Kia ora, I’m Marie Baker. For over 25 years, the practices of breath, mindful movement, meditation, self-inquiry and nutrition have been the threads that carried me through life – from psychology studies, to years of yoga as a practitioner, teacher trainer and integrated wellness retreat leader internationally, to returning home to Te Tai Tokerau to raise our 7-year-old son, care for my mum who lives in her tiny home with us, and to live on our whānau land in rural Mid North while bringing my skills to community programs here in Aotearoa.

I first discovered how to breathe consciously in 2001, during a time of struggle, and it changed everything. Breathwork and Yoga became not just practices, but lifelines – lifting the fog of depression, brightening my awareness, restoring trust in myself, in life, and opening a way of living with softness, compassion, wisdom and joy. Since then I’ve immersed myself in trainings, taught in retreats, recovery spaces and communities across the world, and walked alongside countless women and men as they discovered their own capacity to heal and to thrive.

Along the way, I also discovered the power of connection with nature. Stepping beyond my comfort zone I found healing in the oceans, forests, and mountains. My path has taken me paddling the Whitsundays, diving in Fiji and Thailand, rafting rivers in India and Nepal, biking across Tibet, and climbing to sacred monasteries in Bhutan. Always in the company of those seeking deeper connection through yoga also, I learned what science now confirms: even brief time in nature lowers stress hormones, restores balance to the nervous system, and uplifts mood, energy, and creativity. Today, I invite clients to weave this pillar into their own wellbeing journeys — from mindful sunrise walks in the Bay of Islands to group programs that research shows strengthen resilience, motivation, and emotional wellbeing.

Today, through Breathe & Balance, I weave lived experience with health coaching and counselling (student as at Sep, 2025) to create health and wellbeing coaching and breath, movement, nutrition and relaxation programs. My sessions are not about striving for perfection, but about meeting you where you find yourself now, holding that gently, supporting you with what you want to change, as you move in the direction of your goals, with your highest values for life as your driver — getting organised as you develop rhythms and rituals that allow you to reach your personal goals — to feel lighter, stronger, calmer, contented and more present – to yourself, your dear ones, your community, whenua/land and mahi/work.

I offer professional collaboration as we explore safely and confidentially what you want to change, what that will ultimately mean to you, and how you plan to steadily grow towards that – YOU CHOOSE HOW. Your options with me: bringing your values to the forefront of all that you do, Self Enquiry: building the strengths that brought you to this site, Breathwork, Mindfulness, Spiritual Connection if that’s you, NUTRITION, Movement – (what might that be for you… walking, running, sport, dance, yoga with me: at your pace – strengthening and opening of the body) Meditation, and deep rest practices such as Yoga Nidra (Non-Sleep-Deep-Rest protocol). All the pillars of health and wellbeing for you to choose from, to explore, so that you leave your 1st session with a renewed engagement with life as it is.

My work is person-centred, trauma-sensitive, and values-led. Whether in your Bay of Islands accommodation, in your home, online, or in community, I offer a safe, professional space where you can breathe, soften into yourself, dream forward, and create nourishing patterns of wellbeing that uplift your heart, energy, mind, body and soul – flowing outward into your whānau/family, your mahi/work and every other corner of your life.

I’m not here as a distant ‘teacher’ but as a Wellbeing ALLY that will turn up with daily check-ins and pre-planned sessions to walk beside you – bringing my curiosity about your experiences, your daily reflections and ever-changing goals – bringing my lived experience of the same, science-backed professional tools, as well as a person-centred, pluralistic, narrative and positive psychology approach. My nature: to trust YOUR lived experience – the trials, triumphs and strengths this reveals about you – to hold an open, non-judgemental ear, for women at every stage of life, looking to reconnect, reset and rise.