Our Instructors
Kristin Borchardt
Yoga + lululemon Ambassador, New Zealand
Kristin is a certified & experienced yoga teacher who caught the ‘yoga bug’ as a teenager. Holding a passion for holistic wellbeing Kristin went onto study Occupational Therapy, along this, continuing to deepen her yoga studies by completing advanced studies with Donna Farhi. This installed a love for restorative yoga. Several years later, further studies led her to travel Australia and Bali, gathering certifications and overseas teaching experience in Vinyasa Yoga.
Kristin feels only from a continued committed home practice can she be in a position to help empower others to meet themselves like she has on her mat.
Kristin has taught yoga in Mt Maunganui since 2008 and offers popular Mini retreat events in Restorative Yoga regularly throughout the year. Kristin is a mother of 2 beautiful children and is also certified in pregnancy yoga and yoga for children.
Chris Borchardt
Yoga Instructor + Massage Therapist
With over 25 years of practice in yoga and massage, Chris has developed a deep understanding of the human body and the benefits of these practices for physical, mental, and emotional health.
Chris began practicing yoga in his early twenties and quickly fell in love with the practice. Chris's classes draw from experience in Iyengar, Ashtanga and Vinyasa and focus on strength, alignment, breath work, and mindfulness.
In addition to his yoga practice, Chris is also a massage therapist. He has studied massage therapy in depth and has honed his skills over the years to provide customised and effective treatments for their clients. Chris's massages are known for their healing touch and ability to promote pain relief, rehabilitation and stress relief.
Chris's holistic approach to wellness is a reflection of his own personal journey. He has experienced firsthand the transformative power of yoga and massage, and is passionate about sharing these practices with others. Whether through teaching yoga classes or providing massage therapy, Chris is dedicated to helping others achieve optimal health and wellbeing.
Side Note
Chris is Nook Studio’s recommended Massage Therapist. Chris massages from a private home studio in Mt Maunganui, to find out more or to book a massage with Chris please text him on 021 125 0258.
Riana Leaf
Pilates + Wellness
Nooks vibrant health enthusiast, Riana is well known in Mt Maunganui for her Blue Mat Pilates business, which was originally established in 2007. Since her Pilates training, Riana has been on a mission to share the limitless benefits Pilates can offer. Initially drawn to Pilates to help others, her mum had a bad back and having seen the difficulties first hand, Riana wanted to be able to help people like her find ways to look after and tune into their own bodies to manage pain without necessarily having to go to someone else for a short term ‘fix up job’. Riana wanted to teach people some awesome tools they could use to ‘fix’ themselves, where possible.
Riana has completed extensive qualifications at Polestar Pilates, including specialising in Osteoporosis & Children’s Pilates and Pilates for Pregnancy. Through her own journey to find balance and wellness and improving her own gut health, these experiences have lead Riana into further studies as an Integrative Nutrition Coach, where she hopes to offer one on one consultations later in 2022. Riana looks forward to sharing both her passions in Pilates and Holistic Nutrition to our Nook community with regular classes and seasonal events.
Petra Wordsworth
Pilates
Introduction to come.