Namaskar

namaskar A VOICE FOR THE YOGA COMMUNITY OF ASIA

APRIL 2011

Asteya Never-ending Story Asia Yoga Conference

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Inside APRIL 2011

Dristi Asteya

Special Features

What about As Astteya, 13

Growth through Travel & Seva, 18 Angela takes her practice

Clayton offers a simple, yet thoughtprovoking idea about this yama.

As ther E ar th, Astteya & Mo Mother Ear arth, 14 And what about our role on the environment? Inge suggests this is also stealing.

Be the Me Messsenger enger,, 15 Cassandra’s expands asteya to ideas and words.

Earn it, Respect it, 16 Paul goes into more detail about the yogic teachings of asteya.

Regular Contributions NEWS, WORKSHOPS, RETREATS & TEACHER TRAININGS, 5 TEACHER’S VOICE, 23 SPIRITUAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION, 34 DIET, 35 MYTHOLOGY IN A MINUTE, 37 RETREAT REVIEW, 38, 41 & 46 RECIPE, 39 BOOK REVIEW, 45 CROSSWORD, 48 HATHI YOGI, 48 TEACHER & STUDIO LISTINGS, 49

right off the mat and into the Himalayas.

Never-ending Story, 20 Yogesvara relishes practicing for the rest of his life.

Teaching Kids, 23 Amanda explains that teaching kids is not child’s play.

AYC, 28 If you want to be surrounded by happy, smilely people, Amber suggests the Asia Yoga Conference.

How to Lose Weight, 31 Samrat explains the theory of losing weight, in yoga or exercise.

Kundalini, 33 Ever wondered what a Kundalini yoga class is like? Nina takes you through one she attended.

About Namaskar Namaskar provides a voice for the yoga community around Asia. The publication is a vehicle for practitioners on a yogic path to share their own knowledge, learnings and experiences with others.

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

SOMETHING TO SHARE? If you have something to share with the yoga community in Asia and elsewhere (we distribute around the World), please email fgairns@netvigator.com

We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of Namaskar or its staff.

Namaskar is distributed at no charge through yoga studios, fitness centres, retail outlets, food & beverage outlets and other yoga-friendly locations throughout Hong Kong and elsewhere.

For more information, to contribute or to order Namaskar, please contact:: Carol, Administration carol@caroladams.hk Wai-Ling, News Editor & Copy Editor wailing.tse@gmail.com Frances, Editor & Publisher fgairns@netvigator.com /+ 852 9460 1967

Deadline for June 2011 issue: 10 May 2011 3

The biggest yoga event for Hong Kong, and possibly the region, is coming 9 – 12 June.

Thanks to the organisers of Asia Yoga Conference, we have a four-day, all-conference pass to give to one lucky reader. If you’re interested, please write an original essay of 150 words or less on “The role of yoga in my life” and submit it to me by email (fgairns@netvigator.com) before May 10. Our editorial committee will review all articles and choose one winner. The winning essay will be published in the next issue, which will come out in June instead of July.

namaskar

As you put your thoughts on paper, you might experience writers’ block. And if you do, you could be tempted to Google other articles on this subject and “borrow” from them.

Segue to the articles on our dristi - asteya. In particular to Cassandra’s article which points out the non-stealing definition of this yama can be expanded to taking ideas which aren’t yours or forgetting where the words you use originally came from. As you toss draft after draft into the bin, Inge’s article tying ecological issues with asteya may guide you, and before you lose your temper from eleventh-hour frustration, learn from Clayton’s article how that outburst could be considered steya. And for the formal, yoga philosophy explanation read Paul’s article.

The next issue will be published early so it can be distributed at Asia Yoga Conference. An event I hope you will support however you can. I really think it’s important for the continued growth of yoga in Hong Kong and this region. True to the sharing spirit of yoga, you’ll find 15 free, community classes and events at AYC this year. I offer my thanks to the organizers for their vision and commitment to this event.

If you’re still on the fence about attending, read Amber’s candid thoughts on the conference. One last AYC connection, we are pleased to include a retreat review by AYC teacher Wendy. Usually our retreat articles are written by the students. In this case Wendy was actually the teacher of the retreat, so quite a different perspective.

Apart from Wendy’s article, we have two other retreat reviews here. Ironically both are of Ashtanga teachers. Elonne reviews Richard Freeman’s retreat at Yoga Thailand and Inna looked at David Swenson’s retreat in Goa. Other interesting articles herein include Angela’s experiences traveling and practicing bhakti yoga around Nepal, and I loved Yogi’s thoughts about why we absolutely have to keep exercising our body and minds, not just for ourselves but for everyone around us.

You’ll notice that our news section is getting more comprehensive. This is thanks to our dedicated news editor Wai-Ling. You are welcome to send your yoga news to her directly on wailing.tse@gmail.com for future inclusion. Thanks also to contributors Amanda, Claudia, Moosa, Nina, Samrat, Sean and Tia. To Carol, who works tirelessly behind the scenes on the administration of Namaskar, and Nigel who photographed this quirky cover. That’s about 20 people (excluding advertisers, news contributors, printers, postal workers, ink manufacturers, paper mill workers and tree growers), who’ve poured over 100 hours, at a rough guess, and lots more energy into this issue.

So from all of us, please enjoy.

Frances Gairns

EDITOR

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NEWS YOGA CULTURE EXCHANGE TRIP Deva, a teacher at Pure Yoga led a group of 17 Hong Kong yoga students to Kolkata, the cultural capital of India, last October. They visited the Om Yoga World Society for talks, asana practice and dance performance as well as the 3rd International Yoga and Health Festival. Apart from yoga culture, the students also got a taste of Indian culture by visiting different local sights such as the Sundarban National Park, this beautiful forest hosts about two-thirds of the Bengal tigers, which has been a national symbol of India and is now designated as the official animal of India.

WELLNESS CENTRE OPENS IN HONG KONG SOL Wellness, an urban detox and nutrition centre opened in Hong Kong. They believe many health challenges and symptoms can be reversed through therapeutic fasting and cleansing. They offer treatments which support the process including Homeopathy, Kineseology, Bowen therapy, Cranial-sacral therapy, Sekhem, Holographic analysis, Energetic Cellular Release and Kundalini Yoga.

Group classes and private Kundalini Yoga & Meditation sessions held at SOL Wellness will be offered by certified Kundalini instructor, Nina Mongendre.

during 23-27 March with over 100 workshops, master classes and live world music performances. This annual celebration has been growing in size since 2008 and showcases Indonesia’s rich indigenous cultures and merges them with East and West in the spirit of learning, collaboration and the celebration of creativity and spiritual diversity. It provides a platform of inspiration and opportunity to affect positive change at the personal and community level.

Proceeds from festival ticket sales supports “AYO! Kita Bicara HIV/AIDS”, Bali’s most relevant HIV/AIDS prevention and education outreach initiative.

For more information www.balispiritfestival.com HONG KONG YOGATHON 2011 Happy Valley Racecourse 10 April Hong Kong Yogathon is a meaningful and challenging charity fund-raising event with the prime objective of promoting health awareness among Hong Kong citizens through yoga practice. Funds raised are donated to the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation. A series of renowned professional yoga

Tropical Transit, one of the performances at the recently held BaliSpirit Festival

teachers will lead the program as well as some yoga demonstrations. The event is supported by the Yoga Federation of India.

For more information www.hkyogathon.com SVASTHA YOGA WEEKLY ONLINE STUDIES WITH THE MOHANS Launched in April, this online study course is offered by A.G. Mohan, who over the past 40 years, A.G. Mohan has studied and practiced according to the ancient foundations of yoga,

carrying on the work of his teacher and guru, Sri T. Krishnamacharya.

For more information www.svastha.net / info@svastha.net NEW DIRECTOR AT BALI VILLAGE RESORT Indonesia Desa Seni, a village resort welcomes Anusara teacher Tara Judelle as Director of Programs. With the arrival of Tara, Desa Seni establishes itself as a hub for Anusara in

For more information contact Chan or Sharon on +852 2581 9699 / www.sol-wellness.com / www.facebook.com/ solwellness 4TH ANNUAL BALISPIRIT FESTIVAL The BaliSpirit Festival assembles Bali’s largest and most diverse collection of yoga masters, musical talent, and dance genres around the world.

This 5-day event was held

Deva (far left) led a group of enthusiastic yoga students from Hong Kong on a cultural exchange to India recently

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Bali, with regular classes complemented by immersions, teacher trainings, workshops and retreats.

For more information www.desaseni.com / info@desaseni.com SUNSET YOGA Repulse Bay Beach, Hong Kong Sunset Yoga class on the beach at Repulse Bay will start again in May on the second Saturday of the month, 5:30-6:30pm. This is a charity yoga class by donation only and taught by volunteer teachers. All proceeds collected will be donated to a local charity or worthwhile cause.

Bring your own yoga mat.

For more information wltse11@yahoo.com MONTHLY KIRTAN AT PURE YOGA, HONG KONG Kirtan is a Bhakti Yoga practice of chanting Sanskrit mantras with music. Mantras carry sound vibrations that have a powerful healing effect on all levels of our being. Chanting Kirtan is like an active, effortless meditation that helps you dissolve thoughts and releasing you from the preoccupations of everyday life.

It is wonderful for stress release, mental relaxation, creating inner

peace and calm, and cultivating joy and bliss.

Chant and unite with others in yoga for the heart - a musical meditation journey held on every last Friday evening of the month. It’s a complimentary event that is open to all.

For more information call +852 2971 0055.

SEEKING YOGA TEACHERS Yoga company looking for registered, experienced yoga teachers, based in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo to teach private Yoga classes to groups and individuals.

Interested parties should email their CV to info@yogaprivates.com or call +852 6504 4280.

STUDIO AVAILABLE FOR RENT 1,000 sq. ft. studio in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Ideal for dance, yoga and music.

For more information studio.for.rental@gmail.com / Eunice +852 2544 8398 HARI KRISHNAN JOINS ANAHATA YOGA IN HONG KONG Master Hari, an expert in Ashtanga vinyasa has joined Anahata Yoga’s teaching team.

Hari also teaches Hatha Yoga, Power Yoga, Yin Yoga, Pranayama and meditation.

For more information www.anahatayoga.com.hk / +852 2905 1822 CHINA-INDIA YOGA SUMMIT Guangzhou, China 16-19 June The China-India Yoga Summit is part of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and India. With the presence of Sri B.K.S. Iyengar, it will be a rare opportunity to learn directly from him, now at the age of 92 rarely travels to teach.

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Indra & A.G. Mohan are taking their age-old teachings on-line with weekly classes

For more information and registration www.yogasummit.org NEW INSTRUCTORS AT THE YOGA ROOM, HONG KONG Tamika Savory, Tracy Falle and Ann Da Silva have joined the team at The Yoga Room.

Tamika (ERYT-200 & RYT-500) has been teaching yoga for 7 years and her classes combine precision in alignment and technique, with a sense of play and freedom in the flow of the practice.

Tracy Falle (ERYT-200 & RYT200) has been teaching yoga for over 6 years and conducts her classes with attention to proper alignment, individual care and safety.

Hari Krishnan joins Anahata Yoga in Hong Kong

Ann (RYT-200) completed her first teacher training in Canada and tailors her classes to her students’ abilities balanced with fun and challenge.

To attend a free trial class call +852 2544 8398.

EMPOWERING PATIENTS THROUGH YOGA The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong has recently added yoga to its treatment for patients with long-term illnesses. Classes are

Tamika is now teaching at The Yoga Room in Hong Kong

this programme as a teacher, email janet.lau@pure-yoga.com FREEDOM OF FLOW LUXURY YOGA HOLIDAY Villa Sepoi-Sepoi, Lombok 22-26 September KatePorterYoga is hosting an exclusive, luxury yoga holiday during September at a stunning private villa on the beautiful island of Lombok. With yoga sessions in the morning and afternoon, by the end of the holiday you will feel like you have been away from the world for a month.

B.K.S. Iyengar will make a rare appearance outside India at the China - India Yoga Summit in June

part of the Group’s Patient Empowerment Programme, which has the goal of creating awareness of health for patients suffering from hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic heart disease, stroke and depression.

Tracy is also new to The Yoga Room in Hong Kong

The programme sets the foundation for patients’ understanding. Subjects cover: awareness of a healthy lifestyle, the correlation between sickness and emotional health, weight management, medication management, adapting a healthy diet plan, understanding specific illness and its risks.

