Founder of HIYOGA - Rebeckh Burns

Rebeckh is the founder of Hot Yoga Works in Auckland. Rebeckh has been teaching Yoga for over 25 years, she has a designated Master Yoga Teacher accreditation by the International Yoga Alliance one of only 28 people globally to have this accolade. Rebeckh has authored a best-selling book on Meditation in her 20s, published by Harper Collins Australia, has studied Naturopathy and Metaphysics. Rebeckh is devoted from her heart to helping people to heal, empower and experience true health and wellbeing through practical techniques of Yoga and beyond with her expert guidance.


Eleanor Xu

I stumbled into yoga in my late 20s at the time when I was a stressed out Engineer working up to 14 hours. During my introductory period, I felt and knew this was "it"... what my mind and body was craving for. Eventually I went for teacher training in the Fall of 2008. Have been teaching since. My daily practice is Key to the understanding of the Bikram Yoga ...and myself.

 

Gary Walker

Gary is a lifelong teacher and motivational coach. After teaching a number of different exercise classes, HITT Pilates has been his passion for the past year. Classes are always fun, friendly, motivational and will help challenge and support your fitness and physical goals.
With a background in Psychology, NLP and sustainability - the power of the mind determines our reality.
Come join in fun and fitness!

 

David Maxwell

Having practised yoga for 7 years and gaining his teacher’s qualification in 2014 at the Raddison in Los Angeles, David teaches hot yoga and leads our free Meditation classes every Wednesday. He loves bearing witness to the self improvement of others.

 

Santi Tania

Isabella Qiu

Valentyne Tuiavi’i

Irene Chapple

Santi was born in Jakarta, Indonesia. She loves to travel. In 2016, she completed her study of clinical medicine in China. During her last year of study, she was introduced by an acquaintance about yoga. She tried almost all kinds of yoga and told herself “This is it! This is what my mind and body need.” After completing her bachelor’s degree, she returned home, stayed for a year before moved to New Zealand.

She decided to study Traditional Chinese Medicine in Auckland. She realised that she needs to create a balance between study and work. Yes!! The answer is yoga. She joined a 6-week challenge on July 2018 here at Hot Yoga Works. Since then she was hooked on the practice. Later she tried Hot HIIT pilates and never thought that workout could be so much fun with all the variations and music.

Now she teaches Hot HIIT pilates. She enjoys sharing her knowledge from medical perspective to get a better understanding in order to achieve the benefits. Perseverance and strong determination are the keys.

Great full body workout with awesome playlists to boost your day. Come, try and have fun!

 

Honour Carmichael

I first started practicing yoga at hiyoga in 2021 but quickly fell in love with HIIT Pilates. After three years of dedication, Pilates has become my go-to for building strength, power, and motivation to be a better person. The hot room brings me the most energy and makes me feel at peace after a stressful day. Outside of fitness, I work in IT, balancing my love for tech with my commitment to health and well-being.

 

Calista Ngati Au

Being originally from Arizona, I love the heat in the hot yoga studio! My passion for yoga first started when I was still in my teenage years, taking classes with my father. I received my Bachelor of Arts in Music, emphasis in Vocal Performance from Brigham Young University-Hawaii in 2019. As a professionally singer, I perform regularly with New Zealand Opera company and New Zealand Voices.  I joined the hiyoga apprenticeship program in October 2024 and have been eat, sleep, breathe hot yoga ever since! I am currently working toward my 200 hour international yoga teacher alliance certification. Hot yoga has dramatically approved my health, helping me lose weight and improving the alignment of my spine and feet. It also has shown incredible benefits for breath capacity and strength, improving my vocal practice as a professional singer! Come along to my classes Wednesday and Friday at 6:30 am. See you in the hot room!

I've been hooked on Bikram hot yoga since 2007 when I first started practicing, and have kept it up ever since. Over the years, I've studied Ashtanga yoga, Cross-fit, and Pilates. I took a Hot HIIT Pilates instructor training in 2019, and have taught Victoria Secret workouts as well. In the meantime, I've been studying physical therapy yoga and personal training coaching sessions in 2020. As a mandarin native speaker, I can coach you in English or Mandarin—whatever you prefer! In addition to all of that, my background includes aerial(flying) yoga and R.E.P.'s certification (Registered Exercise Professional). I do personal training sessions based on Victoria Secret inspired workout methods to helps those who want to get fit and gain muscle whilst losing fat! 

 

Lucia Noriega

My yoga practice started in Mexico (my home country) at the age of 16. Its healing nature gave me a strong connection to my body and deep mental and emotional benefits from a young age.

