2007 OCT

Inside 

October 2007 

About Namaskar 

Namaskar provides a voice for the yoga 

community around Asia. The publication is a 

vehicle for practitioners on a yogic path to share 

their own knowledge, learnings and experiences 

with others. 

Namaskar, is published by Yoga Services Ltd, 

quarterly in January, April, July and October. 

We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore 

the opinions expressed within these pages are 

not necessarily those of Yoga Services Ltd. 

Namaskar is distributed at no charge through 

yoga studios, fitness centres, retail outlets, food & 

beverage outlets and other yoga friendly 

locations throughout Hong Kong and elsewhere 

in Asia. 

For more information, to contribute or to order 

Namaskar, please contact: 

Frances, Editor at fgairns@netvigator.com /+ 852 

9460 1967 

Jenny, Deputy Editor at 

jenthomas@netvigator.com /+852 9889 2022 

Deadline for January 2008 issue: 

December 15, 2007 

Dristi Santosha 

Eas 

ase of f the Tan 

antric 

Heart, 7 

Is it possible to be happy with what we 

have when our world pushes us to have 

more? The concept of “Voluntary 

Simplicity” could help. 

Contentment, What a 

Feeling, 9 

It’s hard to strive for contentment / 

Santosha unless we know what it is. 

The Root of Happiness, 

10 

Does Patanjali’s view of happiness have any 

relevance in our modern world? 

Special Features 

Yoga in Mali, 14 How one yogini is 

empowering people in Africa. 

One hundred and eight, 15 One 

hundred and eight is an often quoted 

number in yoga circles, here’s why. 

Not just Asana, 17 A quick reminder 

of Patanjali’s eight-fold path. 

Living Yoga, 27 Yoga has been a 

cornerstone of this businesswoman’s 

success. 

Teacher Training, 28 What’s 

involved if you want to become qualified as 

an Iyengar teacher. 

Yoga Poem, 29 An Ashtanga novice 

shares her experience. 

Back Pain, 30 One woman’s battle 

living with and treating with back pain. 

2 

COVER YOGINI, WENDY 

Regular Contributions 

WORKSHOPS, RETREATS & TEACHER 

TRAININGS, 4 

EVENTS, 12 

FOR TEACHERS, 18 As yoga teachers we must 

be careful to teach only what we know from 

our own experience. 

ANATOMY, 21 Piriformis Syndrome is often 

mistaken for Sciatica. How can we tell the 

difference and what’s the treatment? 

CLASSIC TEXTS, 23 You’ve heard it 

mentioned, but what is The Bhagavad Gita 

really about? 

AYURVEDA, 33 

RECIPES, 34 

WORKSHOP REVIEW, 36 

BOOK REVIEW, 37 

CROSSWORD, 38 

ASANA, 41 

TEACHER & STUDIO LISTINGS, 43

It might seem strange to talk about contentment in the same issue as 

we update Namaskar. But therein lies the confusion I had about 

Santosha – if you are content with something, does that also mean you 

become complacent? And what then motivates you to continue 

improving? Frank, Nimu and Paul all share their own experience about 

this important Niyama. 

This dristi is particularly helpful for me personally as we start In-Vitro 

Fertilisation (IVF) in the hopes of having a second child. I will be 

reading these articles again and again for inspiration and grounding as 

my emotions take off. 

namaskar 

And that’s the primary intention of Namaskar - to provide a medium 

for yogis to share with others what they have learned, things which have 

helped them to be happier and more free. 

There are some lovely personal stories in these pages. Michelle educates 

us on the situation in Mali and shares how she’s living her yoga, while 

Frederique, icon of the Hong Kong beauty industry talks frankly about 

the role yoga has played in her successful career. 

You’ll also find more serious articles, such as the excerpt of Alex’s 

intellectual introduction to The Bhagavad Gita and Kim’s honest 

opinion about what yoga teachers should teach. We hope both these 

subjects will become regular columns next year. 

Thanks to our regular and ad hoc contributors for their generosity – 

Allen, Gabriel, Linda, Mahesh, Moises, Sara, Sanju, Tia, Valerie, Ky and 

Sher. Thanks also to our cover yogi Wendy (left), in a variation of 

urdhva dhanurasana. Here she is above. And finally thanks to Jenny and 

Nigel, who work selflessly behind the scenes to bring these lovely 

experiences to you. 

FRANCES GAIRNS 

Editor 

SOMETHING TO SHARE? 

If there is something you would like to share with the yoga community in Hong 

Kong and elsewhere (we distribute around Asia and even further afield), please 

email fgairns@netvigator.com 

3

WORKSHOPS 

NANCI TRAYNOR AT ORANGE ROOM YOGA & 

PILATES CENTRE, SHANGHAI 

Yoga Dance teacher Nanci Traynor is 

spending a month (September 24 th – 

October 19 th ) in Shanghai teaching 

practitioners to move from their hearts to 

music ranging from soothing rhythms to 

funky beats, incorporating flowing 

movements of yoga and dance. Nanci is 

also a lifestyle consultant and will be sharing 

her knowledge on life and Ayurveda in a 

series of workshops October 22 nd – 25 th . 

For more information call (86 21) 6406 3642 

or email information@theorangeroom.cn 

MEDITATION MADE SIMPLE, SINGAPORE 

Meditation Made Simple is being offered by 

Vikas Malkani, a disciple of Swami Rama of 

the Himalayan Institute. Classes are 

intentionally kept as small groups so that 

every individual can get personalized 

attention from Vikas. Classes will be on 

Sundays, October 7 th , 15 th and 21 st at Studio 

Renegade, #9 Locke Road, Gillman Village, 

Singapore. For more information, 

www.soulcentre.org, 

soulcentresingapore@yahoo.com.sg 

SWATHI MAA IN HONG KONG 

Learn about a method of meditation past 

down over generations at the 

Enlightenment Channels of India’s Divine 

Lineage with Swathi Maa, October 8 th – 30 th . 

Swathi Maa is a healer and student of Sri 

Kaleshwar who has dedicated his life to 

create hundreds of spiritual masters and 

thousands of amazing healers throughout 

the globe who will demonstrate the miracle 

energy and serve and uplift mankind in 

these critical years to come. For more 

information, www.sai-shakti.org, 

www.kaleshwar.org or email 

swathimaa@mailworks.org 

MICHEL BESNARD AT ORANGE ROOM YOGA & 

PILATES CENTRE, SHANGHAI 

Michel Besnard will share his depth and 

breadth of knowledge in breathing and 

asana practice with yoga teachers and 

practitioners, for the first time in Shanghai, 

October 26 th – 28 th . Michel has trained in 

the Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga methods 

and is currently the director of Yogasana in 

4 

Hong Kong. For more information call (86 

21) 6406 3642 or email 

information@theorangeroom.cn 

TY BURHOE & SHUBHENDRA RAO AT PURE 

YOGA, SINGAPORE & HONG KONG 

A workshop on Nada yoga, the yoga of 

sound and a classical music of India concert 

will be offered by these two talented tabla 

and sitar players on October 27 th & 28 th in 

Singapore and November 3 rd & 4 th in Hong 

Kong. For more information visit 

www.pure-yoga.com or call +65 6733 8863 / 

+852 2971 0055. 

SHARATH RANGASWAMY AT PURE YOGA, HONG 

KONG 

The grandson of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois will be 

in Hong Kong October 28 th – November 

2 nd leading Primary Series practices. For more 

information visit www.pure-yoga.com 

IYENGAR WORKSHOPS AT MYOGA, HONG KONG 

Maria Apt and Paul Cabanis, both senior 

teachers at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of Los 

Angeles and Yoga Works will be presenting 

a series of workshops November 6 th – 11 th . 

Subjects include Pranayama & Asana 

practice, Subtle Anatomy, Philosophy, and 

Advanced Workshops. For more 

information email 

jeangoh@californiafitness.com 

DESIREE IN ASIA 

Popular Anusara teacher Desiree Rumbaugh 

will be back in Asia again giving workshops 

at the following locations: 

November 9 - 11 Space in Taipei, Taiwan 

(www.withinspace.com ) 

November 13 & 14 Pure Yoga in Singapore 

(www.pure-yoga.com) 

November 16-18 Yoga Elements Studio in 

Bangkok, Thailand (www.yogaelements.com ) 

November 23-27 Jiva Yoga in Kuala 

Lumpur, Malaysia 

(www.jivayogastudio.com) 

December 1-2 Art of Yoga in Sydney, 

Australia (www.artofyoga.com.au ) 

December 7-9 in Christchurch, New 

Zealand (katielane6@hotmail.com) 

For more information, visit 

www.desireerumbaugh.com 

CHUCK AND MATY AT YOGASANA, HONG KONG 

Noted Ashtanga Yoga teachers Chuck Miller 

and Maty Ezraty will be at Yogasana 

November 9 th – 11 th leading an Ashtanga 

workshop. For information, call +852 2511 

8892, bookings@yogasana.com.hk, 

www.yogasana.com.hk 

ADJUSTMENT CLINIC AT YOGASANA, HONG 

KONG 

Michel will be hosting a workshop on 

November 18 th in which he revisits the 

fundamentals of adjustments in yoga class. 

He will also cover functional anatomy and 

human movement dynamics. The 

workshop is open to current and previous 

teacher training students with at least six 

months teaching experience. For more 

information bookings@yogasana.com.hk 

ANATOMY WORKSHOP AT PURE YOGA, HONG 

KONG & SINGAPORE 

Ellen Heed will offer a comprehensive threeday 

workshop (November 26 th – 28 th in 

Hong Kong, November 20 th – December 

2 nd in Singapore) about the human body 

and its relationship with yoga. This is 

taught in conjunction with Forrest Yoga 

teacher training, and is also open to 

everyone who wants to deepen their 

knowledge about anatomy. For more 

information visit www.pure-yoga.com 

TEACHER TRAINING 

100-HOUR TEACHER TRAINING CERTIFICATE 

COURSE WITH MICHEL BESNARD, HONG KONG 

Michel offers another teacher training 

programme October 5 th – December 8 th at 

Yogasana in Hong Kong. This programme 

teaches practitioners with experience in the 

Ashtanga system of yoga. For more 


bookings@yogasana.com.hk or call +852 

2511 8892 

35-HOUR YOGA PHILOSOPHY MODULE WITH 

RACHEL TSAI, HONG KONG 

This module which takes place October 5 th –

RETREATS 

IN MANGO BAY, VIETNAM WITH KIM ROBERTS 

At this weekend retreat, October 27 th – 29 th , 

Kim will be teaching asana, pranayama and 

seated meditation. Kim has been a student 

of Ashtanga yoga and Tibetan Buddhism 

since 1992. For more information, visit 

www.papayayoga.com 

IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND WITH MICHEL 

BESNARD 

Wellness and Prana Retreat with Michel 

Besnard in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 

November 24 th – December 1 st . Join Michel 

for a wek of rejuvenation and practice at the 

Tao Garden Spa. For information, call +852 

2511 8892, www.yogasana.com.hk, email 

booking@yogasana.com.hk 

IN GUILIN, CHINA WITH THE ORANGE ROOM 

YOGA & PILATES CENTRE 

Guilin’s scenery is often regarded among the 

most scenic in the world. Set among this 

beautiful environment, Shanghai-based 

yoga studio is hosting a yoga retreat 

November 9 th – 11 th . For more 

information, call (86 21) 6406 3642 or email 

information@theorangeroom.cn 

IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WITH RODNEY 

YEE 

Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman lead 

“Yoga Play and Discover” retreat at Parrot 

Cay, December 9 th – 15 th . The retreat will 

cover pranayama, asana, chanting and 

meditation with dashes of philosophical 

readings and talks. The retreat will include 

five hours of practice a day and is suitable 

for all levels. For more information 

www.parrotcay.como.bz 

IN BHUTAN WITH JUDY KRUPP 

An Australian teacher with over 20 years 

experience, Judy Krupp will lead “On top 

of the World” at Uma Paro, Bhutan January 

6 th – 12 th , 2008. Her teaching reflects her 

original training in the Iyengar system and 

work as a myotherapist. For more 

information www.uma.como.bz 

IN BALI, INDONESIA WITH MAYA FIENNES 

Kundalini yoga teacher and classical pianist 

Maya Fiennes (above right) will be leading 

“The 7 Chakras through Kundalini Yoga” 

at COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan 

Giri, January 8 th – 13 th , 2008. Based in 

London, Maya will lead practitioners 

through her unique style based on the 

Kundalini method paired with original 

music to awaken the spirit. For more 

information www.comoshambhala.bz 

IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND WITH SARA AVANT 

STOVER 

Women’s Yoga and Meditation Retreat, 

January 12 th – 18 th will be hosted by Sara 

Avant Stover and Ouyporn Kournkaew. 

