Golden Yogi.

Golden Yogi is the North Shore institution. Level 1 of 46 Hurstmere Road in Takapuna, two minutes from the beach, with thirty-four regular classes a week, two resident Kundalini teachers (rare in Auckland), a pregnancy and kids programme, and a naturopath and homeopathy clinic running out of the same address. Founded by Erin O’Hara — naturopath, nutritionist, former professional triathlete — and now run by Monika Merriman. Ten-plus years in the same building. If you live on the Shore, this is probably your studio.

The founder

Erin O’Hara holds a Bachelor of Science in Physiology and is a qualified naturopath and nutritionist. A serious illness at seventeen pointed her toward the wellness path; she had a competitive triathlon career and encountered Kundalini while travelling overseas. She returned to New Zealand in 2012 to seed an Auckland Kundalini community, opened the original Golden Yogi in 2013, and launched the Takapuna beachside studio in August 2015 (per Inspired Health’s coverage of the opening).

Monika Merriman, a Yin, Vinyasa and Restorative teacher, is the current owner-operator. The transition date is not publicly published. Erin remains involved through her naturopathy and homeopathy clinic on site.

The space

Up the stairs in the Parkway Arcade, above Starbucks. Reviewers consistently describe it as “gorgeous, light and bright” with luxury bathroom amenities; originally there was a Raw Kitchen tie-in for post-class drinks. Mats and props are well-stocked. The studio is two minutes’ walk from Takapuna Beach but the building is on Hurstmere Road rather than beachfront — the implication of sea views from the window is real for some studios on this strip but not strictly verifiable here.

The classes

Confirmed on the current teachers page and site copy:

• Kundalini — rare in Auckland; taught by Leila Joffe and Maheshjoti Kaur (KRI Level 1, Karam Kriya Level 2, plus a PhD in Dance from Auckland)
• Vinyasa and Slow Flow
• Yin and Restorative
• Hatha
• Yoga Nidra
• Vinyasa Krama
• Pregnancy and Kids

The studio’s marketing materials state thirty-four regular weekly classes across seven days. Exact times sit behind the Momence booking platform. Iyengar is mentioned in some older meta-copy but no Iyengar-specialist appears on the current roster; flag this if you specifically need Iyengar (try Auckland Yoga Academy).

The teachers

A roster of about fourteen, headed by Monika Merriman. Kundalini specifically: Leila Joffe and Maheshjoti Kaur. The wider roster includes Lauren James, Sophia Eveline, Elaine Koller, Ash Rajendran, Aria Libby Rose, Abbey-lee McMahon, Fleur Blackall, Michelle Allen, Milly McMurdock and Kristy Meyer.

Pricing

The model is unusual and worth understanding: there are class packs and weekly memberships with no single drop-in fee published on the current pricing page.

• Intro: 3 classes for $40 over 12 days (mat included)
• 5-class pack: $110
• 10-class pack: $200
• 20-class pack: $350
• Weekly 2x: $30 a week
• Weekly 3x: $35 a week
• Weekly Unlimited: $40 a week
• Monthly Unlimited: $160 a month
• Annual Unlimited: $1,799 a year (the best long-term value)

The widely-quoted $26 drop-in figure is not on the current pricing page; drop-ins appear to route through Momence or the class packs. Not on ClassPass — Golden Yogi runs its own platform.

The naturopath and homeopathy clinic

Erin O’Hara runs the clinic out of the same address, offering naturopathy, homeopathics, herbal medicine and nutrition consultations. Available in person and via Skype or Zoom. Consultation fees are not published — booking through the site or by phone.

This is the most genuinely integrated wellness offering at any Auckland yoga studio: a single building where you can do a Kundalini class, see a registered naturopath about ongoing symptoms, and walk out the door together.

What people say

Across Yelp, Urban List and I Love Takapuna the themes are: sanctuary, lovely community, well-stocked props, range of styles for beginners through advanced. The “North Shore institution” framing genuinely holds up — ten-plus years of continuous trading is rare for Auckland yoga and the studio’s profile is built on regulars. One reviewer noting the studio “re-opened” suggests there may have been a brief closure-and-reopen episode (likely the ownership transition); I have not verified this.

Honest criticisms

Small frictions that come up. Entry is through Parkway Arcade above Starbucks, and the street-facing signage is modest enough that first-timers regularly walk past it. Reception is staffed only fifteen minutes either side of class times, which limits walk-in queries. The booking platform recently switched to Momence and required a password reset, which caused some account friction. Drop-in pricing isn’t displayed on the public site; you’re pushed toward the $40 intro pass. Not on ClassPass. Parking on Hurstmere Road is metered and tight at peak times. The dual identity as a yoga studio plus naturopathy and homeopathy clinic can confuse first-time visitors expecting a pure movement studio.

Practical

The closest public parking buildings: Anzac Road carpark at around $2.50 an hour, Killarney Street at around $2 an hour twenty-four-seven, Wilson at 144-148 Hurstmere, Shore City with two hours free with shopping, and the beachside pay-and-display two minutes’ walk away. Buses run Hurstmere Road; the nearest specific route depends on which end of town you start from — check Auckland Transport.

Who it’s for

North Shore residents who want variety without crossing the bridge; parents looking for pregnancy and kids classes in the same studio; anyone curious about Kundalini who has not been able to find a teacher in central Auckland; anyone who would rather see a naturopath and do a yin class in the same visit; people who want a studio that has been in the same place long enough that the receptionist knows their name.

It is less the right fit if you want a hot studio (HIYOGA on Queen Street and Achel in Botany are the answer for hot), if you want ClassPass-style studio-hopping (Golden Yogi is not on the platform), or if you want a strict Iyengar specialist.

Contact

• Address: Level 1, 46 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna, Auckland 0622 (entry via Parkway Arcade, above Starbucks)
• Phone: +64 21 167 2026
• Email: hello@goldenyogi.co.nz
• Website: goldenyogi.co.nz
• ClassPass: no