I completed my teacher training in 2012, and have been sharing this practice ever since. I have also been part of various teacher trainings and yoga/meditation retreats over the years.

My love for travelling brought me to New Zealand in 2020, where I have explored my passion for ceramics, photography and the great outdoors.

 

Alessandra Febres-Muir

Growing up with Yoga as a cornerstone of my life — my mother trained in Yoga while I was quite literally in the womb— I have always been drawn to practices that connect the mind, body, and soul. This foundation has shaped my journey as a professionally trained Dancer, qualified Primary School Teacher, and recently certified Hot HIIT Pilates instructor.

I am passionate about empowering individuals through movement and mindfulness, creating spaces where everyone can build strength, confidence and resilience. My qualifications in Education and Dance, combined with my commitment to health and well-being, allow me to craft inclusive and supportive environments where people from all backgrounds feel empowered and valued on their wellness journeys.

At HiYoga, my goal is to leave students feeling affirmed in who they are, nurtured in their journey, challenged to grow, filled with gratitude for their potential and strong in the mindset. I bring a dynamic energy that blends mindfulness and strong movement, fostering connection, body-awareness and holistic well-being. Through my classes, I aim to build a community that uplifts and supports one another, inspiring individuals to thrive both on and off the mat.

Ngati Awa, Ngati Kahungunu, Samoan

My yoga journey started during pregnancy in 2016. I did my first hot yoga class at Hot Yoga Works studio in 2023 and really loved the practise no matter how challenging it felt during the 90 minutes.!

As a mother, prioritizing my health and fitness isn't just about personal well-being; it's a powerful example I set for my daughter, showing her the value of self-care and nurturing our bodies through practices like yoga, which infuse vitality into our lives. 

 

Maria Kim

I am originally from Korea and I am a qualified personal trainer and group fitness instructor.

My passion for fitness started about 10 years ago and since then I've done many different workouts such as boxing, kickboxing, Reformer/Cadillac Pilates, Crossfit and so on but my most favourite workout remains as aerial yoga. I fell in love with aerial yoga as I can focus on myself, forget about stress and improve my strength and flexibility through fun way! I've also completed aerial yoga teacher training courses and I also teach aerial Pilates. 

I got to know hot yoga and hot Pilates through Hiyoga and I rapidly fell in love with them too, and I am looking forward to the hot Pilates course!

 

Ruby Cushla

Ruby Cushla is an artist, healer, and teacher who has been dancing through life for 27 years. She is passionate about the holistic healing path, and is devoted to the practice of Hatha Yoga because of all its health-giving benefits,  physical, emotional, and spiritual. Ruby draws from her background in dance, theatre, massage, and storytelling in her teaching. Her goal is to guide people deeper into connection, and to help her students unlock new possibilities in their bodies and minds. Kia ora, namaste, blessed be.

Irene Chapple is co-founder and director of Better Aotearoa, an impact agency for social good. Her background is in filmmaking, television, journalism and strategic communications, in New Zealand and the UK. She has practiced in the hot room for more than 15 years, starting with hot yoga in London and New York, before discovering Hot Pilates in New Zealand. She credits her hot room practice - with its incredible mix of mental and physical challenge -  for supporting her through numerous life events including major injury, pregnancy, and parenting! She loves how Hot Pilates mixes fun times with a hard workout and is honoured to teach it to others.

 

Pukauae Hohaia

Pukauae is a passionate hot yoga teacher trainee, deeply inspired by the natural beauty of New Zealand. With a strong connection to the land and a commitment to personal growth, Pukauae embraces a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. Proud of the journey that has brought them to this point, they are dedicated to sharing the transformative power of yoga with others while staying grounded in their love for nature and the vibrant community around them.

 

Manolito Gapuz

Welcome to HiYoga! My name is Manolito, but you can call me Monzie.  I’m a yoga apprentice, wellness advocate, and creative soul inspired by  the harmony of movement, art, music, and design.

My  yoga journey began during a challenging period when I sought a way to  heal and rebuild my strength. Yoga not only became a source of physical  recovery but also a practice of mindfulness, resilience, and holistic  well-being. Growing up in the Philippines, I’ve always been passionate  about creativity and self-expression—through dance, sketching, and  exploring music—and yoga has become a natural extension of these  passions.

At HiYoga, I bring a unique perspective to  every session, blending the grace of movement, the artistry of yoga, and  the mindfulness of healing to create practices that empower and  inspire. Whether you’re new to yoga or looking to  deepen your practice, I’m here to guide you on a journey toward  strength, balance, and self-discovery. Let’s move, heal, and build a life of wellness together.