The daily schedule will consist of two 

meditations (led by skilled Dharma teacher 

and retreat centre owner Ouyporn 

Kournkaew), two Anusara-inspired yoga 

sessions (led by Sara Avant Stover), three 

organic vegetarian meals, dharma talks, 

walks in nature, small group discussions, 

some evening films and plenty of personal 

time. For more information, 

www.fourmermaids.com (Sara) and 

www.womenforpeaceandjustice.org 

(Ouyporn). 

December 1 st , covers yoga history, yoga anatomy, Ayurveda 

foundations and yoga philosophy. Rachel holds diplomas in yoga 

therapy and Ayurveda lifestyle management. For more information 

email info@yogasana.com.hk 

200-HOUR TEACHER TRAINING WITH CATHERINE MUNRO, SINGAPORE 

California Fitness will be hosting a Yoga Works teacher training 

October 31 st – December 16 th . The course will cover the Theory and 

Practice of Yoga, Yoga Philosophy and The Theory and Practice of 

Teaching. The course will be conducted by Yoga Works teacher 

trainer Catherine Munro, who has been practicing since 1989. For 

more information, kristyhousley@californiafitness.com 

FOUNDATION TEACHER TRAINING COURSE WITH ANA FORREST, HONG 

KONG 

Ana Forrest will be offering a 24-day intensive teacher training, 2 nd – 

25 th November, in her Forrest Yoga method at Pure Yoga in Tsim 

Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. The programme will focus on intense 

personal and professional growth and will promote powerful 

insights that provide deeper integration with one’s true self. For 

more information visit www.pure-yoga.com 

200-HOUR HATHA YOGA TEACHER FOUNDATION COURSE WITH SARA 

AVANT STOVER, THAILAND 

Join program directors Jonas Westring and Sara Avant Stover, 

November 16 th - December 15 th in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Guest 

faculty for this Yoga Alliance-Certified intensive include Emil 

Wendel, Rebecca Andrist, Adam How and Ouyporn Kournkaew. 

Delve into an integrated and diverse syllabus that merges East and 

West, tradition and modernity. Topics include: Asana, Pranayama 

5

HELENA CHIU JYOTHI FONG ITEMS FROM COMO’S ACTIVE LIVING COLLECTION 

New Teachers, Classes 

& Other Stuff 

HELENA AT FLEX, HONG KONG 

Flex in Stanley welcomes yoga 

teacher Helena Chiu (above) to 

their team. Helena will teach two 

Hatha Vinyasa flow classes 

(Monday, 11am and Wednesday, 

8:30 am), a Beginner Iyengar 

class (Tuesday, 11am) and a new 

Stretch and Release class 

(Monday, 7:45 pm). For more 

information call +852 2813 

2212. 

MUMMY AND ME AT FLEX, 

HONG KONG 

Maja Minic is introducing a 

Mummy and Me baby yoga class 

on Mondays, 3:45 pm. The class 

is designed to facilitate new 

mothers’ exploration of physical 

movement with their babies, 

promoting touch and eye 

contact through basic yoga 

asana. Flex already has children’s 

yoga classes for 4 – 7 year olds 

on Mondays, 4 pm and 8 – 12 

year olds on Mondays, 5 pm. 

For more information call +852 

2813 2212. 

MEDITATION AT YOGASANA, 

HONG KONG 

Buddhist meditation teacher 

Ken Pang will be holding 

meditation classes every Friday 7 

– 8 pm from October 12 th . Ken 

is a student of Master Nan 

Huai Chin and his classes 

incorporate schools of yoga, 

Buddhist, Tibetan Buddism 

and Taoism. By donation, with 

all proceeds going to Charity. 

For more information 

bookings@yogasana.com.hk 

CLASSES AT YOGA CENTRAL, 

HONG KONG 

Ashtanga Vinyasa by Jyothi 

(above) on Thursdays; Yoga in 

French by Gaelle on Thursday 

mornings and Sri Sri Yoga by 

Miconia on Friday evenings. 


www.yogacentral.com.hk 

ACTIVE LIVING COLLECTION AT 

COMO SHAMBHALA 

COMO Shambhala has 

launched an Autumn/Winter 

line (above right) of clothing 

designed by Amy Roberts, also 

the head of womenswear at 

Mulberry. The collection features 

neutral shades (white, off white, 

charcoal and black) and are 

mostly in cotton, sometimes 

with Lycra. Easy fashion items 

include loose oversized overshirt, 

hoodie, long-sleeve tee, 

drawstring pants, will technical 

wear includes racer-back tank, 

spiral seamed pant, layered 

shorts and high-waisted 

leggings. 

NEW HOLISTIC CENTRE IN 

HONG KONG 

Mysteries, a 5-room, holistic and 

spiritual centre has opened in 

SOHO, 1/F 2 Shelley Street, 

Central, Hong Kong. It offers 

Astrology consultations, 

Ayurvedic Healing, Energy 

Healing Massage, Feng Shui, 

Reiki, Sekhem, Aura Soma 

Healing, NLP (Neuro-linguistic 

Programming), Tarot Readings, 

Psychic Consultations, Past-life 

Regression and other services. It 

also carries a wide variety of 

books, CD’s, crystals, organic 

essential oil, pendulums and 

candles. The centre has an area to 

host talks or workshops for up 

to 30 people. There are free 20 

minute meditation sessions on 

Wednesdays at 1 – 1:20 pm and 

Saturdays 11:30 – 11:50 am. For 

more information call +852 

3102 9389, email 

info@mysteriesasia.com or visit 

www.mysteriesasia.com 

YOGA CLOTHING, ASIA 

Yogena, which carries a range of 

different yoga and active wear 

lines, has opened an office in 

Hong Kong which mainly caters 

to retailers. It carries Shiva 

Shakti, Marika and several other 

clothing lines, as well as Mandala 

art and incense. For more 


info@yogena.com 

and Insight Meditation; Yogic and Buddhist Philosophy; 

Ayurveda; Introductory Sanskrit; Chanting; The Biomechanics of 

Yoga; Ethics; Overview of Yoga Traditions (Anusara, Vinyasa, 

Viniyoga and more), The Yogic Diet; Sustainable Living; The 

Business of Yoga; Teaching Methodology; and Creative and 

Effective Sequencing, Themes and Language. Be inspired, educated 

and empowered. For more information www.fourmermaids.com 

(Sara) or www.shantaya.org (Jonas). 

KIDS & PRE-NATAL YOGA TRAINING, JAKARTA 

Dr Jacqueline Kaoy, founder of Sun Yoga will be leading a 30-hour 

kids yoga teacher training programme November 5 th – 6 th and a 40- 

hour Pre-Natal yoga training November 7 th – 10 th . For more 

information, visit www.bikramyogajakarta.com or call +62 21 719 

7379. 

SRI SRI YOGA TEACHER TRAINING, CHINA 

The Sri Sri Yoga Teacher Training will be held on Huangshan, 

China, December 15 th – 29 th . Sri Sri Yoga Training Programs are 

initiatives of the Art of Living which is the organisation associated 

with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Sri Sri Yoga is a combination of gentle 

and vigorous asana with the emphasis on nuturing the mind and 

spirit. For more information www.srisriyoga.wordpress.com or call 

+852 6103 2227 

6


San 

antosha: The 

Ease of the 

Tan 

antric Hear 

art 

Pobsa Frank Jude Boccio 

“Voluntary Simplicity.” We 

can organize our lives in 

such a way that we 

minimize the pressures 

of modern life. 

Patanjali lists santosha (contentment) as the 

second of the five niyamas (observances) and 

says in sutra 2.42 that it yields “unexcelled 

joy.” The Manu-Smriti (4.12) confirms that 

“contentment is the root of joy; its 

opposite is the root of suffering.” It is key 

to all the niyamas, paving the way for the 

integration of all the tools yoga offers us. 

Without it, there can be no peace of mind. 

The operative idea behind contentment as a 

practice, is “enough.” Yet, we live in a society 

that fosters just the opposite: we are 

inundated with advertisements and even 

“spiritual” messages that are designed to 

make us feel unworthy, lacking, incomplete 

and needy. We are led to believe we need 

certain things and people in our lives in 

order to be happy, and when we do succeed 

in getting these things, the next year we are 

told we need to get the “new and improved, 

updated” model! 

In the ascetical-renunciate model of yoga, 

the practice of contentment implied being 

satisfied with whatever comes one’s way of 

its own accord. This includes those sages 

who roam the countryside of India, naked 

or scantily clothed, eating either whatever is 

offered them by householders, or living 

entirely off the land, eating only whatever 

ripe fruit has fallen from trees, drinking the 

morning dew gathered on leaves. 

This is hardly the practice that would be 

appropriate for those of us living in cities, 

with our families, holding down jobs. In 

what ways can today’s householder practice 

contentment in their daily lives? In our 

context, it makes sense for yoga practitioners 

to have a well-paying job (one, we hope, 

that does not cause harm to others or the 

environment), some savings, health 

insurance and some kind of retirement 

plan. But even within this situation, we can 

practice what has been called “Voluntary 

Simplicity.” We can organize our lives in 

such a way that we minimize the pressures 

of modern life. Through quiet 

introspection, we can ask ourselves if we 

really need the latest electronic gadget, the 

fastest car, or that pair of shoes ‘to die for’ 

while the other 20 pairs languish in our 

closets! 

But for many people, even the phrase 

“Voluntary Simplicity” makes them feel like 

they are being asked to give up something 

precious, to make painful sacrifices, to 

suppress their desires. And, in fact, the 

whole issue of contentment is intimately 

tied in with the issue of desire. Many 

traditionalists believe contentment can only 

be practiced and achieved with the cessation 

or suppression of desire through the 

practice of renunciation. But contentment is 

not apathy and non-attachment is not 

indifference. The renowned Vedantist, Sri 

Nisargadatta once commented, “The 

problem is not desire. It’s that your desires 

are too small.” What he means is the 

conventional teaching about desire is true as 

far as it goes. To desire whatever the culture 

has conditioned us to want – that particular 

man or woman, a slim body with ‘buns of 

steel,’ and ‘six-pack abs,’ or whatever 

particular objects or persons it may be – is 

indeed doomed to end in suffering. But 

Tantra invites us to open to desire itself, so 

it becomes something much more than a 

craving for whatever the culture has 

conditioned us to want. When fully 

engaged, free from guilt, shame, or clinging, 

desire can mirror to us the true nature of 

mind that allows us to embrace life fully 

through sensoriality and consciousness. 

To begin our practice of contentment, we 

can ask ourselves, “What do we really 

desire?” We may believe – given our 

conditioning – that we desire to possess 

people or objects, and thus we go through 

life as predators, seeking to appropriate for 

ourselves that which we desire. Growing 

dissatisfied with what we thus obtain, our 

truncated desires push us to desire still 

more objects and other people in an endless 

cycle of frustration and discontent! Tantra 

asks us, “What if desire were to desire 

something other than objects?” In 

“Desire”, Daniel Odier writes, “If desire 

were simply the incandescence that gives us 

the feeling of being alive, were intensity, 

were the tremoring vibration that carries us, 

then it would be absurd to allow it to be 

consumed by objects and to lose it once we 

possess the object or realize we cannot attain 

it. This profound movement is life itself, 

and this tremoring is the one that all yoginis 

and yogis experience, precisely because they 

7

The deepest contentment comes at those 

moments when we feel we are in the 

flow of life, fully present. 

remain in the incandescence of desire 

without rendering it dependent upon the 

object. In this instance, objects are seen as 

maintaining incandescence and not as 

reducing it.” 

In relationship, this means we do not seek 

out the beloved in order to attain some 

kind of static satisfaction, but rest in the 

incandescence of the tremoring, ceaseless 

desiring itself. When all is perceived as 

desire, we remain in constant presence to the 

whole of reality. Our usual way of relating 

to desire actually reduces and limits the 

fluidity of our consciousness, sensations, 

thoughts and emotions. We fixate on 

particular objects of desire. We experience 

contractive tension, and suffering arises. 

When we can rest in desiring itself, we no 

longer feel compelled to seize, grasp and 

stifle objects and people; we leave them free, 

and our relationship to the world is felt to 

be incredibly rich and intimate – so that lack 

and frustration cannot arise. 

The deepest contentment comes at those 

moments when we feel we are in the flow 

of life, fully present. Indeed, being fully 

present just feels right, it feels good. 

Throughout the day, we can do what I call 

“micro-practices,” stopping and returning to 

our breath and our sensorial presence, which 

we all but forget in the pull of everyday 

activity. Whenever you begin a new activity, 

move to pick up the ringing phone, comb 

your hair or brush your teeth, stop and rest 

in presence and awareness (which are not 

two different things). By cultivating these 

moments of presence, we can strengthen, 

expand and sustain the feeling of 

contentment for longer periods of time. 

