Namaskar - Apr 2017
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namaskar<br />
A VOICE FOR THE YOGA COMMUNITY OF ASIA <strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong><br />
TWELVE YEARS IN A CAVE<br />
Interview with Buddhist nun Jetsunma Tenzin<br />
Palmo.............................................................p16<br />
YOGA STOPS TRAFFICK<br />
One teacher’s mission to raise awareness of the<br />
trade in human trafficking................................p17<br />
YOGA & DEMENTIA<br />
How yoga can help dementia sufferers and their<br />
carers through, and even at the end..............p32<br />
Micha Chan Tai Wing in Ardha Matsyendrasana / Seated Spinal Twist Pose, photo by Pedro Faillace Salazar
2 NAMASKAR
NAMASKAR - APRIL <strong>2017</strong><br />
LETTER FROM<br />
THE EDITOR<br />
My mother was recently<br />
diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.<br />
Now every spare moment I have is spent trying to<br />
understand this disease and how best to support<br />
my parents in the UK.<br />
It’s times like this that are the real test of one’s yoga practice. How to stay centered and<br />
manage one’s emotions. How to think clearly about viable options, putting aside one’s fears<br />
and sadness. Most of the articles in these pages over the 14 years I’ve edited <strong>Namaskar</strong> have<br />
helped me in some way to respond to this situation.<br />
The resolution I undertook in January to make time to contemplate weighty issues, seems so<br />
insignificant now. And my perspective on things has changed dramatically.<br />
This is the context for choosing Yoga & Dementia as the Dristi. It was only when I started to<br />
learn about Alzheimer’s and dementia, did I realize what a massive problem the world is facing!<br />
Today, one in five 80-year-olds and one in three 85-year-olds suffer some form of dementia.<br />
Alzheimer’s in the largest portion and it is a terminal illness, with no cure as yet. The short<br />
term memory loss might be cause for some funny stories, but when the brain forgets how to<br />
swallow, react to pain and eventually breathe, there’s a different reaction entirely.<br />
What I’ve also learned is there is very little coordinated and informed support available to<br />
Alzheimer’s or dementia sufferers or their families. The onus is on the family to decide what<br />
approach to undertake. And informed decisions have to made by people who’ve been plunged<br />
into deep sadness, and without the necessary medical knowledgeor psychological experience.<br />
The three articles concerning Yoga & Dementia, plus Vinod’s Ayurvedic approach are a great<br />
springboard into further investigation.<br />
Please read Katherine’s article about raising awareness of the human trafficking and sex trade.<br />
Inspired also by lululemon’s show of support <strong>Namaskar</strong> is pleased to have donated £1,000 to<br />
the Odanadi Yoga Stops Traffick fund in support of their efforts to eliminate human<br />
trafficking and sexual exploitation.<br />
Asia Yoga Conference number 10 is just around the corner! I encourage you to stop by to show<br />
your support, even if you are not interested in paying for workshops or buying another pair of<br />
leggings! There are lots of free events and it’s just fun to be around so many yoga practitioners<br />
at one time. On page 50, we are pleased to offer two free passes to the workshops and lectures.<br />
On the cover - Micha Chan is a Hong Kong-based yoga<br />
teacher. He recently opened a new studio in Tsuen Wan<br />
called YogaPoint.<br />
In This Issue<br />
DRISTI - YOGA & DEMENTIA<br />
THE CARER’S PERSPECTIVE 33<br />
THREE APPROACHES 34<br />
YOGA OF DEATH & DYING 36<br />
SPECIAL FEATURES<br />
JETSUMNA TENZIN PALMO 17<br />
Noted Tibetan Buddhist nun talks to Tia about<br />
the role of women in Buddhism today<br />
YOGA STOPS TRAFFICK 19<br />
Katherine’s experience with Indian charity<br />
Odanadi inspires raise awareness in Asia<br />
SAMYAMA 21<br />
Balaji explains why this concept is the essence<br />
of yoga<br />
MANTRA MEDITATION 22<br />
Ram explains some basics about mantra<br />
STRONG BODY 23<br />
How yoga is helping Vincent with his<br />
competitive running<br />
ASIA YOGA CONFERENCE TICKETS 50<br />
First reader to correctly answer five questions<br />
gets two free passes<br />
REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS<br />
KULA UPDATES, WORKSHOPS,<br />
RETREATS, TEACHER TRAININGS 6<br />
PHOTO ESSAY 14<br />
AYURVEDA 27<br />
MUDRAS 43<br />
BOOK REVIEW 45<br />
TEACHER TRAINING 46<br />
CROSSWORD 48<br />
DIRECTORY 52<br />
ABOUT NAMASKAR<br />
ADMINISTRATION Carol Adams, carol@caroladams.hk<br />
NEWS EDITOR Wai-Ling Tse, wailing.tse@gmail.com<br />
CIRCULATION Angela Sun, angela.sun@gmail.com<br />
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Frances Gairns, fgairns@netvigator.com<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> provides a voice for the yoga community in Asia and<br />
around the world. The publication is an opportunity for<br />
practitioners on a yogic path to selflessly offer their knowledge,<br />
learnings and experiences with others.<br />
We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions<br />
expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of <strong>Namaskar</strong> or<br />
its volunteers.<br />
Articles and photographs in <strong>Namaskar</strong> are contributed at no<br />
charge. Advertising income covers production, distribution,<br />
administrative costs and discretionary contributions to selected<br />
charities and causes.<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong>, is published quarterly in January, <strong>Apr</strong>il, July and October.<br />
About 5,000 copies are printed and distributed for free to yoga<br />
studios, teachers, fitness centres, retail outlets, cafes and yogafriendly<br />
outlets. Mostly distributed in Hong Kong, with 1,500 copies<br />
mailed to readers in 32 other countries.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 3
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
ANGELA SUN<br />
Based in the UK, Carol takes care<br />
of the <strong>Namaskar</strong>’s administration,<br />
advertising and billing. She works<br />
from home which gives her the<br />
freedom to take care of her 10-<br />
year-old son. carol@caroladams.hk<br />
travels around the world sharing<br />
his knowledge using modern<br />
examples and humour<br />
www.aksharayoga.com<br />
SARAH PIERROZ<br />
CHANDRIKA GIBSON<br />
Angela takes care of the<br />
distribution and circulation of<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong>. Now based in her home<br />
town of New York, has been<br />
practicing yoga for 10 years. She<br />
currently teaches privately.<br />
asunwellness@gmail.com<br />
way. She has deep compassion for<br />
victims of human trafficking and<br />
children in poverty.<br />
kcpilates@gmail.com<br />
KRISHNAA KINKARIDAS<br />
BALAJI THIRUVENGADASAMY<br />
Balaji is a practitioner of Yoga and a<br />
student of Yoga Philosophy. He<br />
has diverse work experience<br />
spanning technology, military and<br />
investment banking. Today Balaji<br />
is a Yoga Alliance registered<br />
teacher and a licensed practitioner<br />
of Yoga for the Special Child.<br />
www.latentimpressions.com.<br />
Chandrika is Vice President of the<br />
Australian Association of Yoga<br />
Therapists, a yoga teacher, yoga<br />
therapist, wellness consultant and<br />
naturopath. An experienced<br />
lecturer, keen researcher and<br />
writer, Chandrika holds a Master’s<br />
degree in Wellness.<br />
chandrika@suryahealth.com.au<br />
GABRIELLE MCMAHON<br />
Krishnaa lives in London. She<br />
studied with B.K.S. Iyengar and<br />
now runs classes in London and<br />
teaches Sanskrit and Mudras for<br />
Yoga for the Yoga Alliance and<br />
British Wheel of Yoga. She has<br />
written 15 books on Bhakti Yoga.<br />
kinkaridasi@hotmail.com<br />
RAM VAKKALANKA<br />
Sarah is the Wellness Advisor at<br />
Samahita Retreat in Koh Samui,<br />
Thailand, where she teaches yoga,<br />
fitness and holds workshops. Over<br />
the past decade, Sarah has taught<br />
Visual Art in Egypt and Italy, in<br />
colleges which focused on<br />
promoting peace, intercultural<br />
understanding and sustainable<br />
development.<br />
www.sarahpierroz.com<br />
TIA SINHA<br />
CAROL ADAMS<br />
Gabrielle’s life work is Yoga,<br />
Meditation & natural living. She<br />
created BeBliss 10 years ago and<br />
works with groups and<br />
individuals inspiring them to live<br />
their best life.<br />
gabrielle@bebliss.com.au<br />
KATHERINE CAMILLERI<br />
Katherine fundraises and<br />
participates in fundraising events<br />
in Hong Kong for small charities<br />
around the world. She is energised<br />
by the vibe in Hong Kong to make<br />
the world a better place and she<br />
believes a little bit can go a long<br />
Ram is a Nada Yogi, Kirtan leader,<br />
Yoga philosopher, Sanskrit expert<br />
and Meditation teacher. Born and<br />
brought up in India steeped in the<br />
Vedic tradition, Ram is currently<br />
based in Toronto, Canada and<br />
Tia worked for Star TV in Hong<br />
Kong. In 2006, she took time off to<br />
study yoga and meditation. Tia<br />
taught Hatha Yoga to the nuns of<br />
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s DGL<br />
Nunnery, has been meditating<br />
under Jetsunma’s guidance and has<br />
translated some of Jetsunma’s<br />
talks and her biography, Cave in the<br />
Snow into Hindi.<br />
onlytia2@yahoo.co.in<br />
4 NAMASKAR
TIMY HUI<br />
experienced Yoga instructor<br />
practicing in Hong Kong for over 25<br />
years. sharma@ayuryoga-intl.com,<br />
www.ayuryoga-intl.com<br />
VIRGINIE MOREL<br />
namaskar<br />
Timy started hot yoga 2003, and<br />
started teaching yoga in 2009. He<br />
specializes in Vipassana<br />
Meditation, Mindfulness Yoga,<br />
Pain-Relaxation Yoga, and<br />
Meridian-PaiSha: Vibration<br />
Therapy. timy99@gmail.com,<br />
www.mfYoga.org<br />
VINCENT WONG<br />
Virginie is a French yoga teacher<br />
based in Hong Kong. She studied<br />
in Rishikesh, India, with Kia<br />
Miller. She teaches classes which<br />
combine the ancient practices of<br />
Hatha and Kundalini yoga. In her<br />
classes Virginie shares her love of<br />
yoga and invites her students to<br />
practice with an open mind.<br />
Virginie.morel@me.com,<br />
www.atelierdivalys.com<br />
WAI-LING TSE<br />
Now on-line at:<br />
www.issuu.com/namaskarasia<br />
Back issues still at:<br />
www.issuu.com/caroladams<br />
July’s dristi:<br />
Dhyana & Dharana<br />
• What are they? And what ‘s the difference between the two?<br />
• Can I practice one and not the other?<br />
• How can I practice dhyana and dharana in my yoga asana class? Is<br />
• Is samadhi possible without them?<br />
• Best books for learning more about these concepts.<br />
Vincent is a mid-distance runner<br />
and event organizer from Hong<br />
Kong Trail Runner. He loves<br />
running and hiking on sunny days<br />
and participating in<br />
aquathlons. vinzenzowong@gmail.com<br />
If you’d like to contribute, please email fgairns@netvigator.com with<br />
the idea for your article.<br />
Contributions are also welcome on other topics. Final articles are<br />
welcome before March 10.<br />
VINOD SHARMA<br />
Wai-Ling practices and teaches<br />
mindfulness, therapy and is Kula<br />
editor for <strong>Namaskar</strong>.<br />
yogawithling@gmail.com<br />
Vinod is a qualified Ayurvedic &<br />
Homeopathic Consultant and an<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 5
KULA<br />
Updates<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Byron Yoga<br />
Retreat Centre<br />
goes fully organic!<br />
Byron Bay’s most affordable<br />
retreat centre just increased the<br />
potency of its food and is now<br />
following the principals of SLOW<br />
Food: Seasonal; Local; Organic<br />
and Without processed foods of<br />
any kind. While much of the<br />
produce comes fresh from the<br />
Byron Yoga Retreat Centre’s own<br />
organic gardens, they are now<br />
buying in pretty much only local,<br />
organic food in season. Book one<br />
of the 8, 5 or 3 day retreats and<br />
you can be assured of toxin free<br />
food that tastes amazing!<br />
Yogapoint is a cosy new studio opened by Micha Chan in Tsuen Wan<br />
For more information<br />
www.byronyoga.com<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Shakti Healing<br />
Circle is 10!<br />
Congratulations to Pervin and<br />
Stephen Clasper on the 10 th<br />
anniversary of Shakti Healing<br />
Circle in Hong Kong.<br />
Stephen & Pervin Clasper opened Shakti Healing Circle 10 years ago.<br />
It was Pervin’s dream to have<br />
“my own centre, and then became<br />
so irresistable I couldn’t stop<br />
thinking about it. I first learned<br />
Reiki in 1997 and started with<br />
sessions for family and close<br />
friends and then for friends of<br />
friends. By then I just knew I was<br />
supposed to give up my day job,<br />
so to speak, at Cathay Pacific.”<br />
Husband Stephen, at that time an<br />
executive coach, encouraged her<br />
at every step in starting Shakti.<br />
Although they rented more space<br />
than they needed in March 2007,<br />
within days they were being<br />
approached by practitioners<br />
wanting to work from their<br />
centre.<br />
Pervin and Stephen feel “so lucky<br />
with the wonderful people who<br />
have brought their amazing<br />
talents to work with us. And it<br />
just shows if you dream big you<br />
will find everything you need just<br />
landing at your door!”<br />
New Tsuen Wan<br />
studio<br />
Indian yoga organization,<br />
Yogapoint has opened a small<br />
Hong Kong studio in Tsuen Wan.<br />
Run by Micha Chan, the studio<br />
provides traditional 90mins<br />
Hatha yoga, Yin Yang Yoga,<br />
Pranayama, Meditation and<br />
Prana Kriya Yoga. The classes are<br />
in English and Cantonese.<br />
For more information<br />
yogahcim@yahoo.com<br />
Easter Hammock<br />
Yoga Course for<br />
Tweens & Teens<br />
10 & 13 <strong>Apr</strong>il<br />
The Yoga Room<br />
Join Cindy for this Easter<br />
Programme Hammock Yoga for<br />
Kids, 10 - 15 years. We will<br />
explore yoga in the aerial<br />
hammock in a fun way and learn<br />
mindfulness and self-regulation<br />
strategies to help today’s teen<br />
develop both mentally and<br />
physically.<br />
For more information:<br />
info@yogaroomhk.com;<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com;+852<br />
2544-8398<br />
6 NAMASKAR
BodyTalk<br />
Fundamentals<br />
Seminar<br />
19 <strong>Apr</strong>il – 2 May<br />
Learn to decode the biofeedback<br />
of the body and find and release<br />
the root cause of health issues.<br />
Angie will teach over 20 energy<br />
balancing techniques intended to<br />
optimize brain function; release<br />
past trauma; boost immune<br />
system function.<br />
For more information<br />
angie@bodytalksystem.com.hk,<br />
www.bodytalksystem.com.hk,<br />
+852 6683 5755<br />
Hong Kong Convention &<br />
Exhibition Centre<br />
Join David Swenson, Carlos<br />
Pomeda, David Life & Sharon<br />
Gannon, Sri Dharma Mittra, Paul<br />
Dallaghan and many other<br />
international and local yoga<br />
teachers for four days of yoga<br />
workshops, lectures,<br />
demonstrations, and lots of yoga<br />
paraphernalia (that you really,<br />
really need)!<br />
For more information<br />
www.asiayogaconference.com<br />
15th Sakyadhita<br />
International<br />
Conference<br />
22 - 28 June<br />
University of Hong Kong<br />
The topic for this year’s<br />
conference is ‘Contemporary<br />
Buddhist Women:<br />
Contemplation, Cultural<br />
Exchange & Social Action’.<br />
For more information<br />
www.sakyadhita.org.<br />
The activist is not the man<br />
who says the river is dirty.<br />
The activist is the man<br />
who cleans up the river.<br />
- Ross Perot<br />
Guided Study in<br />
Basic Bhagavad<br />
Gita with<br />
Sravaniya<br />
DiPecoraro<br />
21 <strong>Apr</strong>il - 26 May<br />
Alive Wellness, Central<br />
This module Bhakti Yoga -<br />
Practical Samadhi covers such<br />
topics as knowledge of the<br />
Absolute, The Universal Form,<br />
Attaining the Supreme.<br />
Srav was one of the first Western<br />
yoga teachers in Hong Kong. She<br />
has authored a book on the<br />
Bhagavad Gita and conducts<br />
personalised astrological<br />
readings.<br />
For more information<br />
info@lifepath.am<br />
10 th Asia Yoga<br />
Conference<br />
8 – 11 June<br />
INDIA<br />
2 nd International<br />
Yoga Festival<br />
<strong>2017</strong><br />
8 – 12 November<br />
Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Nasik<br />
Join different yoga classes and<br />
lectures by senior yoga teachers<br />
and doctors. There will also be<br />
cultural performances,<br />
traditional dance, mallakhamb<br />
(Rope yoga) and Indian concerts.<br />
For more information<br />
yogahcim@yahoo.com<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Yoga Sutra<br />
Studies<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il – December<br />
Being in Yoga<br />
Valerie Faneco leads these 14<br />
sessions on the Yoga Sutras of<br />
Patanjali. She will introduce yoga<br />
philosophy, key concepts in<br />
Samkya philosophy, explain each<br />
sutra thoroughly and lead<br />
chanting of selected sutras.<br />
For more information<br />
