Namaskar Oct 2015

namaskar 

A VOICE FOR THE YOGA COMMUNITY OF ASIA October 2015 

YOGA INSPIRES THEATRE 

HK director draws on his yoga background for 

latest play.......................................................p25 

DEPRESSION 

Ayurvedic doctor explains how a build up of toxin 

can contribute to our mood............................p29 

THE TRAVELLING YOGI 

Impact and implications on being on the road & 

in the air all the time......................................p34 

Photograph courtesy of Eric R. Ward

2 NAMASKAR

NAMASKAR - OCTOBER 2015 

LETTER FROM 

THE EDITOR 

The Universe gives us what we 

need, not what we want. 

I experienced this recently on a flight back from 

Scotland. An hour-long flight delay resulted in my 

missing my connection to Hong Kong. 

Overbooked flights meant I had to stay overnight in London, then take a flight to Paris the next 

morning to catch another home. Definitely not what I wanted! However on the trip to France I 

happened to sit next to a spiritual teacher, Ernesto Ortiz, who spends over 200 days a year on 

the road. This just as our dristi for this issue is The Travelling Yogi! Surely this was the flight I 

needed to be on! 

Three contributors share their experiences and suggestions. Very different perspectives: Ana 

gives her tips for staying healthy and grounded while travelling away from home; Liza shares 

her thoughts on how yoga connects us and; Inna offers a student’s perspective. 

Special features herein are diverse: Donald writes about the similarity between yoga and scuba 

diving; Chloe finds out how yoga and Steve Jobs inspired a Hong Kong director to produce a 

play about contemplation and personal growth; Clayton introduces us to the tireless work of 

one dedicated yogini bringing yoga and much-needed aid to a small Philippine town and; Gaelle 

interviews senior Iyengar teacher Carrie Owerko about the importance of play in our practice. 

We welcome a new contributor to Namaskar, Dr Harsh, an Ayurvedic doctor in India. He talks 

about a possible cause of depression being the build up of ama (mucous) in our systems. 

Thanks as always to the contributors of our regular features, and to Namaskar’s tireless 

volunteers Wai-Ling, Carol and Angela for this issue and this year. 

As distribution is our largest cost, next year Namaskar advertising rates will increase to keep 

pace with the 6.5% increase in postage announced by Hongkong Post recently. We hope 

individual teachers and smaller studios will still find Namaskar a competitive option for your 

communication needs. 

And I hope even more of you will make time to share your yogic experiences and observations 

through these pages in 2016. I know I’ve learned as much from my friends on the yogic path as I 

have from teachers. If you have learned something, if you have grown as a result, chances are 

someone else out there can too. 

Finally, I wish you all very happy end to 2015 and look forward to connecting with you again in 

the new year. 

On the cover - Slackline & AcroYoga teachers Raquel 

Hernández-Cruz (top) and Sam Salwei (above) are 

coming to Flex Hong Kong in November. 

In This Issue 

DRISTI - TRAVELLING YOGI 

ON THE ROAD AGAIN 32 

Taking care of yourself while travelling 

INSTANT CONNECTION 35 

Yoga unites travellers 

PROS & CONS 36 

What does it mean for the student of the 

travelling yoga teacher 

SPECIAL FEATURES 

POST-TYPHOON PHILIPPINES 17 

One yoga teacher’s efforts to keep helping a 

small Philippine community 

PLAY FOR TAPAS 19 

Iyengar teacher Carrie Owerko talks about the 

importance of play in yoga 

YOGA & DIVING 23 

More similar than different 

WHY AREN’T YOU STEVE JOBS? 25 

Hong Kong theatre performance inspired by 

yoga and Apple’s founder 

REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS 

KULA UPDATES, WORKSHOPS, 

RETREATS, TEACHER TRAININGS 6 

PHOTO ESSAY 14 

AYURVEDA 28 

MUDRAS IN BRIEF 39 

MYTHOLOGY 39 

BOOK REVIEW 40 

RETREAT REVIEW 43 

RECIPE 47 

DIRECTORY 48 

ABOUT NAMASKAR 

ADMINISTRATION Carol Adams, carol@caroladams.hk 

NEWS EDITOR Wai-Ling Tse, wailing.tse@gmail.com 

CIRCULATION Angela Sun, angela.sun@gmail.com 

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Frances Gairns, fgairns@netvigator.com 

Namaskar provides a voice for the yoga community in Asia and 

around the world. The publication is an opportunity for 

practitioners on a yogic path to selflessly offer their knowledge, 

learnings and experiences with others. 

We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions 

expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of Namaskar or 

its volunteers. 

Articles and photographs in Namaskar are contributed at no 

charge. Advertising income covers production, distribution, 

administrative costs and discretionary contributions to selected 

charities and causes. 

Namaskar, is published quarterly in January, April, July and October. 

About 5,000 copies are printed and distributed for free to yoga 

studios, teachers, fitness centres, retail outlets, cafes and yogafriendly 

outlets. Mostly distributed in Hong Kong, with 1,500 copies 

mailed to readers in 32 other countries. 

October 2015 3

CONTRIBUTORS 

ANA FORREST 

CAROL ADAMS 

Kong to work after university. She 

currently teaches ballet and yoga 

to children. 

chloe.yy.yates@gmail.com 

GAELLE FOULON DAFFNER 

CONI HORLER 

Medicine woman, creatrix of 

Forrest Yoga and author of Fierce 

Medicine, Ana has been teaching 

for 40 years. ww.forrestyoga.com 

ANGELA SUN 

Carol takes care of Namaskar 

advertising, administration and 

billing. She works from home 

which gives her the freedom to 

homeschool her 10-year-old son. 

carol@caroladams.hk 

Gaelle practices and teaches 

Iyengar Yoga in Hong Kong. 

gaelleinla@yahoo.com 

HARSH AGARWAL 

CLAYTON HORTON 

Coni is a traveling photographer 

and artist, based in Bangalore, 

India. www.chphotography.ch, 

www.yoga.in 

DONALD DAY 

Angela takes care of the 

distribution and circulation of 

Namaskar. Originally from New 

York, she has been practicing yoga 

for 10 years. She currently teaches 

privately. 

asunwellness@gmail.com 

Clayton teaches Ashtanga yoga at 

Pure Yoga in Hong Kong. 

clayton.horton@pure-yoga.com 

Dr. Harsh comes from a family of 

doctors. He carries a rich 

experience of over 10 years in the 

field of chronic disorders and their 

treatment through Ayurveda. 

harsh_ayurved@yahoo.co.in 

INNA CONSTANTINI 

BARBIE FU 

CHLOE YATES 

Barbie is the founder of More Yoga 

and a behavioural therapist. She 

completed RYT500 in India and is 

now teaching privately, for small 

groups and for corporate classes. 

www.moreyogahk.com 

Chloe was born in Hong Kong and 

moved to Australia, then the UK at 

a young age. She returned to Hong 

Donald has worked as a 

management consultant, equities 

strategist, trader and index trader 

in Europe and Asia. He is currently 

a Master Dive instructor and loves 

to share his experience of trips 

around Asia. 

donday88@gmail.com 

Inna is a yoga teacher and freelance 

writer based in London. With a 

background in media and public 

relations, she experimented with 

various yoga styles before trading 

4 NAMASKAR

her desk for a yoga mat. 

innayoga@gmail.com 

MOOSA AL-ISSA 

IRENE THONG 

Irene lives and practices in Hong 

Kong. 

KRISHNAA KINKARIDAS 

Moosa is Executive Director of 

Life Cafe and Director of Just 

Green Organic Convenience 

Stores in HK. 

Moosaalissa@gmail.com 

TIA SINHA 

namaskar 

Krishnaa lives in London. She 

studied with B.K.S. Iyengar in 

Mumbai and Pune and now runs 

classes in London and teaches 

‘Sanskrit and Mudras for Yoga’ for 

Yoga Alliance and British wheel of 

Yoga trainee teachers. She has 

written nine books on Bhakti Yoga. 

kinkaridasi@hotmail.com 

LISA KAZMER 

Tia spends most of her time in 

retreat in Himachal, teaching yoga 

asana, philosophy and Tibetan 

Buddhist techniques of meditation 

and translating and editing for 

Lamas. onlytia2@yahoo.co.in 

WAI-LING TSE 

Now on-line at: 

www.issuu.com/namaskarasia 

Back issues still at: 

www.issuu.com/caroladams 

January’s dristi: 

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras 

Ideas include: 

• How are the Yoga Sutras relevant today 

• Which Sutras are the most important 

• How to weave the Sutras into an yoga asana class 

• Which translations are best for beginners 

If you would like to contribute an article on this subject, or others, 

to Namaskar, please email Frances at fgairns@netvigator.com 

with your thoughts first. That way we can let you know if another 

contributor is already covering that angle. Final articles are 

welcome before December 10. 

Lisa is a yoga teacher, birth doula, 

and writer. Originally from the US 

she now lives in Singapore and 

specializes in teaching prenatal 

yoga, beginners, and seniors. 

www.lisadevi.com 

Wai-Ling teaches and practices 

yoga and mindfulness, therapy and 

is Kula editor of Namaskar. 

yogawithling@gmail.com 


KULA 

Updates 

“Thank You 

Mother India” 

Global Campaign 

Non-profit Yoga Gives Back 

(YGB) invites all the Yoga 

communities in the world to host 

just one fundraiser class between 

now to 31 January 2016 to help 

more mothers and children in 

India. This annual global 

campaign raises the majority of 

the funds for YGB’s programs in 

India, which is now funding more 

than 500 mothers and children 

with micro loans and education 

funds. 

For more information 

yogagivesback.org/tymi 

AUSTRALIA 

Want to teach & 

study abroad? 

Byron Yoga Centre has just been 

approved to offer a part time 12- 

month 800-hour Yoga Teacher 

Training Course that qualifies 

international students for a 12 

month student visa. You get to 

live in beautiful Byron Bay, study 

yoga 2 days a week and are 

allowed to work for up to 20 

hours each week. There is also 

holiday time to travel around 

Australia. At the end of the 12 

months you are certified as a 500 

hour RYT plus benefit from the 

additional 300 hours of units that 

cover subjects such as marketing 

and first aid. This Certificate IV 

represents one of the highest 

qualifications in yoga teaching 

recognised in Australia and 

internationally – ideal for those 

considering teaching abroad. 

For more information email 

Becky at 

marketing@byronyoga.com 

Evolve Yoga 

Festival 

25 January 2016 

Byron Bay 

Presented by Byron Yoga Centre 

this event brings together the 

yoga community for classes, 

sessions and workshops. Ticket 

prices are kept affordable to 

encourage attendance and along 

with Yoga, there is dance, music 

and a vibrant market place. Come 

and explore yoga styles, deepen 

your knowledge, boost your 

wellness and connect to 

likeminded people. (Byron Yoga 

Centre has an eight day retreat 

starting 23 January, so you could 

combine coming to Evolve Byron 

Bay with a yoga and wellness 

retreat. 


www.evolveyogafestival.com.au 

HONG KONG 

Complimentary 

Yoga Workshop 

for Busy 

Executives 

Life Management Yoga Centre 

Tsimshatsui 

LMYC is offering a 

complimentary Yoga for Busy 

Executives workshop on the third 

Sunday of every month for the 

community. Executives will be 

taught reflection techniques, 

relaxation, physical and mental 

purification, and concentration 

exercises to improve creativity 

and production. Executives will 

be trained to maintain an 

independent personal practice. 

For more information: 

life@yoga.org.hk / (852) 2191 

9651 

New Monthly 

Kirtan 

7:30 - 8:45 pm 

Third Monday of the month 

Alive Wellness, Central 

Monthly devotional Kirtan 

sessions where voices unite for 

powerful healing to take place. 

Led by Cristina Rodenbeck of 

Manipura Wellness. Cost $120. 


info@alivewellness.hk or +852 

2541 8600 

Free Meditation 

Course 

Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga 

Centre, Kowloon 

BK Raja Yoga Centre offers free 

7-day courses on meditation and 

positive thinking for beginners. 

Meditate to create new attitudes 

and responses to life by exploring 

spiritual understanding of 

yourself. A new course starts on 

the first Monday of every month. 

For more information: (852) 

2368 4693 / 3541 4340 / 

kowloon@hk.brahmakumaris.org 

/ www.rajayoga.com.hk 

Silent Disco Yoga 

Class with The 

Yoga Room 

1 November 

Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park 

This class will be led with music 

and instructions heard through 

wireless illuminated disco 

headsets. Cost HK$150; please 

bring your own yoga mat. 


www.yogaroomhk.com / 

(852) 2544 8398 

Hiking &Yoga 

with The Yoga 

Room 

8 November 

Join the Yoga Room for a hike 

and yoga class to enjoy the views, 

fresh air and the winds and 

smells of nature. Hike together 

to the peak and enjoy an outdoor 

yoga class at Victoria Peak 

Garden. Cost HK$150; please 

bring your own yoga mat. 

