Namaskar - Oct 2016

namaskar
A VOICE FOR THE YOGA COMMUNITY OF ASIA October 2016
MANY ROADS
Non-traditional styles of yoga can have much
merit as classic forms, suggests one teacher....p19
KNEE IN TREE
How important is where you place your foot in
tree pose.......................................................p25
BEYOND ASANA
Teachers and practitioners share how they’ve
expanded their practice beyond the mat ......p28
Bianca & Samrat practice partner yoga, photo by Siuman Yuen

2 NAMASKAR

NAMASKAR - OCTOBER 2016
LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR
A family of four emits more
greenhouse gas, from the meat
they eat, than driving two cars!
If everyone in the world became vegan by 2050,
food related greenhouse gases would drop by 70%.
These according a 27 September article on
www.bbc.co.uk.
While the future of our environment might not be as simple as becoming vegetarian, it seems to
me cutting down on meat can be a start. Yogi or not, we all know eating less meat is better for our
health. The real challenge is changing our habit. And here’s where our yoga practice helps. As
yogis we regularly look at our existing habits and patterns; exploring alternative ways to do things;
and working hard to make new and better habits. If we can do it with Downward Facing Dog, we can
do it with other things too!
We can start with things directly related to our yoga practice – walk if you can, or take public
transport instead of your own car to the studio; use the least number of towels during your yoga
class and after for your shower; bring your own re-useable water bottle; limit your shower to three
minutes.
At the same time as reducing our impact on the planet, taking these little steps are an opportunity
to practice looking at and changing our habits for the better.
The dristi for this issue – Beyond Asana, is an attempt to suggest how readers can take this step.
And Valerie, James and Andy kindly remind us all that yoga is so much more than the postures we
love. For no matter how beneficial the physical benefits of yogasana, the real power of yoga
becomes apparent when we embark on our path inwards.
Those who read our July issue may recall Andy’s piece “Starbucks Yoga” discussing the dilution of
yoga as a result of the myriad styles offered today. This time, we have a differing opinion by Mary
on page 19.
A potentially controversial approach to vrksasana / tree pose is proposed by Trish on page 25. Any
anatomists out there who’d like to present a different perspective, please contact me on
fgairns@netvigator.com
Finally some housekeeping - advertisers, please note from January 2017 for a year, we will trial a
two-page limit of advertisements per issue. The intention of this is to accommodate more
advertisers from the wait list for each issue.
Also please see our new rates on page 49, also effective January 2017. They represent a modest
3% increase over this year, which we trust will still be affordable for the individual teachers and
small studios which are as important a part of our kula (community) as the large studios.
As this is our last issue of 2016, I wish you peace and happiness for the rest of the year.
On the cover - Samrat Dasgupta teaches at Pure Yoga
in Hong Kong. He also offers regular workshops,
immersions, retreats and teacher training courses.
samrat.dasgupta@pure-yoga.com
In This Issue
DRISTI - BEYOND ASANA
YOGA, BEYOND THE PRACTICE 28
DOING YOGA, WITH THE SUTRAS 31
I DO YOGA, OR I AM YOGA 33
SPECIAL FEATURES
MANY ROADS TO GOD 19
The key is to find the path which resonates
with each individual
POWER OF SWEAT 21
An Auyrvedic approach to sweating
YOUR KNEE IN TREE 25
A rather different perspective
YOGA TO MARTIAL ARTS 26
One practitioner’s observations of these two
popular Easterns forms
REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS
KULA UPDATES, WORKSHOPS,
RETREATS, TEACHER TRAININGS 6
PHOTO ESSAY 14
MUDRAS 38
MYTHOLOGY 40
RETREAT REVIEW 40
BOOK REVIEW 43
COLOURING 46
DIRECTORY 48
ABOUT NAMASKAR
ADMINISTRATION Carol Adams, carol@caroladams.hk
NEWS EDITOR Wai-Ling Tse, wailing.tse@gmail.com
CIRCULATION Angela Sun, angela.sun@gmail.com
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Frances Gairns, fgairns@netvigator.com
Namaskar provides a voice for the yoga community in Asia and
around the world. The publication is an opportunity for
practitioners on a yogic path to selflessly offer their knowledge,
learnings and experiences with others.
We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions
expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of Namaskar or
its volunteers.
Articles and photographs in Namaskar are contributed at no
charge. Advertising income covers production, distribution,
administrative costs and discretionary contributions to selected
charities and causes.
Namaskar, is published quarterly in January, April, July and October.
About 5,000 copies are printed and distributed for free to yoga
studios, teachers, fitness centres, retail outlets, cafes and yogafriendly
outlets. Mostly distributed in Hong Kong, with 1,500 copies
mailed to readers in 32 other countries.
October 2016 3

CONTRIBUTORS
ANDY WILLNER
Andy teaches yoga at Pure Yoga in
Hong Kong. Andy@pure-yoga.com
ANGELA SUN
mat since 2001. Currently teaches
internal martial arts at the Yang
Xin Studio in Hong Kong. http://
benotdefeatedbytherain.blogspot.hk
/ kwanboonlarp@gmail.com
CAROL ADAMS
KIRSI ASTRÉN
Kirsi is a blogger, photographer and
photo editor out of Helsinki,
Finland. She wanted to challenge
herself, professionally as well as
physically. Her blog has enjoyed a
few years outlining the good life in
Helsinki, Finland, the healthy
food, and the short working days
and other important issues.
wwwinspirations.pro
Born in Hong Kong, Lakshmi is a
passionate health chef, food
photographer and yogi. She
studied the art of cuisine in
Switzerland at Les Roches Hotel
Management School and earned
her Bachelors of Business
Administration in 2003. In 2008,
she picked up a camera and fell in
love with capturing the essence of
food. Away from the camera,
Lakshmi is a Integral Hatha Yoga
teacher and Diving enthusiast.
lakshmiharilela@me.com
MARY J. DIMEGLIO
Angela takes care of the
distribution and circulation of
Namaskar. Originally from New
York, she has been practicing yoga
for 10 years. She currently teaches
privately.
asunwellness@gmail.com
BERNARD KWAN
A writer and martial artist based in
Hong Kong and Taiwan, Bernard
practices Tai Chi, Baguazhang and
Qiji Daoyin and has a black belt in
Aikido. He has been on the yoga
Carol takes care of the Namaskar’s
administration, advertising and
billing. She works from home
which gives her the freedom to
take care of her 10-year-old son.
carol@caroladams.hk
JAMES BOAG
James teaches integrated yoga
programmes: classes, courses,
retreats and intensives; around the
world. He regularly gives courses
studying chapters of the Gita
direct from the original Sanskrit
text in Mysore, India.
www.jamesboagyoga.com
4 NAMASKAR
KRISHNAA KINKARIDAS
Krishnaa lives in London. She
studied with B.K.S. Iyengar and
now runs classes in London and
teaches Sanskrit and Mudras for
Yoga for the Yoga Alliance and
British Wheel of Yoga. She has
written 15 books on Bhakti Yoga.
kinkaridasi@hotmail.com
LAKSHMI HARILELA
Mary is based in Philadelphia,
USA, and is a certified teacher of
SpiritDance SoulSong. She guide
others to radiant physical and
metaphysical wellness through the
world’s oldest spiritual practices of
singing and dancing.
www.spiritdancesoulsong.com &
www.movingventures.org.
MAS VIDAL
Mas is a yogi, mystic, practitioner
of Ayurveda and founder/director
of Dancing Shiva Yoga Ayurveda,
an international non-profit
educational organization based in
Southern California. His teachings
are based on the lineage of
Paramahansa Yogananda founder
of Self Realization Fellowship. His
first book “Sun, Moon & Earth” will
be released in October 2016 and

he offers certification programs in
USA, Hong Kong and India.
www.dancingshiva.com
VALERIE FANECO
TIA SINHA
namaskar
Tia teaches yoga asana, philosophy
and Tibetan Buddhist techniques
of meditation and translates
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s
teachings and books into Hindi.
onlytia2@yahoo.co.in
TRISH CORLEY
Trish is a Baptiste certified yoga
teacher, a doctor of physical
therapy, and an anatomy professor
currently located in Singapore.
She specializes in teaching
anatomy for yoga.
www.newangleyoga.com
Valerie has been a yoga teacher
since 1999, yoga therapist, teacher
trainer certified in the tradition of
T Krishnamacharya under direct
supervision of his son TKV
Desikachar. She translated Frans
Moors’ commentary of the Yoga
Sutra into English (2012). She lives
in Singapore where she runs
courses and works as a yoga
therapist. www.beinginyoga.com
WAI-LING TSE
Wai-Ling practices and teaches
mindfulness, therapy and is Kula
editor for Namaskar.
yogawithling@gmail.com
Now on-line at:
www.issuu.com/namaskarasia
Back issues still at:
www.issuu.com/caroladams
January’s dristi:
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
For this dristi, we are looking for several articles about this classic
text of Hatha Yoga. Possible topics include:
• An overview of Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Explanation of the 15 yogasana mentioned in Hatha Yoga
Pradipika and their importance
• What did the Hatha Yoga Pradipika introduce that earlier yogic
texts hadn’t?
• Top ten most important take aways from Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Pranayams mentioned in Hatha Yoga Pradipika
• Why all the secrecy?
If you are interested in contributing on this subject, please email me
first on fgairns@netvigator.com to discuss your theme.
Contributions are also welcome on other topics. Final articles are
welcome before December 10.
October 2016 5

KULA
Updates
HONG KONG
Spiritual
Development
Circle
Every Monday 7:30-9pm
Shakti Healing Circle, Central
Take time out of the hectic city
life in an environment that gives
you the chance to stop and
breathe. Through guided
meditation and learning how to
read different oracle decks, to
tune into your own intuition and
begin using it in your every day
life. The evening also includes
talks on a variety of spiritual
subjects and will close with full
presence in the moment.
For more information
www.meetup.com/Hong-Kong-
Intuitive-Development-Circle-
Meetup/
Integral Yoga
Hong Kong
Sangha
Join the community of Integral
Yoga teachers and students to
practise and study together.
Open to all ages and abilities; and
beginners are welcome. Monday
Classes (7-9pm): 7-8pm: Integral
Yoga practice; 8-9pm: Study of
Bhagavad Gita / Yoga Sutras of
Patanjali. Classes are by donation
and all proceeds go towards
the YAMA Foundation: a nonprofit
that makes Yoga, art and
meditation accessible to underserved
communities.
For more information
info@hershayoga.com
Bhagavan Asia
Tour
12-29 November
China, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Singapore
Bhagavan, is the core and founder
of the International Vedanta
Society. Inspired early on in his
life by the ideals of Sri
Ramakrishna and Swami
Vivekananda, Bhagavan has
worked hard for the last 30
years, to bring to fruition Swami
Vivekananda’s dream - that the
knowledge of Vedanta, be spread
amongst the masses, all over the
world.
For more information Whatsapp
(852) 9338 8931 /
vedantaspiritualretreat@gmail.com
/ www.ivsweb.org
Thank You
Mother India
Fundraising
Campaign
1 September-31 January 2017
Yoga Gives Back officially kicks
off their “Thank You Mother
India” fundraising campaign on 1
September through to 31 January
2017.
Unite with the global yoga
community to help change the
lives of those less fortunate. This
annual campaign generates the
majority of Yoga Gives Back’s
funding to India, financing nearly
900 mothers and children with
micro loans and education funds.
For more information
www.yogagivesback.org /
info@yogagivesback.org
Highlights from
Yoga Central
Jennifer will take over Annisa’s
Monday evening class in October.
Jennifer has over 10 years
of experience with mYoga and is a
teacher trainee with Peter
Scott. Their weekly Saturday
11.30am class is offered in
Cantonese and Mandarin by
Shirley, who is a certified Iyengar
Yoga teacher and a Chinese
Herbal Doctor.
Introduction to Iyengar Yoga are
a course of eight 75-minute
classes, with flexible
grouping, requiring a minimum of
5 persons to commence.
Manduka mats are now available
for bulk purchase inside the
studio.
For more information
yogacentralhk@gmail.com /
yogacentral.com.hk
Yoga Poetry
Reading
Leza Lowitz will be reading some of yoga
poems live at Kee Club
12 November
Kee Club
As part of the Hong Kong
International Literary Festival,
yoga teacher and author Leza
Lowitz will read from own Yoga
Poems: Line to Unfold By and
Yoga Heart: Lines on the Six
Perfections, while a group of
yogis peform.
For more information
www.festival.org.hk
Festival of
Inspiration
12 November (2-8pm)
Promenade Piazza at Hong Kong
Cultural Centre
Organised by ISKCON HK
(International Society of Krishna
Consciousness) as part of their
50th anniversary celebrations
with Kirtan, Yoga, vegetarian
food, dance, henna skin designs,
Tai Chi and more.
For more information (852)
2739 6818
Silent Disco Yoga
with The Yoga
Room & Keith
Mitchell
20 November (5:30-6:45pm)
Yat Sen Memorial Park
Keith is a former NFL All-Pro
Linebacker and now a yoga
teacher. Here he collaborates
with The Yoga Room to bring .
Registration required in advance
and bring your own mat.
For more information
www.yogaroomhk.com /
(852) 2544 8398Ajahn
6 NAMASKAR