valerie@beinginyoga.com<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 7
KULA<br />
Workshops<br />
Kino McGregor will be all over Asia this May. Photo by Yoshi Anwar<br />
CHINA<br />
Kino MacGregor<br />
Weekend<br />
Workshop<br />
13-14 May<br />
Pure Yoga, Shanghai<br />
Kino is an Ashtanga yoga teacher<br />
based in Florida. She was the<br />
youngest woman to be certified<br />
to teach this form of yoga by Sri<br />
Pattabhi Jois. The workshop will<br />
be divided into four sessions,<br />
which can be taken all together or<br />
separately. They will cover full<br />
primary series, hip opening,<br />
introduction to second series and<br />
focus on bakasana.<br />
For more information<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/shanghai/<br />
workshop/detail/269<br />
David Swenson<br />
Workshop &<br />
Immersion<br />
13-25 June<br />
Pure Yoga, Shanghai<br />
David started practicing yoga in<br />
1969 when he was 13 years old,<br />
and Ashtanga yoga since 1973.<br />
Today he is one of the most<br />
popular teachers of Ashtanga<br />
yoga. He will be offering several<br />
different workshops during his<br />
time in Shanghai – for beginners,<br />
advanced practitioners, students<br />
more interested in breathwork or<br />
philosophy.<br />
For more information http://<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/shanghai/<br />
workshop/detail/276<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Wheel Workshop<br />
with Rachel<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il 22<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
Yoga wheels give the individual<br />
the ability to expand and stretch<br />
and helps develop more<br />
flexibility. It can helps new and<br />
intermediate students backbend<br />
more easily while increasing<br />
more flexibility in the spine,<br />
shoulders, quads and hips. In this<br />
workshop Rachel will guide you<br />
through a gentle flow on your<br />
wheel.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com/event/<br />
wheel-workshop-with-rachel-3/<br />
8 NAMASKAR
Kino MacGregor<br />
30-hour Ashtanga<br />
Immersion<br />
5-9 May<br />
Pure Yoga, Hutchison House<br />
Join Kino for this five-day<br />
immersion into Ashtanga,<br />
including daily practice, asana<br />
techniques, anatomy, learning<br />
about hands-on adjustments,<br />
counting vinyasa and yoga<br />
philosophy.<br />
For more information http://<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/hongkong/<br />
workshop/detail/265<br />
Prana Power Yoga<br />
Workshops with<br />
Master Anurag<br />
23 & 30 <strong>Apr</strong>il<br />
Anahata Yoga, Sheung Wan<br />
In this Prana Power Yoga<br />
workshop, you will learn the<br />
essential elements of Power Yoga<br />
practice; key power yoga<br />
postures to build strength and<br />
flexibility safely and how to<br />
breathe for both relaxation and<br />
awakening prana. Module 1 will<br />
focus on the Sun Salutation<br />
Sequence and Twisting Poses,<br />
while module 2 will focus on<br />
Seated, Back Bending and<br />
inverted Poses<br />
For more information<br />
www.anahatayoga.com.hk/<br />
training_workshop/pranapower-power-yoga-workshopswith-master-anurag/<br />
Workshops &<br />
Master class with<br />
Gokulacandra<br />
19 – 21 May<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
Gokulacandra, also called Jani<br />
Jaatinen has been practicing yoga<br />
since 2000. Based in Kota<br />
Kinabalu where he lives with his<br />
family, he travels extensively<br />
around the world offering<br />
workshops and trainings. Here in<br />
Hong Kong, he will lead four<br />
workshops covering hip opening,<br />
arm balancing, inversions and<br />
backbending.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com/event/<br />
workshops-and-class-withguest-teacher-gokulacandra-inmay/<br />
David Swenson will be teaching at Pure<br />
Yoga in Shanghai and Hong Kong<br />
David Swenson<br />
Mysore-style<br />
Practice,<br />
Workshops &<br />
Intensive<br />
2-7 June<br />
Pure Yoga, Centrium<br />
Join David for a fun-filled five<br />
days. Whether attending all or<br />
just the morning practice, you are<br />
sure to learn loads about<br />
Ashtanga and have a good time<br />
doing it.<br />
For more information<br />
www.pure-yoga.com<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Kino MacGregor<br />
One-day<br />
Workshop<br />
3 May<br />
Pure Yoga, Ngee An City<br />
This one-day workshop with<br />
Kino McGregor will cover the full<br />
primary series in the morning, an<br />
inversions session after lunch,<br />
followed by a yoga talk and<br />
meditation.<br />
For more information<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/singapore/<br />
workshop/detail/270<br />
Anatomy with Dr.<br />
Trish Corley<br />
20 – 21 May<br />
New Angle Yoga<br />
Gain a clear understanding of<br />
yoga anatomy and put it into<br />
action on the yoga mat. The<br />
workshop consists of interactive<br />
lectures with anatomical models<br />
and illustrations and is integrated<br />
with full asana practices. Have<br />
fun while practically applying the<br />
knowledge of human anatomy to<br />
your own practice and/or your<br />
teaching.<br />
For more information<br />
www.newangleyoga.com<br />
Yoga Assists with<br />
Dr. Trish Corley<br />
27-28 May<br />
New Angle Yoga<br />
Empower your practice and your<br />
teaching by discovering how to<br />
assist over 50 yoga postures. As a<br />
student, you will gain an<br />
understanding of alignment and<br />
the possibilities of the poses. As a<br />
teacher, you will learn how to<br />
confidently assist students and<br />
empower them to experience<br />
their own greatness in each pose.<br />
Your hands already have the<br />
power to support, the workshop<br />
will give you the guidance to do<br />
so!<br />
For more information<br />
www.newangleyoga.com<br />
Jason Crandell will be teaching in Singapore<br />
Move your<br />
practice forward<br />
with Jason<br />
Crandell<br />
3-4 June<br />
Pure Yoga, Asia Square Tower 2<br />
The Move Your Practice Forward<br />
Weekend Workshops are for<br />
students and teachers with less<br />
time to invest, which may be<br />
taken as a standalone in the 5-day<br />
programme. In this workshop,<br />
you’ll approach challenging poses<br />
and variations with greater poise,<br />
awareness, and attention to<br />
detail. You’ll expand your edge,<br />
deepen your practice, and learn<br />
to stay connected to your centre<br />
in challenging situations.<br />
For more information<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/singapore/<br />
workshop/detail/293<br />
TAIWAN<br />
Kino McGregor<br />
One-day<br />
workshop<br />
16 May<br />
Pure Yoga, Urban One<br />
This one-day workshop with<br />
Kino McGregor will cover the full<br />
primary series in the morning, an<br />
inversions session after lunch,<br />
followed by a yoga talk and<br />
meditation.<br />
For more information pureyoga.com/taiwan/workshop/<br />
detail/272<br />
Sharon & David’s<br />
Jivamukti Master<br />
Class<br />
3-4 June<br />
Pure Yoga, Urban One<br />
Sharon and David are founders of<br />
the Jivamukti Yoga Method,<br />
which emphasises vinyasa,<br />
scriptural study, devotion,<br />
music, chanting and meditation,<br />
as well as animal rights,<br />
veganism, environmentalism and<br />
political activism.<br />
For more information /<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/taiwan/<br />
workshop/detail/317<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 9
KULA<br />
Retreats<br />
CAMBODIA<br />
Love yourself as<br />
you are – Yoga &<br />
Self-Discovery<br />
Retreat with Janet<br />
Lau & The Yoga<br />
Room<br />
13-19 August<br />
Navutu Dreams, Siem Reap,<br />
Cambodia<br />
This retreat offers a wellrounded<br />
program exploring ways<br />
to apply a meditative yoga<br />
practice to everyday actions such<br />
as walking, sitting, talking, and<br />
listening. Through these<br />
practices, we begin the process of<br />
healing. This will be an<br />
opportunity to learn more about<br />
meditation, mindfulness,<br />
spirituality, and living a more<br />
joyful and peaceful life.<br />
For more information:<br />
info@yogaroomhk.com;<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com;+852<br />
2544-8398<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Spring Cleaning<br />
Day Retreat with<br />
Holly & The Yoga<br />
Room<br />
22 <strong>Apr</strong>il<br />
Mui Wo, Hong Kong<br />
Starting with a detoxifying<br />
vinyasa class focusing on twists<br />
and binds, followed by a healthy<br />
and refreshing vegan lunch. In the<br />
afternoon there will be a mini<br />
lecture on the Traditional<br />
Chinese Medicine theories and<br />
yin yoga. We will finish off the<br />
day with a restorative and yin<br />
practice.<br />
For more information<br />
info@yogaroomhk.com;<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com;+852<br />
2544-8398<br />
MONGOLIA<br />
Mongolia Yoga<br />
Retreat with<br />
Emma Henry<br />
29 July – 7 August<br />
Jivamukti yoga in the Mongolian<br />
wilderness with teacher Emma<br />
Henry. Experience powerful and<br />
brilliantly taught yoga, camp-fire<br />
kirtan and desert meditation.<br />
Sleep in luxury yurt camps and<br />
enjoy delicious vegan food. The<br />
perfect mix of yoga, healthy food<br />
and adventures. Horse riding,<br />
rafting, camel treks and hiking.<br />
For more information<br />
jools@reclaimyourself.co.uk,<br />
www.reclaimyourself.co.uk<br />
NEPAL<br />
John Scott Nepal<br />
Buddhist<br />
Monastery<br />
Retreat<br />
23 – 30 September<br />
Nepal<br />
Join John and his team of<br />
teachers in Nepal at the foothills<br />
of the Himalayasa. The teachers<br />
will donate all the proceeds from<br />
their teaching to the monastery<br />
for the poorest children<br />
For more information<br />
www.johnscottyoga.com/<br />
project/nepal-23sep17/<br />
THAILAND<br />
Yoga Retreat with<br />
Micha Chan<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il & twice a year<br />
Adinath Yoga Ashram, Chiang Rai<br />
Join Micha for a 4-day retreat at<br />
Yoga ashram in the heart of<br />
Chiang Rai. Micha is sharing<br />
asana, pranayama, mantra<br />
practices & lectures, helping<br />
everyone realize oneself on<br />
physical, mental, intellectual<br />
aspects. Different lectures on<br />
yoga: Kundalini, alignment,<br />
concepts of happiness & true<br />
ashtanga yoga by Patanjali.<br />
For more information: +852<br />
93448589 Facebook page: Yoga<br />
Point Hong Kong<br />
Daniel Stringer will be teaching at<br />
Samahita Retreat<br />
Integrated Yoga<br />
Practice<br />
with Daniel<br />
Stringer<br />
29 <strong>Apr</strong>il - 6 May<br />
Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui.<br />
Daniel explore and integrate the<br />
layers of Self experienced<br />
through ashtanga vinyasa asana,<br />
pranayama, chanting, meditation<br />
techniques practices, philosophy<br />
and open debate.<br />
With a background in martial<br />
arts and Qi Gong, Daniel has been<br />
studing Ashtanga yoga since<br />
2003. He began teaching yoga full<br />
time in Hong Kong in 2008,<br />
where he currently lives and<br />
works.<br />
For more information<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com<br />
Samkhya-Yoga - 7<br />
Days Retreat<br />
30 <strong>Apr</strong>il – 6 May, 4-11 June<br />
9-15 July, 22-28 October<br />
26 November to 2 December<br />
People glibly speak about Yoga<br />
without realizing that it forms an<br />
integral part of a composite<br />
Samkhya-Yoga Philosophy, the<br />
oldest philosophical system in<br />
the world.<br />
Include theory and practice of<br />
Yoga techniques, vegetarian<br />
meals in residential basis.<br />
Wise Living Yoga Academy -<br />
Chiang Mai, Thailand<br />
For more information+66<br />
825467995,<br />
info@wiselivingyoga.com,<br />
www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
Samkhya +<br />
Bhagavad Gita - 14<br />
Days Retreat<br />
30 <strong>Apr</strong>il - 13 May, 4-17 June<br />
9-22 July, 22 October - 4<br />
November<br />
26 November - 9 December <strong>2017</strong><br />
In this retreat, besides the study<br />
of Samkhya and many traditional<br />
practices and techniques, the<br />
student will be lead to dive deeper<br />
into Yoga as the Bhagavad Gita<br />
will be explained in the view of the<br />
Four Paths of Yoga, namely Raja<br />
Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga &<br />
Karma Yoga. Include theory and<br />
practice, vegetarian meals in<br />
10 NAMASKAR
esidential basis.<br />
Wise Living Yoga Academy -<br />
Chiang Mai, Thailand<br />
For more information +66<br />
825467995,<br />
info@wiselivingyoga.com,<br />
www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
Re-energize,<br />
Relax, Retreat in<br />
Koh Samui with<br />
Flex Studio<br />
4-9 May<br />
Kamalaya Resort, Koh Samui<br />
Flex Studio Hong Kong is again<br />
hosting a luxury retreat to the<br />
beautiful Kamalaya Resort in Koh<br />
Samui, Thailand. This year’s<br />
retreat offers daily yoga and<br />
Pilates, signature wellness and<br />
spa treatments and the delicious<br />
vegetarian menu for which<br />
Kamalaya is famed.<br />
Michelle Ricaille, homeopath and<br />
yoga instructor, will join Flex cofounder<br />
Heather Shalabi on this<br />
intimate getaway.<br />
For more information<br />
kristine@flexhk.com,<br />
www.flexhk.com, +852 2813-<br />
2212<br />
Unlock Your<br />
Creativity<br />
with Emily Alp &<br />
Manuel Molina de<br />
la Torre<br />
3 - 10 June<br />
Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui<br />
Engage in activities designed to<br />
reduce inhibition around creative<br />
expression. Move into right<br />
brained thinking. This workshop<br />
is about learning to express your<br />
emotions through writing, multimedia<br />
and movement. We will be<br />
using daily yoga practices like,<br />
pranayama, asana and<br />
contemplative practices as<br />
catalysts and supports for the<br />
cathartic experience.<br />
For more information<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com<br />
Luxury 7-night<br />
Retreat with<br />
E:scape<br />
17-24 June<br />
Koh Samui<br />
Emma Henry leads a10-day yoga retreat in Mongolia<br />
E:scape hosts retreats in<br />
luxurious locations around the<br />
world, wellness professionals<br />
and coaches will help you feel<br />
your best. Retreats are designed<br />
to bring together a group of likeminded<br />
individuals looking to<br />
E:scape from their daily life and<br />
work on themselves. The next<br />
retreat will be held at a luxurious<br />
private villa in Koh Samui with<br />
daily yoga and meditation,<br />
cultural excursions and an<br />
executive coach hosting<br />
workshops on stress reduction<br />
and private sessions to help you<br />
achieve all your wellness goals.<br />
For more information:<br />
bookings@luxuryescape.co,<br />
www.luxuryescape.co<br />
Ashtanga Yoga<br />
Therapy Retreat<br />
With Rachel Grey<br />
18 - 26 June<br />
Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui<br />
Peace, harmony, balance and<br />
sustainability both on and off the<br />
mat. Create a seamless yoga<br />
practice to unify breath body and<br />
mind using the Ashtanga series<br />
and Yoga Therapy.<br />
For more information<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com<br />
Ann will be leading the retreat at E:scape on Koh Samui<br />
Ashtanga Yoga<br />
Therapy Retreat<br />
with Michele<br />
Loew<br />
29 July - 5 August<br />
Join Michele Loew for an<br />
intimate exploration of The<br />
Ashtanga Vinyasa Primary series.<br />
Open to all-levels of practice.<br />
Deepen your awareness of<br />
internal and external alignment to<br />
create a refined and intelligent<br />
practice, improve asana, repair<br />
and prevent injury, and ultimately<br />
awaken the unsurpassed joy from<br />
our highest self. This week-long<br />
session of philsophy study &<br />
practice will count as 20 hours of<br />
Yoga Alliance CEUs and credit<br />
towards Michele’s 500 hr.<br />
Teacher Training program.<br />
For more information:<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 11
KULA<br />
Teacher Trainings<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
95hr Children’s<br />
Yoga Teacher<br />
Training with<br />
Gecko Yoga<br />
11-20 May<br />
Yoga Space Maylands Studio –<br />
Perth<br />
Whether you want to teach<br />
toddlers, tweens or teens this<br />
course with Gecko Yoga will<br />
ensure you are inspired and<br />
prepared to share yoga with the<br />
next generation of budding yogis.<br />
For more information<br />
maylands@yogaspace.com.au<br />
95hr Children’s<br />
Yoga Teacher<br />
Training with<br />
Gecko Yoga<br />
9-17 September<br />
Flying Masters, Melbourne<br />
Gecko Yoga’s 95hrs Children’s<br />
This training is registered with<br />
Yoga Australia and Yoga Alliance<br />
so you can become a RCYT.<br />
For more information<br />
www.flyingmasters.com.au/<br />
workshop/95-hour-childrensyoga-teacher-training-withjenny-smith-gecko-yoga-hk/<br />
HONG KONG<br />
300hr Yoga<br />
Teacher Training<br />
(Chinese) with<br />
Ann da Silva &<br />
Keiki To<br />
Pregnancy Yoga: 29 <strong>Apr</strong>il – 7 May<br />
Yoga Therapy: 30 Sep – 8 Oct<br />
Master Curriculum (Mandatory):<br />
from 7 July (rotational)<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
