My Why
My connection with Elephant Nature Park began many years ago, after an experience in Thailand that changed the way I saw elephant tourism.
I witnessed elephants being used for tourism and saw first-hand the distress and suffering that can sit behind what appears, on the surface, to be an enjoyable experience for visitors. It left a lasting impression on me and made me question how we can travel and interact with animals in a way that is more respectful, compassionate and conscious.
I began looking for an alternative and discovered Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary dedicated to rescuing and caring for elephants and other animals who have experienced exploitation and abuse.
My first visit to the Park was deeply moving. What I found there was very different from conventional tourism — a place where the focus was on care, protection and allowing animals to live with dignity.
Over the years, my connection with Elephant Nature Park has grown into something much deeper. I have returned many times, volunteered, taught yoga and shared the experience with groups of women who wanted to understand a different way of travelling and connecting with animals.
It has also changed the way I understand my own yoga practice.
For me, yoga is no longer just about what happens on the mat. It is also about how we live, how we connect with others, how we respond to suffering, and how we can use what we have to contribute in a meaningful way.
Bhakti & Beings grew from this journey — bringing together yoga, service, conscious travel and a deeper connection with all beings.
The Story Behind Bhakti & Beings
Over the years, my relationship with yoga has shifted and evolved from more than movement and breath to something deeper — into service, compassion, and how we actually live.
My connection with Elephant Nature Park began through volunteering, visiting and supporting the work of the sanctuary. Over the years, I have returned six times, bringing groups of women with me on many of those visits and sharing yoga along the way.
Being in that environment, witnessing the elephants and experiencing the work of the sanctuary has become an important part of my own journey.
Bhakti & Beings grew from this connection.
Bhakti is the path of the heart — living from love, compassion and conscious presence. And Beings reminds us that this devotion extends beyond ourselves — to humanity, to the earth and to the animals.
What began as yoga classes and fundraising has evolved into something more intentional: retreats that bring together yoga, breathwork, conscious travel, service and connection.
Bhakti & Beings is an expression of that journey.
From Yoga Classes to Bhakti & Beings
What began as donation-based Ganesh Refresh Yoga classes became a way for our yoga community to stay connected while also supporting Elephant Nature Park.
Over several years, these classes raised more than NZ$30,000, with funds donated to support the park and elephant conservation work.
That experience helped shape what Bhakti & Beings has become today — an opportunity to bring yoga, service, connection and conscious travel together in a deeper way.
Continuing the Connection
I continue to support Elephant Nature Park through my yoga teaching here in Whangamata at Nourish Yoga 429 Port Rd.
Wednesday Yoga — 9:15am
This weekly class is an opportunity to practise together while continuing to contribute to the work of Elephant Nature Park, with my profits from the class donated to support the sanctuary.
If you’d like to join a class, I’d love to welcome you.
Retreats & Ethical Travel
My relationship with Elephant Nature Park has naturally evolved into sharing this experience with others.
Bhakti & Beings brings together yoga, conscious travel, service and connection, creating an opportunity to experience Thailand in a way that goes beyond conventional tourism.
The Inspiration of Ganesha
Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity, is traditionally known as the remover of obstacles and the lord of learning, and has long held a special place in my yoga teachings.
The symbolism of Ganesha has always spoken to me — the idea of recognising the obstacles and barriers in our own lives, while also considering those that exist for the beings and world around us.
Through my yoga practice and my connection with Elephant Nature Park, this has grown into a deeper awareness of the plight of captive and endangered animals, and a desire to use my practice as a way of contributing, learning and being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
My hope is that through yoga, connection and conscious action, we can learn to look beyond ourselves — and find ways to live with greater compassion for all beings.