age, KookHee leads dynamic
classes, coupled with her insights
and wisdom.
Flex will collaborate with
Aromatherapy Associates,
a producer of essential oils,
mixed into signature blends. They
will sponsor three of Flex’s
signature classes, using specific
oil blends to enhance the class
experience. In Prana Flow,
Breathe Ease oil is rubbed on the
wrists and inhaled during
opening breathing
exercises; Chakra Flow
introduces Muscle De-Stress;
and Recharge and Restore
incorporates Revive Morning oil.
Instructors may change oils with
the seasons and to match the
focus of their class.
Aromatherapy Associates
products are now also sold at
Flex.
Are You Ready to
Unbind?
Amita Institute for Cognitum
Engineering, Central
Unbinding your “program” can
help bring about a new
perception of your “reality” and
hence initiate a new course for
life! Held every Wednesday 8-
9:30pm, first timers are
welcome at 7:30pm. Room 2502,
73 Wyndham Street, Central.
For more information
www.amita-institute.com /
www.picer.org / (852) 2167 8661
/ facebook.com/AmitaInstitute
For more information
www.flexhk.com /
info@flehk.com
Buddhist teacher Ajahn Brahmali will be in Hong Kong
Tapping into the
Mechanics of Life
Central
A face and body re-programming
treatment which claims to access
Ajahn Brahmali’s
Teaching Tour
26-29 November
The University of Hong Kong
30 November - Day of
Kindfulness
The University of Hong
Kong Born in Norway, Ajahn
Brahmali is one of the senior
disciples of Ajahn Brahm and has
been ordained for almost 20
years. He is renowned for his
knowledge of the Buddhist Suttas
and the Pâli language. He is a
highly sought after teacher in
Australia, Singapore, Indonesia,
Malaysia and Sri Lanka. His clear
and thoughtful Dharma talks
make the Buddhist teachings
easily accessible to all.
For more information
www.bodhinyana.com/
Flex Studio News
Flex Studio welcomes Dani Bruns
to the Flex team. Originally from
Germany, Dani specialises
in aerial arts and aerial yoga.
Dani’s aerial journey began in
2009 in pole fitness
Dani flying high at Flex
and continued onto aerial arts
and aerial yoga shortly after, and
since then, has taught Aerial
Fitness and Yoga in Scotland and
Vietnam. Dani is a certified 200
hour E-RYT and 500 hour RYT
with Yoga Alliance.
KookHee Andersson returns to
Flex! KookHee has resumed her
teaching schedule, leading classes
in both Island South and Central.
Born in Korea and adopted to
Sweden at a very early
the DNA messaging system and
re-educate the cells of the organs
to reduce their toxic thinking
patterns. This allows the body to
stablize itself naturally and bring
balance back to our emotional,
physical and mental well being.
For more information
www.encode-labs.com / (852)
2808 1208 / info@encodelabs.com/
facebook.com/
EncodeLaboratories
Kook Hee returns to Flex
Heloise samples some Aromatherapy
Associates products at Flex
October 2016 7

KULA
Workshops
CHINA
A Taste of Esalen
10-23 November
Shanghai and Hangzhou
A series of introductions to
SpiritDance SoulSong, Touching
Essence, Esalen massage and
bodywork, and Holotropic
breath work.
For more
information 21454450@qq.com /
11287514@qq.com
HONG KONG
Four Adventure
Yoga Workshops
with Stephen
Ewashkiw
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan
28 October - Body Movin’
Vinyasa – A Form N’ Flow-Ride
29 October - Who Are You? A
Hatha Yoga Class
30 October: 9:30am-12pm- Wake
Up And Smell The Coffee: A
Hatha Practice To Wake You Up
/ 2-5pm - Everything Just Got
Real – A 3-Hour Led Practice
For more information
www.yogaroomhk.com /
(852) 2544 8398
Yoga Self-
Realisation
Immersion with
Andrei Ram
3-6 November
Pure Yoga
Andrei Ram spent over 10 years
serving yoga master Sri Dharma
Mittra, from whom he received
yogi initiation in the yoga linage.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Mukta Kaur comes to teach at Red Doors
in Hong Kong
Break Habits &
Addictive
Behaviour
with Mukta Kaur
5 – 6 November
Red Doors Studio
Learn how Kundalini Yoga,
meditation and nutrition can help
people whose health has been
compromised by drugs, food
issues, smoking, codependency,
depression, worry, stress or
information overload.
For more information www.reddoors.com
Public Relations –
A formula for
Success
with Mukta Kaur
7 November
Red Doors Studio
The art of goodwill and
friendship as the essence of
public relations. The course will
be interactive with discussion
and practical tools to persevere
with grace and manners.
For more information www.reddoors.com
Yoga Immersion
with Sue Scott
9 November
Yoga Central, Central
10am-12 noon - Advance Your
Yoga Practice L2 and above
2.30-5pm Workshop - Teach &
Adjust in Inverted Poses
7-8.30pm Restorative Class
Senior Intermediate 1-certified
and Founder/Director at Yoga
Jivana, Melbourne, Sue has
extensive knowledge of the body
gained from her background in
classical and modern dance in
Australia and Europe that
informs her practice at a deep
level. She is currently Chair of
Iyengar Yoga Association,
Teacher Trainer & Assessor in
Australia.
For more information
www.yogacentral.com.hk /
yogacentralhk@gmail.com /
(852) 2982 4308
Therapeutic
Immersion with
Ross Rayburn
13-17 November
Pure Yoga
Ross has also become renowned
for his knowledge and skills in
helping people with physical
injuries. He has focused on yoga
therapeutics for the last 11 years,
and has worked with a number of
professional athletes and
dancers. He has taught over 50
therapeutic trainings
internationally to hundreds of
teachers and students, including
physical therapists and medical
doctors.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Keith Mitchell
Workshops
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan
18 November - Freedom Through
Yoga and Meditation: Breaking
Free of the Roles We Play
19 November: 1-3pm -
emBODYment / 3:30-6pm -
Embrace Your Greatness
Potential
20 November - Practice Becomes
Habit.
Habits Become Lifestyle
Keith is a former NFL All-
Pro Linebacker, who has been
turned to yoga after a spinal cord
injury ended his football career.
For more information
www.yogaroomhk.com /
(852) 2544 8398
Kirtan, Detox
Yoga & Ayurveda
with Mas Vidal
2-4 December
Pure Yoga
An Ayurvedic approach to
purifying your body of toxins,
excess fat and phlegm through a
yoga practice infused with
combinations of postures and
powerful breathing exercises.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Svastha Yoga:
Therapeutic
Foundations
Program with
Ganesh Mohan
Module 1: Locomotor System/
Body: Low Back, Pelvis & Lower
Limb
14-18 December
8 NAMASKAR

The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan
Introducing the most effective
aspects of traditional Yoga and
Ayurveda combined with modern
medicine. Specific guidelines for
different conditions and general
treatment principles will be
detailed, empowering you to
safely and effectively address
disabilities and ill-health through
yoga. The program is delivered in
7 intensive modules. Each module
can be attended independently.
Certificates will be issued for
each module. This is part of an
advanced 300-hour yoga training
registered with the Yoga Alliance.
For more information
www.yogaroomhk.com /
(852) 2544 8398
INDONESIA
Aquatic Bodywork
10-15 November
Mimpi Menjangan, Bali
Dancing With & On The Body:
Aquatic Bodywork, Moving
Yours and Your Partner’s Body
on The Table is specialized
training for those with prior
experience in bodywork. Led by
Purnomo “Momo” Blackpearl
Diretno.
For more information
www.movingventures.org /
contact@movingventures.org
ITALY
Touching Essence
Certification
Training
27 January-2 February 2017
Tactus Studio, Turin
Module I, with Ellen Watson and
Elena Gilli.
For more information
Tactus@Cumtactus.it /
cumtactus.it/en_US/touchingessence-esalen-massagebodywork/
NEW ZEALAND
Yin/Insight Yoga
Workshop with
Sarah Powers
3-4 December
Flow Hot Yoga, Christchurch
Sarah will blend the soft and
strong practises of Yoga with an
intention of cultivating an
inner atmosphere of ease and
vitality, qualities essential for
compassion and insight to
grow. Suitable for anyone with at
least one year yoga experience
with some understanding of Yin.
A sincere interest in meditating
also required.
For more information
www.flowhotyoga.co.nz/sarahpowers-receptive-radiantworkshop/
SINGAPORE
Yoga Anatomy
with Dr. Trish
Corley
29-30 October
New Angle Yoga
Gain a clear understanding of
yoga anatomy and put it into
action on the yoga mat. This
workshop consists of interactive
lectures with anatomical models
and illustrations and is integrated
with full asana practices. Have
fun while practically applying the
knowledge of human anatomy to
your own practice and/or your
teaching.
For more information
www.newangleyoga.com
Yoga Assists with
Dr. Trish Corley
New Angle Yoga
5-6 November
Empower your practice and your
teaching by discovering how to
assist over 50 yoga postures. As a
student, you will gain an
understanding of alignment and
the possibilities of the poses. As a
teacher, you will learn how to
confidently assist students and
empower them to experience
their own greatness in each pose.
For more information
www.newangleyoga.com
USA
The Gift of Touch
18-23 December
Esalen Institute, Big Sur,
California
5-day introduction to Esalen®
Massage with Ellen Watson and
Deborah Medow.
For more information
www.esalen.org /
contact@movingventures.org
KULA
Retreats
AUSTRALIA
New Retreats at
Byron Yoga
Retreat Centre
Byron Bay
Three new special interest
weekend retreats: Yin Yoga,
cooking and a Surf and Yoga
Retreat. Retreats
include massage treatment,
morning and afternoon yoga
classes, optional early beach
walk, time to relax by the heated
mineral salt swimming pool and
delicious food, grown on site in
their organic gardens. They also
offer 8-Day Health and Yoga
Retreats and 5-Day Mid Week
Retreats.
For more information
wwwbyronyoga.com
INDONESIA
Desa Seni Field
Trip with Angela
Perez
17 - 21 November
Bali, Indonesia
A field trip for anyone who wants
to connect with their deep source
of wisdom and develop their
capacity to listen to the stillness
within.
Includes yoga, pranayama and
meditation.
For more information
events@desaseni.com
ITALY
A Taste of Esalen
3-5 February 2017
Turino
Introduction to SpiritDance
SoulSong, Esalen massage and
bodywork, holotropic
breathwork, sensory awareness
and gestalt practice.
For more information
Tactus@Cumtactus.it
JAPAN
SpiritDance
SoulSong Retreat
25-27 November
Villa Shirahama, Shimoda,
Shizuoka
Dance and sing with SDSS cocreators
Ellen Watson and
Daphne Tse.
For more information
azusankonxxxx@gmail.com / (81)
80 4018 1114
MALAYSIA
Anatomy
Connections -
Yoga Anatomy
with Dr. Trish
Corley
18-19 February 2017
New Angle Yoga, Kuala Lumpur
Gain a clear understanding of
yoga anatomy and put it into
action on the yoga mat. This
workshop consists of interactive
lectures with anatomical models
and illustrations and is integrated
with full asana practices. Have
fun while practically applying the
knowledge of human anatomy to
your own practice and/or your
teaching.
For more information
www.newangleyoga.com
October 2016 9

Cory Bryant
NEPAL
Asana & The
Buddha Mind with
Cory Bryant
24 October-3 November
Exploring the Eight Limbs of
Yoga and the Eight-fold Path of
Buddhism in Kathmandu with the
help of expert guides
and educators, covering many of
the valley’s major pilgrimage and
cultural heritage sites in depth.
For more information
www.yoganepal.com/cory-fall-
2016
NEW ZEALAND
Retreat with
Angela Cervevich
6-16 March 2017
Enjoy the breath-taking
landscapes of New Zealand’s
South Island along with daily yoga
and meditation bringing the
expansiveness of nature into your
daily life.
For more information
info@nzyoga.com /
www.nzyoga.com
SPAIN
Yoga & the Art of
Living & Dying
with James Boag
29 October-5 November
Casa Cuadrau
An opportunity to explore grief,
loss, silence, renewal and the
cycles of life.
For more information
info@casacuadrau.org /
www.casacuadrua.org
THAILAND
Tune in & Tune
up Yoga Retreat
with Nora Lim &
The Yoga Room
4-7 November
The Pavana Resort, Chiang Mai
Offering you an opportunity to
unplug, tune in and connect with
your highest Divine Self by tuning
up your physical, emotional and
mental bodies to find balance and
bliss from within.
For more
information www.yogaroomhk.com /
(852) 2544 8398
Finding
Emotional
Balance &
Freedom
10-16 November; 6-12 April
2017; 27 April-3 May 2017; 22-28
June 2017; 31 August-6
September 2017; 2-8 November
2017
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary &
Holistic Spa, Koh Samui
Explore your emotional habits
and learn to respond to life’s
10 NAMASKAR
challenges healthily, guided by
Kamalaya’s Life Enhancement
Mentors Rajesh Ramani, Smitha
Jayakumar and Sujay Seshadri.
Having been immersed in
monastic lifestyles in India for
over a decade, all are experienced
teachers with a strong
background in ancient Asian
philosophies.
For more
information: www.kamalaya.com
Simon Low
Yin & Yang Yoga
with Simon Low
1-5 December; 13-17 April
2017; 19-23 October 2017;7-11
December 2017
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary
and Holistic Spa, Koh Samui
Yoga immersion with daily Yin
and Yang Yoga practice,
complemented by nourishing
cuisine and selected wellness
treatments.
For more
information: www.kamalaya.com
Anthony “Prem” Carlisi
Yoga & Ayurveda
Retreat with
Anthony ‘Prem’
Carlisi & Gabriel
Azoulay
7 – 14 January 2017
Aava Resort & Spa
Led by two long time teachers,
who’ve combined experience of
over 50 years. This retreat aims
to education practitioners about
health and rejuvenation through
yoga and Ayurveda.
For more information
www.thailandyogaretreat.com
UK
Yoga & the Art of
Living & Dying
with James Boag
18-20 November
Ampleforth
Honouring, celebrating and
exploring death and the cycles of
life.
For more information (44) 7880
545 545 / gillian@
mrsosbornerecommends.co.uk

