I am Silke Whittaker – thank you visiting my site. Please let me introduce myself.
I was born in Germany and ventured out to travel, learn English and to find myself on the way. Then I met my husband in New Zealand and we lived here together for 19 years. We have 2 beautiful children together who are now Teenagers. In 2019 we decided it was time for change and we sold everything we owned and purchased a Sailboat in Greece to live and travel on. We had a sabbatical for 2 years overseas living on our 46 foot Sailboat before returning to New Zealand.
Since I left Germany 22 years ago I have been practicing Yoga and Pilates on and off. In the past 17 years I have had a regular practice, which has kept me sane in the early days of motherhood and helped me to balance my life and find my happy place.
My professional background is in administration, accounting and project management, but since becoming a mother I have been on a constant search for more meaning in my life and decided it was time for some change.
Yoga has been one of my passions for a long a time and in 2016 I decided to be brave and do a yoga teacher training, so that I would be able to do something I love every day and hopefully be able to help others in turn to increase their well being.
I have practiced Ashtanga Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Kundalini Yoga and Pilates over the years and found that Hatha Yoga and Yin Yoga are the yoga styles that suit me and my body love best, so this is what I am teaching.
How has yoga helped me personally?
It has helped me to gain back a clear, calm mind and turn the marry-go-around in my head off at least sometimes. It helps me to keep my body strong and healthy. It has helped me to ride the waves that life presents us with with a bit more grace and clarity. Through becoming calmer and clearer within myself I also became stronger and was able to stand up for myself, my believes and my core values better and create changes in my life that support my and my families well being. Yoga has helped and still helps me to be a better mother, wife and person in general. My regular practice and learning to guide yoga has also helped to be more confident in my own practice and know exactly what I need, what feels good, when I need to rest and when I can do stronger practices. Now I can just drop on the mat and move in a way that feels good – a real gift.
In the past 8 years I have trained in Sound Healing and added 13 beautiful, original and hand crafted Tibetan Singing Bowls to my offerings. I usually play the sound bowls during my yoga sessions, but also offer one on one sound healing sessions. In 2019 I became a Reiki Master and try to implement this beautiful energy during my group and one and one sessions.
I work with essential oils and aromatherapy as well and have gained a lot of experience in the past 8 years, training with several teachers overseas to expand my knowledge. I can offer one on one & group sessions that are customised to your interests and also make up personalised blends.
Looking at the crazy world around around us and then looking at our beautiful, innocent children I know I have got an important job to do – we all have. And to do this important job in whatever way, shape or form – we have to be well. I am hoping to be able to support you on your journey to more well-being, to provide you with a bit of rest from the craziness and fast pace of our world today and hopefully inspire you to start your own home practice and explore the full aspects of a yoga & wellbeing practice.
I am looking forward to seeing you on mat and practicing together.
Best wishes from
Silke
DO YOUR PRACTICE AND ALL IS COMING.
-K. Pattabhi Jois-