In tandem with the lectures are various practical classes in Yoga, Pilates, fit ball, aerobics, weight management programs, and healthy cooking courses. These are taught by professionals from around the city, including five yoga teachers, coordinated by Pure Yoga teacher Janet Lau. Yoga props are sponsored by Easy Yoga.

To join this programme, contact Tung Wah Goup of Hospital at +852 2714 6911 or email wctpep@tungwah.org.hk. To join

The third new teacher at The Yoga Room, Ann

Who says yoga holidays have to be Spartan? Join this luxurious, non-yogi friendly holiday! Open your body to movement, your mind to possibilities and your heart to joy.

For more information www.kateporteryoga.com / kate@kateporteryoga.com NEW YOGA CENTRAL Aishah Jantan, started teaching at the studio in January.

Summer Specials for students from mid-July to mid-August 4 weeks to gain postural alignment in the Iyengar way.

For more information www.yogacentral.com.hk

Pure Yoga teacher Janet is empowering Hong Kong patients with yoga

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WORKSHOPS PETER SCOTT AT YOGA CENTRAL Hong Kong Senior Iyengar Teacher, Peter Scott will host Teacher Development Workshops in May and October to tackle advance poses for practise and teaching.

For more information www.yogacentral.com.hk SLEEP AND RELAXATION WORKSHOP WITH NINA MONGENDRE Sol Wellness, Hong Kong 30 May Too many sleepless nights? Do you lack energy in the morning or throughout the day? Are you turning to over-thecounter or prescription medications to help you sleep at night? Nina will teach you practical tools you can take home with you to have the good night’s sleep you want, night after night: • Breath and meditation techniques to clear your mind and relax prior to going to bed.

• Tips for making your environment sleep-friendly and conducive to rejuvenating rest.

• Guided head-to-toe relaxation methods enabling the best sleep possible.

• A special meditation to practice before you go to sleep.

7-9 pm, HK$300 For more information +852 2581 9699 / www.solwellness.com WORKSHOPS AT THE YOGA ROOM, HONG KONG Full Moon in Libra (Part 2) Yoga for Breathing Free 23 April Conducted by Neil Irwin, KRI certified instructor; HK$500 Full Moon in Scorpio - Yoga for Transformation 15 May Conducted by Neil Irwin, KRI 8

certified instructor; Regular HK$500; Early Bird (Before 1 May) HK$400 Full Moon in SagittariusYoga of Expansion 19 June Conducted by Neil Irwin, KRI certified instructor; Regular HK$500; Early Bird (Before 4 Jun) HK$400 Birthing Workshops with Peggy Chiu 28 May Understanding Birth Pain: Mind-Body Approach 3-5:3 0pm Regular HK$500; Early Bird (before 14 May) HK$400 Couples Birth Preparation with Peggy Chiu 11 June 3-6pm, Regular HK$600; Early Bird (before 28 May) HK$500 Master Saumik Bera 3-5 June A series of workshops varying from Alignment to Pranayama offered by this teacher from Singapore. Regular HK$3,550; Early bird (before 3 May) HK$2,950 For more information +852 2544 8398 / www.yogaroomhk.com WORKSHOPS AT PURE YOGA Dancing with the Divine 2011 World Tour with John Friend Pure Yoga Hong Kong - Tsim Sha Tsui 23-24 April John will be presenting two levels in this weekend workshop, a mixed-level and an intermediate/advanced-level workshop.

Yoga and Anatomy with Chris Kummer Pure Yoga Singapore – Ngee Ann City 23-24 April Learn tools and receive powerful knowledge that enables you to lead an active life

that improves with time. The refinement of movement and yoga practices can transform your yoga from exercise to therapy, self-improvement and health insurance. Yoga anatomy is about exploring your body and taking more ownership of it. The workshop will be very interactive with movement to understand the relationship with yoga and anatomy.

an in-depth journey into the study of Anusara yoga intended to help students reach new heights in their own practice. All dedicated and deeply curious yoga students, teachers, and aspiring yoga teachers are welcome!

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Chuck Miller Pure Yoga Taipei - Pure Tower 1, 7 and 8 May To practise yoga in its deepest form, students must commit to the path of building awareness through reflection and observation. With its methodology of discipline and commitment, the Ashtanga system lends itself very well to this path. In these classes, Chuck Miller will lead students on a journey of inquiry into yoga, combining the physical practice with study of the practice.

AGAMAYOGA WORKSHOPS Koh Phangan, Thailand Tantra 2 24-28 April Follow-up to their popular Tantra 1 workshop.

Core Vinyasa Intensive with Tanya Boulton Pure Yoga Hong Kong - Tsim Sha Tsui - 5-8 May Pure Yoga Singapore - Ngee Ann City - 12-15 May This practice will take you to a new level where you learn how to move from your centre! Core Vinyasa Intensives combine breathing techniques, specific Core exercises, and a vinyasa flow that will allow you to gain a feeling of movement that starts from your core.

A Wild Lotus Event: Anusara Immersion III with Patrick Creelman - Time to Grow Pure Yoga Singapore - Ngee Ann City - 18-22 May Patrick Creelman, a certified Anusara yoga teacher and yoga programme director for Pure Yoga across Asia, is currently offering a 108-hour, three-part immersion into Anusara yoga,

For more information, www.pure-yoga.com / events@pure-yoga.com

Complete Femininity/Vira Training 16-20 May You want to explore your femininity? (Shaktis only) Or become a spiritual hero?

(Shivas only) Intro to Tantric Rituals 9-11 June Go deeper into the amazing subject of Tantric Rituals.

Art of Dying 13-17 June One of their most popular workshops, the Yogic approach towards death and dying.

Kashmiri Shaivism 5-9 July Explore the depths of this almost extinct philosophy.

Yogic Healing 11-15 July A Yogic approach to the vast topic of Healing For more information www.agamayoga.com / info@agamayoga.com / +66 892 330 217 YOGA THERAPY AND AYURVEDA WORKSHOP WITH DR VISHNU KUMAR Anahata Yoga, Hong Kong 7-15 May

MICHEL BESNARD RETURNS TO HAMBURG Breathe Yoga, Hamburg, Germany 25 June-1 July Breathe Yoga Hamburg hosts Michel Besnard for a week-long workshop. Michel will be sharing his deep knowledge and experience of the various practices of yoga, in sessions that include Kriyas, Satsang, a Backbending Intensive and Ashtanga Vinyasa (Mysore-style practice plus Led Primary Series classes).

Govinda Kai will be at Yoga Thailand

Basic Ayurveda principles, diet and simple ayurvedic massage techniques will be taught in this workshop.

For more information www.anahatayoga.com.hk / +852 2905 1822 WORKSHOPS AT YOGA MALA, HONG KONG Tripura Rahasya Workshop with Carlos Pomeda 3-5 June This workshop will be based on a profound and insightful scripture of the yoga tradition, the Tripura Rahasya. This text forms a beautiful bridge between Advaita Vedanta and Tantra, which makes it tremendously relevant in contemporary life. Most importantly, the Tripura Rahasya offers what is perhaps the deepest and most transformative method of meditation found anywhere.

Ashtanga Workshops with Kino Macgregor 14-18 September Kino MacGregor is one of a select group of people to receive the certification to teach Ashtanga Yoga by its founder Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. Kino is the youngest woman to hold this title, she

has completed the challenging Third Series and is now learning the Fourth Series.

She will conduct workshops on meditation and chanting; asana demo; guided full Primary Series; inversions, hand standing and Art of Balance and introduction to the Second Series as well as Mysore practise and seminar.

For more information +852 2116 0894 / www.yogamala.com.hk Radiant Heart Living: 4 day Master Immersion into the Asana and Beyond with Stephen Thomas SPACE YOGA, Taipei 9-12 June When we approach Yoga as a holistic practice and see it in the context of our whole life, we begin to experience how radiant life can become. This program is an intensive immersion, intended to help people work towards deepening their personal practice in four key aspects of Yoga: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, and the Applied “life skills” of Yoga (lifestyle, diet, ethics).

For more information www.withinspace.com

Saturday and Sunday: A.M.: Kriyas - Traditional Yogic Cleansing: Ujjayi breathing , Nadhi Shodana, Kapalabhati, Agnisara Dhauti and Ashvini Mudra.

Satsang: Advaita Vedanta How to Inform Your Daily Life with Yoga Philosophy P.M.: Deep Flow, Lateral Motion - Increase Your Spine’s Range of Motion. Explore your individual edge in these workshops that are designed to increase the spine’s range of motion by delving into postures that involve both flexion and extension. Lateral flexion helps to increase the spine’s capacity for moving safely and deeply into backbends. The extension counters this action, thereby enhancing awareness and cultivating a harmonious balance into the journey of backbending.

Monday - Thursday: Mysorestyle practice; Friday: Led Primary Series For more information Julie Choi Trepkau yoga.breathe@gmail.com

WORKSHOPS AT SAMAHITA YOGA THAILAND Yoga from the Tradition: Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting and Philosophy with Elonne Stockton 28 May-4 June Elonne will help students develop and/or deepen their self-practice of yoga asana and breath-work - pranayama while they gain a clear idea of what yoga is in its entirety, where the practice of yoga comes from, and why we practice yoga to begin with. This retreat is open to all levels of practitioners.

Yoga Detox: A Complete and Supported Naturopathic Detox Program with Graeme & Carole Bradshaw 4-11 June Designed for practitioners of all approaches to yoga, this retreat offers a highly effective detox program that not only targets physical blockages but also mental and emotional obstacles, allowing for spiritually transformative experiences. The Yoga Detox is based on Graeme’s 25 years of experience as a respected naturopath specializing in detoxification programs and Carole’s background as an Ashtanga yoga teacher and holistic wellness coach. In addition to morning Mysorestyle yoga practices, there are daily educational health and nutrition classes and a comprehensive mind-body program to access deeper layers of personal healing. This retreat is open to all levels of practitioners.

Taking Our Practice To The Next Level with Govinda Kai 11-18 June In this weeklong retreat we will focus on dynamic discussion and reflection on the deeper meaning of yoga practice.

This course is open to all levels of students.

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RETREATS

Jessica Blanchard will be teaching Ayurveda at Yoga Thailand

are ready to become aware of your own habits and patterns, then implement wisdom from nature’s intelligence (which you already possess). We will learn how to merge ancient wisdom with the latest modern research on the optimum diet. Each day will include a theory lecture and practical exercises, sometimes in the form of observation exercises, recognizing herbs and spices, modifying a diet, exercise and yoga program.

Anatomist David Keil will be at Yoga Thailand

Evolving with Ayurveda: Radiant Health with Jessica Blanchard and Paul Dallaghan 16-30 July This course qualifies for 100 hours of continuing-education credit toward Yoga Alliance 500- and Centered Yoga 1100hour training certification.

Life around us changes at each moment, whether we like it or not, our bodies also change on a daily basis. You have a choice: embrace and welcome the change or resist and struggle.Your daily routine can support or hinder your health.

You can achieve excellent health with simple measures if you 10

Yoga Anatomy - Understand and Adjust with David Keil 30 July-13 August This course qualifies for 100 hours continuing-education credit toward Yoga Alliance 500- and Centered Yoga 1100hour training certification.

David Keil returns to Samahita Yoga Thailand to teach his highly respected Yoga Anatomy series. David teaches these programs worldwide and is internationally acclaimed as one of the experts in anatomy for yoga.

The Continuing Education Anatomy course combines three basic workshops. By understanding the information from, and combining these three workshops, there is a synergistic quality that deepens

ones understanding of anatomy. First is to know the anatomy, then be able to see the anatomy and finally, adjust the anatomy. Over the course of two weeks, there will be an anatomy class each day, detailing and understanding how the body functions as well as how it can dysfunction. All the anatomy classes will play off of and relate to the Ashtanga Yoga method of practicing asana. Through the course David will be leading a combination of Mysore and Led classes that will bring the three components together in the practice.

For more information www.yoga-thailand.com Natural Therapies and Yoga with Claudia Jones 6-13 August This retreat educates you in how to take care of yourself and your wellbeing in a natural and holistic way. By exploring a variety of complementary therapies and re-evaluating our approach to how illness and wellness are created, we can become empowered to take control of our own health. On this retreat you will learn practical tools and techniques that can transform your inner and outer health. This retreat is open to all levels of practitioners.

Claudia is the Director of Samahita Wellness at Yoga Thailand. Claudia expertly guides and supports our guests through detox and wellness programs.

