About the Centre

Established in Wellington (1971), the Lotus Yoga Centre became an Incorporated Society with Charitable Trust status one year later. The Centre provides a range of courses including yoga, taichi qigong, massage and meditation. A natural Therapy Centre is associated with the Lotus Yoga Centre. Bookings can be made for iridology, naturopathy, nutrition, stress management, massage, back/neck/shoulder treatment and reiki. The Centre publishes books on yoga and health; such as the Amrita Cook Book, Relax with Yoga, Be Fit with Yoga and many more.

In 1985 the Lotus Yoga Centre moved to the Kapiti Coast and is now located in the town of Paraparaumu. An old homestead is set in peaceful surroundings, consisting of 10 acres of bush, lawns and organic gardens. The scenic surroundings touch the heart, the fresh air clears the mind and the spirit is uplifted to blend in with nature.

Our Teachers

Eric Doornekamp

Eric is Director-Founder and Spiritual Leader of the Lotus Yoga Centre (1971). He studied Rishi-culture Ashtanga Yoga with Dr. Swami Gitananda at Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, India, in 1968.

Eric is an Honorary Member of the International Yoga Academy of Australasia,  Fellow Member of the International Yoga Teachers Association  NZ. He has a Ph. D. in yoga. He is a member of the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, India.

Eric has forty years experience as a yoga teacher and thirty-five years as an alternative health practitioner. He is a certified Taichi Qigong instructor with twenty years experience. Eric is the author of several books on yoga and health.

Cathryn Doornekamp

Cathryn came to be associated with the Lotus Yoga Centre in 1996. When travelling to Peru on a spiritual pilgrimage she met her spiritual partner Eric Doornekamp.

Cathryn has a deep passion for yoga and is a yoga teacher with twelve years experience. She holds a diploma with the Integral Yoga Academy of Australasia and International Yoga Teachers Association NZ. While Cathryn teaches both general and beginners yoga classes, she specializes in teaching yoga for the elderly and pregnancy.

Cathryn is currently participating in the Yoga Step-by-Step Correspondence course with Ananda Ashram, Pondicherry, India with it in mind to travel to the ashram for further yoga studies.

Anthony Britton

Anthony has a background in sport, formerly in football but his current passion is road and off-road cycling. He has practiced yoga for 11 years, and for the last four years he has been a student of the Centre's Classical Yoga Course.

Anthony has a Diploma of Teaching, and the major for his degree from Massey University is in Education. He had many mostly happy years coaching children of all levels and ability, mainly in football, and attained an Oceania Level III qualification, as well as a Certificate of Coaching earned as part of his degree.

Despite his coyishness Anthony would secretly love to run a Laughing Yoga class, but has been persuaded his background and abilities more suit teaching general yoga focusing on sports people, whatever their state of fitness. Anthony also likes to write for his and others' amusement, and possible enlightenment, and so has begun to incorporate yoga precepts into his writing.