Suitable for yoga teachers with<br />
200-hr foundation training.<br />
Training modules can be taken<br />
individually without joining full<br />
program. Graduates of full 300-<br />
hr program will qualify as<br />
RYT500 with the Yoga Alliance.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com ;<br />
info@yogaroomhk.com; + 852<br />
:2544-8398<br />
100hr Advanced<br />
Hatha Yoga<br />
Teacher Training<br />
with Yogananth<br />
Andiappan<br />
10 May - 5 June<br />
Anahata Yoga<br />
The course focuses on<br />
intermediate and advanced poses,<br />
their possible modifications and<br />
variations, and teaching and<br />
demonstration techniques. The<br />
aim of the course is to challenge<br />
practitioners to advance in their<br />
practice by exploring the limits of<br />
their body and overcoming them,<br />
as well as to develop their<br />
knowledge of the body in order to<br />
better understand every joint and<br />
muscle nuance in the poses.<br />
For more information<br />
www.anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
+852 2905 1822<br />
Upeksha<br />
Advanced Teacher<br />
Training with<br />
Carlos Pomeda<br />
13-22 June<br />
Pure, Hong Kong<br />
In this training, you will explore<br />
Tantra and its most refined<br />
formulation, Kashmir Shaivism,<br />
from a perspective that is both<br />
inspirational and entirely<br />
applicable to our daily lives. You<br />
will dispel the most common<br />
misunderstandings about what<br />
Tantra is and is not, investigating<br />
its roots and its development,<br />
and uncovering the answers it<br />
provides to the most fundamental<br />
questions of existence.<br />
For more information<br />
www.hk.pure-yoga.com/en/<br />
hongkong/teachertraining/<br />
upeksha<strong>2017</strong>/index.php<br />
Gecko Yoga 95hr<br />
Children’s Yoga<br />
Teacher Training<br />
13-23 June<br />
Gecko Yoga, Hong Kong<br />
If sharing yoga with all ages is<br />
something you aspire to,<br />
especially the challenge and joy of<br />
teaching children, then Gecko<br />
Yoga® can help add this inspiring<br />
and useful string to your teaching<br />
bow.<br />
For more information:<br />
info@geckoyoga.com<br />
200hr Yoga TT<br />
Certificate Course<br />
23 June - 15 September<br />
Anahata Yoga<br />
Anahata Yoga’s Teacher Training<br />
Certificate Course gives yoga<br />
practitioners, enthusiasts, and<br />
aspiring instructors the chance<br />
to deepen their self-knowledge of<br />
yoga philosophy and improve on<br />
various aspects of their practice.<br />
It is an open-level training<br />
programme.<br />
For more information<br />
www.anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
+852 2905 1822<br />
Integral Yoga<br />
Level 1 (200hr)<br />
September <strong>2017</strong> - June 2018<br />
2 Saturdays per month + weekend<br />
retreat<br />
Integral Yoga uses an inward,<br />
spiritually focused form of Hatha<br />
Yoga to lead students to an<br />
experience of their true Self. The<br />
part-time curriculum focuses on<br />
nurturing a personal practice,<br />
competency in teaching a Level 1<br />
class and experience in Integral<br />
Yoga’s six branches.<br />
For more information<br />
info@hershayoga.com<br />
300 hr Yoga<br />
Therapy Teacher<br />
Training<br />
Certificate Course<br />
at Anahata Yoga<br />
1 September - 29 November<br />
Anahata Yoga<br />
Yoga therapy may be worlds<br />
apart, but through this specially-<br />
12 NAMASKAR
designed course, participants will<br />
be given a good introduction to<br />
the two sciences as well as a solid<br />
foundation on which to build<br />
their knowledge. The course is a<br />
good starting point for those<br />
interested in learning more about<br />
these two subjects. Explore the<br />
principles of yoga therapy and<br />
Ayurveda and their various<br />
applications in our daily lives.<br />
For more information<br />
www.anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk,<br />
+852 2905 1822<br />
Level I - Insight<br />
Yoga Teacher<br />
Training<br />
Intensive with<br />
Sarah Powers<br />
4-13 October<br />
Pure Yoga, Hong Kong<br />
This intensive will deepen one’s<br />
ability to teach/practice a<br />
receptive Yin style and an active<br />
Yang style with an interest in<br />
promoting a conducive inner<br />
environment for meditation.<br />
For more information: http://<br />
www.pure-yoga.com/hongkong<br />
http://sarahpowers.com/iyi/<br />
schedule-<strong>2017</strong>/level-i-teachertraining-intensive-october-<strong>2017</strong>/<br />
Yoga for the<br />
Special Child with<br />
Sonia Sumar<br />
30 October - 5 November<br />
Yoga for the Special Child is a<br />
comprehensive program of Yoga<br />
techniques designed to enhance<br />
the natural development of<br />
children with special need. Sonia<br />
Sumar is a pioneer in this field<br />
and her style is gentle and safe for<br />
babies and children with a range<br />
of special needs and physical or<br />
intellectual disabilities.<br />
For more information<br />
info@hershayoga.com<br />
INDONESIA<br />
200-hr Blissology<br />
Yoga Teacher<br />
Training with<br />
Eoin Finn<br />
12 <strong>Apr</strong>il - 13 May<br />
Samadi, Canggu, Bali<br />
Join yogi + Blissologist, Eoin<br />
Finn and a crew of great<br />
assistants. This<br />
comprehensive Yoga Alliance<br />
certified course will teach you<br />
how to embody, breathe and<br />
teach yoga, while offering an<br />
authentic, powerful and<br />
sustainable way for you to deepen<br />
your life’s purpose and meaning.<br />
For more information:<br />
www.blissology.com,<br />
kat@blissology.com<br />
200hr Yin Yoga<br />
Teacher Training<br />
with Jo Phee &<br />
Joe Barnett<br />
13 October - 3 November<br />
Ubud, Bali<br />
Covering YinspirationCore<br />
Modules: Yin Yoga: Theory and<br />
Practice, Anatomy of Yoga,<br />
Chinese Medicine & Five Element<br />
Theory Fascia Study: Science &<br />
Research, Sequencing & Teaching<br />
Methodology.<br />
Teaching Team<br />
6 May - 3 June<br />
Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui.<br />
Centered Yoga is located at<br />
Samahita Retreat on the beautiful<br />
tropical island of Koh Samui,<br />
Thailand. This Yoga Institute has<br />
been providing yoga certification<br />
courses since Paul Dallaghan<br />
founded the school in New York<br />
in 1999.<br />
We offer one-month residential<br />
trainings, which are preceded by<br />
pre-course assignments and<br />
preparation.<br />
For more information<br />
www.centeredyoga.com/yogateacher-training.html<br />
For more information:<br />
yinspirationyinyoga@gmail.com,<br />
www.yinspiration.org<br />
Eoin Finn will be in Bali<br />
200hr Yoga<br />
Teacher Training<br />
1- 29 October<br />
Dena Seni, Bali<br />
The team of teachers, who bring<br />
together the different traditions<br />
of Kundalini, Ashtanga, Vinyasa<br />
Flow, Tantra, and Hatha, will be<br />
working to share, educate,<br />
nurture all those interested in<br />
becoming a teacher or deepening<br />
their practice. This experience<br />
will incorporate all Desa Seni’s<br />
philosophies, a fully rounded<br />
spectrum into yoga, offerings<br />
from additional teachers who will<br />
further educate, along with<br />
organic food, holistic wellness.<br />
For more information<br />
www.desaseni.com/thecollective-200-hour-yogateacher-training-in-bali/<br />
THAILAND<br />
200hr Foundation<br />
Course with Paul<br />
Dallaghan &<br />
Centered Yoga<br />
Arielle Nash leads a 300 hr TT at<br />
Samahita<br />
300hr Advanced<br />
Yoga Teacher<br />
Training:<br />
Anatomy with<br />
Arielle Nash<br />
18 June - 1 July<br />
This course continues dives<br />
deeper into understanding<br />
adjusting by exploring subtle<br />
biomechanics, kinesiology and<br />
psychosomatics. Hands-on<br />
adjusting experience will occur in<br />
a live setting. The Ashtanga<br />
Primary and Intermediate Series’<br />
will be used as reference for<br />
asana study. Pre-course reading<br />
will be recommended to students<br />
who need to refresh basic<br />
anatomy knowledge prior to<br />
attending the course.<br />
For more information:<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 13
PHOTO ESSAY<br />
THE ART OF YOGA<br />
What does your asana<br />
look like?<br />
BY SARAH PIERROZ<br />
In yoga, we use tools like breath and dristi to help stay centered and focused while we move through<br />
various asana. A challenging balancing posture or opening backbend can bring up all sorts of feelings<br />
of joy and fear. Sometimes we may feel completely rooted and connected in pose, strong and<br />
glorious, with a calm mind and easy breath. Other postures may leave us feeling unstable or tense.<br />
As an artist and yoga practitioner, I ask myself, what does that experience look like?<br />
I once had a student describe Ustrasana as a complete opening, like a garden of flowers was coming<br />
forth from her ribs. For months before the pose had felt tight and contained, but it had flourished<br />
into something much more alive and expanding. I drew my interpretation for her and, as she moves<br />
onto other inevitable challenges, it reminds her of the way we shift from unease to ease, of how we<br />
can push and redefine our edge.<br />
Have you taken a moment to reflect on your own metaphors for a posture? What does it look like<br />
when you imagine yourself watching your body from the outside? And from the inside? What<br />
images does surya namaskara bring up for you? Paschimottanasana?<br />
14 NAMASKAR
Drawing gives us a chance to pause and consider our experience in yoga, experiences which tend<br />
to leave us at a loss for words.<br />
Consider this thought experiment for a moment: if line was your breath in yoga practice, how<br />
does it move? Does it flow with curves and swirls? Does it have an unrestricted and uninhibited<br />
quality? Or are there spaces which feel jagged and sharp and bound up? Does it feel boundless<br />
and completely dissolved into the background? When?<br />
For these particular line drawings, I use a very fine permanent black pen and a very large sheet of<br />
blank, white paper. That’s all. There is nothing else on my desk. All distractions are put aside. The<br />
blank page is quite poetic. Vast. Nothing. Pure. Once the black ink touches the paper there is not<br />
going back, no undoing, no eraser. You have to commit to the task at hand. You are there to<br />
express your metaphors and let something come through you. Step aside from your thoughts. Let<br />
your eyes and fingers unite. If there is hesitation, or shaking, or doubt, the crisp line will turn frail,<br />
and the experience will be lost.<br />
Drawing is a process, a happening, a place to enter a calm abiding within. There is nothing you<br />
need to prove, no outcome you have to focus on. Just you and the pen and page. You never have<br />
to show the outcome to anyone else.<br />
Try it out! Think of a posture that brings up an emotion, story or metaphor. Write down all the<br />
ideas you associate with it. Then, close your eyes, start to visualize how that pose looks in your<br />
imagination. Where do you feel connected? Where do you feel tight? Then, let the pen hit the<br />
paper, and let it flow. Attempt as many times as you need. Just try to finish one image all the way<br />
through. And enjoy the experience of what comes out of your brilliant imagination!<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 15
16 NAMASKAR
INTERVIEW<br />
WOMEN IN BUDDHISM<br />
Talking with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo<br />
BY TIA SINHA<br />
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, a Tibetan Buddhist<br />
nun of British origin is a living legend. She<br />
ordained in 1964 in India at the age of 20. She<br />
became well known in the Buddhist world<br />
through her exceptional spiritual endeavour<br />
of meditating for 12 years (from 1976 to<br />
1988) in a Himalayan cave, 13,000 feet above<br />
sea level. Her biography, Cave in the Snow,<br />
written by journalist Vicki Mackenzie,<br />
chronicles her incredibly inspirational life.<br />
In February 2008 Tenzin Palmo was given<br />
the rare title of Jetsunma (Venerable<br />
Master), by His Holiness the 12 th Gyalwang<br />
Drukpa, Head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in<br />
recognition of her spiritual achievements as a<br />
nun and her efforts in promoting the status<br />
of female practitioners in Tibetan Buddhism.<br />
Jetsunma is the founder and abbess of<br />
Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery near<br />
Dharamsala in India. She has authored two<br />
books on Buddhism, Reflections on a<br />
Mountain Lake and Into the Heart of Life.<br />
She teaches internationally. Her talks as well<br />
as her books offer clear and simple<br />
explanations of the Buddhist path and<br />
meditation techniques that are relevant for<br />
non-Buddhists as well.<br />
Jetsunma is also President of the Sakyadhita<br />
International Association of Buddhist<br />
Women, Founding Director of the Alliance of<br />
Non Himalayan Nuns, Honorary Advisor to<br />
the International Network of Engaged<br />
Buddhists and Founding Member of<br />
the Committee for Bhikshuni Ordination.<br />
Part 1 of the interview follows:<br />
THANK YOU, JETSUNMA, FOR THIS<br />
INTERVIEW. COULD YOU TELL US<br />
ABOUT THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN<br />
BUDDHISM, NUNS AS WELL AS LAY<br />
PRACTITIONERS?<br />
In general along with all other religious<br />
traditions the role of women - both monastic<br />
and lay - has been overlooked and neglected.<br />
In the past women in Buddhist countries<br />
have been mostly delegated to a secondary<br />
and inferior place within society and<br />
opportunities for study and advanced<br />
spiritual training have mostly been denied.<br />
Nonetheless it has always been noted that in<br />
purely Buddhist countries such as Burma<br />
and Tibet the lay women are strong and<br />
outspoken and often run the businesses.<br />
In recent times the status of women is<br />
changing with the introduction of universal<br />
education which allows women to find their<br />
voice. Nowadays both nuns and laywomen<br />
are on the move and are already making a<br />
significant contribution both in social<br />
activism and in spiritual circles.<br />
YOU HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING THE<br />
RIGHTS OF BUDDHIST NUNS TO<br />
RECEIVE FULL ORDINATION ON PAR<br />
WITH BUDDHIST MONKS. WHAT ARE<br />
THE OBSTACLES? DO YOU SEE FULL<br />
ORDINATION BEING GRANTED SOON?<br />
In the Theravadin countries of South-East<br />
Asia the bhikshuni or full ordination for nuns<br />
died out several centuries ago. There have<br />
been recent efforts to revive this nuns’<br />
ordination in Sri Lanka and Thailand despite<br />
opposition from conservative elements of<br />
the monk sangha. In Tibet the full ordination<br />
for nuns was never introduced so the<br />
argument is that it is broken and cannot<br />
therefore be revived. Nonetheless there are<br />
plans to try to bring back this ordination<br />
with the help of bhikshunis (fully ordained<br />
nuns) from the Chinese tradition who hold a<br />
different lineage to the Tibetans. This issue<br />
has been under ‘research’ for the past 30<br />
years but no decision has yet been reached.<br />
However now His Holiness the Gyalwang<br />
Karmapa has announced his intention to host<br />
this ordination for a select group of nuns and<br />
we await the outcome of this.<br />
WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, ARE SOME<br />
OF THE CHALLENGES LAY<br />
PRACTITIONERS OF BUDDHISM, BOTH<br />
FEMALE AND MALE, ARE FACING IN THE<br />
WORLD TODAY?<br />
Probably the main challenge is the onslaught<br />
of consumerism and constant sensory<br />
distractions. People are continually<br />
bombarded by stimuli which take them away<br />
from their own centre. They become<br />
stressed, and caught on the treadmill of daily<br />
living. Modern society assures us happiness<br />
lies in the satisfaction of our cravings and so<br />
we hasten after acquiring and experiencing<br />
more and more and feel increasingly empty.<br />
Like drinking salty water we just become<br />
more thirsty. For Buddhists and anyone on a<br />
spiritual path the answer is to clearly<br />
distinguish our needs from our greeds and to<br />
cultivate appreciation and contentment. We<br />
have to swim against the stream.<br />
COULD WE HAVE SOME WORDS OF<br />
ADVICE FOR LAY PRACTITIONERS OF<br />
BUDDHISM?<br />
I feel it is important to make our daily life<br />
into our dharma practice. It is not just a<br />
matter of visiting temples or sitting retreats.<br />
Cultivating awareness and kindness would go<br />
a long way to helping us to live more sane and<br />
meaningful lives. This is why the practice of<br />
Mindfulness has become popular even in<br />
business organizations and even the military!<br />
Look out for part 2 in July.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 17
18 NAMASKAR
Hong Kong with open hearts and genuine<br />
intent took part in Yoga Stops Traffick on<br />
Sunday 5 th March <strong>2017</strong>. Yoga Stops Traffick<br />
is an annual worldwide fundraiser for<br />
Odanadi Seva Trust. Odanadi is a charity in<br />
MySore, India who rescue, rehabilitate, and<br />
