Finding Māfana: the new yoga event bridging wellness and cultural identity

Posted on 3 June, 2025

A new yoga event in Canberra is building a bridge between wellness and cultural identity for women and the Pasifika community.

Taking place on Saturday 5 July, MĀFANA Flow will combine breath, movement, music and culture to create an unforgettable morning designed to help attendees reconnect to their inner self.

The event’s creator, Tongan yoga teacher and sound practitioner has been growing quietly inside her for a while.

Practising yoga since 2017 and teaching since 2023 (you might recognise Nancy from her Sunrise Power Vinyasa events at The Jetty) the concept for the event came from the realisation that she wanted to create a space to combine all of the pieces of herself – her movement, her sound practice and her heritage – into one offering.

“MĀFANA Flow is that offering. It’s a name, a brand, and a space I’ve poured my heart into. It’s taken nearly a year to bring to life, and now that it’s here, I finally feel like I’m sharing something true to who I am,” she says.

“MĀFANA Flow is both personal and cultural. It reflects my Tongan roots and my wellness journey. It’s a name that welcomes others into that warmth – a space where they can feel grounded, empowered, and at home in themselves.”

Explaining that in Tongan, māfana represents a deep inner warmth – a glow of vitality, presence, and connection that radiates from the heart – Nancy says that her heritage has shaped everything about how she moves through the world, including her own wellness practices.

Influenced and inspired by her own experiences, she’s infused her cultural pride along with her love of movement and mindfulness into MĀFANA Flow.

“We’re raised with strength, service, and pride – values I carry with me always. But we’re also taught not to show vulnerability, to stay strong, to hold things in for the sake of faith, family, and community,” she explains.

“Yoga initially felt unfamiliar because it invited me to slow down and feel. To listen. To be still with emotions that I hadn’t made space for before. But what I found in that stillness was a deep warmth –  a sense of connection that felt ancestral. That warmth is what I now understand as māfana.”

Wanting to teach from that space – blending the strength of her cultural foundation with practices that bring softness and healing – Nancy has created an event that combines breathwork, Vinyasa, sound healing and cultural performances.

MĀFANA Flow starts at 9.30 am at The Jetty and finishes at 12.30 pm with a nourishing lakeside lunch. Yoga mats will be provided by Lululemon, so everyone – regardless of their experience level –can join in.

Nancy is hoping to create an experience that is physical, emotional, and spiritual for her attendees. Weaving culture into every part of the experience, from the name to the facilitators, to the performances, she says that she is also hoping to build a bridge between wellness and cultural identity.

“As a Tongan woman, I know practices like yoga, breathwork, or meditation aren’t always familiar or accepted in our communities. In fact, they can sometimes be laughed at or dismissed. We’re raised to carry burdens quietly and stay strong – often without acknowledging our emotional and mental health,” she says.

“This event is about softening those walls and showing that wellness is for us too. That we can be vulnerable. That we can sit with our challenges and offer ourselves grace.”

Wanting to show women that it’s okay to pause, rest, and reflect, MĀFANA Flow is open to everyone – from experienced practitioners to those looking to reconnect with themselves. The hope is that attendees realise that wellness isn’t something out of reach – it’s something they deserve.

“I hope they leave with more than they came for. Whether that’s a deeper breath, a moment of stillness, or just the feeling of being seen and supported,” she says.

“This isn’t about being bendy or achieving anything. It’s about returning –  to your body, your breath, your story. And hopefully, to something that feels like māfana.”

As Nancy’s first independent event, she says that she’s grateful for the support that has helped bring her vision to life. Believing that partnerships like this are crucial for creating more inclusive wellness spaces, as they ‘bring visibility to cultural offerings that might otherwise go unseen’, she says it’s about more than just support – it’s about showing that wellness can and should reflect the diversity of the communities it serves.

Wanting to remind people how powerful it is to simply take time for themselves; her dream is for MĀFANA Flow to grow into a movement that can continue beyond this one event.

“I’d love to host seasonal offerings, retreats, and even take it on the road to reach other communities, especially our Pasifika people,” she says.

“I see it becoming a platform that invites people back into their bodies and culture, while offering practices that heal, strengthen, and uplift.”

“I’ve done my best to create something honest, warm, and meaningful — and I hope people leave feeling that too.”

Images supplied.