For more information www.wellness-thailand.com/ yoga-retreat-therapy.html

CHANGE YOUR MIND: YOGA AND MEDITATION RETREATS IN BHUTAN WITH KIM ROBERTS 20-26 April; 1-7 May Inspired by the natural beauty and spiritual heritage of Bhutan, this retreat will explore how training the mind to be present is not a chore or something that requires superhuman discipline: it is simply to appreciate what is right in front of us.

Mornings will be reserved for more invigorating yoga practice, while evening practice will consist of restorative poses and sitting meditation. During the day, various excursions to local cultural and religious sites will be arranged.

For more information papayayoga@gmail.com / www.papayayoga.com HRIDAYA RETREAT Agama Yoga, Koh Phangan, Thailand 29 April-8 May; 27 May-5 June; 24 June-3 July; 22-31 July 10-Day-Silent Meditation Retreat with Sahajananda.

For more information www.agamayoga.com / info@agamayoga.com / +66 892 330 217.

THE SPRING STILLNESS AND MOVEMENT MOUNTAIN RETREAT YangMing Mountain, Taipei, Taiwan 29 April-1 May The Taipei-based East West Culture Project) is hosting an exclusive weekend Meditation and Mindfulness Retreat, dedicated to the expat community in Taiwan and greater Asia, and offering participants of all levels of experience a chance to immerse themselves in relaxation and rejuvenation practices (including qigong, yoga and meditation), while steeping

TEACHER TRAININGS their minds in the awareness of the present. Highlights will be a special lecture and Q&A session with the Venerable Khenchen Rinpoche.

The retreat will be held at a luxurious hot-spring resort nestled in one of YangMing Mountain’s gorgeous valleys, all abloom with Spring blossom, just over an hour’s drive from downtown Taipei. Prices begin at NT$10,000 (approximately HK$2,600).

For more information info@eastwestcultureproject.org YOGA AND AYURVEDA TREATMENT RETREAT WITH WENDY WYVILL Weligama, Sri Lanka 16-23 May A journey into the sacred. This week of yoga and ayurveda treatment at the Barberyn Beach Ayurveda Resort will be an adventure of healing and selfpurification in Sri Lanka.

For more information www.pure-yoga.com / retreat@pure-yoga.com GREENPATH YOGA RETREAT WITH CLAYTON HORTON 3-5 JuneGreenpath Yoga Retreat in Palawan, Philippines with Clayton at Bahay Kalipay Retreat Center.

Incorporating Ashtanga Yoga, sacred music, raw foods, inner dance, introduction to organic farming and Yin restorative Yoga.

For more information monica.eleazar@gmail.com / www.bahaykalipay.com / www.greenpathyoga.org

ASHTANGA TRAINING WITH DAVID SWENSON Pure Yoga Singapore - Ngee Ann City 25-30 April As in all courses run by David Swenson there is sure to be plenty of laughter and fun as well as an incredible depth of knowledge shared. Participants are certain to learn more than they imagined possible in a weeklong course and have a great time as well.

For more information www.pure-yoga.com / events@pure-yoga.com TEACHER TRAINING WITH CLAYTON HORTON Boracay, Philippines 1-28 May San Francisco, 24 July-26 August Greenpath Yoga teacher trainings with Clayton deepen your practice, reconnect with nature and your life’s purpose.

200-hour, Yoga Alliance Ashtanga based training. Meals included. Residential and nonresidential options available.

For more information info@greenpathyoga.org / www.greenpathyoga.org YIN YOGA MERIDIAN TRAINING Hong Kong 11-15 May If you are keen to know about Traditional Chinese Medicine based on Yellow Emperor Inner Classics, what are meridians, how they differ from Nadis, how it works in the body and how to tap into these energy lines with Yin Yoga; be sure to attend this training with Victor Chng in Hong Kong.

This is a training only for people who have completed yin yoga teacher training with Victor Chng or any training (workshops will not be considered) with Paul Grilley or Sarah Powers.

For more information www.yinyogainasia.com

For more information www.HotYogaImmersion.com

THE ART AND CELEBRATION OF YOGA WITH JULIA MCCABE Cape Tribulation, Australia 5-25 May A 200-hour Yoga Alliance teacher training and immersion option (for non-teachers). This foundation training will anchor your confidence as a student and teacher after 200 hours of asana (based on the methods of varying vinyasa methods, a fusion of Ashtanga, Anusara, Forrest Yoga and more) meditation, pranayama, chanting/mantra, kriyas, history, anatomy (yogic and structural) and the elements of what makes a solid teacher.

500-Hour Advanced Yoga Certification 13 Nov-17 Dec Yoga teachers can learn how to teach workshops, advanced anatomy, public speaking and business skills to take their career to the next level.

For more information julesmccabe@yahoo.com / www.juliamccabe.com AGAMA YOGA SUMMER TTC Koh Phangan, Thailand 23 May-13 August Learn how to teach yoga in the ‘Agama Style’.

For more information www.agamayoga.com / info@agamayoga.com / +66 892 330 217.

TRAININGS AT ABSOLUTE YOGA, THAILAND Hot Yoga Teacher Training 1-29 June & 2-30 October Join Absolute Yoga’s senior teaching team for this 200-hour Yoga Alliance course with their dedicated training faculty.

For more information www.TeachHotYoga.com Hot Yoga Immersion 29 June-4 July Beyond the 26 classic Hot Yoga poses... explore the bigger world of Hot Yoga, deepen your practice, and have fun getting fit.

For more information visit www.500HourYogaTraining.com THE ART OF TEACHING WITH SUDHAKAR DHEESAN Pure Yoga Hong Kong - Tsim Sha Tsui 11-30 July Pure Yoga Taipei - Urban One 6-29 August The Art of Teaching is an 18day foundation in Hatha Yogainspired (Dheesan Yoga) training. This course is the first step in equipping yourself with the essential knowledge of yogic traditions, the history of yoga and the how to design a class and a sequence.

For more information, www.pure-yoga.com / teachertraining@pureyoga.com TEACHER TRAININGS AT ANAHATA YOGA, HONG KONG Advanced Hatha Yoga 3-12 June Level 1 1-10 July Level 2 3-11 September Level 3 This intensive training with Yogananth Andiappan takes teaching yoga postures to new limits and let students set new heights in the advanced Hatha Yoga practice. Students will practice, explore and learn to teach some of the most advanced Hatha Yoga postures.

200-Hour Yoga Therapy & Ayurveda This training teaches the principles of yoga therapy and ayurveda. In-depth exploration of the energy body, including the pranavayus, chakras, nadis 11

and marmas as well as ayurvedic massage techniques will be taught. Accredited by Tamil Nadu Physical Education & Sports University, India and Yoga Alliance, USA. For more information www.anahatayoga.com.hk / +852 2905 1822 TEACHER TRAININGS AT SPACE YOGA, TAIPEI Anusara Teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh 28 April-3 May (Part II) Specially designed for those wanting to teach in the Anusara tradition, this is Desiree’s only full Anusara teacher training offered in Asia. Together with the 100-hour Anusara Immersion Course, this 100hour training is Anusara Inspired teacher requirement and is registered with the Yoga Alliance under its 200-hour level. The training is offered in two 50-hour sessions.

The Teacher’s Seat with Stephen Thomas 3-5 June Propel your practice and teaching forward with this level 2, 45-hour teacher training. The second session of a two-part training, this course builds on the foundation developed in a 200-hour training. Covering topics of therapeutic applications, hands-on adjustments, sequencing, and presenting the essence of yoga, this 3-day workshop will allow teachers to deepen and refine the art of teaching.

For more information www.withinspace.com SAMADHI FAMILY YOGA TEACHER TRAINING Amico Studio, Hong Kong 23 May-23 June If you’ve thought about becoming a yoga teacher or adding another specialty to your Yoga Alliance accreditation

(RCYT - children’s specialty) then this course may be just what you are looking for!

Gecko Yoga is hosting Amanda Reid from Samadhi Family Yoga to teach the RYT200 Samadhi Family Yoga Course. This is the first time the full 200-hour training will be available in Asia. Early bird rate available before 22 April.

For more information www.geckoyoga.com / jenny@geckoyoga.com

For more information www.centeredyoga.com

INTRODUCING Wai-Ling Tse edits this section of yoga news, workshops, retreats & teacher trainings.

Please email her directly on wailing.tse@gmail.com with your or your studio’s news to include it here.

ASHTANGA TEACHER TRAINING WITH PAUL DALLAGHAN Samahita Yoga Thailand, Koh Samui, Thailand 5 November-3 December Lled by Paul since 2000, Centered Yoga is Asia’s most respected and longest running Yoga Alliance Registered Program, offering 200 and 500hour levels. Now accepting applications for the foundation level.

Win a fr ee p as o Asia Y oga free pas asss tto Yoga enc e Con onffer erenc ence Evolution, Asia Yoga Conference is just around the corner, 9 - 12 June 2011 at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Namaskar has one free 4-day, all-conference pass to give away.

Just write an essay about “Yoga in my life” and email it to fgairns@netvigator.com by May 10. Please limit your essay to 150 words maximum.

Our editorial team will choose one winner whose article will be published in the June issue of Namaskar, which will be distributed at the conference.

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Dristi Asteya

What about As Astteya?

Clayton Horton

WHEN I WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD I USED TO STEAL FISHING EQUIPMENT from our neighborhood department store. It was exciting. As I got older, I realized such activity was dangerous, not smart, and not nice.

Even though someone may have told you previously stealing is bad behavior and bad karma, there comes a time when an individual “sees the light” and begins to understand the Golden Rule, “do unto others as you would have others do unto you”.

In the development of a yogic practitioner, there comes a time when the decision is made to begin to untie knots instead of create them. The practice of yoga is very much the untying of knots in the body and mind. This untying is a way of living in which we let go of attachments, our suffering and unhealthy habits.

I will never forget the time when a woman I knew was in a teacher training program in San Francisco. The students were beginning to study the Yamas and Niyamas. When learning these ethical “do’s and don’t’s”, I remember her getting upset when she realized to pursue her future in yoga, she was going to have to let go of her shoplifting habit.

individuals can steal energy by creating a melodrama to draw attention to themselves Okay so you are a good boy or girl now and you have learned not to steal. Very good. But watch yourself because there are a plethora of ways we steal energy from others - often in an unconscious way.

Have you heard the phrase, “don’t let them steal your smile”? Sometimes someone makes a negative comment or uses a tone of voice towards another person to put them down because they are suffering or jealous of the elation, success or well being of the other.

Often needy individuals can steal energy by creating a melodrama to draw attention and energy to themselves. Another way this occurs is when someone acts aloof, goes into hiding or withholds information to attract more energy and attention. This subtle form of stealing can be exhausting, especially if both parties are not aware of the energy game that is being played.

Asteya pratishthayam sarvaratna upasthanam, Patanjalim sutra ii: 37, states upon being well established in non-stealing, there occurs the attainment of all prosperity.

Often commentaries will say when Asteya is well practiced, heaps of gems will fall before the yogi. The point to be made is there is enough for everyone if we all share. Don’t take what is not yours, and you will get all you deserve and require. Asteya, as well as many other Patanjalim yamas, resonates with the simple rule, which I call yoga’s number one rule, “be nice”.

Clayton is director of Greepath Yoga www.greenpathyoga.org

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Dristi Asteya

ASTEYA & OUR MOTHER EARTH Inge Santoso

Taking more than the fair share which can be categorized as stealing

THE THIRD YAMA IS ASTEYA, meaning controlling desires to procure and to live within the means. Not to borrow resources for unintended purposes or to keep them past due, by fraudulent way including (Matt Mc Dermott, New York).

In this article I propose the principle of asteya applies to ecological issues.

Our environmental problems such as global warming, climate change, air and water pollution stem from not living within our ecological limits. Taking more than the fair share is creating pollution or ecological disorder/imbalance, which philosophically speaking, can be categorized as stealing. (Matt McDermot, New York) Here along the tropical equator, which was used to be called “The Emerald of the Equator”, much green nature has been destroyed due to overconsumption in the name of modernization. Just ponder on the recent eruption of the volcano Merapi in Middle Java. One alleged cause was the overconsumption of the volcanic stones for construction projects.

The explosion left the mountain burnt which may result in flood landslides. High rises are built in crowded cities, making the ground concrete and causing flood carrying all kinds of virus and bacteria.

Factories unable to process wastage, dump pollution into the sea in the crowded islands causing marine habitat poisoning.

Traffic jams in busy cities are almost to breaking point, causing a film of smoggy grey air hazardous to health.