reintegrate women and children who have<br />
been victims of human trafficking, sexual<br />
exploitation, bonded labour and abuse.<br />
At the event, participants are guided to<br />
perform 108 sun salutations (surya<br />
namaskar) or a number divisible into 108 (for<br />
example 54 or 27). As you may know, 108 is<br />
considered a sacred number in Hinduism,<br />
Buddhism and yogic tradition. Mala beads<br />
come in a string of 108 and are used for<br />
devotional meditation, mantra and prayer.<br />
There are 108 energy lines converging to and<br />
from the heart chakra.<br />
Yoga Stops Traffick was started 7 years ago<br />
by some volunteers at Odanadi. They picked a<br />
day in March and gathered the community of<br />
Odanadi to do sun salutations in the pubic<br />
space outside Mysore Palace. Over the years<br />
it has grown into a global event with 30<br />
countries participating. Last year the event<br />
raised over GB£16,000 (HK$150,000) which<br />
covered the operating costs (food, water,<br />
electricity, support staff) for running the<br />
rehabilitation centres for one year.<br />
I was prompted to learn about human<br />
trafficking in 2014 whilst living in London.<br />
One Sunday morning in his sermon, my local<br />
parish priest talked about the impact of the<br />
trade in our own backyards; people were<br />
keeping slaves who had been trafficked in<br />
Central London. In 2014? How could this be?<br />
Yes, human trafficking is a global crime in<br />
industrialised nations as well. Today there<br />
are 20-30 million slaves – 79% of which are<br />
sexually exploited and 19% of which are<br />
exploited for labour. It is the 3 rd largest<br />
international crime behind illegal dugs and<br />
arms trafficking. And at best, we can<br />
estimate it yields US$32billion profit per<br />
year. It’s a lot to take in.<br />
As I was learning more about this hideous<br />
crime, I was introduced to Yoga Stops<br />
Traffick at my regular London yoga studio,<br />
the flyer read: 108 sun salutations for the<br />
Odanadi charity to help stop human<br />
trafficking. Who could argue? This clearly<br />
was for a good cause. So, I signed up for the<br />
7am start on a Sunday without considering<br />
the fact I had a pretty bad hip injury and was<br />
thick in the midst of sleep deprivation as my<br />
toddler suffered from frequent nightmares.<br />
After a pretty brutal night, my alarm sounded<br />
at 6am and I did consider skipping the event.<br />
But I peeled myself out of bed, got dressed<br />
and left the house without interacting with a<br />
soul. I got on the number 11 bus on that grey<br />
London morning to arrive at the studio. The<br />
practice was hard but the vibe, the<br />
compassion for something beyond that yoga<br />
room set me on a path to support this cause.<br />
When I moved to Hong Kong, I was<br />
surprised Yoga Stops Traffick 2015 was not<br />
hosted anywhere. Determined be a part of<br />
this movement, I remembered reading “the<br />
event is run by volunteers”. I designated<br />
myself a volunteer and discovered Alive<br />
Wellness in Central who graciously donated<br />
their space. I organised a small group to do<br />
the 108 sun salutations. From that small<br />
group in the spirit of Yoga Stops Traffick, a<br />
Kirtan to support Odanadi was born hosted<br />
by Manipura Wellness. 2016 rolled around<br />
and I replicated the same model. And again,<br />
Manipura led a Kirtan following the event.<br />
This was all making a difference but as my<br />
commitment to this charity / event / cause<br />
grew, my desire to raise awareness and<br />
increase participation in Hong Kong swelled.<br />
Last December, I quickly secured<br />
commitment for the third year from Alive<br />
Wellness. Then I launched a word of mouth<br />
campaign to friends, family and yogis, and<br />
reached out to businesses and studios.<br />
Everyone I spoke to thought it was an<br />
incredibly important initiative. Again, who<br />
could argue? But sometimes it takes one<br />
person to believe in something as much as<br />
you do. I met, Eri, a Community Key Leader<br />
at lululemon amidst Christmas shopping.<br />
On Sunday 5 th March, a small group again<br />
gathered at Alive Wellness in Central early<br />
that morning. Later over 130 people<br />
gathered on Shek O Beach sponsored by<br />
lululemon. We all set out our yoga mats on<br />
the sand, faced the ocean and were present<br />
with intention. I venture to say every single<br />
person felt the vibe throughout the practice<br />
KARMA YOGA<br />
YOGA<br />
STOPS<br />
TRAFFICK<br />
Raising<br />
Awareness<br />
of Human<br />
Trafficking<br />
BY KATHERINE CAMILLERI<br />
but they also felt that vibe reverberate<br />
beyond Hong Kong. There was an element of<br />
global healing that took place. Those involved<br />
took part in a movement to drive awareness<br />
to this growing global problem. At the<br />
deepest level, we flowed 108 sun salutations<br />
in solidarity with each other, with the victims<br />
of human trafficking to fight this crime.<br />
Over HK$30,000 was raised in Hong Kong<br />
this year through Yoga Stops Traffick<br />
including donations from a Kirtan hosted by<br />
Manipura Wellness and the Rising Goddess<br />
Girls Day Fest hosted by Pure Potential<br />
Worldwide.<br />
While the money raised to support the<br />
victims is important, it also means something<br />
else to them: “For the young people, at<br />
Odanadi, Yoga Stops Traffick means a sense<br />
of belonging. They feel they have relatives and<br />
friends across the world who love them and<br />
want the best for them. When the name<br />
Odanadi is taken to countries across the<br />
world, it starts a healing process. It gives us<br />
the energy to carry on.” Odanadi founders<br />
Stanly and Parashuram.<br />
For more information and how to donate,<br />
please visit: www.odanadi.org /<br />
www.yogastopstraffick.org<br />
lululemon sponsored Yoga Stops Traffick at ShekO beach, Hong Kong in March<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 19
20 NAMASKAR
PHILOSOPHY<br />
UNDERSTANDING<br />
Is the Essence of Yoga<br />
BY BALAJI THIRUVENGADASAMY<br />
Samyama is a process of meditative analysis<br />
which helps us develop discrimination, or<br />
Viveka-Khyati. And this faculty of<br />
discrimination is the means to liberation<br />
from bondage and suffering.<br />
Samyama is a way of directing attention to<br />
an object or feature of an object to<br />
understand it correctly. Correctly here<br />
means to see an object for what it is,<br />
uninfluenced by biases and conditioning.<br />
Correct understanding helps in renunciation<br />
of those objects that ensnare us in a cycle of<br />
attachment and suffering. In other words,<br />
Samyama is the essence of Yoga.<br />
All the tools and techniques of Kriya Yoga are<br />
to develop the ability to apply Samyama. For<br />
example, austerities (Tapas) and codes of<br />
conduct (Yama and Niyama) limit the<br />
activities of the practitioner so habits not<br />
conducive to concentration are destroyed<br />
and habits conducive to concentration are<br />
formed and reinforced.<br />
A FITNESS ANALOGY<br />
Samyama is a bit like cardiovascular fitness.<br />
It is a means to an end and it can be developed<br />
in a number of ways. For example, improving<br />
cardiovascular fitness is useful for a tennis<br />
player. One can simply play more tennis and<br />
improve. Or train off court by running,<br />
interval training, swimming, biking, etc.<br />
Running is one way to develop cardiovascular<br />
fitness, but if you have bad knees, swimming<br />
may be a better option.<br />
Interestingly, the ability to concentrate is, to<br />
my knowledge, rarely addressed as a specific<br />
skill to be developed at schools and colleges.<br />
Either you have it, and hence you are a good<br />
or gifted student, or you don’t. The tools of<br />
yoga are frequently sold short as means to<br />
health and stress management. In my<br />
opinion, their usefulness is more in their<br />
primary objective i.e. to develop the ability to<br />
concentrate at will. This is an essential skill<br />
in all walks of life.<br />
YOGA SUTRAS ON SAMYAMA<br />
Samyama has three stages, as outlined in<br />
chapter 3 of the Yoga Sutras. The beginning<br />
is Dharana, where concentration is<br />
intermittent. The mind is focussed on<br />
thoughts about the object under meditation.<br />
3.1. desa bandha cittasya dharana / dharana<br />
is the mind’s fixation on a particular point.<br />
Dharana is followed by Dhyana. In Dhyana,<br />
concentration is unbroken for a meaningful<br />
length of time and the attention narrows to a<br />
single thought.<br />
The final stage Samadhi is the hardest to<br />
attain. To suppress at will one’s biases,<br />
conditioning and patterns of thinking<br />
requires supreme mastery over one’s mind<br />
and sense organs.<br />
Samadhi is not a mindless blank state, where<br />
one is filled with bliss. The yogi is in control<br />
of the process and there is an object on which<br />
the concentration is directed with the<br />
purpose of understanding it.<br />
3.4. trayam ekatra samyama / the three<br />
together (applied on the same object) is<br />
called samyama.<br />
And Samyama leads to the ultimate<br />
knowledge pertaining to the object.<br />
As cardio training off court helps a<br />
tennis player, practicing<br />
samyama helps the yogi cultivate<br />
discrimination.<br />
3.5. tajjayat prajna lokaha / by mastering<br />
that, the light of knowledge dawns.<br />
By applying Samyama to different objects<br />
the Yogi attains discriminative knowledge,<br />
Viveka, the means to liberation.<br />
Another useful analogy is strength training.<br />
Strength is useful for everyday health and<br />
elite athletics. Squats and deadlifts are useful<br />
to develop functional strength. For some<br />
strength is an end in itself. They squat and<br />
deadlift just to squat and deadlift heavier<br />
weights. A bit like people doing asanas so<br />
they can do more difficult asanas.<br />
WE HAVE DONE IT BEFORE<br />
All of us have done Samyama in some form.<br />
As students, we spent time studying,<br />
analysing and contemplating academic<br />
problems. Concentration comes easy to<br />
some and we lose ourselves in doing things<br />
we love, and for others, it is hard work.<br />
3.2. tatra pratyaya ekatanata dhyanam / In<br />
dharana, the continuous flow of similar<br />
mental modifications is called dhyana.<br />
Dhyana finally leads to Samadhi, where<br />
concentration is so intense the object<br />
meditated upon is reflected on the mind of<br />
the meditator in its true essence, without<br />
being coloured by biases and conditioning.<br />
3.3. tad eva arthamatra nirbhasam svarupa<br />
sunyam iva samadhihò / when only the object<br />
of meditation shines forth in the mind, as<br />
though devoid of the thought of even the self<br />
(who is meditating), that state is called<br />
samadhi or Yogic concentration.<br />
2.26. viveka khyatiho aviplava hanopayaho /<br />
(being established in) unbroken<br />
discriminative knowledge is the means (to<br />
liberation)<br />
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US?<br />
While samadhi is the highest level of<br />
concentration, the ability to concentrate to<br />
lesser degrees is still useful in real life. For<br />
example, it helps one to grasp a situation for<br />
what it is, uninfluenced by one’s biases and<br />
conditioning. Such an understanding will<br />
result in better decision making, which in<br />
turn will avoid needless suffering. As cardio<br />
training off court helps a tennis player,<br />
practicing samyama helps the yogi cultivate<br />
discrimination on and off the mat.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 21
MEDITATION<br />
MANTRA & MANTRA<br />
MEDITATION<br />
Sacred Sounds leading to Stillness<br />
BY RAM VAKKALANKA<br />
Mantras are powerful vibrations that<br />
rekindle the latent energies inside us.<br />
The universe is a repository of vast, limitless<br />
energies. For example, we all know the<br />
tremendous power of Solar energy.<br />
Similarly, water contains electrical energy.<br />
Our Planet has gravitational energy. Yoga<br />
philosophy teaches us to go beyond the<br />
apparent phenomena of the universe and see<br />
the presence of underlying intelligent<br />
Energies. Human beings are miniature<br />
universes in themselves, filled with microcounterparts<br />
of the macro cosmic energies.<br />
However, these energies are in a potential<br />
state in us and we need to ignite these<br />
slumbering giants inside of us.<br />
Mantras provide the spark to rev up these<br />
energies inside of us into motion. Mantras<br />
are sacred sounds which raise our<br />
vibrational level and connect us with the<br />
cosmic energies.<br />
Mantra is defined is mananat trayate<br />
iti mantraha - the which uplifts our<br />
consciousness when repeated is a mantra. In<br />
other words, mantra changes our vibration<br />
and lifts us to higher states of being.<br />
ORIGIN OF THE MANTRAS<br />
Mantras are found in the most ancient<br />
spiritual texts known to man - the Vedas.<br />
There are four Vedas and each Veda has four<br />
parts: the Mantra part, the Aranyakas, the<br />
Brahmanas and the Upanishads. There are<br />
said to be 8.4 million mantras.<br />
AUTHORSHIP OF THE MANTRAS<br />
Mantras are not authored by any one. They<br />
are not products of human creativity.<br />
Ancient Rishis (aka Yogis) elevated<br />
themselves to higher states of consciousness<br />
through deep meditation. In these states<br />
where they were connected with the root<br />
energy, they received the Mantras, channeled<br />
them and shared them for the benefit of<br />
humankind. In other words, Mantras are<br />
received from the Universe. They are not<br />
conceived like poetry or writing.<br />
SIX IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF MANTRA<br />
It is important to understand what makes a<br />
Mantra a Mantra. This prevents gullible<br />
seekers from becoming victims of fake<br />
Gurus.<br />
SIX PRE-REQUISITES OF MANTRA<br />
1 Rishi - the ‘Seer’ of the Mantra, the first<br />
person to receive the Mantra from the<br />
Universe. A Rishi is not the author of the<br />
Mantra but rather one who channeled it.<br />
2 Devata - is the cosmic energy manifested<br />
in sound form in the Mantra. Usually, the<br />
Mantra contains the name of the Devata. For<br />
example, Shiva is the Devata for the popular<br />
Mantra ‘Om Namaha Shivaya’.<br />
3 Chandas - is the numerical potency of the<br />
Mantra. Every Mantra has a specific number<br />
of syllables. Chandas stands for the<br />
numerical potency of this number. For<br />
example, the Mantra ‘Om Namaha<br />
Shivaya’ has the numerical potency of five. It<br />
is also known as ‘Panchakshari Mantra’ - the<br />
five-syllabled Mantra.<br />
4 Shakti - indicates the application of the<br />
Mantra. Mantras have many applications<br />
such as removal of obstacles from one’s path<br />
to growth, removal of illnesses, reducing<br />
inner resistance to change, attracting what<br />
one needs into one’s life. Mantras achieve<br />
this by raising one’s vibration and creating<br />
positive energies in the inner world of<br />
the practitioner. Shakti indicates the<br />
applicational energy of the Mantra.<br />
5 Bija - means seed. Out of a small seed<br />
comes a big tree. Similarly, out of the Bija<br />
comes a vast energy. Bija is the seed-energy<br />
of the Mantra.<br />
6 Keelakam - means key. It is the key to<br />
unlocking the vast potential and energy of the<br />
Mantra.<br />
TIPS FOR PRACTICING MANTRA<br />
MEDITATION<br />
Create a peaceful ambiance for yourself<br />
either in a room or a corner of a room.<br />
Practice Mantra meditation in this space<br />
only, as often as possible.<br />
Decorate your sacred space appropriately to<br />
evoke peace and tranquility. One may use<br />
one’s favourite incense.<br />
Mantra repetition is better done while seated<br />
on something rather than directly on the<br />
ground. A mat made with natural materials is<br />
best. Chair may also be used.<br />
Generally, early morning hours are the best<br />
time for Mantra meditation. However,<br />
practice anytime you can.<br />
ACCESSORIES FOR MANTRA<br />
MEDITATION<br />
1. Mala<br />
2. Favourite incense<br />
3. Candles<br />
COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS<br />
22 NAMASKAR
1. What is the language of the Mantras?<br />
It is an ancient language known as Sanskrit.<br />
2. Can Mantras be translated into other<br />
languages such as English?<br />
Mantras were originally in Sanskrit. The<br />
meaning of the Mantras can be translated but<br />
the vibrations of the Mantras are unique to<br />
Sanskrit and cannot be translated.<br />
3. I don’t know the meaning of the mantra, is<br />
it still safe for me to repeat the Mantra?<br />
Yes, intellectual meaning is considered<br />
secondary to the vibrational energy of the<br />
Mantra. Mantra repetition is beneficial even<br />
if one doesn’t know the meaning of the<br />
Mantra. Fire burns when touched knowingly<br />
or unknowingly. Similarly, Mantras will<br />
create positive energy whether the<br />
practitioner knows their meaning or not.<br />
4.Is a Mantra similar to a positive assertion?<br />