For more 

information www.yogaroomhk.com / 

(852) 2544 8398 

New Kundalini 

Yoga & Mindful 

Meditation Class 

SOL Wellness, Central 

Every Saturday 10:30- 

11:30am. Private sessions 

available. 

For more information (852) 2581 

9699 / info@sol-wellness.com 

Flex Festival with 

the YogaSlackers 

14 November (9am-6pm) 

Cyberport 

In honour of Flex Studio’s tenyear 

anniversary, they are hosting 

a Yoga and wellness festival with 

special guests the YogaSlackers’, 

Sam Salwei and Raquel 

Hernández-Cruz from the USA. 

This event will be in support of 

the Hong Kong Adventist 

Hospital Foundation. Yoga slack 

lining and acroyoga classes will be 

offered all day, as well as adult 

and children’s yoga classes, kids’ 

dance and fitness classes. Over 

30 vendors will join the 

celebration with healthy food and 

6 NAMASKAR

YogaSlacker Raquel Hernández-Cruz will be leading workshops and retreats in Hong 

Kong and Thailand 

beverages, as well as shopping for 

wellness-related goodies. Free 

admission to the festival; fees 

charged for classes. 


2212 / info@flexhk.com 

Kundalini Yoga 

Festival 2015 

21 November (11am-4pm) 

Learn to be the master of your 

own self, your psyche, and your 

body. HK$400 per person. 



Tibetan Singing 

Bowls Group 

Healing 

This healing group takes place on 

the New Moon and Full Moon 

night every month. Offering both 

day time and evening group 

sessions. By donation only. 

For more informationsolwellness.com/events-calendar/ 

Seeking Yoga/ 

Pilates Instructors 

Yoga Privates is an exclusive 

provider of private Yoga and 

Pilates sessions across Asia since 

2008. They are seeking 

registered, experienced 

instructors to join their team. 


www.yoga-privates.com / 

info@yoga-privates.com / (852) 

65044280 

INDIA 

Charitable 

Donations as 

Christmas 

Presents? 

With Christmas soon upon us, 

how do we make the holiday 

season less about overindulgence 

and more about goodwill and 

kindness to all. Charitable gifts 

help to demonstrate to our 

younger generation that real 

happiness does not come from 

having things, but from giving and 

sharing, and not from being 

afraid of people across the city, 

or country, or planet. In honour 

of your loved one’s next birthday, 

anniversary or Christmas, why 

not make a donation to charity in 

the name of your intended 

recipient? 

Namaskar regularly supports 

Yogi Yum Yums, a small social 

enterprise based in Rishikesk, 

India. They make sweets and 

treats without white sugar or 

white flour. They make them 

fresh, with simple ingredients, no 

added chemicals and as natural or 

organic as possible. The sweets 

are sold at ashrams around town. 

All Yogi Yum Yums profits go 

towards the secondary and 

tertiary education of orphans and 

underprivileged children. Yogi 

Yum Yums will send a gift 

appreciation post card to your 

honouree advising them of your 

generous gift. 


www.yogiyumyums.com 

Open National 

Yoga Competition 

27-28 December 

Kolkata, India 

Sponsored by Indian Yogis in 

Vietnam and attended by Yoga 

masters from different 

countries such s Vietnam, 

Australia, China, 

Singapore,Thailand and 

Cambodia with the aim to spread 

Yoga not only in Asian Countries 

but also all over the Wold. 


yogasoumen@gmail.com / (84) 

1267666504 / (91) 9433379505 

International 

Yoga Festival 

29 January-2 February 2016 

Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Trimbak, 

Nasik 

Organised by Yoga Vidya Gurukul 

which was founded in 1978 as a 

non-profit organization. 

Individual - US$200 per person. 

The price includes 

accommodation, food, 

conference material and 

training (on all sessions). A yoga 

teacher can bring their students 

or those interested in yoga and 

yogic lifestyle: 10 people - US$180 

per person; 25 people - US$160 

per person. 


gandhar@yogapoint.com / 

yoga@yogapoint.com / 

www.yogapoint.com/yogafestival 

SINGAPORE 

Singapore Yoga 

Teacher Sangha 

Ongoing 

Immerse yourself in a 

supportive, inclusive, respectful, 

and collaborative space for yoga 

teachers of various styles who 

are based in Singapore to gather, 

share, and learn from one 

another. The meetings are an 

open forum to discuss the many 

facets of teaching yoga, a place to 

share resources, ask questions, 

give answers, and build 

community. These events are free 

but RSVP is essential. 


www.LisaDevi.com/Sangha 

Karma Master 

Class with Vikas 

Malkani 

21-22 November 

Soulcentre 

The mysteries of Karma will be 

shared by Vikas. 


7418 / (65) 9875 2372 / 

www.soulcentre.org 

THAILAND 

Asian Yoga Sports 

Championship 

19-21 June 

Bangkok 

Congratulations to Amrita 

Halder of Bengal, India for 

coming second in her category at 

the Fifth Asian Yoga Sports 

Championships earlier this year. 

The event includes Women’s and 

Men’s events in Artistic Yoga, 

Rhythmic Yoga Pairs, Yoga Dance 

and Yogasana, and is categorised 

into under 12, under 18 and above 

18. 


www.asianyogafederation.com 

Amrita Halder (second from right) with her medal at the Asian Yoga Sports 

Championship 


KULA 

Workshops 

HONG KONG 

Yoga Hormone 

Therapy with 

Harimandir Kaur 

31 October-1 November (10am- 

6pm) 


Learn how to reduce and remove 

the undesirable effects of 

hormonal imbalance for women 

of all ages. From irregular cycles, 

PMS, infertility, menopause to 

fibroids and persistent cysts. 

Women have regained control of 

their health issues by learning 

this amazing series of exercises, 

breathing and postures. YHT, 

created by Dinah Rodriguez of 

Brazil is a yogic technique which 

combines Kundalini yoga, Hatha 

yoga and Tibetan method of 

energy movement. Fee: 

HK$2,800 per person or 

HK$5,000 for 2 people. 



Yoga of Self- 

Realization 

Immersion with 

Andrei Ram 

4-8 November 

Pure Yoga 

Andrei Ram has become one of 

the most sought after 

international guest teachers 

among the Pure Yoga community. 

For the seventh year in a row 

Andrei is coming back to Pure to 

share his knowledge of Yoga. 

For more 

information www.pureyoga.com 

/ events@pureyoga.com 

Yoga Therapy: From Hamstrings 

to Ankles 

8 November (11am-12:30pm) 

Alive Wellness, Central 

This workshop will start with a 

brief overview of anatomy 

provided by Alice Yuen, Founder 

of Alive Wellness, helping you to 

have a better understanding on 

how to solve leg and hip muscle 

issues. Followed by Iyenger and 

Yin style yoga poses by Nasci 

Nobo, that offer physical 

therapeutic effects allowing the 

muscles and mind to relax. 

Especially beneficial to athletes 

and elderly. Cost: HK$150. 

For more 

information info@alivewellness.hk 

Therapeutic 

Workshops and 

Yoga Wall Level 1 

with Bryan Legere 


Pure Yoga 

Workshop topics include knees 

and hips, lower back, neck and 

shoulders. 

For more 



Know Your Body; 

Know Your Pose 

Workshop with 

Janet Lau 

15 November 

The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan 

If you want to learn more about 

your body, or if you have ever 

wondered why certain poses are 

always a challenge for you, you 

will have your mysteries solved in 

Hamstrings and ankles are the focus of a workshop at Alive Wellness, Hong Kong 

this workshop. Even if you are 

just starting your yoga practice, it 

is always good to understand 

your body so you learn more 

about your potential. 

For more 

information www.yogaroomhk.com / 

(852) 2544 8398 

Tricara Yoga 5- 

Day Immersion 

with Ross 

Rayburn 


Pure Yoga 

Join internationally renowned 

teacher Ross Rayburn for a week 

of fun, enlightening and inspiring 

yoga studies. If you are someone 

who loves information and the 

“how to’s” of asanas, meditation 

and even life skills, do not miss 

this experience! 

For more 



Enhance your 

Meditative 

Practice with 

Essential oils & 

the Ajna Light 

with Chan 

Cudennec 

19 November (6:30-8pm) 


Chan will share the Ajna Light 

and essential oils that can help 

one get into a deeper sense of 

awareness followed by group 

meditation. HK$150 per person. 



AcroYoga 

Workshops with 

Sam Salwei & 

Raquel 

Hernández-Cruz 


Flex 

8 NAMASKAR

to review the anatomy of the low 

back and common causes of low 

back pain. You will also be led 

through a sequence of asanas 

with guidance on correct 

technique to avoid lower back 

problems and poses that will 

improve the health of your spine. 

Janet Lau will be teaching at Yoga Room, Hong Kong 

In 2005, Sam co-created the 

company “Yoga Slackers”, 

specializing in combining Yoga 

poses on a Slackline as well as 

integrating other body awareness 

practices such as partner 

acrobatics. Despite the 

misleading nature of the name, 

the “slackers” are accomplished 

athletes gaining the support of 

over 20 different sponsors, who 

share in the desire to promote 

ecologically sustainable living. 

Raquel is a certified AcroYoga 

and YogaSlackers teacher. She 

found that through both 

practices she could inspire 

others to learn and grow through 

play. This workshop is suitable 

for all levels ranging from 

beginner to advanced. 


2212 / info@flexhk.com 

Yoga Bou 

Intensive: Art of 

Letting Go with 

Michiko 

Minegishi 


Pure Yoga 

This workshop aims at 

developing basic skills for yoga 

lovers and instructors of all 

styles focusing primarily on 

safely and effectively using Yoga 

Bou. Participants who complete 

all seven workshops will be 

eligible to become certified Yoga 

Bou Instructors and can further 

their training to become Yoga 

Bou Master Trainers after 100 

hours of Yoga Bou classes. Ideal 

for yoga instructors who teach 

hatha, therapeutic, senior, or 

vinyasa styles. 


www.pure-yoga.com / 

events@pure-yoga.com 

Ganesh Mohan returns to Hong Kong 

Svastha Yoga of 

Krishnamacharya: 

Therapy Program 

Module 6: Yoga Psychology & 

Psychiatry/Mind: Stress, Anxiety 

with Ganesh Mohan 

4-8 December 


Bringing you the most effective 

aspects of traditional yoga and 

ayurveda combined with modern 

medicine with specific guidelines 

for different conditions and 

general treatment principles, 

empowering you to safely and 

effectively address disabilities 

and ill-health through yoga. The 

program is delivered in 7 

intensive modules. Each module 

may be attended 

independently. Cost: Early bird 

HK$6,500 until 4 November; full 

cost: HK$6,900. 


www.yogaroomhk.com / (852) 

2544 8398 

SINGAPORE 

Mind Your Low 

Back: Yoga for a 

Healthy Spine - 

Anatomy Focused 

24 October (1:30-4pm) 

Led by Trish Corley, Director of 

New Angle Wellness, she is also a 

doctor of physical therapy, 

professor of functional anatomy, 

and a Baptiste certified Yoga 

teacher. Trish excels in making it 

easy and fun to learn anatomy as 

it applies to yoga. At least 80% of 

the population will at some time 

suffer from low back pain. A 

healthy yoga practice can help you 

prevent and minimize many pains 

including those of the back. This 

workshop will utilize an 

interactive lecture with 

anatomical models and handouts 


trish@newangleyoga.com 

Yoga of Self- 

Realization 

Immersion with 

Andrei Ram 


Pure Yoga 

Andrei Ram has become one of 

the most sought after 

international guest teachers 

among the Pure Yoga community. 

For the seventh year in a row 

Andrei is coming back to Pure to 

share his knowledge of yoga. 

For more 



Therapeutic 

Workshops and 




Pure Yoga 



shoulders. 

For more 



TAIWAN 

Therapeutic 

Workshops and 



3-8 November 

Pure Yoga Taipei 



shoulders. 

