Mental Health Awareness Week was the perfect opportunity to pair up beach yoga with our classic beach clean-up. And what better place to do it than at Paihia.

Local DOC Community Ranger, Lara McDonald, approached Sustainable Coastlines after hearing about the planting of +9,000 trees in August, and wanted to continue the vision of healthy waterways and clean beaches. She was the brain behind merging yoga with the clean-up, an idea that will be used by SC into the future.

The team woke up early to set up, with morning fog hiding the islands just out in the bay. Kim from the Yoga Studio Kerikeri hosted a 45 minute session on the beach edge with only the sounds of the waves and birds breaking the silence. It was clear there was a large range of abilities; some, like SC staff member Dan, had never tried yoga before, while others could touch their toes in their sleep if they wanted to.

Once the yoga finished, the sun had just burnt off the morning fog allowing for the scenic Paihia to show its full beauty. Everyone then enjoyed a glass of Arepa, which is designed to provide mental clarity and performance, the perfect match for the days purpose. Inka and Dan from SC then proceeded to give a health and safety briefing followed by an informative chat about marine pollution.

After an hour of cleaning up the beaches surrounding Paihia, the volunteers returned and began emptying their sacks of rubbish into a central pile. Not one person said they expected the group to find this much litter. The most common items found were: hair ties, fishing wire, lollypop sticks and food wrappers.

A huge thanks goes out to all the volunteers as well as Lara from DOC and Kim from the Yoga Studio Kerikeri for all their efforts in the lead up and on the day.

1. If you, or anyone you live with feels ill, please do not attend.
2. All attendees should follow cough and sneeze etiquette: Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue (dispose of tissue immediately).
3. Bring gloves to the event if you have them available at home. Although we will have freshly washed gloves for those who need.
4. Wash and sanitise your hands regularly.
5. Social distancing of 2m must be adhered to for those outside your bubble.
6. The event may be cancelled at late notice due to the unfolding situation.
7. Our full Covid-19 Protocol is available at this link.