A Mantra is similar to a positive assertion.<br />
However, Mantra has some distinctive<br />
characteristics. A positive assertion<br />
influences our mental make up. Mantra<br />
positively influences us at Karmic level which<br />
is much deeper. Mantras are more than<br />
positive assertions. A Mantra embodies a<br />
cosmic energy.<br />
Mantra meditation calms the mind down,<br />
helps to quiet the negative chatter in the mind<br />
and can help fight addictions and complexes.<br />
Mantra meditation can be safely practiced by<br />
anyone interested.<br />
REFLECTION<br />
STRONG BODY FROM<br />
YOGA<br />
May the Mind follow<br />
BY VINCENT WONG<br />
I have to confess I joined yoga to heal my<br />
body and as cross-training for my regular<br />
running.<br />
My back was injured from work. The<br />
diagnosis I got was the muscles on one side of<br />
my back were constantly contracted. I would<br />
wake up from my back in pain. Doing yoga<br />
has eased my back pain by strengthening the<br />
weaker side of back muscles, so I am more<br />
balanced.<br />
After a year of doing yoga, I find I am drawn<br />
into it. I look forward to going to class after<br />
work. I still mostly treat yoga as exercise and<br />
an excuse for a good sweat, and I have<br />
improved a lot since day one.<br />
Doing yoga is not easy. Beside strong muscles<br />
and flexible body, yoga also requires<br />
tremendous focus and patience. As a runner,<br />
I thought of myself as very fit. But, there are<br />
poses I couldn’t do. I realised what I was<br />
missing isn’t lack of muscle, but lack of<br />
spirit. To me lack of spirit means when you<br />
struggle to hold a pose you would talk<br />
yourself into giving up. I am learning how to<br />
focus from yoga. And in my observation,<br />
women are very good at that!<br />
A strong mind is not something you can<br />
teach. You can’t read an article, and then just<br />
tell your mind to be strong. It is an<br />
experience and it takes practice. It struck me<br />
one class when seeing people doing an<br />
“impossible” pose really well - Yoga is like<br />
continuously failing, but you keep trying that<br />
difficult pose, and everyone else in the class<br />
comes along with you too!<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 23
24 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 25
26 NAMASKAR
AYURVEDA<br />
AYURVEDIC SOLUTIONS FOR<br />
DEMENTIA<br />
Balancing Udana Vayu<br />
BY VINOD SHARMA<br />
Ayurveda is an ancient but timeless science.<br />
It’s a complete science which can help<br />
everyone equally - infants, young and old - to<br />
enjoy a healthy life in all respects, physical,<br />
mental, emotional and spiritual.<br />
In this article I’ll share how Ayurvedic<br />
principles of diet and lifestyle coupled with<br />
simple herbs and home remedies, can help<br />
deal with a fast growing problem called<br />
dementia, and even reverse it, if applied at its<br />
initial stage.<br />
According to main stream science, Dementia<br />
is a clinical/health condition in which one’s<br />
normal brain functioning is adversely<br />
affected, which can cause complete or partial<br />
memory loss, impaired cognitive skills,<br />
depression, anxiety, confused mind, insanity,<br />
disorientation, etc. As a result of this, the<br />
affected person cannot perform his/her<br />
regular daily activities properly.<br />
Dementia is considered as one of problems<br />
generally sprouting from mental/<br />
psychological and/or emotional platform.<br />
In Ayurveda, we try to find out what is the<br />
main cause of the problem. Broadly speaking,<br />
the health issues are mainly caused due to the<br />
imbalance of any one or more of the three<br />
humours, called “doshas” in Ayurveda: Vata<br />
(Air + Space), Pitta (Fire + Air + Water) and<br />
Kapha (Water + Earth).<br />
Dementia is considered as a subtle problem<br />
mainly caused by Vata imbalance. Vata is<br />
considered as a transporting dosha/element<br />
Vata is a<br />
transporting<br />
dosha and a link<br />
between our body<br />
and our mind<br />
in our body and it’s a link between our<br />
physical body and our mind. This is the most<br />
significant of the three doshas.<br />
There are five types of primary Vata in our<br />
body, namely Prana Vayu (the air element<br />
which is located in our chest/heart region,<br />
mainly governing the functioning of our<br />
respiratory system and the heart), Samana<br />
Vayu (the air element located in our stomach<br />
region, helping to digest the food we<br />
consume), Apana Vayu (the air element<br />
located in our lower abdomen, controlling<br />
the functioning of our excretory and<br />
reproductive organs/systems), Udana Vayu<br />
(air which circulates around and above our<br />
throat region, which helps us to express<br />
ourselves through articulation and<br />
expressions), and Vyana Vayu (air which<br />
circulates all around our body, facilitating<br />
blood circulation throughout our body).<br />
The particular type of air which causes subtle<br />
problem like dementia is Udana Vayu. When<br />
Udana Vayu does not circulate well and its<br />
flow slows down, oxygen supply towards the<br />
brain is insufficient and inconsistent. Due to<br />
this, the brain cells are not nourished<br />
properly and as a result, they become<br />
damaged and can also decay prematurely. Air<br />
is the most unstable element of the five<br />
elements. So when someone’s brain is<br />
affected by air imbalance, that individual’s<br />
memory becomes impaired, thinking/<br />
reasoning ability is diminished, and that<br />
person may even feel disoriented due to lack<br />
of coordination between his/her brain and<br />
his/her body.<br />
Secondly, weakness of the earth element also<br />
contributes to dementia. Due to the weak<br />
earth element, an individual’s ability to retain<br />
any information becomes quite adversely<br />
affected. Therefore one does not remember<br />
even a simple thing like whether or not he/<br />
she had breakfast that morning.<br />
The combined effect of imbalanced Vata and<br />
weak earth element can become the main<br />
cause of many neurological problems such as<br />
dementia. According to Ayurveda, generally<br />
Walnut fruit on tree. Walnuts can be helpful in treating<br />
dementia.<br />
old age is the period when our system is more<br />
influenced by Vata disorder, that’s why old<br />
age is known as the “Vata Period”. However,<br />
in modern times due to improper eating<br />
habits and unhealthy lifestyle, (air), being<br />
the most sensitive element, can go out of sync<br />
very easily even amongst young people and<br />
children. Therefore many serious<br />
neurological issues which were seen only in<br />
older people a few decades ago can be seen in<br />
very young people nowadays.<br />
HOW CAN AYURVEDA HELP DEMENTIA?<br />
There are certain simple home remedies<br />
which can be very effective. According to<br />
Ayurveda, there are three main things to<br />
enhance “Buddhi” (intellect/brain), and<br />
therefore help in combating this issue. These<br />
are “Brahmi” (bacopa monnieri), “Badam”<br />
(almonds) and “Bhastrika” (a Yogic<br />
pranayam/breathing technique).<br />
Please use Brahmi and almonds with other<br />
ingredients as follows:<br />
1. Soak 2 almonds (unroasted), 2 walnuts, 1<br />
teaspoon coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon fennel<br />
seeds, 3 pieces black pepper corns, 1 pod<br />
cardamom (only the seeds) and 1 teaspoon<br />
poppy seeds in half a cup of warm water<br />
(preferably use a copper bowl or a porcelain<br />
bowl but no other metal bowl for this<br />
purpose). Next morning, blend all the<br />
ingredients to make a paste & lick this paste<br />
before breakfast. Honey or maple syrup can<br />
be added to this as a sweetener. This formula<br />
will have a very relaxing effect on the brain<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 27
and rejuvenating effect on brain cells. It will also have a calming effect<br />
on the nervous system by regulating Vata (air) circulation,<br />
specifically around and above the throat region, towards the brain<br />
and neurotransmitters.<br />
2. Mix 1 teaspoon of fresh turmeric juice with 1 teaspoon fresh<br />
gooseberry (amla/yau kam tze) juice, 1 teaspoon pure unprocessed<br />
honey and ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder. Take this mixture 2 – 3<br />
times a day. Avoid eating/drinking anything for at least 15 minutes<br />
before and after taking this.<br />
3. Take 2 tablets/capsules Ashwagandha (withania somnifera), 2<br />
tablets/capsules Brahmi (bacopa monnieri) and 2 tablets/capsules<br />
Shankhapushpi (Convolvulus Pluricaulis) with 100 ml warm water,<br />
after meals, 3 times a day. These remedies can be easily ordered<br />
through the internet. According to Ayurveda, when the combination<br />
of these three herbs is taken continuously for three months, it helps<br />
to improve the functioning of one’s brain tremendously. Therefore<br />
one’s memory, ability to reason, ability to analyse, ability to make<br />
decisions, can all improve substantially. This formula can also help to<br />
improve coordination between mind and body.<br />
4. Use pure almond oil for massaging the temples and scalp for 5<br />
minutes at night before going to bed. This will have a relaxing effect<br />
on one’s brain and induce good sleep.<br />
5. Avoiding uncooked vegetables, beans, nuts, yoghurt, citrus/sour<br />
fruits, eggplants, cucumber, onions and cooked tomatoes will help<br />
one prevent sleeping disorders, thereby helping to combat this issue.<br />
In short, one should follow a diet and lifestyle which can help to<br />
pacify and regulate Vata and which can enhance/strengthen the earth<br />
element and also boost the fire element within one’s system.<br />
Bhastrika Pranayama<br />
enhances fire element and<br />
has beneficial effects on<br />
brain and intellect.<br />
2. Start breathing in deeply and exhaling completely through your<br />
nose, increasing the speed of your breathing gradually, like an engine,<br />
and slow it down after 25 – 30 deep breaths.<br />
3. Then straighten your neck and bend it forward completely so that it<br />
touches the cavity of your throat. Keeping your eyes closed,<br />
concentrate on the nape of your neck (according to yogic literature,<br />
there is a point at the nape of the neck called “the point of intellect”).<br />
4. Repeat the vigorous breathing in the same manner for 25 – 30<br />
times.<br />
Bhastrika Pranayama enhances fire element in one’s body and has<br />
many beneficial effects on one’s brain and intellect. This wonderful<br />
pranayama can also help to improve the condition of an individual<br />
who is suffering from dementia due to less than optimal functioning<br />
of the Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid and Parathyroid glands. One can<br />
start experiencing the benefits within three days of practicing it.<br />
Please note this pranayama should be done only in the morning on an<br />
empty stomach - avoid doing it in the evening, because it will activate<br />
the brain and therefore make it difficult to fall asleep.<br />
From a yogic perspective, Bhastrika Pranayam can be very effective<br />
and useful to improve functioning of the brain. There is a specific way<br />
of doing this pranayam, which is as follows:<br />
1. Stand straight on a yoga mat keeping the feet together. Tilt your<br />
head back as far as it can go. Close your eyes and concentrate on your<br />
crown.<br />
Almond fruit on a tree. The raw nut is inside and can be helpful in treating dementia<br />
28 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 29
30 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 31
DRISTI - YOGA & DEMENTIA<br />
HOW YOGA<br />
HELPS WITH<br />
DEMENTIA<br />
A Carer’s Perspective<br />
BY GABRIELLE MCMAHON<br />
A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH<br />
From China, India & the West................................................36<br />
THE YOGA OF DEATH & DYING<br />
Preparing for final savasana....................................................................37<br />
32 NAMASKAR
“The hardest thing? Everything is hard”, she<br />
says when asked what is her greatest obstacle<br />
for caring for her husband of 30 years with<br />
advanced dementia.<br />
With our ageing society, dementia and its<br />
impact upon carers, is becoming more<br />
prevalent. There are more than 413,106<br />
Australians living with dementia and<br />
worldwide there are more than 46.8 million<br />
people with dementia today and 131.5 million<br />
predicted by 2050. The total estimated<br />
worldwide costs of dementia were US$818<br />
billion in 2015.<br />
Although dementia is regarded as “a<br />
progressive decline in a person’s<br />
functioning,” a student said of his mother:<br />
“It was difficult dealing with the shock of the<br />
sudden deterioration. Deep sadness was my<br />
biggest emotion with the speed and extent of<br />
the change and now on a daily basis accepting<br />
the deterioration in quality of her life, is just<br />
heart-breaking.”<br />
My personal interviews of carers shows the<br />
impact that flows on from dementia, a<br />
disease impacting everyone from the<br />
individual to the Carer, to our society.<br />
Dementia is the single greatest cause of<br />
disability in older Australians (aged 65 years<br />
or older) and dementia is the second leading<br />
cause of death of Australians. If dementia<br />
were a country, it would be the world’s 18th<br />
largest economy.<br />
WHAT IS DEMENTIA<br />
Dementia is the term used to describe the<br />
symptoms of a large group of illnesses which<br />
cause a progressive decline in a person’s<br />
functioning. It is a broad term used to<br />
describe a loss of memory, intellect,<br />
rationality, social skills and physical<br />
functioning. There are many types of<br />
dementia including Alzheimer’s disease,<br />
vascular dementia, frontal temporal<br />
dementia and dementia with Lewy Bodies.<br />
Dementia can happen to anybody, but it is<br />
more common after the age of 65.<br />
INDEPENDENCE TO DEPENDENCE<br />
The stress of caring for a loved one with<br />
dementia can take a toll on the Carer. As the<br />
sufferer no longer has the ability to perform<br />
tasks once taken for granted, their loved one<br />
takes on those roles. In doing so, the nature<br />
of the relationship changes significantly and a<br />
loss of independence for both of them often<br />
causes much frustration. The relationship<br />
changes from a partnership and<br />
interdependence to a dependent one. A fun,<br />
adventurous and loving connection can<br />
change to an administrative and task<br />
orientated relationship with dementia. “She<br />
is so focused on her medication now”, a<br />
Carer said of his mother.<br />
Some sufferers can appear to be more<br />
demanding, “I am unable to leave my husband<br />
for more than a few hours, as he becomes<br />
very anxious and fears being left alone” said<br />
one wife, as they attach themselves very<br />
heavily to their main Carer. This can present<br />
a challenge for the Carer to have their own<br />
time. Frustration arises in the changing<br />
relationship “the most stress is dealing with<br />
all the details of managing third parties, all<br />
the tasks they can no longer perform by<br />
themselves”, commented a son in his new<br />
role as Power of Attorney of his Mother’s<br />
estate.Carers uniformly said: “Everyday is<br />
stressful, you do the best you can.”<br />
PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE<br />
With the potentially hereditary component<br />
and the link to autoimmune disease,<br />
preventative measures for the Carer have<br />
been important to keep positive about their<br />
own health, “I’m very focused on diet and<br />
keeping my body and mind active. Daily<br />
meditation and yoga, and trying to find time<br />
for some relaxation has been a game changer<br />
in how I care for my Mother and keep myself<br />
in good shape.” said a Carer living with an<br />
autoimmune disorder.<br />
The Carer’s loss of emotional support from<br />
their partner with dementia, can be very<br />
isolating. Joining the supportive weekly<br />
meditation group “enabled me to connect<br />
with others” and feel I wasn’t alone, said one<br />
sufferer’s wife.<br />
HOW YOGA, MEDITATION &<br />
BREATHING HELPS CARERS<br />
“Yoga and meditation helps to me switch off<br />
from the intensity of caring. My ability to<br />
focus on the pose depends on how Mum has<br />
been that day,” commented a student.<br />
“My caring life is much easier with<br />
meditation, I found it relaxes me and I have<br />
my own time”.<br />
Carers all found “the breath the most<br />
powerful tool to keep them in the moment, to<br />
remain compassionate, patient and<br />
respectful”, in their demanding caring roles.<br />
“The Yogic deep breathing is most helpful”,<br />
because of the stress and worry with the<br />
caring for her husband as “it helps relax me”.<br />
Caring for a loved one often has the added<br />
challenge of the Carer themselves dealing<br />
with their own health concerns. This can put<br />
an additional strain on the relationship. “My<br />
morning routine of Yoga and meditation is<br />