All of the above examples are the result of overconsumption, taking more than ability to process. Broadly speaking, we have taken far too much from this beautiful earth. Isn’t this asteya in itself ? We must ask whether the modernization can be done to the point of stealing from the earth and the sea.

Using natural resources beyond the rate at which they can be replenished, is taking

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away from other humans and animals. Our future generations would be left with less resources to support their life. (Matt McDermott, New York). Massive mining projects, have caused internal conflicts between foreign investors and locals.

Tropical forests burned for one reason or another is causing the disappearance of wild animals, such as Sumatra Tigers, Elephants, Gorilla and Orang Utan, not mentioning smaller species.

Life now is already hard enough for many people in the green belt and globally. How can future generations live a wholesome healthy life with less resources? There must be a global and more concerted action to awaken and to educate the mass population for mindful awareness in the consumption of natural resources.

Stop and smell a beautiful flower. “This Earth is a paradise, we just need to make up our mind.” (Paraphrasing Lao Tse) How can one destroy such a beautiful Mother Earth who silently always gives and nurtures. Just look at the mango tree which bears sweet fruits. Hopefully, the fruits of our mindful consumption (sadhana) would be so sweet with such love.

My objective in writing this article is awaken the population to the dire need to balance ecology for the healthy and wholesome living of the future generations on this planet earth.

Powder blue sky Crimson sun light.

Water birds passing by.

By the seashore in Namaha !

Look, there is so much beauty on this Earth, the Paradise.

Father Sky. Mother Earth.

May we be awakened in the Sacredness that is the Earth.

Om Tara Tuttare Ture Svaha !

Father sky. Mother earth.

May all beings be awakened in the Sacredness that is Lady Tara.

—Our Mother Earth — Om Tara Tuttare Ture Svaha !

Inge is a long-time practitioner of Yoga and Meditation. She has compiled a collection of spiritual poetry and writings She also designs unique spiritual jewelry and yoga & casual wear. inge_kunarsih@yahoo.com

Be a Messenger not a Thief Cassandra Kish

ASTEYA MEANS NON-STEALING. BUT WHAT IS STEALING? TAKING something which is not ours; taking something we didn’t pay for; what about accepting an extravagant gift? How do you feel accepting a big gift you will never be able match? For many of us the inability to rendre la pareille (make an equal offering in return), puts us in a state of discomfort.

In the context of yoga, what is ` ours? What do we own? What have we created without outside influence? Is there anything original? Probably not.

Is yoga the big extravagant gift we accept with a smile and pass on to others, knowing the information didn’t originate from us? Or do we take the gift and sneak away, showing yoga postures in inappropriate situations, like dazzling our mates at a party with Bakasana, or placating a friend who needs support by explaining yogic concepts as our own? The difference between stealing and asteya (non-stealing) is all in your attitude. Are you truly trying to help the friend who needs a few kind words or are you trying to impress them with your wise view of the world?

It is thievery when you use the information for self fulfilling purposes.

whole and repackaged the line of thinking to fit the current day problem. Truly great thinkers did what they had to, to make a change in the way people think and behave - Martin Luther King Jr., Gandhi, Jesus, Rosa Parks, Mohammad.

One more plagarism on my part: “The road to contentment requires a bit of excruciating self examination.” That was Baron again, maybe he should have written the article!

Born in an orphanage in the US to an Italian mother, Cassandra was adopted two years later by an American family. She currently teaches in France, where she and her daughter live. miisasmom@yahoo.com

So is everything stolen? I think the difference between stealing and asteya is the state of our ego when we pass the information along. Are we really the creator of a posture, a phrase or a sequence? There is a difference between someone who is passing on the information they have received and integrated and someone who believes they are the creator, the inventor of a thing.

I think our egos push us into believing we are different, and consequently our dialogue becomes one of establishing our uniqueness.

I listen to students talk about their injuries, which incredibly enough has become a viable subject to assert uniqueness. Everyone who had knee surgery has had the most severe and intricate knee reconstruction of all time! They spend 20 minutes trying to convince those within an earshot that the doctor confirmed their knee injury is the worst the world has ever seen. “Arguing to maintain our limitations is a bit, um, stupid” (I stole that line from my teacher. Thanks Baron).

We become yoga students, diligently attending class, feeling more comfortable on the mat and in our skin. As time passes we make little adjustments to the breathing sequence or to the way we transition from Up dog to Down dog and we begin to believe something exists because of our brilliant mind and sense of creation. Our egos feel strong because we believe we have revolutionized this 5,000-year-old practice.

When we forget the origins of something we take it on as our own, we are stealing.

As teachers we find phrases and sequencing we saw or learned from a workshop or video and over time we forget the origins of “be the eye of the storm, perfectly calm while the craziness spins around you” (Baron, again). When we forget the origins of something we take it on as our own, we are stealing.

Every student who has been practicing for two years makes the same mistakes as every other student who has practiced for two years. Same with 10 years, well, hopefully after 10 years of solid practice we can walk into a class, without ego, without running to the teacher and telling them every big name yoga teacher we have done a three-hour workshop with.

The great people in the world are great because they tap into the consciousness of the 15

Dristi Asteya

Earn It, Respect It Paul Dallaghan

THERE’S A THREAD THAT RUNS through all these values and practices (of yoga and life) that could be summed up in one word – integrity. You can feel it run inside you, you can see it pass through your thoughts. It informs the breath and the posture.

The complete practice of external yoga – yama, niyama, asana, pranayama (and pratyahara) – is a cultivation of this inner principle which the Buddha called the middle path, which we see as virtue, integrity. Its cultivation and maturing develops a greater awareness through a clearer consciousness. The questions of “is it right or wrong?” or “should I or shouldn’t I?” gradually disappear as the answer is clear within. The “line” is strong.

One with such integrity (the yogi) literally embodies “asteya” and as a result receives benefits from all sides. Asteya has been included as a Yama in many yogic texts, foremost among them the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Though no definition is given, an outcome on its establishment is offered; Asteya pratishthayam sarva ratnopasthanam (PYS II.37) When the yogi has established (in him/ herself) the principle of non-theft, all treasures attend upon him/her.

“Taking a thing not given by its owner or to which one is not entitled, is steya or stealing. To forsake such a thing and not to have even a desire to possess it is Asteya,” according to Swami Hariharananda Aranya.

One of the challenges of humanity is the inborn capacity to cause harm, be dishonest, steal, greedy, jealous. “A-steya” is a negation of a built-in tendency, in this case “steya” or stealing. Call it inappropriate possession, as it covers subtle to gross things, ideas to material objects.

The purpose of all these values and practices of yoga is to act as a remover of impurities (see PYS II.28) thereby changing the context of our heart so negative elements are weak to non-existent with integrity strong in their place.

Again it comes back to practice and how you work on yourself. Inner development does not come overnight nor is it cheap. It is a true value and can only be earned. In

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that sense it is completely in line with the meaning of asteya, both possessions and merits come to us rightfully, earned and handled with respect. To overcome the tendency to take what is not mine is real practice, to be established in it is to be living it, rich in integrity with all the “treasure” in the world, that inner virtue.

This is Patanjali’s meaning.

Asteya has been called non-stealing, noncovetousness, non-desirousness. It covers action, word and thought. Purify your action and intention. Direct your thought away from even the wish that what belongs to another person should be yours.

According to the Darshopanishad, “asteya consists in complete indifference towards the property belonging to another, whether it is straw, money or gold.” Even if a jewel or treasure is found it is not to be taken because it belongs to somebody else.

Swami Hariharananda Aranya advises “not to take a thing which is not one’s own and the effort to give up even the desire for such things is the practice” of noncovetousness.

Asteya definitely stands on the firm legs of ahimsa and satya. Whatever comes into your possession should not involve any force, harm, dishonesty or manipulation. Simply put, earn it! Ask yourself, “how have I come by this, has it been by just means, have I earned it, put in the effort?”

Very common in our language is “This is mine”. But there is a wonderful phrase in Sanskrit “Idam na mam”, “this is not mine”, and is included in all types of offerings, ceremonies and rituals, a sense of giving back what you have taken, correcting the mental confusion over what is mine. In reality we are given temporary use of all these possessions we call mine. The point is to be aware of this, make an offering back to nature, back to the giver, still benefiting by the possession but clear in the desire and coveting of things.

Whether we call things mine or not, we really just have temporary possession over them. So included in asteya is the value of respect. When you rent a car, do you treat it differently than your own car? Similarly with the possessions we have earned in life.

Respect the property. One day it must be returned anyway. Such respect requires care and awareness which overrides greed and jealousy. It will also be passed on to the

next generation so pass on a clean slate.

Passing on an inheritance to the next generation built on steya just perpetuates the problem. All things must be returned to nature and the creative force eventually.

As such, what comes in your possession can be both shared and used to help others.

If it is covered in selfishness then the gift or ability is really abused. This brings it back to the intention and action being refined along the lines of true asteya.

A few practical questions arise – “what do I do if I find a possession? I get that it is not mine but do I just walk away or do something about it?” The intention can drive this. Your level of indifference will also help decide. You may see a sparkly jewel in the earth and have no desire to possess it. At another time you may see it as nature’s bounty and to make productive use of it will help society, feed your family and so on.

Or it may be obvious what is laying there is somebody else’s and so, depending on the circumstance, may be left there, as they will come back, or you use intelligence and bring it to an appropriate authority or make an announcement. “But what if I find just plain cash?” Well lucky you. Here it is harder to see the line but still you can see it is not “yours”. So give it back to the greater good, donate it, offer it to some collection box or an entire staff ’s tip.

Following from the point above where we possess things in this world, whether material goods or knowledge, and then we make use of them, what then is considered “fair use and fair charge”? Again apply ahimsa and satya. Did you use unreasonable force, were you dishonest, did you manipulate? This includes trying to get more from it than is appropriate, which implies excessive force and even manipulation, such as pushy sales to market making. What can you do to deal with this tendency to “steya”?

your thinking, catch your action.

Understand the consequences by looking down the line. Due to the level of impurity within this still might not be clear so practice is utmost.

Really, the means must justify the end. You can’t build a church on stolen money. It all comes back to your intention, followed by your action along the same “line” I mentioned at the start of this article.

Ultimately, asteya benefits society and humankind.

When the yogi has established the principle of non-theft, all treasures attend upon him.

When looked at in detail you can see it is a very personal teaching and the growth is personal. Each person has the choice to cultivate it or not. And as Patanjali points out (PYS II.37), in so doing such indifference radiates from you, people see you as completely trustworthy, and you find all that is necessary, all good things, come to you, all good qualities and virtues become part of your character.

It comes down to you. It can only be earned through awareness and wisdom.

Each day you are given an opportunity with this. How do you respond?

Paul is the director of Yoga Thailand and Centered Yoga. www.yoga-thailand.com www.centered-yoga.com

Vitarka-badhane prati-paksa-bhavanam (PYS II.33) If there are negative thoughts against yamas and niyamas, one should contemplate on the opposite, positive thought. This is pratipaksha bhavanam.

Patanjali gives the greatest solution. If bothered by the thought down to the actual doing of it, apply the opposite. Change 17

Bhakti Yoga

Personal Growth through Travel and Seva Angela Pashayan

WE OFTEN THINK OF PERSONAL GROWTH BEGINNING on the mat, in reading spiritual material, or in meditating. These are true and very important, however I find the biggest leap in personal growth from traveling outside my comfort zone.

It is easy to read about compassion, feel it in meditation or need a little compassion for yourself on the mat, but what about giving compassion to others in need inreal life situations? Most yoga retreats serve the Self which is a good start. Yoga of Devotion retreats serve the Soul, taking personal growth to a new level.

Through international travel, your soul is nourished with the realities of others who share the planet with you. These realities include the joys and pleasures of a different culture, as well as the needs of the poor in that culture. Let me tell you about my recent personal growth experience in Nepal.

My yoga trip to Nepal began in Bhaktapur—City of Devotees!

After a 40-minuest ride outside of Kathmandu, we arrived at this incredible place. The town was built in the 1100’s and holds the same feeling of that time. With terracotta brick streets, buildings, temples, local shops and inns….it’s like a dream. above: The largest Stupa in the world is here at Boudanath in Nepal below: view of the Nyatapola Temple in Bhaktapur from a restaurant

For me being a Bhakti Yogi it’s even more of a dream because this is the home of Bhakti, the yoga of surrender to love and selfless giving. In the center of town where the Nyatapola Temple is, we ate at Café Nyatapola set up high looking over the Taumadhi Square.

Food was delicious, view even more. My personal growth here was felt in understanding that time changes not the heart. This is one of the oldest cities in Nepal and was named in the honor of selfless giving and surrender to the divine.

