Namaskar Oct 2015
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namaskar<br />
A VOICE FOR THE YOGA COMMUNITY OF ASIA <strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong><br />
YOGA INSPIRES THEATRE<br />
HK director draws on his yoga background for<br />
latest play.......................................................p25<br />
DEPRESSION<br />
Ayurvedic doctor explains how a build up of toxin<br />
can contribute to our mood............................p29<br />
THE TRAVELLING YOGI<br />
Impact and implications on being on the road &<br />
in the air all the time......................................p34<br />
Photograph courtesy of Eric R. Ward
2 NAMASKAR
NAMASKAR - OCTOBER <strong>2015</strong><br />
LETTER FROM<br />
THE EDITOR<br />
The Universe gives us what we<br />
need, not what we want.<br />
I experienced this recently on a flight back from<br />
Scotland. An hour-long flight delay resulted in my<br />
missing my connection to Hong Kong.<br />
Overbooked flights meant I had to stay overnight in London, then take a flight to Paris the next<br />
morning to catch another home. Definitely not what I wanted! However on the trip to France I<br />
happened to sit next to a spiritual teacher, Ernesto Ortiz, who spends over 200 days a year on<br />
the road. This just as our dristi for this issue is The Travelling Yogi! Surely this was the flight I<br />
needed to be on!<br />
Three contributors share their experiences and suggestions. Very different perspectives: Ana<br />
gives her tips for staying healthy and grounded while travelling away from home; Liza shares<br />
her thoughts on how yoga connects us and; Inna offers a student’s perspective.<br />
Special features herein are diverse: Donald writes about the similarity between yoga and scuba<br />
diving; Chloe finds out how yoga and Steve Jobs inspired a Hong Kong director to produce a<br />
play about contemplation and personal growth; Clayton introduces us to the tireless work of<br />
one dedicated yogini bringing yoga and much-needed aid to a small Philippine town and; Gaelle<br />
interviews senior Iyengar teacher Carrie Owerko about the importance of play in our practice.<br />
We welcome a new contributor to <strong>Namaskar</strong>, Dr Harsh, an Ayurvedic doctor in India. He talks<br />
about a possible cause of depression being the build up of ama (mucous) in our systems.<br />
Thanks as always to the contributors of our regular features, and to <strong>Namaskar</strong>’s tireless<br />
volunteers Wai-Ling, Carol and Angela for this issue and this year.<br />
As distribution is our largest cost, next year <strong>Namaskar</strong> advertising rates will increase to keep<br />
pace with the 6.5% increase in postage announced by Hongkong Post recently. We hope<br />
individual teachers and smaller studios will still find <strong>Namaskar</strong> a competitive option for your<br />
communication needs.<br />
And I hope even more of you will make time to share your yogic experiences and observations<br />
through these pages in 2016. I know I’ve learned as much from my friends on the yogic path as I<br />
have from teachers. If you have learned something, if you have grown as a result, chances are<br />
someone else out there can too.<br />
Finally, I wish you all very happy end to <strong>2015</strong> and look forward to connecting with you again in<br />
the new year.<br />
On the cover - Slackline & AcroYoga teachers Raquel<br />
Hernández-Cruz (top) and Sam Salwei (above) are<br />
coming to Flex Hong Kong in November.<br />
In This Issue<br />
DRISTI - TRAVELLING YOGI<br />
ON THE ROAD AGAIN 32<br />
Taking care of yourself while travelling<br />
INSTANT CONNECTION 35<br />
Yoga unites travellers<br />
PROS & CONS 36<br />
What does it mean for the student of the<br />
travelling yoga teacher<br />
SPECIAL FEATURES<br />
POST-TYPHOON PHILIPPINES 17<br />
One yoga teacher’s efforts to keep helping a<br />
small Philippine community<br />
PLAY FOR TAPAS 19<br />
Iyengar teacher Carrie Owerko talks about the<br />
importance of play in yoga<br />
YOGA & DIVING 23<br />
More similar than different<br />
WHY AREN’T YOU STEVE JOBS? 25<br />
Hong Kong theatre performance inspired by<br />
yoga and Apple’s founder<br />
REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS<br />
KULA UPDATES, WORKSHOPS,<br />
RETREATS, TEACHER TRAININGS 6<br />
PHOTO ESSAY 14<br />
AYURVEDA 28<br />
MUDRAS IN BRIEF 39<br />
MYTHOLOGY 39<br />
BOOK REVIEW 40<br />
RETREAT REVIEW 43<br />
RECIPE 47<br />
DIRECTORY 48<br />
ABOUT NAMASKAR<br />
ADMINISTRATION Carol Adams, carol@caroladams.hk<br />
NEWS EDITOR Wai-Ling Tse, wailing.tse@gmail.com<br />
CIRCULATION Angela Sun, angela.sun@gmail.com<br />
EDITOR & PUBLISHER Frances Gairns, fgairns@netvigator.com<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> provides a voice for the yoga community in Asia and<br />
around the world. The publication is an opportunity for<br />
practitioners on a yogic path to selflessly offer their knowledge,<br />
learnings and experiences with others.<br />
We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions<br />
expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of <strong>Namaskar</strong> or<br />
its volunteers.<br />
Articles and photographs in <strong>Namaskar</strong> are contributed at no<br />
charge. Advertising income covers production, distribution,<br />
administrative costs and discretionary contributions to selected<br />
charities and causes.<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong>, is published quarterly in January, April, July and <strong>Oct</strong>ober.<br />
About 5,000 copies are printed and distributed for free to yoga<br />
studios, teachers, fitness centres, retail outlets, cafes and yogafriendly<br />
outlets. Mostly distributed in Hong Kong, with 1,500 copies<br />
mailed to readers in 32 other countries.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 3
CONTRIBUTORS<br />
ANA FORREST<br />
CAROL ADAMS<br />
Kong to work after university. She<br />
currently teaches ballet and yoga<br />
to children.<br />
chloe.yy.yates@gmail.com<br />
GAELLE FOULON DAFFNER<br />
CONI HORLER<br />
Medicine woman, creatrix of<br />
Forrest Yoga and author of Fierce<br />
Medicine, Ana has been teaching<br />
for 40 years. ww.forrestyoga.com<br />
ANGELA SUN<br />
Carol takes care of <strong>Namaskar</strong><br />
advertising, administration and<br />
billing. She works from home<br />
which gives her the freedom to<br />
homeschool her 10-year-old son.<br />
carol@caroladams.hk<br />
Gaelle practices and teaches<br />
Iyengar Yoga in Hong Kong.<br />
gaelleinla@yahoo.com<br />
HARSH AGARWAL<br />
CLAYTON HORTON<br />
Coni is a traveling photographer<br />
and artist, based in Bangalore,<br />
India. www.chphotography.ch,<br />
www.yoga.in<br />
DONALD DAY<br />
Angela takes care of the<br />
distribution and circulation of<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong>. Originally from New<br />
York, she has been practicing yoga<br />
for 10 years. She currently teaches<br />
privately.<br />
asunwellness@gmail.com<br />
Clayton teaches Ashtanga yoga at<br />
Pure Yoga in Hong Kong.<br />
clayton.horton@pure-yoga.com<br />
Dr. Harsh comes from a family of<br />
doctors. He carries a rich<br />
experience of over 10 years in the<br />
field of chronic disorders and their<br />
treatment through Ayurveda.<br />
harsh_ayurved@yahoo.co.in<br />
INNA CONSTANTINI<br />
BARBIE FU<br />
CHLOE YATES<br />
Barbie is the founder of More Yoga<br />
and a behavioural therapist. She<br />
completed RYT500 in India and is<br />
now teaching privately, for small<br />
groups and for corporate classes.<br />
www.moreyogahk.com<br />
Chloe was born in Hong Kong and<br />
moved to Australia, then the UK at<br />
a young age. She returned to Hong<br />
Donald has worked as a<br />
management consultant, equities<br />
strategist, trader and index trader<br />
in Europe and Asia. He is currently<br />
a Master Dive instructor and loves<br />
to share his experience of trips<br />
around Asia.<br />
donday88@gmail.com<br />
Inna is a yoga teacher and freelance<br />
writer based in London. With a<br />
background in media and public<br />
relations, she experimented with<br />
various yoga styles before trading<br />
4 NAMASKAR
her desk for a yoga mat.<br />
innayoga@gmail.com<br />
MOOSA AL-ISSA<br />
IRENE THONG<br />
Irene lives and practices in Hong<br />
Kong.<br />
KRISHNAA KINKARIDAS<br />
Moosa is Executive Director of<br />
Life Cafe and Director of Just<br />
Green Organic Convenience<br />
Stores in HK.<br />
Moosaalissa@gmail.com<br />
TIA SINHA<br />
namaskar<br />
Krishnaa lives in London. She<br />
studied with B.K.S. Iyengar in<br />
Mumbai and Pune and now runs<br />
classes in London and teaches<br />
‘Sanskrit and Mudras for Yoga’ for<br />
Yoga Alliance and British wheel of<br />
Yoga trainee teachers. She has<br />
written nine books on Bhakti Yoga.<br />
kinkaridasi@hotmail.com<br />
LISA KAZMER<br />
Tia spends most of her time in<br />
retreat in Himachal, teaching yoga<br />
asana, philosophy and Tibetan<br />
Buddhist techniques of meditation<br />
and translating and editing for<br />
Lamas. onlytia2@yahoo.co.in<br />
WAI-LING TSE<br />
Now on-line at:<br />
www.issuu.com/namaskarasia<br />
Back issues still at:<br />
www.issuu.com/caroladams<br />
January’s dristi:<br />
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras<br />
Ideas include:<br />
• How are the Yoga Sutras relevant today<br />
• Which Sutras are the most important<br />
• How to weave the Sutras into an yoga asana class<br />
• Which translations are best for beginners<br />
If you would like to contribute an article on this subject, or others,<br />
to <strong>Namaskar</strong>, please email Frances at fgairns@netvigator.com<br />
with your thoughts first. That way we can let you know if another<br />
contributor is already covering that angle. Final articles are<br />
welcome before December 10.<br />
Lisa is a yoga teacher, birth doula,<br />
and writer. Originally from the US<br />
she now lives in Singapore and<br />
specializes in teaching prenatal<br />
yoga, beginners, and seniors.<br />
www.lisadevi.com<br />
Wai-Ling teaches and practices<br />
yoga and mindfulness, therapy and<br />
is Kula editor of <strong>Namaskar</strong>.<br />
yogawithling@gmail.com<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 5
KULA<br />
Updates<br />
“Thank You<br />
Mother India”<br />
Global Campaign<br />
Non-profit Yoga Gives Back<br />
(YGB) invites all the Yoga<br />
communities in the world to host<br />
just one fundraiser class between<br />
now to 31 January 2016 to help<br />
more mothers and children in<br />
India. This annual global<br />
campaign raises the majority of<br />
the funds for YGB’s programs in<br />
India, which is now funding more<br />
than 500 mothers and children<br />
with micro loans and education<br />
funds.<br />
For more information<br />
yogagivesback.org/tymi<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Want to teach &<br />
study abroad?<br />
Byron Yoga Centre has just been<br />
approved to offer a part time 12-<br />
month 800-hour Yoga Teacher<br />
Training Course that qualifies<br />
international students for a 12<br />
month student visa. You get to<br />
live in beautiful Byron Bay, study<br />
yoga 2 days a week and are<br />
allowed to work for up to 20<br />
hours each week. There is also<br />
holiday time to travel around<br />
Australia. At the end of the 12<br />
months you are certified as a 500<br />
hour RYT plus benefit from the<br />
additional 300 hours of units that<br />
cover subjects such as marketing<br />
and first aid. This Certificate IV<br />
represents one of the highest<br />
qualifications in yoga teaching<br />
recognised in Australia and<br />
internationally – ideal for those<br />
considering teaching abroad.<br />
For more information email<br />
Becky at<br />
marketing@byronyoga.com<br />
Evolve Yoga<br />
Festival<br />
25 January 2016<br />
Byron Bay<br />
Presented by Byron Yoga Centre<br />
this event brings together the<br />
yoga community for classes,<br />
sessions and workshops. Ticket<br />
prices are kept affordable to<br />
encourage attendance and along<br />
with Yoga, there is dance, music<br />
and a vibrant market place. Come<br />
and explore yoga styles, deepen<br />
your knowledge, boost your<br />
wellness and connect to<br />
likeminded people. (Byron Yoga<br />
Centre has an eight day retreat<br />
starting 23 January, so you could<br />
combine coming to Evolve Byron<br />
Bay with a yoga and wellness<br />
retreat.<br />
For more information<br />
www.evolveyogafestival.com.au<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Complimentary<br />
Yoga Workshop<br />
for Busy<br />
Executives<br />
Life Management Yoga Centre<br />
Tsimshatsui<br />
LMYC is offering a<br />
complimentary Yoga for Busy<br />
Executives workshop on the third<br />
Sunday of every month for the<br />
community. Executives will be<br />
taught reflection techniques,<br />
relaxation, physical and mental<br />
purification, and concentration<br />
exercises to improve creativity<br />
and production. Executives will<br />
be trained to maintain an<br />
independent personal practice.<br />
For more information:<br />
life@yoga.org.hk / (852) 2191<br />
9651<br />
New Monthly<br />
Kirtan<br />
7:30 - 8:45 pm<br />
Third Monday of the month<br />
Alive Wellness, Central<br />
Monthly devotional Kirtan<br />
sessions where voices unite for<br />
powerful healing to take place.<br />
Led by Cristina Rodenbeck of<br />
Manipura Wellness. Cost $120.<br />
For more information<br />
info@alivewellness.hk or +852<br />
2541 8600<br />
Free Meditation<br />
Course<br />
Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga<br />
Centre, Kowloon<br />
BK Raja Yoga Centre offers free<br />
7-day courses on meditation and<br />
positive thinking for beginners.<br />
Meditate to create new attitudes<br />
and responses to life by exploring<br />
spiritual understanding of<br />
yourself. A new course starts on<br />
the first Monday of every month.<br />
For more information: (852)<br />
2368 4693 / 3541 4340 /<br />
kowloon@hk.brahmakumaris.org<br />
/ www.rajayoga.com.hk<br />
Silent Disco Yoga<br />
Class with The<br />
Yoga Room<br />
1 November<br />
Sun Yat Sen Memorial Park<br />
This class will be led with music<br />
and instructions heard through<br />
wireless illuminated disco<br />
headsets. Cost HK$150; please<br />
bring your own yoga mat.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com /<br />
(852) 2544 8398<br />
Hiking &Yoga<br />
with The Yoga<br />
Room<br />
8 November<br />
Join the Yoga Room for a hike<br />
and yoga class to enjoy the views,<br />
fresh air and the winds and<br />
smells of nature. Hike together<br />
to the peak and enjoy an outdoor<br />
yoga class at Victoria Peak<br />
Garden. Cost HK$150; please<br />
bring your own yoga mat.<br />
For more<br />
information www.yogaroomhk.com /<br />
(852) 2544 8398<br />
New Kundalini<br />
Yoga & Mindful<br />
Meditation Class<br />
SOL Wellness, Central<br />
Every Saturday 10:30-<br />
11:30am. Private sessions<br />
available.<br />
For more information (852) 2581<br />
9699 / info@sol-wellness.com<br />
Flex Festival with<br />
the YogaSlackers<br />