KULA
Teacher Trainings
this training. Guiding students to
their next level of training by
deepening their understanding
and practice of yoga asana,
pranayama, meditation and
anatomy. Open to graduates with
a 200-hour Yoga certification (all
traditions) with minimum six
months teaching experience. For
non-Integral Yoga graduates,
immersion classes are available.
Beautiful Byron Bay, a mecca for yoga down under.
AUSTRALIA
A Year in Byron
Bay - Live, work
and study Yoga
Byron Yoga Centre is offering
two tuition scholarships for its
part-time 12-month Certificate
IV in Yoga Teaching worth
AUS$10,000 each. One
scholarship will be awarded to an
International Student and one to
an Australian student
(International students can
qualify for a 12 month student
visa for Australia and Australian
Students can apply for Austudy).
The award covers all training
components. (It does not cover
any other expenses such as
accommodation; plus for
overseas students: health cover
and the cost of the student visa).
Applications close 31 December
2016 and the scholarship places
would be available for intake in
August 2017.
For more information
admin@byronyoga.com
HONG KONG
300-hr Advanced
Yin Yang Vinyasa
Yoga TT with
Janet Lau
23-29 October & 8-17 December
2017 - 150-Hr Mindfulness
6-12 November - 60-hr Healing
our Hearts
19 June-1 July 2017 - 110-hr Yin
Yang
19-29 July 2017 - 90-hr Yoga
Sutras
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan
Designed for those who do not
just want to teach, but also to
transform themselves inside and
out so they can share the
experience with others. Using the
essence of mindfulness and
spiritual teachings from different
lineages woven into the Yogic
teachings and your everyday life.
For more information
info@yogaroomhk.com /
www.yogaroomhk.com / (852)
2544 8398
Integral Yoga’s
Intermediate TT
Part 1: 4-12 November / Part 2:
25 May-3 June 2017
Swami Ashokananda and Swami
Ramananda are two of Integral
Yoga’s most experienced teachers
and will be in Hong Kong to lead
For more information
info@hershayoga.com
Pre- & Post-natal
Yoga Teacher
Training with
Samantha Chan
7-16 November
Pure Yoga
This training offers an in-depth
review of the anatomy and
physiology of pregnancy, labour
and birth. Trainees will gain
extensive experience with asanas
suited to pregnant women and a
thorough understanding of
contraindications during
pregnancy.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Transformation -
Unveil your Inner
Teacher with
Samrat
1 April-14 May 2017
Pure Yoga
A 200-hour program spread over
1.5 months during the weekends
and public holidays to give
students time to assimilate the
information, closely concentrate
on weaknesses to flip them by
exploring a new juncture and
October 2016 11

learning the perspective of a
teacher’s vision. Special focus is
given towards advancement of
asana practice and clarify
questions about Yogic
Philosophies, Sanskrit names
and their details.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com /
events@pure-yoga.com
50-hr Yoga for
Kids TT with Jodi
Komitor
25-27 November TT for teaching
2-7 year olds
28-30 November TT for teaching
8-13 year olds
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan
A practical and experiential
programme, filled with live
demonstration classes, lesson
planning opportunities and
ready-to-use practical teaching
This 50-hr certification
programme will make you an
expert in vinyasa yoga
sequencing, manual adjustments,
sustainable alignment and
practical anatomy.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Universal Yoga
Teacher Training
with Andrey
Lappa
2-21 January 2017
Pure Yoga
The 200-RYT course compresses
a vast array of yoga subjects and
styles into a comprehensive
Hutchison House in Central.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Surrender -
Weekday Yin
Yoga TT with
Frances Gairns
15 February – 16 June 2017
Pure Yoga
Yin Yoga is a practice of stillness
and introspection, achieved
through the release of physical,
mental and emotional tension. As
we gracefully surrender the
layers of tension, we find
freedom and happiness has been
within us all along.
professionals with a committed
yoga practice.
For more information
www.brahmaniyoga.com/yogateacher-training/prenatal-yogateacher-training-course-2017
INDONESIA
Power of Now
Oasis TT
29 January-26 February -
Vinyasa Flow with Judit
5 March-2 April; 7 May-4 June;
2-30 July - Hatha Vinyasa with
Carlotta, Myron, Mallika
3 September-1 October -
Hatha Yoga with Myron &
Mallika
5 November-3 December -
Vinyasa Flow with Jolie
Join Judit Varga, Carlotta
Castangia, Myron D’mello,
Mallika Savalkar and Jolie Manza
who have extensive knowledge on
Andrey Lappa
Kids yoga teacher trainer, Judi Komitor
tools. Age-appropriate poses,
animated breathing exercises,
guided visualizations, thematic
classes, child development
principles and behavior
management techniques are sure
to fill your Yoga bag with proven
practices for developing
meaningful Yoga experiences
with children.
For more information
info@yogaroomhk.com /
www.yogaroomhk.com / (852)
2544 8398
Mastering the Art
of Vinyasa Yoga
50-hr Training
with Jason
Crandell
5-11 December
Pure Yoga
course, including physical
practice, complete yoga system
theory and teaching
methodology.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
Embrace -
Weekday Hot
Yoga TT with
Frances Gairns
13 February – 14 June 2017
Pure Yoga
Hot room, sweat, mirrors, fixed
sequence of postures are all
trademarks of a Hot Yoga
practice. When we embrace them
fully, they can be powerful
catalysts for our physical, mental
and emotional transformation.
This 200-hr part-time TT will be
held 9 am - 3 pm on Mondays,
Tuesdays and Wednesdays at
This 200-hr part-time TT will be
held 9 am - 3 pm on Wednesdays,
Thursdays and Fridays at
Hutchison House in Central.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
INDIA
Prenatal Yoga TT
13-23 January 2017
Brahmani Yoga, Goa
This course is about honouring
the goddess within women at the
most sacred time in their lives.
You will learn how to sequence
Yoga classes specifically designed
to empower and prepare women
for birth. This 90-hour Yoga
Alliance programme is for
experienced teachers who have
completed a Level I Yoga teacher
training, as well as for
experienced childbirth
educators, doulas, midwives and
other pregnancy health
Jolie Manza
Judit Varga
Yoga. This programme combines
the ancient traditions of Yoga
with the powerful body
aware practice of today’s
world. The maximum number of
students in a group is 16.
For more information
powerofnowoasis.com /
info@powerofnowoasis.com
12 NAMASKAR

SpiritDance
SoulSong TT with
Ellen Watson and
Daphne Tse
2-28 April 2017
Mimpi Menjangan, Bali
Ellen and Daphne will help you
discover the skills and confidence
to spread joy, healing and selfexpression
through movement
and sound.
For more information
www.spiritdancesoulsong.com /
contact@movingventures.org
MALAYSIA
Vinyasa Yoga TT
with Dr. Trish
Corley
Kuala Lumpur: 10-26 February
2017
New Angle Yoga
Based on Baptiste Yoga, this 200-
hour training is accredited by the
Yoga Alliance. Through the
practice of yoga and selfexploration,
you will have
breakthroughs to discover the
greatest version of yourself, gain
the tools to confidently lead yoga
classes and to access new
possibilities in your practice,
your teaching, and your life.
For more information
www.newangleyoga.com.
training in December.
For more information
enquiry@onewellness.com.sg
Power to Lead:
Vinyasa Yoga
TT with Dr. Trish
Corley
Singapore: 14-23 & 29-30
October; 5-6 & 12-13 November
New Angle Yoga
Based on Baptiste Yoga, this 200-
hr training is accredited by the
Yoga Alliance. Through the
practice of yoga and selfexploration,
you will have
breakthroughs to discover the
greatest version of yourself, gain
the tools to confidently lead yoga
classes and to access new
possibilities in your practice,
your teaching, and your life.
For more information
www.newangleyoga.com
Light on Hatha
Yoga 30-hr CET
November 2016 – May 2017
Being in Yoga
Explore the Hatha Yoga
Pradipika thoroughly and
leisurely with Valerie Faneco.
Held two Saturdays per month, 2
– 5 pm, each session will include a
one-hour practice and two hours
of presentation. Open to live and
Skype participants.
For more information
www.beinginyoga.com
Universal Yoga
TT with Andrey
Lappa
25 November - 18 December
Pure Yoga
The 200-RYT course compresses
a vast array of yoga subjects and
styles into a comprehensive
course, including physical
practice, complete yoga system
theory and teaching
methodology.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
TAIWAN
Universal Yoga
Teacher Training
with Andrey
Lappa
14-31 December
Pure Yoga
The 200-RYT course compresses
a vast array of yoga subjects and
styles into a comprehensive
course, including physical
practice, complete yoga system
theory and teaching
methodology.
For more information
www.pure-yoga.com
THAILAND
Anahata Yoga
200-hr Yoga TT
with Peter
Clifford
15 November-9 December
Sanctuary Thailand, Koh Phangan
Peter has accumulated decades of
study in India, and refined over
the last 55 years of teaching. He
has been offering daily classes
and short courses at The
Sanctuary. This programme
offers a Yoga Alliance
certification upon completion, as
well as an empowering journey of
self-discovery.
For more information
www.thesanctuarythailand.com/
anahata-yoga-200-hour-yogateacher-training-with-peterclifford.html
/
life@thesanctuarythailand.com
Dhugal Meachem
The Yin Yoga
Foundation with
Dhugal Meachem
11-23 March 2017
Koh Samui
This program is open to all and is
a 6-day (50-hours) or 12-day
(100-hours) full-time training
program. It will give you the
essential skills necessary to step
into a classroom upon graduation
and confidently teach Yin
Yoga. Yin yoga applies long-held
non-muscular torque on your
body. Yin stimulates and
strengthens your skeletal,
connective, fascial and ligament
tissues, mobilizes joints and
soothes the nervous system.
For more information
www.blackmatyogi.com
Dev Kapil
SINGAPORE
50-hr Advanced
TT with Dev Kapil
19-20, 26-27 November & 14-16
December
One Wellness Fitness Club,
Singapore
The Yoga Therapy training will be
held over two weekends in
November and Yoga back bends
Peter Clifford
October 2016 13