We visited Boudanath which boasts the largest Stupa in the world.

A Stupa is like a temple where people come to pray, but instead of kneeling they walk counterclockwise around the Stupa and spin prayers wheels that are affixed to the Stupa sides.

Boudanath is very close to a Monastery, so you often see monks shopping around the Stupa. Local vendors sell tourist items, cashmere, Tibetan prayer flags, incense, spies, rugs, and more.

Restaurants atop the roofs of buildings house restaurants with spectacular views of the area and the Himalayan Mountains. Seeing monks in a daily setting was personally moving. I spoke them about their day-to-day life. They explained about the prayer wheels and their choice of lifestyle. To interact directly with monks is growth you cannot get on the mat!

Then there was the visit to Changu Narayan, the oldest structure in the Bhaktapur District. Set atop a hill, the location is very quiet and secluded. You are greeted by a stone walkway that are staggered along the way up to the Narayan Temple. This path takes you through the Changu Village full of shops. There are some local flats above the shops and a few local coffee shops. Goats share the path with you as they wander around the village. Behind the shops

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on either side the backdrop is of rice fields expanding as far as the eye can see. The path ends at the Narayan Temple, circa 350AD. The practice of making intricate Mandala’s is a special art here, completed by Monks only who have been blessed by the Dalai Lama. I sat with ‘Mr. Ram’ as he worked on a beautiful piece which I purchased. My purchase will not only help Mr. Ram, but also the monastery which he belongs. Mr. Ram explained to me the meaning behind each ring of the mandala he created…beautiful

Through travel, your soul is nourished with the realities of others Buddhist inspired guidelines for higher living and thinking. It was a small amount to pay to sit with him and take home a gift so profound to remind me of my path to enlightenment.

The countryside of Nepal is equally as amazing as the bustling city of Kathmandu. This is where I experienced hands-on Seva (selfless service). We visited the site of a hospital in a town called Itahari. It was the ground-breaking of the hospital and Yoga of Devotion donated a portion of the trip proceeds to help build the hospital.

Children and villagers came out to greet us. We talked to the children, learned about their daily lives and struggles, did some fun yoga with them and just spent time being with them. We also brought small gifts for the children to remember us by. There was no rush, just a relaxing time sharing our love with the children. The statement, “we are all in this together” takes on a new meaning when you are in the middle of rice fields with few homes around.

Visiting these “soul stirring” places creates a contemplation within that you can bring back home with you to the mat at yoga practice.

The scenery and experiences of the tour will stay with you, like an experience that has lodged itself into the body. On the mat you find yourself thinking of the greater purposes of life….the bigger picture. And you begin to feel the power and meaning of ‘Seva and Personal Growth’.

This was my experience and I hope sharing it with you will broaden your horizons of how to enhance your yoga experiences.

Since 2003, Angela emerges daily from her yoga mat ready to co-create the best experiences in her life. Yoga of Devotion is her unique brand of practice enjoyed by yogi’s of all levels, including beginners. All proceeds from Angela’s Yoga of Devotion go to her Children’s Charity: www.tfwchildrensfund.org ap@yogaofdevotion.org

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Perspective

This Ne ver Ending S Nev Sttory Yogesvara Sarasvati

YESTERDAY I HAD A MINI INTERNAL freak out. I was exercising, doing some abdominal work and I realized, “Holy crap!

I will never not have to work at feeling well in my body, mind and spirit.”

What was frightening was it made me see that subtly, subconsciously, I had been holding on to some fantasy there would be some moment, some perfect precipice, wherein afterward I would just permanently feel okay. This is a serious yet very common delusion. Though my intellect clearly understands the

I will never not have to work at feeling well in my body, mind and spirit ridiculousness of it, there was still a major yearning in my energy-body for a salvation moment. Despite active engagement for 10 years in a yogic lineage with a totally different view, I discovered yesterday this cultural conditioning of banking on salvation runs deep.

It ain’t going to happen folks. The work is never finished. Even death is not final.

Growth and change is constant. Sounds clichéd, right? But, most of us subconsciously hope the next donut we eat will actually make us happy; let alone the unconscious sentiments we have about hoping and wishing heaven is real. But, truly, nothing is permanent and if we aren’t riding the waves of the ever-present simultaneity of living and dying then we are clinging to an illusion.

On an immediate level if we don’t actively engage with the present freshness of what is (rather than our projections based on what was or what will be) then we are selling ourselves so short. We can forget the high folutin’ philosophy. Practically speaking, if we don’t exercise we will get tight in the muscles, we’ll have problems with our joints and organs, we won’t digest our food well, etc. Eventually, we’ll get sick and we may even die unnaturally from disease, full of fear. In the meantime, we won’t be as happy as we could be, and we may not be very happy at all.

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And, if we don’t meditate and pray in some fashion then we will get tight in the mind and spirit and we will suffer in untold ways. Eventually, we will just be living in a dream world of our own creations. Actually, we already are doing that. But, sooner or later, the more tight we get on the inside the more our dream will become a living hell. If we don’t pay enough attention to our “inner world” it will fade to black. But, it will never die.

Rather, our unconscious will send us messages to wake up! Usually these messages come in the form of anxiety, depression, anger, etc. If we continue to ignore, numb out, or deny these issues they will give way to nature’s louder wake up calls: disease, trauma, crises and tragedy.

This is not a fire and brimstone admonishment. The news is good. If we accept the adventure of the ever-unfolding reality of life and learn to live with an attitude of growth every moment then we will be okay with the bumps and bruises.

Growing always has pains. But, as we continue to step into new horizons won’t life be worth living? Isn’t it beautiful that we can grow to see everything fresh and new… like, through the eyes of a child…

Though we may wish to see through childlike eyes, we need not entertain childish notions. It is well worth examining whether or not you, also, have a conditioned belief that someday, some mysterious agent is going to make all of your problems go away. If you have such a belief, even if deeply unconscious, it is also likely that you are ignoring lots of “stuff ” that you think will just disappear if left alone long enough. Believing thusly is hardwired into a culture that is inundated with the salvation-based faiths.

Such a belief takes the responsibility for our own wellness out of our hands. Like modern medicine that lets us believe we can just “cut it out”, the idea of permanent salvation has weakened our will to be our own doctors. The “savior” in its various forms has dis-empowered us, also, from being our own ministers. We no longer have the wisdom to heal ourselves with diet, herbs, meditations and even spells and prayers. Intellectuals say, “That’s all ridiculous and silly. Prayer is just mental trickery at best.” Their naivete has unfortunate consequences.

Isn’t it possible the salvation model is not

true and that maybe we aren’t going to be saved? Mustn’t we entertain this possibility? To me, believing in salvation is like taking pepto bismol for eating too many hot dogs. It may make us feel better now. But, it is not going to save us from the fact that having heartburn means we have ACID MELTING AWAY OUR FLESH. If we die angry or filled with regret why do we think the magic moment of death will erase a lifetime’s worth of habits? Each one of us is 100% responsible for our own wellbeing – body, mind and spirit.

My view, though not salvific, is entirely spiritual. If we do little to cultivate a deeper experience of body, mind and spirit at the very least we will not realize the full potential of life. At the very worst, we suffer tremendously and burden others with our misfortune, sickness, depression, anger, anxiety and all the other ailments that arise from our overall selfishness.

Someone once told me it seemed selfish to spend so much time “working on one’s self ” – taking time to do yoga, meditate, etc. I see it differently. We all have a responsibility to each other to do everything we can to be healthy and happy. If we are happy and healthy we will be better friends, family members, workers, and citizens of humanity. Real health and happiness makes us more willing to engage, more eager to connect, more wise in our choices,

We have a responsibility to each other to do everything we can to be healthy and happy more willing and more able to care for others. Generosity is a natural quality for a healthy human being. It is when we are sickly, depressed, anxious, jealous and angry that we are selfish and others must care for us. Our energy is so constricted and deplete in these states we can’t afford to share it with others, and mostly, we don’t want to.

Natural Wisdom for Optimal Health and Happiness is our motto.

We see it as a duty and a privilege to live according to these principles, not only for our own benefit… but, always and only for the benefit of all. Benefiting all, or at least actively intending to benefit the most possible, is the driving force of Energy of Mind: A Sauhu Therapy. Of course, it doesn’t mean pleasing everyone.

Sometimes what is best for many may upset more than a few. But, we must each look at the expanse of our lives and assess: how can I be the best I can be? It starts with a healthy body, which is to say, a happy mind.

Yogi is the co-founder of Energy of Mind Therapy (www.energyofmindtherapy.com) He works with clients online and at Kailash Akhara, Adi Yoga’s (www.adiyoga.com) residential retreat in Northeast Thailand.

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Kids Yoga

Teaching Yoga to Kids – Child’s Play?

Amanda Reid

AS ADULTS, WE VIEW YOGA IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. SOME SEE IT AS A set of challenging poses done in a hot room to get fit or lose weight. Some see it as movements done in co-ordination with breathing patterns for relaxation. Some see it as part of a holistic lifestyle and still others see yoga as a way to find inner peace through meditating on sound. Yoga is all of these things, none of these things and more than these things.

Children don’t analyse, define and categorise things like adults do, and not surprisingly, they are naturals at yoga. Not just at asana, although watching babies in cobra, toddlers in downward dog and school children in handstands, it is clear that this is surely the case too.

What is natural for children is their ability to be incredibly focused and present to what they are doing in the moment. We see this when a child is building a tower of blocks, or drawing a picture, or climbing a tree. This ability is something we often lose as adults and to nurture it in a child as we help build a strong body is a gift they can take into their grown up years.

There is no specific set of techniques called Children’s Yoga – it is more how we apply what we already know about yoga to what we know about children. What we know about yoga is it is a way of explaining a wonderful set of practices, including ways of breathing, moving and being that have evolved over thousands of years due to direct experience and the beneficial results of said practices. What we know about children is breathing, moving and being are second nature to them. Not all children express in the same way, but the impetus, the spark within them, is to express through breath and movement.

Knowing this, how do we apply the practices of yoga to children? Children of different ages are receptive to different ways of sharing yoga. Toddlers are very instinctual – they’ve just learned to function mechanically in their bodies and they don’t weigh up the pros and cons of their actions. Playing is how they learn and they need lots of repetition. Toddlers enjoy participating in yoga with their parents, crawling through the tunnel of their mother’s downward dog, or relaxing in the lap of their father’s meditation. Preschoolers are in the height of their imagination. They are very social and like to play at yoga with their friends.

An adventure, story or song with lots of animals is a perfect way of engaging them.

School-aged children like a little more sophistication and complexity in their yoga. They like to move their bodies in order to feel confident and strong, and they enjoy a few minutes of guided relaxation. They may like being challenged with a complicated asana, are

Teacher’s Voice Hema Mirpuri WHAT IS YOUR MOST CHALLENGING YOGA ASANA AND WHY? I have had chronic knee pain in both knees for more then 15 years so by far the most challenging poses are those that aggravate the knee. Asanas that put direct pressure on the knees and those that stretch the knee joint in certain ways cause pain.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT FROM THIS ASANA? I have now learned not to push myself in many postures and accept my limitation.

Even by following all the recommended advice from strengthening and stretching the surrounding muscles and joints I have to accept that I will always have this issue.

Fortunately my yoga practice still allows me to work with my issue by focusing on other asanas which provide the same

functional use and help to deepen my practice. It has also taught me to be more mindful of students with injuries in my class by suggesting other options and advice to minimize their discomfort.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF YOUR YOGA PRACTICE? In Hong Kong we all experience very fast lifestyles and for me to try to juggle many responsibilities with my kids, family, teaching, running a business makes it sometimes difficult to stay present in my practice. Letting go of the outside environment and stilling the mind is something I always need to remind myself to do.

Hema is a registered yoga teacher and the owner of The Yoga Room in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. She teaches Adults and Yogakids classes at the studio.

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enthusiastic about yoga games, and show great perception into the relationship between their thoughts, their emotions and their breath. Pre-teens want to be taken seriously so songs and adventures do not hold great appeal. They love partner yoga, and are very receptive to understanding themselves a little more through meditation. Teenagers are open to the same practices we would see within a regular yoga class, but even though they may have well-developed bodies, they are still developing emotionally and hormonally, and require consideration and sensitivity in their yoga teaching.

This great umbrella of children’s yoga is complex indeed. There are many resources available such as books, CDs and DVDs. It is wise to research carefully to ensure you are getting more than entertainment value, as yoga has great potential to become a set of tools to deal with the demands of school and home, and shared with children from a young age, they will carry those tools with them for life.

