Sun Salute Yoga Centre is Hamilton's home of Ashtanga Yoga, offering over 20 classes a week across a range of styles including Ashtanga, Hatha and Yin Yoga, alongside online offerings and private lessons.
The studio was founded by Katie Deare, who began teaching yoga at a church hall in Hamilton East in February 2007 before opening the current shala on Lovegrove Lane in July 2011. Since then, the studio has grown into a diverse teaching team bringing together different lineages and backgrounds, including kaupapa Māori practices such as sound healing, plant medicine and Te Reo Māori wānanga.
Sun Salute places a strong emphasis on community, welcoming members of all ages and abilities, with props and modifications available so that yoga remains accessible regardless of mobility or experience level.
Tucked down Lovegrove Lane in Hamilton East, Sun Salute Yoga Centre describes itself as the home of Ashtanga Yoga in Hamilton — a shala that has grown from humble beginnings into a genuine community hub for yoga and its aligning healing arts.
Sun Salute's story began in February 2007, when founder Katie Deare started teaching classes at a church hall in Hamilton East. Katie's own yoga journey stretches back to 2006, when she completed a YA200 certificate course at the Yoga Academy in Auckland. Since then, she has continued to deepen her practice, bringing in Viniyoga principles from 2012 and, from 2020, undertaking a four-year Yoga Therapy and Vedic Chanting teacher training with the KHYF in Chennai, India.
The current shala opened its doors in July 2011, and the studio has grown from there into a diverse team of teachers, each bringing different lineages and areas of expertise to the space.
While Ashtanga is at the heart of what Sun Salute offers, the studio runs a genuinely broad timetable — over 20 classes a week, seven days a week. Ashtanga itself is offered in both Mysore style, where students work through the sequence individually at their own pace, and Led classes, where the teacher talks the group through the sequence together — though the Led format isn't suited to complete beginners.
Beyond Ashtanga, the studio runs Hatha classes (generally beginner-friendly, incorporating strength poses, stretching, balance and rest), Yin Yoga (long-held, prop-supported poses for deep relaxation), and a dedicated Beginners class built specifically for those new to the practice or returning after a break. Self-practice sessions, often held at dawn, give more experienced students a quiet space to work through their own sequence.
Sun Salute also extends its teaching online, with a growing collection of on-demand classes covering Yoga Basics, Chair Yoga, Meditation Audios and Theory and Philosophy — no prior experience required. There's also a Pranayama & Meditation session run live via Zoom, usually held pre-dawn, letting students join a guided breathwork and meditation practice from the comfort of home. For those wanting individual attention, Private Lessons are available on request, either one-on-one or with a small group of friends.
What sets Sun Salute apart is the depth of what it weaves into its programme. The studio facilitates kaupapa Māori practices including sound healing through Tāonga Puoro, plant medicine (Rongoā), and Te Reo Māori wānanga — alongside a genuine emphasis on community. Members span a wide age range, from seniors through to younger practitioners, and social gatherings (often involving food) are a regular part of studio life.
The studio is also thoughtful about accessibility and care — props and chairs are available for those who need them, poses can be modified for different bodies and abilities, and students are encouraged to let teachers know in confidence about pregnancy or any changes in health so their practice can be adapted accordingly.
Sun Salute Yoga Centre is located at 394 Grey Street, down Lovegrove Lane in Hamilton East. Whether you're drawn to the discipline of Mysore-style Ashtanga, the stillness of Yin, or simply want a gentle introduction to yoga, Sun Salute offers a genuinely welcoming space built on nearly two decades of community and practice.