Hi, I’m Ellie Cooper - a yoga teacher, space holder, and forever student based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, I moved to Aotearoa in 2014 after years of traveling and living abroad with my now husband. We met in Whistler in 2010 and after 1.5 years living in the mountains we decided to move to Sydney, Australia where we worked and lived, and I fell in love vinyasa yoga. I really connected to the breath and flow nature of the practice and wanted more. But our time in Sydney came to an abrupt end, and we decided to travel and snowboard in Niseko, Japan for 6 months. It was during our winter in Japan- snowboarding, slowing down, and reconnecting to myself after a spell with struggling with anxiety and depression- that my yoga practice took root in a deeper, more devotional way.

Before teaching, I spent years working in retail, administration, and HR- earning a Diploma in Human Resource Management along the way. And before that I worked and managed stores in the beauty industry- totally opposite to what I do now!. But when I began teaching yoga, something clicked. A spark was lit, and everything snowballed from there.

I completed my 200hr training with Laura Hyman and LYT Yoga in 2020, followed by my 300hr with Yoga Medicine and Tiffany Cruikshank. I’ve continued learning with incredible teachers like Janet Stone, Jason Crandell, Creature Yoga, and Rocky Heron, and I’m currently completing a second 300hr YTT with Awakening Yoga Academy and Patrick Beach & Carling Harps. Today, I’m also proud to serve as the Head of Yoga at IHF Health Club, where I’ve been managing the studio since 2021 and where you can practice with me in person on a regular basis.

Whether you're joining me for a class, retreat, or training, my intention is always to create soul-centered experiences that are nourishing, functional, and rooted in real human connection- blending movement, sound, and stillness to help you return home to yourself.

I’m endlessly grateful for every single person who chooses to share space with me- online or in person. I know there are a million things you could be doing with your time, and the fact that you’ve chosen to land here means the world to me. I promise to meet you with my whole heart in everything I offer.

This community means everything to me. I still pinch myself that I get to do this work- and even more so that I get to do it with you. Thank you for being a part of it.
I’m here to walk this path with you- as a teacher, a guide, and always, a student.
Let’s move, breathe, rest, play, and grow -together.

Ellie xx