About

Freda Wells

Kia ora and welcome to Esho Life, where I share about my passions of yoga, psychology and health. I’m a mum, yoga teacher, convenor & retreat host, somatic therapy student, ocean swimmer, connector, uplifter, curator, founder of Goodlife Collective, and idea-landscape-explorer. I grew up in Nelson - surrounded by mountains and ocean - and now live in Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand.

At 18 I was accepted onto a Rotary Exchange Scholarship and fled the familiar to live for a year in Belgium. It was here that I first experienced yoga. It was all in french, in a 400-year old church! Despite my beginner french, the movement and breathing guided me down from a busy mind to feeling quite blissful and present in body and being, the seed was planted for my yoga practice today.

My time in Europe, meeting people from so many nationalities, left an indelible impression of our shared humanity. This catalysed my interest - and later University Degree - in Psychology. I also sensed the need for healing - in a world so desperately needing to slow down and reconnect: with others, with ourselves, and with nature. I became passionate about contributing to new narratives grounded in commonalities, cooperation, possibilities and hope.

What Belgians called ‘nature’ worried me (sorry Belgium!); scant monoculture tree coverings covered a few sparse dry hillsides. These scenes sat in my mind, and the dots gradually joined that I was seeing New Zealand’s ecological future if we didn’t change our ways. I added an environmental science paper to my psyc and french degrees.

While in Belgium I contracted glandular fever, and what followed was several years of a deepdive to bring myself back to full health. It was during this period that I came to appreciate the power of plant medicine, and I continue to work in this space as part of the Wellness Collective. Essential oils are powerhouses of nature’s own immune-system - the OG when it comes to anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-anxiety solutions (you get the idea) 100% toxin-free herbal medicine, and of course they smell beautiful! Plus unlike most pharmaceuticals, they put no extra load on your liver, which leads to other complications. Touch wood I haven’t been sick for years!

I completed my 200YTT in 2019 with Nico Luce, no less than a life-changing experience.

My career has centred on people and stories, and I am currently a senior engagement advisor in the public sector. Three years ago, wanting to have more impact I founded Goodlife Collective - a platform to unlock our collective potential!

If you’d like to ask any questions or chat about yoga or natural health with me, reach out at hello@goodlifecollective.org.