For more 




KULA 

Teacher Trainings 

CHINA 

103-hr Conscious 

Pregnancy 

Kundalini Yoga 

TT - The Journey 

from Woman to 

Mother 

4-12 December 

Xiamen 

A specialty training for Kundalini 

Yoga teachers and 

all interested women. Led by 

Tarn Taran Kaur Khalsa who is 

the creator of the Conscious 

Pregnancy training and has 

been teaching since 1972. She will 

be joined by Siri Ram, an 

experienced Kundalini Yoga 

teacher trainer and also 

specialises in Naad Yoga (sound 

and mantra) and numerology. 


ky.pregnancy.yoga@gmail.com 

HONG KONG 

Level II: 

Advanced 

Prenatal & 

Postnatal Yoga 

TT with Ann da 

Silva 

28-30 October 


Suitable for yoga teachers, 

midwives, doulas and other 

health professionals who are 

interested in teaching yoga to 

pregnant mothers safely and 

effectively. All participants must 

have completed a 200-hour basic 

teacher training or have at least 

three years of yoga practice. 


www.yogaroomhk.com / 

(852) 2544 8398 

50-hr Yin TT with 

Victor Chng 

30 October - 4 November 

Bliss Yoga 

Yin teacher Victor Chng will be in 

Hong Kong to lead a basic Yin 

yoga teacher training. 


info@studio-bliss-hk.com 

Pre & Post-natal 

Yoga TT with 

Samantha Chan 

9-18 November 

Pure Yoga 

This training is dedicated to 

nurturing physically, emotionally 

and spiritually expectant 

mothers, birth partners and their 

unborn children and encouraging 

practitioners to unfold the mindbody-spirit 

connection that is 

vital to the practice of yoga and to 

pass on these experiences to 

future mothers, parents & their 

unborn children. 

For more 



Upeksha Yoga: 

Taking the Seat of 

the Teacher 

2-6 December 

Pure Yoga 

Get into the heart of teaching in 

this 40-Hour programme with 

Lawrence Pradhan. 

For more 



The Forrest Yoga 

Advanced TT with 

Ana Forrest 

5-13 December 

Pure Yoga 

This training allows teachers 

from other yoga schools and 

lineages to join the Forrest Yoga 

education programme to learn 

and understand the art of 

sequencing, to practise and teach 

intermediate and advanced asanas 

to different levels and to 

prioritise the needs of students 

with special needs and injuries. 

For more 



Universal Yoga 

TT with Andrey 

Lappa 

2-13 January 2016 

Pure Yoga 

This programme is designed for 

all yoga practitioners who seek a 

deeper understanding of the 

ancient path of Yoga, regardless 

of their background or practice 

style. Participants will come away 

with a profound understanding of 

their personal practice, as well as 

the skills required to effectively 

teach a wide array of students 

through Asanas, Vinyasa and 

Pranayama sequences. 

For more 



The Spirit of 

Teaching with 

Samrat Dasgupta 

25 March-8 May 2016 

Pure Yoga 

This programme enables 

students to build a strong 

foundation in the philosophy of 

Yoga, skills in adjusting postures, 

an ability to articulate 

instructions clearly, and have the 

confidence to uplift themselves 

and inspire others through their 

knowledge and teachings. 

For more 



SINGAPORE 



Lappa 

13 January-5 February 2016 

Pure Yoga 




ancient path of yoga, regardless 









For more 



The Energetics of 

Excellence with 

10 NAMASKAR

Patrick Creelman 

7-17 January 2016 

Pure Yoga 

This training will empower and 

educate experienced teachers to 

the next level of their own 

teaching. Learn how to own the 

space of each classroom, 

empower your voice when 

speaking in front of an audience, 

and find your deeper purpose of 

being in the seat of the teacher. 

For more 









For more 



THAILAND 

200-hr Yoga TT 

Wise Living Yoga Academy, 

Chiang Mai 

29 November-25 December; 3-29 

January and 7 February-4 March 

Designed for committed yogins 

with a strong desire to deepen 

their practice, the Immersion 

Program offers a comprehensive 

yoga curriculum of 100 hours. 

This is followed by the 100 hour 

“Art of Teaching Program” where 

the effective methodology of 

powerful and heart-oriented yoga 

teaching is transmitted. 

For more 

information www.shantaya.org 

FOR BUDDING TEACHERS 

READY TO BE A 

YOGA TEACHER? 

Some basic questions 

BY BARBIE FU 

“I have been practicing consistently for one year but still cannot do 

advanced postures. Can I still pursue the teacher training course?” 

One of my students asked lately. 

In fact, every regular practitioner can take teacher training course. 

Most courses are not limited to aspiring yoga teachers; they are 

indeed open to everyone who is interested in learning about the 

fascinating history, origin, and philosophy of Yoga. The point is, we 

need to clarify what’s our aim going forwards. 

Yin teachers Jo Phee & Joe Barnett lead a TT in Bali 

INDONESIA 

Yin Yoga 200-hrs 

TT with Jo Phee 

and Joe Barnett 

1-27 November 

Ubud, Bali 

Join senior Yin trainers and the 

primary assistants for Paul 

Grilley in this Yoga Alliance 

accredited training program. 

Topics include Chinese Medicine, 

Anatomy, Fascia Study, Yin Yoga 

Theory and Practice. 

For more 

information www.yinspiration.org / 

info@yinspiration.org 

TAIWAN 



Lappa 

7-30 December 

Pure Yoga, Taipei 




ancient path of yoga, regardless 



2016 

Wise Living provides an 

“Ashram-like” environment, ideal 

for the full immersion experience 

in traditional Yoga studies. 

Providing a foundation on Yoga 

philosophy and practices, 

including meditation, asanas 

(postural training), pranayamas 

(breathing techniques) and 

simple kriyas (cleansing 

techniques). All programs are 

residential and include vegetarian 

meals. 

For more information (66) 

825467995 / 

info@wiselivingyoga.com / 

www.teachertraining. 

wiselivingyoga.com 

Anusara Yoga 

Immersion & 

200-hr TT with 

Jonas Westring & 

Team Shantaya 

Immersion A: 21-28 January| 

Immersion B: 30 January-6 

February; TT: 11-25 February 

2016 

Kaomailanna Resort, Chiang Mai 

“I am just in love with yoga and really want to deepen my study.” 

Do you really want to be a yoga teacher? Or do you want to achieve a 

goal in life? If your answer is the latter, go ahead. It is a very good 

opportunity to step further in yoga and you will find what you have 

learned is just tip of the iceberg. If your answer is the former, then 

you need to know some facts about being a yoga teacher. 

IS IT EASY TO GET A JOB AFTER THE COURSE? 

Getting a teacher training certificate is important, but it’s experience 

that counts. You will need to teach as many hours as you can, at the 

same time, you are learning how to teach. So, ditch the idea of getting a 

job offer after finishing your teacher training! Search around the 

community for any opportunity to teach, even if it is a voluntary class. 

THEN HOW WILL I PRACTICE TEACHING? 

Students look for good teachers. There are numerous teachers in 

town already, which is not beneficial for newbies. To gain teaching 

experience, try to volunteer yourself to your neighborhood, friends or 

family, they may be your first students. Once again, it’s not as easy as 

you think it is. 

CAN I BE A FULL TIME YOGA TEACHER? 

As I mentioned before, there are many good teachers out there and 

competition is strong. It usually takes a few years to build your 

confidence. Teaching yoga isn’t about making big money, so it’s better 

to have a full-time job as back up. 

HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE THE TEACHER TRAINING COURSE? 

Research courses out there and narrow your choices from there. Go 

through the course details and look into the course philosophies and 

practice. It is helpful to have comments, feedback or testimonials 

from previous graduates of the course. 

OTHER THAN TEACHER TRAINING COURSES, ARE THERE ANY 

ALTERNATIVES TO GO DEEPER INTO YOGA? 

Why not try workshops or yoga retreats on a variety of topics before a 

teacher training? There are many at different locations around the 

world. Enjoy learning about yoga instead of thinking about the job, it’s 

more fun! 


KULA 

Retreats 

AUSTRALIA 

Byron Bay 

Retreats 

Byron Bay is an ideal destination 

for retreating and the 

sustainable Byron Yoga Retreat 

Centre is an affordable and 

comfortable option. Along with 

the signature 3 and 8-day yoga 

and wellness retreats, there are 

special retreats planned 

for expecting mums and an 

AcroYoga Immersion in October. 

In November, the centre has an 

Ayurvedic Cleanse with Jacinta 

McEwen plus options for retreat 

programs on the upcoming 

trainings: Yoga Therapy with 

Maria Kirsten and the 

Meditation with Swami Pujan. 

For more 

information www.byronyoga.com 

HONG KONG 

Yoga & 

Meditation 

Retreat with 

Charlotte Douglas 

of LoveLifeHK 


Kadoorie Centre, New 

Territories 

A weekend Yoga retreat that 

starts with a morning meditation 

and moving gently into an 

invigorating yoga practice. As 

well as nourishing the body with 

delicious Ayurvedic food, rest the 

mind and soul in the 

surroundings of nature and to 

finish the day with a deeply 

restorative Yoga practice. 

For information 

charlotte@lovelifehk.com / (852) 

6680 0340 / 

Byron Retreat Center in Byron Bay, Australia 

www.lovelifehk.com / 

www.facebook.com/lovelifehk 

THAILAND 

50-hr Samkhya 

Yoga Intensive 

25-31 October; 29 November-5 

December; 3-9 January and 7-13 

February 2016 


Chiang Mai 

People speak about yoga without 

realizing that it forms an integral 

part of a composite Samkhya- 

Yoga Philosophy, the oldest 

philosophical system in the 

world. This is a residential 

program that includes theory and 

practice of Yoga techniques, and 

vegetarian meals. 


825467995 / 


www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com 

100-hr Samkhya & 

Bhagavad Gita 

Intensive 

25 October-7 November; 29 

November-12 December; 3-16 

January and 7-20 February 2016 


Chiang Mai 

Besides the study of Samkhya and 

many traditional practices and 

techniques, we will dive deeper 

into the Bhagavad Gita explaining 

12 NAMASKAR

the four paths of Yoga, namely 

Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti 

Yoga and Karma Yoga. This is a 

residential program that Includes 

theory and practice, and 

vegetarian meals. 


825467995 / 


www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com 

Flex Studio Yoga 

& Pilates 

Retreat: Cleanse 

& Energize with 

Heather Shalabi & 

Michelle Ricaille 

27 October-1 November 

Kamalana Wellness Sanctuary, 

Koh Samui 

Join Heather and Michelle on an 

journey to detox your body and 

deepen your practice of yoga & 

Pilates. Start your day with an 

energizing yoga practice, then 

experience the healing properties 

of Kamalaya’s spa, followed by an 

in-depth Pilates session. The 

retreat focuses on the synergy 

between yoga & Pilates, the role 

of detox food and nutrition, and 

healing therapies to combat 

fatigue and burnout. 


min@flexhk.com 

Living a Life of 

Joy Retreat with 

Carlos Pomeda & 

Andy Willner 


The Spa Resort, Chiang Mai 

Join Carlos and Andy for a body, 

mind and spirit Yoga retreat at 

the stunning Spa Resort Chiang 

Mai nestled in the lush valley of 

Mae Ann Valley. This is a unique 

opportunity to deepen your 

understanding of the roots of the 

yoga tradition and to take your 

practice to a higher level 

physically, mentally and 

spiritually, as well as to enjoy the 

beauty and culture of Chiang Mai. 

For more 



Gateway to 

Freedom: A 

SpiritDance 

SoulSong & Core 

Awakening Yoga 

Retreat 

28 November-5 December 

Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui 

Join Daphne Tse, Ellen Watson 

and Cristi Christensen for a 

Yoga, dance, mantra, singing and 

meditation retreat. With their 

expertise and gifts of SpiritDance 

SoulSong and Core Awakening, 

they will guide you in daily 

practices that will tune your 

whole instrument through chakra 

based techniques. Whether you 

are a teacher or a student, this 

retreat aims to inspire you to 

reclaim your self expression! 


www.samahitaretreat.com / 

www.spiritdancesoulsong.com 

YogaSlackers’ 

Thailand 

SlacklineYoga & 

AcroYoga Retreat 

1-8 December 

Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang 

Mai 

Join the YogaSlackers, a trio of 

modern day nomads for an 

exploration of your human 

potential. Focused on the 

dualities of a nomadic life, several 

acrobatic practices and active 

recovery, they will explore the 

edges of your perceived limits 

and will teach you how to surpass 

them. Through thoughtful 

exploration on the importance of 

stillness in movement, the 

softness found in strength and 

the art of silent communication, 

they will facilitate a personal 

rediscovery like no other. The all 

inclusive price of USD $1,300 

includes: morning Yoga practice, 

Slackline Yoga, AcroYoga, 

Slackro, Dutch acrobatics, water 

acrobatics, Thai massage and 

flying therapeutics. 


plc@yogaslackers.com 

Carlos Pomeda is joined by Andy Willner in 

Chiang Mai, Thailand 

Daphne Tse will be co-teaching with Ellen 

Watson and Cristi Christensen at 

Samahita Retreat 

YogaSlacker Sam Salwei bring his unique 

platform for yogasana to Chiang Mai, 

Thailand 


14 NAMASKAR

PHOTO ESSAY 

YOGA IN 

INDIA 

It’s all around 

BY CONI HÖRLER 

My yoga happens in daily encounters with the ordinary, 

which are rendered beautiful through my lens, and in the 

extraordinary experiences throughout my travels, where I 

am in constant discovery of the simple beauty of India, 

nature and people. 

I seek perfection in the aesthetic of the imagery and in 

shooting people in special settings. 

