Renee Stewart is a woman on a mission. As the daughter of supermodel Rachel Hunter and musician Rod Stewart, she comes from a modeling and musical dynasty. However, Stewart has built her own career by merging her lifelong passion for dance with a profound dedication to yoga and mindfulness. Whether she’s teaching one-on-one classes, guiding workshops, or hosting transformative retreats, her focus is clear: to empower others through movement and mindfulness. We speak to Stewart about her morning rituals, how movement has been central to her life, and why New Zealand is such a special place to her.
In conversation with Renee Stewart
Stepping in front of the camera for this shoot was actually really exciting. I loved being on set and creating with an amazing team. We were also in nature with animals, which is my favorite environment to be in, so I immediately felt comfortable. Although my mum and I have taken different journeys in our careers, it’s pretty awesome that we’ve both done a cover for FQ!
The morning is my favorite time of day — there’s something about the stillness that I love. I naturally wake up around 6 or 6:30 a.m., and the first thing I do is my morning meditation. I then make fresh ginger lemon tea, followed by coffee — although I try not to have coffee on an empty stomach so I’ll make a small batch of quinoa porridge with spices and honey. I always try to incorporate movement before my day starts, whether it’s yoga, the gym, a low-impact sculpt class, or a walk.
I’ve been a dancer all my life, starting at the age of seven, and that hasn’t changed. In 2022, I worked with Jacob Jonas The Company for a season in Los Angeles. My yoga journey began in 2011, originally as something to do when I wasn’t dancing, and I saw it purely as a physical practice. By 2013, I was debating between yoga teacher training or university — I chose university and graduated from the London Contemporary Dance School with a BA (Hons) degree in 2016. From there, I worked as a freelance dance artist, performing and collaborating with amazing fashion brands.
By 2019, I found myself at a crossroads. I wasn’t booking jobs anymore and felt unsettled within myself. I went back to the drawing board of what I loved doing and signed up for a 500-hour teacher training at Sattva Yoga Academy in India. Looking back, I see now that timing is everything. At the first day of training, I expected lots of asana, but instead, we explored everything from asana to breathwork, kriya, mantra, meditation, and yogic philosophy. It was a big wake-up call to realise that yoga is much more than just being on the mat. While I went for a certification, it ended up being the most transformative experience of my life, helping me understand yoga as an ever unfolding practice of self-awareness and how to show up fully in life.
Now, my dance and yoga journeys weave together in everything I offer. I love guiding movement workshops and teaching yoga, breathwork, and meditation — it’s all connected. I also continue studying different movement modalities. Recently, I completed a 100-hour teacher training in Primal Moves, an incredible movement practice born out of Ibiza. Hosting retreats allows me to bring together movement, mindfulness, and community. There’s always lots of movement, breathwork, meditation, and opportunities to connect with others. It’s a space to come back home to yourself while experiencing community. Movement has always been central to my life. It reminds me I have the power to shift how I feel at any given moment — through breathwork, meditation, working out, dancing, yoga, or just walking. We already have so much wisdom within us, we just need to listen and explore.
When it comes to my personal style, I gravitate toward classic looks, clean lines, and neutral or pastel tones. I don’t wear much bright color, and I love minimalism, but I make outfits interesting with accessories — classic jewellery, shoes, sunglasses, or handbags. Some of my favorite New Zealand designers are Knuefermann, Paris Georgia — which I wore for the first time on the FQ shoot and loved — and Maggie Marilyn. Internationally, I always go back to brands like Reformation, Toteme, St. Agni, Maison Hotel, and James Perse. My best style tip? Wear what feels good!
Even though I’ve been based in London, I have such a strong connection to New Zealand. My mum is a Kiwi, so even though we grew up in LA, her Kiwi ways were always present. She’s been bringing my brother Liam and me down to New Zealand since we were kids. Many Kiwi road trips filled with pineapple lumps, L&P, and pies! My mum has given me so much amazing advice — but she also balances giving guidance with allowing me the space to make my own choices. One of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned came from a conversation between my mum and my grandmother before my grandmother passed. My mum asked her what she regretted most in life, and she answered, “I regret not fully being who I am.” That moment stays with me and constantly reminds me to step into my truth, even when I have doubts. It’s also a reminder that being in our truth is an ever evolving journey.
This year, I’m lining up more retreats in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as developing an on-demand platform. I travel so much and wanted to create a space where we can all practice together online. I want to build an online community that extends into in-person retreats. Whether you’re looking for a five-minute movement session or a 75-minute yoga class — there’s always time for practice.
Photography: Holly Sarah Burgess @hollysarahburgess
Stylist: Courtney Joe @courtneyjoe_
Talent: Renee Stewart @renee__stewart
Makeup: Raeesah Sacha @rae_makeup
Hair: Kelly Manu @kellymanu_
Assistants: Willow Handy @willowhandy, Katie Begbie @katiebegbie
Creative Director: Georgia Bramley @georgiabramley
Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Murray @searsmurray