14 November (9am-6pm)<br />
Cyberport<br />
In honour of Flex Studio’s tenyear<br />
anniversary, they are hosting<br />
a Yoga and wellness festival with<br />
special guests the YogaSlackers’,<br />
Sam Salwei and Raquel<br />
Hernández-Cruz from the USA.<br />
This event will be in support of<br />
the Hong Kong Adventist<br />
Hospital Foundation. Yoga slack<br />
lining and acroyoga classes will be<br />
offered all day, as well as adult<br />
and children’s yoga classes, kids’<br />
dance and fitness classes. Over<br />
30 vendors will join the<br />
celebration with healthy food and<br />
6 NAMASKAR
YogaSlacker Raquel Hernández-Cruz will be leading workshops and retreats in Hong<br />
Kong and Thailand<br />
beverages, as well as shopping for<br />
wellness-related goodies. Free<br />
admission to the festival; fees<br />
charged for classes.<br />
For more information (852) 2813<br />
2212 / info@flexhk.com<br />
Kundalini Yoga<br />
Festival <strong>2015</strong><br />
21 November (11am-4pm)<br />
Learn to be the master of your<br />
own self, your psyche, and your<br />
body. HK$400 per person.<br />
For more information (852) 2581<br />
9699 / info@sol-wellness.com<br />
Tibetan Singing<br />
Bowls Group<br />
Healing<br />
This healing group takes place on<br />
the New Moon and Full Moon<br />
night every month. Offering both<br />
day time and evening group<br />
sessions. By donation only.<br />
For more informationsolwellness.com/events-calendar/<br />
Seeking Yoga/<br />
Pilates Instructors<br />
Yoga Privates is an exclusive<br />
provider of private Yoga and<br />
Pilates sessions across Asia since<br />
2008. They are seeking<br />
registered, experienced<br />
instructors to join their team.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yoga-privates.com /<br />
info@yoga-privates.com / (852)<br />
65044280<br />
INDIA<br />
Charitable<br />
Donations as<br />
Christmas<br />
Presents?<br />
With Christmas soon upon us,<br />
how do we make the holiday<br />
season less about overindulgence<br />
and more about goodwill and<br />
kindness to all. Charitable gifts<br />
help to demonstrate to our<br />
younger generation that real<br />
happiness does not come from<br />
having things, but from giving and<br />
sharing, and not from being<br />
afraid of people across the city,<br />
or country, or planet. In honour<br />
of your loved one’s next birthday,<br />
anniversary or Christmas, why<br />
not make a donation to charity in<br />
the name of your intended<br />
recipient?<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> regularly supports<br />
Yogi Yum Yums, a small social<br />
enterprise based in Rishikesk,<br />
India. They make sweets and<br />
treats without white sugar or<br />
white flour. They make them<br />
fresh, with simple ingredients, no<br />
added chemicals and as natural or<br />
organic as possible. The sweets<br />
are sold at ashrams around town.<br />
All Yogi Yum Yums profits go<br />
towards the secondary and<br />
tertiary education of orphans and<br />
underprivileged children. Yogi<br />
Yum Yums will send a gift<br />
appreciation post card to your<br />
honouree advising them of your<br />
generous gift.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogiyumyums.com<br />
Open National<br />
Yoga Competition<br />
27-28 December<br />
Kolkata, India<br />
Sponsored by Indian Yogis in<br />
Vietnam and attended by Yoga<br />
masters from different<br />
countries such s Vietnam,<br />
Australia, China,<br />
Singapore,Thailand and<br />
Cambodia with the aim to spread<br />
Yoga not only in Asian Countries<br />
but also all over the Wold.<br />
For more information<br />
yogasoumen@gmail.com / (84)<br />
1267666504 / (91) 9433379505<br />
International<br />
Yoga Festival<br />
29 January-2 February 2016<br />
Yoga Vidya Gurukul, Trimbak,<br />
Nasik<br />
Organised by Yoga Vidya Gurukul<br />
which was founded in 1978 as a<br />
non-profit organization.<br />
Individual - US$200 per person.<br />
The price includes<br />
accommodation, food,<br />
conference material and<br />
training (on all sessions). A yoga<br />
teacher can bring their students<br />
or those interested in yoga and<br />
yogic lifestyle: 10 people - US$180<br />
per person; 25 people - US$160<br />
per person.<br />
For more information<br />
gandhar@yogapoint.com /<br />
yoga@yogapoint.com /<br />
www.yogapoint.com/yogafestival<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Singapore Yoga<br />
Teacher Sangha<br />
Ongoing<br />
Immerse yourself in a<br />
supportive, inclusive, respectful,<br />
and collaborative space for yoga<br />
teachers of various styles who<br />
are based in Singapore to gather,<br />
share, and learn from one<br />
another. The meetings are an<br />
open forum to discuss the many<br />
facets of teaching yoga, a place to<br />
share resources, ask questions,<br />
give answers, and build<br />
community. These events are free<br />
but RSVP is essential.<br />
For more information<br />
www.LisaDevi.com/Sangha<br />
Karma Master<br />
Class with Vikas<br />
Malkani<br />
21-22 November<br />
Soulcentre<br />
The mysteries of Karma will be<br />
shared by Vikas.<br />
For more information (65) 8128<br />
7418 / (65) 9875 2372 /<br />
www.soulcentre.org<br />
THAILAND<br />
Asian Yoga Sports<br />
Championship<br />
19-21 June<br />
Bangkok<br />
Congratulations to Amrita<br />
Halder of Bengal, India for<br />
coming second in her category at<br />
the Fifth Asian Yoga Sports<br />
Championships earlier this year.<br />
The event includes Women’s and<br />
Men’s events in Artistic Yoga,<br />
Rhythmic Yoga Pairs, Yoga Dance<br />
and Yogasana, and is categorised<br />
into under 12, under 18 and above<br />
18.<br />
For more information<br />
www.asianyogafederation.com<br />
Amrita Halder (second from right) with her medal at the Asian Yoga Sports<br />
Championship<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 7
KULA<br />
Workshops<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Yoga Hormone<br />
Therapy with<br />
Harimandir Kaur<br />
31 <strong>Oct</strong>ober-1 November (10am-<br />
6pm)<br />
SOL Wellness, Central<br />
Learn how to reduce and remove<br />
the undesirable effects of<br />
hormonal imbalance for women<br />
of all ages. From irregular cycles,<br />
PMS, infertility, menopause to<br />
fibroids and persistent cysts.<br />
Women have regained control of<br />
their health issues by learning<br />
this amazing series of exercises,<br />
breathing and postures. YHT,<br />
created by Dinah Rodriguez of<br />
Brazil is a yogic technique which<br />
combines Kundalini yoga, Hatha<br />
yoga and Tibetan method of<br />
energy movement. Fee:<br />
HK$2,800 per person or<br />
HK$5,000 for 2 people.<br />
For more information (852) 2581<br />
9699 / info@sol-wellness.com<br />
Yoga of Self-<br />
Realization<br />
Immersion with<br />
Andrei Ram<br />
4-8 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Andrei Ram has become one of<br />
the most sought after<br />
international guest teachers<br />
among the Pure Yoga community.<br />
For the seventh year in a row<br />
Andrei is coming back to Pure to<br />
share his knowledge of Yoga.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Yoga Therapy: From Hamstrings<br />
to Ankles<br />
8 November (11am-12:30pm)<br />
Alive Wellness, Central<br />
This workshop will start with a<br />
brief overview of anatomy<br />
provided by Alice Yuen, Founder<br />
of Alive Wellness, helping you to<br />
have a better understanding on<br />
how to solve leg and hip muscle<br />
issues. Followed by Iyenger and<br />
Yin style yoga poses by Nasci<br />
Nobo, that offer physical<br />
therapeutic effects allowing the<br />
muscles and mind to relax.<br />
Especially beneficial to athletes<br />
and elderly. Cost: HK$150.<br />
For more<br />
information info@alivewellness.hk<br />
Therapeutic<br />
Workshops and<br />
Yoga Wall Level 1<br />
with Bryan Legere<br />
10-15 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Workshop topics include knees<br />
and hips, lower back, neck and<br />
shoulders.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Know Your Body;<br />
Know Your Pose<br />
Workshop with<br />
Janet Lau<br />
15 November<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
If you want to learn more about<br />
your body, or if you have ever<br />
wondered why certain poses are<br />
always a challenge for you, you<br />
will have your mysteries solved in<br />
Hamstrings and ankles are the focus of a workshop at Alive Wellness, Hong Kong<br />
this workshop. Even if you are<br />
just starting your yoga practice, it<br />
is always good to understand<br />
your body so you learn more<br />
about your potential.<br />
For more<br />
information www.yogaroomhk.com /<br />
(852) 2544 8398<br />
Tricara Yoga 5-<br />
Day Immersion<br />
with Ross<br />
Rayburn<br />
18-22 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Join internationally renowned<br />
teacher Ross Rayburn for a week<br />
of fun, enlightening and inspiring<br />
yoga studies. If you are someone<br />
who loves information and the<br />
“how to’s” of asanas, meditation<br />
and even life skills, do not miss<br />
this experience!<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Enhance your<br />
Meditative<br />
Practice with<br />
Essential oils &<br />
the Ajna Light<br />
with Chan<br />
Cudennec<br />
19 November (6:30-8pm)<br />
SOL Wellness, Central<br />
Chan will share the Ajna Light<br />
and essential oils that can help<br />
one get into a deeper sense of<br />
awareness followed by group<br />
meditation. HK$150 per person.<br />
For more information (852) 2581<br />
9699 / info@sol-wellness.com<br />
AcroYoga<br />
Workshops with<br />
Sam Salwei &<br />
Raquel<br />
Hernández-Cruz<br />
20-21 November<br />
Flex<br />
8 NAMASKAR
to review the anatomy of the low<br />
back and common causes of low<br />
back pain. You will also be led<br />
through a sequence of asanas<br />
with guidance on correct<br />
technique to avoid lower back<br />
problems and poses that will<br />
improve the health of your spine.<br />
Janet Lau will be teaching at Yoga Room, Hong Kong<br />
In 2005, Sam co-created the<br />
company “Yoga Slackers”,<br />
specializing in combining Yoga<br />
poses on a Slackline as well as<br />
integrating other body awareness<br />
practices such as partner<br />
acrobatics. Despite the<br />
misleading nature of the name,<br />
the “slackers” are accomplished<br />
athletes gaining the support of<br />
over 20 different sponsors, who<br />
share in the desire to promote<br />
ecologically sustainable living.<br />
Raquel is a certified AcroYoga<br />
and YogaSlackers teacher. She<br />
found that through both<br />
practices she could inspire<br />
others to learn and grow through<br />
play. This workshop is suitable<br />
for all levels ranging from<br />
beginner to advanced.<br />
For more information (852) 2813<br />
2212 / info@flexhk.com<br />
Yoga Bou<br />
Intensive: Art of<br />
Letting Go with<br />
Michiko<br />
Minegishi<br />
20-22 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This workshop aims at<br />
developing basic skills for yoga<br />
lovers and instructors of all<br />
styles focusing primarily on<br />
safely and effectively using Yoga<br />
Bou. Participants who complete<br />
all seven workshops will be<br />
eligible to become certified Yoga<br />
Bou Instructors and can further<br />
their training to become Yoga<br />
Bou Master Trainers after 100<br />
hours of Yoga Bou classes. Ideal<br />
for yoga instructors who teach<br />
hatha, therapeutic, senior, or<br />
vinyasa styles.<br />
For more information<br />
www.pure-yoga.com /<br />
events@pure-yoga.com<br />
Ganesh Mohan returns to Hong Kong<br />
Svastha Yoga of<br />
Krishnamacharya:<br />
Therapy Program<br />
Module 6: Yoga Psychology &<br />
Psychiatry/Mind: Stress, Anxiety<br />
with Ganesh Mohan<br />
4-8 December<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
Bringing you the most effective<br />
aspects of traditional yoga and<br />
ayurveda combined with modern<br />
medicine with specific guidelines<br />
for different conditions and<br />
general treatment principles,<br />
empowering you to safely and<br />
effectively address disabilities<br />
and ill-health through yoga. The<br />
program is delivered in 7<br />
intensive modules. Each module<br />
may be attended<br />
independently. Cost: Early bird<br />
HK$6,500 until 4 November; full<br />
cost: HK$6,900.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com / (852)<br />
2544 8398<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Mind Your Low<br />
Back: Yoga for a<br />
Healthy Spine -<br />
Anatomy Focused<br />
24 <strong>Oct</strong>ober (1:30-4pm)<br />
Led by Trish Corley, Director of<br />
New Angle Wellness, she is also a<br />
doctor of physical therapy,<br />
professor of functional anatomy,<br />
and a Baptiste certified Yoga<br />
teacher. Trish excels in making it<br />
easy and fun to learn anatomy as<br />
it applies to yoga. At least 80% of<br />
the population will at some time<br />
suffer from low back pain. A<br />
healthy yoga practice can help you<br />
prevent and minimize many pains<br />
including those of the back. This<br />
workshop will utilize an<br />
interactive lecture with<br />
anatomical models and handouts<br />
For more information<br />
trish@newangleyoga.com<br />
Yoga of Self-<br />
Realization<br />
Immersion with<br />
Andrei Ram<br />
11-15 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Andrei Ram has become one of<br />
the most sought after<br />
international guest teachers<br />
among the Pure Yoga community.<br />
For the seventh year in a row<br />
Andrei is coming back to Pure to<br />
share his knowledge of yoga.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Therapeutic<br />
Workshops and<br />
Yoga Wall Level 1<br />
with Bryan Legere<br />
20-22 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Workshop topics include knees<br />
and hips, lower back, neck and<br />
shoulders.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
TAIWAN<br />
Therapeutic<br />
Workshops and<br />
Yoga Wall Level 1<br />
with Bryan Legere<br />
3-8 November<br />
Pure Yoga Taipei<br />
Workshop topics include knees<br />
and hips, lower back, neck and<br />
shoulders.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 9
KULA<br />
Teacher Trainings<br />
CHINA<br />
103-hr Conscious<br />
Pregnancy<br />
Kundalini Yoga<br />
TT - The Journey<br />
from Woman to<br />
Mother<br />
4-12 December<br />
Xiamen<br />
A specialty training for Kundalini<br />
Yoga teachers and<br />
all interested women. Led by<br />
Tarn Taran Kaur Khalsa who is<br />
the creator of the Conscious<br />
Pregnancy training and has<br />
been teaching since 1972. She will<br />
be joined by Siri Ram, an<br />
experienced Kundalini Yoga<br />
teacher trainer and also<br />
specialises in Naad Yoga (sound<br />
and mantra) and numerology.<br />
For more information<br />
ky.pregnancy.yoga@gmail.com<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Level II:<br />
Advanced<br />
Prenatal &<br />
Postnatal Yoga<br />
TT with Ann da<br />
Silva<br />
28-30 <strong>Oct</strong>ober<br />
The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan<br />