These photos are taken from my second travel 

photography book project. Yogis are placed in their own 

environment, intriguing and beautiful, each in a unique 

manner. 

These images highlight a journey through India and Yoga.... 

From the Himalayas, Ganges river, Mysore Palace, Goa 

skyline, paddy fields and old monuments. I have 

attempted to capture a glimpse of people doing asana in 

some intriguing and interesting locations. 


16 NAMASKAR

KARMA YOGA 

YOGA & HEALTH IN TYPHOON- 

DEVASTATED PHILIPPINES 

One Block for Batug 

BY CLAYTON HORTON 

In 2011, longtime Hong Kong resident 

Ambikha Buco founded One Block for Batug, 

a Non-Profit organisation as a response to 

rebuild Barangay Batug Elementary School in 

Leyte Province Philippines. Excessive 

flooding from heavy typhoons destroyed the 

old elementary school. With the help of many 

communities, schools, organisations, friends 

and families in Hong Kong and in the 

Philippines, OBB (One Block For Batug) 

raised enough funds to buy a new safer 

location where the new school has been 

constructed. This gave new hope and 

opportunity for the students of Batug to 

continue to dream and be motivated with 

their studies. 

On the morning of November 8, 2013, the 

Philippines experienced the strongest 

typhoon ever recorded in history with the 

epicenter of the Typhoon Yolanda (aka 

Haiyan) in Leyte. It destroyed everything in 

its path and Andrea’s village; Barangay Batug 

did not stand a chance. Most of the houses 

were 90% damaged. The new school that was 

built was 50% damaged. The roof come off, 

but the foundation of the building remained 

standing. During Typhoon Yolanda, the 

community was able to use the school as 

shelter and many lives were saved. 

One Block for Batug was one of the first on 

the scene to help rebuild people’s lives in 

Batug. With the support of community 

around the world, OBB was able to raise 

funds for the donation of food, clothing, 

housing materials, and gardening tools. OBB 

also provided psychosocial support to raise 

community spirit. Ambikha continues to visit 

Batug and work with the school children, 

offering Yoga and Healing Breathwork. 

Two years after Typhoon Yolanda, aid and 

donations are unfortunately no longer being 

delivered. The community is still in need of 

continued support. Although it has been two 

years since the typhoon, the suffering and 

need for relief is immense in the small towns 

and villages along the eastern coast of Leyte 

Province. Poverty is an issue as the town is 

still in recovery mode. Livelihood, Housing, 

Health and Food are the main areas that need 

support. One Block For Batug has 

established a housing program benefitting 

families’ whose houses has been totally 

damage by the typhoon on her town of Batug 

in Leyte province. 

Ambikha has collaborated with many healing 

communities in the Philippines that promote 

yoga, vegetarian diet, raw food, and 

sustainable natural housing. Together, they 

have created a housing program to Batug, 

which constructs homes with local, natural 

materials: mud, soil, coco lumber, and rice 

husk. They also have created a home 

gardening program to help the community to 

grow their own food to encourage the 

community to be less dependant on meat 

consumption. In 2013, One Block for Batug 

built a small Yoga Shala (a small Yoga space) 

in Batug village to provide a space for health 

and wellness activities in the area. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP 

Housing - Since Typhoon Yolanda, One Block 

For Batug has provided funds, labor and 

materials 17 new homes with our Mud House 

Project. With your help and support there 

will be many more safe and happy families 

who will be awarded a new home this Holiday 

Season and the next years to come. 

Education Sponsorship - In 2015, OBB began 

One of the 17 new mud homes built in Batug 

its Education Sponsorship Program by 

sponsoring students for their university 

education. Often in this area of the 

Philippines, when a student from primary 

and secondary finishes their studies, their 

family can no longer afford to send them to 

University. They often end up working as 

domestic helpers, restaurant staff or, the 

unlucky ones end up dealing with drugs or 

prostitution. 

OBB believes the children are our future and 

wish to give the youth of the village the 

opportunities of eduation. The scholarship 

programmes aims to build an environment in 

which youth can thrive and have positive 

dreams for their future. 

To date, one student has been supported 

financially to become a school teacher. OBB 

hopes to get more support in the future so 

they can help more youths to attend 

University and inspire their future. 

Jason’s university education has been sponsored by OBB 

Yoga Mats - As part of Ambikha’s campaign 

to promote Yoga and Health in the 

community, they would like to provide the 

kids with their own Yoga mats. In the past, 

Ambikha has been conducting Yoga classes 

on the grass field within the school ground. 

If you have an old mat you no longer use and 

is still in acceptable condition, we would 

appreciate if you can donate them for the 

kids in Batug village. Your old mats can go a 

long way. 

To date, Pure Yoga in Hong Kong has 

donated several used Yoga mats that have 

been delivered to the Primary school of 

Batug Dulag Leyte. The students have been 

gifted with an opportunity to be exposed to 

yoga at a very early age. 


community from the disaster they have just 

experienced. If you like teaching yoga for 

kids, Batug Primary school is always 

welcoming travelling teacher to share their 

skills to this tiny village in Leyte. Batug is on 

the banks of the lovely Daguitan river and the 

beach is just moments away. 

If you are inspired to volunteer for the Mud 

House Project, teach yoga for kids or if you 

would like to donate money or yoga mats 

please contact Ambikha at: 

ambikhadevi@yahoo.com 

www.oneblockforbatug.org 

Facebook: Ambikha Devi Karma Yoga, One 

Block for Batug 

Ambikha brings the Pure Yoga donated mats to the 

Philippines 

Volunteers - If you have spare time and 

you’re looking for something to do that 

involves selfless service (Karma Yoga) then 

we welcome those who are interested to 

volunteer to build houses for the typhoon 

victims to come and visit Batug village in 

Leyte province Philippines. You will have the 

opportunity to connect with the community, 

exchange cultures ideas and experience living 

in simplicity with the local villagers. Your 

stay can help raise the spirit of the 

Ambikha leading the kids through some AcroYoga 

18 NAMASKAR

INTERVIEW 

PLAY AS THE SOURCE FOR TAPAS 

Interview with Carrie Owerko 

BY GAELLE FOULON DAFFNER 

Her sold out workshops bear whimsical titles such as “Permission to 

Play” or “The Careful Farmer”. She amassed an international fan base 

to make a rock star pale and she once performed live for BKS Iyengar 

at the New York City Center, during his 2005 national book tour. 

Carrie Owerko, New York based senior Iyengar teacher talks about 

her practice, her inspiration and how we can all have more fun 

following a workshop at Yoga Central in Hong Kong earlier this year. 

WHEN DID YOU START YOGA? WHY IYENGAR YOGA AND 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FOCUS ON PLAY IN YOUR 

PRACTICE? 

I did it a little bit in College but really started in 1990. I was curious 

about Indian culture so I started going to Jivamukti classes. I was also 

working at the Laban Institute (analytical movement) which was more 

mental than physical work so I went to yoga to relax my mind and tune 

into my body. With my background in movement I got very curious 

about the structure of the pose and it was actually my Jivamukti 

teacher who recommended Iyengar as I kept asking questions about 

form and alignment. Iyengar reveals the deep patterns of yoga and our 

embodiment. I love the observation of patterns so I got hooked! 

As for play, it was a big part of my education. My parents would 

always teach me though play and experiment. Play became a way to 

understand the world. Later, in my theatre work I continued to play 

through improvisation. One of the rules of improvisation is to say 

“yes, and” to anything that gets thrown at you. And, when something 

is challenging we think how can I play with this. Play is a way into 

things, a way forward, play loosens the grip of fear. 

At one point I felt I was becoming too caught in the form of the asana 

so to free my practice I reverted to what I know well: Play! 

HOW DO YOU STAY TRUE TO THE GURU AND YET BE YOUR 

OWN SELF? 

Iyengar teaching is our canvas, the discipline, a frame. But we need to 

be the crayons and the color in our practice. Since everything is 

affected by context, we cannot practice or teach through dogma. We 

need to understand the when, what and why of any given situation, 

accept and adapt to the complex and fluid nature of it. If not, our 

approach might become fixated, hard, and stagnant. 

BKS Iyengar transmission was multi-faceted, he threw things at us 

and expected us to explore in our practice. When he practiced, he 

explored, he played too! It was obvious! He wanted us to deeply 

question everything including our own approach. And I do not think 

he was afraid of other’s perspectives. I attempt to teach what touched 

me about Guruji: his smile, the light in his eyes, and his enthusiasm. I 

attempt to teach from a place of clarity. 

HOW DO YOU BRING PLAYFULNESS IN CLASS? 

First of all we have to bring play in our practice. Play through 

challenges for example: some day I tell myself to use two blocks for 

everything, some days chairs only, some days rope, I throw things at 

New York-based Iyengar teacher, Carrie Owerko 

myself and I say yes to it, I give myself playful assignments to push 

myself out of habitual pattern and move into new territories. Through 

this I get organic directions or internal direction. I trust this process. 

I trust that it is ok “not to know” and from the practice of playing I 

know that it Yes— I can relax into the unknown. 

Another value I try to bring to class is of treating everybody as an 

equal. I am not above my students in any real sense and teaching for 

this perspective, allows my students to connect to their own 

intelligence. I encourage the process of trial and error that I cultivate 

in my own practice. I listen to my students, I engage them in a type of 

dialogue. I find they teach me so much, and by listening to their take 

of things teaches me other ways of saying things, of looking at things, 

of trying things, and then it becomes an amazing exchange. They also 

become confident, confident to play too! 

YOU ARE SO FLEXIBLE, ANYTHING LOOKS EFFORTLESS ON 

YOU! DO YOU FIND ANY ASANA CHALLENGING? 

Any binding pose is challenging due to my morphology. Poses like full 

pasasana, and full malasana. 

But I see my physical limitations as an opportunities to play again! We 

must befriend our body as it is, and work with affection, because the 

poses that are harder pour light on our process and they can teach us 

so much about ourselves and the way we handle life. The is important 

because it is is the process that continues while the form dissolves 

(age). We must be honest in our approach, and give ourselves 

permission to be enough just as we are. We are enough, we must 

practice from the ground of this understanding. Then ask ourselves 

what we have to contribute. We must come back to the following 

question for teaching, for practicing and even for life: what is my 

deepest intention. Stay true to it and have fun on the way. 


20 NAMASKAR


22 NAMASKAR

SPORTS 

YOGA & SCUBA DIVING? 

More similar than different 

BY DONALD DAY 

At first glance, it seems to be an odd 

combination - Yoga, the physical, mental, and 

spiritual practice to exercise, boost health 

and reduce stress, seems far removed from 

donning a scuba tank and descending into the 

open ocean. 

However, when you look more closely, the 

effects of both are not very different. Both 

yoga and diving are very relaxing and 

meditative. Both have a similarly strong 

focus on breathing. Ideal breathing in both 

activities is slow, deep and relaxed. We know 

from meditation practice that slow and deep 

breathing helps calm down the body and the 

mind – particularly useful when stressed. 

group will try and ensure everyone sees the 

amazing things that wait to be discovered. 

Neither is about winning, but to experience 

something amazing and share this 

experience. Everybody wins. In today’s 

competitive world, this is rejuvenating, 

calming and refreshing. 

Yoga and diving are also very complimentary, 

which explains the recent surge in combined 

offerings. People passionate about diving are 

usually balanced and relaxed, aware of the 

nature that surrounds them and are naturally 

curious – very similar to yogis. Benefits of 

yoga for the diver include better buoyancy 

control, reduced air consumption (and 

breath, but even fit divers can find 

themselves breathing too fast or too shallow 

from the stress of diving. 

That’s where yoga comes in. Like scuba, yoga 

places emphasis on proper inhalation and 

exhalation, as breathing is considered the 

essential connection between body and mind. 

Practiced regularly, yoga promotes deep, 

slow breathing, and teaches you how to calm 

your mind. Yoga also strengthens and 

stretches muscles that are important in 

diving. After a dive, yoga can help to stretch 

and relief stiff muscles (if done lightly, as the 

diver should never engage in strenuous 

exercise after diving). 

To appreciate yoga’s breathing benefits, it 

helps to understand what happens when you 

breathe. The primary function of your lungs 

is to draw in oxygen-rich air and expel the 

carbon dioxide waste your cells generate. 

That oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange 

happens in the alveoli, microscopic, grapelike 

sacs that line your lungs. On land, we use 

just a fraction of our lung space, leaving 

scores of alveoli untouched. At depth some, 

especially new divers, use even fewer alveoli 

per breath, taking shallower, rapid breaths. 

Another similarity is focus – in yoga and 

scuba diving, the practitioner is required to 

focus entirely on the task at hand. In yoga, 

you focus on the posture, the alignment, the 

depth of the posture and the breathing. In 

diving, you focus on your surroundings, your 

buoyancy, your depth– and your breathing. 

Finally – both activities are non-competitive. 