Contentment becomes more familiar when 

we take the time to abide in it, and not rush 

into the next activity mindlessly. These 

‘micro-practices’ confirm our connection 

with the universe, our oneness with reality, 

and it becomes harder to lose our way when 

disturbances do arise. When we enter more 

fully into presence, fixation on some single 

object of desire ceases to exist. 

You can imagine, I’m sure, that if you were 

to live in such a way, contentment would be 

your natural state. There could be no arising 

of a sense of lack or discontent. This 

would be the Tantric way to practice 

santosha, and it would be a way more in 

accord with the householder life we are 

involved in. With this sense of 

contentment, paradoxically, we could work 

for change in the world, alleviating 

suffering, cultivating peace. We could engage 

in these activities because we moved within 

the larger sense of contentment and ease of 

heart. This is the karma-yoga taught by 

Krishna in the Bhagavad-Gita. Unattached to 

particular outcomes, we’d not fall victim to 

the whims of mood and conditions. 

Content to do what is necessary, we would 

not only be working for peace, we would be 

peace! 

May all hearts be at ease. Through our 

contentment may we work for the 

alleviation of suffering and the cultivation 

of wisdom. May our contentment guide us 

to courageous action, deeper community 

and greater love for all beings! Om Tat Sat 

Frank is an Interfaith 

Miniser, Yoga-Dharma 

teacher, and author 

of Mindfulness Yoga: 

The Awakened Union 

of Breath, Body and 

Mind. 

8


Contentment, What a Feeling 

Nimu Dani 

Contentment, what a positive state to be in! To be contented 

(santushta ) also means to be peaceful, in harmony, happy, joyous 

and fulfilled. Santushta is such a beautiful word, so expressive of so 

many states of positive being, If one can remain in this state one 

can never go wrong or have negative feelings. To achieve this state 

of being we have to be in constant communion with ourselves and 

with our higher state. We need to be free from all discontent, greed, 

and ambition and to be at peace. 

The late Swami Satchidanand related a story to me about witnessing 

Santushta. On a visit to India he requested a rickshawallah to take 

him a few blocks in his rickshaw. The sun was setting and it was 

nearly dusk, the man was sitting in his rickshaw puffing away on his 

beedee (local cigarette), in a state of contentment. He refused to 

budge or earn a few extra rupees, he did not care to have another 

customer, he had earned what he wanted for the day and he was 

totally contented. Swamiji was amazed at the mans total lack of 

greed and need, he was in such a state of peace and contentment – 

he saw this feeling of santushta on the mans face. 

“Enough is enough.” 

That’s contentment! 

- Ram Dass 

Swamiji has said in his book ‘The Golden Present’ 23 August, - “ 

Contentment is God. A contented mind is a peaceful mind, it is 

not disturbed. That is why we say ‘Contentment is golden’. If you 

are contented, your mind is always peaceful, serene. Then you are a 

yogi automatically. That’s the only qualification. The sign of a good 

yogi is to be always peaceful, always contented.” 

So Santosh implies not only contentment but also peace and 

harmony with oneself, the world and nature. To be in total 

equanimity, to be without needs, greed and ambition. To be totally 

happy and at peace. To be Tripta ,meaning, satisfied and contented. 

Not to want more and more, but to be fulfilled - purna. This 

reminds me of a Sanskrit sloka called the Shanti path: 

“Om poornamadhah poornamidham, poornaath poornam udhachyathe, 

Poornasya poornamaadaaya poornamevaa vashishyate.” 

All this is full. complete and perfect. From the full, complete and 

perfect if a little is taken, what remains is still full, complete and 

perfect. Santosh or contentment is, total, equal, full, peaceful, 

harmonious, indivisible, complete. Santushta to be content is to be 

tripta – satisfied, swast –healthy and complete; This is what we 

should all try to be. 

Nimu teaches Integral Yoga and is the 

representative of the Sri Aurobindo 

Society of Hong Kong. For more 

information, email 

nimudani@netvigator.com 

GREEN LAKE PHOTOGRAPHED BY PHIIPPE GUILLO 

9


San 

antosha is the Roo 

oot t of f Happiness 

Paul Dallaghan 

Santosha is the Sanskrit word for 

contentment. Everyone is familiar with it 

but it needs further probing to really 

understand it. In fact looking deeper into 

the meaning of ‘contentment’ could be a 

means in itself to finding it. 

Santosha appears as one of the Niyamas in 

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. It also comes up in 

a number of the Yoga Upanishads and the 

Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu 

(May all beings experience this, a great 

sense of happiness) 

Hatha text Vashishta Samhita. “It consists 

in remaining contented with what is in one’s 

possession, i.e. not hankering and ever 

exerting for getting more and more.” (Yoga 

Kosa, Kaivlayadham) 

One of the texts also discusses its opposite, 

asantosha, discontentment. It is said to be a 

result of raga or attachment. Vyasa, who has 

given the primary commentary on the Yoga 

Sutras, uses the words trsna (thirst) and 

lobha (greed) as synonyms for this 

attachment. It is desire which goes on 

increasing as it is being satisfied. 

What we can take from all of this is when 

we are filled up with desire and greed it 

increases our dependence on mundane 

objects and sensory activity. No matter how 

beneficial or not the outcome is materially, 

the result ultimately leads to a level of 

discontentment. 

The true santosha seems to arise out of an 

inner freedom from attachment to the 

wants and desires of this world. Vashishta 

would offer that it is the attitude of mind 

to be contented with whatever is gained 

spontaneously. The Darshanopanishad will 

go so far as to say the supreme contentment 

consists in detachment from everything till 

one realizes the Brahman (ultimate reality). 

Santosha is the root of happiness. 

Happiness seems to be the most sought 

after “commodity” in this world today, even 

on a subconscious level. To be satisfied 

within yourself without a dependence on 

the objects gained through the senses and 

the mind. Life offers the greatest test for 

this. At one stage things are going well and 

at another they are not. How does our inner 

state change? It is human to respond to the 

change. But does this change in outer 

circumstances pull you down with it? Your 

own litmus test for santosha is how you 

respond to the change in all the 

circumstances of life. 

Patanjali was the psychologist extraordinaire. 

He knew deeply how this human vehicle 

works. To make progress on this spiritual 

path, requires a level of contentment within. 

This is essentially a decreased dependence on 

everything in this world and a greater 

attitude of acceptance within. 

The more natural we are, and better we take 

care of ourself, the more this will arise. This 

is shaucha, the previous niyama, which 

santosha almost arises out of. In order to 

make any progress in practices, self study 

and a surrendered and humble mindset 

(tapas-svadhyaya-isvara pranidhana) 

santosha or contentment would need to be 

present. If it were not present engaging in 

yoga practices and living a simple life would 

be torture. 

Difficulty arises when people to adopt an 

attitude of contentment. Often it is used as 

an excuse, “I did my best”, “I’m happy with 

this”. There is a big difference between 

contentment and consolation where an 

element of resentment can also reside. 

Consolation is a state of mind whereby one 

accepts the outcome without having put up 

their best effort. It’s easy to say “that’s my 

karma” or “it’s not my destiny”. Yet the 

Bhagavad Gita quite clearly offers the 

10

teaching that our duty is to give our fullest and best effort to what is in front of us. In 

essence this is yoga. 

Behind this self-consolatory attitude is a lack of effort and a deep hidden disappointment 

that could lead to resentment and surface as anger later on. So it becomes clear that 

contentment arises out of full effort, engaged and devoted work, with an attitude to accept 

whatever 

may come from it. Without the effort there is a void 

energetically and the result is misdirected prana which 

can cause doubt, uncertainty, fear and, as already 

mentioned, disappointment and resentment. 

Yoga is skill in action, a beautiful balance 

between the effort you put up and how 

much you surrender. This balance of effort 

and acceptance is needed to experience 

santosha. 

Whatever you are facing give it your best. 

Whether it is a tricky asana, a difficulty at 

work or a challenge in your relationship. Let 

this effort be free from any desired 

outcome. You can practice the following 

promises to yourself: 

1. whatever task comes to me, like it or not, 

doesn’t matter, I will now give it full attention and my 

best effort 

2. whatever the outcome is, I won’t complain, I will accept. It may be as desired. Or it 

may need further evaluation to see how better I can do and thus grow from this. Either 

way, I am satisfied but the work goes on. 

Practicing this approach to life is helpful for all worldly duties and it is essential for spiritual 

growth. Look to the yoga practices and the 

guidance given there as this will support 

your desire to experience Santosha. 

Ultimately, happiness will become your 

natural state, it will not be dependent on the 

weather, your lover, job or success. 

May all beings experience this, a great sense 

of happiness. 

“Lokaha Samastaha Sukhino Bhavantu”. 

Paul is the Director of 

Centered Yoga 

Institute & Yoga 

Thailand 

www.centeredyoga.com 

www.yogathailand.com 

Sage Narada said: For a person who is 

contented, everything is always and everywhere 

auspicious, just as a person wearing shoes is 

safe from thorns and pebbles. 

- Bhagavad Purana, quoted in George Feuerstein’s ‘Teachings of Yoga’ 

11

EVENTS 

RICHARD FREEMAN AT MANDARIN ORIENTAL, 

HONG KONG 

Those who expected a traditional Ashtanga 

weekend workshop with Richard Freeman 

were in for a big surprise! Richard’s subtle 

and profound presentation of the Ashtanga 

system has a way of enlightening and 

confounding at the same time. 

He approaches the practice of Ashtanga 

Vinyasa yoga from the inside out. Rather 

than discussing postures or sequencing, he 

addresses patterns in the body and mind. 

He focuses our awareness on consciousness 

itself, through the use of metaphor and 

entertaining analogies. He switches easily 

between the traditional and the slightly 

outrageous. In one moment he describes 

the awakening of our life force through the 

ancient imagery of Patanjali’s thousandheaded 

serpent, while in the next he 

explains the proper shoulder alignment 

through the “pizza pose.” And strangely, 

both make perfect sense. 

What is so remarkable about his teaching is 

that he practices what he teaches, as he is 

teaching it. He demonstrates the techniques 

he describes to maintain alignment by the 

way his awareness is so keen and 

heightened. His presence is calm and 

inspiring. 

Many of us are grateful for this new 

inspiration as a result of his refined 

approach, and look forward to his guidance 

again, hopefully next year in Hong Kong! 

contributed by Kim Roberts 

HONG KONG JOINS GLOBAL MALA PROJECT 

It started with a passionate conversation 

with Shiva Rae, the catalyst behind the 

project, when she was visiting Hong Kong 

for the Evolution conference back in June. 

Fast forward to Saturday, September the 

22 nd at Pure Yoga Central where over 65 

people gathered to be part of the Global 

Mala Project. They were there to celebrate 

peace and to link up with millions of other 

yogis all around the world in a symbolic 

mala of 108 beads. The date was chosen 

because it is the United Nation’s 

International Day of Peace, as well as the 

Autumn Equinox. 

The evening started with everyone chanting 

OM 7 times and 7 peace mantras to the 

vibration of the harmonium. The group 

practiced 27 full rounds of Surya Namaskar 

led by Satyananda yoga teacher Yoganidhi, 

set to the beat of a drum and the Bija seed 

mantras. After a short Shavasana, Yoganidhi 

led the yogis with 108 chants of the 

Mahamrityunjaya Mantra, which naturally 

put them into a heightened state of 

awareness and then followed 10 minutes of 

silence. The yogis proceeded to light 108 

candles and send out prayers and wishes for 

peace. Kirtan further lifted spirits as the 

group joyfully chanted ancient Mantras for 

world peace. 

The evening winded down with 108 organic 

cookies and Indian Chai as master 

drummers Kumi & Oz drummed their 

infectious beats to bring Hong Kong’s 

effort to a close. Over HK$8,000 was raised 

for global peace initiatives. For more 

information, visit www.globalmala.org 

contributed by Bobsy 

SATYANANDA YOGA TEACHER YOGANIDHI 

12

GIANT REDWOODS OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 

PRACTICE LIGHTLY ON THE EARTH 

Celebrating the confluence of environmental awareness and the 

teachings of yoga, the 2 nd International Green Yoga Conference was 

held at Mount Madonna in the Northern California Santa Cruz 

mountains May 18-20. Yogis from around the planet gathered to 

learn more about how to practice lightly on the Earth, internal 

ecology and methods of personal, communal and planetary 

sustainability. Some workshops were held outdoors with sunrise 

and sunset meditations, while others offered hikes in the 

surrounding hills and forest with the intention of creating a direct 

and real connection with nature. 