PHOTO ESSAY
INTEGRAL YOGA’S
50 TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION
To benefit YAMA
Foundation
BY LAKSHMI HARILELA
On October 7, 2016, Integral Yoga celebrates half a century of service. Integral Yoga’s
beginnings date back to the summer of 1966, when Sri Swami Satchidananda arrived for
a two-day visit to the United States to teach a group of actors, artists, photographers
and musicians. It only took a few evenings in Gurudev’s company to inspire this group
to request him to stay, leading to the founding of Integral Yoga on October 7, 1966.
In celebration, Integral Yoga’s Hong Kong Sangha hosted “50 Sun Salutations for 50
Years” challenge followed by a family “Kidding Around Yoga” class to honour Sri Swami
Satchidananda’s timeless teachings. The goal of Integral Yoga and the birthright of every
individual is to have easeful body, a peaceful mind and a useful life.
The event raised funds for the YAMA Foundation: a new non-profit organisation that
makes Yoga, Art & Meditation Accessible to all people regardless of ability or
background. Co-founded by Hersha & Shaman Chellaram, YAMA seeks to bring the
ancient teachings to communities that would not usually have access, including those
with disabilities, chronic illness, special needs.
For more information www.integralyoga.org & www.yamahk.org
right Co-founders of YAMA Foundation, Hersha & Shaman Chellaram and their children
below Catrin Andersen (far left), YAMA’s advocate for persons with disabilities, joining in the 50 Sun
Salutations Challenge
14 NAMASKAR

elow YAMA Foundation’s committee (known as the ‘blanc’ yogis)
October 2016 15

16 NAMASKAR

October 2016 17

18 NAMASKAR

OPINION
THERE ARE MANY ROADS TO GOD
Find the Best Path for You
BY MARY J. DIMEGLIO
For yogis, the definition of “yoga” is often as
individual as — and no less complicated than
— one’s definition of “God.”
over my body, moving it without planning or
judgment. In the dance, I discover the union
of breath and body, of body and beat.
And, as with finding one’s way to the divine,
each individual can determine the best path
for themselves.
In my practice — in which we use sound and
movement to open our chakras — we
resonate with one of our favorite poets,
Rumi, who said: “There are many roads that
lead to God. I have chosen the one of dance
and music.”
WHAT IS YOUR PATH? WHAT IS YOUR
YOGA?
In the Yoga Sûtras of Patanjali, it means
concentration. “The restraint of the agitation
of thoughts.”
So, whatever activity (or non-activity) brings
you to a focused and calm mind can be your
yoga.
As yogis, wellness experts and medical
studies praise the many benefits of yoga to
the body, mind and spirit, a wide range of
practices have begun incorporating yogic
postures and principles. Yoga asanas have
been blended with acrobatics (acroyoga),
with pilates (yogalates), with weight training
(yoga sculpt) and with flying (aerial yoga).
The healing art of massage teaches
practitioners that quieting one’s mind to be
fully present in the moment with the body on
the table is essential to allowing intuition to
guide them in providing healing touch.
As an E-RYT, massage teacher Ellen Watson
includes yogic philosophy, asana, partner,
nada, restorative and yoga nidra in her
massage trainings. Students learn to use
asana adapted for the table to move both the
giver’s and the receiver’s body. They learn to
tune in by tuning out the chattering monkey
mind. The massage practice becomes their
yoga.
Watson’s journey begin in an unlikely way —
1980s exercise videos! She shares her story:
“I found it through Jane Fonda’s workout
challenge in the ‘80s, and Raquel Welch and
Alan Finger’s video — in high heels and
bathing suits at a Mailbu beach house! Then
to Esalen Institute, where I discovered
classical Indian yoga with savasana between
each asana. I became a devotee of all yoga. I
especially was drawn to the eight limbs and
how this map was similar to my Episcopalian
studies of all but the asanas and
pranayamas.
Ellen Watson’s path to the Divine is paved with various
yoga styles, massage and dance.
While yoga fundamentalists might scoff that
these hybrids are not “real yoga,” these new
modalities all encourage and enable focused
concentration and a deeper mind-body
awareness. Though they might begin purely
for fitness or fun, a student is likely to
discover as they heal and balance their
physical body and learn to put full attention
on their breath and uniting breath with
movement, their mind becomes clear.
I easily slip into a meditative state on the
dance floor. Putting my complete awareness
on my breath and the sensation of my feet
against the earth invites my thinking mind to
take a pause as I let spirit completely take
“I was a fitness professional and a triathlete,
and appreciated the integration of mind,
body, spirit, actions, eating, devotion, right
action, all in one practice. And, all the while, I
was taking yoga teacher trainings, holotropic
breathwork, dance, sound healing and
bodywork. All of these flowed together for
me, in that all were my yoga.”
Considering “yoga” as the union of the lower
self and higher self and as a tool to rise and
expand consciousness, it’s easy to see there
are many paths to the divine.
October 2016 19

20 NAMASKAR

AYURVEDA
THE POWER OF SWEAT
Good for All, but Varies by Dosha
BY MAS VIDAL
The fascination with sweating is nothing new.
It has been a healing practice in many ancient
cultures and traditions for centuries. The
hammam or Turkish bath, the Mexican
temescal, and the Native American sweat
lodge were all used to purify the body and as
spiritual rituals for releasing negative
energies. The Finnish sauna was a popular
social practice and a place to relax and share
time with family and friends. There is
obviously a psychological aspect to
perspiring, because sweat is regulated by the
sympathetic nervous system and adrenal
glands. The modern lifestyle’s tendency to
stress the adrenal glands can cause excessive
sweating in some individuals, and over time
this leaves a person feeling depleted, and can
eventually lead to chronic fatigue issues.
the greatest time to perspire and can enjoy
steam baths at high temperatures without
any concern of provoking an imbalance. Vata
types also benefit from sweat therapies, but
should take heat in lesser amounts and for
shorter durations to avoid drying out. Pitta
types should enjoy a small amount of
sweating therapy administered infrequently,
especially for those living in the tropics.
The adrenal cortex produces cortisol, a
hormone that functions to produce and store
energy. When sweat therapies are used for
detoxification purposes, they must always be
combined with some form of restoration and
cooling. This is what distinguishes Ayurvedic
sweating or fomentation therapies from the
practices of other cultures. Three main
factors govern Ayurvedic use of sweat
therapy for detoxification and maintaining
health. The primary factor is regarding the
head, which, as it contains sensitive organs
like the eyes and brain, should not be heated.
The second consideration is the season.
Depending on the climate, excessive heat or
sweat therapies should be minimized in the
summer, as the season naturally induces
sweat in daily living.
The third and most specific factor is the
individual prakriti or constitution and vikriti
or imbalance. This is also considered when
determining the duration of the treatment
and also the type of sweating device to be
used. Ayurveda has a full-body steam bath
called svedhana implemented as part of the
pancha karma system. Other types of
fomentation are used in a more localized
fashion for specific areas like arm and leg
joints or the lower back muscles. This type of
steam therapy is called nadi svedhana.
While all dosha types can benefit from
sweating, length and frequency should be
adjusted according to type. Kapha types take
The skin is often considered to be the largest
organ in the body. The porous qualities in the
epidermis allow it to take in oxygen and
almost anything it is exposed to. The
epidermis is composed of the outermost
layers of the skin. It forms a protective
barrier over the body’s surface and is
responsible for keeping water in the body
and preventing pathogens from entering. The
epidermis also helps the skin regulate body
temperature. The dermis is the layer of skin
beneath the epidermis and consists of
connective tissues that cushion the body
from stress and strain.
The endocrine system is directly linked to
dhatu or tissue strength and density. In
Ayurveda, the quality of these tissues is
measured by the strength of the agni or fire
that supports each of them. Although a good
capacity to sweat and heat the body is
October 2016 21

with herbal medicines begin to penetrate the
epidermis, into the dermis and beyond, to
loosen subtle toxins known as ama that get
clogged in the bodily tissues. Consistent and
repetitious strokes aid in loosening these
toxins. When this is followed by svedhana or
steam therapy, the heat opens the pores,
pushing sweat through to cleanse bodily
channels and pathways.
necessary for maintaining the tissues and
balanced endocrine function, pitta types who
are not cautious when using sweat therapies
or yoga practices can develop estrogen
deficiencies.
The role of estrogen deficiency in skin-aging
and wound-healing can serve as an initial
marker for the onset of greater
complications with menstruation, fertility,
and, potentially, immune disorders.
In Ayurveda, the skin is considered to
provide a major entryway for the delivery of
vital herbal medicines carried through oils.
The importance of the skin must not be
overlooked, as oils, herbs, and foods can be
absorbed through the skin to nourish the
entire body and its systems. This is called
oleation (snehana) and sweating (svedhana).
These are preliminary practices
(pruvakarma) for preparing the body for
detoxification in the pancha karma system.
The practice of self-massage is called
abhyanga and is endorsed as a powerful
practice in a daily preventative-medicine
routine. The external oleation of the body
serves two primary purposes. Oils infused
Oiling the body also has a powerful
nourishing effect, bringing nutrition (rasa)
to the tissues. This is like feeding the body
through the skin to nourish the plasma,
purify and strengthen the blood, improve
muscular flexibility and joint mobility,
balance nervous system function, increase
immunity, and calm the mind. Steam or any
heat therapy, including yoga asana practice,
aims at detoxification. While oiling the body
promotes energy intake, the process is
complete only when sweat, moved by subtle
pranic currents, releases toxins.
In the broadest sense, the main function of
this staple Ayurvedic practice is intake and
output, which also impact the direction and
flow of prana. Snehana and svedhana both
improve digestion by strengthening the
jatharagni or digestive fire, and increase the
main respiratory function in the heart and
lungs (pranvaha srota). This is especially the
case when oils containing stimulants like
camphor, eucalyptus, tulsi, mint, and thyme
are used. Oleation and yogic practices
combine powerfully to increase the function
of the pranvaha srota.
Abhyanga or self-massage is an important
prerequisite to postural yoga and
pranayama, as the oils increase the body’s
agility and help stimulate lymphatic function,
which helps release toxins from the body.
Fomentation can also be done with a warm to
hot bath to which oils and vata-alleviating
herbal decoctions have been added. The use
of any heating therapy or yoga practice has its
precautions and should be adjusted with the
factors just mentioned: head, season, and
dosha type. Other specific precautions on the
use of heating therapies include: high pitta
vikriti, physical weakness, excessive thirst,
use of strong drugs or alcohol, pregnancy,
diarrhea, jaundice, skin rash, and low ojas or
diminished immunity.
There are many practical ways to integrate
body-oil massage and sweat therapies into a
lifestyle routine. I often tell my clients that
there is no better way to begin the morning
than with detoxifying practices such as these,
which enhance the sadhana and set the
course for the entire day. The easiest type of
sweat therapy is a hot shower taken after
performing oil massage in the morning. The
frequency of the therapy depends on the
dosha and also the climate you live in.
Some Sweaty Statistics
MOSTLY WATER
Sweat is 99% water along with some sodium,
chloride, potassium, urea and ammonia.
TWO TYPES OF SWEAT GLANDS
Eccrine glands are all over our body and pull
water and salt from our blood to the surface
of our skin to help us to cool down when we
are hot. The sweat from these glands is
odourless.
Apocrine glands are in areas where we have
lots of hair follicles, like the head, armpits,
chest and groin, and are productive when we
are anxious or stressed. The sweat from
these glands contain fats and proteins which
react with the bacteria in our skin to produce
odour.
NATURAL ANTIBIOTIC
Sweat contains dermcidin, a natural
antibiotic which helps our skin to heal from a
scratch or insect bite.
SOME TOXINS CAN ONLY BE
ELIMINATED THROUGH SWEATING
Heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium,
arsenic, and other chemicals stored in our fat
are all eliminated through sweat.
WE SWEAT A LOT
The average person sweats 0.8 to 1.4 litres
per hour during exercise.
An Ironman competitor can lose up to 15
litres of sweat during a race!
Excerpted from the upcoming book Sun, Moon, Earth:The
Sacred Relationship of Yoga and Ayurveda by Mas Vidal.
22 NAMASKAR

October 2016 23

24 NAMASKAR

ANATOMY
WHERE’S YOUR KNEE IN TREE?
Foot position’s effect on knee stability
BY TRISH CORLEY
I have heard countless yoga teachers tell me
to avoid placing my foot on my knee during
tree pose. I listened to my teachers for many
years, and I never did experience any knee
pain or injury during tree pose. More
recently, I started questioning some of the
common cues given in yoga and wonder
where they come from and how they get
passed down through generations of teacher
and students. I played with placing the center
of the sole of my foot directly on my knee
during tree pose. And it feels good. It actually
feels stable. And an anatomical analysis
supports that it can be very stabilizing.
for the ends of the femur to rest in.
However, we rely on our ligaments as well as
the strength of muscles to really keep the
knee stable. Without them, the knee would
actually be as unstable as eggs on spoons.
It just so happens the structures around the
knee allow for significant bending and
straightening the knee, while rotation and
(foot below the knee), you may be pressing
the tibia away from the femur.
Stack two yoga blocks on top of each other at
their greatest height. Imagine this is your
knee with the top block being your femur and
the bottom block being your tibia. Push onto
the side of top block. It likely moved off the
Although you may have been told so, the knee
is not a hinge joint. Consider the hinge on a
door. It allows the door to open and close.
That is, the door only moves back and forth
in one plane of movement. It may seem your
knee only bends and straightens. However,
your knee (specifically the tibiofemoral joint)
also has the ability to rotate slightly and if not
for the stabilizing structures of the knee, it
could move side-to-side.
By definition, the knee is made up of two
condyloid joints. The lower part of the femur
(thigh bone) has two large rounded convex
ends. The top part of the tibia (shin bone) has
two shallow concave ends that support the
convex ends of the femur. It is similar to two
eggs resting on two spoons. And just as you
would not want an egg to fall of the spoon, it
is important that the ends of the femur stay
inside the shallow supports of the tibia
(while still allowing for movement to bend
and straighten the knee as required in so
many functional activities). Fortunately we
have the menisci that create a deeper surface
side-to-side movement is limited. We rely on
the strength of such structures to provide
enough stability in the knee to hold us
upright. In tree pose, you are standing on one
leg and therefore stability in the knee is
extremely important.
Does placing your foot on your knee during
tree increase, decrease, or not affect the
stability of the knee? Two of the major
supporting ligaments of the knee run along
the inside and outside of the knee. As shown
in the image (see image of the knee joint
below) the lateral collateral ligament
connects the femur (thigh bone) to the fibula.
On the inside of the knee the medial collateral
ligament connects the femur and the tibia.
The primary role of the collateral ligaments
is to prevent the knee from bending from
side-to-side. Placement of the sole of your
foot on the outside edge of your knee may
play a similar role as the medial collateral
ligament and provide more stability to
the inside of your knee. If you press your
foot into the femur (foot above the knee),
you may be pressing the femur away from the
tibia. And if you press your foot into the tibia
bottom block. Now restack the blocks and
push onto the side of the bottom block. It
likely moved, taking the top block down with
it. Now restack the blocks and press equally
into both blocks (at the crease where the two
blocks meet). They likely remain stable. So it
is possible placing your foot onto your knee
in tree may create support!
As with any yoga posture, the key to creating
stability comes from well-aligned joints and
muscle action drawing into the centerline. I
suggest you play around with the placement
of your lifted foot on your standing leg and
determine what feels good in your own body.
And consider your body will feel most
powerful if you ground down through the
four corners of your standing leg; press your
standing leg and lifted foot into each other;
pull your low belly up and in to neutralize
your pelvis; stack your shoulders over your
hips, and reach the crown of your head up to
the sky. After all, a strong tree has deep roots
and a stable trunk allows it to withstand the
wind forces of even the strongest winds.
October 2016 25