In yoga it doesn’t really matter if the person 

next to you seems to have a background in 

Olympic-level gymnastics or somehow does 

not seem to have bones. You only compete 

with yourself and what you and your body 

can do on the day. Similarly, in diving buddies 

take care of each other and people in a dive 

therefore longer dive times), relaxation both 

on land and underwater, and improved 

physical fitness for diving. 

The average diver sightseeing at 30 feet in 

warm, calm seas can expect an average tank 

of air to last about an hour. But as any diver 

can tell you, the sport is anything but average. 

Deeper dives, stronger currents and chilly 

water can drastically reduce bottom time. 

New divers, a little nervous and prone to 

“panting” rather than easy breathing, have 

been known to empty a tank in less than 30 

minutes. Obviously, increasing your physical 

fitness is one way to get more out of every 

The solution is breathing slowly, deeply and 

fully, especially on exhalation. Your impulse 

to breathe is triggered by the build-up of 

carbon dioxide, so by learning to exhale fully, 

you clear more carbon dioxide and 

automatically breathe more slowly. Slower 

breathing also improves your concentration 

and focus. Deep breathing exercises such as 

those used in yoga training help keep blood 

gases normal and are very beneficial as a 

relaxing technique. 

So where can you combine these activities? 

There are several resorts as well as 

specialized trips that not only offer yoga 

classes, but have integrated programs, 

sometimes even offer retreats. Here the 

combined offering of yoga, diving and often 

healthy nutrition is carefully coordinated and 

delivers a meaningful time with lasting 

impact. Get in touch for a recommendation, 

or if you want to know more about 

combining yoga, meditation and diving. 


24 NAMASKAR

COMMUNITY 

STEVE JOBS & YOGA? 

Local stage director connects the two 

in an original play 

BY CHLOE YATES 

A scene from Tang Shu Wing’s play “Why aren’t you Steve Jobs?” which will be on 12 - 22 November in Hong Kong 

Tang Shu Wing, actor and notable stage 

director. Born in Hong Kong, Tang studied 

and practiced law before moving to Paris to 

pursue his true calling: acting. For the last 

20 years,Tang has headed his own theatre 

company dedicated to minimalism and 

physical theatre. A firm believer in the body 

as a primary means of expression and a form 

of creation, Tang uses meditation and 

pranayama as part of his actors’ training, 

also challenging his actors in physically and 

psychologically demanding asanas. First 

introduced to yoga in the US, Tang journeyed 

to India in 2004 to receive his formal yoga 

teacher training. His latest production titled 

‘Why Aren’t You Steve Jobs’ is a direct result 

of his continuing research with his actors. 

Tang sits down with us to discuss this 

fascinating new piece, life and his experience 

with meditation and contemplation. 

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLAY 

It’s about creativity, using Steve Jobs as a 

starting point. Life, problems in life, how we 

see these problems and how people believe 

they can find solutions to solve these 

problems are some of the major themes. 

Intuitively, I constructed the set up in a yoga 

studio, the stories of four students and their 

communication while waiting for their 

teacher who is running late. The story 

revolves around a group of characters in 

their early to mid 30’s. It’s a story of selfrealization, 

the discovery of your own 

journey using ordinary problems to involve 

the audience in the process. Religion, 

sexuality, love, money, death, the way people 

are drawn together; all these aspects 

implicate the audience. 

WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION 

BEHIND CREATING THIS PLAY? 

The production is the fruit of my research 

with my actors; it’s a devised piece. After 

using many classical plays such as Hamlet 

and Titus Andronicus as a platform for my 

actors to explore themselves and improvise, 

employing my physical theatre approach and 

minimalist aesthetics, I became convinced 

this was the direction I wanted to lead. 

I believe creation has to be balanced with 

sincere research, so we worked everyday at a 

systematic approach to training, trying to 

discover how the actors could improve 

themselves both physically and mentally. I 

put the actors in to different scenarios and 

recorded them as they improvised. I then 

wrote the script around these interactions. 

It is also the result of my yogi training. I 

recall studying pranayama in the Himalayas, 

witnessing my teacher die. I wanted to recall 

this difficult experience in the play and 

confront the notion of death. 

Grotowski, the Polish theatre director is 

also an inspiration. In an age of TV and film, 

he was convinced theatre still has value. He 

had an auto revelation of the actors being an 

organic human being, his discovery of thisis 


Tang Shu Wing 

a story of selfrealization, 

the 

discovery of your 

own journey 

very deep and can reach the subconscious of 

anyone, even if it is not known to that person. 

When the audience witnesses this, they too 

may be moved by it. Grotowoski called this 

‘poor theatre’; it adhered to the notion of 

negation not objection, removing obstacles 

and taking away rather than adding to reveal 

something pure. 

After journeying to India, I began to see a link 

with Grotwoski’s style of theatre and yoga; 

it’s all about the discovery of one’s self. Yoga 

is not about expression but about selfdiscovery 

and realization. Theatre is the 

opposite, so I wanted to place more 

significance on self-discovery. 

WHAT MESSAGES DO YOU HOPE TO 

COMMUNICATE? 

I wanted to comment on the current state of 

society, humans and the problems we 

encounter. I also wanted to explore 

creativity, using Jobs as a platform. For me, 

Steve Jobs is not just concerned with 

commercial issues, he was asking some very 

serious questions like ‘how can I combine art 

and technology?’ eventually revolutionizing 

the industry. He also had to deal with huge 

personal problems. 

Similar to the characters in the play, he is 

concerned with making things less 

complicated and simpler. 

Contemplation and self-realization are about 

your own discovery, your personal journey. 

By using contemporary problems people are 

facing, I hope to get the audience more 

involved in the process.Characters are placed 

in the yoga studio to do asanas while talking 

about some very serious issues creating a 

surreal picture. It’s a metamorphosis of the 

yoga teacher. In the end there is no answer, 

it’s up to you. If you are focused enough you 

may discover something inside yourself. 

WHAT SORT OF CHALLENGES DID YOU 

HAVE TO OVERCOME TO PRODUCE 

THIS PLAY? 

Generating publicity! People don’t 

necessarily know the deeper meaning behind 

the production before they see the show, 

only the synopsis. It’s only during or after 

that people may begin to experience their 

own transcendental journey. 

IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW DO YOU 

THINK PEOPLE VIEW MEDITATION AND 

CONTEMPLATION? 

It depends. Some people can’t meditate 

because they find it difficult to calm down or 

to think of nothing. Their minds are so 

agitated they have thoughts and images all the 

time. For others, they might ask‘what is the 

use of meditation?’ from a very pragmatic 

standpoint, because it consumes time. When 

I encounter such people, after a few 

conversations I realize there is no use in 

pursuing the topic any further and I let it go. 

For my actors it’s imperative and a very 

fundamental part of their training. 

Meditation is a channel not only for 

concentration but also as a means to get in 

touch with the unknown, both in your mind 

and body. Most of them after learning the 

basics find it rewarding and enjoyable to do 

in their own time. This fantastic experience 

also allows them to enter in to the process of 

creation and become more focused and 

balanced in their movement and behavior. 

I’ve even worked with actors who are 

devoutly Christian, believing meditation 

should be focused solely on God. For them, 

they believe clearing the mind of thoughts can 

be dangerous, essentially clearing the space 

for devils to enter. This is also a very 

interesting angle to look at meditation. 

HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR YOGA 

BACKGROUND GUIDED THIS 

CREATION? 

Quite a lot. For me, this production is not 

just a play but also a manifestation of my 

personal experience, or how my personal 

experience withyoga is communicated in the 

form of theatrical art. So you could almost 

say the audience is experiencing their own 

yoga lesson by watching the play! Pranayama 

was also crucial as breathing is fundamental 

for an actor. 

Similar to the Bhagavad Gita, it’s about 

dialogues and interactions between 

characters. In the end, it’s not just about the 

yoga teachings but also about the human 

stories and common experience viewed in 

this particular way, that we can talk about in 

a theatrical setting. These issuescan be 

difficult to talk about in daily life, although 

the play is very down to earth. 

For my actors, not all of them have 

experience in yoga. Teaching them 

challenging poses, asanas, whilst talking 

about certain topics would correspond to the 

theatrical aura can be a difficult and 

interesting process.There is an intuition to 

selecting what poses should be done, but I 

feel I have chosen them appropriately. 

‘Why Aren’t You Steve Jobs’ will run 12- 22 

November 2015 at Black Box, Hong Kong 

Repertory Theatre, Hong Kong. For more 

information: http://tswtheatre.com/en/ 

portfolio-index/why-arent-you-steve-jobs/ 

Also creating a central idea from nothing, 

only Steve Jobs. Then in turn developing that 

in to greater themes. The process has been 

challenging but ultimately very rewarding. 

26 NAMASKAR


28 NAMASKAR

AYURVEDA 

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION? 

Toxic build-up of Ama, for one 

BY DR. HARSH AGARWAL 

Most of us have probably experienced 

depression ourselves or known someone 

who suffers from this debilitating illness. It 

affects our entire being: body, mind and soul. 

The body and mind become sluggish, 

congested and morose. The soul, strictly 

speaking, is affected by nothing, but it 

becomes even more veiled, and our everpresent 

joy, which is the soul, becomes 

totally impossible to experience. 

What causes depression? In the West, we say 

traumatic experiences and chemical 

imbalances. According to Ayurveda, it might 

be known as imbalances in vata or kapha. 

But there is another possibility within the 

realm of Ayurveda which says that ama, or an 

over abundance of toxins, is the problem. 

Toxins come in many forms: polluted air, 

chemical skin lotions, pharmaceutical 

medications, stress, chlorinated water, 

harsh sounds, stale, burnt, chemicallyinfused 

or hard-to-digest foods, etc. All of 

these things and more will overload the detoxifying 

organs: the liver, kidneys, skin and 

lungs. The toxins build up and this becomes 

ama. Ama is sticky and congesting, so you 

can see how this would affect all the organs 

and tissues in the body making them heavy 

and sluggish. And its effect on the mind is the 

same. 

Ama can sometimes be seen as whitish sludge 

that comes out of the body with the stools, 

entwined in the faeces itself. But it is also 

energetic and this sludge clogs up the micro 

channels that normally allow prana, or 

energy, to flow freely and keep us healthy, in 

body and mind. It is quite easy to understand 

how this build up of ama would create all the 

symptoms of depression. 

One student experiencing all the signs of 

depression over a number of years finally 

went to visit an Ayurvedic specialist who 

checked his pulse and tongue. Ama was 

clearly present; hence the digestive and 

immune system and mental troubles over the 

years. The doctor prescribed two kinds of 

herbs: Aampackak, which melts or digests 

the ama, and Srotoshodhan, which opens the 

micro channels. (These are two categories of 

herbs, not the specific names of the herbs. It 

is important to see a proper specialist to 

obtain the correct herbs for your situation). 

Two weeks later, the student had returned to 

the joyful, playful, happy personality that had 

disappeared for four years! He continued the 

herbs for a little while longer and followed 

that up with some rejuvenating herbs. The 

shift in his mind and mood was 

spectacular. Now he feels ‘fabulous’. Not 

long before, he would cry at night and get 

angry for no reason and get more depressed, 

frustrated and scared for not knowing why 

all this was happening. 

Toxins are all around us, and can build up in our body becoming ama 

There are two things we can put in our 

bodies: 

Food: help us grow, maintain healthy 

systems, rejuvenate, regenerate and build 

energy. 

Toxins: deplete our systems, overloading the 

detoxifying organs, causing malfunction and 

decay and reducing energy. 

From an Ayurvedic perspective, ama is the 

opposite of agni, or fire. Fire burns up the 

toxins and is responsible for healthy 

digestion. There are 13 types of agni in 

Ayurveda. The four most important relate to 

our natural constitutions. For more details 

of what these constitutions imply, it is good 

to do a little research into Ayurveda. Suffice 

for this article, a variable, inconsistent vata 

agni, an overly strong and dominant pitta 

agni or a sluggish kapha agni all create more 

ama, while a balanced digestive fire will help 

to prevent and eliminate toxic build up. 

Eating according to one’s constitution and 

seasonal panchkarma cleansing will also help 

to prevent and eliminate toxins. 

Of course, strictly allopathic doctors might 

not be open to this approach and the 

pharmaceutical companies, as well, would 

fight it fiercely. There is, after all, a multibillion-dollar 

industry in anti-depressants. 

And it is certainly understandable that 

someone who feels reasonable most of his 

life due to allopathy, would be concerned 

about trying something else. But by keeping 

the door of possibility open and considering 

other ideas, it may be possible to eliminate 

the depression for good. 

It is important to state clearly ama is not the 

cause of all depression, but checking for its 

presence with a qualified Ayurvedic doctor 

may give one pause to consider this as the 

origin of the trouble. Treatment of ama can 

be taken at the same time as allopathy and if 

the patient is feeling better, she could then 

speak with her regular doctor about reducing 

the previous medications. Allopathy itself is a 

cause of toxins and a good cleanse could be 

considered once the anti-depressants are no 

longer taken. 


