Even after 50 years of teaching yoga, Wayne Everson says he is still learning the art form.
"I’m just getting started. You never stop learning."
The 67-year-old said he started yoga when he was 14 years old after a friend invited him to watch prominent yogi Martyn Jackson in action.
He was "quite famous" at the time, and Mr Everson was so inspired, he became a student of Jackson.
"I was hooked, right from the beginning.
"He was one of Iyengar’s celebrated students, and I just took to it.
"It’s been my rock for my whole life. I’ve never not practised it.
Three years later, he started teaching his own classes, and since then, he has started teaching the children of some of his first students.
In between times, he has learned about the history and philosophy of yoga, and many of his holidays have been spent overseas, learning more skills from some of the world’s top yoga instructors.
More recently, he has started teaching his first students’ grandchildren.
While that might make some people feel old, Mr Everson said he was not slowing down, and as long as he could still touch his toes, he would not be retiring.
"Artists and yogis never retire — they just keep going."
As an instructor, he has spent much of the past 40 years teaching at the Otago University Students’ Association Clubs and Societies facility in Dunedin, sharing his passion and skills with students and the public alike.
To celebrate Mr Everson’s 50th year as a yoga teacher next week, he will be holding a series of activities at the OUSA Clubs and Societies building, including free yoga session evenings, a talk about the history and philosophy of yoga and a session on yoga Nidra and mindfulness.