PERSPECTIVE
FROM YOGA TO MARTIAL ARTS
...and Back
BY BERNARD KWAN
Humanity is in transition - climate change,
mass extinction, religious sectarian conflict,
racial tension, technological advances leave
us off center. No wonder so many choose to
withdraw to their own world, frittering
hours away in front of tiny screens.
Although humanity has made significant
progress, we wonder whether, behind a thin
veneer of culture, anything has changed.
Sudden crises throws societies into turmoil.
Climate change threatens the end. We can see
the effect of extreme circumstances on our
We cultivate
deep stillness in
our meditation,
yet we still lose it
with our
loved ones.
most advanced societies - Hurricane Katrina
in New Orleans in 2007 and the Tsunami in
Japan in 2011. In one instance there is
widespread looting and riots in the
aftermath, culminating with people being
locked and trampled to death in a stadium. In
the other, orderly lines and sharing of food
with well-organized relief efforts, and a
sense of shared sacrifice.
Dystopian and post-apocalyptic futures fill
the media. Myth making has been a timehonored
way for humanity to frame its
deepest, most pressing fears. They allow us
to question how we would act in extreme
circumstances. Would we really kill for a bag
of food? Would we join a gang for our own
protection and dominate those weaker than
us? Would we look the other way while
someone lies dying? Or can we do better?
If we place any importance upon the spiritual
evolution of mankind, these are not
theoretical questions but the very purpose of
our practice. The circumstances we face may
not be extreme. But how does our practice
help when we are thrown from our refuge
into the messiness of everyday life? We may
cultivate deep stillness in our meditation, yet
we still lose it with our loved ones.
Yogic philosophy helps deepen our
understanding beyond the asanas. The
foundation of yoga ethics such as the yamas
and the niyamas (the first two limbs of the
yoga sutras), provide principles such as
ahimsa (not harming), satya (truthfulness),
asteya (non-stealing) and brahmacarya
(celibacy) to guide us. But these lofty ideals
provide scant guidance for everyday
behavior. Life is full of messy compromises
and painful calculations. Should I tell the
truth so that my friend can change or should
I refrain from hurting her feelings? It is truly
hard to know the right course of action and
the ego often intrudes.
There was a period where I questioned the
efficacy of my yoga practice. It provided a
refuge, but it did not help me resolve my
struggles. Life on the mat was lonely, a
solitary dialogue day after day. Despite
friendships forged in the studios, I longed
for meaningful interaction as part of my
practice. Yoga seemed better suited to a
renunciant than one entangled in the world.
My path led me to the spiritual art of Aikido,
then to Tai Chi and other Chinese arts, and I
came across some answers in the traditional
values of China and Japan.
Martial arts arose from man’s propensity to
commit violence against his fellow man.
Although many styles have degenerated into
theatre, most remain forms of controlled
aggression and deal intimately with our
basest emotions: anger and fear and desire to
dominate. Their genius lies in their ability to
use these states and transform them into a
vehicle for self-improvement and
enlightenment. By incorporating threads
from Confucianism, Zen and Tantra and
Taoism and the past masters have woven a
coherent way of living for daily life. Indeed
these three religions had arisen in response
to periods of intense conflict and suffering
and attempted to initiate a spiritual evolution
of humanity.
Relationships are messy and setting rigid
guidelines are bound to fail, except perhaps
in a cloistered environment. Central to
martial arts is the virtue of humility - the
secret to being morally effective in our
relationships. It is a recognition that we are
flawed, do not have a monopoly on suffering
in this world, and cause great suffering
through our thoughts and deeds. This is
reinforced by the fact that many of the
techniques can cause grave injury and no
matter how strong we become there is always
someone stronger. Thus when training we
learn to be responsible for our training
partners. And by extension, this care is
shown to other students and family, onwards
to the wider world, like ripples on a lake.
Words are deficient, and the ancients
realized that it was not enough to teach
virtue, it had to be practiced. Just as we hone
our techniques or asana, there has to be
period of leavening before understanding is
incorporated into our bodies. Ethics also
requires muscle memory. And this is where
rites comes in. Confucius listed six arts for a
well-developed man - rites, music, archery,
chariot racing, calligraphy and mathematics.
And ritual was seen as the most important.
26 NAMASKAR

In the dojo, there are elaborate rituals of
bowing and respect, care of the
surroundings, teaching newcomers, and
shared celebrations and losses. At first these
may seem forced, but there is an element of
you “fake it until you make it” and slowly the
requisite feeling takes root. Show respect
towards your seniors and then towards
others in the outer world, even those whom
you dislike. Cleanliness in the dojo plants the
seed of environmental consciousness. In the
heat of a fight, if you can keep your head
while others are losing theirs, in a
compromised situation you have a good
chance of doing the same.
We incorporate principles in our daily life.
The Japanese are onto something when they
teach their children through etiquette and
ritual. To greet people with the proper
respect, enforced care of communal spaces,
clear guidance as to the right words and
behavior, an understanding of the
appropriate duties one has to others. These
create space for daily practice. The fruits
were plain for all to see in the aftermath of
the Tsunami. There is space for us to reclaim
some of the old traditions in Hong Kong.
The alternative would be to force people to
act morally through fear of sanctions. The
only way to keep them in line is through a
police state. This view was implemented with
brutal force through history. In America the
jails overflow, but when the state fails,
society fails also. There has been a general
decline in moral education and the adoption
of extreme capitalism. People look towards
rules and laws for guidance as to what not to
do, but all else is permitted. Humility,
compassion, faith, temperance, become
empty words as there are no role models and
guides to follow. Businesses look for
loopholes, cut corners, and weigh the costs
and benefits of acting ethically against the
cost of the fines imposed.
People criticize that the Japanese are rigid,
and not creative. In China, Confucianism was
seen as an impediment to modernization.
This wholesale revolt against traditional
values led to the excesses of the Cultural
Revolution, and what remained was a deep
nihilism followed by extreme materialism.
Thankfully Confucianism is undergoing a
resurgence because at its heart lies an
internalization of values and behavior
without recourse to divine sanction or an
external God. It is true that codes of behavior
can become rigid and stifling, but like martial
arts we adopt the codes to transcend them.
Many Eastern arts are in essence crafts. They
begin with a rigid adherence to a master of
skill and good character. One models oneself
completely after the master. When one has
internalized everything and is able to
reproduce the techniques perfectly, then one
is deemed a master in one’s own right. It is
then time to break free and strike forth in
one’s own direction. So with morality, with a
deep understanding through years of
observing and adhering to codes of behavior,
one is able to able to act sensitively and
empathetically and even contrary to custom
when required, to heal a conflicted situation.
“Confucius said:
At 15 I set my heart upon learning.
At 30 I had planted my feet firm upon the
ground.
At 40, I no longer suffered from perplexities.
At 50, I knew the mandate of Heaven.
At 60, I heard them with docile ear.
At 70, I could follow the dictates of my own
heart; for what I desired no longer
overstepped the boundaries of right.”
In the four life stages of life (Asrama), one
completes life as a householder before
committing to spiritual practices. In recent
years I have returned frequently to the yoga
mat. Gone are the competitive poses, what
remains is a softness and correct breathing.
The peace that it brings allows me act more
effectively in the world. For me there are no
longer rigid shades of black and white. And
deep in my practice, sometimes, just
sometimes, I can hear the whisper of heaven.
October 2016 27

DRISTI - BEYOND ASANA
YOGA,
BEYOND THE
PRACTICE
Practice,
Observe,
Reflect &
Adjust
BY VALERIE FANECO
DOING YOGA
With the help of the Yoga Sutras............................................................31
I DO YOGA, OR I AM YOGA
Is there a difference?.............................................................................33
28 NAMASKAR

Kino McGregor in Natarajasana - definitely practicing yoga!
October 2016 29

The mango is picked, eaten, mashed, or made into
chutney. The seed can be planted to give a new tree.
The essence of the mango is the same,
but each manifestation is a transformation.
For most people yoga begins with asana, and
it is usually considered that we practice yoga
when we roll out the mat to engage in some
form of physical exercise.
More specifically, the Yoga-Sutra tells us to
practice yoga is to act consciously, mindfully,
with deliberate intention. Action (karma)
includes what we do but also what we think
and what we say. Therefore a complete
definition of yoga should encompass all of
these parameters and apply to all aspects of
life. The Yoga-Sutra calls this Kriya-Yoga,
the Yoga of Action (chapter II).
The idea of practicing “off the mat” is
attractive but how can it be done? Can we
really be conscious of the way we act, all the
time? Is it necessary to add a spiritual belief
to asana practice? Does it help to chant om
or recite the Yoga-Sutra? In other words,
how can we introduce the deeper teachings of
yoga into our life?
STEP 1 – PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE
In my view, the first step is simply to start
with asana practice. You may like to attend a
group class and this is fine. But in addition to
that practice your own programme on a daily
basis. It does not always come easily as it
requires a certain amount of discipline. The
Yoga-Sutra calls it tapas: the effort to
incorporate practice into daily life. Tapas
includes the practice of yoga postures but
also breathing exercises, an appropriate diet,
and good company, amongst other things.
Ideally when you are spending time practicing
by yourself you are only doing what is
suitable for you. In a group class the
potential of self-discovery is limited because
everyone follows the same routine and has a
tendency to try to fit in, with the risk of
forcing a round peg into a square hole.
Individual practice, on the other hand,
creates room for self-exploration and allows
us to do just what we need to do.
How do you work out what you need to do?
Of course you can pick postures and
breathing exercises by yourself, or you can
ask a senior teacher to design a programme
for you. Choosing by yourself might be tricky
because you may end up doing only what
makes you feel good or feeds your
tendencies. For example, it is very common
for students who are mentally agitated to like
dynamic vinyasa sequences despite the fact
they contribute to more agitation in their
mind. It is important to identify what kind of
practice supports you, with the help of a
mentor who knows you well.
STEP 2 - OBSERVE
In this case observing does not consist of
watching the external aspect of your
postures in a mirror but in perceiving the
holistic effect of your programme. Writing a
journal after practice helps document what
came up while you were doing it and also how
you feel after it. Sharing with your mentor or
a close friend is also helpful.
Practicing on your own creates a range of
experiences: moments of focus; moments of
distraction; a resistance to some exercises
and a strong preference for others; feelings
of peace, boredom, anger, and so forth.
These may all happen during a one-hour
session, or within a few days of doing the
same programme daily. Of course we can also
swing between focus and distraction, peace
and anger, etc. in a group class, but we are
more likely to see them manifest when we are
alone rather than in a group.
Working with the body also has the potential
to trigger unconscious memories buried in
past experiences, so besides physical
sensations there might also be thoughts or
emotions that pop up unexpectedly. This
self-enquiry is a cornerstone of the practice.
The Yoga-Sutra calls it svadhyaya, literally
“investigating yourself”.
To do that there is no need to look at yourself
in a mirror because the practice itself
mirrors your qualities, flaws and habits. And
you gradually become more aware of what
you feel rather than look like.
STEP 3 - REFLECT
To reflect is to search for solutions or
examine as many sides of a topic as possible.
To meditate is to focus our attention on one
thing and sustain this attention for some
time. In this regard meditation and reflection
are one and the same.
You could say, therefore, that meditating on
your practice takes your observation to a
new level. The time you spend on the mat
every day may be an hour or less but
reflecting on its impact can last for much
longer. When facing a difficult choice or
stressful situation you might notice you are
dealing with it better than you would have a
few months ago. Perhaps it is because your
mind is less scattered and you are calmer,
more grounded, more capable of standing in
other people’s shoes. So you can reflect on
the various events in your life: do you feel
confused or are your ideas clear? Have you
gained a new perspective on the problem?
You may not want to do this every waking
hour and in every single situation, but if you
try often enough you will hopefully identify
which habits are healthy for you and which
30 NAMASKAR

