Donning a pair of neon tights and unfurling your designer yoga mat is now a common routine for many in the Bay – it's become as fashionable as it is practical.

But 40 years ago, yoga was more taboo than trendy in the region, says Tauranga Yoga Centre founders Lyn Bernard and Marilyn Waddicor.

'People felt threatened by the word,” recalls Marilyn. 'They just didn't understand what it was until they came to try it for themselves and realised it's non-threatening and a lot of fun. They felt quite at ease afterwards.”

'When we first started, we put a lot of flyers out, but there was some resistance from the community,” adds Lyn.

A lot has changed since the sisters established the Bay's first yoga practice in 1975. What began as a small group of likeminded people, exploring the movements in the former St John's Community Hall on Cameron Road, now boasts classes so popular there's often limited space in the carpark of their Elizabeth Street premises.

South African-born Lyn and Marilyn immigrated to New Zealand in the 1960s and ‘70s – Marilyn first, followed by her sister nine years later. But it was in their home country that Lyn was first introduced to yoga.

'I had two little ones – one had just started school, and the other was three. A girlfriend rang me up and invited me to try yoga and I thought ‘why not?' The first class had a lovely teacher who was in her 60s, and was so flexible – like rubber. I remember thinking ‘wow, I love this'.”

Marilyn initially set up residence in Tokoroa with her husband and relocated to the Bay. Not long after she was joined by Lyn, who started teaching yoga in Tauranga. Inspired by her sister, Marilyn followed suit.

'Although it was new, it felt very familiar and very comfortable,” says Marilyn. 'At that stage, it was just a group of likeminded people who got together and did the practice.

'As time went on, we suggested more workshops with overseas practitioners and training for those who wanted to be instructors.”

Both favour the Iyengar style, which places emphasis on detail, precision and alignment in the performance of posture and breath control. However, the beauty of the Tauranga Yoga Centre is that all of the teachers are not limited to one practice and instruct whatever is natural to them.

'It's not about twisting yourself in knots,” says Lyn. 'Just learning to breathe correctly is a big part of yoga, and working the body gently. Yoga is much deeper than the physical.”

While some might struggle to work alongside their sibling, the pair have never found it difficult and say they share a particularly close bond.

'We've always worked together,” says Lyn. 'Even as children, we never had an argument. It's a privilege to share such common interests and values.”

It's a sentiment they share through Tauranga Yoga Centre, which operates with a goal of offering classes for absolutely everyone at an affordable rate. They also hold special sessions for women affected by breast cancer, as well as post and antenatal classes.

The pair are a testament to the ongoing benefits of the practice, and although they admit neither are as disciplined as they used to be, they're still passionate about sharing yoga with the community.

'It's not often you get to do something that you love doing, and we feel really lucky to have come this far,” says Lyn.

To celebrate 40 years, Tauranga Yoga Centre is holding a mini-festival on Saturday, November 14, from 9am. Open yoga classes are a gold coin donation.

For more information, visit: www.taurangayoga.org.nz/workshopsevents/