Suitable for yoga teachers,<br />
midwives, doulas and other<br />
health professionals who are<br />
interested in teaching yoga to<br />
pregnant mothers safely and<br />
effectively. All participants must<br />
have completed a 200-hour basic<br />
teacher training or have at least<br />
three years of yoga practice.<br />
For more information<br />
www.yogaroomhk.com /<br />
(852) 2544 8398<br />
50-hr Yin TT with<br />
Victor Chng<br />
30 <strong>Oct</strong>ober - 4 November<br />
Bliss Yoga<br />
Yin teacher Victor Chng will be in<br />
Hong Kong to lead a basic Yin<br />
yoga teacher training.<br />
For more information<br />
info@studio-bliss-hk.com<br />
Pre & Post-natal<br />
Yoga TT with<br />
Samantha Chan<br />
9-18 November<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This training is dedicated to<br />
nurturing physically, emotionally<br />
and spiritually expectant<br />
mothers, birth partners and their<br />
unborn children and encouraging<br />
practitioners to unfold the mindbody-spirit<br />
connection that is<br />
vital to the practice of yoga and to<br />
pass on these experiences to<br />
future mothers, parents & their<br />
unborn children.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Upeksha Yoga:<br />
Taking the Seat of<br />
the Teacher<br />
2-6 December<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
Get into the heart of teaching in<br />
this 40-Hour programme with<br />
Lawrence Pradhan.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
The Forrest Yoga<br />
Advanced TT with<br />
Ana Forrest<br />
5-13 December<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This training allows teachers<br />
from other yoga schools and<br />
lineages to join the Forrest Yoga<br />
education programme to learn<br />
and understand the art of<br />
sequencing, to practise and teach<br />
intermediate and advanced asanas<br />
to different levels and to<br />
prioritise the needs of students<br />
with special needs and injuries.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Universal Yoga<br />
TT with Andrey<br />
Lappa<br />
2-13 January 2016<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This programme is designed for<br />
all yoga practitioners who seek a<br />
deeper understanding of the<br />
ancient path of Yoga, regardless<br />
of their background or practice<br />
style. Participants will come away<br />
with a profound understanding of<br />
their personal practice, as well as<br />
the skills required to effectively<br />
teach a wide array of students<br />
through Asanas, Vinyasa and<br />
Pranayama sequences.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
The Spirit of<br />
Teaching with<br />
Samrat Dasgupta<br />
25 March-8 May 2016<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This programme enables<br />
students to build a strong<br />
foundation in the philosophy of<br />
Yoga, skills in adjusting postures,<br />
an ability to articulate<br />
instructions clearly, and have the<br />
confidence to uplift themselves<br />
and inspire others through their<br />
knowledge and teachings.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
Universal Yoga<br />
TT with Andrey<br />
Lappa<br />
13 January-5 February 2016<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This programme is designed for<br />
all yoga practitioners who seek a<br />
deeper understanding of the<br />
ancient path of yoga, regardless<br />
of their background or practice<br />
style. Participants will come away<br />
with a profound understanding of<br />
their personal practice, as well as<br />
the skills required to effectively<br />
teach a wide array of students<br />
through Asanas, Vinyasa and<br />
Pranayama sequences.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
The Energetics of<br />
Excellence with<br />
10 NAMASKAR
Patrick Creelman<br />
7-17 January 2016<br />
Pure Yoga<br />
This training will empower and<br />
educate experienced teachers to<br />
the next level of their own<br />
teaching. Learn how to own the<br />
space of each classroom,<br />
empower your voice when<br />
speaking in front of an audience,<br />
and find your deeper purpose of<br />
being in the seat of the teacher.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
with a profound understanding of<br />
their personal practice, as well as<br />
the skills required to effectively<br />
teach a wide array of students<br />
through Asanas, Vinyasa and<br />
Pranayama sequences.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
THAILAND<br />
200-hr Yoga TT<br />
Wise Living Yoga Academy,<br />
Chiang Mai<br />
29 November-25 December; 3-29<br />
January and 7 February-4 March<br />
Designed for committed yogins<br />
with a strong desire to deepen<br />
their practice, the Immersion<br />
Program offers a comprehensive<br />
yoga curriculum of 100 hours.<br />
This is followed by the 100 hour<br />
“Art of Teaching Program” where<br />
the effective methodology of<br />
powerful and heart-oriented yoga<br />
teaching is transmitted.<br />
For more<br />
information www.shantaya.org<br />
FOR BUDDING TEACHERS<br />
READY TO BE A<br />
YOGA TEACHER?<br />
Some basic questions<br />
BY BARBIE FU<br />
“I have been practicing consistently for one year but still cannot do<br />
advanced postures. Can I still pursue the teacher training course?”<br />
One of my students asked lately.<br />
In fact, every regular practitioner can take teacher training course.<br />
Most courses are not limited to aspiring yoga teachers; they are<br />
indeed open to everyone who is interested in learning about the<br />
fascinating history, origin, and philosophy of Yoga. The point is, we<br />
need to clarify what’s our aim going forwards.<br />
Yin teachers Jo Phee & Joe Barnett lead a TT in Bali<br />
INDONESIA<br />
Yin Yoga 200-hrs<br />
TT with Jo Phee<br />
and Joe Barnett<br />
1-27 November<br />
Ubud, Bali<br />
Join senior Yin trainers and the<br />
primary assistants for Paul<br />
Grilley in this Yoga Alliance<br />
accredited training program.<br />
Topics include Chinese Medicine,<br />
Anatomy, Fascia Study, Yin Yoga<br />
Theory and Practice.<br />
For more<br />
information www.yinspiration.org /<br />
info@yinspiration.org<br />
TAIWAN<br />
Universal Yoga<br />
TT with Andrey<br />
Lappa<br />
7-30 December<br />
Pure Yoga, Taipei<br />
This programme is designed for<br />
all yoga practitioners who seek a<br />
deeper understanding of the<br />
ancient path of yoga, regardless<br />
of their background or practice<br />
style. Participants will come away<br />
2016<br />
Wise Living provides an<br />
“Ashram-like” environment, ideal<br />
for the full immersion experience<br />
in traditional Yoga studies.<br />
Providing a foundation on Yoga<br />
philosophy and practices,<br />
including meditation, asanas<br />
(postural training), pranayamas<br />
(breathing techniques) and<br />
simple kriyas (cleansing<br />
techniques). All programs are<br />
residential and include vegetarian<br />
meals.<br />
For more information (66)<br />
825467995 /<br />
info@wiselivingyoga.com /<br />
www.teachertraining.<br />
wiselivingyoga.com<br />
Anusara Yoga<br />
Immersion &<br />
200-hr TT with<br />
Jonas Westring &<br />
Team Shantaya<br />
Immersion A: 21-28 January|<br />
Immersion B: 30 January-6<br />
February; TT: 11-25 February<br />
2016<br />
Kaomailanna Resort, Chiang Mai<br />
“I am just in love with yoga and really want to deepen my study.”<br />
Do you really want to be a yoga teacher? Or do you want to achieve a<br />
goal in life? If your answer is the latter, go ahead. It is a very good<br />
opportunity to step further in yoga and you will find what you have<br />
learned is just tip of the iceberg. If your answer is the former, then<br />
you need to know some facts about being a yoga teacher.<br />
IS IT EASY TO GET A JOB AFTER THE COURSE?<br />
Getting a teacher training certificate is important, but it’s experience<br />
that counts. You will need to teach as many hours as you can, at the<br />
same time, you are learning how to teach. So, ditch the idea of getting a<br />
job offer after finishing your teacher training! Search around the<br />
community for any opportunity to teach, even if it is a voluntary class.<br />
THEN HOW WILL I PRACTICE TEACHING?<br />
Students look for good teachers. There are numerous teachers in<br />
town already, which is not beneficial for newbies. To gain teaching<br />
experience, try to volunteer yourself to your neighborhood, friends or<br />
family, they may be your first students. Once again, it’s not as easy as<br />
you think it is.<br />
CAN I BE A FULL TIME YOGA TEACHER?<br />
As I mentioned before, there are many good teachers out there and<br />
competition is strong. It usually takes a few years to build your<br />
confidence. Teaching yoga isn’t about making big money, so it’s better<br />
to have a full-time job as back up.<br />
HOW SHOULD I CHOOSE THE TEACHER TRAINING COURSE?<br />
Research courses out there and narrow your choices from there. Go<br />
through the course details and look into the course philosophies and<br />
practice. It is helpful to have comments, feedback or testimonials<br />
from previous graduates of the course.<br />
OTHER THAN TEACHER TRAINING COURSES, ARE THERE ANY<br />
ALTERNATIVES TO GO DEEPER INTO YOGA?<br />
Why not try workshops or yoga retreats on a variety of topics before a<br />
teacher training? There are many at different locations around the<br />
world. Enjoy learning about yoga instead of thinking about the job, it’s<br />
more fun!<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 11
KULA<br />
Retreats<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Byron Bay<br />
Retreats<br />
Byron Bay is an ideal destination<br />
for retreating and the<br />
sustainable Byron Yoga Retreat<br />
Centre is an affordable and<br />
comfortable option. Along with<br />
the signature 3 and 8-day yoga<br />
and wellness retreats, there are<br />
special retreats planned<br />
for expecting mums and an<br />
AcroYoga Immersion in <strong>Oct</strong>ober.<br />
In November, the centre has an<br />
Ayurvedic Cleanse with Jacinta<br />
McEwen plus options for retreat<br />
programs on the upcoming<br />
trainings: Yoga Therapy with<br />
Maria Kirsten and the<br />
Meditation with Swami Pujan.<br />
For more<br />
information www.byronyoga.com<br />
HONG KONG<br />
Yoga &<br />
Meditation<br />
Retreat with<br />
Charlotte Douglas<br />
of LoveLifeHK<br />
20-22 November<br />
Kadoorie Centre, New<br />
Territories<br />
A weekend Yoga retreat that<br />
starts with a morning meditation<br />
and moving gently into an<br />
invigorating yoga practice. As<br />
well as nourishing the body with<br />
delicious Ayurvedic food, rest the<br />
mind and soul in the<br />
surroundings of nature and to<br />
finish the day with a deeply<br />
restorative Yoga practice.<br />
For information<br />
charlotte@lovelifehk.com / (852)<br />
6680 0340 /<br />
Byron Retreat Center in Byron Bay, Australia<br />
www.lovelifehk.com /<br />
www.facebook.com/lovelifehk<br />
THAILAND<br />
50-hr Samkhya<br />
Yoga Intensive<br />
25-31 <strong>Oct</strong>ober; 29 November-5<br />
December; 3-9 January and 7-13<br />
February 2016<br />
Wise Living Yoga Academy,<br />
Chiang Mai<br />
People speak about yoga without<br />
realizing that it forms an integral<br />
part of a composite Samkhya-<br />
Yoga Philosophy, the oldest<br />
philosophical system in the<br />
world. This is a residential<br />
program that includes theory and<br />
practice of Yoga techniques, and<br />
vegetarian meals.<br />
For more information (66)<br />
825467995 /<br />
info@wiselivingyoga.com /<br />
www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
100-hr Samkhya &<br />
Bhagavad Gita<br />
Intensive<br />
25 <strong>Oct</strong>ober-7 November; 29<br />
November-12 December; 3-16<br />
January and 7-20 February 2016<br />
Wise Living Yoga Academy,<br />
Chiang Mai<br />
Besides the study of Samkhya and<br />
many traditional practices and<br />
techniques, we will dive deeper<br />
into the Bhagavad Gita explaining<br />
12 NAMASKAR
the four paths of Yoga, namely<br />
Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti<br />
Yoga and Karma Yoga. This is a<br />
residential program that Includes<br />
theory and practice, and<br />
vegetarian meals.<br />
For more information (66)<br />
825467995 /<br />
info@wiselivingyoga.com /<br />
www.retreats.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
Flex Studio Yoga<br />
& Pilates<br />
Retreat: Cleanse<br />
& Energize with<br />
Heather Shalabi &<br />
Michelle Ricaille<br />
27 <strong>Oct</strong>ober-1 November<br />
Kamalana Wellness Sanctuary,<br />
Koh Samui<br />
Join Heather and Michelle on an<br />
journey to detox your body and<br />
deepen your practice of yoga &<br />
Pilates. Start your day with an<br />
energizing yoga practice, then<br />
experience the healing properties<br />
of Kamalaya’s spa, followed by an<br />
in-depth Pilates session. The<br />
retreat focuses on the synergy<br />
between yoga & Pilates, the role<br />
of detox food and nutrition, and<br />
healing therapies to combat<br />
fatigue and burnout.<br />
For more information<br />
min@flexhk.com<br />
Living a Life of<br />
Joy Retreat with<br />
Carlos Pomeda &<br />
Andy Willner<br />
12-17 November<br />
The Spa Resort, Chiang Mai<br />
Join Carlos and Andy for a body,<br />
mind and spirit Yoga retreat at<br />
the stunning Spa Resort Chiang<br />
Mai nestled in the lush valley of<br />
Mae Ann Valley. This is a unique<br />
opportunity to deepen your<br />
understanding of the roots of the<br />
yoga tradition and to take your<br />
practice to a higher level<br />
physically, mentally and<br />
spiritually, as well as to enjoy the<br />
beauty and culture of Chiang Mai.<br />
For more<br />
information www.pureyoga.com<br />
/ events@pureyoga.com<br />
Gateway to<br />
Freedom: A<br />
SpiritDance<br />
SoulSong & Core<br />
Awakening Yoga<br />
Retreat<br />
28 November-5 December<br />
Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui<br />
Join Daphne Tse, Ellen Watson<br />
and Cristi Christensen for a<br />
Yoga, dance, mantra, singing and<br />
meditation retreat. With their<br />
expertise and gifts of SpiritDance<br />
SoulSong and Core Awakening,<br />
they will guide you in daily<br />
practices that will tune your<br />
whole instrument through chakra<br />
based techniques. Whether you<br />
are a teacher or a student, this<br />
retreat aims to inspire you to<br />
reclaim your self expression!<br />
For more information<br />
www.samahitaretreat.com /<br />
www.spiritdancesoulsong.com<br />
YogaSlackers’<br />
Thailand<br />
SlacklineYoga &<br />
AcroYoga Retreat<br />
1-8 December<br />
Kaomai Lanna Resort, Chiang<br />
Mai<br />
Join the YogaSlackers, a trio of<br />
modern day nomads for an<br />
exploration of your human<br />
potential. Focused on the<br />
dualities of a nomadic life, several<br />
acrobatic practices and active<br />
recovery, they will explore the<br />
edges of your perceived limits<br />
and will teach you how to surpass<br />
them. Through thoughtful<br />
exploration on the importance of<br />
stillness in movement, the<br />
softness found in strength and<br />