DRISTI
DOING
YOGA
With the
Help of the
Sutras
BY JAMES BOAG
Inna Constantini (l) and friend in padmasana, presumably at the end an Ashtanga series - still practicing yoga.
ones are not. An appropriate practice helps
you to build positive qualities such as
steadiness, patience and clarity of mind, not
restlessness and instability.
STEP 4 - ADJUST
A dual principle is fundamental in yoga
philosophy: everything is real (sat) and
everything changes (parinama). If you fall
and break a leg, you cannot ignore the pain. If
you score well in an exam, your happiness is
real too. In this respect yoga differs from
other Indian philosophical systems which
purport that everything is illusory and that
only God exists.
But yoga also says whatever exists is
temporary and bound to evolve into
something else: another state, another
feeling, another moment, another place, etc.
The mango is picked and eaten as a fruit,
mashed to a pulp, or made into chutney. The
seed can be planted to give a new mango tree.
The essence of the mango is always the same
but each manifestation is the result of a
process of transformation.
Similarly, our individual essence - or
consciousness - remains the same but we
evolve from childhood to old age through
various stages in life. Yoga teaches that
change is unavoidable. We learn to embrace it
rather than fear it. We also learn how to
implement certain changes for our own
benefit, even if it is very hard to do this
without any tension or excessive attachment
to projected results.
To keep seeing ourselves as we were and not
as we are is bound to cause pain, sooner or
later. It keeps us attached to the same kind of
practice. We need to detach, surrender, and
give something up to find something new. We
need to adjust, as gracefully as possible. Yoga
calls this ishvara pranidhana.
MOVING ON
Based on my understanding of the Yoga-
Sutra and other classical texts, I believe yoga
is all pervasive: it is meant to reach multiple
layers in our person and in our life. Like
water slowly seeping through the ground to
reach the roots, yoga is fluid; it follows the
unique terrain of our persona, doing its work
without us necessarily noticing it.
The inherent spirit of yoga, as described in
the Yoga-Sutra, is the adaptation to
individual needs. We are invited to trace our
own path by choosing among a number of
solutions instead of being imposed a single
one. The purpose of this journey is two-fold:
freedom from pain, and connection with our
deep consciousness – which is the part of us
that remains unchanged.
Those are ambitious goals! Any practice that
helps us to reach them is worth
implementing but it may not involve yoga
postures at all. One may prefer to be deeply
absorbed in painting or music. Another may
thrive on lesser-known yoga techniques such
as energy work, sound, dialogue,
visualisation methods or symbolic gestures.
We are not all obliged to use the same tools in
the same way.
I am not sure if yoga’s ambitious targets can
be reached in a lifetime but we can always try,
because sincere attempts to create more
peace are bound to bring rewards along the
way. And at least we can improve our quality
of life.
Yoga is a system of practical philosophy, but
it’s not armchair philosophy. Yoga can be
cultivated on a mat, but it is not limited to the
mat! If we practice and really cultivate yoga,
then regardless what style, brand or blend of
hatha yoga, the transfer beyond the mat will
happen almost automatically.
ASANA – SEAT OF OUR AWARENESS
Yoga asana is experienced when we sit or
stand, steadily and easily in full recognition
of our wholeness. Practising yoga asana is
not limited to performing classic yoga
postures or sequences. Rather, asana is
practiced when we bring steady easefulness
into all our actions and interactions.
YOGA TECHNIQUES AS PREPARATION
FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
The point of asana practice is not to become
adept at fancy-looking shapes to post on a
social media site, but to live steadily and
easefully through the comings and goings,
ups and downs, thrills and challenges of
everyday life. If we practice meditation, the
idea is not to become adept at sitting still,
doing nothing, but to be more adept at
staying centred through the vagaries and
whirlings of the day.
Techniques as training for life
Everything we do is training. We become
what we practice. So if we train with a ‘no
pain-no gain’ attitude, it is very easy to get
injured, physically or mentally while
seemingly practising classical yoga exercises.
DOING YOGA – WITH PATANJALI’S
YOGA SUTRA AS OUR PRACTICE GUIDE
The trick is to work with yoga practice
techniques as a means to train, develop and
reaffirm habits conducive to sustainable
October 2016 31

Standing in a line with some pals, eyes closed, hands in Anjali mudra - also practicing yoga.
ease, balance and efficiency.
One way to do this is to use practical
teachings from Patanjali’s classical Yoga
Sutra as our guide. When practice is
introduced in Sutra-s 12-14 of Patanjali’s
opening chapter it is defined as “the effort to
foster steadiness, a steadfast yet sustainable
effort maintained for a long time, without
interruption, with real presence and a spirit
of devotion” (Sutra-s 1.13-14 my rendering).
In other words, practice is all the time, it is
everything we do.
When Patanjali elaborates the way of yoga
practice in his second chapter and gives the
eight limbs, the yama-s come first and are
highlighted as the most important practice.
After listing the five yama-s: ahimsa, satya,
asteya, brahmacarya and aparigraha;
Patanjali emphasises unequivocally that they
are the universal great vow to be practised
and observed at all times (Yoga Sutra 2.42 my
rendering).
HARNESSING OUR ENERGY
Sometimes people use restraints or
prohibitions to talk about the yama-s,
however I feel it is more the spirit of
Patanjali to consider them behavioural
principles that harness our energy for the
sake of harmony.
The yama-s are active principles, things we
do, cultivate, observe and practice. These are
the principles that can help us ‘yogify’ our
day-to-day life, and help us navigate times
when we might feel torn and carried away.
The first yama Ahimsa is non-harming.
However this is just the beginning. I think it
is the principle of ‘cultivating harmony’.
The second Satya, is usually translated as
truthfulness, but perhaps more essentially it
is about being fully present.
Asteya, the third, is non-stealing, but we
might describe it more broadly as being
respectful.
Brahmacarya is a particularly
misunderstood principle as it often gets
clouded by the same Sansk[it word
describing one of the four stages of life in
Orthodox Indian custom. Here though, it
carries the sense of taking great care with
one’s energy to ensure it is channelled
towards an experience of Brahman – totality.
The fifth and last yama is aparigrahah,
usually translated as non-grasping and noncovetousness.
However, it can be helpful to
think of it as being present and ‘loosening
our grip’ on things being a particular way.
Using the yama-s to positive effect
When working with yogasana or other yoga
practice techniques, the yama-s can be
tremendously helpful. Of course, we can use
them as reminders of what not to do: not to
be violent, aggressive, or harmful (ahimsa),
not to cheat myself in the practice, or rob or
deny myself of the chance to really practice,
not to let my ‘practice’ be an excuse that
steals me away from my real responsibilities
to myself and others (asteya); not to be
careless with my different energetic
resources (brahmacarya), and not to cling to
the practice feeling or looking a certain way
(aparigraha).
However, we can also, and perhaps even
more powerfully, use the yama-s as positive
frames to orient our engagement and as
lenses to check in with our motivation. For
example, as ways of channelling our energy
we could work with the yama-s along these
types of lines:
• Ahimsa - let me cultivate harmony,
balance and integration;
• Satya - let me be truly, gratefully present
32 NAMASKAR

we practice yoga
postures to help
clear the dirt from
our minds, so we
can see who we
really are.
in this miraculous moment and honestly,
appropriately, work with the gifts of this
technique and my awareness to foster
harmony and deeper awareness;
• Asteya – let me be truly respectful of the
opportunity to learn and grow from the
particular opportunities of this day/
situation/practice technique session;
• Brahmacarya – let me be cognisant and
respectful of the different powerful energies,
the divine powers with which I am blessed,
and may I make this practice, this experience,
an opportunity to honour, include, nourish
and tend them all;
• Aparigraha - may I be deeply and
honestly present, may I seize the cup of life
and the opportunities it offers me in this
moment, yet may I handle this cup gently,
skilfully with the humility and poise required
to gracefully imbibe the gifts of the
unexpected.
As we begin to explore working with the
yama principles in this way, whether on the
mat, when practising other techniques, and
in the course of our lives, we start to invite
the harmonising power of yoga into all we do.
DRISTI
I DO YOGA,
OR I AM
YOGA?
Is there a
Difference?
BY ANDY WILLNER
Yoga, or more specifically asana practice,
has been growing exponentially over the past
decade, and Hong Kong is no exception.
When I came to live here in 1992, there were
virtually no studios and it was rare to meet
anyone who practised yoga....at least I don’t
recall meeting any “yogis” at social
gatherings. Fast forward almost 25 years,
and it is rare to attend a party at which there
are no yogis present!
The majority of yoga practitioners focus
heavily, if not exclusively, on asana practice
(i.e. the physical postures) in the early stages
of their yoga journey. This is not a bad thing
given connection to our bodies is the most
obvious aspect of our being, but for many
practitioners there comes a point when they
desire to delve deeper and explore more
subtle layers of their being.
So is yoga something I ‘do’ or something I
‘am’? Ultimately at our deepest level of being
– the layer referred to as Anandamaya
kosha, in the ancient yogic text the Taittiriya
Upanishad - yoga is our natural state. There
is nothing we need from outside to make us
complete. At this subtle layer we ‘are’ yoga!
So why don’t we realise this instantly? Then
there would be no need to practice asana or
indeed anything else.
Well, just as we cannot see our physical
selves in a mirror covered with dirt, similarly
we cannot connect to our true yoga nature
because of all the “dirt” masking our
awareness. So we don’t really ‘do’ yoga, but
we do practice yoga postures and other
techniques to help us clear the dirt from our
minds, so we can see who we really are.
We can also use the analogy of peeling an
onion layer by layer to discover what is at the
core, however like most analogies it only
works to a point. In our yoga practice, each
layer encompasses the less subtle layers but
we initially need to discard our identification
with the gross layer to recognize the more
subtle one. Eventually once we arrive at the
most subtle layer we realise all those other
previously discarded layers are a part of us
too. To some yoga students, this may all
sound very esoteric and mystical, but many
people have experienced the flow of energy
through their body once their awareness
moved away from the physical body. This is
already the first step in the journey!
For me it is somewhat ironic that many asana
classes taught today focus almost exclusively
on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali as their “yoga
bible”. Whilst this classical yoga book of
aphorisms (written around 350 C.E.) has
many wonders to offer, there are only three
verses in the entire work featuring asana. In
Patanjali’s day it involved very few seated
positions to strengthen one’s posture for
lengthy periods of meditation. In classical
yoga the body was considered an impediment
to enlightenment!
It was actually the subsequent Tantric
tradition that both recognized the divinity of
the body and the ability to use the body as a
tool towards greater clarity of mind and selfrealization.
Hence the oldest existing book
on Hatha Yoga, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika by
Svatmarama, was written relatively recently
in the 15 th century C.E.
So how do we adjust from a purely physical
to a deeper understanding of ourselves,
which in turn will reflect in our interactions
with others ‘off the mat’? For me, the key is
finding a teacher who can guide you through
the labyrinth. There is no point attempting to
determine how “spiritual” a teacher is, since
it is impossible to know, so I recommend
taking your time to seek a teacher who
appears “authentic” and is still learning and
growing - talking the talk and walking the
walk!
When I started practising yoga asana, I tried
dozens of classes taught by lots of different
teachers until I found a couple of teachers
with whom I resonated and whom I trusted
to guide my own practice. Once you find that
teacher my advice is to trust the process even
when it gets difficult and stick with that
teacher. Otherwise you end up “church
hopping” and never getting truly grounded in
a yoga practice.
When in 2008 I discovered Anusara Yoga
taught by Patrick Creelman, who remains my
teacher today, the connection between
Tantric philosophy and asana really
awakened me to the reality that asana could
actually assist me on an internal,
introspective journey beyond mere
physicality. As Patrick has evolved his
teaching over the last few years, I have
continued to trust the process knowing his
discoveries in his practice can also lead to
new discoveries in my own.
As a yoga teacher I am always grappling with
how to reflect the deeper teachings of yoga
within a 60-90 minute asana class. I firmly
October 2016 33

elieve taking a few moments at the start of
the class to highlight some aspect of yogic
philosophy and then remind students of that
at appropriate junctures during the asana
practice is a valuable assist in their inner
journey.
Beyond the asana practice, I believe it is
crucial to allocate time on a regular basis to
pranayama, meditation and svadyaya
(introspective study of oneself) on one’s own
to deepen one’s yoga practice. Combining
these practices with study of yogic texts
under the guidance of a knowledgeable
teacher (a form of jnana yoga) and practising
selfless service in one’s community (a form
of karma yoga, if practised without
attachment to self-serving motivations) are
also of tremendous benefit towards
balancing the mind and discovering new
layers of one’s being. For some
practitioners, the path of devotion to
something greater than oneself, namely the
Divine, however the practitioner perceives
that, (bhakti yoga) is a key practice on the
path of self-realization. Indeed the Bhagavad
Gita highlights devotion to Krishna as the
highest of all the paths.
Ultimately, as aspects of one Divine Light of
Consciousness (prakasha) each of us is a
unique being, hence the route to our natural
state of yoga differs from person to person -
some are attracted to bhakti yoga, some to
jnana yoga, some yogis prefer very strong
dynamic flowing asana practice, some enjoy
greater stillness in their asana practice and
some enjoy both at different times. There is
no one right path up the mountain, but with
the help of our teachers at least we are on the
mountain whether at base camp or close to
the summit!
Her ASANA
practice is incredible!
Them sitting quietly
is fantastic!
Us living peacefully within
a loving yoga community, is
AWESOME!
But, is my yoga helping me
get to the point where I
could change my life
to spend a few days
cleaning up rubbish off a
foreign beach, under the
glaring sun, with love in
my heart?
That’s
ADVANCED
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October 2016 35