30 NAMASKAR


DRISTI - TRAVELLING YOGI 

ON THE ROAD, 

AGAIN 

How to stay on track 

BY ANA FORREST 

INSTANT CONNECTION 

Yoga connects travellers where ever they may be ................................35 

TRAVELLING TEACHER 

What it means to the student... ............................................................36 

32 NAMASKAR

Inna Constantini in Headstand variation, photo by Coni Horler 


get a window seat and marvel 

that you get to traverse the skies 

I travel a lot. I’m on tour for most of the year 

running workshops and teacher trainings, so 

when I was asked to suggest some tips for the 

traveling yogi(ni), I knew exactly what to 

share. 

BEFORE YOU LEAVE 

Carve out a minimum of 5 to 10 mins of yoga 

before leaving your home or the hotel. They 

make a difference. Especially to ease your 

back through the rigors of travel. Everyone 

can make 5-10 minutes of time. I use these 

Forrest Yoga poses: Elbow to Knee, Dolphin 

and a few Sun Salutations. Do them, feel 

centred, energized and go. 

FLYING 

1. Pack food that has a high water content - 

grapes and celery are good. If you can cook 

before you leave, pack a meal that you really 

like. For example, Jose (my husband) cooks 

up for us cauliflower, butternut squash, 

potato, avocado & lightly applied olive or flax 

oil, all mashed together, delicious & easy to 

digest. That’s a lovely nourishing alternative 

to the prepackaged meals that get served up 

on the plane. 

2. On flights make sure you hydrate. It is 

annoying to get up and pee, but worth it. 

Hydrating reduces the chances of swelling, 

headaches etc. Also, the walk to the restroom 

improves your circulation and moves your 

blood. 

3. Another great tip is to take extra 

magnesium. If you fly on a regular basis, 

constipation is a real issue - altitude, 

dehydration and sitting still for so long all 

mess with your natural cycle. Readers should 

check with their doctor or naturopath before 

taking any form of supplement. 

4. In the seat: Move your body. Do Shoulder 

Shrugs, Spinal Twist, Back Release, Neck 

Release. Grab handle/back of seat for the 

twist. To do Back Release Pose while seated, 

place your left ankle over the right thigh, 

bend forward, and hang head by shin (keep 

your head safe from the seat in front of you). 

5. Get up and go to the back galley and do 

some standing poses, like Warriors. 

6. Bring a yoga towel or travel mat with you 

for ‘waiting around’ moments in between 

flights. Put it in a corner, do a few poses, and 

arrive at your destination feeling much 

better. 

7. I recommend doing some yoga poses 

before landing too, so that you don’t tweak 

yourself wrestling with luggage. I’ve done 

that before! It’s important to be conscious 

of how you move your luggage because you’re 

moving 50lbs of awkward box after hours of 

doing nothing. 

8. Finally, and importantly, get a window seat 

and marvel that you get to traverse through 

the skies where only Shamans and Medicine 

People got to go 100 years earlier. Take 

advantage of being up that high and soak in 

the beauty and wonder of earth and sky. 

HOME AWAY FROM HOME 

Wherever I stay in a hotel or apartment, 

which is a lot, I like to feel at home. Here are 

my tips: 

1. Pack items that are precious to you. I have 

a small traveling altar: 

~ Small altar cloths, Native American and 

Australian Aboriginal 

~ Quillwork of 4 Directions symbol & beaded 

Thunderbird pouch 

~ Sweet grass braids & sage 

~ Kookaburra finger puppet 

~ Clapsticks & boomerang 

~ Picture of Uluru 

~ Jose’s ‘Creation’ album 

2. Carry Cedar Mist spray to freshen the 

room to smell like a cedar forest (instead of 

hotel funk) 

3. Pack some beautiful scarves — you can 

wear them and they double-up as pieces to 

brighten up a sterile feeling room. Lay them 

over the chairs, bed and (my favourite), to 

cover up the ugly TV. 

Ana will be setting up her temporary home in 

Hong Kong this December. Booking and info 

at www.forrestyoga.com/events 

34 NAMASKAR

DRISTI 

INSTANT CONNECTION, JUST 

ADD YOGA 

Travel out, travel in 

BY LISA KAZMER 

We fold a few blankets to sit upon and close 

our eyes. The teacher prompts us to root the 

pelvis and lengthen the spine and guides us to 

place our attention on the breath. It’s all so 

familiar but I can’t help noticing the sounds 

filtering in from the street outside are 

anything but average; a mixture of foreign 

tones and trills, expressed in a melodic singsong. 

The excitement of being in a new place 

distracts my focus for a moment. 

After a few OMs to welcome in the practice, 

we come to Downward Facing Dog and then 

fold ourselves forward into Utanasana. By 

the time I am standing upright on my own 

two feet in Tadasana, my breathing has 

slowed down and my body has shaken off 

some travel induced tension. The variations 

begin from there but the language is always 

the same — yoga. 

We all have our habits and rituals that help us 

feel comfortable and at ease in a new place 

while traveling. A friend of mine loves to 

attend a Mass at a local church. It’s not that 

she is all that religious but she values the 

sense of community with which she is able to 

connect almost instantly. I feel the same, but 

in my case would rather find my way onto a 

sticky mat rather than into a church pew. 

As I sooth my travel-tired bones and stretch 

out my plane-smushed muscles alongside 

those who call this foreign land home I have 

the opportunity to fall into the rhythm of this 

new place by breathing it’s air, grounding my 

body into this patch of earth, and sweating 

alongside strangers who share my belief in 

the benefit of jumping around on a rubber 

yoga mat for 90 minutes, give or take. 

I’ve taken my place in the room; a spot where 

I can see the teacher and those around me yet 

not attract too much attention. As an 

outsider in the class I try to acclimatize to it’s 

energy while still feeling free to be myself. 

Teaching and learning styles as well as 

classroom behavior vary considerably from 

country to country, and particularly from 

West to East, so “going with the flow” in a 

new country as one participates in a class can 

be helpful to learning its ways. 

With reverence for ancestors, their elders, 

and educators ingrained in their culture, 

students in the East treat teachers with great 

respect. Discipline is expressed through 

openness, acceptance, and quiet 

contemplation of the teachings. The typical 

practice of taking shoes off upon entering a 

yoga studio as well as keeping the soles of 

one’s feet pointed away from the teacher or 

the altar, are a natural extension of everyday 

behavior in the East. 

The independent spirit of Westerners shows 

in the way they learn. They ask questions 

more freely, and readily speak up when they 

don’t understand or don’t agree with 

something. They think creatively about the 

concepts presented and are more 

comfortable with taking risks and making 

mistakes. Teachers in the West generally 

encourage students to find their own way 

through the teachings as a way to develop 

deeper understanding. 

There are many things to learn by watching 

others learn. The newness of a place and its 

people has the ability to snap us into that 

vulnerable, raw, receptive and open 

“beginners mind” and enables us to see with a 

wider eye — like an artist seeing beyond the 

mundane into something a little larger than 

our everyday existence. Perhaps this is why 

travel is so appealing to many in the Yoga 

world — we know the journeys we go on in 

the physical world are not so different from 

the journeys of self-discovery that our 

practice can offer. 

journeys we go on 

in the physical 

world are not so 

different from the 

journeys of selfdiscovery 


DRISTI 

STUDENT 

OF A 

TRAVELING 

TEACHER 

From the 

perspective 

of a student 

INNA CONSTANTINI 

We frequently investigate and discuss issues 

from the teacher’s perspective. In this case, 

as we look at the “Traveling Yogi,” let’s step 

back and see how a student feels when his/ 

her teacher is not around on a permanent 

basis. 

As we focus on the excitement, joys and 

challenges of being a traveling yogi, what 

happens to students or seekers who they 

meet along the way? How is it for them to 

practice with someone who is not available 

on a regular basis, offering daily guidance so 

many feel they need? 

THE PROS 

Joy and excitement: 

The joy from meeting one’s teacher again 

after his/her time away traveling 

The joy in meeting new teachers, connecting 

with new people and discovering fresh 

experiences - perhaps this is experienced on a 

simple physical level, through the practice of 

asana, developing technique, or on a deeper 

level of linking with the outer/inner world. 

Independence: 

Time to absorb, develop and practice the 

teachings on your own once the teacher is no 

longer there... 

Devotion: 

Feeling a greater sense of connection with 

the universal world of Yoga - the teacher 

does not need to be forever present, but the 

bond between teacher and student remains 

strong, transcending time and space, 

revealing a deeper meaning and layers of 

Yoga. 

Appreciation: 

Being grateful of the present and treasuring 

those moments with the teacher when he or 

she is close by 

THE CONS 

Wavering emotions: 

Due to dealing with emotions such as 

sadness and emptiness 

Due to not having a teacher there on a regular 

or daily basis, someone that the student can 

turn to for advice and support in their 

practice 

Lack of Stability: 

The traveling teacher can never be fully there 

for students. That daily connection is 

missing and the regular guidance may lack in 

such a teacher/student relationship. 

Most would agree the teacher has a 

responsibility to offer guidance and support 

to students. The details of which, however, 

are entirely up to each individual and their 

understanding of the word guidance. A 

simple virtual contact (thanks to the internet 

and high speed communications) or the 

knowledge one is available, may often 

transcend the actual physical presence of the 

teacher. 

36 NAMASKAR


38 NAMASKAR

MYTHOLOGY 

KUMBHAKARNA 

What you can learn from 

a big bully 

BY TIA SINHA 

One of the greatest bullies in Hindu 

mythology was the asura (demi-god) 

Kumbhakarna. A giant often compared to a 

mountain, he was the brother of the tenheaded 

Lord of Lanka, Ravana, in the epic, 

Ramayana. 

Kumbhakarna resorted to more and more 

cruelty day after day, delighting in and 

revelling in his wicked ways. 

Not satisfied by the enormity of their evil 

deeds, Ravana and Kumbhakarna (along with 

their brother, Vibheeshan, who was an 

oddball of a demi-god, being rather sage-like) 

resorted to severe penance atop high 

mountains in order to win the favour of 

Brahma (the creator god) and acquire even 

more power. Brahma’s favour was won. He 

granted Ravana’s wish to become the lord of 

the three worlds. When Indra, the Lord of 

the Gods learnt of this boon, he had every 

him if he slept night and day, twenty four 

seven for the rest of his life. Brahma relented 

and granted Kumbhakarna a reprieve. For 

one whole day, every six months, 

Kumbhakarna would wake up. But if he was 

woken up before the six months were up, 

Kumbhakarna’s life would be in danger. 

Having been granted his boon and his 

reprieve, Kumbhakarna promptly fell asleep 

and had to be lifted and carried home 

horizontal by his two brothers. Ravana was 

unfazed by Kumbhakarna’s plight, who slept 

with all his might, convinced that on the day 

that he woke up, the poor giant would make 

up for lost time, wreaking more havoc than 

others who were no match for him in 

strength or size, could wreak in a hundred 

years. 

While Kumbhakarna slept his deep, devilish 

sleep, Ravana indulged in his own demonic 

deeds. He abducted the exiled prince of 

Ayodhya, Rama’s wife, Sita from their 

hermitage in a forest and in his flying chariot, 

brought her across high seas to his kingdom, 

Lanka. While a heartbroken and resolute Sita 

resisted Ravana’s charms and threats, his 

dark ruses and stratagems to make her his 

wife, Rama, with the help of Sugreeva, the 

king of Vanaras (a part-monkey, part-human 

species) and the loyal, utterly devoted and 

immensely powerful minister, Hanuman, 

amassed a powerful army of Vanaras and 

bears and marching them over to Lanka on a 

bridge of rocks that was not rocky but 

steady, parked them outside Ravana’s 

fortified city. 

One giant bully, Kumbhakarna 

The name Kumbhakarna derives from two 

Sanskrit words. ‘Kumbha’ means ‘pot’ and 

‘Karna’ means ‘ear’. So, Kumbhakarna 

means one with pot-shaped ears. 

Not only was Kumbhakarna gargantuan and 

strong, he was a villain of the first order. 

Scaring and torturing those unfortunate 

enough to be physically weaker than him (this 

number being the rule rather than the 

exception), was imminently pleasurable to 

Kumbhakarna. Even gods, ascetics and sages 

found little respite from Kumbhakarna’s 

shenanigans. Goaded and lauded by Ravana, 

reason to shake with fear on his royal, 

bejewelled throne. Indra appealed to 

Goddess Saraswati to influence 

Kumbhakarna’s speech when it was his turn 

to ask Brahma for a boon. And so she did. 

When Brahma asked Kumbhakarna his 

heart’s desire, he replied, much to Ravana’s 

consternation, “Lord! Grant that I sleep all 

the time.” And Brahma replied, “So be it. 

