Path

"Movement has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the world of competitive dance from the age of four – not so much for the drive to perform or win, but for the creativity and how it made me feel. I spent school lunch breaks stretching and dancing alone by the volleyball court, or somehow convincing a teacher to trust me with the hall key – closing the curtains, cranking the sound system and moving in my own world.

As a teenager, I struggled with friendships, depression and anxiety. Movement, art and music became my anchors and the light that helped me navigate those darker times, and I was lucky to have teachers who could see and honour that for me.

In my late teens, a craniosacral therapy session opened a new doorway, introducing me to energy work and meditation. I began taking private meditation lessons, then joined beginner yoga courses, slowly building a daily practice of movement and stillness that transformed how I felt in my body and in my life.

By the age of 20, I felt the quiet but steady pull to train in yoga and share it with others. Aerial yoga, in particular, sparked something within me, and I began dreaming of opening a studio of my own one day. Around that time, I immersed myself in the Taranaki wellness community, attending women’s circles where I was first introduced to cacao and oracle cards. These experiences moved me deeply – spaces where emotion was welcomed, and nothing needed fixing, just feeling.

From there, my path began unfolding quickly. I started working with a coach, then a breathwork facilitator. After attending her women’s retreat, I began 1:1 mentoring and eventually stepped into the role of assistant on her next coastal immersion.

I moved to Auckland during the pandemic and trained online while living beachside in Huia. Amidst daily ocean dips and forest walks, I studied Hatha, Aerial, and Ashtanga Yoga. I also dove deep into a Tarot course, nestled on farmland in the Waitakere ranges. These teachings became the foundation for my first studio, ASCEND Aerial Yoga – a ritualistic, cozy sanctuary offering yogic aerial classes and floating ceremonies. I poured my heart into ASCEND for two beautiful years.

During that time, the passing of my grandfather marked the beginning of my Reiki journey. As I connected more deeply with my clairvoyant abilities, I completed Level 1, 2, and eventually my Reiki Master training. Symbolic ceremonial tattoos have been placed on my body to further activate these earth/ether connections.

When I felt ready to transition, I closed ASCEND and moved my offerings to Kenkō Studios, where I focused more on grounded, meditative, healing classes and ceremonial experiences.

Soon after, The Healing Room was born – co-created with Jessica Pearson after an intuitive journaling session where we realised we were walking parallel paths. Together, we dreamed up a space that offers holistic healing from an energetically sustainable place.

Now, ASCEND gently grows in its cocoon, preparing for a rebirth as I deepen my yogic studies and continue holding healing space for the community. Jess and I are also working towards our next Reiki qualification – opening a new door of teaching the art of healing to others.

The seeds have been planted, and the vision is alive – growing quietly, ready to evolve in divine timing."

– Iris Bellve