Conference highlights include, Scott Blossom’s workshop on the 

internal ecology of Agni (fire), Katchie Ananda’s presentation on 

“Being an empowered and embodied agent for change in the 

world,” Ocean Robbins’ talk “When Hope takes a Stand: Bringing 

Spirit into Action, and Green Yoga co-Director Chris Chapple’s 

speech weaving together teachings of the Vedas & Upanishads with 

the works of Emerson & Thoreau. 

The Green Yoga Association is dedicated to raising ecological 

consciousness, reverence and action in the yoga community. Their Green Studio Program assists yoga studios in becoming more 

environmentally friendly. www.greenyoga.org 

contributed by Clayton Horton 

GOING GREEN IN HONG KONG 

By Catherine Touzard & Fabienne Malaval Dupré 

A new guidebook about how to lighten our footprint on the 

environment has been published recently by two French ladies 

living in Hong Kong. Going Green in Hong Kong includes 

information on: 

- where and how you can shop greener 

- how have environmentally-friendly and healthy food 

- what to do at work, on holiday 

- how to save water and electricity 

- useful books, references and websites 

Going Green in Hong Kong is available for HK$120 at: 

Dymocks, Discovery Bay, IFC, Stanley, Prince’s Building & 

Lyndhurst Terrace 

Emmanuel F. Hair Salon, 10 Pottinger St., Central 

Harmony Café, 1 F, 21, Causeway Bay 

Health Gate, 126, 8f., Des Voeux Rd Central 

IMI, Health Realities, 17 Kailey Tower, 16 Stanley St., Central 

Kinoa-shop.com (online) 

Life Café, 10 Shelley Str , Soho 

Little Giant, 15F, Chung Wai Cal Bldg, 447-449 Lockhart Rd 

Parentheses Continental Bookstore, 2F, 4 Wellington St., Central 

SustainAsia (online) 

The Body Group, 10 Pottinger St,, Central 

Threesixty, 3F, The Landmark, Central 

Xtreme Green, 9A Hang Lok Bldg, 128 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan 

13

Karma Yoga 

A Peac 

ace Corp 

orps Volun 

olunteer 

Tak 

akes Her Yoga Practic 

actice 

Off the Mat 

Michelle Rockwood 

A van packed with 23 people crashes in the 

middle of the night and everyone dies. The 

accident occurred because the van did not 

have headlights. On her way to buy 

groceries, a woman is bitten by a snake. 

Three hours later, she dies along the side of 

the road. A brother and a sister—both 

toddlers—die within days of each other: 

cause unknown. 

14 

Welcome to Mali, Africa, the third poorest 

country in the world. 

As a Peace Corps volunteer, I’ve lived and 

worked in Mali for over a year, so I now 

understand that anything can kill you here— 

anything, that is, if you’re Malian. As an 

American, I’m protected by the luxuries that 

U.S. dollars can buy: antibiotics, anti-malarial 

pills, water purification tablets, and 

emergency medical care. 

For as long as I can remember, the horrors 

of Africa have been broadcast all over the 

news: starvation in Ethiopia, the brutal 

wars in the Congo, malaria, AIDS, and overpopulation. 

I’ve seen Bono’s benefit rock 

concerts and the Feed the Children 

infomercials, but those heartbreaking 

images of little black children with swollen 

bellies hardly compare to the harsh reality 

I’ve witnessed first hand. 

For less than the cost of one yoga class back 

home, Aminata, my young neighbor with 

polio who squats in the dirt, could play with 

her friends and live a relatively normal life— 

or at least have a chance at living one. But 

after decades of activism and aid, we now 

know that the cause of Mali’s suffering is 

much bigger than this little girl and her 

handicapped legs; and it’s going to take a lot 

more than just a dollar per day to create 

lasting change. 

Socially, politically, and economically, Mali 

has reached critical mass, and if change is to 

come, it must come from within. At the 

current rate of decline, the food will run 

out, the volunteers will go home, and the 

sickness will rise. From my direct personal 

experience, education seems to be the only 

real answer; and while I’m not claiming to 

be the first to suggest or implement this 

solution, I can say that I am doing 

everything in my power to make it a reality. 

Recently, my team of volunteers and I 

found an entire computer lab that wasn’t 

being used. The computers had been 

generously donated to a local high school, 

but none of the teachers had any idea what 

to do with them. Obviously this was a great 

resource being wasted, so we trained the 

staff, created a computer literacy curriculum, 

and began what has now become a series of 

training courses for teenagers. The impact 

and low-cost of this project inspired me, 

seeing how a little money used wisely can 

have a lasting effect, so I started my own 

relief project called Karma Yoga Project 

Africa! 

I founded Karma Yoga Project Africa with a 

simple mission: to educate, uplift, and 

empower the people of Mali through 

education-based efforts funded both from 

private and corporate sponsors. One-byone, 

we’re teaching young people skills that 

they will carry with them for life. This real 

yoga, off-the-mat, and often times 

extremely challenging—but I feel very 

blessed with this opportunity to serve. I 

have high hopes and big plans for Project 

Africa, and your donations of time, money, 

and prayers are always welcome. 


www.YogaBodyNaturals.com 

YogaBody Naturals, 

donates 5% of all 

profits to Project 

Africa. To get involved, email 

Michelle: projectafrica@ 

yogabodynaturals.com

108 

Why One Hundred and Eight? 

Gabriel Azoulay 

Morning light has barely pierced the pursed horizon’s lips, revealing 

Mother Earth’s Spring colors. In celebration of the great Mother, I 

join a group of yogis and yoginis in the ancient dance of Sun 

Salutations. Uniting the flow of breath with the body, and bridging 

culture and spirit, man and woman, stranger and friend, the group 

gather to honor the ancient practice by moving through 108 Sun 

Salutations. 

One hundred and eight because of the 108 Upanishads. One 

hundred and eight because you are, a star. With your five senses, 

you are, a five pointed star. Take the pentagon, add the two adjacent 

angles, the total is 108. 

One hundred and eight because when you multiply the number of 

the Sanskrit characters (54) by two in light of every element 

containing both Shiva [the divine masculine] and Shakti [the divine 

feminine], you get 108. 

One hundred and eight because there are 108 beads in a mala [prayer 

beads]. Practice is shedding off your sense of separateness by 

connecting your mind and body with the overarching larger forces 

of the universe, the above examples help to inspire us to move into 

practice. 

In the early hours of this Saturday morning, the class moves 

through Surya Namaskar [sun salutations] A. Moving as 

individuals, yet centered on breath. There are various bodies of 

various shapes and backgrounds, but each person is connected to an 

energy; each individual is an expression of the divine; the group is 

all one, dissolved in love. 

Gabriel has been practicing and teaching 

yoga for the past 13 years. His recently 

published book ‘breath: the yogic prime’ 

expresses his insights from his teachers 

and practice. For more written work or 

free online classes visit 

www.gabrielazoulay.com 

One hundred and eight because when you multiply the 12 houses 

in the sky, representing the horoscope, and the nine different 

planets, you get 108. 

15

16

Yoga 101 

Yoga 

is not just 

Asana 

Allen Fu 

As yoga is booming, many people are 

having the chance to take classes. Most of 

these people go to yoga classes that focus 

mainly on asana. They may not realize yoga 

is much more than just asana. These 

misconceptions are brought about by 

programmes and advertisements that focus 

mainly on the physical aspect of yoga, asana 

as good physical exercise for better health 

and weight loss! 

Also, practicing asana means you are part of 

a trendy crowd. In fact yoga has so much 

more to offer than this superficial view. 

Yoga is one of the six major philosophical 

systems (Yoga, Sankhya, Vedanta, 

Vaisheshika, Nyaya and Mimasa) in 

Hinduism. Asanas are an important Anga 

(limb) of the Raja Yoga or Asthanga Yoga 

of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras. Most people 

spend their time practicing asana and neglect 

the practice of other limbs of yoga. 

Raja Yoga is said to be the king of yoga and 

is mainly concerned with the mind, its 

modifications and its control. Patanjali’s 

Yoga Sutras 1.2 states Yogash Chitta Vritti 

Nirodhah which defines yoga as the control 

of the mind. Usually the mind is running in 

various directions. How does a Yogi still his 

mind, restrain the thought-waves and enter 

into mindfulness or thoughtlessness? 

To achieve this, Patanjali introduces the 

Eight Limbs of yoga practice: 

Yama - the five abstentions: ahimsa (nonviolence), 

satya (truthfulness), asteya (nonstealing), 

brahmacharya (constinence) and 

aparigraha (non-covetousness), 

Niyama - the five observances: saucha 

(purity), santosha (contentment), tapas 

(austerities), svadhyaya (study) and isvara 

pranidhana (surrender to God), 

Asana - seat, Patanjali’s Sutras refers to 

seated positions used for meditation, 

Pranayama - expansion of life force through 

restraint of the breath, 

Pratyahara - control senses, 

Dharana - concentration, 

Dhyana - meditation and, 

Samadhi - liberation or trance. 

The eight limbs are the natural steps in the 

ladder that takes a yogi from their human to 

their divine nature or eternal bliss. They are 

interlinked, scientifically arranged and dealt 

with. Through the practice of Yamas, which 

involve our relationship with the external 

world, and Niyamas, which deal with our 

personal and inner world, purify one’s 

actions and increase inner purity. Asana 

brings steadiness, health and harmony to 

the body and mind. Pranayama enables one 

to see how emotional excitement affects the 

rate of breathing. To master the breath 

empowers one to control the senses and 

reach the stage of Pratyahara where the 

senses are brought under control and 

withdrawn from the external world into the 

inner self. When the body, mind and senses 

are tempered, refined and brought under 

control, the mind will be still enough to 

achieve a state of complete absorption or 

Dharana. When the flow of concentration is 

uninterrupted, one can then sit in 

meditation and enter into Samadhi. 

The first five limbs – yama, niyama, asana, 

pranayama and pratyahara form the 

foundation and disciplines of Yoga. They 

also prepare the ground for the attainments 

- dharana, dhyana and samadhi . 

The more time we spend in the first two 

limbs - Yama and Niyama, less time will be 

needed to attain perfection in meditation. If 

we go on practicing, changes take place 

within, even without our knowledge. Don’t 

be a frog in a well. Widen your knowledge 

and examine asana and their relationship to 

yoga as a whole. 

Allen is a certified 

personal fitness 

trainer and yoga 

teacher who has 

been practicing yoga 

since 1997. He 

teaches at charitable 

organisations. 

17

For Teachers 

What are we 

Teaching? 

There is an old saying in the academic world, 

those who can’t do, teach. I hope the 

opposite is true when teaching yoga, as my 

teacher once explained, “when you can do it, 

you can teach it.” 

What is this “it” we are teaching? If yoga is 

union with our divine nature, 

enlightenment, freedom, samadhi, or 

whatever you call it, and we don’t have first 

hand experience of it, how can we claim to 

teach it? How can we call ourselves teachers 

of yoga, if, in fact, we have not understood 

what yoga is? And, I humbly admit that I 

don’t really know. 

Kim Roberts 

Kim has been a student of Ashtanga yoga and 

Tibetan Buddhism for 15 years. She currently 

directs the yoga programme at the 

Oriental Spa at the Landmark 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong. 

Of course there are basic skills that are very 

helpful to teaching yoga: the practices of 

asana and pranayama and meditation. But 

this is not the yoga. This is the practice that 

may (we hope) lead us to yoga. It is possible 

to teach others how to structure the practice. 

But suddenly, as teaching yoga becomes 

fashionable, many instructors might not 

have the understanding of the subject we 

claim to teach. 

If you want to deepen and expand your 

teaching, deepen and expand your practice. 

There is a solution to this dilemma. It is 

called practice. So the answer to the question 

“what are we teaching?’ is, “what are we 

practicing?” This, whether or not we are 

aware of it, is what we are teaching. So if 

you want to teach, practice. If you want to 

deepen and expand your teaching, deepen 

and expand your practice. 

We can only teach from our experience, from 

what we know. If we try to go beyond, then 

we may end up parroting concepts and ideas 

about what we think we know. If we 

practice strictly adhering to someone else’s 

guidelines about practice, lacking the courage 

to examine our own unique approach to 

walking the path, then we might teach 

rigidity. If we focus exclusively on 

strengthening muscles, striving for physical 

perfection, then we could be teaching 

gymnastics. If we practice fear, avoiding our 

inner voice guiding us to further depths, 

and instead follow what everyone else is 

doing, we may teach fear. If we cannot be 

alone with our experience, then how can we 

teach others to relax into their experience? 

If we practice confusion about our personal 

18

oundaries and need our students to 

reinforce our egos, then we risk teaching 

confusion and ego reinforcement. We 

cannot “teach” others to be fully awake 

beings, especially if we are not there 

ourselves. We can practice wisdom and 

compassion; we can model it, or create 

structures to reinforce it. We have Yamas 

and Niyamas, and Buddhist precepts. We 

have tools, such as asana and pranayama 

and meditation practice. But how can we 

teach someone to behave? We cannot. Each 

must discover for herself where these 

practices are leading us. One sure thing is we 

will never find our own way by following 

someone else’s path. 