the art of silent communication,<br />
they will facilitate a personal<br />
rediscovery like no other. The all<br />
inclusive price of USD $1,300<br />
includes: morning Yoga practice,<br />
Slackline Yoga, AcroYoga,<br />
Slackro, Dutch acrobatics, water<br />
acrobatics, Thai massage and<br />
flying therapeutics.<br />
For more information<br />
plc@yogaslackers.com<br />
Carlos Pomeda is joined by Andy Willner in<br />
Chiang Mai, Thailand<br />
Daphne Tse will be co-teaching with Ellen<br />
Watson and Cristi Christensen at<br />
Samahita Retreat<br />
YogaSlacker Sam Salwei bring his unique<br />
platform for yogasana to Chiang Mai,<br />
Thailand<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 13
14 NAMASKAR
PHOTO ESSAY<br />
YOGA IN<br />
INDIA<br />
It’s all around<br />
BY CONI HÖRLER<br />
My yoga happens in daily encounters with the ordinary,<br />
which are rendered beautiful through my lens, and in the<br />
extraordinary experiences throughout my travels, where I<br />
am in constant discovery of the simple beauty of India,<br />
nature and people.<br />
I seek perfection in the aesthetic of the imagery and in<br />
shooting people in special settings.<br />
These photos are taken from my second travel<br />
photography book project. Yogis are placed in their own<br />
environment, intriguing and beautiful, each in a unique<br />
manner.<br />
These images highlight a journey through India and Yoga....<br />
From the Himalayas, Ganges river, Mysore Palace, Goa<br />
skyline, paddy fields and old monuments. I have<br />
attempted to capture a glimpse of people doing asana in<br />
some intriguing and interesting locations.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 15
16 NAMASKAR
KARMA YOGA<br />
YOGA & HEALTH IN TYPHOON-<br />
DEVASTATED PHILIPPINES<br />
One Block for Batug<br />
BY CLAYTON HORTON<br />
In 2011, longtime Hong Kong resident<br />
Ambikha Buco founded One Block for Batug,<br />
a Non-Profit organisation as a response to<br />
rebuild Barangay Batug Elementary School in<br />
Leyte Province Philippines. Excessive<br />
flooding from heavy typhoons destroyed the<br />
old elementary school. With the help of many<br />
communities, schools, organisations, friends<br />
and families in Hong Kong and in the<br />
Philippines, OBB (One Block For Batug)<br />
raised enough funds to buy a new safer<br />
location where the new school has been<br />
constructed. This gave new hope and<br />
opportunity for the students of Batug to<br />
continue to dream and be motivated with<br />
their studies.<br />
On the morning of November 8, 2013, the<br />
Philippines experienced the strongest<br />
typhoon ever recorded in history with the<br />
epicenter of the Typhoon Yolanda (aka<br />
Haiyan) in Leyte. It destroyed everything in<br />
its path and Andrea’s village; Barangay Batug<br />
did not stand a chance. Most of the houses<br />
were 90% damaged. The new school that was<br />
built was 50% damaged. The roof come off,<br />
but the foundation of the building remained<br />
standing. During Typhoon Yolanda, the<br />
community was able to use the school as<br />
shelter and many lives were saved.<br />
One Block for Batug was one of the first on<br />
the scene to help rebuild people’s lives in<br />
Batug. With the support of community<br />
around the world, OBB was able to raise<br />
funds for the donation of food, clothing,<br />
housing materials, and gardening tools. OBB<br />
also provided psychosocial support to raise<br />
community spirit. Ambikha continues to visit<br />
Batug and work with the school children,<br />
offering Yoga and Healing Breathwork.<br />
Two years after Typhoon Yolanda, aid and<br />
donations are unfortunately no longer being<br />
delivered. The community is still in need of<br />
continued support. Although it has been two<br />
years since the typhoon, the suffering and<br />
need for relief is immense in the small towns<br />
and villages along the eastern coast of Leyte<br />
Province. Poverty is an issue as the town is<br />
still in recovery mode. Livelihood, Housing,<br />
Health and Food are the main areas that need<br />
support. One Block For Batug has<br />
established a housing program benefitting<br />
families’ whose houses has been totally<br />
damage by the typhoon on her town of Batug<br />
in Leyte province.<br />
Ambikha has collaborated with many healing<br />
communities in the Philippines that promote<br />
yoga, vegetarian diet, raw food, and<br />
sustainable natural housing. Together, they<br />
have created a housing program to Batug,<br />
which constructs homes with local, natural<br />
materials: mud, soil, coco lumber, and rice<br />
husk. They also have created a home<br />
gardening program to help the community to<br />
grow their own food to encourage the<br />
community to be less dependant on meat<br />
consumption. In 2013, One Block for Batug<br />
built a small Yoga Shala (a small Yoga space)<br />
in Batug village to provide a space for health<br />
and wellness activities in the area.<br />
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP<br />
Housing - Since Typhoon Yolanda, One Block<br />
For Batug has provided funds, labor and<br />
materials 17 new homes with our Mud House<br />
Project. With your help and support there<br />
will be many more safe and happy families<br />
who will be awarded a new home this Holiday<br />
Season and the next years to come.<br />
Education Sponsorship - In <strong>2015</strong>, OBB began<br />
One of the 17 new mud homes built in Batug<br />
its Education Sponsorship Program by<br />
sponsoring students for their university<br />
education. Often in this area of the<br />
Philippines, when a student from primary<br />
and secondary finishes their studies, their<br />
family can no longer afford to send them to<br />
University. They often end up working as<br />
domestic helpers, restaurant staff or, the<br />
unlucky ones end up dealing with drugs or<br />
prostitution.<br />
OBB believes the children are our future and<br />
wish to give the youth of the village the<br />
opportunities of eduation. The scholarship<br />
programmes aims to build an environment in<br />
which youth can thrive and have positive<br />
dreams for their future.<br />
To date, one student has been supported<br />
financially to become a school teacher. OBB<br />
hopes to get more support in the future so<br />
they can help more youths to attend<br />
University and inspire their future.<br />
Jason’s university education has been sponsored by OBB<br />
Yoga Mats - As part of Ambikha’s campaign<br />
to promote Yoga and Health in the<br />
community, they would like to provide the<br />
kids with their own Yoga mats. In the past,<br />
Ambikha has been conducting Yoga classes<br />
on the grass field within the school ground.<br />
If you have an old mat you no longer use and<br />
is still in acceptable condition, we would<br />
appreciate if you can donate them for the<br />
kids in Batug village. Your old mats can go a<br />
long way.<br />
To date, Pure Yoga in Hong Kong has<br />
donated several used Yoga mats that have<br />
been delivered to the Primary school of<br />
Batug Dulag Leyte. The students have been<br />
gifted with an opportunity to be exposed to<br />
yoga at a very early age.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 17
community from the disaster they have just<br />
experienced. If you like teaching yoga for<br />
kids, Batug Primary school is always<br />
welcoming travelling teacher to share their<br />
skills to this tiny village in Leyte. Batug is on<br />
the banks of the lovely Daguitan river and the<br />
beach is just moments away.<br />
If you are inspired to volunteer for the Mud<br />
House Project, teach yoga for kids or if you<br />
would like to donate money or yoga mats<br />
please contact Ambikha at:<br />
ambikhadevi@yahoo.com<br />
www.oneblockforbatug.org<br />
Facebook: Ambikha Devi Karma Yoga, One<br />
Block for Batug<br />
Ambikha brings the Pure Yoga donated mats to the<br />
Philippines<br />
Volunteers - If you have spare time and<br />
you’re looking for something to do that<br />
involves selfless service (Karma Yoga) then<br />
we welcome those who are interested to<br />
volunteer to build houses for the typhoon<br />
victims to come and visit Batug village in<br />
Leyte province Philippines. You will have the<br />
opportunity to connect with the community,<br />
exchange cultures ideas and experience living<br />
in simplicity with the local villagers. Your<br />
stay can help raise the spirit of the<br />
Ambikha leading the kids through some AcroYoga<br />
18 NAMASKAR
INTERVIEW<br />
PLAY AS THE SOURCE FOR TAPAS<br />
Interview with Carrie Owerko<br />
BY GAELLE FOULON DAFFNER<br />
Her sold out workshops bear whimsical titles such as “Permission to<br />
Play” or “The Careful Farmer”. She amassed an international fan base<br />
to make a rock star pale and she once performed live for BKS Iyengar<br />
at the New York City Center, during his 2005 national book tour.<br />
Carrie Owerko, New York based senior Iyengar teacher talks about<br />
her practice, her inspiration and how we can all have more fun<br />
following a workshop at Yoga Central in Hong Kong earlier this year.<br />
WHEN DID YOU START YOGA? WHY IYENGAR YOGA AND<br />
WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO FOCUS ON PLAY IN YOUR<br />
PRACTICE?<br />
I did it a little bit in College but really started in 1990. I was curious<br />
about Indian culture so I started going to Jivamukti classes. I was also<br />
working at the Laban Institute (analytical movement) which was more<br />
mental than physical work so I went to yoga to relax my mind and tune<br />
into my body. With my background in movement I got very curious<br />
about the structure of the pose and it was actually my Jivamukti<br />
teacher who recommended Iyengar as I kept asking questions about<br />
form and alignment. Iyengar reveals the deep patterns of yoga and our<br />
embodiment. I love the observation of patterns so I got hooked!<br />
As for play, it was a big part of my education. My parents would<br />
always teach me though play and experiment. Play became a way to<br />
understand the world. Later, in my theatre work I continued to play<br />
through improvisation. One of the rules of improvisation is to say<br />
“yes, and” to anything that gets thrown at you. And, when something<br />
is challenging we think how can I play with this. Play is a way into<br />
things, a way forward, play loosens the grip of fear.<br />
At one point I felt I was becoming too caught in the form of the asana<br />
so to free my practice I reverted to what I know well: Play!<br />
HOW DO YOU STAY TRUE TO THE GURU AND YET BE YOUR<br />
OWN SELF?<br />
Iyengar teaching is our canvas, the discipline, a frame. But we need to<br />
be the crayons and the color in our practice. Since everything is<br />
affected by context, we cannot practice or teach through dogma. We<br />
need to understand the when, what and why of any given situation,<br />
accept and adapt to the complex and fluid nature of it. If not, our<br />
approach might become fixated, hard, and stagnant.<br />
BKS Iyengar transmission was multi-faceted, he threw things at us<br />
and expected us to explore in our practice. When he practiced, he<br />
explored, he played too! It was obvious! He wanted us to deeply<br />
question everything including our own approach. And I do not think<br />
he was afraid of other’s perspectives. I attempt to teach what touched<br />
me about Guruji: his smile, the light in his eyes, and his enthusiasm. I<br />
attempt to teach from a place of clarity.<br />
HOW DO YOU BRING PLAYFULNESS IN CLASS?<br />
First of all we have to bring play in our practice. Play through<br />
challenges for example: some day I tell myself to use two blocks for<br />
everything, some days chairs only, some days rope, I throw things at<br />
New York-based Iyengar teacher, Carrie Owerko<br />
myself and I say yes to it, I give myself playful assignments to push<br />
myself out of habitual pattern and move into new territories. Through<br />
this I get organic directions or internal direction. I trust this process.<br />
I trust that it is ok “not to know” and from the practice of playing I<br />
know that it Yes— I can relax into the unknown.<br />
Another value I try to bring to class is of treating everybody as an<br />
equal. I am not above my students in any real sense and teaching for<br />
this perspective, allows my students to connect to their own<br />
intelligence. I encourage the process of trial and error that I cultivate<br />
in my own practice. I listen to my students, I engage them in a type of<br />
dialogue. I find they teach me so much, and by listening to their take<br />
of things teaches me other ways of saying things, of looking at things,<br />
of trying things, and then it becomes an amazing exchange. They also<br />
become confident, confident to play too!<br />
YOU ARE SO FLEXIBLE, ANYTHING LOOKS EFFORTLESS ON<br />
YOU! DO YOU FIND ANY ASANA CHALLENGING?<br />
Any binding pose is challenging due to my morphology. Poses like full<br />
pasasana, and full malasana.<br />
But I see my physical limitations as an opportunities to play again! We<br />
must befriend our body as it is, and work with affection, because the<br />
poses that are harder pour light on our process and they can teach us<br />
so much about ourselves and the way we handle life. The is important<br />
because it is is the process that continues while the form dissolves<br />
(age). We must be honest in our approach, and give ourselves<br />
permission to be enough just as we are. We are enough, we must<br />
practice from the ground of this understanding. Then ask ourselves<br />
what we have to contribute. We must come back to the following<br />
question for teaching, for practicing and even for life: what is my<br />
deepest intention. Stay true to it and have fun on the way.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 19
20 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 21
22 NAMASKAR
SPORTS<br />
YOGA & SCUBA DIVING?<br />
More similar than different<br />
BY DONALD DAY<br />
At first glance, it seems to be an odd<br />
combination - Yoga, the physical, mental, and<br />
spiritual practice to exercise, boost health<br />
and reduce stress, seems far removed from<br />
donning a scuba tank and descending into the<br />
open ocean.<br />
However, when you look more closely, the<br />
effects of both are not very different. Both<br />
yoga and diving are very relaxing and<br />
meditative. Both have a similarly strong<br />
focus on breathing. Ideal breathing in both<br />
activities is slow, deep and relaxed. We know<br />
from meditation practice that slow and deep<br />
breathing helps calm down the body and the<br />
mind – particularly useful when stressed.<br />
group will try and ensure everyone sees the<br />
amazing things that wait to be discovered.<br />
Neither is about winning, but to experience<br />
something amazing and share this<br />
experience. Everybody wins. In today’s<br />
competitive world, this is rejuvenating,<br />
calming and refreshing.<br />
Yoga and diving are also very complimentary,<br />
which explains the recent surge in combined<br />