36 NAMASKAR

October 2016 37

IN BRIEF
MUDRAS
BY KRISHNAAKINKARI
With the dristi of this issue being “beyond
yoga”, which I understand to be the deep
absorption of yoga principle into every
aspect of life regardless of geographical
location or cultural background, the Mudra,
an action of re-alignment of the
consciousness, must be the perfect tool. To
go beyond yoga the practices must be
transformatory on every level.
Mudra is easy to practice and effective even
for those whose distraction of mind often
plagues their progress to the higher steps on
the ladder of this traditional Ashtanga yoga
of Patanjali.
With the overwhelming amount of digital
invasion into life and, the increasing
necessity to be involved in order to survive,
the levels of Pratyahar, Dharana, Dhyana
and Samadhi could appear insurmountable.
We also now see yoga presented as a five-star
package holiday or alternative entertainment
and find fast fix teacher qualifications and
unethical practice guides.
So, let’s probe the transforming practice of
more Mudras.
So far, in these articles, we have examined:
Apana, Atmanjali, Chin, Dhyani, Garuda,
Gyana, Hakini, Kripa, Kshepana, Linga,
Mahakranta, Matangani, Matsya, Padma,
Prithvi, Sankalpa, Sambodhini, Shanka,
Simhakranta, Surya, Udana, Upasanhar,
Usha, Vairagya, Vajra, Vayana, Vayu.
This month we feature:
1. UTTARABODHI MUDRA
Place both palms together in prayer position
but keep the thumbs [touching each other]
pointing away from the other four fingers.
Raise the arms and place the tips of the
thumbs to the middle of the brow at the Agya
Chakra. The tips of the other four fingers
will automatically point upwards.
This facilitates the upward streaming of the
consciousness. Since the third eye, which
perceives unity instead of division, is the
command centre of all hormonal and
energetic processes, this channeling of the
heart from the mundane to the divine is
beneficial on all levels. It is an elevating mode
and mood which can be used at any time to
transform the mind to higher vision:
everyone and everything is viewed with
respect and humility. The selfish become
selfless and the takers become givers.
Depression is lifted and replaced by hope and
inspiration.
Best practice time:10 minutes minimum as
the sun rises.
2. SHAKTI MUDRA
Place the palms in front of each other. Touch
together the tips of the fifth and fourth
fingers. They point upwards.
Put the thumbs across the palms and fold the
first and second fingers over them. These
two fingers then touch each other from the
middle joint down to the tips.
Thus the fire element is at the base of the air
and the ether which expand. The earth and
38 NAMASKAR

October 2016 39

water elements also have an upward mode
and mood. Shakti (power and energy) are
motivated to elevation. Inspiration brings to
the surface the amazing and often concealed
power present in each and every creature,
although often suppressed in humans due to
too much expenditure of unnecessary mental
speculation. This mudra is a good recharge
and opens the window of the mind to endless
possibility.
There are two well-known poems that
provoke such thoughts for me:
Let me enjoy the world no less,
Because the all-enacting Might,
That fashioned forth this Loveliness,
Has other aims than my delight.
By Thomas Hardy
To see the world in a grain of sand,
And heaven in a wild flower,
To hold infinity in the palm of one’s hand,
And eternity in an hour.
by William Blake
These might help us to discover the Bliss that
is our essence. Practice makes permanent.
MYTHOLOGY
SATI
A burning tale
BY TIA SINHA
Sati was Lord Shiva’s first consort. She was
the earthly form of Goddess Uma.
Goddess Uma acquired an earthly form due
to the machinations of two gods. Lord
Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, wanted
Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, to marry.
This was not going to be easy as Lord Shiva
was a celibate yogi, dwelling on Mount
Kailash. Lord Brahma appealed to Vishnu,
the god of preservation. Vishnu advised
Brahma to serve and request the goddess
Uma to take birth on earth and become
Shiva’s consort. Brahma obeyed Vishnu.
Uma was born to Brahma’s son, Daksha. She
was named Sati.
From a young age, Sati was utterly devoted to
Shiva. When she had grown into a beautiful,
comely young maiden, Brahma bestowed the
blessing on Sati that Shiva would take her as
his consort and never any other woman. To
capture her husband’s heart, Sati performed
severe penances on a river bank,
concentrating single-pointedly on Shiva.
Pleased by her sincerity (and obviously
bowled over by her beauty), Shiva appeared
before Sati and granted her wish. Sati was
thereafter married to Shiva.
Sati and Shiva’s marital bliss atop Mount
Kailash lasted a long time. However, as is
often wont to happen (otherwise how could a
tale move forward?), trouble soon ensued in
paradise. At a grand sacrificial ceremony at
Prayag performed by sages, as Daksha
entered the enclosure, he felt insulted when
his son-in-law, Shiva, remained seated.
Mightier than Daksha, Shiva was not
supposed to bow to him. To avenge this
insult, the vain Daksha decided to host a
great sacrificial ceremony to which gods and
sages and everybody who was anybody was
invited. Except Shiva and Sati.
When Sati learnt of this slight, she appealed
to her husband to accompany her to
Daksha’s ceremony. However, Shiva had
divined that they had been overlooked
deliberately by his father-in-law. Also
divining the disaster that lay ahead, Shiva
tried to dissuade Sati from attending the
sacrifice. But an obstinate and determined
Sati insisted on going. So, with a grand
retinue, Shiva sent Sati to her father’s
sacrifice. And, unbeknownst to Sati, to her
own doom.
When Sati reached the sacrificial grounds,
her father, Daksha, refused to acknowledge
her presence. Yet she bowed respectfully to
her parents. Then, grabbing a quiet moment,
she asked her father why she and her
husband had not been invited. When Daksha
remained silent, a livid Sati asked Brahma
and Vishnu how they could have tolerated
this insult. At this, Daksha was enraged and
asked her why she had come at all. He
admitted that he found Shiva uncouth and
had married her to him only because Brahma
had persuaded him to do so. A mortified Sati
regretted having come to the sacrifice
uninvited. Calling her father vain and wicked
and saying that she was ashamed to call
herself his daughter, Sati announced that she
was going to cast off her body. She prayed to
Shiva that she would return to him when she
was reborn of a father she could respect.
With her yogic powers, she then created
flames and immolated herself.
Sati’s shocked and enraged retinue rushed
towards Daksha. However, to protect
Daksha, Sage Bhrigu invoked thousands of
ferocious demons from the fire. In the fierce
battle that ensued, Sati’s attendants were
defeated and forced to retreat to Mount
Kailash. When he learnt what had happened,
a furious Shiva plucked out a lock of his
matted hair and dashed it to the ground. As
the lock split into two, from one half arose
the terrifying demon, Virabhadra and from
the other, the wrathful goddess, Mahakali.
As commanded, Virabhadra and Mahakali
vanquished Daksha’s army and killed him.
Tearing off Daksha’s head, Virabhadra threw
it into the sacrificial fire and returned to
Kailash with his family. A distraught Brahma,
accompanied by Vishnu, appealed to Shiva to
restore Daksha’s life and to allow the
sacrifice to be completed. To teach him the
lesson that hatred towards another being
recoils on oneself, Shiva restored Daksha’s
life but gave him the head of the sacrificial
goat. A humbled Daksha admitted his faults
and was allowed to complete his sacrifice.
Shiva returned to Kailash and meditated till
Sati, true to her word, was reborn as Parvati.
Parvati had a father who loved and respected
her and she loved and respected him as well.
Parvati then set about to capture Shiva’s
heart, never to be separated from him again.
The barbaric ancient Indian custom of ‘Sati’
is named after this angry lady who burnt
herself to death. According to the custom of
‘Sati’, certain Hindu women who had been
widowed were expected to throw themselves
into the fire and immolate themselves. ‘Sati’
was made illegal in India in 1829.
The moral of Sati’s story could be that slights
suffered at the hands of one’s family
members can be very painful. So, better be
nice to one’s family members! And that gatecrashing
a party could turn out to be lethal.
RETREAT REVIEW
UNEXPECTED
DISCOVERIES
BY KIRSI ASTREN
“The Chinese Yin-Yang philosophy teaches
that everything has to be counter-weight.
There is no night without day. All opposites
alternate and this create a balance of life,
where things are as they should be.” I was
soaking in the information and trying to
relax in the yin pose called swan.
“Each Yin prepares us for the next Yang
movement. Night prepares us for the next
day and deep relaxation enhances peak
performance, from easy to difficult, from
40 NAMASKAR

October 2016 41

Yoga teacher Gabriel Azoulay
dark to light. The dynamic yoga needs
counterweight passive, long-Yin exercises.”
What did he say in the beginning of the
practice? Yin Yoga was not a relaxing
practice? It’s quiet, but challenging. The
insights Gabe gave helped with the strain.
Yin Yoga counteracts the excessive sitting we
do in the Western world. When my daughter
and I visited a local Thai home, we did not see
the chairs or sofas at all. All sitting took place
on the floor.
It was my daughter, Julliana, who
recommended we seek out Thailand as our
first destination to travel together. She
wanted yoga to be a significant part of the
program but without the power of it all.
After an extensive research she discovered
the Finnish resort, Aava Resort & Spa, which
is set in Thailand’s secluded, and still
undiscovered, Khanom region. In addition to
the high praise about their diverse wellness
program, we were surprised to discover our
week fell on the same week as the yoga
retreat by American Yoga Master GabeYoga!
I thought I’d attended other Yin classes in
Helsinki, where positions were held for long
periods. However Gabe’s sequences, the
lapping waves, soft music and his stories that
fed the imagination left me feeling incredibly
good and immensely renewed. Without using
notes, books, or the Internet, Gabe shared
anecdotes from old Buddhist wisdom, facts
about the effects of yoga on health, Sufi
poetry, ancient Yoga texts from what I later
found out were part of the ancient
Upanishads, as well as spiritual humor in the
form of jokes.
Yin Yoga was part of the evening yoga classes,
and the day began with a dynamic Yang-style,
BikYasa practice. A yoga practice, developed
by GabeYoga, that combines principles of
Hot 26 and Vinyasa Yoga, perfectly balanced
with silence and modern music. BikYasa has
been the most attended yoga class at the
Helsinki Festival and is offered at the
popular Yin Yoga Studio throughout
Helsinki. Julliana and I discovered that
BikYasa activated our muscles in a most
intelligent and powerful manner, establishing
an energizing feeling to start their day.
As the week progressed, we experienced a
remarkable development. Our bodies began
to bend at places that only saw freedom as
teenagers while our minds discovered a calm
and peaceful satisfaction.
Aava was born by chance when friends told
Kati and Atte (the owners) about the
magnificent and quiet region of Khanom.
Soon the couple traveled there 70 kilometers
from Surat Thani airport by local rickshaw .
Khanom is a fishing village; with a maximum
contribution is an authentic Thai country
life. Long sandy beaches are among the
longest in Thailand, and the tops of coconut
trees towering to the sky. The area and its
surroundings offer amazing nature
experiences, which are easy to access.
The yoga classes felt as if they were designed
just for the group and each experience was
inspiring and unique. When I interviewed
Gabe to hear how he achieved this unique
ability I discovered he talks in a clear, firm
voice and takes advantage of the full
spectrum of yoga history and philosophy
which include the Upanishads, ancient Indian
poetry or prose texts, explanations and
guidelines in life. Gabe skillfully cultivates
them as a part of yoga classes as a whole. He
told us these different ways to describe the
divinity, beauty and love are the most
essential part of yoga instruction.
I also discovered Gabe tailors the journey to
the relevant people and uses his teachings to
illuminate participants’ growth.
He started practicing yoga from the spiritual
side and emphasizes it over and over. At age
19, as a psychology university student, he
became interested in yoga philosophy and
went on to get more information on India.
Gabe often, and graciously, credits various
teachers. Yin Yoga’s Paul Grilley shed light
on the power of connective tissue, while
Pichest Boonthume, Master Thai Massage
teacher, evolved Gabe’s understanding of Yin
ideas’ origin with Thai Massage spreading
through to China. From Ashtangi David
Swenson, Gabe connected the physical
practice and philosophy of Patanjali’s Yoga
Sutras; from Tim Miller, with whom he
practiced Mysore for two years, he learned
“yoga is not about the pose.” Then, from
Anthony “Prem” Carlisi, Gabe learned about
Ayurveda and through Pattabhi Jois he
learned, “Yoga is to find God.”
For my own divine moment - I walked over to
Julliana and gave her the kind of hug only a
mother can.
BOOK REVIEW
HERE COMES
THE SUN
by Leza Lowitz
REVIEWED BY TIA SINHA
‘Sometimes you have to travel a very great
distance to find a home within yourself.’ -
Leza Lowitz
An American woman in her early thirties
finds herself in Japan. In her own words,
‘This is not a story about navigating the ins
and outs of adoption in a foreign country. It
is about navigating the ins and outs of my
own body and spirit to heal, and to arrive at a
place where motherhood could become a
possibility. I’ve taken the chakra system as a
metaphor and roadmap for personal growth
and transformation, charting the movement
from “me” to “we”.’
At one level, Leza’s story is about her search
for love in a foreign land. At another, it is
about facing the demons of her mind and
memories that haunted her. It’s about
learning to trust and believing in oneself. It’s
about laughing at fear. It’s about endurance.
And it is about mustering the courage to
tread new ground.
Leza captivates with her simple, lucid style of
writing. Rarely does one come across a book
that makes one feel, “Hey, this is honest. I
want to know what happens next. Yes, I can
identify with this, and that, and that. And yes,
I’ve felt this way too. Her honesty is helping
me. “ When we write about our life with
honesty, we give others permission to heal.
In ‘Here Comes the Sun’, Leza Lowitz does
just that. And she does it with élan, making
her autobiography a compelling read.
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October 2016 45