“my time” for physical activity and quietness,<br />
that helps me balance my day”, said a busy<br />
office professional managing his own health<br />
concerns, caring role and high profile career.<br />
RETURNING TO BALANCE<br />
These are some of the tips I give my<br />
Wholistic Coaching clients who are full-time<br />
Carers:<br />
1. Time for Yourself. Find something they<br />
enjoy doing outside of the home and for<br />
themselves each week. Such as going out for a<br />
“cuppa” with friends, sewing or Men’s shed<br />
A fun and loving connection can<br />
change to an administrative and task<br />
orientated relationship with<br />
dementia<br />
(woodwork for men), many come to Yoga or<br />
Meditation to be part of a positive and<br />
connective group.<br />
2. Ask for help. Get support from local<br />
agencies to help with their loved one’s care<br />
needs and get involved in programs to<br />
educate and support themselves.<br />
3. Accept help. Say yes to others offers to<br />
supply a cooked meal, drive to appointments,<br />
clean the house etc.<br />
4. Join a support group. Meet with other<br />
Carers, or a find a like-minded group that<br />
makes you smile, laugh or sing!<br />
5. Keep active. Do an activity that helps to<br />
reduce stress and take your mind off<br />
worrying about the person you are caring<br />
for, such as walking, swimming, bowling,<br />
cycling or Yoga!<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 33
DRISTI<br />
A THREE-<br />
PRONGED<br />
APPROACH<br />
TO<br />
DEMENTIA<br />
Therapies<br />
from East &<br />
West<br />
BY TIMY HUI<br />
Dementia is a broad category of brain<br />
diseases which cause long term and often<br />
gradual decrease in the ability to think and<br />
remember to the extent that it affects a<br />
person’s daily functioning. Accompanying<br />
dementia is usually emotional problems,<br />
language/speech issues and apathy or a<br />
decrease in motivation.<br />
The most common type of dementia is<br />
Alzheimer’s Disease which makes up 50 – 70<br />
% of dementia cases. Diagnosis is usually by<br />
cognitive testing, i.e. asking a series of<br />
questions, with blood work to rule out other<br />
possible causes.<br />
There are about 46.8 million people living<br />
with dementia worldwide, and this is<br />
expected to double every 20 years, reaching<br />
74.7 million by 2030! The fastest growth in<br />
the elderly population is in China and India.<br />
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese<br />
Medicine (TCM), the Kidney Meridian<br />
Energy Channel is closely related to the<br />
health of our brain. The gradual decline of<br />
the level of Qi and the increase in blockage of<br />
Qi along the Kidney Meridian may lead to a<br />
series of symptoms - dementia being one of<br />
them.<br />
TCM views the Kidney Meridian as working<br />
closely with the Lung and Spleen Meridians.<br />
So by gently stimulating the sore points along<br />
these meridians supposedly unblocks the<br />
flow of Qi, thereby alleviating the symptoms<br />
of dementia.<br />
VIBRATIONAL THERAPY FOR<br />
DEMENTIA<br />
Meridian-PaiSha: Vibration Therapy is a<br />
deeper form of Guo-Sha.<br />
In both treatments repeated physical<br />
pressure is used to break down blockages<br />
from the muscles, tendons, blood vessels,<br />
lymphatic system along the affected<br />
meridian, allowing the waste materials to be<br />
expelled or assimilated. In the more<br />
controversial Guo-Sha [controversial<br />
because Western medicine does not<br />
recognize Qi and some recent deaths have<br />
been potentially linked to the treatment], the<br />
vibration is administered by repeated<br />
slapping.<br />
In the gentler Pai Sha (Vibration Therapy), a<br />
cotton hammer is used to stimulate the<br />
painful points along these three Meridians.<br />
The practice would be conducted three times<br />
a day (once between 5 – 7 am, once between 5<br />
– 7 pm and once just before bed) for 30<br />
minutes each time, and at least 3 days per<br />
week, but ideally every day.<br />
In addition to the physical breakdown of the<br />
blockages, the gentle painful sensation<br />
generated will stimulate the activities of the<br />
brain cells directly and hence can slow down<br />
the process of dementia. Dementia sufferers<br />
should see improvement after 52 weeks of<br />
continuous practice.<br />
YOGASANA FOR DEMENTIA<br />
As dementia is a primarily a brain problem,<br />
so yogasana to treat it should be focused on<br />
stimulating our brain, such as through gentle<br />
inversions. In addition, there should be some<br />
aerobic element to the yogasana sequence to<br />
improve blood circulation to the brain. As<br />
well as strengthening and stretching to<br />
balance muscles tone.<br />
WALKING DOWN-DOG<br />
Downward Facing Dog is one of the asana<br />
that can meet all the above criteria.<br />
“Walking” here means to walk using both the<br />
two hands and the two legs, while keeping<br />
pose in Downward-Facing Dog, for about 5<br />
minutes. If the practitioner suffers dizziness<br />
or discomfort, he/she can stand up and walk<br />
with two legs until the discomfort has<br />
passed.<br />
As dementia suffers are usually elderly,<br />
Walking Down-Dog maybe preempted by<br />
“Baby Walking” first. That is, to walk using<br />
the two hands and two knees.<br />
YIN-YANG STANDING FORWARD-<br />
BACKWARD BENDING SEQUENCE<br />
This is a gentle inversion pose that will<br />
improve the Qi of our brain. It is a standard<br />
standing forward bend with both leg engaged<br />
Yang style while the upper body muscles are<br />
totally relaxed Yin style for about 2-<br />
3minutes.<br />
Then follow this sequence:<br />
1. Breath-in and stand-up slowly with both<br />
hands pointing to the ceiling<br />
2. Breath-out backward bend for about 3<br />
seconds (those with low Qi level may feel<br />
dizzy when go backward bend, if this is the<br />
case, just stand still and close the eyes until<br />
the dizzy feeling disappears)<br />
3. Breath-in go back to standing position<br />
4. Breath-out to “Yin-Yang” forward bend<br />
for about 2-3minutes<br />
5. Repeat the above 3 times<br />
6. Savasana 2-3minutes.<br />
SQUATTING BACKWARD-FORWARD<br />
BENDING SEQUENCE<br />
This sequence redirects Qi and body<br />
resources to our leg and improve the Qi<br />
flowing inside the Kidney Meridian and<br />
Spleen Meridian.<br />
1. Squat down and totally relax body and mind<br />
for about 3-5minutes<br />
2. Breath-in and stand-up slowly with both<br />
hands pointing to the ceiling<br />
3. Breath-out backward bend for about 3<br />
seconds (those with low “Qi” level may feel<br />
dizzy when go backward bend, if this is the<br />
case, just stand still and close the eyes until<br />
the dizzy feeling disappears)<br />
4. Breath-in go back to standing position<br />
5. Breath-out to “Yin-Yang” forward bend<br />
6. Squatting again for another 3-5minutes<br />
34 NAMASKAR
dementia is a primarily a brain<br />
problem, so yogasana should focus<br />
on stimulating our brain; gentle<br />
inversions; aerobic element to<br />
improve blood circulation to the<br />
brain; and strengthening and<br />
stretching to balance muscle tone.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 35
7. Repeat the above for 3 times<br />
8. Finally, take a gentle walk for about 2-<br />
3minutes<br />
LIFE RE-ENGINEERING FOR DEMENTIA<br />
According to WHO (World Health<br />
Organization), Chronic Diseases are of long<br />
duration and generally slow progression,<br />
when viewed from the result of the disease. If<br />
we observe from the “cause”, Chronic<br />
Diseases are the accumulation of “Tiny Root<br />
Causes” over years or decades until the body<br />
of the patient suddenly collapses from a<br />
heart attack, stroke, is diagnosed with<br />
Alzheimer’s Disease, diabetes, or even<br />
cancer.<br />
One example of the relationship between<br />
“Tiny Root Causes” and Chronic Diseases is<br />
smoking and lung cancer. If you just smoke<br />
one cigarette, probably nothing will be<br />
happened; but if smoking becomes a habit,<br />
the condition of your lungs and the whole<br />
respiratory system will degenerate as time<br />
goes by.<br />
The role of “Life Re-Engineering” is to help<br />
dementia sufferers or carers identify “Tiny<br />
Root Causes”, to remove them and to<br />
establish a healthy lifestyle. It is labeled as<br />
“Re-Engineering” because changing one’s<br />
habit is very difficult!<br />
Common “Tiny Root Causes” in a city like<br />
Hong Kong may be:<br />
1. Over using our body – e.g. shop assistant<br />
standing 10 hours a day, restaurant worker<br />
putting in 12 hour shifts<br />
2. Inadequate use of our body – e.g. zero<br />
exercise, sleeping later than 11pm<br />
3. Long-term emotional problems - working<br />
under intense and long-term pressure, bad<br />
relationships with family members<br />
4. Cold-Body Effect – habitually eating icecream,<br />
iced-drinks, spending a great deal of<br />
time in low-temperature air-conditioned<br />
interiors in summer time<br />
5. Eating too much or eating too late<br />
6. Daily medication<br />
7. External and Environmental Pollutants -<br />
Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Radiation<br />
from WiFi Routers, Mobile Phones and<br />
Mobile Station<br />
On their own, these may be little and<br />
insignificant issues, but all together they can<br />
put tremendous pressure on our physical,<br />
emotional and spiritual bodies after years or<br />
decades. Making an assessment of yourself<br />
or a loved one’s life could be a starting point<br />
to preventing your own decline, or slowing<br />
the decline of someone you are caring for.<br />
DRISTI<br />
THE YOGA<br />
OF DEATH<br />
& DYING<br />
Preparing<br />
for Final<br />
Savasana<br />
BY CHANDRIKA GIBSON<br />
Have you ever contemplated your own death?<br />
Not in a suicidal sense, but in the realistic<br />
contemplation of the eventual demise of the<br />
physical self. Contemplating mortality forms<br />
a spiritual practice for many different<br />
traditions including some Yogic and<br />
Buddhist practitioners. This is really the<br />
antithesis of modern postural yoga’s body<br />
consciousness. It’s easy, and some might say<br />
preferable, to imagine your body will last<br />
forever. Yet no matter how lovingly you tend<br />
to its needs, the ageing process will occur in a<br />
timeframe that is both fast and slow. The<br />
ultimate transition from life in a physical<br />
vehicle is inevitable. Death is the final stage<br />
but before that, a whole process of living<br />
plays out in a phase known as dying.<br />
Like other big transitions such as the birth of<br />
a baby, the major transition of end of life, is<br />
potentially a catalyst for engaging in spiritual<br />
practice. Yoga therapists are well placed to<br />
support people who seek mastery over their<br />
minds, and peace with their changing bodies<br />
at the end of their life.<br />
KOSHAS, SUTRAS AND THE GOOD LIFE<br />
The Taittriya Upanishad, a Vedic era Sanskrit<br />
text, describes a model of the human being as<br />
five-layered, the pancha maya kosha model.<br />
The model functionally describes lifestyle<br />
and techniques to clarify perception in order<br />
to accurately observe the self (svadhyaya).<br />
Each layer is increasingly subtle, beginning<br />
with the body (annamaya kosha) made of<br />
physical elements and maintained through<br />
food and movement, right through to the<br />
wisdom (jnanamaya kosha) and bliss<br />
(anandamaya kosha) sheaths. Yogic<br />
philosophy describes incarnation as a<br />
crudifying process, from the bliss sheath<br />
into the form of the physical body, and death<br />
as a reversal of the same process, becoming<br />
increasingly more subtle until the physical<br />
form dissolves.<br />
According to Patanjali’s yoga sutras, clinging<br />
to life (abhinevesha) is one of the obstacles<br />
to yoga, or ultimate union with cosmic<br />
consciousness/bliss. Recognising ourselves<br />
as multi-dimensional beings (panchamaya<br />
kosha) means perceiving the physical body<br />
(annamaya kosha) as one aspect to<br />
ourselves, temporary, crude, useful for<br />
sadhana ( spiritual practice) but not<br />
indicative of our essential nature ( ananda<br />
maya kosha) which is cosmic bliss. While the<br />
great mystery of what happens after the body<br />
dies may not be directly perceivable, yogic<br />
cosmology gives us a beautiful model to work<br />
with in life. Recognising the impermanence of<br />
the body removes a layer of ignorance<br />
(avidya) and liberates the mind from the<br />
habit of clinging to body identification.<br />
STARING AT THE SUN<br />
Author Irvin D. Yalom describes thinking<br />
about your death as akin to staring at the sun.<br />
It’s radical, dangerous even, certainly fear<br />
provoking. It can only be done fleetingly,<br />
through the protective shield of cupped<br />
hands. Yalom explains many of our life<br />
36 NAMASKAR
practice dying regularly,<br />
so you may live more fully<br />
Azmi in Vrksasana variation, photo by Yoshi Anwar<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 37
choices are driven by the deep seated anxiety<br />
we have about death.<br />
In yoga we consciously cultivate a<br />
relationship with the sun through practices<br />
such as surya namaskar, but using Yalom’s<br />
analogy we lean in to what we fear, whether<br />
that’s through asana, relationship or in our<br />
own mind in meditation.<br />
Not everyone feels anxious about death. In<br />
some cultures death is seen commonly, and<br />
involves rituals to include everyone in a<br />
shared experience of letting go. In India it’s<br />
not uncommon to see bodies carried through<br />
the streets, on their way to the ghats where<br />
the remains will be burned and set afloat on<br />
the river. In other places though, youth and<br />
health are highly valued, and elderly people<br />
disappear into facilities isolated from the<br />
wider community. Even in sudden, traumatic<br />
deaths, bodies are quickly covered and<br />
removed from public spaces. We may see the<br />
chalk outline of death, but seldom the<br />
visceral reality.<br />
In yoga the whole mess of life and death can<br />
be observed, even celebrated. Active<br />
meditation on self can carry us beyond bodily<br />
and ego identity, to other concepts of what ‘I<br />
‘may be. Enquiry practices encourage us to<br />
ponder the thinker having the thoughts, is<br />
that who I am? The witness to the sensations,<br />
is that the true self? Vedic wisdom gives us a<br />
technique, noted in the Upanishads, of Neti<br />
Neti, not this, not this. By watching the<br />
thoughts of who or what ’I’ identifies with,<br />
the meditator loosens identity with external<br />
things, until they realise ‘I’ am simply ‘I’. As a<br />
reminder of this realisation we can use the<br />
mantra, So Ham, repeatedly reminding<br />
oneself, ‘I am that I am’.<br />
PRANA FLOW IN LIFE AND DEATH<br />
Yogic physiology describes the flow of Prana<br />
through nadis, governed by winds or Vayus<br />
which may be manipulated through specific<br />
practices to direct Prana to spiritual goals.<br />
The end of life is the natural culmination of<br />
Prana leaving the nadis and being directed<br />
towards subtler functions, until finally<br />
merging into the pranic ocean of the<br />
universe.<br />
Daily life is not generally concerned with<br />
directing consciousness or Prana. Many<br />
people draw their prana from stimulants,<br />
relationships and exciting adventures in the<br />
world. Yoga practitioners may undergo a<br />
process of deeper understanding of their<br />
own prana, developing a sattvik lifestyle with<br />
fewer requirements from the external world.<br />
Yet no matter how practiced, the end of life<br />
will still likely ask you to drop your sense<br />
pleasures. Even simple pleasures like<br />
nutritious food and drink, loving touch,<br />
sunshine and fresh air, are minimal and<br />
eventually unavailable at the end of life. So all<br />
the ways you sent your Prana out, all the<br />
karmendriyas (exit doors for senses) of your<br />
nervous system function, are shutting down,<br />
until internal senses are all that’s left. This<br />
can be understandably terrifying.<br />
SATYA & SURRENDER<br />
The ethics and models of yoga philosophy can<br />
be used to frame the experience of death and<br />
dying. One common experience is of receiving<br />
a prognosis, a doctors’ educated guess at<br />
how long the disease process is likely to take<br />
in your case.<br />
Satyam Brown, palliative care consultant<br />
says most patients or residents in care<br />
facilities want to know the truth. They seek<br />
Satya for themselves, to come to terms with<br />
their experience, and for their loved ones<br />
too. They appeal to medical professionals to<br />
drop the euphemisms and double talk and<br />
give them benevolent truth. They want this so<br />
they can make informed decisions about<br />
things like power of attorney (who decides<br />
when life support is switched off and more),<br />
whether to try an experimental drug regime,<br />
to hang on valiantly, or to surrender.<br />
Ah surrender, the spiritual notion of letting<br />
go. Surrender has many forms and is seldom<br />