As a children’s yoga teacher, I’ve shared yoga with hundreds of children in a variety of circumstances. From schools to yoga studios, kindergartens to after-school and holiday programmes, and from individual therapy with children with special needs to groups of 40 or more Girl Guides, all of these children have taught me about being present and focused. Being present comes from stopping what I am doing so I can fully hear when a child shares their day with me, respecting their courage in trying a challenging asana and admiring their unique expression of a tree or a downward dog without looking for perfect alignment, and being flexible about my teaching plans when it’s clear they don’t match the needs or abilities of the children in front of me – nothing like chucking it all out the window and starting again!

Warrior - School-age children like to feel confident and strong in their bodies

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These learnings have come together in the Samadhi Family Yoga 200-hour teacher training which starts right from the beginning of a child’s life. It includes training on how to teach pre- and post-natal yoga to the women who have nurtured their child from the womb to infancy, and how to teach yoga to children from toddlers to teens. This training is unique in its approach to yoga and the only children’s yoga course accredited by the Yoga Alliance.

For the first time, this Yoga Alliance RYT200 training is coming to Hong Kong as an intensive, hosted by Gecko Yoga and taught by Amanda Reid. From 23 May- 23 June 23 at Amico Studio in Wanchai, the course will provide an opportunity for those wishing to become Yoga teachers and those who are already teaching Yoga. To register or for more information, contact Jenny Smith of Gecko Yoga on +852 6973 1792 or email jenny@geckoyoga.com. For more information on teacher Amanda Reid, go to www.samadhi.co.nz.

Amanda is an RYT-500/E-RYT200, RYCT (children’s yoga speciality) and RYPT (prenatal yoga speciality) Yoga Alliance registered teacher and member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists. Amanda teaches Radiant Child Yoga Programme workshops and Samadhi Yoga teacher trainings, and leads Yoga and Ayurveda retreats in New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

Steve Merkley

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Asia Yoga Conference

Lik e-minded Like-minded eople,, People Fac ace Friendly F ac es Amber Price

FOR A CERTAIN SECTION OF HONG KONG’S POPULATION, A TYPICAL Saturday morning is relatively quiet, riddled with cigarette butts and empty beer cans. These mornings are typically greeted with a Pocari Sweat and foggy memories. So imagining a group of energetic lively yogis seems scarily healthy and intimidating. But let me give my insider feedback on the famous Asia Yoga Conference. secretly wish I was still in bed.

RE-CAP AYC 2010 I started yoga for stress relief and I put my insecurity to the back of my mind continued because it relaxed my unsettled mind. The more I do yoga, the better I feel, thinking, “Well, if I look like an idiot, then it’s the same as any other day.” The two mentally and physically. For a long time my hour practice with Sean Corne was lovely. I main relaxation was a bottle of vino and a felt like I had a new lease on life. There were pack of Marlboro lights. So the idea of teachers to help and assist. It was fantastic. doing yoga on my day off, on a Saturday I can’t rave enough. Just like a typical class morning, was a clear change. Devoting 3-4 in a studio, no other students are watching days to the Asia Yoga Conference seemed you. You focus on yourself. It wasn’t to threaten my social life. But I wanted to harder or more difficult, it was just a deepen my practice and make positive different voice in a different location changes in my life, and there was the outlet.

All I had to do was show up. So I did.

It was exactly how I had imagined. Fit, good-looking people everywhere. They were sober and so was I. My only thought was, ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ I groggily made my way through registration where I was met with some friendly, and surprised, faces that I had arrived so early.

Before class even started I congratulated myself on just arriving, much less attending the two-hour long session.

In theory, yoga is an inexpensive practice of self-expression and devotion. But we live in Hong Kong. So add some crystals, anything Gucci and something more swish than that, rounded off with an elitist attitude and there we have more of what I call yoga in Hong Kong. Already I knew I might not fit in. I literally can not afford to Spanish Meditation teacher Carlos Pomeda will be at AYC again this year

If you like music, listen to it on your ipod or at parties, would you still go see that performer in concert? wear the most expensive gear, with the most expensive mat and I am stretching myself to pay my yoga bill.

I was also nervous about a two-hour practice, all the, lack of my regular faces and new surroundings. “What if I fall? What if I am not as good as everyone else?” It didn’t really matter as I ran in, put down my mat with around 100 others and waited for my fate to either have a great time or 28

guiding you through your practice. There was a reason she had been flown over to teach, she was a good teacher. Well worth my early wake up and morning confusion.

Later, I also attended lectures, which gave me a warm fuzzy memory of going to university again. I attended Carlos Pomeda’s meditation class. It was life changing. I had never gone that far with myself before or realized I was able to do it alone. Again, I liked to think of the theory but never practiced solo. It was eye opening and enlightening.

Then there were two other seminars that dealt with food and sex, separately (not together!). I had more anticipation for

those two than the rest of the classes combined but was disappointed. The two topics must be my two favorite things on the planet, yet I left with a strong distaste and genuine frustration.

Like any event, some things are great, others are not. But overall, it was time well spent. It was nice to see a community of like-minded people and a gathering of friendly faces. The judgmental attitude and intimidation was more of my mind than anyone else’s. Nobody judged me in my non-showered, inexpensive kit or how my hair looked like I put my finger into an electric socket after my practice. They were genuinely kind and happy to be there. It was good, clean, wholesome fun. I don’t

things to say about the conference but did understand some reservations people have about attending. One thing I mentioned was about the type of students who attend yoga, which range from the crazed enthusiast to the banker looking to meet scantily dressed, flexible women. In reality, who is the ideal attendee for the AYC? Patrick’s answer was anyone! He made the wonderful comparison of yoga to music.

If you like music, listen to it on your ipod or at parties, would you go see that performer in concert? Of course you would try. Why not do the same with yoga? We practice with our regular teachers for fun, for flexibility and if we enjoy it, why not take it to a conference? There are people from all over the world coming to enlighten and enhance our practice, so why not try. We have all been to a concert where we had high expectations and it was awful.

And we have all been to a concert where we had nothing better to do and been blown away. It’s live. It’s live yoga with more people who also like yoga. Just like a concert, music with other people who also like music! What simple ideas are better in practice than theory.

This year’s conference, 9 - 12 June at Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre features headliners such as Rodney Yee, Ashtangis Sharath Ranganswamy & Paul Dallaghan, Jivamuktis Sharon Gannon & Davie Life, Yoga Journal poster boy Jason Crandell, and of course my life changer, Carlos Pomeda. But there’s also some

lesser known teachers well worth attending.

Amongst others Frank Jude Boccio has written many an insightful article in Namaskar over the years; I’ve heard amazing things about the other Patrick of Asian yoga, Patrick Oancia and; considering the recent tragedy in Japan, it seems fitting to support Hikaru Hashimoto’s Chanting & Chakra Awakening: A Healing Journey.

Conferences remind me of suits, speakerphones and papers with numbers.

The Asia Yoga Conference is not that at all.

It’s like-minded, kind people looking to practice something they love, discuss improvements on life and do yoga.

Considering the money people spend on happiness, try taking one afternoon or morning and devoting it to your practice.

Don’t spend your happiness, practice it.

And if it’s not for you, there’s always a Happy Hour somewhere in Hong Kong!

Amber is a freelance writer and yoga enthusiast. She currently lives in Hong Kong and travels frequently around Asia.

It was good, clean, wholesome fun

Patrick Creelman, one of the founding teachers at AYC

get that regularly and I wish more people were addicted to it.

ANTICIPATING AYC 2011 I met Patrick Creelman, one of the founders of AYC. I had seen pictures of Patrick and knew him from the studio where I practice. I was super anxious to sit down with him because of the relationship students seem to have with their yoga teachers. I believe we all secretly have the idea they’re our friends, even if they have no clue who we are.

He was relaxed, easy to talk to, and highly engaging. We had an enlightening talk about the conference, expectations and yoga in Hong Kong. He had a hundred great

Frank Jude B oc cio Boc occio First time teacher at AYC

Frank, who has been invited to join in yoga conferences for over a decade, is enthusiastic to join the faculty of this AYC. “It’s an opportunity to re-connect with old friends in Hong Kong and Asia whom I’ve not seen in several years. My impression is AYC seems less commercial than some other conferences, and attempts to offer programs from a very wide, and deep, diverse spectrum.” Frank usually prefers smaller conferences that have a cozier feel than the corporate product pushing yoga events.

He will be teaching six sessions, three on aspects of Ayurveda and its general principles. The other three will be on Mindfulness yoga and the cultivation of mindfulness through the movements.

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Fitness

So You Want to Lose Weight Samrat Dasgupta

You become more efficient at burning calories if you eat five or six small meals a day instead of one or two

A FEW PEOPLE PRACTICE YOGA TO achieve enlightenment, lots of people practice yoga to maintain good health and reduce stress. And let’s face it a few practice to lose weight. In this article, I explain the principle of weight loss, how our bodies react to different types of exercise, with the aim of helping you find the best yoga practice for your needs.

220 - 30 (age) = 190 (maximum heart rate) 190 - 65 (resting heart rate) = 125 (heart rate reserve) 125 x 65% (low end of heart rate) = 81 OR 125 x 85% (high end) = 106 81 + 65 (resting heart rate) = 146; 106 + 65 (resting heart rate) = 171 The target heart rate zone for this person would be 146 to 171.

THREE TYPES OF ENERGY When we exercise, whether it’s yoga, running or swimming, our body uses three different energy sources: carbohydrates, fat and protein. Different exercises make our energy system to shift towards the most appropriate fuel source, depending on the level of effort.

For this person to work in the fat burning zone, they would need to maintain a heart rate of between 146 and 171 beat per minute. At this moderate intensity zone, the body is able to transport oxygen throughout the body and condition the heart. As a rough guide, you should aim to maintain your heart rate in this fat burning zone for about 40 minutes. Moreover, holding asanas during a yoga class helps to tone muscles, which in turn will make you more efficient at burning calories.

There are two main types of exercise anaerobic and aerobic exercises. Anaerobic exercises includes weight training, sprinting, basketball which requires short spurts of energy. This type of exercise predominantly burns sugar which is more quickly converted to energy the body can use.

Aerobic exercises such yoga, swimming and jogging, which are performed at a slower pace and with less effort usually burn fat, which takes longer to convert to a fuel the body can use. Proteins are the third energy source, and are used after our bodies have used up all the carbs and fats in store.

Usually we burn proteins during very high intensity training. And so this type of training can not be maintained for as long a time as the other two.

TARGET HEART RATE So if we want to lose fat, we need to do more aerobic exercises or cardio workouts.

To effectively do this, we need to find out what our target heart rate is and work within this zone to achieve the maximum results. The Karvonen Formula is a mathematical formula that helps you determine your target heart rate zone. The formula involves using your maximum heart rate (MHR) minus your age to come up with a target heart rate range (which is a percentage of your MHR). Staying within this range will help you burn fat most effectively during your cardio workouts.

Below is an example of the Karvonen formula for a 30-year-old with a resting heart rate of 65 beats per minute (to get your resting heart rate, take your pulse for one minute when you wake up in the morning.):

Above 171 bpm, this person moves out of the fat burning zone into the anaerobic zone. This means the person may burn more carbs than fat, which may not achieve the fat burning results as desired.

The easiest way to keep track of your heart rate during exercise is by wearing a heart rate monitor. Polar is a popular brand.

Calories vs Exercise To maximize weight loss, exercise alone is not enough. An individual burns calories in three ways - resting metabolic rate (RMR), lifestyle and exercise. To sustain long term weight loss, each of these aspects must be increased.

Many people complain about a low metabolism, but metabolism can be increased. Your body will become more efficient at burning calories if you eat five or six small meals a day instead of one or two big meals. Eating many times a day causes the digestive system to expend energy.

Eating few meals causes the body to conserve energy, bringing metabolism to a grinding halt.

Exercise increases metabolism in many ways. The body works hard to cool down after a workout and this expends energy.

This is known as Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC). EPOC keeps the calories burning long after the workout is complete. Exercise also builds muscle. A pound of muscle burns between 31

50-70 calories a day while fat burns only 2 or 3 calories per day. It doesn’t seem like a big difference in one day, but a one-pound difference in muscle instead of fat can help someone lose 7 pounds in a year.

In terms of lifestyle, a person who works inside an office may burn less calories than

proteins and low in fats is important in anyone’s exercise program.

