Peter Nilsson
Peter Nilsson, the founder and Director of the Auckland Yoga Academy, has been immersed in the practice and study of yoga from the age of 30. Now at the young age of 77 he endeavors to live life by the principles of yoga. The Auckland Yoga Academy is a reflection of the culmination of this yogic journey of love and dedication.
Jude Hynes
Jude is the Yoga Academy’s Training Director; mentoring future Yoga Teachers in the ways of the ancients. She brings over ten years of teacher training experience to the workshops and courses she facilitates. In particular, her skills in course development, communication and facilitation, as well as knowledge of educational and developmental psychology.
Mei Cheng
Mei first discovered yoga when she was looking for an exercise regime to help her recover from a long day in the office and to prepare her for the next day. Finding yoga changed her life, and she has since established a deep love of yoga and a daily practice. She has been teaching at the Academy since graduating from YA500 course in 2013.
Hui Zhang
Hui first practised yoga ten years ago while at University in her homeland of China. Over the years she continued practising to help with her marathon running and CrossFit training. However, on discovering the Auckland Yoga Academy and meeting Jude and Peter, Hui realised that Ashtanga Yoga was to be her sole practice and a practice she would like to share with others. She completed our YA800 Ashtanga teacher training over 2016 and our Ashtanga apprenticeship in 2017.
Ben Seymour
Ben was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa and the lineage of the Auckland Yoga Academy in 2014. This soon led to practicing, and then teacher training, and now teaching at the Academy. His personal practices include morning Mysore Style Ashtanga Vinyasa, daily seated meditation practice and once weekly led Hatha practice.
Iris Sun
Iris started her Ashtanga journey in 2018 in her homeland of China, since then she has established a deep love of it and disciplined daily practice. After discovering the Auckland Yoga Academy, she decided to come to Auckland and study with Jude and Peter, to obtain deeper and systematic learning. She completed our YA800 Ashtanga teacher training over 2019 and our Ashtanga apprenticeship in 2020.
Barry McDonald
Barry is a skilled and dynamic yoga instructor with a rich background in sports and martial arts. A graduate of our Yoga Academy’s Ashtanga teacher training program in 2011, Barry furthered his education by completing an additional year of study to become a certified Mysore teacher.
Ellie Gray
Ellie completed the Auckland Yoga Academy YA800 Ashtanga teacher training course in January 2025 and also holds a RYT500 Yoga Alliance Certificate. She brings this sense of connection to her teaching. Her style is all-inclusive, whether students are absolute beginners, or more experienced. Everyone is welcome to share the benefits of this beautiful practice.
Varun
Varun teaches both level 1 and level 2 ashtanga beginners classes. His teaching approach is grounded in a lesson he had to learn the hard way: presence and purpose aren’t opposites. You don’t have to choose between being here now and working toward something that matters. You just have to breathe.