There are no rules in life! There is cause and 

effect, or karma. So if a teacher is trying to 

impose her view on you or discouraging 

you from doing your own personal 

investigation, then you might wonder why. 

Our wisdom comes from within; by 

training ourselves (through practice) to 

listen to our inner guide, this guide 

becomes stronger and more reliable. As 

Mathieu Ricard points out, “The Buddha 

always made it clear his teachings should be 

examined and meditated on, but never 

simply accepted as true simply out of 

respect for him.” 

discrepancy and see which one is false. Over-reliance on the teacher can become a lack of 

responsibility to oneself at a certain point. The teacher is a guide, not the leader. 

As students, we must make distinctions between gurus and spiritual guides. A teacher who 

does not have realization of enlightened mind cannot guide you there as a realized guru 

can. But she can show you techniques and practices learned from her teachers. It is 

extremely important to recognize this. Teachers who earn my respect are those who freely 

admit their limitations. If there are areas where we are still unclear, be honest, rather than 

drawing unsuspecting students into the drama. We can only take students as far as we have 

come. 

But as a yoga teacher without realization in the fullest sense, what I can offer is a sincere 

devotion to the practice of increasing awareness and acceptance. I can share my experience 

of the path; the path that leads us to become fully awake, wise and compassionate human 

beings. What makes you feel fully alive? Do that. And if you can do it, you can teach it. 

RICHARD FREEMAN ON TEACHING 

Five key points: 

1. To be a good teacher you must be an eager, humble and inquisitive student. 

2. Teach directly out of your own experience, in the moment. Don’t be afraid to say, “I 

don’t know” 

3. Be kind and patient. That person is you. 

4. Teaching is constant mindfulness practice in thought, word and posture. 

5. Teach what you 

know. Do not teach 

what you do not 

know. 

Cultivating the qualities of compassion, 

generosity, peace, strength, patience seems to 

have a positive effect on the quality of our 

life, moment to moment. Cultivating 

anger, hatred, greed, anxiety, intolerance, and 

jealousy seems to make us miserable. We 

have a choice, each moment of which to 

practice. We can either accept and live with 

life’s present manifestation, or we can 

struggle against it, reject or deny it and 

further our own suffering. We have this 

choice each and every moment of our lives. 

We can choose any moment to start 

practicing acceptance; why not this one? 

At a certain point the practice becomes the 

teacher and our allegiance shifts from 

external to internal. This does not mean 

that we disregard the external teacher. Just as 

we trust our teacher, we must trust our 

inner guide. Our trust in our inner guide 

then leads us back to trust in the teacher. If 

not, then we need to examine the 

19

20

Anatomy 

Piriformis Syndr 

yndrome 

Ky Jablonowski & Sher Martelle 

What is Piriformis Syndrome? Often mistaken for “sciatica”, it is an 

entrapment or compression of the sciatic nerve as it leaves the 

lumbar spine (low back) and travels though the greater sciatic 

foramen of the ilium (hip bone). 

In this area of the pelvis there are a plethora of small muscles that 

laterally rotate (open) the hip, and roll the femur outward. If they’re 

too tight you will tend to stand with your toes pointed outward. 

This can lead to added pressure on your inner knees as well as 

restriction in your lower back, and that spells trouble. 

Also, Eka pada setu bandha sarvangasana (one-legged bridge pose) 

helps to stretch the hip flexors and teaches you to feel the proper 

position of your hips as you focus on bringing your knee toward 

the centerline of your body. Try turning your focus inward as you 

practice this one, to listen to helpful subtle cues from your body 

and breath. Recognize if one side of your body is tighter than the 

other, and address that imbalance accordingly as you go. As always 

in yoga – balance is key, imbalance often results in injury. Take it 

slow. 

Pair proper form in these poses, with knowledgeable manipulation 

of the body’s musculature from a trained specialist, such as a 

Registered Massage Therapist, and bye bye Piriformis Syndrome, 

hello happy yogi. 

The largest and most troublesome of these muscles is the 

piriformis. When contracted, it can bulk up, filling the space of the 

sciatic foramen (the hole in the hip bone), which in 

turn compresses the sciatic nerve. This can 

become very uncomfortable, with 

symptoms ranging from pain and 

weakness down the leg, to in severe cases, 

loss of proprioception (awareness of 

your body in space and time). 

Most people are not prone to severe 

Piriformis Syndrome. However, overuse 

of the piriformis muscle can occur 

through repeated bending or lifting with 

a rotational component (i.e. the 

movement of the thigh during running), 

improper body mechanics or even while 

doing some yoga poses while the hips are too 

tight. You can get too much of a good thing. 

For instance, trying to get deeply into forward 

bends if the hips aren’t ready to go there. 

Other causes can be inflammation from arthritis, 

degeneration of the muscle with scar tissue build up, or 

even just sitting on an uncomfortable chair for hours at a time (the 

typical office worker). All these factors can cause the symptoms of 

Piriformis Syndrome to rear its ugly head. 

However all is not lost, there are ways of combating this very 

painful, limiting condition. That’s right, for yogis it’s a simple 

matter of focusing on poses that include full range of motion in 

the hips. Try for instance Eka pada rajakapotasana (one-legged pigeon 

pose). One of the most often prescribed hip openers, it stretches 

the outer hip and groin of the forward leg and the hip flexors of 

the rear leg, addressing many of your problems in just one 

beautiful stretch. Done well and often, it may just be the secret 

weapon against Piriformis Syndrome and a whole host of other 

maladies. 

Ky & Sher are Canadian trained 

Registered Massage Therapists at 

Sutherland Chan Centre in Central 

www.sccentre.com.hk or +852 

2544 5838 for more information. 

21

22

Classic Texts 

The Bhagavad ad Gita – The Song 

of f the Lor 

ord 

R. Alexander Medin 

Alongside the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, The Bhagavad 

Gita is commonly viewed as one of the key text of yoga. In this first of three 

articles, Sanskrit and Vedanta student Alex Medin introduces us to these 

important books. 

Here is an excerpt of his discussion of The Bhagavad Gita. The full text can be 

read on-line at www.pure-yoga.com and www.holistichongkong.com from the end 

of October. 

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by life? 

Distraught from all the intensities all 

around you which are threatening to 

consume you completely? Paralyzed and 

unable to think and act clearly due to 

conflicting thoughts that are bombarding 

you from all sides? You feel like running 

away, but there is nowhere to run. The only 

way out is through the fire of action, but 

the actions you must take feel futile and 

meaningless…. 

This is the opening theme of the Bhagavad 

Gita, the celebrated “Song of the Lord” that 

has inarguably been the most renowned and 

read text on the Indian continent for the 

past several millennia. It is a book on 

Dharma, Karma, Artha Kama, Moksha, 

Atman, Brahman – all key components of 

Indian philosophies. It asks the important 

questions: “What is our duty in general? In 

times of crises? On a personal as well as on 

a collective level? And where do we find the 

support to face all the grueling difficulties 

looming ahead?” 

The Mahabharata, after the Ramayana, is the 

foremost epic of India and stretches over 

100,000 verses. It is known as the Great 

War, the war of Dharma, of righteousness, 

but it is also known as the book of internal 

conflicts, trials and difficulties that people 

may go through in their journey to become 

more complete beings. The main story of 

this great epic is one of conflict between 

paternal cousins. On one side are the 

hundred sons of Dhrtarashtra, known as 

the Kauravas and on the other are the five 

sons of Pandu known as Pandavas. From 

early on the Kauravas, lead by their brother 

Duryodhana, feel great resentment towards 

the Pandavas. They do everything they can 

to undermine their princely powers and 

relieve them of their righteous claims to the 

kingdom. The five Pandavas, all being 

embodiments of noble virtues, show great 

tolerance towards the Kauravas. They 

forgive them again and again but eventually 

are tricked in a game of dice and lose their 

kingdom. After which they are sentenced to 

dwell in the forest for twelve years without 

any belongings and thereafter must further 

live one year in the midst of society 

incognito. Having endured this, they return 

to the kingdom and request their small 

share of it. Duryodhana refuses and war 

becomes the only option left for the 

Pandavas to claim what is rightfully theirs. 

This brings us to the Bhagavad Gita – 

which is part of the Mahabharata. The story 

takes place right before the crucial battle 

where hundreds and thousands of soldiers 

are gathered on each side. Arjuna is one of 

the commanders in chief. His charioteer is 

Krishna, but Krishna is no average fellow: 

he is Divinity personified – one of the 

incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Initially, 

Arjuna is ignorant of this. He has simply 

chosen Krishna as his advisor in war due to 

his great wisdom and skill. 

Before the battle, Arjuna asks Krishna to 

journey with him out into the field so that 

he can survey the great army he is about to 

face. As he stands there watching all his 

relatives – cousins, grandfathers, great 

teachers and noble elders - Arjuna is 

overcome with a deep sadness, fear and 

horror. He therefore bows down with 

despair in his chariot and cries out to his 

friend Krishna that he will not engage in 

this horrible war. The dialogue that ensues 

between Krishna and Arjuna – one of 

some 700 verses – is what constitutes the 

Bhagavad Gita – the Song of the Lord. 

The Bhagavad Gita is a love song from 

lover to beloved. It is the nectar of wisdom 

for a world lost in sorrow and confusion as 

to its true identity. It is also a book on how 

to live up to one’s duties, face the 

23

consequences of life without attracting further suffering and, not 

least, come to realize one’s innermost identity – that which 

constant, never changes and is the source of all that is. The text 

spans over eighteen chapters which cover various aspects of Yoga 

and how the individual soul may come to transcend all the dualities 

experienced through the realm of the senses and attain a higher 

consciousness wherein the individual becomes one with the source 

of existence. The Bhagavad Gita is also a synthesis of all the 

Upanishads, embodying its essential teachings. First and foremost, 

however, it is a text that speaks to the human heart, awakening the 

soul. It is timeless in nature because it seeks to bring the hearer of 

this divine song back to their very own self. 

There are many types of Yoga depicted in the Bhagavad Gita, but it 

is essentially divided into three sections consisting of six chapters 

each. These are: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Jnana Yoga. They are 

all equally important but are best understood when they work 

together, utilizing the dormant capabilities of the body, heart and 

mind and eventually transcending the separate identity of the 

individual – awakening him/her to a true experience of Yoga. 

The highest teachings of the 

Bhagavad Gita is a path of 

renunciation, but never for the 

mere abolishing of activities. Full 

attention is to be given, rather, to 

whatever duties and 

responsibilities one is engaged in. 

The outcome of all activity, 

however, should not belong to 

the ego but to the unfolding of 

the soul within. It can be thus summarized: 

“From whom proceeds the activity of all beings, and by whom all this is 

pervaded – worshipping Him through his own duty, a man attains perfection. 

Better is one’s own duty, although defective, than the duty of another well 

performed. Doing the duty ordained by one’s own nature, on incurs no misery 

(sin). One should not, O son of Kunti, relinquish the duty to which one is 

born although it may be full of flaws; for all undertakings are covered by 

defect, as fire by smoke.” (BG ) 

WHICH VERSION? 

With so many translations of The Bhagavad Gita, it can 

sometimes be difficult to know which one to choose. 

Alex recommends translations by the following: 

Christopher Chapple 

Eknath Easwaran 

Jack Hawley (“Walkthrough for Westerners” probably 

...a book on how to live up to one’s 

duties, face the consequences of life 

without attracting further suffering 

and.... come to realize one’s 

innermost identity 

“In the heart of all beings, O Arjuna, resides the Lord, whirling all of them 

by His Maya as if they were mounted on a machine.” (BG 18.61) 

The most reasonable action, according to these teachings, is thus a 

path of surrender. Not for the sake of losing oneself, but rather to 

become oneself more fully. Krishna’s final instruction to Arjuna 

about this inner resplendent being is hence to: 

“Take refuge in Him alone with all your heart, O descendent of Bharata 

(Arjuna), by His Grace you shall attain supreme peace and the eternal 

abode.” (BG 18.62) 

All the teachings of the Bhagavad 

Gita do indeed address how to 

refine one’s nature, to become 

more restrained and to realize the 

fullness of one’s potential and the 

infinite nature of one’s support. 

Trials and difficulties are not there 

to break man, but rather to lift 

him out of his mediocre ways and 

to eventually bring about a whole 

new way of seeing. When that 

finally happens, all acts and responsibilities fall away and all that 

remains is the fullness of this resplendent being that stands in no 

need of activity in itself, but yet through the activities of Nature 

may reveal itself through the individual. 

