Parito People - Atmavidya and Peter

Care and management of Parito is entrusted to Atmavidya and Peter Schon. Peter has background in teaching at primary and secondary levels of education, including teaching as a volunteer teacher in Tonga for VSA. He has worked for many years with nature, in the Tararua Ranges as a forester; as a beekeeper in the King Country and spent some years as the primary carer of his two sons while they were young. In the last ten years he has worked more closely with the arts, as glazer with Tony Sly the potter and before that as a Glass Blower with De Flute Studio and Gallery in Rotorua. Peter was one of the sculptors for the Nga Hau e Wha project and the piece he worked on, Tawhirimatea, looks eastward from the cliffs on Ngarunui Beach, Whaingaroa. Peter works to live his commitment to wholeness through his work on the land at Parito, through preparation of food and through his yoga and meditation practice.

Atmavidya's background has been mostly in education, working as a teacher, initially in the primary sector after a year of teaching in a secondary school in Tonga (with VSA). For 13 years her work focused on teacher education in the Professional Studies Department in the School of Education, University of Waikato, as a lecturer in Professional Studies and in the later years in Environmental Education. She was also involved in Arts and Cultural Studies in early childhood education. Her research interests over these years related to holistic and alternative approaches to education and in Tino Rangatiratanga and social justice issues. She published a book entitled WholeHearted: Teachers committed to bringing wholeness and heart to their teaching and learning (Schon, 2005). ( Atmavidya was known as Pamela Schon at this time).  She aspires to continue to learn, understand and speak Te Reo Maori. Three years of Yogic Studies were taken to complete the Diploma in Teaching Yoga in the Satyananda tradition. Now fully accredited and affiliated with the Satyananda Yoga Academy in Australia, she teaches yoga at Parito, in Raglan and Hamilton. Atmavidya also follows her interest in living sustainably and harmoniously with all things, by learning with nature, working with the land organically at Parito and practicing yoga and weaving. 

Atmavidya's living continues to be inspired and sustained by the blessing of connection with her Teachers (including nature), by her yoga sadhana and her journey towards Sannyasa.  She continues to also be inspired by the dedication of students reaching for Yoga practices. Atmavidya appreciates the opportunity to share practices which, in their simplicity, can work for everyone.  They are practices which come from a great Yogic tradition.