Night and day, twenty four seven, you shall 

sleep for the rest of your life.” An aghast 

Ravana appealed to Brahma to revoke his 

boon on grounds of clemency as 

Kumbhakarna’s enemies were likely to slay 

One after the other, Ravana’s trusted 

followers, each demon more devious and 

wicked than the previous, fell in the battle 

with Rama and his allies. When even the Lord 

of Lanka was sent scurrying off to his city in 

his chariot minus his ten crowns that were 

toppled by a crescent-shaped arrow shot by 

Rama, Ravana remembered Kumbhakarna. A 

veritable army of demi-gods was sent off to 

awaken the sleeping giant before his six 

months of hibernation were up. But neither 

drum nor trumpet, neither cold sandalwood 

paste on tummy nor blaring conch at ear, 

neither heavy logs of stout trees nor giant 

rocks flung on the snoring giant’s mammoth 

body, neither rampaging elephants marching 

over his supine form nor spears jabbing at 

his flesh could disturb the slumber of the 

mighty slumberer. When all such ruses had 

failed, only one worked - the aroma of 

mountainous amounts of food! 

Having eaten his fill, Kumbhakarna 

proceeded to march to the battlefield and 

carry out his brother’s command, only to be 

slain that very day by a special arrow shot by 

Rama. In his despair and haste, Ravana had 

forgotten the caveat to Brahma’s boon, that 

if the sleeping giant was woken up before his 

six months of slumber were up, his life would 

be in danger. 


Bullies, beware! Kumbhakarna’s sorry plight 

despite all his might is a warning that a 

fearful fate awaits those who use spiritual 

practices to enhance personal power and 

then use that power to control, intimidate 

and abuse instead of becoming a source of 

comfort to and serving those weaker than 

them. Meditators, beware! The task of 

plumbing the depths of one’s psyche is long 

and arduous. There are no shortcuts and no 

quick-fixes. Many a sleeping giant slumbers 

away in the dark recesses of the mind. Do you 

have the courage to keep on looking in and 

facing and transforming the illusory demons 

of your mind no matter how dark and 

devious, twisted and terrible they may seem? 

IN BRIEF 

MUDRAS 

Three mudras for the 

Travelling Yogi 

BY KRISHNAA KINKARI 

There are, nowadays, many teachers of yoga 

traveling all over the world to benefit keen 

students. Their yoga practice needs to be 

particularly strong and regular so the 

demands of the travel itself and the change of 

climate and diet in the destination venues do 

not deplete their energies nor confuse their 

minds even with the most serious ‘jet lag’! 

When traveling, situations like airport 

lounges or any waiting area and then on the 

vehicle itself, are often confined and very 

public. However, for the true yogis who are 

ever alert to their sadhana, mudras offer the 

perfect solution. The circumstances thus 

might be unfavorable, but the opportunity to 

remain calmly determined in every situation 

is excellent and also, in this case, delightfully 

simple, needing no special equipment and 

perfectly suited to any chair or enough room 

to plant the body, standing, sitting or lying. 

Mudras are the most versatile practice, are 

always ones best friend on a trip. Their 

practice will help one to be a yogi first, before 

becoming a teacher. A yoga teacher must 

fulfill the qualifications of a Yogi before 

trying to convey that to others. 

Constant traveling unbalances the 

tatvas[elements] which leads to disease. 

Balance and harmony can restore the ideal 

balance just through the juxtaposition of the 

fingers which lead to Dharana and Dhyana 

with sequential ease. 

Therefore travel need not be a task with an 

unfavourable end needing days of recovery as 

a consequence. It is simple, pleasant 

,immediately fruitful, private, enjoyable and 

much more effective than many brain-cell 

destroying painkillers or any form of 

intoxicating self medication! 

Enough said !Let’s take three new mudras 

aimed at this purpose. 

PRITHIVI MUDRA 

Prithivi means Earth. This mudra helps one 

to ground oneself, bring oneself down to 

earth. A compliment is often given that a 

person is very ‘down to earth’. Such a person 

appreciates basic values and is a support to 

all around them. It brings back luster and 

brightness to the face and installs qualities of 

mercy, compassion and love as well as 

tolerance and patience. Helps in queues and 

delays! 

Method: Tip of the thumb touches the tip of 

the ring finger [earth finger] and the other 

three fingers remain extended. Do with both 

hands.15 minutes ideal. 

VYAN MUDRA 

Mudra for clearness which can control high 

blood pressure, thus useful in times of 

stress, tension , irregularity, unbalanced 

diet, vertigo and pollution. 

Method: Touch the tips of the index and the 

middle fingers with the front portion of the 

thumb. Ring and little fingers are relaxed and 

extended. The wind and ether elements are 

stabilized so that blood pressure is 

controlled and confined within normal limits 

SURYA MUDRA 

Surya means Sun. Here fire and earth 

elements unite to produce brilliant energy 

comparable to solar energy. 

Method: Touch the tip of the ring finger to 

the root of the thumb. The thumb then rests 

across the ring finger. The other three 

fingers extend. It helps with headache or 

sense of heaviness in the brain. Minimum 15 

minutes with both hands. 

Have a good trip! May your travelling 

enlighten you and bring you back safe and 

sound! 

BOOK REVIEW 

AMAR 

CHITRA 

KATHA 

COMICS 

Immortal Stories for all 

Ages 

BY TIA SINHA 

Amar Chitra Katha in Hindi means ‘Immortal 

Picture Story’. Amar Chitra Katha comic 

books have captured the hearts of children in 

India for decades. These comics have been 

around since 1969. The heart and brain 

behind Amar Chitra Katha comics was the 

late Anant Pai who wanted to make children 

in India aware of their own culture. He 

sought to do this in a fun way rather than in a 

preachy and didactic manner. With the help 

of his stories, Uncle Pai, as he was commonly 

known, succeeded in bringing joy to his 

young readers. 

Well written, in simple English, often 

humorous and always beautifully illustrated, 

Amar Chitra Katha comics cover a wide range 

of topics. Recently published issues have a 

band of a particular colour on their cover. 

40 NAMASKAR


42 NAMASKAR

Orange bands are for epics and mythology, 

beige for Sanskrit classics, green for fables 

and humour, red for bravehearts, yellow for 

contemporary classics and blue for 

visionaries. Fables from the Hitopadesha, 

Panchatantra and the Jatakas and the 

exploits of Birbal and Raman of Tenali are 

forever delightful. 

There are about 450 tales translated into 

over 20 languages. However, there are over a 

thousand titles of Amar Chitra Katha comics 

as there are also collections of comics (e.g., 

3-in-1 and 5-in-1 combos, mega theme-based 

collections) and longer special issues like the 

ones on Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, 

Dasavatar, Valmiki Ramayana, Ram Charit 

Manas by Tulsidas, the colossal Mahabharat 

in three volumes and the Bhagawat Purana. 

In an age where the internet, television and 

fancy phones with fancier and fancier 

applications and games vie for a child’s 

attention, Amar Chitra Katha comics are a 

wonderful way of inculcating the reading 

habit in children and presenting to them in an 

engaging manner, the lives of great men and 

women through the ages. 

The comic books on visionaries, extolling the 

lives of prophets and saints, nation builders 

and social reformers, poets and scientists, 

inspire and offer examples to emulate. The 

story of Angulimala, a brilliant and erudite 

lad who, when hated, gave way to hating and 

his transformation from sinner to saint due 

to the affection shown to him by the Buddha, 

is depicted thoughtfully and with great 

sensitivity, as are the lives of Ramana 

Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahansa, 

Mirabai, Kabir, Mother Teresa, Babasaheb 

Ambedkar, JRD Tata, Rabindranath Tagore, 

Einstein, Marie and Pierre Curie, Jim 

Corbett and Salim Ali to name a few. 

Amar Chitra Katha comics are hard to put 

down. Amar Chitra Katha comics are 

addictive. Amar Chitra Katha comics live up 

to their name. They are immortal. Amar 

Chitra Katha comics can be relished over and 

over again, over the years by children and by 

those who have never grown up or refuse to! 

RETREAT REVIEW 

VILLA FLOW, 

BALI 

Yoga brings us into the 

Present 

BY IRENE THONG 

Have you ever considered yourself living in 

the moment? We are always thinking, 

dreaming, talking, judging, identifying and 

analysing everything what we say or do each 

moment of the day. Every single word people 

say may influence our unconscious mind to 

create judgements, images of words, labels 

(mad, angry, happy, sad, resentment, etc). 

Before I left for my retreat to Bali, my mind 

was preoccupied with my new job and news 

from friends far away. Going to Bali was the 

best solution for some peace and calmness. 

Villa Flow is the town of Seraya Barat in 

Eastern Bali. Located up on a hill with 

amazing views over the sea with additional 

private beachfront land where one can really 

lounge and relax. It’s a place of tranquillity 

and eco-awareness, as they use organic 

home-grown food from the surrounding 

community. 

When I was there, my mind was so 

preoccupied I did not even really see how 

beautiful the place was and how friendly the 

people were. 

My Balinese yoga teacher, Kawi, a very 

humble and soft-spoken guy who taught us 

his kind of yoga (Balinese way) told us he 

learnt yoga from his dad when he was very 

young. And in those days he said, “Yoga, is 

just called yoga. But now yoga has expanded 

to many different types, styles and names for 

every postures”, we have the Vinyasa, 

Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar and so on. 

He said, “when we do yoga, our minds must 

be connected to our hearts. It is not a flow of 

movements where we just move or follow, 

without sensing.” And by sensing, he 

managed to incorporate every movement 

with our daily life and the environment 

around us, where we always see but ignore 

back into our daily life. 

How often do we go into our yoga classes and 

really empty our minds to observe and sense 

our surrounding, our breathing, our 

movement? How often do we stop for the 

moment from interpreting those movements 

with our own meaning and sense our inner 

self or the quietness around you? 

At that time, I was reading a book given to me 

by a very dear friend in US, called “The 

Power of Now”. It’s true that in life, we are 

always think too much. We always keep 

thinking (consciously or unconsciously) of 

our pasts, as we do not want to repeat what 

we did in the past. And we hope for the better 

future because the future is better and 

brighter from what we hope and dream to be. 

We always strive to have a better future. And 

yet we know it is from our past that forms 

our future. But the future has not arrived. 

Thus, the more we think of our past and our 

future, we forget the present. Ever really 

stop for the moment from all your thoughts 

to appreciate now? Because now is here and 

we are living it as we speak. 

My retreat at Villa Flow inspired me to use 

my senses fully, to be more aware of where I 

am (not day dreaming of work or some other 

places or someone when I am already here), 

look around me (the breathtaking view from 

Villa Flow, the friendliness of the Balinese 

people), the delicious organic meals they 

serve three times a day from the organic 

farm, the lessons my Balinese yoga teacher 

taught me, the silence of the night. Without 

trying to interpret everything I see, touch, 

smell and observe, I finally put a smile onto 

my face. Like what we always are asked to do 

in yoga, “Observe the rhythm of your 

breathing, feel the air flowing in and out, feel 

the life energy inside your body and allow 

everything to be, within and without”. Allow 

yourself to be in the moment, to move 

yourself back into now. 

Finally I share with two favourite quotes 

from my retreat: “Happiness is when what 

you think, what you say, and what you do are 

in harmony” by Mahatma Ghandi and “A 

journey if a thousand miles begins with a 

single step” by Lao-Tsu. 

Happiness is when 

what you think, 

what you say, and 

what you do 

are in harmony 


44 NAMASKAR


46 NAMASKAR

RECIPE 

BLACKENED CAULIFLOWER WITH 

LEMON CAPER SAUCE 

Zest up your vegies 

BY MOOSA AL-ISSA 

I admit it; like a lot of people I have had a prejudice against cauliflower. 

As a kid I ate it boiled with a couple of processed cheese slices melted 

on top. The cheese was ok, but the cauliflower was pretty bland and 

boring. 

Fast forward to the present, and by changing the cooking method, 

cauliflower becomes something great. This recipe is a particular 

favourite of mine. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 head cauliflower, center portion, cut into three vertical 1 inch thick 

slices 

1 tablespoon finely diced shallot 

1/2 teaspoon minced garlic 

3 tablespoons butter 

3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice 

Zest of 1 lemon finely diced 

3 tablespoons of capers (if in vinegar rinse and dry, if in salt, soak for 15 

minute then dry) 

3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning or other herb/spice based seasoning 

3 tablespoons olive oil 

PROCEDURE 

Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees 

Coat each side of the cauliflower slices with olive oil and then the Old 

Bay seasoning 

Heat a large frying pan to medium high heat and cook the cauliflower on 

each side until it is nicely blackened (about 2 minutes per side) 

Place the slices on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 10 minutes 

While the cauliflower is in the oven, place a small saucepan on the stove 

on medium heat 

Add the butter, and when it is melted, add the garlic and shallot. Cook for 

one minute 

Add the lemon zest, capers and lemon juice, lower the heat to low, stir 

and cook for one minute. 