practiced in any deep way during our<br />
householder years. In fact most people are<br />
rewarded by striving and avoid surrendering<br />
to anything external. Yet life is fleeting and<br />
our practiced approach is what becomes our<br />
default setting under stress.<br />
So if you’ve practiced in business for<br />
example, responding to threats to your<br />
security with aggression, imagine the<br />
experience of an aged care resident who has<br />
lost control of their finances, cognitive<br />
function and bowels. Their shame,<br />
frustration and even rage is rational, yet<br />
distressing.<br />
RELATIONSHIP YOGA<br />
The whole process of dying can be greatly<br />
distressing to observers, including nurses,<br />
carers, relatives and support staff. When you<br />
contemplated your death did you want<br />
certain people around? Yet frequently it’s an<br />
isolating experience due to others<br />
withdrawing out of fear or pre-emptive grief.<br />
Close relationships are the solace of life. In<br />
the Anahata chakra , the vritti of mamata,<br />
(attachment) speaks to our bonds with those<br />
we consider our own kin. Yet while the dying<br />
person may be seeking reassurance of that<br />
kinship, the significant others may be<br />
protecting themselves from the pain of loss,<br />
by covering their own tender hearts.<br />
Yoga therapists can offer a professional,<br />
heart centred relationship that is a rare gift<br />
at any phase of life, but particularly valuable<br />
at the end of life. Having a professional<br />
listener who is not personally grieving (not to<br />
say therapists don’t also feel the loss of<br />
clients but it’s different from the child or<br />
partner of the person dying), and has no<br />
agenda other than to be of service, allows the<br />
dying person to use their strengths and<br />
accept their changing circumstances with<br />
support. Offering guided relaxation,<br />
meditation, pranayama, mudra, mantra,<br />
gentle asana like movement that may alleviate<br />
the discomfort of being in a bed, and self -<br />
awareness opportunities are all ways the<br />
yoga therapist assists. Perhaps the most<br />
powerful offering though is calm, kind<br />
presence.<br />
FACING FEAR FOR YOURSELF AND<br />
OTHERS<br />
To prepare for our own deaths we can<br />
choose to practice with inner focus, using<br />
drishtis when eyes are open, and practicing<br />
seated or supine meditations where senses<br />
are withdrawn from the outer world. In<br />
every savasana is an opportunity to gently<br />
sneak up on our own death anxiety, to<br />
witness our mental fluctuations in the face of<br />
stillness, and gradually, over time, cultivate<br />
santosha, a contentment with what is, even if<br />
what is turns out to be inevitable loss and<br />
discomfort.<br />
Your own fears around death must be faced<br />
enough to be calm and kind in the presence of<br />
someone’s suffering. The urge to save, fix or<br />
even alleviate suffering is an impulse to watch<br />
dispassionately. For beyond basic physical<br />
care, the most important quality to have with<br />
a dying person, is calm acceptance. This can<br />
only be cultivated through your own<br />
sadhana. So practice dying regularly, so that<br />
you may live more fully and accept the<br />
eventual cessation of individual pranic flow.<br />
The universal Prana welcomes all.<br />
38 NAMASKAR
The universal Prana welcomes all<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 39
40 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 41
42 NAMASKAR
IN BRIEF<br />
MUDRAS<br />
BY KRISHNAA KINKARI<br />
Mudras provide easy access to yoga for those<br />
facing physical or mental challenges however<br />
these arise; age-related frailty, decrease in<br />
memory power, letting oneself give up when<br />
faced with endless problems.<br />
All yoga provides the super tools to<br />
overcome these human weaknesses that are<br />
just part of life! Mudras are simple to<br />
perform and rely a lot on touch so can be felt<br />
even by those who do not see so well. They<br />
are simple, very personal, are numerous<br />
enough to give a positive answer to all sorts<br />
of disorders and definitely invite spiritual<br />
insight and the willpower to succeed even in<br />
the direst of conditions. The heart and the<br />
brain align and combine to fire up the boiler<br />
of enthusiasm.<br />
I spent a month and a half in India recently<br />
and found a school for abandoned and<br />
abused blind boys. I felt so humble in front of<br />
their courage; there they were writing their<br />
national exams in braille in the humblest of<br />
conditions, smiling and singing their hearts<br />
out!<br />
Let’s take a look at purifying the five<br />
elements of which our bodies are made up so<br />
we can proceed comfortably and healthily<br />
onward with our life throughout this year<br />
ahead: remember, all mudras need to be<br />
practised with regularity and faith!<br />
Resolve to renounce those habits which<br />
afflict our progress and adopt those which<br />
are beneficial.<br />
So we will look at:<br />
1. Prithvi – earth element, represents<br />
stability<br />
2 Varuna – water element, represents fluidity<br />
3 Akasha – ether or space element,<br />
represents upliftment<br />
4 Vayu – air element, represents movement<br />
5 Agni – fire element, represents warmth and<br />
growth<br />
and understand them within the contexts of<br />
our adhibhautik (physical), adhyatmik<br />
(mental) and adhidaivik (spiritual) realms.<br />
PRITHVIA MUDRA<br />
The fourth ring finger is our earth finger,<br />
related to Muladhara Chakra and to the<br />
faculty of smell. The earth provides<br />
sustenance, stability balance and confidence,<br />
a knowledge of personal identity in<br />
relationship to humanity as a whole and great<br />
growth potential.<br />
Method: With palms facing up join the tips of<br />
the thumb and the ring finger. Extend the<br />
other fingers. Hold with both hands for 5<br />
to15 minutes.<br />
It is nourishing, eliminates energy deficit,<br />
and brings a feeling of security. It helps with<br />
inner cleansing and thus upliftment.<br />
VARUNA MUDRA<br />
The little finger is related to the water<br />
element and thus to Svadhishtana chakra and<br />
the sense of taste. Water is ultimately<br />
purifying. This mudra can stimulate<br />
cleansing of the blood and release of mucous<br />
congestion. It is probably the most effective<br />
face lift and anti-wrinkle treatment when it<br />
rehydrates. It keeps the mind flowing and<br />
lucid and brings clarity to the intellect,<br />
removing the clouds of fear, doubt, anxiety<br />
and grief.<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 43
Method: Join the tips of the thumb and the<br />
little finger with both hands, palms up and<br />
the other fingers extended. 5 to 15 minutes.<br />
VAYU MUDRA<br />
The forefinger is related to Vayu or wind/air.<br />
AKASHA MUDRA<br />
The middle finger is related to Akasha,<br />
space, sky, infinity. From Akasha arises<br />
sound and this mudra is related to the fifth,<br />
Vishuddi Chakra and speech.<br />
Awareness of space brings peace and<br />
pleasant emptiness to the mind. This mudra<br />
can help with physical and mental clutter.<br />
Golden silence, most nourishing for the soul,<br />
can be experienced and appreciated.<br />
Method: Join the tips of the thumb and the<br />
middle finger. Sit with the palms up, backs of<br />
the hands on the knees, other three fingers<br />
flat. Five minutes daily is good.<br />
It is easy to understand the effects of excess<br />
wind in the body since it causes so much<br />
discomfort in the body and is also<br />
responsible for disruptive mental states such<br />
as attention deficit disorder and fragmented<br />
concentration.The memory becomes weak<br />
too leading to agitation. However it is often<br />
caused by bad diet and so this must also be<br />
regulated. Air is the element related to the<br />
Anahata [heart] Chakra. And so its<br />
stabilization through the focus of the Mudra<br />
can be very healing to the heart.<br />
Method: Touch the ball of the thumb with the<br />
tip of the index finger. Then fold the thumb<br />
over it between the two finger joints. Palms<br />
up with the other three fingers extended<br />
relaxedly. Five to 10 minutes daily .<br />
AGNISURYA MUDRA<br />
The thumb relates to the element of fire<br />
which is the catalyst for all changes/<br />
processes. The Mudra used here is the Surya<br />
Mudra or the Gesture of the sun. The most<br />
important fire of the body is the digestive fire<br />
without which the body cannot be nourished.<br />
Growth requires sunlight. People have great<br />
energy when exposed to sunlight, as do plants<br />
.<br />
44 NAMASKAR
This Mudra is related to the Manipura<br />
Chakra and can help with obesity when<br />
practiced for up to 45 minutes daily!<br />
Method: Touch the ball of the thumb with the<br />
tip of the ring finger. Fold the thumb over the<br />
ring finger between its two joints. The other<br />
three fingers remain extended.<br />
Obviously its efficacy can be increased by<br />
gentle exposure to the sun especially at<br />
sunrise when positive energy abounds.<br />
With all of these Mudras the regular practice<br />
of the techniques will lead to the beneficial<br />
effects. You cannot taste a meal just by<br />
talking about it! We share our five elements<br />
with all created matter and we should<br />
become aware of our special place within<br />
creation most especially as yogis who always<br />
seek to benefit and serve others.<br />
Enlightenment needs to gain entrance<br />
through many gateways into the body and<br />
soul.<br />
BOOK REVIEW<br />
GREAT<br />
DISCIPLES OF<br />
THE BUDDHA<br />
by Nyanaponika Thera<br />
&Hellmuth Hecker<br />
BOOK REVIEWED BY TIA SINHA<br />
“A wonderful addition to our understanding<br />
of the culture of awakening. Scholarly and<br />
inspiring, this book brings to life the<br />
struggles, practice and realization of the<br />
great disciples of the Buddha – and we begin<br />
to connect their spiritual journeys with our<br />
own.” - by Joseph Goldstein<br />
Containing living portraits of 24 of the most<br />
distinguished disciples of the Buddha who<br />
were also contemporary to him, this book is<br />
a masterpiece. The principal source for the<br />
biographies of these great disciples is the Pali<br />
Canon, the scriptural collection of Theravada<br />
Buddhism. Within the Pali Canon, the<br />
principal source is the Sutta Pitaka.<br />
The disciples whose lives are portrayed here<br />
include, of course, the better known<br />
disciples such as Shariputta and<br />
Mahamogallana, the generous merchant<br />
Anathapindaka, Buddha’s attendant Ananda<br />
and the serial killer-turned-saint Angulimala.<br />
Each life is dealt with in detail – always<br />
relevant detail that keeps the story<br />
interesting. We come to know about the early<br />
years of each disciple, incidents in their lives<br />
that led them to question, their meeting with<br />
the Buddha, the training they underwent<br />
under his guidance, the transformation that<br />
came about in them and their contribution to<br />
the spread of the Buddha’s teachings.<br />
Twelve female disciples are also included.<br />
Among these, there are the courtesans<br />
Ambapali and Sirima. There is Kisagotami,<br />
the mother who refused to accept the death<br />
of her little child. There is Sona who was<br />
driven to the ascetic life by the ingratitude of<br />
her children. There is Mallika who became a<br />
queen due to a single act of generosity to the<br />
Buddha. There is Visakha whose generosity<br />
to the Buddha and his monks transformed<br />
her niggardly father-in-law. There is Nanda<br />
whose physical beauty had made her vain.<br />
There is Bhadda Kundalakesa who repented<br />
after murdering her thieving husband. There<br />
is Isidasi who had to pay for sexual<br />
misconduct as a man in a previous birth, for<br />
many lives to come. And of course there is<br />
Patacara who became mad with grief when<br />
she lost her husband on a dark stormy night<br />
and her two little children, both parents and<br />
brother in a flood.<br />
Each tale is told with great simplicity. It is<br />
heartening to see how ordinary people were<br />
transformed into awakened beings after they<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 45
came in contact with the Buddha and worked<br />
on their minds. Sometimes misdeeds from<br />
the past lives of the disciples that led to pain<br />
in their current lives and also good deeds that<br />
led to good fortune and happiness are also<br />
explained. The tales are liberally sprinkled<br />
with poetic compositions of these great<br />
disciples.<br />
Each disciple comes alive in the pages of this<br />
enjoyable, eye-opening, often moving and<br />
truly inspiring book. Great Disciples of the<br />
Buddha is a marvelous must read for those<br />
committed to transforming themselves.<br />
TEACHER TRAINING<br />
FROM<br />
IMMERSION<br />
TO A DAILY<br />
PRACTICE<br />
BY VIRGINIE MOREL<br />
The house is calm.<br />
The city is slowly waking up.<br />
The morning sun is gently spreading its rays.<br />
I light a candle, go to my mat, sit on my<br />
cushion, close my eyes and start my morning<br />
practice.<br />
I orientate my awareness inside, tune in to<br />
my breath, observing a moment of gratitude<br />
for this practice.<br />
Allowing me to be present and filled with joy.<br />
After a few slow spine movements and some<br />
breathing exercise, slowly my body starts to<br />
stretch and my breath deepens.<br />
I then sit in stillness, start chanting and<br />
afterwards meditate.<br />
This has become my morning practice, a daily<br />
ritual that grounds me and enables me to<br />
choose the energy that will lead me through<br />
my day. It feels so natural to me now. But it<br />
hasn’t always been the case.<br />
Let’s go back to the Spring of 2015…<br />
I was sitting in a very shaky airplane from<br />
Hong Kong on the way to Rishikesh, on the<br />
foothills of the Himalayas, where the River<br />
Ganges starts. I was going to spend a month<br />
of immersion in the teachings of yoga in this<br />
scared land of the Rishis.<br />
I would soon meet my teacher Kia Miller and<br />
follow her training to become a yoga teacher.<br />
I had never met her before the trip but<br />
followed my heart - though this bumpy flight<br />
did make me wonder if it was a good omen.<br />
Nevertheless, I knew I had made the right<br />
decision and I was in the right place.<br />
In the following morning, I found myself<br />
sitting in a circle with Kia and 25 other yogis,<br />
sharing what led us to this yoga teacher<br />
training. When my turn came, I told them I<br />
just wanted to have my own practice and I<br />
had no interest in teaching (little did I know<br />
then that the universe had other plans for<br />
me!). After about ten years of practicing<br />
Hatha and Iyengar yoga, I felt ready to dive<br />
deeper in the practice, focus on breathing<br />
and meditation. Above all, I would like to be<br />
able to practice on my own without relying on<br />
a teacher, being able to practice in silence,<br />
just following the rhythm of my breath and<br />
the needs of my body.<br />
As it turned out, coming to India was one of<br />
the most transformative experiences in my<br />
life. Being in the place where yoga has been<br />
practiced for thousands of years gives you a<br />
different perspective.<br />
Every day we started with a sadhana<br />
(spiritual practice) at 6am. This involved<br />
some movements (asanas), breaths<br />
(pranayama) and meditation. It was all very<br />
new to me, but from this day on, I was<br />
hooked. This is where it all started. The quiet<br />
time in the morning before the whirlwind of<br />
life kicks in.<br />
I remember meditating in the yoga shala:<br />
wrapped in my scarf, eyes closed, senses<br />
inward, yet aware of the world around us<br />
waking up – noises from the animals like the<br />
monkeys running on the roof (maybe this is<br />
where the concept of monkey mind comes<br />
from), the smell of the fire being started<br />
from the nearby houses, the sound of the<br />
river...An hour later, we gathered to have<br />
breakfast and spent the rest of the day<br />
studying, practicing and becoming familiar<br />
with the various aspects of Yoga.<br />
Rishikesh, India<br />
46 NAMASKAR
This was a transformative month of intense<br />
learning on a physical, spiritual and emotional<br />
level – mostly about myself. And a new journey<br />
began.<br />
Practicing yoga daily during the training has<br />
changed me in many ways. Although I had<br />
practiced yoga for more than ten years then, I<br />
had never had a daily practice like sadhana<br />
(spiritual practice).<br />
During this month of immersion, we had the<br />
daily practice together in the wee hours in<br />
Rishikesh. I discovered a new relationship<br />
with my body, my mind and even my soul. I<br />
started to let go of things that didn’t serve me<br />
and thoughts that were negative and harming<br />
me. My whole vibration started to change. I<br />
started hearing from people how I looked<br />
differently. At the same time, I definitely felt<br />
