NZ's largest outdoor yoga class

Yoga enthusiasts at the Auckland Domain. Photo / Jason Oxenham

The first attempt at New Zealand's largest outdoor yoga class took place in the Auckland Domain today.

Around 200 to 300 people gathered on the field by the grandstand, with a variety of brightly coloured yoga mats in a huge display of downward dogs led by Denise Ferguson of the Yoga Sanctuary.

New Zealand's biggest yoga class held at the Auckland Domain. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Organiser Franko Heke of True North yoga said he conceived the idea as a fundraiser for suicide prevention because of his own personal history.

He had found himself "dangling my feet off Grafton bridge" in a suicide attempt, but had subsequently used yoga and meditation to improve his mental health.

Funds raised on the day will go to the establishment of an "Emergency Transformation Centre" to help others with mental health issues, he said.

In the meantime, it appears that many people were reaching inner peace today, at an often stressful time of year.