Introducing Donna Wikio
Founder of Hot Yoga Dunedin
I’ve been teaching since 2006 and founded Hot Yoga Dunedin in August 2009, where we just celebrated our 14th birthday!
My first introduction to yoga was with my mother when I was 12. I remember feeling a sense of calm and stillness afterwards and continued to seek these feelings throughout high school and university.
In my 20s I worked as a model, in hospitality and travelled a lot. It was a tumultuous time and I would always find a local yoga studio wherever I was to try and remain calm amongst the storm! I enjoyed Iyengar for it’s precision and discovered Jivamukti in New York which was vigorous and sweaty – two things I had never before associated with yoga!
After the birth of my first son Kaia I was living in Wellington and bored with the gym stretch class. I found a flyer that said ‘Hot body cool mind’ and out of curiosity attended my first Original Hot Yoga class. It was a real struggle at the time, however walking home afterwards I felt light and free, both physically and mentally, and was hooked!
I moved to Queenstown soon after and began teaching at Studio Sangha Queenstown, a mixed yoga style studio. In 2008 after the birth of my second son Zion, I plucked up the courage to attend Bikram (Original hot yoga) Teacher training in Mexico and have never looked back!
What is something that you enjoy the most about the work that you do/the industry that you work in?
I love what yoga has done for my mind and body and feel honoured to teach what I love. Since opening the studio, I’ve been able to train in the Advanced Series, Yin Yoga, Trauma Informed Yoga and am also a certified Inferno Hot Pilates teacher. We also co-lead local and international retreats and will be heading back to Bali in June next year!
At the studio we get to meet people from vastly different backgrounds with a variety of physical and mental conditions that all practice together and benefit in some way. The former gymnast with a knee injury and the 70 plus retired professor with a back issue can both practice side by side with a Mum of 5 and all experience the amazing healing benefits of yoga (and pilates).
What is something that people might find surprising about the work that you do/the industry that you work in?
Three of our main styles of classes - Original Hot (Bikram), Hot Flow (Baptiste) and Inferno Hot Pilates are all taught worldwide in thousands of studios.
You can practice while travelling or if you relocate and find the same style/sequences and community. I have practiced and taught in Bali, Thailand, Mexico, Australia and the USA.
I love that we are in a student town and as such so many of our yoga students leave Dunedin once they finish Uni then sign up to their local studio when starting out in the workforce. It's the gift you can take with you!
What's something that's coming up next for your business?
We have over 40 classes that run weekly at the studio across 4 styles including Original Hot Yoga, Hot Flow, Yin & Inferno Hot Pilates. We regularly run one off workshops with various teachers, as well as add new Classes online, so there is always something to keep an eye on our socials for!
I recently had the opportunity to co-author a yoga book called Within which is now available on Amazon and in paperback sold in the studio.
We are also excited to be offering our Luxury Bali Hot Yoga Retreat again in 2024 from Saturday 1st -8th of June, which you can learn more at www.hotyogaescapes.com.
Hot Yoga Dunedin’s mission is to provide a welcoming and supportive space to guide you through a transformative and healing yoga practice.
The studio offers heated and non-heated yoga classes as well as Inferno Hot Pilates (a low impact, high intensity cardio workout) for all levels of students and beginners are always welcome at any of their classes.
📍 33 St Andrew Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016
