move through 12–15 synergistic sequences that open, strengthen, and balance the whole body. As the moon waxes, we build energy and expansion; as it wanes, we ground and release. This practice cultivates awareness, vitality, and harmony with nature. At the festival, Alessandra will guide a lunar-inspired flow of mindful movement, breathwork, chanting, and inner connection.

This Slow Flow will be a gentle, breath-led yoga flow designed to ground the body and calm the mind. Moving slowly and intentionally, you will be guided through mindful movement, breathwork, and moments of stillness to cultivate presence and inner awareness with meditation. Suitable for all levels, this class is ideal for anyone looking to slow down, reset, and reconnect

Erin will share some of the science behind sleep and dreams. In groups we'll explore some of the different types of dreams and look at pealing back the layers of perception. As individuals we'll write down what we can remember of our own dreams. In the second part we'll use some techniques to get clear on a dream/ intention/ sankalpa we want to manifest. In the final part I'll guide participants through a Yoga Nidra practise which is a type of yoga that works on the mind on the edge of consciousness and subconscious. There will be time to journal, share and ask equations at the end.

A talk on the lymphatic system — what it is, why it matters, and how to care for it daily (we’ll also touch on the link between saunas and the lymphatic system).

A lymphatic yoga practice — energising, detoxifying, circulation-boosting.

Self-drainage massage techniques you can do at home (we cover a sequence for the face & neck as well as the abdomen).

This workshop pairs beautifully with sauna and heat therapy—enhancing circulation, deepening relaxation, and amplifying the body’s natural detox pathways.

Immerse yourself in the natural world to uncover the rich abundance of wild, edible plants that thrive around us. In this informative & inspiring workshop, you'll explore the nourishing, delicious, and medicinal potential of wild plants, leaving you inspired to forage in your local surroundings.

A woman’s entire being is cyclical, from each week throughout her menstrual cycle to the hormonal changes throughout her life. This state of being is reflected in nature's seasons, and in archetypes. Archetypes are universal images found in the collective unconscious. In this workshop, they will be used, along with their shadow selves, to identify the gifts, pitfalls, needs, fears and desires of each life stage. This interactive workshop will take participants through each season and invite their reflections. This creative session aims to provide biological and psychological education alongside spiritual and mystical representation.

Beginning: Overview of menstrual cycle
Mid:
1. Spring – Growth – Menarche - Maiden
2. Summer – Creation - Fertility - Mother
3. Autumn – Shedding – Menopause - Queen
4. Winter – Renewal - End of life – Crone/Wise-woman
End: Embodied Imagination® practice.

A guided meditative journey inviting participants to call in their archetypes/admired women and bring forth the messages they hold.

NB. This workshop is open to all genders

Jessica’s music carries the salt and soul of the sea. An international harpist whose career has flowed across the world: from the United States to Iceland, France, the Caribbean Islands, Australia, and now Aotearoa, she brings a truly global voice to the harp.

Arriving in Aotearoa by sailboat with her family, Jessica now studies music therapy, weaving her life on the ocean with her life in sound. Her concerts blend classical roots with folk traditions, improvisation, and meditative soundscapes, creating a tide of music that feels both grounding and transcendent.

Soul Tides is an invitation to drift inward and outward at once: to let the shimmering harp and voice guide you into stillness, release, and heart connection. Her music, born of travel, water, and listening, invites you to be carried—like the tide—into deeper resonance with yourself.

At Sauna Fest, Jessica returns for a second year, her music finding its natural home—resonating with the warmth, reflection, and elemental presence of the sauna, where sound and silence meet like water and fire.

Would you like to explore connections between the skies and the soil? Build biodiversity, fertility and abundance? Eat nutrient dense food? Do you desire to create ease on our planet and within ourselves at the same time? Are you looking for a holistic approach? Then come along and learn in this wonderful workshop!

During our time together we will explore the wisdom of nature, and the human being, through the frameworks of anthroposophy and biodynamics. Steiner’s biodynamics is a form of agriculture similar to organic farming, but is a deeper holistic, spiritual, ecological and ethical approach to gardening, food and nutrition, that brings ease to ourselves and the land.

This workshop is perfect for anyone growing their own food, or those that have an interest in nutrition, building soil health and climate resilience, or simply a curiosity for the interconnected nature of our universe.

Step into the sacred embrace of Te Wao Nui a Tāne and reconnect with Papatūānuku in this transformative Rongoā workshop. This immersive experience invites you to awaken all your senses as we explore the profound connection between Te Taiao (our natural world) and ourselves through the traditional practice of Ngā Hau e Whā.

Breathe in the aroma of native plant oils and open your senses to the plant medicine of the ngahere (forest). Feel the soothing touch of healing native balms on your skin through a gentle hand mirimiri, and be anointed with the sacred essence of native aromatics. Taste the essence of Rongoā in a delicious, nourishing drink, deepening your connection to the ngahere and its life-giving energy.

Guided by skilled practitioners, you’ll journey into the heart of Rongoā Māori, connecting with the rongo—the Atua of peace—and embracing the healing power of nature.

This workshop is more like a Yin journey. Designed to take participants into deep states of relaxation ' The essence of Yin' is a guided yin Journey with focus on the tradition of spending time in stillness, in groups, with reverence for slowing down finding space and opening the mind, consciousness, into unconsciousness states consciously.

This is a unique event that Ruth has dreamed up especially for Sauna Fest!

Sink into this evening sound bath which will soothe and prepare you for a fabulous nights sleep.

You will arrive and be soothed with a warm lavender cloth and guided through brief vagus nerve exercises to encourage self healing. From there you’ll be invited to go inwards and let the frequencies work their magic.

Ruth will work with Crystal bowls, tuning forks, harp, medicine drum, flute and gong. There may be light touch of reiki for those who are open to this.

AcroYoga is a playful practice that blends yoga, partner acrobatics, and mindful connection. In this beginner-friendly workshop, we’ll explore the foundations of safe basing, flying, and spotting through supportive partner exercises, trust-building games, and accessible flows. Expect lots of laughter, gentle strength-building, and a welcoming space to connect with others. No experience or partner needed — just curiosity and a willingness to move and play.

For over 5,000 years, the Indian subcontinent has nurtured a vast, complex relationship with the fundamental question: "Who am I?"

In this interactive session, we will journey through the history of inner science, exploring the profound insights that have arisen from the systems of Yoga, Vedanta, and Asiatic mysticism. We will trace how these methods of exploring the body, mind, and infinite awareness have evolved alongside human society.

Crucially, we will also turn a critical eye to the present day, discussing how the modernization and commodification of the spiritual quest have impacted the authenticity and potency of these ancient methods. This is not just a lecture; we will incorporate the group’s wisdom to explore the landscape of this eternal relationship between the individual and the infinite.