Many experts say as long as you are burning more calories than you take in, this will lead to weight loss. But this is not the whole story. If anaerobic exercise makes up the majority of exercises in your regime, then

one-pound difference in muscle instead of fat can help someone lose 7 pounds in a year a construction worker due to the physical demand of the job. A person under constant stress may also consume more calories as they may indulge in food as a form of release. Doing more gentle form of exercises such as yoga and meditation can release the tension and stress in the mind, which in turns lead to a healthier lifestyle. Obviously a healthy diet with the correct consumption of food high in

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most energy burned will come from carbohydrates. This will drive appetite and encourage sugar cravings to replace the glycogen stores used, forcing the individual to consume more calories.

On the other hand, aerobic exercise helps regulate appetite because glycogen stores are not reduced rapidly. Aerobic exercise often helps people feel more energetic and

motivated to workout again within a day or two. Hence, a regular aerobic exercise regime combined with a well balanced diet is important to lose the desired fat weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

SUMMARY Be clear about your goals when you choose your exercise. If your goal is to lose fat, you have to exercise with your heart rate between 65% - 85% for at least half and hour. When practiced conscientiously Hot, Ashtanga, Power, Anusara can be effective ways to elevate heart rate and burn fat.

Samrat started yoga when he was 7 and teaching when he was 21. He teaches at Pure Yoga in Hong Kong. samrat500@yahoo.com

Yoga Styles

Going in through Kundalini Yoga Nina Mongendre

IT WAS WHILE SITTING UNDER THE NEW MEXICO summer sky, surrounded by over a thousand yogis chanting together at the end of a Kundalini Yoga class that I had one of the most profound experiences of my life. I went from a state of unhappiness to one of complete serenity and bliss within 90 minutes. Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa was teaching. She is my teacher and a daily source of inspiration. She has taught thousands of people all over the world including celebrities such as Madonna, Cindy Crawford and David Duchovny. For countless people, her classes are the most powerful healing experience of their life.

Kundalini Yoga—also called the Mother of all Yoga—is powerful.

Some say it scientifically elevates the soul. I have seen its healing effects in my own life.

I will never forget that class and the breakthrough I experienced that day. We started class like we always do, by tuning in with the Adi Mantra “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” which means “I bow, I surrender to the subtle wisdom and creative flow inside of me and I ask for its guidance.” I feel the sound penetrate my mind and heart as thousands of people chant it together three times. We start with a few warm ups and within minutes, we are waving our arms in the air, shaking our bodies, dancing to the rhythm of music.

Freeing the body and the mind from accumulated stress, from old patterns and beliefs and making space for the new. The exercises usually last longer than expected. That is the challenging part with Kundalini Yoga. It pushes you beyond your limits. It trains you to conquer your own fears.

I feel compassion for myself and others. I feel connected to all the souls that surround me

It’s been over 10 minutes and we are still dancing, eyes closed. My mind starts to kick in and complain, it wants me to stop, to get discouraged. I push through. The music helps to let go of the thoughts, to get lost in the movement. Gurmukh is helping us along, guiding us and motivating us. “Do it for yourself, let go of the past, let go of all the people who told you you are not good enough. Free yourself, find your power. You are peeling away the layers that hide you from you. Keep up, inspire yourself!”

Some people around me are laughing, crying, screaming, others are silent and focused. We slow down the dance and stand still, breathing long and deep. We experience the deep stillness that comes after intense movement. That is the magic of this yoga, the play of polarities between action and stillness. Everyone can find their own space and go at their own rhythm.

We sit down and transition into more postures coordinating the breath, the movement and mental focus. We work on the navel point and the spine to clear out sludge in the body and the mind.

And then we lie down and relax. One of my favorite parts of each Kundalini Yoga class is the long deep healing relaxation at the end.

The body heals and I emerge from with a deep sense of stillness and peace.

We set ourselves up for meditation (each class includes a meditation). We begin to chant a healing mantra. As I listen to my own voice resonating with the voices around me, I can feel the energy shifting, all the tension has been released and the energy is now being channeled to the heart. The nagging thoughts and doubts are gone. The physical movements released the fear and we are now working on the heart and soul. “Listen to your destiny.

You have created a space where you can sit quietly and be receptive to the voice of your true self ” Gurmukh tells us. And it works.

For a few minutes, I feel outside of time and space.

I feel a natural high. My mind is clear and my body is light and relaxed. I feel compassion for myself and for others. I feel connected to all the souls that surround me. During the class, we have all exchanged and healed each other on an energetic level. I see that my destiny is to share these teachings. I see we all have the right to experience transformation and together we can create a calmer, happier, more peaceful world.

We ended class, as we do all Kundalini Yoga classes, by singing a beautiful Irish blessing, sending each other off with the healing light we had awakened within our hearts.

May the long time sun shine upon you, All love surround you, And the pure light within you, Guide your way on.

Nina is a KRI-certified Kundalini Yoga teacher at SOL Wellness in Hong Kong. She has trained and studied with esteemed masters in Kundalini and Jivamukti Yoga Hari Kaur Khalsa, Gurmukh, Harijiwan, Gurucharan, Sharon Gannon and David Life.

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Spiritual Research Foundation Understanding the Spiritual Realm Sean Clarke

MANY PEOPLE DEBATE THE EXISTENCE OF THE intangible spiritual realm and its immense influence on our lives. It is impossible to bring closure to this debate through intellect and modern research tools. The reason is by definition the spiritual realm is beyond the understanding of the mind and intellect.

Hence we cannot insist on getting evidence for it through physical instruments like photographic cameras and other electric and electronic gadgets. The spiritual realm can only be researched through spiritual research methodologies, which need a person’s activated sixth sense (ESP). Unfortunately it is rare for people to have an activated sixth sense.

So the dilemma whether the spiritual dimension really exists, remains unanswered in most peoples’ minds.

One way to resolve this dilemma is to inspect the outcome of applying spiritual remedies on problems in life.

Let us take the example of a person who has eczema on his hand that does not go away despite various skin specialists treating it for many years. Modern science views eczema as something that has happened from some disturbance at the bodily and/or psychological level and hence directs treatment at resolving the disturbance.

Now let us suppose this person suffering from eczema was to undertake a spiritual remedy like chanting the Name of God, and gets cured immediately.

spiritual realm is beyond the understanding of the mind and intellect

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The fact the hand has been cured is a concrete, tangible event beyond dispute for all to see. Now comes the next step, how do we explain the cure?

Since the only new factor is the spiritual treatment, then by means of one’s intellect one can conclude the cure is due to it. Since the spiritual remedy will act at a spiritual level, it follows the root cause of the eczema was beyond the bodily and/or psychological level, i.e. it was at a spiritual level. Hence only a spiritual remedy could cure it.

Through examples like this, we can understand the spiritual realm does definitely exist, even though we cannot see or feel it due to a lack of sixth sense (ESP) ability.

Having said this it is only prudent to point out that just 2% of the spiritual realm can be understood by means of one’s intellect. The remaining 98% can only be experienced by one’s sixth sense.

Sean is Editor of the Spiritual Research Foundation’s website. www.spiritualresearchfoundation.org

Diet

Why F ood C ombining ma y Impr ove y our Food Combining may Impro your alth Digesstiv tive Health Dige e He Claudia Jones

YOU MAY REMEMBER HEARING about food combining in the 1980’s when it came to the fore as a new type of weight loss diet. I remember my Mother following this kind of diet when I was growing up, she would always eat differently to the rest of the family and I just assumed this was another weight loss fad. In recent years it caught my attention again so I decided to look into it further.

My research found there are many benefits to be gained from following a proper food combining diet such as: a reduction in gas and abdominal bloating after eating; improved digestion; faster elimination and even; healthy, balanced weight loss. Having practiced food combining myself for over a year now and recommended this way of eating to many others, I can openly say the effects are wholly positive.

WHAT IS FOOD COMBINING? The principles of food combining are to eat foods only in certain combinations:

• Fruit should always be eaten on its own and always 20-30 minutes before other foods. Never eat fruit after a meal.

• Sugary foods should also be eaten alone, before other foods and never after a meal.

• Protein and starch should not be mixed together in the same meal • Protein should only be eaten with nonstarchy vegetables • Starch should only be eaten with nonstarchy vegetables WHY FOLLOW THESE PRINCIPLES? The theory of food combining is essentially this, proteins require hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin to break them down in the stomach whereas starches do not start to metabolize until they reach the small intestine where they require different enzymes than protein for digestion. The environment that starchy foods require is an alkaline one compared to a more acidic one required for protein digestion. The argument goes that digestion will be a much simpler process if foods that require different enzymes are eaten at different meals.

When conflicting foods are eaten in combination, the result can be slowed digestion which leads to fermentation of foods in the gut and even putrefaction.

digestion will be much simpler if foods that require different enzymes are eaten at different meals This in turn feeds the harmful bacteria in the intestines; the bacteria produce an acidic environment in which they thrive and this supports the growth of more harmful bacteria, hence a vicious cycle begins. The healthy microflora are compromised and thus our immunity to disease is lowered.

Tiredness after eating may also be attributable to poor food combining as the

body pools its energy resources to the stomach to digest combinations of many different foods at once. Overeating may also produce the same result.

The yogic approach to food is similar in principle; by keeping the diet simple and light and where possible eating only one type of food at a time, digestion is eased and vital energy conserved. Eating in this way can afford us increased digestive health and overall vitality.

By eating foods in the combinations outlined above and taking proteins separately from starches, we may inadvertently eat a healthier diet. By eating protein, for example, an egg, with nonstarchy vegetables instead of with starchy foods such as bread, rice or potatoes we are more likely to increase the amount of vegetables we eat with the meal. This may also result in healthy, balanced weight loss where needed.

TAKING FOOD COMBINING TO ANOTHER LEVEL I personally like to add to the food combining principles by ensuring every meal has a good balance of acid and alkaline foods. As a general rule, to bring the body into its optimum pH range, which is slightly alkaline, a balance of 6080% alkaline forming foods and 20-40% acid forming food (depending on your needs and body type) should be eaten daily.

Working on the premise that most fruits and vegetables are alkaline forming and most proteins and starches are acid forming, to make an acid-alkaline balanced, food combined meal, you need to make sure the protein or starch on your plate makes up no more than 20-40% of the meal, leaving the rest to be alkalizing vegetables.

For example: Protein meal – meat, fish, egg, soy comprise 20-40% of the meal and nonstarchy vegetables comprise 60-80% Starch meal – rice, bread or pasta comprise 20-40% of the meal and non-starchy vegetables comprise 60-80% 35

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Mythology in a Minute WHAT ABOUT FATS? Fats combine with all types of foods, just ensure you do not eat too much fat with a protein meal as it slows digestion. Also, ensure you are eating organic, unrefined cold-pressed oils such as olive, coconut or flax seed.

Protein fats – such as dairy, nuts, seeds, avocadoes and olives are a mixture of fats and proteins and combine well with nonstarchy vegetables and sour fruits.

BEANS? Dried beans or legumes present a problem for some people to digest and one of the reasons is they are made up of mostly starch with some protein resulting in gas and bloating in the digestive process. If you have no trouble digesting them, then they should be combined with non-starchy vegetables.

HELPFUL TIPS If following the food combining rules do not ease simple digestive problems such as gas and bloating, it may be an indication you are lacking in the enzymes needed to digest certain foods. By observing which foods cause you digestive problems you can seek out an appropriate digestive enzyme supplement.

Avoid drinking water (or other drinks) with your meal. This dilutes the digestive juices and fills the stomach, slowing digestion.

Drink at least 15 minutes before or 1 hour after a meal. Sipping a warm drink, such as herbal tea during a meal can be helpful to digestion.

REMEMBER Food and eating should never become a source of anxiety. Try following the food combining rules 80% of the time and allow 20% for indulgences. Your food should be tasty and mealtimes enjoyable!

Claudia is a committed student of Ashtanga yoga, Pranayama and Meditation. She is Samahita Wellness’ Director at Yoga Thailand.

Dr aup adi Draup aupadi Tia Sinha

Draupadi, a princess married to five brothers, the Pandavas, heroes of the Indian epic, the Mahabharata, was hauled into the royal court one day. The eldest of the five brothers, Yudhishthira, had staked his kingdom, his four brothers, the beautiful Draupadi and himself in a game of dice and had lost all to his evil cousins, the Kauravas. One of these cousins, Dushasana, having dragged Draupadi by her hair into court, caught hold of one end of her sari (a few yards of unstitched cloth wrapped around the body). He began to pull, with the intention of stripping her in front of her five hapless husbands rendered powerless by their defeat at dice and the elders at court who sat mute, watching without a murmur.

