A Kiwi Christmas in New Zealand - December, 2023

After the magic of Bali, I flew to what felt like the literal other side of the world—New Zealand. Visiting here (and Australia) had always been a dream of mine, and as soon as I landed, I felt like I had stepped into a completely different reality. Endless skies, wild sunshine, and space—so much space. First stop: Napier.

Napier gave me major “American suburb” vibes, with its wide roads and the absolute need for a car. Walking isn’t really a thing here, and the sun is sneaky hot—definitely learned the hard way to layer on sunscreen even when it doesn’t feel like you’re baking. I stayed for a week to teach at the local yoga studio, and honestly, I loved it. The studio was beautiful, the community was vibrant, and the classes were full of energy. People were incredibly kind and warm—even if their Kiwi English took me a minute to adjust to!

It was around Christmas, which felt surreal. Coming from snowy European Decembers, celebrating the holidays in shorts and flip-flops under a blazing sun was a bit of a mind twist—but in the best way.

From there, I headed to Auckland for a few days. I practiced at one of the local studios which… well, let’s say it was interesting. The teacher seemed quite new and I was a little surprised you could walk through the changing rooms with your shoes on. Call me old-fashioned, but it felt a bit off.

Still, the city had its charm—very urban, harbour-style vibes, windy and rainy at times, and definitely expensive. But I enjoyed exploring, climbing the Sky Tower, and just soaking in the Kiwi city life.

The absolute highlight? Taking a Body Combat class at Les Mills HQ. I mean—wow. That place is next-level. Huge, buzzing with energy, filled with people who came to move and sweat. The class was so powerful and motivating, it left me feeling high on endorphins. It reminded me just how much I love discovering movement in all its forms.

New Zealand, you were unforgettable—and I can’t wait to come back and explore even more of your magic.