Taha ki te taha - side by side

You are here because:

• You are overthinking every interaction - trying to get it “right,” only to feel like you are missing each other anyway.

• Screens, school, work, hormones…the sheer pace of life is making it harder to slow down together.

• You want to support them, but between the guilt, the pressure, and the emotional overflow on both sides, calm moments feel rare.

• And really? You want something meaningful you can do together that does not require a whole schedule rearrangement or a personality reboot.

Maybe you are worried you are running out of time to connect (you’re not)

• Maybe you think you need a whole new parenting approach
  (you don’t)

  Or maybe…

• you are just one shared, grounded moment away from remembering you are on the same team.

Taha ki te taha - Side by Side is for parents + tweens/teens who:

• Have a relationship that is good… but stretched thin by work, school, emotions, or just life.

• Try to connect, but the moments never quite land - someone’s tired, someone’s tense, someone’s scrolling.

• Hold tools or good intentions but struggle to use them in real time when emotions rise.

• Want a simple, safe way to reconnect - without lecturing, without pressure, without needing to be “the calm one.”

It is your turn to…

• Reconnect in a way that feels natural - not forced, not “performing calm,” just the two of you settling into something doable.

• Share a moment that softens the day and makes it easier to reach for each other later.

• Feel that quiet relief of “oh… we’re actually okay.”

In one gentle session, you won’t just think about reconnecting - you’ll have actually done it.

You will leave with a moment the two of you shared on purpose, a memory that feels like a small anchor you can return to on the harder days.

And the best part?

You will have simple, realistic ways to slow down together - the kind you can use in the car, in the kitchen, after school,
or whenever things feel “too much.”

Hi, I’m Mariko.

And I’m here to tell you that you don’t need perfect communication, a flawless routine or a saint-level patience reserve to feel close to your tween or teen again.
You just need one moment where both of you can breathe - side by side - without anyone needing to perform calm or pretend they’re fine.

I have facilitated many trauma-informed yoga classes, and I am currently walking this parent - teen season myself.
So I understand the mix firsthand: the big feelings, the quick shifts, the tiny windows of connection you try to catch,
and the quiet wondering of “am I doing this right?” that sits under everything.

What I have learned - on the mat and in my own home - is this:
connection doesn’t happen through perfectly timed conversations or grand gestures.
It happens through small, safe moments that land.

That’s why I created Taha ki te taha - Side by Side.
A workshop that makes space for both of you.
No judgement. No pressure. No need to get anything “right.”
Just simple movement, gentle guidance, and a chance to remember what it feels like to be with each other without all the usual noise.

“But wait… what if it feels awkward?”

I get it. Trying something new with your tween or teen can feel delicate.
But awkward doesn’t mean wrong - it often just means new.
And new can be a really good place to begin again.

In this workshop, there’s no pressure, no expectations, and no performing.
Everything is invitational. Everything respects your pace.

Why Side by Side is different:

• Trauma-informed facilitation
  Every practice honours nervous-system safety, choice, and agency.

• Connection over choreography
  You’re not matching poses - you’re sharing a moment.

• Realistic + accessible
  No fancy shapes, no flexibility required, no yoga background needed.

• Built for real parent–teen dynamics
  Supported by someone who understands the emotional landscape from both sides.

• A space where both of you matter
  No “helper” and “helped.” Just two humans reconnecting.

• Light, human energy
  A little warmth, a little humour - because connection feels easier when the room can breathe.

How it works

Taha ki te taha - Side by Side is a single, gentle workshop designed to help you and your tween/teen slow down and reconnect without pressure.

You will move through simple, accessible practices together - nothing complicated, nothing performative - just shapes, breath, and moments that feel doable.

What’s included:

• A guided, trauma-informed yoga practice

• Practical tools for real-life overwhelm

• A shared memory that opens a new way to reach out to each other

• A take-home set of 10+ shapes

• A warm, supported environment where both of you can settle

You’ll walk away with…

• A shared moment that feels meaningful and grounding

• Repeatable practices you can use anytime things feel “too much”

• A calmer sense of “we’re okay,” even on messy days

• A new way to reach for each other without the “right” words

• Connection that lands in the body - not just the mind

People can learn calming strategies anywhere now.

But they will choose this because of how it feels to learn them together.
Side by side. At a pace that honours both of you.

That’s the space we create inside Taha ki te taha - Side by Side.

You’ve been carrying this “we need a moment together” feeling for a while now.

Let’s make it real.

Taha ki te taha - Side by Side
A gentle workshop for parents + tweens/teens to reconnect in a way that feels natural, doable, and human.

It’s time to have that shared moment that reminds you both:
we’re okay.

What to Bring

A mat, a bolster or cushion, and a blanket.
A block is optional.
The floor is concrete, so placing a thick towel under your mat will make things more comfortable.

Investment

$55 per pair (parent + tween/teen)

When, Where, and What You’ll Experience

Time: 10:30am – 12pm
Location: 113 Taranaki Street, Wellington

Questions?

You can reach me at shimanamiyoga@gmail.com if you need anything.

You’ve been wanting a calm moment together.

Here it is.

Taha ki te taha — Side by Side
A simple, grounding workshop for parents and tweens/teens.