offerings. People passionate about diving are<br />
usually balanced and relaxed, aware of the<br />
nature that surrounds them and are naturally<br />
curious – very similar to yogis. Benefits of<br />
yoga for the diver include better buoyancy<br />
control, reduced air consumption (and<br />
breath, but even fit divers can find<br />
themselves breathing too fast or too shallow<br />
from the stress of diving.<br />
That’s where yoga comes in. Like scuba, yoga<br />
places emphasis on proper inhalation and<br />
exhalation, as breathing is considered the<br />
essential connection between body and mind.<br />
Practiced regularly, yoga promotes deep,<br />
slow breathing, and teaches you how to calm<br />
your mind. Yoga also strengthens and<br />
stretches muscles that are important in<br />
diving. After a dive, yoga can help to stretch<br />
and relief stiff muscles (if done lightly, as the<br />
diver should never engage in strenuous<br />
exercise after diving).<br />
To appreciate yoga’s breathing benefits, it<br />
helps to understand what happens when you<br />
breathe. The primary function of your lungs<br />
is to draw in oxygen-rich air and expel the<br />
carbon dioxide waste your cells generate.<br />
That oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange<br />
happens in the alveoli, microscopic, grapelike<br />
sacs that line your lungs. On land, we use<br />
just a fraction of our lung space, leaving<br />
scores of alveoli untouched. At depth some,<br />
especially new divers, use even fewer alveoli<br />
per breath, taking shallower, rapid breaths.<br />
Another similarity is focus – in yoga and<br />
scuba diving, the practitioner is required to<br />
focus entirely on the task at hand. In yoga,<br />
you focus on the posture, the alignment, the<br />
depth of the posture and the breathing. In<br />
diving, you focus on your surroundings, your<br />
buoyancy, your depth– and your breathing.<br />
Finally – both activities are non-competitive.<br />
In yoga it doesn’t really matter if the person<br />
next to you seems to have a background in<br />
Olympic-level gymnastics or somehow does<br />
not seem to have bones. You only compete<br />
with yourself and what you and your body<br />
can do on the day. Similarly, in diving buddies<br />
take care of each other and people in a dive<br />
therefore longer dive times), relaxation both<br />
on land and underwater, and improved<br />
physical fitness for diving.<br />
The average diver sightseeing at 30 feet in<br />
warm, calm seas can expect an average tank<br />
of air to last about an hour. But as any diver<br />
can tell you, the sport is anything but average.<br />
Deeper dives, stronger currents and chilly<br />
water can drastically reduce bottom time.<br />
New divers, a little nervous and prone to<br />
“panting” rather than easy breathing, have<br />
been known to empty a tank in less than 30<br />
minutes. Obviously, increasing your physical<br />
fitness is one way to get more out of every<br />
The solution is breathing slowly, deeply and<br />
fully, especially on exhalation. Your impulse<br />
to breathe is triggered by the build-up of<br />
carbon dioxide, so by learning to exhale fully,<br />
you clear more carbon dioxide and<br />
automatically breathe more slowly. Slower<br />
breathing also improves your concentration<br />
and focus. Deep breathing exercises such as<br />
those used in yoga training help keep blood<br />
gases normal and are very beneficial as a<br />
relaxing technique.<br />
So where can you combine these activities?<br />
There are several resorts as well as<br />
specialized trips that not only offer yoga<br />
classes, but have integrated programs,<br />
sometimes even offer retreats. Here the<br />
combined offering of yoga, diving and often<br />
healthy nutrition is carefully coordinated and<br />
delivers a meaningful time with lasting<br />
impact. Get in touch for a recommendation,<br />
or if you want to know more about<br />
combining yoga, meditation and diving.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 23
24 NAMASKAR
COMMUNITY<br />
STEVE JOBS & YOGA?<br />
Local stage director connects the two<br />
in an original play<br />
BY CHLOE YATES<br />
A scene from Tang Shu Wing’s play “Why aren’t you Steve Jobs?” which will be on 12 - 22 November in Hong Kong<br />
Tang Shu Wing, actor and notable stage<br />
director. Born in Hong Kong, Tang studied<br />
and practiced law before moving to Paris to<br />
pursue his true calling: acting. For the last<br />
20 years,Tang has headed his own theatre<br />
company dedicated to minimalism and<br />
physical theatre. A firm believer in the body<br />
as a primary means of expression and a form<br />
of creation, Tang uses meditation and<br />
pranayama as part of his actors’ training,<br />
also challenging his actors in physically and<br />
psychologically demanding asanas. First<br />
introduced to yoga in the US, Tang journeyed<br />
to India in 2004 to receive his formal yoga<br />
teacher training. His latest production titled<br />
‘Why Aren’t You Steve Jobs’ is a direct result<br />
of his continuing research with his actors.<br />
Tang sits down with us to discuss this<br />
fascinating new piece, life and his experience<br />
with meditation and contemplation.<br />
PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR PLAY<br />
It’s about creativity, using Steve Jobs as a<br />
starting point. Life, problems in life, how we<br />
see these problems and how people believe<br />
they can find solutions to solve these<br />
problems are some of the major themes.<br />
Intuitively, I constructed the set up in a yoga<br />
studio, the stories of four students and their<br />
communication while waiting for their<br />
teacher who is running late. The story<br />
revolves around a group of characters in<br />
their early to mid 30’s. It’s a story of selfrealization,<br />
the discovery of your own<br />
journey using ordinary problems to involve<br />
the audience in the process. Religion,<br />
sexuality, love, money, death, the way people<br />
are drawn together; all these aspects<br />
implicate the audience.<br />
WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION<br />
BEHIND CREATING THIS PLAY?<br />
The production is the fruit of my research<br />
with my actors; it’s a devised piece. After<br />
using many classical plays such as Hamlet<br />
and Titus Andronicus as a platform for my<br />
actors to explore themselves and improvise,<br />
employing my physical theatre approach and<br />
minimalist aesthetics, I became convinced<br />
this was the direction I wanted to lead.<br />
I believe creation has to be balanced with<br />
sincere research, so we worked everyday at a<br />
systematic approach to training, trying to<br />
discover how the actors could improve<br />
themselves both physically and mentally. I<br />
put the actors in to different scenarios and<br />
recorded them as they improvised. I then<br />
wrote the script around these interactions.<br />
It is also the result of my yogi training. I<br />
recall studying pranayama in the Himalayas,<br />
witnessing my teacher die. I wanted to recall<br />
this difficult experience in the play and<br />
confront the notion of death.<br />
Grotowski, the Polish theatre director is<br />
also an inspiration. In an age of TV and film,<br />
he was convinced theatre still has value. He<br />
had an auto revelation of the actors being an<br />
organic human being, his discovery of thisis<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 25
Tang Shu Wing<br />
a story of selfrealization,<br />
the<br />
discovery of your<br />
own journey<br />
very deep and can reach the subconscious of<br />
anyone, even if it is not known to that person.<br />
When the audience witnesses this, they too<br />
may be moved by it. Grotowoski called this<br />
‘poor theatre’; it adhered to the notion of<br />
negation not objection, removing obstacles<br />
and taking away rather than adding to reveal<br />
something pure.<br />
After journeying to India, I began to see a link<br />
with Grotwoski’s style of theatre and yoga;<br />
it’s all about the discovery of one’s self. Yoga<br />
is not about expression but about selfdiscovery<br />
and realization. Theatre is the<br />
opposite, so I wanted to place more<br />
significance on self-discovery.<br />
WHAT MESSAGES DO YOU HOPE TO<br />
COMMUNICATE?<br />
I wanted to comment on the current state of<br />
society, humans and the problems we<br />
encounter. I also wanted to explore<br />
creativity, using Jobs as a platform. For me,<br />
Steve Jobs is not just concerned with<br />
commercial issues, he was asking some very<br />
serious questions like ‘how can I combine art<br />
and technology?’ eventually revolutionizing<br />
the industry. He also had to deal with huge<br />
personal problems.<br />
Similar to the characters in the play, he is<br />
concerned with making things less<br />
complicated and simpler.<br />
Contemplation and self-realization are about<br />
your own discovery, your personal journey.<br />
By using contemporary problems people are<br />
facing, I hope to get the audience more<br />
involved in the process.Characters are placed<br />
in the yoga studio to do asanas while talking<br />
about some very serious issues creating a<br />
surreal picture. It’s a metamorphosis of the<br />
yoga teacher. In the end there is no answer,<br />
it’s up to you. If you are focused enough you<br />
may discover something inside yourself.<br />
WHAT SORT OF CHALLENGES DID YOU<br />
HAVE TO OVERCOME TO PRODUCE<br />
THIS PLAY?<br />
Generating publicity! People don’t<br />
necessarily know the deeper meaning behind<br />
the production before they see the show,<br />
only the synopsis. It’s only during or after<br />
that people may begin to experience their<br />
own transcendental journey.<br />
IN YOUR EXPERIENCE, HOW DO YOU<br />
THINK PEOPLE VIEW MEDITATION AND<br />
CONTEMPLATION?<br />
It depends. Some people can’t meditate<br />
because they find it difficult to calm down or<br />
to think of nothing. Their minds are so<br />
agitated they have thoughts and images all the<br />
time. For others, they might ask‘what is the<br />
use of meditation?’ from a very pragmatic<br />
standpoint, because it consumes time. When<br />
I encounter such people, after a few<br />
conversations I realize there is no use in<br />
pursuing the topic any further and I let it go.<br />
For my actors it’s imperative and a very<br />
fundamental part of their training.<br />
Meditation is a channel not only for<br />
concentration but also as a means to get in<br />
touch with the unknown, both in your mind<br />
and body. Most of them after learning the<br />
basics find it rewarding and enjoyable to do<br />
in their own time. This fantastic experience<br />
also allows them to enter in to the process of<br />
creation and become more focused and<br />
balanced in their movement and behavior.<br />
I’ve even worked with actors who are<br />
devoutly Christian, believing meditation<br />
should be focused solely on God. For them,<br />
they believe clearing the mind of thoughts can<br />
be dangerous, essentially clearing the space<br />
for devils to enter. This is also a very<br />
interesting angle to look at meditation.<br />
HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR YOGA<br />
BACKGROUND GUIDED THIS<br />
CREATION?<br />
Quite a lot. For me, this production is not<br />
just a play but also a manifestation of my<br />
personal experience, or how my personal<br />
experience withyoga is communicated in the<br />
form of theatrical art. So you could almost<br />
say the audience is experiencing their own<br />
yoga lesson by watching the play! Pranayama<br />
was also crucial as breathing is fundamental<br />
for an actor.<br />
Similar to the Bhagavad Gita, it’s about<br />
dialogues and interactions between<br />
characters. In the end, it’s not just about the<br />
yoga teachings but also about the human<br />
stories and common experience viewed in<br />
this particular way, that we can talk about in<br />
a theatrical setting. These issuescan be<br />
difficult to talk about in daily life, although<br />
the play is very down to earth.<br />
For my actors, not all of them have<br />
experience in yoga. Teaching them<br />
challenging poses, asanas, whilst talking<br />
about certain topics would correspond to the<br />
theatrical aura can be a difficult and<br />
interesting process.There is an intuition to<br />
selecting what poses should be done, but I<br />
feel I have chosen them appropriately.<br />
‘Why Aren’t You Steve Jobs’ will run 12- 22<br />
November <strong>2015</strong> at Black Box, Hong Kong<br />
Repertory Theatre, Hong Kong. For more<br />
information: http://tswtheatre.com/en/<br />
portfolio-index/why-arent-you-steve-jobs/<br />
Also creating a central idea from nothing,<br />
only Steve Jobs. Then in turn developing that<br />
in to greater themes. The process has been<br />
challenging but ultimately very rewarding.<br />
26 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 27
28 NAMASKAR
AYURVEDA<br />
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?<br />
Toxic build-up of Ama, for one<br />
BY DR. HARSH AGARWAL<br />
Most of us have probably experienced<br />
depression ourselves or known someone<br />
who suffers from this debilitating illness. It<br />
affects our entire being: body, mind and soul.<br />
The body and mind become sluggish,<br />
congested and morose. The soul, strictly<br />
speaking, is affected by nothing, but it<br />
becomes even more veiled, and our everpresent<br />
joy, which is the soul, becomes<br />
totally impossible to experience.<br />
What causes depression? In the West, we say<br />
traumatic experiences and chemical<br />
imbalances. According to Ayurveda, it might<br />
be known as imbalances in vata or kapha.<br />
But there is another possibility within the<br />
realm of Ayurveda which says that ama, or an<br />
over abundance of toxins, is the problem.<br />
Toxins come in many forms: polluted air,<br />
chemical skin lotions, pharmaceutical<br />
medications, stress, chlorinated water,<br />
harsh sounds, stale, burnt, chemicallyinfused<br />
or hard-to-digest foods, etc. All of<br />
these things and more will overload the detoxifying<br />
organs: the liver, kidneys, skin and<br />
lungs. The toxins build up and this becomes<br />
ama. Ama is sticky and congesting, so you<br />
can see how this would affect all the organs<br />
and tissues in the body making them heavy<br />
and sluggish. And its effect on the mind is the<br />
same.<br />
Ama can sometimes be seen as whitish sludge<br />
that comes out of the body with the stools,<br />
entwined in the faeces itself. But it is also<br />
energetic and this sludge clogs up the micro<br />
channels that normally allow prana, or<br />
energy, to flow freely and keep us healthy, in<br />
body and mind. It is quite easy to understand<br />
how this build up of ama would create all the<br />
symptoms of depression.<br />
One student experiencing all the signs of<br />
depression over a number of years finally<br />
went to visit an Ayurvedic specialist who<br />
checked his pulse and tongue. Ama was<br />
clearly present; hence the digestive and<br />
immune system and mental troubles over the<br />
