Ellen Adoko – founder
“I wanted to create a yoga studio where people can feel at ease.”
Born in Uganda, Ellen Adoko grew up in London before moving to New Zealand in 1999 in pursuit of her passion for sports and the outdoors. Having practiced yoga from a young age, she always had an affinity with the practice and a keen interest in health and wellbeing, but spread this enthusiasm across a wide range of sports including rugby, netball, soccer, swimming, running and cricket. Then in 2006, after realising that it gave her the ideal combination of challenge, fitness and health benefits she was seeking, Ellen decided that bikram yoga was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
She pursued her passion by training with Bikram Choudhury himself in LA for nine weeks to become a fully qualified bikram yoga instructor. Upon completing the course she worked as a yoga teacher in Boston, Melbourne and Auckland before fulfilling a dream and opening her very own studio; Achel Bikram Yoga in Botany, Auckland.
Supported by her partner Simon, Ellen now runs the studio full time. Achel feels like home to her, and she wants her students to feel the same. She fosters a nurturing and supportive environment where the students enjoy socialising and encouraging one another. Come along to a class to find out for yourself!