DIRECTORY 

Guide to yoga studios 

& teachers 

Alice Moulimois 

Personalized Yoga Instruction 

d: Hong Kong 

s: Traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa, 

Hatha, Mellow Flow, All levels, 

private and small group 

sessions, intuitive bodywork , 

Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consulting 

l: English, French 

t: +852 9822 6500 

e: amoulimois@gmail.com 

w: www.alicemoulimois.com 

ANAHATA VILLAS & SPA 

RESORT 

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia 

s: group retreats, yoga for 

private & corporates. Yoga 

studio 

available for rent. 

l: Indonesian & English 

t: +62 361 8987 991/ 8987 992 / 

+62 21 70743366 

f: +62 361 8987 804 

e: sm@anahataresort.com / 

info@anahataresort.com 

w: www.anahataresort.com 

ANAHATA YOGA 

18/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1 

Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong 

Kong 

s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga therapy, 

Yin and more. Groups & privates 

t: +852 2905 1922 

e: enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk 

w: www.anahatayoga.com.hk 

ANANDA YOGA 

33 & 34/F, 69 Jervois Street 

Sheung Wan, Hong Kong 

s: Private and Group Classes : 

Yoga Therapy (neck, shoulder, 

back, hip, knee and joints), Hatha, 

Power, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, 

Detox, Yin Yang, Kundalini, 

Chakra Balancing, Pranayama, 

Meditation 

l: English 

t: (825)35639371 

e: 

adm.anandayoga.hk@gmail.com 

w: www.anandayoga.hk 

Anna Ng 

Privates 

d: Hong Kong 

s: Hatha yoga 

l: Cantonese 

t: (852) 9483 1167 

e: gazebofl@netvigator.com 

David Kim Yoga 

E-RYT 500+, Senior YogaWorks 

and Yin Yoga Teacher Trainer; 

International TTs, Workshops & 

Retreats 

d: Korea, Japan, Vietnam, 

Philippines, Sweden, Norway, 

USA 

s: Yin Yoga, YogaWorks, Vinyasa 

Flow 

l: English, limited Korean 

t: +1 310 480 5277 

e: david@davidkimyoga.com 

w: www.davidkimyoga.com 

BEING IN YOGA - 

SINGAPORE 

2 Turf Club Rd # 02-01(Turf Ciy, 

Singapore 

s: yoga therapy (customized 

personal practice), teacher 

training (Yoga Alliance RYS 500 

hours+), in-depth yoga studies, 

small group classes for children 

and adults, workshops, sound 

meditation, Vedic chanting, 

continuing education for yoga 

teachers 

t: +65 9830 3808 

e valerie@beinginyoga.com 

w: wwwbeinginyoga.com 

B.K.S. IYENGAR YOGA 

ASSOCIATION OF MACAU 

174, Rua de Pequim, Edif Centro 

Com. Kong Fat, 7A, Macau 

s: Iyengar 

t:(853)2882 3210/6662 0386 

e:yoga@macau.ctm.net 

w:www.iyengar-yoga-macauchina.com 

FLEX STUDIO 

ISLAND SOUTH 

Shops 308-310 One Island 

South, 2 Heung Yip Road, 

Aberdeen, Hong Kong 

s: Vinyasa, Power, Detox, Hatha, 

Pre-Natal, Kids Yoga 

t: + 852 2813 2212 

f: + 852 2813 2281 

e: info@flexhk.com 

CENTRAL 

3/F Man Cheung Building, 15- 17 

Wyndham Street, Central, Hong 

Kong 

s: Detox, Power, Pre-Natal Yoga 

t: + 852 2813-2399 

f: + 852 2812 6708 

e: central@flexhk.com 

www.flexhk.com 

Kathy Cook 

Retreats, workshops, privates 

d: Hong Kong, Bali & Thailand 

s: Iyengar (Junior Intermediate 2) 

l: English 

t: +852 6292 5440 / +62 811 

387781 

e:kcinasia@gmail.com 

w: www.yogawithkathy.com 

KUNDALINI AT SHAKTI 

7/F Glenealy Tower, 1 Glenealy, 

Central, Hong Kong. 

s: Kundalini Yoga, Reiki healing, 

Coaching, Angel Cards. Also 

studio rental by day or hour 

t: +852 2521 5099 

e: info@shaktihealingcircle.com 

w: www.shaktihealingcircle.com 

KUNDALINI @ SOL 

16/F Tin On Sing Commercial 

Building, 41-43 Graham St. 

Central, Hong Kong 

s: Kundalini, Yin-Yang, Hatha, 

Men’s, Mindfulness, Yin 

destress yoga, meditation, 

holographic healing, cancer 

coaching, stress/insomnia relief, 

detox/weight management, 

complete mind-body-soul 

services. 

t: +852 2581 9699 

e: info@sol-wellness.com 

w: www.sol-wellness.com 

Ling 

Yoga and Wellbeing 

Private Yoga Teacher 

Privates, Groups, Corporates, 

Free Yoga Community Event: 

Yoga in the Park with Ling 

www.meetup.com/ 

yogaintheparkhk 

d: Hong Kong, China 

s: Yoga Therapy, Sivananda, 

Hatha, Svastha, Mindfulness, Yin, 

Breathing (Pranayama), Guided 

Meditation, Total Relaxation 

(Yoga Nidra) 

l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin 

t: +852 9465 6461 

e: yogawithling@gmail.com 

w: www.facebook.com/ 

yogawithling 

PAUSE STUDIO MUI WO 

S. Hatha, Yin, Yin-Yang, Aerial 

Yoga, Pilates, TRX, Regular 

Public classes, Private Tuition 

availale 

t: +852 9427 8647 

e: pausemw@gmail.com 

w: www.pausemuiwo.com 

PURE YOGA 

Hong Kong 

16/F The Centrium, 60 

Wyndham Street, Central 

t: +852 2971 0055 

25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell 

St, Causeway Bay 

t: +852 2970 2299 

14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18 

Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 

Kowloon 

t: +852 8129 8800 

9/F Langham Place Office 

Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon 

t: +852 3691 3691 

4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo 

Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay 

t: +852 8129 1188 

2/F Asia Standard Tower, 59 

Queen’s Road, Central 

t: + 852 3524 7108 

Singapore 

391A Orchard Road, #18-00 

Ngee Ann City Tower A 

t: +65 6733 8863 

30 Raffles Place, 04-00 Chevron 

House 

t: +65 6304 2257 

Taiwan 

151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 

4, Taipei 

t: +886 02 8161 7888 

4/f Urban One, 1 Qingcheng St, 

Taipei 

t: +886 02 8161 7868 

SADHANA SANCTUARY 

YOGA STUDIO 

103 Penang Road Visioncrest 

Commercial, #05-01 / 03 

Singapore 238467 

48 NAMASKAR

t: +65 6238 9320 

e: namaste@sadhanasanctuary.com 

w: www.sadhanasanctuary.com 

Facebook.com/ 

SadhanaSanctuaryYogaStudio/ 

SOULMADE YOGA & 

TEAROOM 

40, Soi Chareonjai (Ekamai 12), 

Klongton-Nua, Wattana 

Bangkok 10110, Thailand 

s. Kripalu, Hatha, Prenatal, 

Workshops, Healing Arts (Aura- 

Soma, Bodytalk, EFT) 

l. English, Thai, French 

t. +66 2 3814645 

e. soulmadeyoga@gmail.com 

w: www.facebook.com/ 

soulmade 

SPACE YOGA 

s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Advanced, 

Flow, Yin, Yin Yang, Restorative, 

Hot, Yin/Meditation, Pranayama, 

Mat Pilates, Jivamukti, Universal, 

Myo-fascial Release Yoga and 

Yoga Nidra 

l: English, Mandarin 

w: www.withinspace.com 

An-Ho Studio 

16 /f, 27 An-Ho Road, Section 1 

Taipei, Taiwan 

t: +886 2 2773 8108 

Tien-Mu Studio 

5 Lane 43, Tian-Mu E. Road, 

Taipei, Taiwan 

t: +886 2 2877 2108 

THE COLLECTIVE, DESA SENI 

SCHOOLOF YOGA 

Jl. Subak Sari, #13, Canggu, Bali, 

Indonesia 

s: Full service resort. Ashtanga, 

Anusara, Embodied Flow, Hatha, 

Kundalini, Tantra, Therapeutics, 

Yin and Yang, Vinyasa, Buddhist 

Meditation, Vedic Meditation 

classes on a regular basis. 

Teacher Trainings, privates, 

Intensives, workshops. 

Specialize at hosting retreats. 

t: +62 844 6392 

e: info@desaseni.com 

w: www.desaseni.com 

THE YOGA ROOM 

3, 4, 6/F (Studios) & 15/F 

(Office) Xiu Ping Commercial 

Bldg, 

104 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, 

Hong Kong 

s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, 

Candlelight Yin, Yoga Therapy, 

Baptist Inspired, Mindfulness 

Yoga, Detox Flow, Pre-natal 

Yoga, Pre-natal Pilates, Mat 

Pilates and Kids yoga 

t: +852 25448398 

e: info@yogaroomhk.com 

w: www.yogaroomhk.com 

TRUE YOGA 

Singapore 

9 Scotts Road, Level 4, Pacific 

Plaza 228210 

t: +65 6733 9555 

10 Collyer Quay, Level 4, Ocean 

Financial Centre 049315 

t: +65 6536 3390 

Taiwan 

563 Chung Hsiao East Road, 

Section 4, 1st & 2nd floor 

Taipei 

t :+886 22764 8888 

337 Nanking East Road 

Section 3, 9 & 10/F, Taipei 

t: +886 22716 1234 

68 Gongyi Road, West District 

12 & 13 /F, Taichung 

t: +886 43700 0000 

s: Hatha, Power, Ashtanga, 

Vinyasa, Yin, Gentle, Flow, Yoga 

Dance, Pre-natal 

e: operations@trueyoga.com.sg 

w: www.trueyoga.com.sg / 

www.trueyoga.com.tw 

Ursula Moser 

The Iyengar Yoga Centre of 

Hong Kong 

d: Central 

s: Iyengar Certified (Junior 

Intermediate III) 

l: English 

t: +852 2918 1798 / 9456 2149 

e: uschi.moser51@gmail.com 

WISE LIVING YOGA 

ACADEMY 

198 Moo 2, Luang Nuea, Doi 

Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand 

s: Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga, 

Yoga Therapy 

t: +66 8254 67995 

e: info@wiselivingyoga.com 

w: www.wiselivingyoga.com 

YOGA 

ALOHA 

1/F, Fu Tak Building, 367 

Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, 

Hong Kong 

s: Hatha, Power Vinyasa, Gentle 

Flow, Core & Arm, Candlelight 

Yin, Yin Yang, Pre-natal, Kids, 

Restorative, small classes 

I: Cantonese & English 

t: 2565 7088 

e: info@yoga-aloha.com 

w: www.yoga-aloha.com 

YOGA CENTRAL - IYENGAR 

CENTRAL 

2C Welley Bldg. 97 Wellington 

St. Central, Hong Kong 

s: Iyengar Yoga classes only, 

suitable for privates, small 

groups & corporate wellness 

programs 

t: +852 2982 4308 

e: yogacentralhk@gmail.com 

w: www.yogacentral.com.hk 

namaskar 

4 times a year 

6,000 yoga practitioners 

32 countries 

DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES & SIZES 

Outside back cover HK$24,300 210 mm x 297 mm 

Inside front cover HK$3,400 210 mm x 297 mm 

Inside back cover HK$2,600 210 mm x 297 mm 

Full page HK$2,100 210 mm x 297 mm 

1/2 page (horizontal) HK$1,400 180 mm x 133.5 mm 

1/2 page (vertical) HK$1,400 88 mm x 275 mm 

1/4 page HK$690 88 mm X 133.5 mm 

1/8 page HK$420 88 mm x 66 mm 

LISTINGS 

Individual listing HK$610 for full or partial year 

Studio listing HK$1,270 for full or partial year 

PUBLICATION DATES, BOOKING & MATERIAL DEADLINES 

Publication date Booking Deadline Material Deadline 

January December 1 December 10 

April March 1 March 10 

July June 1 June 10 

October September 1 September 10 

NOTES 

Advertising materials should in black & white and submitted as 300 

dpi high resolution .tif files (no pdf or ai files please) 

Listings should be submitted as text only (approx 35 words) 

PAYMENT 

Payments should be made in Hong Kong dollars to: 

Namaskar c/o Carol Adams, Flat 101, Block L, Telford Gardens, 

Kowloon, Hong Kong 

INFORMATION 

Carol +44 75432 55886 / carol@caroladams.hk 

Frances +852 9460 1967 / fgairns@netvigator.com 


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Namaskar Oct 2015

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