years. The doctor prescribed two kinds of<br />
herbs: Aampackak, which melts or digests<br />
the ama, and Srotoshodhan, which opens the<br />
micro channels. (These are two categories of<br />
herbs, not the specific names of the herbs. It<br />
is important to see a proper specialist to<br />
obtain the correct herbs for your situation).<br />
Two weeks later, the student had returned to<br />
the joyful, playful, happy personality that had<br />
disappeared for four years! He continued the<br />
herbs for a little while longer and followed<br />
that up with some rejuvenating herbs. The<br />
shift in his mind and mood was<br />
spectacular. Now he feels ‘fabulous’. Not<br />
long before, he would cry at night and get<br />
angry for no reason and get more depressed,<br />
frustrated and scared for not knowing why<br />
all this was happening.<br />
Toxins are all around us, and can build up in our body becoming ama<br />
There are two things we can put in our<br />
bodies:<br />
Food: help us grow, maintain healthy<br />
systems, rejuvenate, regenerate and build<br />
energy.<br />
Toxins: deplete our systems, overloading the<br />
detoxifying organs, causing malfunction and<br />
decay and reducing energy.<br />
From an Ayurvedic perspective, ama is the<br />
opposite of agni, or fire. Fire burns up the<br />
toxins and is responsible for healthy<br />
digestion. There are 13 types of agni in<br />
Ayurveda. The four most important relate to<br />
our natural constitutions. For more details<br />
of what these constitutions imply, it is good<br />
to do a little research into Ayurveda. Suffice<br />
for this article, a variable, inconsistent vata<br />
agni, an overly strong and dominant pitta<br />
agni or a sluggish kapha agni all create more<br />
ama, while a balanced digestive fire will help<br />
to prevent and eliminate toxic build up.<br />
Eating according to one’s constitution and<br />
seasonal panchkarma cleansing will also help<br />
to prevent and eliminate toxins.<br />
Of course, strictly allopathic doctors might<br />
not be open to this approach and the<br />
pharmaceutical companies, as well, would<br />
fight it fiercely. There is, after all, a multibillion-dollar<br />
industry in anti-depressants.<br />
And it is certainly understandable that<br />
someone who feels reasonable most of his<br />
life due to allopathy, would be concerned<br />
about trying something else. But by keeping<br />
the door of possibility open and considering<br />
other ideas, it may be possible to eliminate<br />
the depression for good.<br />
It is important to state clearly ama is not the<br />
cause of all depression, but checking for its<br />
presence with a qualified Ayurvedic doctor<br />
may give one pause to consider this as the<br />
origin of the trouble. Treatment of ama can<br />
be taken at the same time as allopathy and if<br />
the patient is feeling better, she could then<br />
speak with her regular doctor about reducing<br />
the previous medications. Allopathy itself is a<br />
cause of toxins and a good cleanse could be<br />
considered once the anti-depressants are no<br />
longer taken.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 29
30 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 31
DRISTI - TRAVELLING YOGI<br />
ON THE ROAD,<br />
AGAIN<br />
How to stay on track<br />
BY ANA FORREST<br />
INSTANT CONNECTION<br />
Yoga connects travellers where ever they may be ................................35<br />
TRAVELLING TEACHER<br />
What it means to the student... ............................................................36<br />
32 NAMASKAR
Inna Constantini in Headstand variation, photo by Coni Horler<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 33
get a window seat and marvel<br />
that you get to traverse the skies<br />
I travel a lot. I’m on tour for most of the year<br />
running workshops and teacher trainings, so<br />
when I was asked to suggest some tips for the<br />
traveling yogi(ni), I knew exactly what to<br />
share.<br />
BEFORE YOU LEAVE<br />
Carve out a minimum of 5 to 10 mins of yoga<br />
before leaving your home or the hotel. They<br />
make a difference. Especially to ease your<br />
back through the rigors of travel. Everyone<br />
can make 5-10 minutes of time. I use these<br />
Forrest Yoga poses: Elbow to Knee, Dolphin<br />
and a few Sun Salutations. Do them, feel<br />
centred, energized and go.<br />
FLYING<br />
1. Pack food that has a high water content -<br />
grapes and celery are good. If you can cook<br />
before you leave, pack a meal that you really<br />
like. For example, Jose (my husband) cooks<br />
up for us cauliflower, butternut squash,<br />
potato, avocado & lightly applied olive or flax<br />
oil, all mashed together, delicious & easy to<br />
digest. That’s a lovely nourishing alternative<br />
to the prepackaged meals that get served up<br />
on the plane.<br />
2. On flights make sure you hydrate. It is<br />
annoying to get up and pee, but worth it.<br />
Hydrating reduces the chances of swelling,<br />
headaches etc. Also, the walk to the restroom<br />
improves your circulation and moves your<br />
blood.<br />
3. Another great tip is to take extra<br />
magnesium. If you fly on a regular basis,<br />
constipation is a real issue - altitude,<br />
dehydration and sitting still for so long all<br />
mess with your natural cycle. Readers should<br />
check with their doctor or naturopath before<br />
taking any form of supplement.<br />
4. In the seat: Move your body. Do Shoulder<br />
Shrugs, Spinal Twist, Back Release, Neck<br />
Release. Grab handle/back of seat for the<br />
twist. To do Back Release Pose while seated,<br />
place your left ankle over the right thigh,<br />
bend forward, and hang head by shin (keep<br />
your head safe from the seat in front of you).<br />
5. Get up and go to the back galley and do<br />
some standing poses, like Warriors.<br />
6. Bring a yoga towel or travel mat with you<br />
for ‘waiting around’ moments in between<br />
flights. Put it in a corner, do a few poses, and<br />
arrive at your destination feeling much<br />
better.<br />
7. I recommend doing some yoga poses<br />
before landing too, so that you don’t tweak<br />
yourself wrestling with luggage. I’ve done<br />
that before! It’s important to be conscious<br />
of how you move your luggage because you’re<br />
moving 50lbs of awkward box after hours of<br />
doing nothing.<br />
8. Finally, and importantly, get a window seat<br />
and marvel that you get to traverse through<br />
the skies where only Shamans and Medicine<br />
People got to go 100 years earlier. Take<br />
advantage of being up that high and soak in<br />
the beauty and wonder of earth and sky.<br />
HOME AWAY FROM HOME<br />
Wherever I stay in a hotel or apartment,<br />
which is a lot, I like to feel at home. Here are<br />
my tips:<br />
1. Pack items that are precious to you. I have<br />
a small traveling altar:<br />
~ Small altar cloths, Native American and<br />
Australian Aboriginal<br />
~ Quillwork of 4 Directions symbol & beaded<br />
Thunderbird pouch<br />
~ Sweet grass braids & sage<br />
~ Kookaburra finger puppet<br />
~ Clapsticks & boomerang<br />
~ Picture of Uluru<br />
~ Jose’s ‘Creation’ album<br />
2. Carry Cedar Mist spray to freshen the<br />
room to smell like a cedar forest (instead of<br />
hotel funk)<br />
3. Pack some beautiful scarves — you can<br />
wear them and they double-up as pieces to<br />
brighten up a sterile feeling room. Lay them<br />
over the chairs, bed and (my favourite), to<br />
cover up the ugly TV.<br />
Ana will be setting up her temporary home in<br />
Hong Kong this December. Booking and info<br />
at www.forrestyoga.com/events<br />
34 NAMASKAR
DRISTI<br />
INSTANT CONNECTION, JUST<br />
ADD YOGA<br />
Travel out, travel in<br />
BY LISA KAZMER<br />
We fold a few blankets to sit upon and close<br />
our eyes. The teacher prompts us to root the<br />
pelvis and lengthen the spine and guides us to<br />
place our attention on the breath. It’s all so<br />
familiar but I can’t help noticing the sounds<br />
filtering in from the street outside are<br />
anything but average; a mixture of foreign<br />
tones and trills, expressed in a melodic singsong.<br />
The excitement of being in a new place<br />
distracts my focus for a moment.<br />
After a few OMs to welcome in the practice,<br />
we come to Downward Facing Dog and then<br />
fold ourselves forward into Utanasana. By<br />
the time I am standing upright on my own<br />
two feet in Tadasana, my breathing has<br />
slowed down and my body has shaken off<br />
some travel induced tension. The variations<br />
begin from there but the language is always<br />
the same — yoga.<br />
We all have our habits and rituals that help us<br />
feel comfortable and at ease in a new place<br />
while traveling. A friend of mine loves to<br />
attend a Mass at a local church. It’s not that<br />
she is all that religious but she values the<br />
sense of community with which she is able to<br />
connect almost instantly. I feel the same, but<br />
in my case would rather find my way onto a<br />
sticky mat rather than into a church pew.<br />
As I sooth my travel-tired bones and stretch<br />
out my plane-smushed muscles alongside<br />
those who call this foreign land home I have<br />
the opportunity to fall into the rhythm of this<br />
new place by breathing it’s air, grounding my<br />
body into this patch of earth, and sweating<br />
alongside strangers who share my belief in<br />
the benefit of jumping around on a rubber<br />
yoga mat for 90 minutes, give or take.<br />
I’ve taken my place in the room; a spot where<br />
I can see the teacher and those around me yet<br />
not attract too much attention. As an<br />
outsider in the class I try to acclimatize to it’s<br />
energy while still feeling free to be myself.<br />
Teaching and learning styles as well as<br />
classroom behavior vary considerably from<br />
country to country, and particularly from<br />
West to East, so “going with the flow” in a<br />
new country as one participates in a class can<br />
be helpful to learning its ways.<br />
With reverence for ancestors, their elders,<br />
and educators ingrained in their culture,<br />
students in the East treat teachers with great<br />
respect. Discipline is expressed through<br />
openness, acceptance, and quiet<br />
contemplation of the teachings. The typical<br />
practice of taking shoes off upon entering a<br />
yoga studio as well as keeping the soles of<br />
one’s feet pointed away from the teacher or<br />
the altar, are a natural extension of everyday<br />
behavior in the East.<br />
The independent spirit of Westerners shows<br />
in the way they learn. They ask questions<br />
more freely, and readily speak up when they<br />
don’t understand or don’t agree with<br />
something. They think creatively about the<br />
concepts presented and are more<br />
comfortable with taking risks and making<br />
mistakes. Teachers in the West generally<br />
encourage students to find their own way<br />
through the teachings as a way to develop<br />
deeper understanding.<br />
There are many things to learn by watching<br />
others learn. The newness of a place and its<br />
people has the ability to snap us into that<br />
vulnerable, raw, receptive and open<br />
“beginners mind” and enables us to see with a<br />
wider eye — like an artist seeing beyond the<br />
mundane into something a little larger than<br />
our everyday existence. Perhaps this is why<br />
travel is so appealing to many in the Yoga<br />
world — we know the journeys we go on in<br />
the physical world are not so different from<br />
the journeys of self-discovery that our<br />
practice can offer.<br />
journeys we go on<br />
in the physical<br />
world are not so<br />
different from the<br />
journeys of selfdiscovery<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 35
DRISTI<br />
STUDENT<br />
OF A<br />
TRAVELING<br />
TEACHER<br />
From the<br />
perspective<br />
of a student<br />
INNA CONSTANTINI<br />
We frequently investigate and discuss issues<br />
from the teacher’s perspective. In this case,<br />
as we look at the “Traveling Yogi,” let’s step<br />
back and see how a student feels when his/<br />
her teacher is not around on a permanent<br />
basis.<br />
As we focus on the excitement, joys and<br />
challenges of being a traveling yogi, what<br />
happens to students or seekers who they<br />
meet along the way? How is it for them to<br />
practice with someone who is not available<br />
on a regular basis, offering daily guidance so<br />
many feel they need?<br />
THE PROS<br />
Joy and excitement:<br />
The joy from meeting one’s teacher again<br />
after his/her time away traveling<br />
The joy in meeting new teachers, connecting<br />
with new people and discovering fresh<br />
experiences - perhaps this is experienced on a<br />
simple physical level, through the practice of<br />
asana, developing technique, or on a deeper<br />
level of linking with the outer/inner world.<br />
Independence:<br />
Time to absorb, develop and practice the<br />
teachings on your own once the teacher is no<br />
longer there...<br />
Devotion:<br />
Feeling a greater sense of connection with<br />
the universal world of Yoga - the teacher<br />
does not need to be forever present, but the<br />
bond between teacher and student remains<br />
strong, transcending time and space,<br />
revealing a deeper meaning and layers of<br />
Yoga.<br />
Appreciation:<br />
Being grateful of the present and treasuring<br />
those moments with the teacher when he or<br />
she is close by<br />
THE CONS<br />
Wavering emotions:<br />
Due to dealing with emotions such as<br />
sadness and emptiness<br />
Due to not having a teacher there on a regular<br />
or daily basis, someone that the student can<br />
turn to for advice and support in their<br />
practice<br />
Lack of Stability:<br />
The traveling teacher can never be fully there<br />
for students. That daily connection is<br />
missing and the regular guidance may lack in<br />
such a teacher/student relationship.<br />
Most would agree the teacher has a<br />
responsibility to offer guidance and support<br />
to students. The details of which, however,<br />
are entirely up to each individual and their<br />
understanding of the word guidance. A<br />
simple virtual contact (thanks to the internet<br />
and high speed communications) or the<br />
knowledge one is available, may often<br />
transcend the actual physical presence of the<br />
teacher.<br />
36 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 37
38 NAMASKAR
MYTHOLOGY<br />
KUMBHAKARNA<br />
What you can learn from<br />
a big bully<br />
BY TIA SINHA<br />
One of the greatest bullies in Hindu<br />
mythology was the asura (demi-god)<br />
Kumbhakarna. A giant often compared to a<br />
mountain, he was the brother of the tenheaded<br />
Lord of Lanka, Ravana, in the epic,<br />
Ramayana.<br />
Kumbhakarna resorted to more and more<br />
cruelty day after day, delighting in and<br />
revelling in his wicked ways.<br />
Not satisfied by the enormity of their evil<br />
deeds, Ravana and Kumbhakarna (along with<br />
their brother, Vibheeshan, who was an<br />
oddball of a demi-god, being rather sage-like)<br />