46 NAMASKAR

COLOURING PAGE
From www.azcolouring.com
October 2016 47

DIRECTORY
Guide to yoga studios
& teachers
ANAHATA VILLAS & SPA
RESORT
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
s: group retreats, yoga for
private & corporates. Yoga
studio
available for rent.
l: Indonesian & English
t: +62 361 8987 991/ 8987 992 /
+62 21 70743366
f: +62 361 8987 804
e: sm@anahataresort.com /
info@anahataresort.com
w: www.anahataresort.com
ANAHATA YOGA
18/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1
Lyndhurst Terrace, Central,
Hong Kong
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga
therapy, Yin and more. Groups &
privates
t: +852 2905 1922
e: enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk
w: www.anahatayoga.com.hk
ANANDA YOGA
33 & 34/F, 69 Jervois Street
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
s: Private and Group Classes :
Yoga Therapy (neck, shoulder,
back, hip, knee and joints),
Hatha, Power, Ashtanga,
Vinyasa, Detox, Yin Yang,
Kundalini, Chakra Balancing,
Pranayama, Meditation
l: English
t: (825)35639371
e:
adm.anandayoga.hk@gmail.com
w: www.anandayoga.hk
Anna Ng
Privates
d: Hong Kong
s: Hatha yoga
l: Cantonese
t: (852) 9483 1167
e: gazebofl@netvigator.com
BEING IN YOGA –
SINGAPORE
Teaching yoga in the tradition of
T Krishnamacharya and TKV
Desikachar.
s: yoga therapy (customized
personal practice), teacher
training (Yoga Alliance RYS 500
hours+), in-depth yoga studies,
small group classes for children
and adults, workshops,
meditation classes, Vedic
chanting, continuing education
for yoga teachers. Certified
Teacher Trainer – Yoga
Therapist - E-RYT 500
RYS 500
t: +65-9830-3808
e: beinginyoga@gmail.com
w: www.beinginyoga.com
B.K.S. IYENGAR YOGA
ASSOCIATION OF MACAU
174, Rua de Pequim, Edif Centro
Com. Kong Fat, 7A, Macau
s: Iyengar
t:(853)2882 3210/6662 0386
e:yoga@macau.ctm.net
w:www.iyengar-yoga-macauchina.com
Chloe Yates
Private and Group Kid’s Yoga,
Mindfulness and Meditation
d: Hong Kong, Kowloon, New
Territories and Outlying Islands
s: Kid’s Yoga, Mindfulness and
Meditation Mummy and Baby
Yoga, Dance Therapy
l: English, Cantonese
t: 9543 1524
e: chloe.yy.yates@gmail.com
w: www.facebook.com/
humblewarrioryogaanddance
Corinne Konrad
Luxe Nova 68 Wellington Street,
Central, Hong Kong & home
visits
s:Pre and Post-natal yoga, home
classes as boutique yoga classes
for beginners
t: +852 9633 5573
e: corinne@rawandrich.com
w: www.rawandrich.com
David Kim Yoga
E-RYT 500+, Senior YogaWorks
and Yin Yoga Teacher Trainer;
International TTs, Workshops &
Retreats
d: Korea, Japan, Vietnam,
Philippines, Sweden, Norway,
USA
s: Yin Yoga, YogaWorks, Vinyasa
Flow
l: English, limited Korean
t: +1 310 480 5277
e: david@davidkimyoga.com
w: www.davidkimyoga.com
FLEX STUDIO
Island South
Shops 308-310 One Island
South, 2 Heung Yip Road,
Aberdeen, Hong Kong
s: Vinyasa, Power, Detox, Hatha,
Pre-Natal, Kids Yoga
t: + 852 2813 2212
f: + 852 2813 2281
e: info@flexhk.com
Central
3/F Man Cheung Building, 15- 17
Wyndham Street, Central, Hong
Kong
s: Detox, Power, Pre-Natal Yoga
t: + 852 2813-2399
f: + 852 2812 6708
e: central@flexhk.com
www.flexhk.com
PURE YOGA
China
L6-615 iapm mall, 999 Huai Hai
Zhong Road, Xuhui District
Shanghai
t: +86 21 5466 1266
Hong Kong
16/F The Centrium, 60
Wyndham Street, Central
t: +852 2971 0055
25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell
St, Causeway Bay
t: +852 2970 2299
14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18
Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,
Kowloon
t: +852 8129 8800
9/F Langham Place Office
Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon
t: +852 3691 3691
4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo
Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay
t: +852 8129 1188
2/F Asia Standard Tower, 59
Queen’s Road, Central
t: + 852 3524 7108
Level 1 The Pulse, 28 Beach
Road, Repulse Bay
t: +852 8200 0908
3/f Hutchison House, 10
Harcourt Road, Admiralty
t: +852 8105 5838
Singapore
391A Orchard Road, #18-00
Ngee Ann City Tower A
t: +65 6733 8863
30 Raffles Place, 04-00 Chevron
House
t: +65 6304 2257
Taiwan
151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec
4, Taipei
t: +886 02 8161 7888
4/f Urban One, 1 Qingcheng St,
Taipei
t: +886 02 8161 7868
Ling
Yoga and Wellbeing, Private
Yoga Teacher, Privates, Groups,
Corporates, Free Yoga
Community Event: Yoga in the
Park with Ling
www.meetup.com/
yogaintheparkhk
d: Hong Kong, China
s: Yoga Therapy, Sivananda,
Hatha, Svastha, Mindfulness,
Yin, Breathing (Pranayama),
Guided Meditation, Total
Relaxation (Yoga Nidra)
l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin
t: +852 9465 6461
e: yogawithling@gmail.com
w: www.facebook.com/
yogawithling
RED DOORS STUDIO
21/f, 31 Wong Chuk Hang Rd
s. Gong meditation and training,
labyrinth facilitation and
construction, kundalini
therapeutic yoga and
complementary practices to
elevate energy. Multiple studio
spaces available to rent.
t. +852 21110 0152
e. info@red-doors.com
w. www.red-doors.com
SPACE YOGA
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Advanced,
Flow, Yin, Yin Yang, Restorative,
Hot, Yin/Meditation,
Pranayama, Mat Pilates,
Jivamukti, Universal, Myofascial
Release Yoga, Mindful
Yoga, Rope Wall Yoga, Yoga
Nidra and Yoga Therapy
l: English and Mandarin
w: www.withinspace.com
An-Ho Studio
16 F, No. 27, An-Ho Road,
Section 1
48 NAMASKAR

Taipei, Taiwan
t: +886.2.2773.8108
Tien-Mu Studio
#5, Lane 43, Tian-Mu E. Road,
Taipei, Taiwan
t: +886.2.28772108
Kathy Cook
Wellness Retreats, Workshops,
Private Groups and Privates
d: Hong Kong, Bali & Thailand
s: Iyengar Certified (Junior
Intermediate III)
l: English
t: +852 6292 5440 / +62 811
387781
e:kcinasia@gmail.com
w: www.yogawithkathy.com
THE YOGA ROOM
3, 4, 6, 16/F (Studios) & 15/F
(Office) Xiu Ping Commercial
Bldg, 104 Jervois St, Sheung
Wan, Hong Kong
s: Hatha, Hot, Ashtanga,
Vinyasa, Candlelight Yin, Yoga
Therapy, Jivamukti, Hammock
Yoga, Mindfulness Yoga, Detox
Yoga, Pre-natal Yoga, Pre-natal
Pilates, Mat Pilates, TRX, Kids
Yoga and Mum & Baby Yoga
l: English, Cantonese
t: + 852 2544 8398
e: info@yogaroomhk.com
w: www.yogaroomhk.com
KUNDALINI @SHAKTI
7/F Glenealy Tower, 1 Glenealy,
Central, Hong Kong.
s: Kundalini, Reik healing, life
coaching, Shamanic healing,
Bowen Therapy, Angel Cards
t: +852 2521 5099
e: info@shaktihealingcircle.com
w: www.shaktihealingcircle.com
THE COLLECTIVE, DESA SENI
SCHOOL OF YOGA
Jl. Subak Sari #13, Canggu, Bali,
Indonesia
s: Full service resort, Ashtanga,
Embodied Flow, Hatha,
Kundalini,
Restorative, Tantra,
Therapeutics, Yin, Yang,
Vinyasa, Buddhist Meditation,
Vedic Meditation, all on a
regular basis. Teacher
Trainings, Intensives, Privates,
Workshops, specialising in
hosting retreats.
t: +62 361 844 6392
e: info@desaseni.com
w: www.desaseni.com
TRUE YOGA
Singapore
9 Scotts Road, Level 4, Pacific
Plaza, Singapore 228210
t: +65 6733 9555
9 Scotts Road, Level 5, Pacific
Plaza (Bikram Original Hot
Yoga), Singapore 228210
t: +65 6735 9555
Taiwan
337 Nanking East Road
Section 3, 9 & 10/F, Taipei
T: +886 22716 1234
68 Gongyi Road, West District
12 & 13/F, Taichung
t: +886 43700 0000
s: Ashtanga, Bikram, Flow,
Gentle, Hatha, Kids, Power, Pre-
Natal, Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Dance
e: operations@trueyoga.com.sg
w: www.trueyoga.com.sg /
www.trueyoga.com.tw
Ursula Moser
The Iyengar Yoga Centre of
Hong Kong
d: Central
s: Iyengar Certified (Junior
Intermediate III)
l: English
t: +852 2918 1798 / 9456 2149
e: uschi.moser51@gmail.com
WISE LIVING YOGA
ACADEMY
198 Moo 2, Luang Nuea, Doi
Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand
s: Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga,
Yoga Therapy
t: +66 8254 67995
e: info@wiselivingyoga.com
w: www.wiselivingyoga.com
YOGA CENTRAL – IYENGAR
CENTRAL
s: Boutique studio with Iyengar
Yoga classes; flexible timings for
corporate wellness, small
groups, and privates
l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin,
French, Malay
t: +852 2982 4308
e: yogacentralhk@gmail.com
w: www.yogacentral.com.hk
fb: Iyengar-Central
namaskar
4 times a year
6,000 yoga practitioners
32 countries
DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES & SIZES
Outside back cover HK$25,000 210 mm x 297 mm
Inside front cover HK$3,500 210 mm x 297 mm
Inside back cover HK$2,700 210 mm x 297 mm
Full page HK$2,200 210 mm x 297 mm
1/2 page (horizontal) HK$1,500 180 mm x 133.5 mm
1/2 page (vertical) HK$1,500 88 mm x 275 mm
1/4 page HK$700 88 mm X 133.5 mm
1/8 page HK$440 88 mm x 66 mm
LISTINGS
Individual listing HK$640 for full or partial year
Studio listing HK$1,300 for full or partial year
PUBLICATION DATES, BOOKING & MATERIAL DEADLINES
Publication date Booking Deadline Material Deadline
January December 1 December 10
April March 1 March 10
July June 1 June 10
October September 1 September 10
NOTES
Advertising materials should in black & white and submitted as 300
dpi high resolution .tif files (no pdf or ai files please)
Listings should be submitted as text only (approx 35 words)
PAYMENT
Payments should be made in Hong Kong dollars to:
Namaskar c/o Carol Adams, Flat 101, Block L, Telford Gardens,
Kowloon, Hong Kong
INFORMATION
Carol +44 75432 55886 / carol@caroladams.hk
Frances +852 9460 1967 / fgairns@netvigator.com
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