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 after high school I moved to Belgium to live for a year on a Rotary Exchange Scholarship. It was here that I first experienced yoga. It was all in french, in a 400-year old church! Despite my poor french, the movement and breathing left me feeling quite blissful and present in body and being, and the seed was planted for my yoga practice today.

In Europe I met an incredible diversity of people from many nationalities, which left an indelible impression of our shared humanity. This inspired my future studies in Psychology. I also sensed the need for healing in the world, the need 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.

Belgians version of ‘nature’ worried me (sorry Belgium!); scant monoculture tree coverings covered a few 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.

In Belgium I contracted glandular fever, which led to several years of a deepdive to bring myself back to full health. It was during this period that I discovered the power of plant medicine, and I now 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, oh and they smell beautiful! Unlike pharmaceuticals, they put zero 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, 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 chat about yoga or natural health, reach out at: esho.wellness@gmail.com.