resorted to severe penance atop high<br />
mountains in order to win the favour of<br />
Brahma (the creator god) and acquire even<br />
more power. Brahma’s favour was won. He<br />
granted Ravana’s wish to become the lord of<br />
the three worlds. When Indra, the Lord of<br />
the Gods learnt of this boon, he had every<br />
him if he slept night and day, twenty four<br />
seven for the rest of his life. Brahma relented<br />
and granted Kumbhakarna a reprieve. For<br />
one whole day, every six months,<br />
Kumbhakarna would wake up. But if he was<br />
woken up before the six months were up,<br />
Kumbhakarna’s life would be in danger.<br />
Having been granted his boon and his<br />
reprieve, Kumbhakarna promptly fell asleep<br />
and had to be lifted and carried home<br />
horizontal by his two brothers. Ravana was<br />
unfazed by Kumbhakarna’s plight, who slept<br />
with all his might, convinced that on the day<br />
that he woke up, the poor giant would make<br />
up for lost time, wreaking more havoc than<br />
others who were no match for him in<br />
strength or size, could wreak in a hundred<br />
years.<br />
While Kumbhakarna slept his deep, devilish<br />
sleep, Ravana indulged in his own demonic<br />
deeds. He abducted the exiled prince of<br />
Ayodhya, Rama’s wife, Sita from their<br />
hermitage in a forest and in his flying chariot,<br />
brought her across high seas to his kingdom,<br />
Lanka. While a heartbroken and resolute Sita<br />
resisted Ravana’s charms and threats, his<br />
dark ruses and stratagems to make her his<br />
wife, Rama, with the help of Sugreeva, the<br />
king of Vanaras (a part-monkey, part-human<br />
species) and the loyal, utterly devoted and<br />
immensely powerful minister, Hanuman,<br />
amassed a powerful army of Vanaras and<br />
bears and marching them over to Lanka on a<br />
bridge of rocks that was not rocky but<br />
steady, parked them outside Ravana’s<br />
fortified city.<br />
One giant bully, Kumbhakarna<br />
The name Kumbhakarna derives from two<br />
Sanskrit words. ‘Kumbha’ means ‘pot’ and<br />
‘Karna’ means ‘ear’. So, Kumbhakarna<br />
means one with pot-shaped ears.<br />
Not only was Kumbhakarna gargantuan and<br />
strong, he was a villain of the first order.<br />
Scaring and torturing those unfortunate<br />
enough to be physically weaker than him (this<br />
number being the rule rather than the<br />
exception), was imminently pleasurable to<br />
Kumbhakarna. Even gods, ascetics and sages<br />
found little respite from Kumbhakarna’s<br />
shenanigans. Goaded and lauded by Ravana,<br />
reason to shake with fear on his royal,<br />
bejewelled throne. Indra appealed to<br />
Goddess Saraswati to influence<br />
Kumbhakarna’s speech when it was his turn<br />
to ask Brahma for a boon. And so she did.<br />
When Brahma asked Kumbhakarna his<br />
heart’s desire, he replied, much to Ravana’s<br />
consternation, “Lord! Grant that I sleep all<br />
the time.” And Brahma replied, “So be it.<br />
Night and day, twenty four seven, you shall<br />
sleep for the rest of your life.” An aghast<br />
Ravana appealed to Brahma to revoke his<br />
boon on grounds of clemency as<br />
Kumbhakarna’s enemies were likely to slay<br />
One after the other, Ravana’s trusted<br />
followers, each demon more devious and<br />
wicked than the previous, fell in the battle<br />
with Rama and his allies. When even the Lord<br />
of Lanka was sent scurrying off to his city in<br />
his chariot minus his ten crowns that were<br />
toppled by a crescent-shaped arrow shot by<br />
Rama, Ravana remembered Kumbhakarna. A<br />
veritable army of demi-gods was sent off to<br />
awaken the sleeping giant before his six<br />
months of hibernation were up. But neither<br />
drum nor trumpet, neither cold sandalwood<br />
paste on tummy nor blaring conch at ear,<br />
neither heavy logs of stout trees nor giant<br />
rocks flung on the snoring giant’s mammoth<br />
body, neither rampaging elephants marching<br />
over his supine form nor spears jabbing at<br />
his flesh could disturb the slumber of the<br />
mighty slumberer. When all such ruses had<br />
failed, only one worked - the aroma of<br />
mountainous amounts of food!<br />
Having eaten his fill, Kumbhakarna<br />
proceeded to march to the battlefield and<br />
carry out his brother’s command, only to be<br />
slain that very day by a special arrow shot by<br />
Rama. In his despair and haste, Ravana had<br />
forgotten the caveat to Brahma’s boon, that<br />
if the sleeping giant was woken up before his<br />
six months of slumber were up, his life would<br />
be in danger.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 39
Bullies, beware! Kumbhakarna’s sorry plight<br />
despite all his might is a warning that a<br />
fearful fate awaits those who use spiritual<br />
practices to enhance personal power and<br />
then use that power to control, intimidate<br />
and abuse instead of becoming a source of<br />
comfort to and serving those weaker than<br />
them. Meditators, beware! The task of<br />
plumbing the depths of one’s psyche is long<br />
and arduous. There are no shortcuts and no<br />
quick-fixes. Many a sleeping giant slumbers<br />
away in the dark recesses of the mind. Do you<br />
have the courage to keep on looking in and<br />
facing and transforming the illusory demons<br />
of your mind no matter how dark and<br />
devious, twisted and terrible they may seem?<br />
IN BRIEF<br />
MUDRAS<br />
Three mudras for the<br />
Travelling Yogi<br />
BY KRISHNAA KINKARI<br />
There are, nowadays, many teachers of yoga<br />
traveling all over the world to benefit keen<br />
students. Their yoga practice needs to be<br />
particularly strong and regular so the<br />
demands of the travel itself and the change of<br />
climate and diet in the destination venues do<br />
not deplete their energies nor confuse their<br />
minds even with the most serious ‘jet lag’!<br />
When traveling, situations like airport<br />
lounges or any waiting area and then on the<br />
vehicle itself, are often confined and very<br />
public. However, for the true yogis who are<br />
ever alert to their sadhana, mudras offer the<br />
perfect solution. The circumstances thus<br />
might be unfavorable, but the opportunity to<br />
remain calmly determined in every situation<br />
is excellent and also, in this case, delightfully<br />
simple, needing no special equipment and<br />
perfectly suited to any chair or enough room<br />
to plant the body, standing, sitting or lying.<br />
Mudras are the most versatile practice, are<br />
always ones best friend on a trip. Their<br />
practice will help one to be a yogi first, before<br />
becoming a teacher. A yoga teacher must<br />
fulfill the qualifications of a Yogi before<br />
trying to convey that to others.<br />
Constant traveling unbalances the<br />
tatvas[elements] which leads to disease.<br />
Balance and harmony can restore the ideal<br />
balance just through the juxtaposition of the<br />
fingers which lead to Dharana and Dhyana<br />
with sequential ease.<br />
Therefore travel need not be a task with an<br />
unfavourable end needing days of recovery as<br />
a consequence. It is simple, pleasant<br />
,immediately fruitful, private, enjoyable and<br />
much more effective than many brain-cell<br />
destroying painkillers or any form of<br />
intoxicating self medication!<br />
Enough said !Let’s take three new mudras<br />
aimed at this purpose.<br />
PRITHIVI MUDRA<br />
Prithivi means Earth. This mudra helps one<br />
to ground oneself, bring oneself down to<br />
earth. A compliment is often given that a<br />
person is very ‘down to earth’. Such a person<br />
appreciates basic values and is a support to<br />
all around them. It brings back luster and<br />
brightness to the face and installs qualities of<br />
mercy, compassion and love as well as<br />
tolerance and patience. Helps in queues and<br />
delays!<br />
Method: Tip of the thumb touches the tip of<br />
the ring finger [earth finger] and the other<br />
three fingers remain extended. Do with both<br />
hands.15 minutes ideal.<br />
VYAN MUDRA<br />
Mudra for clearness which can control high<br />
blood pressure, thus useful in times of<br />
stress, tension , irregularity, unbalanced<br />
diet, vertigo and pollution.<br />
Method: Touch the tips of the index and the<br />
middle fingers with the front portion of the<br />
thumb. Ring and little fingers are relaxed and<br />
extended. The wind and ether elements are<br />
stabilized so that blood pressure is<br />
controlled and confined within normal limits<br />
SURYA MUDRA<br />
Surya means Sun. Here fire and earth<br />
elements unite to produce brilliant energy<br />
comparable to solar energy.<br />
Method: Touch the tip of the ring finger to<br />
the root of the thumb. The thumb then rests<br />
across the ring finger. The other three<br />
fingers extend. It helps with headache or<br />
sense of heaviness in the brain. Minimum 15<br />
minutes with both hands.<br />
Have a good trip! May your travelling<br />
enlighten you and bring you back safe and<br />
sound!<br />
BOOK REVIEW<br />
AMAR<br />
CHITRA<br />
KATHA<br />
COMICS<br />
Immortal Stories for all<br />
Ages<br />
BY TIA SINHA<br />
Amar Chitra Katha in Hindi means ‘Immortal<br />
Picture Story’. Amar Chitra Katha comic<br />
books have captured the hearts of children in<br />
India for decades. These comics have been<br />
around since 1969. The heart and brain<br />
behind Amar Chitra Katha comics was the<br />
late Anant Pai who wanted to make children<br />
in India aware of their own culture. He<br />
sought to do this in a fun way rather than in a<br />
preachy and didactic manner. With the help<br />
of his stories, Uncle Pai, as he was commonly<br />
known, succeeded in bringing joy to his<br />
young readers.<br />
Well written, in simple English, often<br />
humorous and always beautifully illustrated,<br />
Amar Chitra Katha comics cover a wide range<br />
of topics. Recently published issues have a<br />
band of a particular colour on their cover.<br />
40 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 41
42 NAMASKAR
Orange bands are for epics and mythology,<br />
beige for Sanskrit classics, green for fables<br />
and humour, red for bravehearts, yellow for<br />
contemporary classics and blue for<br />
visionaries. Fables from the Hitopadesha,<br />
Panchatantra and the Jatakas and the<br />
exploits of Birbal and Raman of Tenali are<br />
forever delightful.<br />
There are about 450 tales translated into<br />
over 20 languages. However, there are over a<br />
thousand titles of Amar Chitra Katha comics<br />
as there are also collections of comics (e.g.,<br />
3-in-1 and 5-in-1 combos, mega theme-based<br />
collections) and longer special issues like the<br />
ones on Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ,<br />
Dasavatar, Valmiki Ramayana, Ram Charit<br />
Manas by Tulsidas, the colossal Mahabharat<br />
in three volumes and the Bhagawat Purana.<br />
In an age where the internet, television and<br />
fancy phones with fancier and fancier<br />
applications and games vie for a child’s<br />
attention, Amar Chitra Katha comics are a<br />
wonderful way of inculcating the reading<br />
habit in children and presenting to them in an<br />
engaging manner, the lives of great men and<br />
women through the ages.<br />
The comic books on visionaries, extolling the<br />
lives of prophets and saints, nation builders<br />
and social reformers, poets and scientists,<br />
inspire and offer examples to emulate. The<br />
story of Angulimala, a brilliant and erudite<br />
lad who, when hated, gave way to hating and<br />
his transformation from sinner to saint due<br />
to the affection shown to him by the Buddha,<br />
is depicted thoughtfully and with great<br />
sensitivity, as are the lives of Ramana<br />
Maharshi, Ramakrishna Paramahansa,<br />
Mirabai, Kabir, Mother Teresa, Babasaheb<br />
Ambedkar, JRD Tata, Rabindranath Tagore,<br />
Einstein, Marie and Pierre Curie, Jim<br />
Corbett and Salim Ali to name a few.<br />
Amar Chitra Katha comics are hard to put<br />
down. Amar Chitra Katha comics are<br />
addictive. Amar Chitra Katha comics live up<br />
to their name. They are immortal. Amar<br />
Chitra Katha comics can be relished over and<br />
over again, over the years by children and by<br />
those who have never grown up or refuse to!<br />
RETREAT REVIEW<br />
VILLA FLOW,<br />
BALI<br />
Yoga brings us into the<br />
Present<br />
BY IRENE THONG<br />
Have you ever considered yourself living in<br />
the moment? We are always thinking,<br />
dreaming, talking, judging, identifying and<br />
analysing everything what we say or do each<br />
moment of the day. Every single word people<br />
say may influence our unconscious mind to<br />
create judgements, images of words, labels<br />
(mad, angry, happy, sad, resentment, etc).<br />
Before I left for my retreat to Bali, my mind<br />
was preoccupied with my new job and news<br />
from friends far away. Going to Bali was the<br />
best solution for some peace and calmness.<br />
Villa Flow is the town of Seraya Barat in<br />
Eastern Bali. Located up on a hill with<br />
amazing views over the sea with additional<br />
private beachfront land where one can really<br />
lounge and relax. It’s a place of tranquillity<br />
and eco-awareness, as they use organic<br />
home-grown food from the surrounding<br />
community.<br />
When I was there, my mind was so<br />
preoccupied I did not even really see how<br />
beautiful the place was and how friendly the<br />
people were.<br />
My Balinese yoga teacher, Kawi, a very<br />
humble and soft-spoken guy who taught us<br />
his kind of yoga (Balinese way) told us he<br />
learnt yoga from his dad when he was very<br />
young. And in those days he said, “Yoga, is<br />
just called yoga. But now yoga has expanded<br />
to many different types, styles and names for<br />
every postures”, we have the Vinyasa,<br />
Ashtanga, Bikram, Iyengar and so on.<br />
He said, “when we do yoga, our minds must<br />
be connected to our hearts. It is not a flow of<br />
movements where we just move or follow,<br />
without sensing.” And by sensing, he<br />
managed to incorporate every movement<br />
with our daily life and the environment<br />
around us, where we always see but ignore<br />
back into our daily life.<br />
How often do we go into our yoga classes and<br />
really empty our minds to observe and sense<br />
our surrounding, our breathing, our<br />
movement? How often do we stop for the<br />
moment from interpreting those movements<br />
with our own meaning and sense our inner<br />
self or the quietness around you?<br />
At that time, I was reading a book given to me<br />
by a very dear friend in US, called “The<br />
Power of Now”. It’s true that in life, we are<br />
always think too much. We always keep<br />
thinking (consciously or unconsciously) of<br />
our pasts, as we do not want to repeat what<br />
we did in the past. And we hope for the better<br />
future because the future is better and<br />
brighter from what we hope and dream to be.<br />
We always strive to have a better future. And<br />
yet we know it is from our past that forms<br />
our future. But the future has not arrived.<br />