When Arjuna thus finally claims “his delusion is destroyed, he has 

gained his memory through this inner grace” (BG 18.73), he stands 

firmly, can act freely and is free from the suppressing fluctuating 

patterns of mind born from delusion over one’s true nature. 

The battle of the Bhagavad Gita has, for many readers, come to 

symbolize the internal struggle of opposing forces within. The text 

is universal in nature and does not discriminate between diversity 

of beliefs, but rather wants to instill in the reader a greater 

responsibility towards one’s own duty for the sake of awakening 

one’s true inner potential. For Arjuna it is to engage in the act of 

war ahead whilst mentally and physically resigning all outcomes to 

the lord of lords from within. 

Alex has been a student of yoga and 

Sanskrit for the past 12 years and 

divides his time been Hong Kong and 

India. 

Even if Arjuna, out of delusion, refused to fight and tried to 

escape the cruel acts expected of him, time would eventually catch 

up with him and he would be forced to execute the duties born of 

his nature: 

24

This being human is a guest house. 

Every morning a new arrival. 

A joy, a depression, a meanness, 

some momentary awareness comes 

as an unexpected visitor. 

Welcome and entertain them all! 

Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, 

who violently sweep your house 

empty of its furniture, still, 

treat each guest honorably. 

He may be clearing you out for some new delight. 

The dark thought, the shame, the malice, 

meet them at the door laughing 

and invite them in. 

Be grateful for whoever comes, 

because each has been sent 

as a guide from beyond. 

The Guest House from Rumi, 

The Book of Love 

Translations & Commentary 

by Coleman Barks 

CREEK ON BLACKCOMB MOUNTAIN PHOTOGRAPHED BY PHILIPPE GUILLO 

25

26

My Story 

There is great wisdom in living our lives 

through the yoga vision. I wish that 

everyone live a full, rich and rewarding life 

through yoga and that we all take the time 

to nurture and rekindle our spirit along the 

way. I believe in what I call my yoga vision. 

It has been in my heart since childhood, 

handed down to me through the living 

example of my mother’s ways. So imagine 

my surprise to discover that I had gently, in 

the past few years slipped away from these 

ideals in my own life while preaching them 

to others. 

awareness and acceptance than I had ever 

experienced before. 

Regular practice To reflect… 

Over the years I practiced yoga daily, alone 

and in classes. I was able to release energy 

blocked by my own fears and anxieties. My 

work and spiritual studies as a therapist 

incorporated over 30 years various methods 

of interpersonal communication, body and 

breath work, acupressure, NLP , dream 

work, Kundalini yoga . Hatha Yoga , 

Iyengar Yoga and, and, and... 

Living a Yogic Life 

Frederique Deleage 

I have demanded much of myself in my 

life, and last two years was no exception. It 

began with a flurry of business 

opportunities that soon lead to days filled 

with schedules, commitments, an endless 

list of goals, and not enough time to do it 

all. The quickening pace became a race 

against the clock. A lingering feeling of 

empty discomfort grew to an overwhelming 

sense of being burnt out and disconnected. 

Then I paused, and changed direction. I 

gave myself the gift of attending an Iyengar 

Yoga Retreat in France with Faeq Biria , this 

has revitalized my life’s vision. 

Regular practice To relax 

I have driven myself, as many entrepreneurs 

do, to work, work, and work. My mantra 

was to achieve my goals while keeping my 

eyes on the competition, always one step 

ahead. I traveled the world at a breakneck 

speed, keeping in touch with colleagues, 

attending exhibitions and conferences, 

visiting spas, and feeding my ever-growing 

business. 

Yes, life was fun, exciting and highly 

charged. What I was missing was balance, 

and the harmony that comes with it. I was 

focused on the destination, I was missing 

the journey, and I was becoming more and 

more disconnected from my body and 

spirit. 

This is when my regular yoga practice took 

on a new dimension. It became a gift of 

time to venture further into my self; to 

pause from the “do” of the business world 

and the distractions of life. I have no words 

to describe the richness of that extra practice 

,except that It took me to a deeper level of 

With each passing day I explored the depth, 

and meaning of my yoga practice finding 

myself totally immersed in the spirit of the 

body, mind connection...mine, and others. I 

learned I know myself through being with, 

and knowing, the people I come in contact 

with. I see me more clearly than I ever have, 

and I know this seeing will be a life-long 

and rewarding journey because of yoga. 

Regular practice To revitalize… 

I have also felt a sense of inner strength, 

quiet and ever-present. I was beginning to 

understand the impact I could have on my 

life through choice. I discovered new 

richness and pleasure in my meditations and 

that through focus and meditation I could 

choose to transform the negative into the 

positive — it was up to me! 

Regular practice To rejoice… 

For me this meant that any activity I was 

involved in was an opportunity to become 

more aware and transform my life. 

As you read now, I wish you a moment to 

pause and enjoy the simple pleasure and 

wonder of the person you are...and if you 

look around, chances are you will find the 

simple pleasure and wonder of others. Take 

care, and safe journey. 

Frederique is founder of 

the Frederique Academy 

which is celebrating its 

30 th anniversary this 

year and has qualified 

thousands of beauty 

therapists for the spa 

industry. 

27

Teacher Training 

Bec 

ecoming an Iyengar Yoga Teacher 

Linda Shevloff 

Becoming qualified to teach Iyengar Yoga is one of the longest and most intense teacher trainings around. Nevertheless, or 

perhaps because of this fact, Iyengar Yoga is the most practiced forms outside India, and growing. Here Linda, one of Hong 

Kong’s first yoga teachers, explains what’s involved in becoming qualified. 

Each year, a few experienced Iyengar yoga 

students begin a teacher-training program at 

The Iyengar Yoga Centre of Hong Kong. 

The programme is quite intense and as it is 

three years long, it requires a huge 

commitment from participants. It is 

regulated by the guidelines set out by B.K.S. 

Iyengar, and it is monitored by national 

Iyengar associations. As I am a member of 

the Canadian Iyengar Yoga Association, I 

report to that organization. That means the 

teaching methods I use, the topics covered, 

the hours spent, are catalogued by that 

organization. Any changes in the curriculum 

are changes sent from B.K.S. Iyengar 

himself to all national organizations. He 

asks that the training is similar worldwide. 

For a long time there was no specific Iyengar 

Yoga teacher training. However, in the 

1980’s when it became apparent that a lot of 

people were using his name and calling their 

yoga practice “Iyengar Yoga” he decided that 

if people were going to use his name then 

they would have to train and teach according 

to his methods. He is a very strict teacher 

with high expectations of his students. 

Consequently, the training that he created 

was also strict and demanding. 

Teacher training is done in stages. The initial 

three-year training is to qualify as an 

Introductory I or II teacher. There are 

specific poses and methods for teaching 

those poses at this level. There are a number 

of books on yoga history, philosophy, and 

asana/pranayama to read, as well as 

anatomy topics to become familiar with. At 

the end of the three years students apply to 

be assessed for certification. Because there 

are no other Iyengar yoga teacher trainers in 

Hong Kong besides myself, because a 

teacher is not allowed to certify her own 

students, and because I am a long time 

member of the Canadian organization, the 

trainees from Hong Kong travel to Canada 

to be assessed. The assessment is a weekend long event that involves a written exam, a 

demonstration of yoga poses and two sessions where your teaching is observed and 

graded. If the participants pass, they are granted an Introductory Certificate that is good for 

five years. 

After receiving the certificate, the teachers must maintain an ethical practice. This means they 

are to teach only those poses they have been certified to teach in the manner they have 

learned. An Introductory teacher should not be teaching poses that belong in a different 

curriculum. It also means teachers will keep up their studies and attend classes and 

workshops with more senior Iyengar teachers. It is hoped they will begin to study in India 

at The Iyengar Institute. They should maintain their membership in an national 

organization and also begin to help with the development of yoga in their area. 

Furthermore, an Iyengar teacher promises not to mix their teaching with other styles of 

yoga. This does not mean there is any judgment of other styles, but rather it means if we 

are using the name of B.K.S. Iyengar then we teach only his way. If we wish to teach some 

other form of yoga then we should not call it Iyengar yoga. Mixing styles can result in 

forfeiting your Iyengar certificate. 

From the first Introductory Certificate a teacher can go on to other levels of certification. 

Currently, one of the Hong Kong teachers is getting ready for her next assessment to 

qualify for Junior Intermediate I level. There are two or three others who will soon apply. 

The training never really stops. There are two levels of Introductory teaching, three levels 

of Junior Intermediate, and three levels of Senior Intermediate. I have recently become an 

assessor in Canada and now travel there twice a year to observe candidates at assessments. 

As I mentioned, I cannot assess any of the students from our Hong Kong centre, even in 

Canada. 

Over the course of this complex programme, teachers come to know each other very well. 

A strong community evolves, and a healthy camaraderie. I have seen this happen in our 

Hong Kong Centre and in the worldwide organization. 

One benefit for students of Iyengar yoga is they can travel virtually anywhere in the world 

and find a teacher who will teach yoga in the same way. The language might be different or 

the personality different, but the teachings are the same. We are standardised and well 

trained. I feel very fortunate to have had this training and to be able to pass it on. I hope 

the Iyengar yoga continues to thrive and develop in Hong Kong. 

Linda is Iyengar 

certified at the Senior 

Intermediate I level. 

She runs the Iyengar 

Yoga Centre of Hong 

Kong. 

www.iyengaryogahongkong.com 

28

First day of Ashtanga 

Sanjukta 

Hurried to try my first class 

Eager not to get there late 

Felt at home immediately 

With the warm, comforting reassurance of Kate 

I was led up to the changing rooms 

Change, combination locks-so much to do 

Then made my way up the stair case 

To find a quiet Studio No. 2 

Yogis all spread out over their mats 

I lay down, happy, away from the din 

Closed my eyes and caught my breath 

At that point Kookhee glided in 

In black pants and a matching top 

Hair piled high on her head 

Walking like a queen spreading her charm 

“Is anyone new to Ashtanga?” she said! 

My hand went up, the only one 

Feeling like a wilting rose 

She leaned aside to look at me 

If you can’t keep up, the Child’s Pose! 

Foundation of Ashtanga-Salutations to the Sun 

It all began in one dynamic flow 

Warms the body-the birth of your practice 

Breath, Movement, Rhythm-all at one go. 

Upward Dog and Downward Dog 

I rode like on a wave in the sea 

Aware of the movement across my body 

I felt joyful, light and free! 

She took us through the whole series 

My entire body was soaking wet 

The rhythm was great, the time controlled 

No time to even wipe my sweat! 

Then forward bends with Padangusthasanas 

Use the bandhas, elbows to the side 

She made us see the inherent wisdom 

Allow the breath to be Your Guide. 

We moved from asana to asana 

Riding the breath like a bird on a breeze 

My eyes opened wide, my mind suddenly clear 

I saw the connection with surprising ease! 

I entered the internal realm of Ashtanga 

Connecting the spirit, body and mind 

With U’breath, Bandhas, Dhristi and Vinyasa 

This is what I’ve been trying to find!! 

Sanju was introduced to yoga 

as a child, but only recently has 

found the time to devote 

herself to yoga studies. 

Thank you, Kookhee, for a great lesson 

You have no idea what I can see 

I have been looking for the moon all these years 

And you have just pointed it out to me. 

29

Anatomy 

Back Pain and 

Yoga 

Valerie Wilson Trower 

30 

Back problems are perhaps the most 

insidious physical limitation to a yoga 

practice: they affect a student’s ability to 

attempt or master many asanas (postures), 

including only those that relate directly to 

the area of weakness or damage, and those 

which seem to have no relation to the 

physical problem. The purpose of this 

article is to recognise and discuss some of 

the back problems that commonly hinder a 

yoga practice and to consider some 

possibilities for improvement, treatment, 

and the mitigation of pain. 

RECOGNISE THE PROBLEM 

Firstly, recognising the 

problem is a critical 

part of the process of 

treatment. And there 

are usually two parts 

Cervical 

of the problem: 

practitioners’ desire 

to master a 

physical pose 

faster than our 

bodies are 

willing to and; 

acknowledging 

that if it 

hurts we 

should 

Thoracic 

back-off 

and 

content 

ourselves 

with an 

attempt 

which is not 

approaching 

pain. Learning 

to distinguish 

between a 

stretch and pain 

Lumbar 

is something we 

must take 

responsibility for 

ourselves. 

Increasingly, many 

yoga teachers 

work to 

minimise any 

element of 

Sacral 

competition or a 

pressure to 

Coccygeal 

perform in their classes, and many may 

commence their classes with a reminder that 

hou tohng (Cantonese: very painful) is m’hou 

(not good). 