that I was more centred and happy - and<br />
overall I knew I was changing for the better.<br />
What an amazing journey toward a new way of<br />
being!<br />
After I came back home after this India trip, I<br />
wanted to continue with this daily practice. So<br />
I started practicing a short and simple<br />
sadhana: 10 minutes of some movements to<br />
warm up my spine and some breathing<br />
exercises. I find it easier to practice in the<br />
morning as there are less distractions - as the<br />
whirlwind of the day hasn’t started.<br />
As I look back to the month of immersion, it<br />
was a beautiful privilege to start and create a<br />
new habit of having a daily sadhana with a<br />
group of yogis – it is the support of a sangha<br />
that really helped kick start my daily<br />
practice.<br />
Naturally, when I am alone, it would take<br />
more effort to keep up - and the key is to do a<br />
little bit every day. Kia told me to choose a<br />
practice that would be realistic and easy to<br />
integrate in my daily life. With that in mind, I<br />
think that is why I can stick with it to this<br />
day. Just keep it simple.<br />
Over the time, I have started to add more<br />
elements and increase the length of my<br />
sadhana. The content changes regularly, too.<br />
To make it less dull (like counting the days<br />
for the sake of it), I usually do a special<br />
practice for a period of 40 or 90 days (e.g. a<br />
kundalini kriya or a special meditation). By<br />
keeping the content consistent for a period<br />
of time – though it may appear to be the same<br />
– shifts start to take place for me and I find<br />
myself in a different place each day.<br />
Today is a special day for me - as I have been<br />
doing my sadhana for 700 consecutive days.<br />
A daily practice has taught me so much about<br />
myself, life and universe. I am thankful for<br />
the gift of yoga that brings me from darkness<br />
to light. In kundalini tradition, they say that<br />
once you pass one thousand days of sadhana,<br />
the whole world will change - what an<br />
exciting journey I have ahead!<br />
Yoga teacher, Kia Miller<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 47
CROSSWORD<br />
WOMEN DISCIPLES FROM BUDDHA’S TIME<br />
BY TIA SINHA<br />
1. 2. 3. 4.<br />
5.<br />
ACROSS<br />
1. Jumble ‘Goa aim skit’ to give a<br />
woman who, unable to accept the<br />
death of her little son, implored<br />
the Buddha to revive him. (10)<br />
6.<br />
8. 9.<br />
7.<br />
3. 3 ACROSS, 9 DOWN and 13<br />
ACROSS. Jumble ‘Baulk sake<br />
add a hand’ to give a curly-haired<br />
woman who murdered her<br />
husband who was robbing her,<br />
repented, renounced and later<br />
became an Arhat. (6,7,4)<br />
10.<br />
11. 12.<br />
6. Anagram of ‘a la milk’ gives the<br />
daughter of a garland-maker who<br />
became a queen the day she<br />
spontaneously gave some rice to<br />
the Buddha. (7)<br />
8. Jumble ‘Aka Shiv’ to give the<br />
Buddha’s chief patroness. (7)<br />
13.<br />
11. Jumble ‘Anand’ to give the Buddha’s half-sister whose<br />
enthrallment with her own physical beauty was shattered when the<br />
Buddha conjured up a vision of an even more beautiful woman who<br />
then aged visibly and relentlessly before her very eyes. (5)<br />
10. Anagram of ‘via a mast’ gives<br />
a woman lay disciple the Buddha<br />
called the most skilled in<br />
spreading Metta or loving<br />
kindness. (8)<br />
12. Jumble ‘apa carat’ to give a woman who became mad with grief<br />
when her husband, two sons, both parents and brother died in the<br />
space of one day. After meeting the Buddha, she practised diligently<br />
and was to become a great practitioner of the Buddha Dharma. (8)<br />
13. See 3 ACROSS.<br />
DOWN<br />
1. Anagram of ‘K Ahem’ gives a woman from a royal family who became an<br />
Arhat when she listened to just one sermon by the Buddha. (5)<br />
2. Jumble ‘I said si’ to give a woman who married thrice, was<br />
repeatedly and mysteriously rejected by her husbands despite her<br />
good behaviour and became an Arhat under the Buddha’s guidance. (7)<br />
4. Anagram of ‘bail a map’ gives a courtesan who became a devotee and<br />
a generous patroness of the Buddha. (8)<br />
5. Jumble ‘Mira is’ to give another courtesan who became a great<br />
devotee of the Buddha. (6)<br />
7. Jumble ‘a taut r’ to give a young follower of the Buddha who was<br />
not allowed to perform a single meritorious deed in her husband’s<br />
home. (6)<br />
9. See 3 ACROSS.<br />
10. Jumble ‘a son’ to give a woman who brought up 10 children only to<br />
receive ingratitude and scorn from them, became a nun at an old age<br />
and soon after, an Arhat. (4)<br />
Solution on page 50<br />
48 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 49
QUIZ<br />
TWO FREE PASSES<br />
FOR ASIA YOGA<br />
CONFERENCE <strong>2017</strong><br />
The 10th Asia Yoga Conference will take place 8 - 11 June at Hong<br />
Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre. Headliners include<br />
Ashtanga Yoga teacher David Swenson, Jivanmukti founders<br />
Sharon Gannon & David Life, Dharma yoga found Sri Dharma<br />
Mittra will be joined by a host of other yogasana, meditation,<br />
philosphy, related discipline teachers.<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> is proud to be the sponsor of this event and grateful to<br />
the organisers for offering free passes to our readers.<br />
The first person to email fgairns@netvigator.com with the<br />
correct answers to the following questions will receive two<br />
passes to the four-day event.<br />
i How many presenters will there be at AYC <strong>2017</strong>?<br />
ii How many types of workshops will there be at AYC <strong>2017</strong>?<br />
iii Which meditation teacher at AYC <strong>2017</strong> is originally from<br />
Spain and spent 18 years as a monk?<br />
iv Which Ashtanga teacher at AYC <strong>2017</strong> founded Samahita<br />
Retreat in Koh Samui, Thailand?<br />
v Which Iyengar teacher started studying under B.K.S. Iyengar<br />
at the age of 7?<br />
CROSSWORD SOLUTION FROM PAGE 48<br />
ACROSS<br />
1. Kisagotami, 3. Bhadda , 6. Mallika, 8. Visakha, 10. Samavati, 11. Nanda,<br />
12. Patacara, 13. Kesa<br />
DOWN<br />
1. Khema, 2. Isidasi, 4. Ambapali, 5. Sirima, 7. Uttara, 9. Kundala, 10. Sona<br />
50 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 51
DIRECTORY<br />
Guide to yoga studios<br />
& teachers<br />
ANAHATA VILLAS & SPA<br />
RESORT<br />
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia<br />
s: group retreats, yoga for<br />
private & corporates. Yoga<br />
studio available for rent.<br />
l: Indonesian & English<br />
t: (62) 361 8987 991/ 8987 992 /<br />
(62) 811 8748 910 / (62) 811 1442<br />
233<br />
f: +62 361 8987 804<br />
e: sm@anahataresort.com /<br />
info@anahataresort.com<br />
w: www.anahataresort.com<br />
ANAHATA YOGA<br />
18/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1<br />
Lyndhurst Terrace, Central,<br />
Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga<br />
therapy, Yin and more. Groups &<br />
privates<br />
t: +852 2905 1822<br />
e: enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk<br />
w: www.anahatayoga.com.hk<br />
ANANDA YOGA<br />
33 & 34/F, 69 Jervois Street<br />
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong<br />
s: Private and Group Classes :<br />
Yoga Therapy (neck, shoulder,<br />
back, hip, knee and joints),<br />
Hatha, Power, Ashtanga,<br />
Vinyasa, Detox, Yin Yang,<br />
Kundalini, Chakra Balancing,<br />
Pranayama, Meditation<br />
l: English<br />
t: (825)35639371<br />
e:<br />
adm.anandayoga.hk@gmail.com<br />
w: www.anandayoga.hk<br />
Anna Ng<br />
Privates<br />
d: Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha yoga<br />
l: Cantonese<br />
t: (852) 9483 1167<br />
e: gazebofl@netvigator.com<br />
BEING IN YOGA –<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Teaching yoga in the tradition of<br />
T Krishnamacharya and TKV<br />
Desikachar.<br />
s: yoga therapy (customized<br />
personal practice), teacher<br />
training (Yoga Alliance RYS 500<br />
hours+), in-depth yoga studies,<br />
small group classes for children<br />
and adults, workshops,<br />
meditation classes, Vedic<br />
chanting, continuing education<br />
for yoga teachers. Certified<br />
Teacher Trainer – Yoga<br />
Therapist - E-RYT 500<br />
RYS 500<br />
t: +65-9830-3808<br />
e: beinginyoga@gmail.com<br />
w: www.beinginyoga.com<br />
B.K.S. IYENGAR YOGA<br />
ASSOCIATION OF MACAU<br />
174, Rua de Pequim, Edif Centro<br />
Com. Kong Fat, 7A, Macau<br />
s: Iyengar<br />
t:(853)2882 3210/6662 0386<br />
e:yoga@macau.ctm.net<br />
w:www.iyengar-yoga-macauchina.com<br />
David Kim Yoga<br />
E-RYT 500+, Senior YogaWorks<br />
and YogaWise Yin Yoga Teacher<br />
Trainer;International TTs,<br />
Workshops & Retreats<br />
d: USA, Japan, China, Vietnam,<br />
Korea, Malaysia, Greece<br />
s: Yin Yoga, YogaWorks, Vinyasa<br />
Flow<br />
l: English, some Korean<br />
t: +1 310 480 5277<br />
e: david@davidkimyoga.com<br />
w: www.davidkimyoga.com<br />
FLEX STUDIO<br />
Island South<br />
Shops 308-310 One Island<br />
South, 2 Heung Yip Road,<br />
Aberdeen, Hong Kong<br />
s: Vinyasa, Power, Detox, Hatha,<br />
Pre-Natal, Kids Yoga<br />
t: + 852 2813 2212<br />
f: + 852 2813 2281<br />
e: info@flexhk.com<br />
Central<br />
3/F Man Cheung Building, 15- 17<br />
Wyndham Street, Central, Hong<br />
Kong<br />
s: Detox, Power, Pre-Natal Yoga<br />
t: + 852 2813-2399<br />
f: + 852 2812 6708<br />
e: central@flexhk.com<br />
www.flexhk.com<br />
IYENGAR YOGA CENTRAL<br />
s: Boutique studio with Iyengar<br />
Yoga classes; flexible timings for<br />
corporate wellness, small<br />
groups, and privates<br />
l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin,<br />
French, Malay<br />
t: +852 2982 4308<br />
e: yogacentralhk@gmail.com<br />
w: www.yogacentral.com.hk<br />
fb: Iyengar-Central<br />
MND STUDIO<br />
7/F Tack Building, 48 Gilman<br />
Street, Central, Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Yin, Therapy,<br />
Ashtanga, Iyengar, Pilates<br />
Equipped yoga studio for groups,<br />
privates, aerial yoga classes and<br />
workshops.<br />
t: +852 5400 8824<br />
e: info@mndasia.com<br />
w: www.mndasia.com<br />
PURE YOGA<br />
China<br />
L6-615 iapm mall, 999 Huai Hai<br />
Zhong Road, Xuhui District<br />
Shanghai<br />
t: +86 21 5466 1266<br />
Hong Kong<br />
16/F The Centrium, 60<br />
Wyndham Street, Central<br />
t: +852 2971 0055<br />
25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell<br />
St, Causeway Bay<br />
t: +852 2970 2299<br />
14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18<br />
Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,<br />
Kowloon<br />
t: +852 8129 8800<br />
9/F Langham Place Office<br />
Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon<br />
t: +852 3691 3691<br />
4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo<br />
Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay<br />
t: +852 8129 1188<br />
2/F Asia Standard Tower, 59<br />
Queen’s Road, Central<br />
t: + 852 3524 7108<br />
Level 1 The Pulse, 28 Beach<br />
Road, Repulse Bay<br />
t: +852 8200 0908<br />
3/f Hutchison House, 10<br />
Harcourt Road, Admiralty<br />
t: +852 8105 5838<br />
Singapore<br />
391A Orchard Road, #18-00<br />
Ngee Ann City Tower A<br />
t: +65 6733 8863<br />
30 Raffles Place, 04-00 Chevron<br />
House<br />
t: +65 6304 2257<br />
Taiwan<br />
151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec<br />
4, Taipei<br />
t: +886 02 8161 7888<br />
4/f Urban One, 1 Qingcheng St,<br />
Taipei<br />
t: +886 02 8161 7868<br />
Ling<br />
Yoga and Wellbeing, Private<br />
Yoga Teacher, Privates, Groups,<br />
Corporates, Free Yoga<br />
Community Event: Yoga in the<br />
Park with Ling www.meetup.com/<br />
yogaintheparkhk<br />
d: Hong Kong, China<br />
s: Yoga Therapy, Sivananda,<br />
Hatha, Svastha, Mindfulness,<br />
Yin, Breathing (Pranayama),<br />
Guided Meditation, Total<br />
Relaxation (Yoga Nidra)<br />
l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin<br />
t: +852 9465 6461<br />
e: yogawithling@gmail.com<br />
w: www.facebook.com/<br />
yogawithling<br />
RED DOORS STUDIO<br />
21/f, 31 Wong Chuk Hang Rd<br />
s: Gong meditation and training,<br />
labyrinth facilitation and<br />
construction, kundalini<br />
therapeutic yoga and<br />
complementary practices to<br />
elevate energy. Multiple studio<br />
spaces available to rent.<br />
t. +852 21110 0152<br />
e. info@red-doors.com<br />
w. www.red-doors.com<br />
SPACE YOGA<br />
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Advanced,<br />
Flow, Yin, Yin Yang, Restorative,<br />
52 NAMASKAR
Hot, Yin/Meditation,<br />
Pranayama, Mat Pilates,<br />
Jivamukti, Universal, Myofascial<br />
Release Yoga, Mindful<br />
Yoga, Rope Wall Yoga, Yoga<br />
Nidra and Yoga Therapy<br />
l: English and Mandarin<br />
w: www.withinspace.com<br />
An-Ho Studio<br />
16 F, No. 27, An-Ho Road,<br />
Section 1<br />
Taipei, Taiwan<br />
t: +886.2.2773.8108<br />
Tien-Mu Studio<br />
#5, Lane 43, Tian-Mu E. Road,<br />
Taipei, Taiwan<br />
t: +886.2.28772108<br />
Sravaniya DiPecoraro<br />
d:Hong Kong<br />
s: LifePath Yoga Philosophy,<br />
Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga<br />
Sutras; beginners and advanced;<br />
ACBSP disciple (1971), YA E-<br />
RYT500, Sivananda Certified<br />
(1991)<br />
l: English and Mandarin<br />
t: +852 9856 0799<br />
e: info@lifepath.am<br />
w: www.lifepath.am<br />
THE YOGA ROOM<br />
3, 4, 6, 16/F (Studios) & 15/F<br />
(Office) Xiu Ping Commercial<br />
Bldg, 104 Jervois St, Sheung<br />
Wan, Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Hot, Ashtanga,<br />
Vinyasa, Candlelight Yin, Yoga<br />
Therapy, Jivamukti, Hammock<br />
Yoga, Mindfulness Yoga, Detox<br />
Yoga, Pre-natal Yoga, Pre-natal<br />
Pilates, Mat Pilates, TRX, Kids<br />
Yoga and Mum & Baby Yoga<br />
l: English, Cantonese<br />
t: + 852 2544 8398<br />
e: info@yogaroomhk.com<br />
w: www.yogaroomhk.com<br />
KUNDALINI @SHAKTI<br />
7/F Glenealy Tower, 1 Glenealy,<br />
Central, Hong Kong.<br />
s: Kundalini, Reik healing, life<br />
coaching, Shamanic healing,<br />
Ayurveda, Feng Shui<br />
consultations, Angel Cards<br />
t: +852 2521 5099<br />
e: info@shaktihealingcircle.com<br />
w: www.shaktihealingcircle.com<br />
THE COLLECTIVE, DESA SENI<br />
SCHOOL OF YOGA<br />
Jl. Subak Sari #13, Canggu, Bali,<br />
Indonesia<br />
s: Full service resort, Ashtanga,<br />
Embodied Flow, Hatha,<br />
Kundalini, Restorative, Tantra,<br />
Therapeutics, Yin, Yang,<br />
Vinyasa, Buddhist Meditation,<br />
Vedic Meditation. Teacher<br />
Trainings, Intensives, Privates,<br />
Workshops, specialising in<br />
hosting retreats.<br />
t: +62 361 844 6392<br />
e: info@desaseni.com<br />
w: www.desaseni.com<br />
TRUE YOGA<br />
Singapore<br />
9 Scotts Road, Level 4, Pacific<br />
Plaza, Singapore 228210<br />
t: +65 6733 9555<br />
9 Scotts Road, Level 5, Pacific<br />
Plaza (Bikram Original Hot<br />
Yoga), Singapore 228210<br />
t: +65 6735 9555<br />
Taiwan<br />
337 Nanking East Road<br />
Section 3, 9 & 10/F, Taipei<br />
T: +886 22716 1234<br />
68 Gongyi Road, West District<br />
12 & 13/F, Taichung<br />
t: +886 43700 0000<br />
s: Ashtanga, Bikram, Flow,<br />
Gentle, Hatha, Kids, Power, Pre-<br />
Natal, Vinyasa, Yin, Yoga Dance<br />
w: www.trueyoga.com.sg /<br />
www.trueyoga.com.tw<br />
WISE LIVING YOGA<br />
ACADEMY<br />
198 Moo 2, Luang Nuea, Doi<br />
Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand<br />
s: Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga,<br />
Yoga Therapy<br />
t: +66 8254 67995<br />
e: info@wiselivingyoga.com<br />
w: www.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
namaskar<br />
4 times a year<br />
6,000 yoga practitioners<br />
32 countries<br />
DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES & SIZES<br />
Outside back cover HK$25,000 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Inside front cover HK$3,500 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Inside back cover HK$2,700 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Full page HK$2,200 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
1/2 page (horizontal) HK$1,500 180 mm x 133.5 mm<br />
1/2 page (vertical) HK$1,500 88 mm x 275 mm<br />
1/4 page HK$700 88 mm X 133.5 mm<br />
1/8 page HK$440 88 mm x 66 mm<br />
DIRECTORY<br />
Individual listing HK$640 for full or partial year<br />
Studio listing HK$1,300 for full or partial year<br />
PUBLICATION DATES, BOOKING & MATERIAL DEADLINES<br />
Publication date Booking Deadline Material Deadline<br />
January December 1 December 10<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il March 1 March 10<br />
July June 1 June 10<br />
October September 1 September 10<br />
NOTES<br />
Advertising materials should in black & white and submitted as 300<br />
dpi high resolution .tif files (no pdf or ai files please)<br />
Listings should be submitted as text only (approx 35 words)<br />
PAYMENT<br />
Payments should be made in Hong Kong dollars to:<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> c/o Carol Adams, Flat 101, Block L, Telford Gardens,<br />
Kowloon, Hong Kong<br />
INFORMATION<br />
Carol +44 75432 55886 / carol@caroladams.hk<br />
Frances +852 9460 1967 / fgairns@netvigator.com<br />
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 53
54 NAMASKAR
<strong>Apr</strong>il <strong>2017</strong> 55
56 NAMASKAR