Thus, the more we think of our past and our<br />
future, we forget the present. Ever really<br />
stop for the moment from all your thoughts<br />
to appreciate now? Because now is here and<br />
we are living it as we speak.<br />
My retreat at Villa Flow inspired me to use<br />
my senses fully, to be more aware of where I<br />
am (not day dreaming of work or some other<br />
places or someone when I am already here),<br />
look around me (the breathtaking view from<br />
Villa Flow, the friendliness of the Balinese<br />
people), the delicious organic meals they<br />
serve three times a day from the organic<br />
farm, the lessons my Balinese yoga teacher<br />
taught me, the silence of the night. Without<br />
trying to interpret everything I see, touch,<br />
smell and observe, I finally put a smile onto<br />
my face. Like what we always are asked to do<br />
in yoga, “Observe the rhythm of your<br />
breathing, feel the air flowing in and out, feel<br />
the life energy inside your body and allow<br />
everything to be, within and without”. Allow<br />
yourself to be in the moment, to move<br />
yourself back into now.<br />
Finally I share with two favourite quotes<br />
from my retreat: “Happiness is when what<br />
you think, what you say, and what you do are<br />
in harmony” by Mahatma Ghandi and “A<br />
journey if a thousand miles begins with a<br />
single step” by Lao-Tsu.<br />
Happiness is when<br />
what you think,<br />
what you say, and<br />
what you do<br />
are in harmony<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 43
44 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 45
46 NAMASKAR
RECIPE<br />
BLACKENED CAULIFLOWER WITH<br />
LEMON CAPER SAUCE<br />
Zest up your vegies<br />
BY MOOSA AL-ISSA<br />
I admit it; like a lot of people I have had a prejudice against cauliflower.<br />
As a kid I ate it boiled with a couple of processed cheese slices melted<br />
on top. The cheese was ok, but the cauliflower was pretty bland and<br />
boring.<br />
Fast forward to the present, and by changing the cooking method,<br />
cauliflower becomes something great. This recipe is a particular<br />
favourite of mine.<br />
INGREDIENTS<br />
1 head cauliflower, center portion, cut into three vertical 1 inch thick<br />
slices<br />
1 tablespoon finely diced shallot<br />
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic<br />
3 tablespoons butter<br />
3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice<br />
Zest of 1 lemon finely diced<br />
3 tablespoons of capers (if in vinegar rinse and dry, if in salt, soak for 15<br />
minute then dry)<br />
3 tablespoons Old Bay seasoning or other herb/spice based seasoning<br />
3 tablespoons olive oil<br />
PROCEDURE<br />
Pre-heat the oven to 170 degrees<br />
Coat each side of the cauliflower slices with olive oil and then the Old<br />
Bay seasoning<br />
Heat a large frying pan to medium high heat and cook the cauliflower on<br />
each side until it is nicely blackened (about 2 minutes per side)<br />
Place the slices on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 10 minutes<br />
While the cauliflower is in the oven, place a small saucepan on the stove<br />
on medium heat<br />
Add the butter, and when it is melted, add the garlic and shallot. Cook for<br />
one minute<br />
Add the lemon zest, capers and lemon juice, lower the heat to low, stir<br />
and cook for one minute.<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 47
DIRECTORY<br />
Guide to yoga studios<br />
& teachers<br />
Alice Moulimois<br />
Personalized Yoga Instruction<br />
d: Hong Kong<br />
s: Traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa,<br />
Hatha, Mellow Flow, All levels,<br />
private and small group<br />
sessions, intuitive bodywork ,<br />
Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consulting<br />
l: English, French<br />
t: +852 9822 6500<br />
e: amoulimois@gmail.com<br />
w: www.alicemoulimois.com<br />
ANAHATA VILLAS & SPA<br />
RESORT<br />
Ubud, Bali, Indonesia<br />
s: group retreats, yoga for<br />
private & corporates. Yoga<br />
studio<br />
available for rent.<br />
l: Indonesian & English<br />
t: +62 361 8987 991/ 8987 992 /<br />
+62 21 70743366<br />
f: +62 361 8987 804<br />
e: sm@anahataresort.com /<br />
info@anahataresort.com<br />
w: www.anahataresort.com<br />
ANAHATA YOGA<br />
18/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1<br />
Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong<br />
Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga therapy,<br />
Yin and more. Groups & privates<br />
t: +852 2905 1922<br />
e: enquiry@anahatayoga.com.hk<br />
w: www.anahatayoga.com.hk<br />
ANANDA YOGA<br />
33 & 34/F, 69 Jervois Street<br />
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong<br />
s: Private and Group Classes :<br />
Yoga Therapy (neck, shoulder,<br />
back, hip, knee and joints), Hatha,<br />
Power, Ashtanga, Vinyasa,<br />
Detox, Yin Yang, Kundalini,<br />
Chakra Balancing, Pranayama,<br />
Meditation<br />
l: English<br />
t: (825)35639371<br />
e:<br />
adm.anandayoga.hk@gmail.com<br />
w: www.anandayoga.hk<br />
Anna Ng<br />
Privates<br />
d: Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha yoga<br />
l: Cantonese<br />
t: (852) 9483 1167<br />
e: gazebofl@netvigator.com<br />
David Kim Yoga<br />
E-RYT 500+, Senior YogaWorks<br />
and Yin Yoga Teacher Trainer;<br />
International TTs, Workshops &<br />
Retreats<br />
d: Korea, Japan, Vietnam,<br />
Philippines, Sweden, Norway,<br />
USA<br />
s: Yin Yoga, YogaWorks, Vinyasa<br />
Flow<br />
l: English, limited Korean<br />
t: +1 310 480 5277<br />
e: david@davidkimyoga.com<br />
w: www.davidkimyoga.com<br />
BEING IN YOGA -<br />
SINGAPORE<br />
2 Turf Club Rd # 02-01(Turf Ciy,<br />
Singapore<br />
s: yoga therapy (customized<br />
personal practice), teacher<br />
training (Yoga Alliance RYS 500<br />
hours+), in-depth yoga studies,<br />
small group classes for children<br />
and adults, workshops, sound<br />
meditation, Vedic chanting,<br />
continuing education for yoga<br />
teachers<br />
t: +65 9830 3808<br />
e valerie@beinginyoga.com<br />
w: wwwbeinginyoga.com<br />
B.K.S. IYENGAR YOGA<br />
ASSOCIATION OF MACAU<br />
174, Rua de Pequim, Edif Centro<br />
Com. Kong Fat, 7A, Macau<br />
s: Iyengar<br />
t:(853)2882 3210/6662 0386<br />
e:yoga@macau.ctm.net<br />
w:www.iyengar-yoga-macauchina.com<br />
FLEX STUDIO<br />
ISLAND SOUTH<br />
Shops 308-310 One Island<br />
South, 2 Heung Yip Road,<br />
Aberdeen, Hong Kong<br />
s: Vinyasa, Power, Detox, Hatha,<br />
Pre-Natal, Kids Yoga<br />
t: + 852 2813 2212<br />
f: + 852 2813 2281<br />
e: info@flexhk.com<br />
CENTRAL<br />
3/F Man Cheung Building, 15- 17<br />
Wyndham Street, Central, Hong<br />
Kong<br />
s: Detox, Power, Pre-Natal Yoga<br />
t: + 852 2813-2399<br />
f: + 852 2812 6708<br />
e: central@flexhk.com<br />
www.flexhk.com<br />
Kathy Cook<br />
Retreats, workshops, privates<br />
d: Hong Kong, Bali & Thailand<br />
s: Iyengar (Junior Intermediate 2)<br />
l: English<br />
t: +852 6292 5440 / +62 811<br />
387781<br />
e:kcinasia@gmail.com<br />
w: www.yogawithkathy.com<br />
KUNDALINI AT SHAKTI<br />
7/F Glenealy Tower, 1 Glenealy,<br />
Central, Hong Kong.<br />
s: Kundalini Yoga, Reiki healing,<br />
Coaching, Angel Cards. Also<br />
studio rental by day or hour<br />
t: +852 2521 5099<br />
e: info@shaktihealingcircle.com<br />
w: www.shaktihealingcircle.com<br />
KUNDALINI @ SOL<br />
16/F Tin On Sing Commercial<br />
Building, 41-43 Graham St.<br />
Central, Hong Kong<br />
s: Kundalini, Yin-Yang, Hatha,<br />
Men’s, Mindfulness, Yin<br />
destress yoga, meditation,<br />
holographic healing, cancer<br />
coaching, stress/insomnia relief,<br />
detox/weight management,<br />
complete mind-body-soul<br />
services.<br />
t: +852 2581 9699<br />
e: info@sol-wellness.com<br />
w: www.sol-wellness.com<br />
Ling<br />
Yoga and Wellbeing<br />
Private Yoga Teacher<br />
Privates, Groups, Corporates,<br />
Free Yoga Community Event:<br />
Yoga in the Park with Ling<br />
www.meetup.com/<br />
yogaintheparkhk<br />
d: Hong Kong, China<br />
s: Yoga Therapy, Sivananda,<br />
Hatha, Svastha, Mindfulness, Yin,<br />
Breathing (Pranayama), Guided<br />
Meditation, Total Relaxation<br />
(Yoga Nidra)<br />
l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin<br />
t: +852 9465 6461<br />
e: yogawithling@gmail.com<br />
w: www.facebook.com/<br />
yogawithling<br />
PAUSE STUDIO MUI WO<br />
S. Hatha, Yin, Yin-Yang, Aerial<br />
Yoga, Pilates, TRX, Regular<br />
Public classes, Private Tuition<br />
availale<br />
t: +852 9427 8647<br />
e: pausemw@gmail.com<br />
w: www.pausemuiwo.com<br />
PURE YOGA<br />
Hong Kong<br />
16/F The Centrium, 60<br />
Wyndham Street, Central<br />
t: +852 2971 0055<br />
25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell<br />
St, Causeway Bay<br />
t: +852 2970 2299<br />
14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18<br />
Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui,<br />
Kowloon<br />
t: +852 8129 8800<br />
9/F Langham Place Office<br />
Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon<br />
t: +852 3691 3691<br />
4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo<br />
Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay<br />
t: +852 8129 1188<br />
2/F Asia Standard Tower, 59<br />
Queen’s Road, Central<br />
t: + 852 3524 7108<br />
Singapore<br />
391A Orchard Road, #18-00<br />
Ngee Ann City Tower A<br />
t: +65 6733 8863<br />
30 Raffles Place, 04-00 Chevron<br />
House<br />
t: +65 6304 2257<br />
Taiwan<br />
151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec<br />
4, Taipei<br />
t: +886 02 8161 7888<br />
4/f Urban One, 1 Qingcheng St,<br />
Taipei<br />
t: +886 02 8161 7868<br />
SADHANA SANCTUARY<br />
YOGA STUDIO<br />
103 Penang Road Visioncrest<br />
Commercial, #05-01 / 03<br />
Singapore 238467<br />
48 NAMASKAR
t: +65 6238 9320<br />
e: namaste@sadhanasanctuary.com<br />
w: www.sadhanasanctuary.com<br />
Facebook.com/<br />
SadhanaSanctuaryYogaStudio/<br />
SOULMADE YOGA &<br />
TEAROOM<br />
40, Soi Chareonjai (Ekamai 12),<br />
Klongton-Nua, Wattana<br />
Bangkok 10110, Thailand<br />
s. Kripalu, Hatha, Prenatal,<br />
Workshops, Healing Arts (Aura-<br />
Soma, Bodytalk, EFT)<br />
l. English, Thai, French<br />
t. +66 2 3814645<br />
e. soulmadeyoga@gmail.com<br />
w: www.facebook.com/<br />
soulmade<br />
SPACE YOGA<br />
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Advanced,<br />
Flow, Yin, Yin Yang, Restorative,<br />
Hot, Yin/Meditation, Pranayama,<br />
Mat Pilates, Jivamukti, Universal,<br />
Myo-fascial Release Yoga and<br />
Yoga Nidra<br />
l: English, Mandarin<br />
w: www.withinspace.com<br />
An-Ho Studio<br />
16 /f, 27 An-Ho Road, Section 1<br />
Taipei, Taiwan<br />
t: +886 2 2773 8108<br />
Tien-Mu Studio<br />
5 Lane 43, Tian-Mu E. Road,<br />
Taipei, Taiwan<br />
t: +886 2 2877 2108<br />
THE COLLECTIVE, DESA SENI<br />
SCHOOLOF YOGA<br />
Jl. Subak Sari, #13, Canggu, Bali,<br />
Indonesia<br />
s: Full service resort. Ashtanga,<br />
Anusara, Embodied Flow, Hatha,<br />
Kundalini, Tantra, Therapeutics,<br />
Yin and Yang, Vinyasa, Buddhist<br />
Meditation, Vedic Meditation<br />
classes on a regular basis.<br />
Teacher Trainings, privates,<br />
Intensives, workshops.<br />
Specialize at hosting retreats.<br />
t: +62 844 6392<br />
e: info@desaseni.com<br />
w: www.desaseni.com<br />
THE YOGA ROOM<br />
3, 4, 6/F (Studios) & 15/F<br />
(Office) Xiu Ping Commercial<br />
Bldg,<br />
104 Jervois St, Sheung Wan,<br />
Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa,<br />
Candlelight Yin, Yoga Therapy,<br />
Baptist Inspired, Mindfulness<br />
Yoga, Detox Flow, Pre-natal<br />
Yoga, Pre-natal Pilates, Mat<br />
Pilates and Kids yoga<br />
t: +852 25448398<br />
e: info@yogaroomhk.com<br />
w: www.yogaroomhk.com<br />
TRUE YOGA<br />
Singapore<br />
9 Scotts Road, Level 4, Pacific<br />
Plaza 228210<br />
t: +65 6733 9555<br />
10 Collyer Quay, Level 4, Ocean<br />
Financial Centre 049315<br />
t: +65 6536 3390<br />
Taiwan<br />
563 Chung Hsiao East Road,<br />
Section 4, 1st & 2nd floor<br />
Taipei<br />
t :+886 22764 8888<br />
337 Nanking East Road<br />
Section 3, 9 & 10/F, Taipei<br />
t: +886 22716 1234<br />
68 Gongyi Road, West District<br />
12 & 13 /F, Taichung<br />
t: +886 43700 0000<br />
s: Hatha, Power, Ashtanga,<br />
Vinyasa, Yin, Gentle, Flow, Yoga<br />
Dance, Pre-natal<br />
e: operations@trueyoga.com.sg<br />
w: www.trueyoga.com.sg /<br />
www.trueyoga.com.tw<br />
Ursula Moser<br />
The Iyengar Yoga Centre of<br />
Hong Kong<br />
d: Central<br />
s: Iyengar Certified (Junior<br />
Intermediate III)<br />
l: English<br />
t: +852 2918 1798 / 9456 2149<br />
e: uschi.moser51@gmail.com<br />
WISE LIVING YOGA<br />
ACADEMY<br />
198 Moo 2, Luang Nuea, Doi<br />
Saket, Chiang Mai, Thailand<br />
s: Classical Yoga, Hatha Yoga,<br />
Yoga Therapy<br />
t: +66 8254 67995<br />
e: info@wiselivingyoga.com<br />
w: www.wiselivingyoga.com<br />
YOGA<br />
ALOHA<br />
1/F, Fu Tak Building, 367<br />
Hennessy Road, Wan Chai,<br />
Hong Kong<br />
s: Hatha, Power Vinyasa, Gentle<br />
Flow, Core & Arm, Candlelight<br />
Yin, Yin Yang, Pre-natal, Kids,<br />
Restorative, small classes<br />
I: Cantonese & English<br />
t: 2565 7088<br />
e: info@yoga-aloha.com<br />
w: www.yoga-aloha.com<br />
YOGA CENTRAL - IYENGAR<br />
CENTRAL<br />
2C Welley Bldg. 97 Wellington<br />
St. Central, Hong Kong<br />
s: Iyengar Yoga classes only,<br />
suitable for privates, small<br />
groups & corporate wellness<br />
programs<br />
t: +852 2982 4308<br />
e: yogacentralhk@gmail.com<br />
w: www.yogacentral.com.hk<br />
namaskar<br />
4 times a year<br />
6,000 yoga practitioners<br />
32 countries<br />
DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES & SIZES<br />
Outside back cover HK$24,300 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Inside front cover HK$3,400 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Inside back cover HK$2,600 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
Full page HK$2,100 210 mm x 297 mm<br />
1/2 page (horizontal) HK$1,400 180 mm x 133.5 mm<br />
1/2 page (vertical) HK$1,400 88 mm x 275 mm<br />
1/4 page HK$690 88 mm X 133.5 mm<br />
1/8 page HK$420 88 mm x 66 mm<br />
LISTINGS<br />
Individual listing HK$610 for full or partial year<br />
Studio listing HK$1,270 for full or partial year<br />
PUBLICATION DATES, BOOKING & MATERIAL DEADLINES<br />
Publication date Booking Deadline Material Deadline<br />
January December 1 December 10<br />
April March 1 March 10<br />
July June 1 June 10<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober September 1 September 10<br />
NOTES<br />
Advertising materials should in black & white and submitted as 300<br />
dpi high resolution .tif files (no pdf or ai files please)<br />
Listings should be submitted as text only (approx 35 words)<br />
PAYMENT<br />
Payments should be made in Hong Kong dollars to:<br />
<strong>Namaskar</strong> c/o Carol Adams, Flat 101, Block L, Telford Gardens,<br />
Kowloon, Hong Kong<br />
INFORMATION<br />
Carol +44 75432 55886 / carol@caroladams.hk<br />
Frances +852 9460 1967 / fgairns@netvigator.com<br />
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 49
50 NAMASKAR
<strong>Oct</strong>ober <strong>2015</strong> 51
52 NAMASKAR