Discussing this topic with fellow back-pain 

sufferers, I realise recognition is the key to 

management and resolution. It is easy to 

dismiss periodic repeated injury in the same 

place (I complained ‘Oh, it’s just my back…’ 

for more than two years), or to tolerate a 

problem, just as it is often hard to identify 

when it started. But lack of recognition will 

not solve the problem. 

Equally, we should remember endorphins - 

the body’s natural painkillers - mitigate our 

experience of pain during practice: it is only 

afterwards it hurts! For this reason, some 

health professionals suggest the mind plays 

a more complex part in the experience of 

back pain. 

Back problems can be compounded by 

scoliosis, the lateral and rotational curvature 

of the spine, which is more common in 

women and can be hereditary. There is no 

single test for scoliosis, but asymmetry of 

the body is an indicator and a possible 

cause, while breathing problems and back 

pain can be long term consequences. 

LUMBAR DISC PROBLEMS AND MYTHS 

Nearly all humans experience some wearand-tear 

in their back as they age, this is 

known as Degenerative Disc Disease (spinal 

stenosis), and it is a normal part of the aging 

process. The space between the vertebrae 

and bones of the spine lessens, as each 

liquid-centred intervertebral disc loses fluid, 

making the spine more susceptible to future 

damage when the vertebrae are compressed 

by our bending in any direction. 

Common problems occur in the Lumbar 

spine (lower back) particularly at the top of 

the hips where the fifth Lumbar vertebrae 

and first Sacral vertebrae meet (commonly 

called L5/S1, this is the joint that bends 

forwards, backwards, and sideways). Many 

sufferers experience a sharp shooting pain 

down one leg - known as sciatica - when 

they damage this disc, others like me, may 

experience pain across the back of the hips.

leading to increased consumption (as well as other unwelcome side 

effects). 

The disc may: 

· just be temporarily squashed; 

· be leaking fluid from a rupture in the outer coating (imagine an 

‘O’ shape has become a ‘C’ shape); 

· have moved towards the spinal canal (popularly known as a 

slipped disc); 

· have broken in one or more places (imagine a coral atoll/ring 

with a separate island). 

These days the diagnosis is usually by Magnetic Resonance Image 

(M.R.I.) or Computed Tomography (C.T.). However an 

orthopaedic surgeons showed me a remarkably simple test – flex 

your left foot and have someone try to bend your big toe back and 

see if you can resist the pressure. Often sufferers of L5/S1 

problems will not be able to resist the pressure. 

In conclusion, recognition and acknowledgement of a potential 

problem is the beginning of treatment. Tailor your yoga class to 

your fitness level, strength and ability, mindful of your weight and 

previous levels of physical activity. In my experience as a student 

and teacher, these problems are relatively common: I estimate there 

is someone with a back problem or a potential problem, in every 

yoga class. I also know that there is nothing more miserable than 

practicing yoga in fear of pain - it compromises every breath and 

asana - if this applies to you, I urge you: please recognise it, and get 

it treated! 

Valerie has taken 3 

months off her 

Mysore practice and 

teaching at mYoga. 

In terms of treatment, physiotherapy works for some, acupuncture 

can be helpful, and some ‘C’ shaped ruptures can heal over time (six 

months or more). But for about 10% of sufferers surgery is the 

only treatment. 

In my case a broken piece of hard outer disc was trapped in my 

spinal canal which had to be removed through surgery. The 

fragmented disc caused repeated cycles of inflammation and 

irritation which were painful on either side of my spine depending 

on the position the fragment. 

Sometimes the affected nerve develops tissue around a fragment to 

mitigate the pain, and irritate the nerve which can start to produce 

unwanted side effects in the area to which the nerve is connected, 

producing tingling, ‘pins and needles,’ or numbness in the foot. 

CERVICAL DISC PROBLEM 

The other common site of disc damage is the Cervical (neck) spine. 

The C6/C7 disc is similarly prone to damage: sufferers complain of 

discomfort in Sirshasana (Headstand) and pain is often experienced 

down the inside of the right index finger and thumb. One yoga 

teacher I spoke with estimated he had 50% of the strength in his 

right hand in comparison to that of his left, due to this 

phenomena. 

PAIN CONTROL AND RESOLUTION 

To date, there is no effective replacement for damaged discs and the 

standard for disc surgery is to conserve the disc, removing only the 

broken fragment. Most over-the-counter pain remedies are not 

effective at quelling back pain. Although the body tolerates antiinflammatories 

well (without increasing dependency), if the 

specialist painkillers are necessary efficacy can decline over time 

31

32

Ayurveda 

Ayurvedic Massage 

Dr Mahesh Sabade 

Ayurvedic Massage is an important tool for healing. Though it is a 

small part of Ayurveda, it has always been an important form of 

treatment. Massage belongs to the emphatic branch of Ayurveda 

called Panchakarma, which comprises body cleansing and external 

body treatments. 

There are several different Ayurvedic massage techniques which can 

be used depending on the disease or the condition: 

Snehan: Oils specific to the body’s condition are applied. 

Mardan: Specific oils are applied with more pressure during the 

massage than in Snehan. 

Chaviti: Therapists use their feet to massage the body to generate 

more and precise pressure. This is a specialized technique and the 

masseur needs to be well trained. 

In Ayurvedic massage there are two main aspects that determine the 

efficacy of the treatment – the massage technique and the oil used. 

The massages are usually given towards the heart to facilitate 

absorption and nourishment. There are some exceptions when the 

direction of massage is opposite. The type of ailments and its 

location also determines the type of massage. For example, for joint 

disorders, massages are given in a circular fashion. 

The use of oil depends on the person’s dosha, the constitution of 

the patient / individual, and the current climate or season. Oils are 

medicated using herbs and the base oils like sesame oil, coconut oil, 

mustard oil or castor oil. There are some conditions like 

rheumatoid arthritis where general oleation is contraindicated. In 

such conditions, massage is done using various powders, which is 

called as Udvartan. Usually Udvartan is done to reduce the amount of 

oil on the body, and in case of foul body odor, it acts as deodorizer. 

massage prevents Vata aggravation and foot massage improves the 

health of the eyes and prevents Pitta aggravation. 

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN AYURVEDIC MASSAGE THERAPIST 

1.Good knowledge about the patient’s constitution. This gives an 

indication about the strength of the patient and thus the 

appropriate pressure to be applied during the massage. Usually 

Pittas have less strength than Kapha constitution patients. They 

also tend to like light and soothing massage rather than rigorous 

kind of massage. 

2. In addition to having anatomy knowledge, sufficient knowledge 

about Marma points is desirable. These are certain points on the 

body that are comparatively sensitive. Excessive pressure to these 

points may create be counter productive. Moreover a proper 

massage done according to the sites of Marma points proves to be 

more beneficial since these Marma points are the union points of 

one or more bodily structures. 

3. Ayurvedic massage therapists should have knowledge of other 

external treatments such as Shirodhara, Pishichchil. 

4. The therapist should know about the base oils and how to 

choose them for specific people, conditions and seasons. 

5. Practical experience working with different kinds of patients is 

always necessary. 

6. A good therapist should have consciousness about the Supreme 

Soul with blessings from him to transfer positivity to the patient. 

Mahesh has been a doctor of Ayurveda 

for nine years, practicing in Pune, India. 

He is the co-author of Ayurvedic Ahar 

the Scientific Diet and his second book 

Aromatic Plants in Ayurved is in the 

pipeline. ayurved.net.in@gmail.com 

After the massage heat is usually applied to help alleviate Vata. It 

could be by a sitting in a steam box, sauna, or by applying hot 

packs. During the heat treatment, eyes and head are protected from 

the heat. 

Apart from regular Ayurvedic massage, there are other massage 

techniques for specific diseases where the massage and heat is 

applied simultaneously. Some of these treatments are called 

Pindasweda, Pishichchil, and Patra-pottali. 

Regular oil massage to the whole body helps maintain health. At 

the very least Ayurveds recommends oil application to the head, 

ears and feet. The head massage nourishes the vital centers, ear 

33

Recipes 

Yogi Tea 

Sara Avant Stover 

This is a great tea for cold days or evenings, after a meal or with a sweet snack or dessert. It 

improves circulation, strengthens the digestive fire and can help to boost the immune 

system. 

For vegans or those who are lactose-intolerant, use a non-dairy milk (such as rice, soy or 

almond). You can also omit the tea altogether for a non-caffeinated herbal variation that is 

equally as delicious. It’s best to make a big pot and invite friends over to enjoy it with you. 

You can also keep it for yourself, as it will last for a few days if you put it in the refrigerator. 

3 1/2 gallons water 

1/2 cup cardamom pods (pounded/crushed with a mortar and pestle) 

1/2 lb. ginger root, thinly sliced 

15 cinnamon sticks 

4 black tea bags (can also substitute green tea or rooibos tea) 

1 gallon milk (use organic cow, goat, soy, almond, rice or oat milk) 

Bring water to boil in a 5 gallon pot. 

Add cardamom, ginger and cinnamon. 

Cover and simmer for at least 45 minutes (Sometimes I boil this at night and then let it sit 

until the next morning to make it stronger). 

Now add the tea and milk. Bring it all to a 

boil and immediately remove from heat. 

Allow to stand, unstrained, until almost 

time to serve (this will increase potency of 

tea and most spices will settle to the 

bottom). 

Sweeten with honey, agave or maple syrup if 

desired. 

Sara is a freelance 

writer and Anusara- 

Inspired Yoga 

instructor based in 

Chiang Mai, Thailand. 

www.fourmermaids.com. 

Humus 

Moises Mehl 

34 

2 cups of cooked chickpeas 

4 limes or lemon (juice only) 

1/4 teaspoon of sea salt 

1 tablespoon of white miso paste 

(optional) 

1/2 cup of olive oil 

1/2 cup of water 

3 tablespoons of tahini paste 

2 cloves of garlic finely chopped 

Blend ingredients for 1-2 minutes 

Chill in fridge 

Serve with nice crackers or veggies 

Keep on fridge for 5 to 7 days. 

Moises was born in 

Mexico, where his 

grandmother 

influenced him at an 

early age with 

vegetarian cuisine, 

yoga and spirituality.

Workshop Review 

Andrey Lappa at Evolution 

Valerie Wilson Trower 

An Olympic swimmer with a doctorate 

from the Ukraine who became interested in 

Eastern spirituality and a yoga practice, 

Andrey combines a keen intelligence, 

academic rigor and a dry sense of humour 

in pursuit of knowledge of his topic: the 

development of what he calls yoga, and for 

those uncomfortable with this abruptness: 

yoga yoga, or for some, Universal Yoga. Yet 

he remains largely unknown outside 

Eastern Europe and the U.S.A. 

His lectures answered many of the 

questions I had long given up asking 

anyone else: 

1. How else can we organise a yoga 

sequence? - three wonderful hours was 

spent on this. 

2. How do the principles of Hinduism, 

Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism differ? - 

ANDREDY LAPPA 

this question was discussed several times in 

depth: they share the same traps for our 

attention using visual or aural mechanisms, 

but differ in levels of complexity. 

3. Why do I see blue throughout my practice 

or in meditation? - for visually-inclined 

individuals, seeing colours is relatively easy: 

the real task is to directly visualise the colour, 

to go straight the sensation of seeing the 

colour, then to be able command the 

sensation at will, and the same for each of 

the other senses in meditation. Only this is 

completion. Wow! 

35

A PRACTICE OVER FOUR DAYS 

Readers can visit Andrey’s website 

(universal-yoga.com) and the Evolution 

catalogue to find out what they missed. 

Suffice to say, the few of us who attended 

his first class enthusiastically told our 

friends and colleagues; re-booked our 

classes; and by the last class on Monday had 

more than 50 participants. For me each of 

Andrey’s daily led-practices generated a 

wonderful, physically-symmetrical, snowstorm 

sensation without any damaged 

muscles despite the vigorous practice (I 

followed the easiest or medium variations 

offered). 

MORE QUESTIONS 

As I reviewed what I had learned at the end 

of each day - mostly by laughing at Andrey’s 

seditious delivery which made plain his 

opinions of Western yoga and his 

explanation of this phenomena - I found 

myself forming questions about how this 

complete (the only word to describe this 

yoga) practice worked in a large class? In an 

inexperienced class? On each of the 

following days, as though on cue, the 

answers to my previous day’s questions 

were revealed. I realised I was in the presence 

of someone who I would and could love to 

learn more from. 

Valerie has taken 

three months off 

her Mysore practice 

and teaching at 

mYoga. 

