The Centered Room — Local services in South Island

I have had the good fortune to know Kelly for almost 20 years, since she opened her general yoga studio and began teaching in Loburn. At the time, I was not quite 50 years old and I had plenty of energy and stamina, so classic yoga was great. Lots of strength-building, balance and stretching. I loved it! Along the way I have had a few health issues - including cancer and lasting complications from its necessary treatments, as well as a total knee replacement with its complications - neuropathy in one foot and ongoing problems with the other knee.

Enter Somatics, a whole new type of yoga which had been able to begin the reversal process of what I feared would just be my future - nagging lower back, pain in my "good" knee, strange muscle problems in other parts of my body.

Somatics is very hard to explain, and even more difficult to express how simple it is and yet produces profound effects. Kelly and I have worked together one-on-one to assess my body's balance issues, areas of pain and areas of comfort. Through very small movements I can make with ease, my brain is being retrained to then reprogram my challenging areas and issues.

I enjoy attending the Somatics classes because it's wonderful to share such a beautiful experience with others in the room. But I have REALLY found great value in working individually with Kelly to assess and address my challenges. She is very knowledgeable about the human body, and her personal demeanor is the loveliest you can ever find. I very highly recommend anything offered at The Centered Room, but above all, the Somatics programs are not to be...

Following traumatic life experiences and a worsening of chronic health conditions, I started attending Kelly’s Somatic Yoga classes. I have found her to have a wealth of knowledge about the body and the nervous system and our patterns of movement. She is also very discrete, caring and kind. The sessions involve making small movements with the body while noticing with the mind how the body is feeling. These practices, help me to achieve a deeper sleep and relaxation that I don’t normally get. Leaving a class can feel as if your floating out and your mind has become more aware of your body while your thoughts of the day have completely left. I highly recommend these classes to anyone struggling with any type of health condition, stress or injury to give these classes a go. It is a great way to destress and unwind that has many benefits for the body. It’s awesome that this is offered here in North Canterbury!...

Kelly has been an incredible teacher, providing invaluable support throughout the past six months as I recovered from my injuries. When I expressed that I had lost trust in my body and was afraid to move due to the expectation of pain—even though my knees had fully healed—she helped me realize that my fears were in my mind. Thanks to her guidance, I now move more freely and have regained confidence in my body. I am truly grateful for her patience, expertise, and encouragement....