YOGA AND MASSAGE THERAPY
Are you feeling stressed? Is your body aching and tired?
AnandaMaya Yoga and Massage offers you the opportunity to heal
through massage and yoga, to assist in the process
of soothing both your aching, tired body and your
restless, anxious mind, allowing you to take a
step closer to your Self.
YOGA AND
MASSAGE THERAPY
Are you feeling stressed? Is your body aching and tired?
AnandaMaya offers you the opportunity to heal through massage and yoga, to assist in the process of soothing both your aching, tired body and your restless, anxious mind, allowing you to take a step closer to your Self.
Massage therapy
Yoga therapy
Self Awareness Facilitation
What is self? What is the connection between suffering and self? Suffering of any kind occurs when personal power is diminished. Rediscover your internal power.
Tri-dosha
MY JOURNEY
I, Tanja Pau, started out my yoga journey in Port Elizabeth, South Africa some 13 years ago now. After having sustained a debilitating knee and hip injury, yoga was the only thing that actually relieved me of my pain. I embarked on a one year Yoga Teacher Training Course in the Sivananda style with Bruce Masters through Anantam Yoga in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Little did I know that yoga would heal my broken body but my broken, traumatised self also.
On completion of my training, I worked as an instructor for Alan Waite through Yoga Shala where I was exposed to Ashtanga yoga and I then received further training in Goa, India where I spent a month at Shri Kali Ashram learning what it meant to breathe deeply and expansively through a Tantra style of yoga.
Over the years, I attended workshops on the Iyengar style of yoga and Sports Injuries and Yoga and for some time I worked as an instructor at Virgin Active. Eventually, and with great joy, I opened up my own studio, AnandaMaya Yoga and Massage in Port Elizabeth. I guess you could say I came back to my roots.
Through COVID-19, I was greatly assisted to take my yoga practice onto an online platform via Zoom. So, be it in a studio or online and my capacity as a massage therapist, (a course I completed at Holistic Healing Center in Fourways, Johannesburg) I came to see that the connection between mind, body and spirit is absolute.
I have learned through those that have arrived on my massage table and those that have entered through the doors of my yoga studio that the body speaks the mind and the mind speaks the body, that the capacity to heal is greatly enhanced through nurturing touch, through verbally releasing truth and through physically moving the body into and out of yoga postures to relieve it from the emotional stress and trauma that it is carrying. By clearing that which doesn’t belong, a space is created for wellbeing and we are able to move though life’s trials and tribulations with clarity, purpose and ease, mentally, spiritually and physically.
In light of this understanding, I have decided to create a space, AnandaMaya Yoga and Massage which offers the capacity to heal through movement, Yoga Therapy, through touch, Massage Therapy and mental release through the capacity of the voice to be heard when the body has a need to speak. A space that allows connection to that which we truly are and a realisation of that which we are absolutely not. A space that allows you to step a little closer to yourself and live in harmony with your mind, body and spirit.
REVIEWS
A HEALING EXPERIENCE
When I started yoga with Tanja, I was recovering from a serious operation and was physically weak and emotionally drained. Tanja’s gentle yet effective approach is holistic, addressing not just the body, but also mind and spirit. After a few months of her love and care, I am thriving. Physically I am more flexible and stronger. Tanja’s sessions are a healing experience!
Leda van der Post
TALKS THROUGH HER HANDS
Having a massage with Tanja is an experience. It’s about escaping to a peaceful bubble of space where you can ‘just be’. She talks through her hands, finding the troubled spots, eases them, and soothes the stresses and strains of the whole body. A complete massage and deep relaxation. No better panacea than this for our stressful lives!
Jacqui Makowem
RARE AND MUCH NEEDED
I cannot recommend Tanja enough! She is an excellent yoga teacher and her caring and effective holistic approach to your overall wellbeing will get you feeling your best. I leave her classes feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, as well as smelling amazing from her extensive use and knowledge of essential oils to aid one’s emotional well-being.
She really cares about her clients and she does her utmost to get to the root of any physical ailments or emotional malaise that need to be addressed or healed. What Tanja offers is rare and very much needed, this is not just a great yoga class, but a journey of wellness and healing led by a really thoughtful, kind and talented individual.
Juliet Jarvis
CALM BUT CONFIDENT
Tanja Pau is an absolutely wonderful yoga teacher. She has a lovely calm but confident aura about her when she teaches and gives lots of positive reinforcement and useful corrective tips during her lessons. She has taught us twice a week for at least six months now and has never done the same class twice. She guides us through the sequence describing the movements so that I hardly have to watch her. I have never experienced such enjoyable flow to a class but have still seen a dramatic improvement in both my strength and flexibility. She will be sorely missed.
Annabel Molli
THE BEST TEACHER
For the past 6 months I have had the pleasure of being taught by Tanya Pau. Her teaching style is gentle yet she stretches me in every single class. In 10 years of yoga (different styles, many different teachers) she is quite simply the best teacher I have ever had . I never fail to walk out of class calm , energised , stretched both physically and mentally and feeling a new person. Just what yoga should offer! I am profoundly grateful for Tanya for the months I have spent in her classes. She will be sorely missed.
Jenny Dean
ONE OF THE BEST
I have been blessed to experience Tanja’s phenomenal yoga instruction. I have done many various forms of fitness training and Tanja’s has been one of the best. Her high standard and her careful focus on form and technique had me reaching new levels in a surprisingly short time. Tanja is able to keep “moving the bar” so that your progress is continual and the sense of achievement is amazing. I became hooked after my first class with Tanja and cannot describe the sense of wellbeing I felt after each session. I know that those lucky enough to be instructed by her will share the same high opinion of her as I have.
Kelly Gillingwater
EXCELLENT TEACHER
I started attending Yoga classes with Tanja at Virgin Active Hillcrest a few months ago. I was a beginner to Yoga, but Tanja has taught me the many benefits of Yoga and I am now hooked!
Tanja is an excellent teacher and creates a calming, healing space in her classes. She is very thorough and takes time to explain each posture.
I would highly recommend her as a Yoga instructor!
Kim Kennedy
TANGIBLE PASSION
Each one of Tanya’s classes is meticulously planned and well prepared with completely new and challenging sequences; she has an almost tangible passion and belief. I have been practicing with Tanya for the past ten months without a break and my body is stronger and more toned and flexible than it’s ever been. Quite an accomplishment because I’m 48 years old!
Tanya is careful about ensuring that our poses are “techniquely” correct to avoid injuries, with some of her classes specifically dedicated to ensuring that we are fully aware of correct body positioning. Tanya also takes the time to get to know each person in her class, so that she is aware of our abilities and limitations. She has supported and encouraged me to attempt some of the more advanced poses with the knowledge that I have the appropriate strength to be able to attempt these poses.
Penny Meyer
STRONGER THAN YOU THINK
Tanja is a vibrant, dedicted and passionate teacher and it shines through in every single class. She takes immense care of her students and takes time with postures, breathing and flow of every movement.
Her love for yoga is an inspiration and it is palpable. She has been such a positive influence in my life personally and her slogan “you are stronger than what you think you are” has had a profound impact in my life, physically and emotionally.
She is joyful spirit and I am blessed to have her in my life and to share the beautiful journey of yoga.
Madelein Houghton
EASY TO FOLLOW
Tanja’s classes are always very instructional and easy to follow. Doing it via live streaming wasn’t any different, it works great and you can still sense her energy!