36

Book Review 

The Life of Milarepa, 

Tibe 

ibet’s Great Yogi 

by Lob 

obzang Jivak 

aka 

Reviewed by Tia Sinha 

Strange are the workings of karma to one 

who does not understand. Yet the Law of 

Karma is a Universal Law with no 

exceptions. The common understanding of 

karma, as written in the Holy Bible, is “as 

you sow, so shall you reap”. But the effect 

of wrong doing and wrong living also 

diminishes progressively, one’s ability to 

understand spiritual teachings. If one has 

veered from right living, the distance has to 

be covered again and one has to redouble 

effort before one becomes worthy enough 

to receive teachings and capable enough to 

understand them and align one’s life 

according to them. 

The 11 th century yogi, Milarepa’s life had one 

such about turn. Persecuted as a child, he 

turned to the black arts so he could avenge 

the wrongs done to him, his mother and 

sister. The great sorcerer wreaked havoc and 

destruction on those he held responsible 

for his suffering. When he realized the error 

of his ways, there arose in him a deep 

longing to change his ways, reform himself, 

find a realized Master and follow the path 

of Truth. 

longing to rise again. It is a tale of true 

repentance, endurance and indomitable will 

in the face of seemingly insurmountable 

obstacles. Milarepa’s Master, Marpa, 

subjected him to intense difficulties. 

Bewildered at his Master’s harsh treatment 

of a sinner who had confessed and truly 

wished to reform, it took Milarepa many 

years to understand how his master was reshaping 

his character and helping him work 

out the effects of his negative karma. 

Lobzang Jivaka’s adaptation of Milarepa’s 

tale is a short one, without Milarepa’s songs 

and poems and without the cultural 

meandering of other translations. Yet it is a 

tale told by a poet, full of humour and 

heart. 

The path of yoga makes us live against the 

grain. If there is any joy as one travels the 

path, it is mostly undeserved and unearned 

and purely an act of grace. A true yogi faces 

obstacle after obstacle on his path as he 

comes face to face with his own savage, 

lower nature and encounters difficult 

situations that are the result of his own 

wrong deeds. Milarepa’s life shows us how 

a yogi armed with determination, regardless 

of wrong doing in the past, can overcome 

self-hate, demolish any obstacle on the path 

and reach the final goal. 

Tia is a student 

of Sanskrit, Yoga 

and Buddhism. 

When in Delhi, 

she teaches at 

the Sivananda 

Yoga Centre. 

Milarepa’s story is a moving and inspiring 

tale about a ‘sinner’s’ quest for truth. 

Perhaps the lower one falls, the deeper one’s 

37

Crossword 

This yoga crossword, 

created by Tia Sinha, 

invites you to visit sacred 

places in Sacred India. 

ACROSS 

1. Snowy abode of gods, saints 

and yogis. (9) 

4. ‘Char Dham’, the 4 main 

Hindu pilgrimage sites in the 

north include Gangotri, 

Yamnotri, Badrinath & 

…..Nath. (5) 

7. An island off the southern 

tip of India where Lord Rama is 

believed to have prayed to Lord 

Shiva to atone for the sin of 

killing Ravana, a Brahmin. This 

island has a temple housing one 

of the 12 Jyotirlingas. (11) 

8. Quaint hill town called 

….shala, meaning ‘Home of 

Truth’, is the exiled Dalai Lama’s 

current home and seat of 

government. (6) 

10. Cliff-top site of Buddhist 

rock-cut caves, renowned for 

their frescoes. (6) 

12. Sai Baba of …… (6) 

13. Oily Indian bread? No! 

Coastal site of the Jagannath 

Temple where a Rath Yatra 

(chariot journey) takes place 

every year. (4) 

15. A hauntingly beautiful, 

secluded land south of 

Laddakh, dotted with gompas 

(Buddhist monasteries). (7) 

16. Capital of Laddakh, also 

home to many gompas and to 

the Japanese-built Shanti Stupa. 

(3) 

17. ….nath, a natural cave in the 

Kashmiri Himalayas, containing 

a svayamabhu (self- formed) 

linga. It is said that Lord Shiva 

told Parvati the story of creation 

in this cave. Thousands of 

pilgrims progress to this cave in 

June-July. (4) 

19. Virupaksha and Vittala 

temples can be found in this 

surreal, boulder-infested city in 

northern Karnataka. (5) 

21. Ancient name of Benares or 

Varanasi, a holy city located on 

the banks of the Ganges. (5) 

25. City made famous by a 

certain tree under which a certain 

prince pledged to stay seated 

until he was enlightened. (4, 4) 

27. City in Rajasthan housing 

the tomb of the Sufi saint, 

Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti. 

(5) 

28. Hill near Tiruvannamalai 

believed to be an embodiment 

of Lord Shiva himself. Ramana 

Maharshi lived here for many 

years in some caves. (10) 

DOWN 

1. Door to Lord Shiva or Lord 

Vishnu? A city on the banks of 

the Ganges where amrit (nectar) 

from the churning of the ocean 

is believed to have fallen. 

Millions gather here everyday for 

a dip in the Ganges to cleanse 

them of sin. (7) 

2. Coastal site of rock-cut 

temples known as rathas 

(chariots) and a relief known as 

Arjuna’s Penance or the Descent 

of the Ganges. (11) 

3. Hamlet near 21 ACROSS. 

Sakyamuni Buddha delivered his 

first sermon here. (7) 

5. City on the western coast 

associated with Lord Krishna. (6) 

6. Yoga capital of the world, 

located on the banks of the River 

Ganges. It is the starting point 

of the Char Dham pilgrimage.(9) 

9. The sweetest! A drop of nectar 

is said to have fallen here from 

Shiva’s hair. The town is famous 

for its temples, particularly the 

Meenakshi Temple dedicated to 

Lord Shiva and to Lord Vishnu’s 

sister, Meenakshi (she with eyes 

shaped like a fish). (7) 

11. Allahabad or ancient Prayag is 

38

located at the confluence or 

….veni of three rivers, Ganga, 

Yamuna & the hidden, 

underground Saraswati. These 

rivers are believed to correspond 

to the Pingala, Ida and the 

hidden Sushumna nadis 

respectively in the human body. 

(3) 

12. A Buddhist stupa with four 

elaborately carved gateways 

depicting scenes from the Jatakas 

and from the Buddha’s previous 

lives is located here. (6) 

14. Ancient University that 

produced many gifted Buddhist 

monks like Shantideva. The 

University was ransacked by 

Afghan invaders, yet the ruins of 

this university town remain. (7) 

18. Ganga …., a sacred place 

located near the Ganges delta. 

Ganga is supposed to have 

revived Bhagirath’s ancestors 

from their ashes at this spot and 

fulfilled her purpose for 

descending from heaven to 

earth. (5) 

20. The ….nabh temple, that 

has a statue of Lord Vishnu 

with a lotus emerging from his 

navel, is located in 

Thiruvananthapuram. (5) 

22. ….kunt, high up in the 

Himalayas is a hill where Guru 

Gobind Singh is believed to 

have meditated. It now houses a 

Sikh shrine (Gurudwara). (4) 

23. …..puri, where Mahavira, 

the founder of Jainism was 

cremated, is a major Jain 

pilgrimage spot. (4) 

24. A town near 25 ACROSS 

where Hindus pray for the souls 

of their ancestors. (4) 

26. ….kareshwara, a small island 

at the confluence of the 

Narmada and Kaveri. A Shiva 

temple here has one of the 12 

Jyotirlingas. (2) 

Solution on page 41 

39

40

Asana 

NATARAJASANA 

Nata means actor or 

dancer and Raja 

means King, so 

Natarajasana is 

translated as Lord of 

the Dance or Dancer 

pose or Cosmic Dancer. 

In Indian mythology, 

Natarajasana is depicted as a 

graceful dancer with one leg 

lifted and surrounded by 

flames. The dance he performs 

represents the five actions of 

creation, maintenance, 

destruction, concealment of 

authentic being and grace. He 

destroys and recreates with every 

step symbolizing the 

destruction of our old self in 

preparation of the creation of 

our new one. 

A deep backbend, this pose 

encourages an open heart, 

fearlessness and 

courageousness. It requires 

tremendous physical stillness 

which helps us to develop a 

quiet and focused mind. The 

pose stretches shoulders, back, 

chest, thighs, hip flexors and 

abdomen. And strengthens legs 

and ankles. 

PATRICK CREELMAN 

CROSSWORD SOLUTION 

from page 39 

ACROSS 

1. Himalayas, 4. Kedar, 

7. Rameshvaram, 8. Dharam, 

10. Ajanta, 12. Shirdi, 13. Puri, 

15. Zanskar, 16. Leh, 17. Amar, 

19. Hampi, 21. Kashi, 25. Bodh 

Gaya, 27. Ajmer, 28. Arunachala 

DOWN 

1. Hardwar, 2. Mamalapuram, 3. 

Sarnath, 5. Dwarka, 6. Rishikesh, 

9. Madurai, 11. Tri, 

12. Sanchi, 14. Nalanda, 18. 

Sagar, 20. Padma, 22. Hema, 23. 

Pawa, 24. Gaya, 26. Om 

41

42

Yoga Teachers & Studios 

Sangeeta Ahuja 

Life Management Yoga Centre 

d: TST and HK Island 

s: Classical Yoga ,kids,seniors, 

private 

I: English, Cantonese 

t: (852) 2191 9651 

e: life@yoga.org.hk 

w: www.yoga.org.hk 

Phyllis Arthur 

Yogasana 

d: Wanchai 

s: Ashtanga 

l: English 

t: (852) 2511 8892 

e: info@yogasana.com.hk 

Michel Besnard 

Yogasana 

d: Wanchai 

s: Ashtanga 

l: English 

t: (852) 2511 8892 


Kathy Cook 

The Iyengar Yoga Centre of 

Hong Kong, LRC, Privates, 

Workshops 

d: Hong Kong 

s: Iyengar (certified) 

l: English 

t: (852) 6292 5440 

e: kcinasia@netvigator.com 

Flex 

1/F Woodleigh House 

80 Stanley Village Road 

Stanley, Hong Kong 

s: Iyengar, Hatha Vinyasa Flow, 

Ashtanga, Children’s yoga 

t: (852) 2813 2212 

f: (852) 2813 2281 

e: info@flexhk.com 

w: www.flexhk.com 

Iyengar Yoga Centre 

of Hong Kong 

Room 406 New 

Victory House, 93 – 103 Wing 

Lok St., Sheung Wan, Hong 

Kong 

s: Iyengar 

t: (852) 2541 0401 

e: info@iyengaryogahongkong.com 

w: iyengaryogahongkong.com 

Ming Lee 

Privates, workshops 

s: Iyengar Certified teacher 

l: English, Cantonese, Putonghua 

t: (852) 9188 1277 

e: minglee@yogawithming.com 

Ursula Moser 

The Iyengar Yoga Centre of 

Hong Kong 

d: Central 

s: Iyengar (3 rd year teacher training) 

l: English, German 

t: (852) 2918 1798 

e: umoser@netvigator.com 

Cheuk Na 

Yogasana 

d: Wanchai 

s: Ashtanga 

l: English, Cantonese 

t: (852) 2511 8892 


Anna Ng 

Privates 

d: Hong Kong 

s: Hatha yoga 

l: Cantonese 

t: (852) 9483 1167 

e: gazebofl@netvigator.com 

Pure Yoga 

16/F The Centrium 

60 Wyndham Street, Central, 

Hong Kong 

t: (852) 2971 0055 

25/F Soundwill Plaza 

38 Russell Street, Causeway Bay, 

Hong Kong 

t: (852) 2970 2299 

14/F The Peninsula Office Tower 

18 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 

Kowloon, Hong Kong 

t: (852) 8129 8800 

9/f Langham Place Office Tower, 

8 Argyle Street, Kowloon 

Hong Kong 

t: (852) 3691 3691 

391A Orchard Road, #18-00 Ngee 

Ann City Tower A, Singapore 

t: (65) 6733 8863 

151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 

4, Taipei, Taiwan 

t: (886) 02 8161 7888 

s: Hot, Power, Hatha, Yin, 

Ashtanga, Dance, Kids 


e: info@pure-yoga.com 

w: www.pure-yoga.com 

Randa Westland 

Freelance 

d: Kowloon, Hong Kong 

s: Iyengar certified 

l: English, Arabic 

t: 9353 7910 

e: rwestland@hotmail.com 

Kitty Wong 

Yoga Senses 

d: Tsimshatsui, Jordan 

s: Iyengar style, Hatha 

l: Cantonese, English 

t: (852) 9438 9995 

e: 001.happy@gmail.com 

Connie Yan 

Yogasana 

d: Wanchai 

s: Ashtanga, Yin 


t: (852) 2511 8892 


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Yoga Senses 

11/F, Bowa House, 

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Tsimshatsui 

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Certification, Iyengar style 

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Wan 

ant t your details 

here in 2008? 

If so, please send us your 

payment before December 

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2007 OCT

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