100 pupils lose yoga teacher

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 53, 4 July 1974, Page 6

100 pupils lose yoga teacher

Taupo's popular yoga teacher, Mrs Noeline Wesney, is moving to Wellington — leaving about 100 pupils without a qualified instructor. When Mrs Wesney began teaching yoga in Taupo three years ago. she had one class of eleven pupils, nine of whorn stayed with her until the final class last week. This year, Mrs Wesney has been taking nine classes a week. A member of the International Yoga Teachers' Association, she believes the main advantage of yoga is that it co-ordinates the body and the mind. • She emphasises thatjhjs not a magic cure-all ancK~ has always advised newcomers who have anything physically wrong with them to get a doctor's clearance before taking up yoga. Most of those- attending classes have been housewives and working girls who particularly seem to appreciate the relaxation yoga can bring. > Breath control, according to Mrs Wesney, is the most important thing, because everything else graduates from that. Although yoga has always been popular, she has seen a tremendous wave of intcrest since she started learning under Mrs Ruth Ericksen in Wellington more than 14 years ago. At that time, Mrs Ericksen was the first qualified teacher in New Zealand, but there are now at least 20 in Wellington alone. New Zealand membership of the InternatiOnal Yoga Teachers' Federation has built up to more than 200 in a mere six years. Mrs Wesney is sorry to be leaving Taupo and hdpes her pupils will continue their interest in yoga. Those she has taught should be well enough equipped to carry on alone. but she thinks many people prefer the stimulation of a class. "It is a question of self

discipline; there is always the thought that it can wait » titi tomorrow," she said. Mrs Wesney and her husband, Roy, were farewellcd last night by members of the Taupo Drama.tic Society. Mr Wesney, who is well known for his work on the loeal stage, resigned as- the society' s president at the last meeting. His wife has been a dramatic society committee member and, seeretary of the local branch of the New Zealand Theatre Federation. She has also been a keen member of the Community Arts Society. Before they moved to Taupo to live four years ago, the Wesneys had been coming here for holidavs for 20 years.