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Kimberley is a creative force and community builder whose journey has danced from ad agency deadlines to barefoot yoga flows. She’s the founder of Stretchy Yoga — a social movement practice that’s as much about connection as it is about stretching.
Sun in Aquarius. Moon in Virgo. Sagittarius rising.
The journey to the ‘me of now’ has been an absolute dance. I’ve never really been one to sit still, always running, moving, creating, travelling, with a billion ideas on the go.
After initially thinking I’d go into medicine or architecture, I studied design at university and wound up as a Creative in an Ad agency for many years. The stressful ad job never sat right on me but it did enable me to travel, work overseas and meet many clever, creative, and strategic minds. In the early days of said stressful job and training for a half marathon, I began weekly yoga in my parents-friend’s garage with Vincent Bolletta. I wasn’t quite sure what it was or why, but I was hooked.
Fast forward through 13 years of a classic London O.E, several backpacking stints, a few side-hustle businesses, endless summers remote working in Bali, and a shift to being a freelance Creative Director.
Now having more agency over my own time I’ve been able to lean further into my personal practice, a 200hr yoga teacher training with Inspire and founding / fostering the Stretchy Yoga community. I feel like I’m finally starting to make the dance between my love for design and branding, plus a deeper love for movement, health and wellness, connection and community flow together.
Stretchy is a social yoga community in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. We provide the space for weekly yoga practices to stretch bodies and minds, followed by coffees and drinks to stretch socially.
The first iteration of Stretchy began in 2023 during a 6-month remote working stint in Bali. Living within a transient society I was craving the chance to deeply connect with people, particularly those who I was practicing next to every day.
Returning to Auckland, I wanted to foster new connections outside of work, within the city I grew up in. Equally, I had friends who loved movement but would never ever step inside a yoga studio with me. I was inspired by the perception and cultural shift around running and run clubs, so Stretchy evolved to make yoga equally as accessible, non-intimidating, social and to offer the chance to connect over movement each week.
We launched just before Christmas 2024. Each week’s practice is led by a different teacher so Stretchy-goers have the chance to try a multitude of styles. Sessions are hosted in familiar and friendly places like community halls, RSA’s, school fields, followed by social time at some of Auckland’s favourite cafes and bars. The post yoga coffees and drinks are always delicious, with the conversation over them being even more so.
My aim with Stretchy is to get more people, together, setting aside time for mindful movement each week. Fostering connections and creating a community where trying something new is celebrated. It’s genuinely become the 90-minute highlight of my week, and I hope that’s the sense those joining Stretchy feel too.
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Last week at Stretchy felt rather special. Melissa Franklin, who led our very first Auckland practice late November ‘24, came back to lead another practice 6 months on. Sitting down for coffee with 18 people and just feeling this buzz of chitter chatter and laughter was gorgeous. There were first timers, 10th-timers, yoga teachers, old school friends, flatmates, mums, new to Aucklanders, new to New Zealanders.
Knowing that many of those people had never really done yoga before and now consistently have a weekly practice, if not more consistently — that’s pretty special to help foster that. My yoga journey started once a week in a garage, so perhaps in 10 years time some Stretchy-goers will be embarking on their teacher trainings too (if not sooner!).
The rallying support and involvement from a huge array of yoga teachers has also been incredible. I started Stretchy feeling a little “impostery” (not having started yoga teacher training at the time), so I have been in awe of how many teachers have put their hands up to teach, support and come along to practice with us. Very special indeed.
For Stretchy Goers:
Looking back at my initial “brand strategy on a page”, I’d set out Stretchy to be for “the brave” and for “those who crave”.
The brave” being those who were looking to embrace new practices, people and ideas, while “those who crave” being those seeking connection — to self, to others or both. For Stretchy-goers I’d say we are that. For everyone. With teenagers through to nearly 70 year olds.
For anyone looking to join, we meet weekly on Friday Mornings at Bayfield Primary & then coffees at Honey Sundays, Herne Bay. Fortnightly Wednesday Evenings at Grey Lynn RSC & Freida Margolis. More meetup locations to come throughout 2025.
For anyone looking to join, we meet weekly on Friday Mornings at Bayfield Primary followed by coffees at Honey Sundays, Herne Bay. Fortnightly Wednesday Evenings at Grey Lynn RSC & Freida Margolis. More meetup locations to come throughout 2025.
For Yoga Teachers:
So many teachers have already jumped on board to lead practices and join in on the social time after Stretchy. I’d love for teachers to be able to express and experiment with their teachings and sequences if they felt like they wanted to — we’re open to it. I’d also love to offer newer teachers the chance to practice and gain experience. (Note: All teachers are always remunerated for their time, expertise and efforts.)
Collaborations & Partners:
We’re “stretching” into the event space to further offer moments of mindful movement, connection and community. So far we’ve teamed up with Flight Coffee for a special Mother’s Day practice, and mental health initiative Everyday Solitude for a night of “Yin-ner with Strangers”.
We’re always open to building unique and creative community practices which further deepen connection to self and others. If you’re a teacher, service or brand sharing our values, let’s chat — kimberley@stretchyyoga.co.nz.
I’m currently in my final stages of my first yoga teacher training, as my world infinitely expands I’m also going through a great deal of “un-learning”. Reflecting on, questioning and probing into my values, behaviours, narratives. What still serves me and what needs to be let go of. Where I find joy and how I can bring more of that into existence.
As a kid I was always giggling, cartwheeling, curious, playful, creating, lapping up time with my friends and family, seeing the world through a lens of awe. I feel like the simplicity of that joy has been so lost and I was seeking it in all these far away, overseas, idealised places and spaces. I’m re-learning it’s right here already — I just need to give myself the time and freedom to have what I already have. If I can find joy in the everyday, each and every day, then I in turn can bring more of that to the world around me.
This bit gets a bit gushy.
Mum and Dad, equally. My brother and I hit the parental jackpot. We’re so lucky to have been raised by parents who wholeheartedly accepted who we are, and always met us where we were at — with compassion, kindness, humour, honesty and without judgement. They let us make the “mistakes” we needed to make, to learn the lessons we needed to learn. There were few formal rules growing up, but I think never going to sleep or leaving home on an argument, and the ability to talk through things no matter how uncomfortable made for very honest relationships. The older I get the more I value this space and trust that we had. (And shout out to Patsy, who comes to every Friday morning Stretchy).
My big brother Andrew. From a very early age he bucked the norm and took off on a life entirely dedicated to surfing. He found his greatest joy in the ocean at the age of 6 and designed a life around it. It hasn’t always been easy but he knows what he loves. Being a student of the “university of life”, his ability to talk and resonate with people of all backgrounds is unparalleled, deep listening with curiosity and offering a challenging viewpoint when necessary. He wholeheartedly accepts who he is, and never pretends to be anything other than that. (But I miss him heaps not being here!).
Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
It’s a great “instigator” podcast — so many areas of further research, study and enquiry in the holistic health and wellness space stem from listening to this series. Dr Chatterjee’s excitement and thirst for creating a global movement of healthier, happier people is pretty darn infectious.
Business is Boring by The Spinoff / Simon Pound
Hearing the innovative and non-linear stories behind NZ’s startups, founders & businesses. Love the intersection of creativity, business, innovation and darn good design. Plus the interesting pivots taken to the challenges that arise. Good ol’ Kiwi ingenuity at its finest.
