Queenstown is a town of many personalities: there is its adrenaline junkie side, its party animal persona, its renowned wine character, its fresh air outdoor sports face and, in the last few years, it's very strong yoga self.
Ten years ago, Loris Mills was the only yoga teacher in town.
This super-gymnast and ice-skater trained and keeps training as an Iyengar yoga instructor in India and held classes in the St Johns Hall in Frankton and in Millbrook's gym.
Finally, she built Queenstown's first dedicated yoga studio above her house in Frankton.
Then into town breezed Peggy Preston, a freshly qualified Bikram teacher from the United States.
She set up Studio Sangha, a yoga studio where you sweat through 26 poses in 37degC heat.
Shortly after opening, she had to double her space and open another studio next door for her hatha and Pilates students.
Suddenly yoga was popping up everywhere.
Teachers from around the globe have come to Queenstown, fallen in love with the lifestyle and set up businesses sharing yoga with locals and tourists alike.
Australian Kristin de Haan came as a guide on the Routeburn Track and now runs hatha yoga classes with her mobile yoga studio in Lake Hayes and Queenstown.
London acupuncturist Greg Dorn did his yoga training in India and now can stretch you out or turn you into something looking like a living voodoo doll.
He and his local born and bred wife Sandy run the brand new Yoga Nadi studio above Brazz on the Green.
Englishwoman Gabrielle van Neste has recently set up shop in Glenda Dr with her Om Quantum studio offering ashtanga yoga.
So what's bringing all this yoga to our town?Lance Schuler is one of the world's great yoga teachers, responsible for teacher training courses in China, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, Holland, Australia and New Zealand - and that's just for 2011.
He ran a workshop in the resort last weekend with students from throughout New Zealand, and in his opinion the simple reason people want to do yoga in Queenstown is "the people who live here or like to visit here are very interested in the natural environment, and yoga appeals to people like that.
"People in the city? Come on; they're lovely people but somehow people in this natural environment are more open to change," he says.
He's trained hundreds of yoga teachers, which begs the question: can the world use that many yoga teachers? It seems so.
Queenstown's many studios say they are all busy - not to mention all the private lessons and community classes going on.
A Brazilian couple run donation-only classes in the Queenstown rose gardens three times a week, often with more than 20 participants happy to join this very public class.
And Queenstown's huge growth in yoga businesses is attracting international attention.
Kristin de Haan is organising yoga holiday packages to the resort from May to September for yoga enthusiasts from around the world.
Not only are more and more people choosing Queenstown as a holiday destination for its yoga opportunities, but even Canadian yoga clothing giant Lululemon Athletica is setting up its first New Zealand shop in the resort, set to open by late April.
Yoga is for everyone too.
In the Wakatipu there are classes for babies, toddlers, teenagers, pregnant women, injured skiers and golfers.
It's on from 6am to late and there is every style and level imaginable.
Peggy Preston summed it up best. "It is a tool for health and wellbeing that is available to all ages.
"The more people know about the medical and mental benefits, the more they will want to practise.
"I feel it is my dharma, my work right now, to open the doors and bring as much yoga as possible into the area, especially since I have the teachers who want to come here and the students who want more of the teachings.
"The style is not what is important but the ultimate outcome - better health and better lives."
Yoga - What's the difference between the styles?
- Hatha: The umbrella term for all yoga that uses physical practices to achieve the goals of yoga - fitness, a clear mind, kind heart and healthy body.
- Ashtanga: Quite an aerobic exercise, and the emphasis is on using the breath to link the movements.
- Iyengar: A precise style which focuses on the body's alignment. Poses are held for longer than in other styles but Iyengar uses props such as straps and blankets to help even the least flexible students achieve and maintain these poses more easily and comfortably.
- Bikram: Done in a very hot room and you get very sweaty. It is excellent for people with injuries or arthritis. Some people say it's like taking a tropical holiday for an hour and a-half.