Draupadi held on to her sari with one hand, the other raised to the Divine (in this case, Lord Krishna) in mute appeal. On the verge of being stripped completely, Draupadi lifted both arms up to the Divine in abject surrender. It was then and only then that Krishna intervened. Miraculously, her sari grew longer and longer, still hugging her body. The more Dushasana pulled, the more there was to pull.

Draupadi was protected, not by her five valorous husbands, nor by the elders in the august assembly, nor by her own shame or effort, but because she surrendered completely to the Divine.

This incident from Draupadi’s life reveals the power in trusting the Divine, the power of surrendering to the will of the Divine.

On the journey inwards, our progress is hampered when we continue to hold on to the familiar as though they were our last pennies, in the mistaken belief that the familiar can protect us. Our ego driven ways of controlling our lives bind us to misery. Our constant hankering after wealth, fame, beguiling sense pleasures, seemingly exciting relationships and blissful spiritual experiences keeps us trapped in samsara, even after we have taken up spiritual practices. If only we could learn to dance the sky dance of the trapeze artist without a safety net.

Can there be any protection greater than the Divine? Can there be any lasting protection other than the Divine?

Tia has just surfaced from two wintry months of silent, solitary retreat at her home in Dharamshala, her first solo meditation retreat. She continues to study Buddhist practices, teach Hatha yoga one-on-one and to the nuns of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s nunnery.

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Retreat Review

Ringing in the New Year with David Swenson Inna Constantini

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SPEND TWO weeks with one of the world’s most renowned and experienced Astanga yoga teacher? An intensive retreat at the Purple Valley Yoga centre in India led me to find out more.

THE PLACE Located in a peaceful area in North Goa, India, Purple Valley Yoga is one of the leading Ashtanga Yoga retreat centres in Asia. Set in lush tropical gardens, with a swimming pool, massage hut and juice bar, there are many communal areas for eating and relaxing as well as private spaces for contemplation or meditation, so it is quiet and inspiring- the ideal place for a yoga holiday. The shala itself is a truly stunning space with a peaceful energy, making it a perfect environment to deepen and explore one’s yoga practice.

THE COURSE This was David Swenson and his wife Shelley Washington’s last stop in their

TEACHING Although cautious and mindful in his adjustments, David did adjust strongly where he saw there was space to go further, while giving the many beginners key tips to improve their practice. With Shelley at his side as the perfect assistant (she is also authorized by Guruji to teach), they made a good team, correcting when needed and always with a smile that could melt the tightest muscles. What they managed to achieve in such a short time, is a sense of union and inspiration for the practice. The energy in the shala was peaceful and yet dynamic enough to maintain a vibrant flow, and the striving so often associated with Ashtanga wasn’t part of this course.

In terms of teaching, their approach is light and fun, sometimes bordering entertainment, but this is part of David Swenson’s persona. He and Shelley form a cute yogic partnership and feed off each other when they share tips, stories and laughs. This is where David’s wealth of

most beautiful practices sometimes appear in those who have the most physical limitations teaching tour of Asia before heading back home to the USA, but there was very little show of wilting freshness or enthusiasm during the entire two weeks.

The group was fairly large and the retreat was at full capacity (with nearly 60 guests) but at no time did it really feel numbers got in the way. Smaller social groups formed, dinners became a busy but enjoyable affair and on the rare days when the shala was full, there was always a sense of cohesion and union. During the self practice and led classes, David and Shelley worked hard to give each student one-to-one advice and help with poses, while their attention to detail and precision in adjustments was quite mind blowing. Looking after so many practioners at one time is a challenge while providing equal and individual attention, is a skill they both have.

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knowledge really shines through. His stories stemming from years of practice with Guruji were beautiful, amusing and always honest. He reminded us many times how Ashtanga can be really hard work, especially in the ‘old days’. David’s uniquely advanced practice stems from years, even decades of steady, dedicated, hard (and yet incredibly rewarding) work – both physically and mentally.

When Guruji only had a handful of Western students, they would often practice the primary and second series in the morning, third and fourth in the afternoon, with pranayama in the evenings.

As Guruji would say (and David mimicked his Indian intonation of voice and head shake!) “yoga is not easy”.

And with that thought in mind, David always stressed that the most beautiful

The writer, Inna, enjoys a light moment with David Swenson

practices sometimes appear in those who have the most physical limitations… Being able to get both legs behind your head with dedicated effort may be a show of a steady asana practice, but their approach is a softer one. Being able to roll the mat out each day, be it just for a few moments –and with the intention to carry that awareness throughout the day - is already a huge step on the path of yoga. Following this line of thought, all the rest will gradually unfold.

CLOSING THOUGHTS This retreat proved to be wonderfully inspiring, David fought off a cold and remained strong and present at each session, even staying up until midnight on New Year’s Eve to tell stories about Guruji, yoga and his life.

Nevertheless, two weeks is a short time, and to establish a solid practice, one needs to soak up this information and actually put it into action. A steady regular practice is key, and an intensive retreat such as this one, works as an inspirational boost. This is why David and Shelley gave students many useful tips to keep that energy going afterwards. For instance the ‘rolling out the mat practice’ (if you struggle with practice, roll your mat out daily and see what happens), or simple pranayama techniques which are so often overlooked in Ashtanga.

Inna is a freelance writer and yoga teacher.

She shares her passion for yoga and environmental issues on and off the mat – and across the globe. inna@brahmaniyoga.com www.brahmaniyoga.com

Recipe A Modern Main Course Salad Moosa Al-Issa

More and more people seem to be looking at salads in a new light.

For all time it seems the humble salad has been relegated to poor cousin status when compared to the mighty main course.

Well no more. Even big brutish boys are making their way through hearty salads and enjoying it. Salads are finally starting to be respected as “real” food. It’s about time! This salad recipe is gluten free, vegan and stuffed with great textures, tastes and lots of healthy oils and protein. Enjoy.

Heat a pan to medium heat. Tossing regularly, pan roast the almond slivers till lightly browned, Cut the extra firm tofu into ½ inch squares, season with salt and pepper.

Heat a pan to medium high heat, add olive oil and fry the chunks till evenly browned. Cool on a plate.

Combine in a large bowl the mixed greens, grated carrot, fried tofu, black olive and currants.

Add enough dressing to coat the salad, toss with tongs or serving spoon and fork and serve on four large dinner plates. Evenly top each salad with the roasted almonds and dry fried onions and serve.

Moosa is Executive Director of Life Cafe and Director of Just Green Oranic Convenience Stores in Hong Kong.

Sol Salad INGREDIENTS ½ lbs Mixed baby greens 16 Black olives pitted and halved ½ cup Organic almond slivers, roasted 1 lbs Fried tofu 2 cups Carrot grated 1/3 cup Organic currants or raisins ½ cup Crisp fried onions (Can be purchased in Indian food stores DRESSING 1 whole Roasted red pepper skin and seeds removed ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil ¼ Fresh squeezed Lemon Juice ¼ cup Garlic, roasted 2 Tbsp Organic Agave syrup Sea salt to taste Fresh ground pepper to taste PREPARATION Under a broiler or on the flame of a gas burner roast the red pepper till it is black on all sides. Remove from the heat and when cool enough, remove the skin, the stem and the seeds.

In a blender combine the red pepper, olive oil, lemon juice, roasted garlic, sea salt and pepper and blend until smooth.

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40

Retreat Review

Pr acticing with Practicing ompas assion Comp as sion & Humor Elonne Stockton

RICHARD FREEMAN LEFT YOGA THAILAND NEARLY two weeks ago, and I am still struggling to write about what happened. I cannot string a few, measly words that could do justice to his visit. My efforts are futile; anything I write is insipid compared to the delightfully eloquent words that flow like amrita from the back of the man’s palate.

Perhaps there is actually no message to be shared, no major theme with which I can summarily encapsulate Richard’s visit. My story may end here with no real catharsis, no grand realization.

However, the fact there is nothing to be taken away from our week with Richard captures the beauty of his presence. Richard wants nothing more than to share with us the simple truth of being, to share the unadorned beauty of Yoga. Through deadpan humor and metaphors that would melt the heart of any man, woman or dog alike, he tries to show us that Yoga is more than – and really nothing – we could ever imagine.

“Practice with compassion and humor,” Richard cautioned.

“Because there is always a lot more to this than you think there is.

If yoga is ‘Chitta Vritti Nirodhah,’ then it cannot be what you think it is. It has to be a lot more interesting.”

Whatever we think is merely theorizing, hypothesizing. Inevitably, it falls short of the actual experience of Yoga, which we must go through ourselves to understand completely. Until we do, we will continue to talk nonsense and absurdities. And until we do, we will just have to keep practicing, until the “all” in the “all is coming” actually arrives.

Richard Freeman teaching at Yoga Thailand

Paradoxically, it is in this not knowing that I find a deep sense of comfort. In Richard’s presence, I cannot help but smile. Everything is all right because nothing is actually wrong. Nothing is good or bad, right or wrong.

It all just is, and we are all helplessly human, working on ourselves, blundering foolishly: I like it when you make mistakes. I shouldn’t but I do, because it is funny. And why is that? Because the endeavor to be perfect is a game. And so it is just a game we are playing, like cards or chess. But it is a high stakes game we are playing, this religious game. Or we think it is a high stakes game.

But it is all pretend money. So if you were to blow the ritual, if you were extremely orthodox you would have to contemplate suicide.

It is like the shesha slides out of the little boundary of the game and lets you know what is really going on here. And it is kind of delightful. I think, but I could be in big trouble.

In Richard, I see Voltaire, I see Swift, I see Becket, I see Ionesco, and I see a host of modern comedians. They have all inspired him as he inspires me. This time I felt the comedy quite profoundly.

Through their comedy, Voltaire and his contemporaries tried to explain the great secret of the universe, which, as Richard puts it: “The great secret of the universe is there is no secret, but nobody seems to get that there is no secret because they are always looking for a secret. So it is a paradox. To say the secret is there is no secret is obviously a self-reference paradox, which is kind of funny.”

And why humor? Laura Linney was on The Daily Show this week and she said of humor: 41

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“Humor is a way to survive; it is a way to make sense. There is something about the voice of comedy that clarifies things. If you touch truth it will either be so refreshing or astounding that people will just start to laugh.”

And it is humor that allows us to deal with the truth of existence, the truth of impermanence. Although the truth is actually quite liberating, it also terrifies us, so we need the coping mechanism of comedy and laughter.

I asked Richard about the importance of humor, and he said: “Why is humor so funny? Humor is so funny because it is so tragic. Humor reveals the real tragedy of existence, which is that existence is totally impermanent and there are no absolute reference points. And actually that is delightful news, but it is such a scary thing your mind actually knows it, but is too afraid to admit it. “ So humor is there when two things are juxtaposed in such a way that reveals both of them are not true absolutely, and you get really nervous and you say ‘hee hee hee.’ And your palate starts to let go, and that is humor.

Certainly the importance of humor in life, in practice, is a message of Richard’s. He continues to encourage us to lighten up and let go of our rigid ways of thinking. But it is not solely what he was trying to have us take away from our week together.

“So I am not sure what the message is here, or what you will take from this retreat,” Richard concluded. “But then once the retreat is

over you will see the retreat is just beginning because you will be walking out of here going ‘What happened?’”

What did happen, anyway? Now Richard’s retreat begins!

Elonne is a Senior Resident Teacher at Yoga Thailand. www.yoga-thailand.com

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44

Book Review

The Wheel of Sharp Weapons

by Dharmarakshita Reviewed by Tia Sinha

Our suffering is the wheel of sharp weapons returning Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.

The Wheel of Sharp Weapons is a ‘lojong’ text; a text for training the mind in the Mahayana Buddhist system. Composed in Sanskrit by Dharmarakshita, a medieval Indian yogi, this text was brought to Tibet

by Atisha in the eleventh century A.D. and translated into Tibetan by Atisha and his disciple Dromtonpa.

In 119 verses, Dharmarakshita tries to show us how the pain, whether physical or mental we experience in our lives is the result of our own past actions of this life or previous lives. These wrong actions result from our selfishness which, in turn, results from a wrong view of the self.

Frantically running through life’s tangled jungle, We are chased by sharp weapons of wrongs we have done Returning upon us; we are out of control.

This sly deadly villain - this selfishness in us, Deceiving ourselves and all others as well.

Dharmarakshita sites numerous uncomfortable situations we face and the possible reasons for them.

When our mind is untamed though we act with great virtue, This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning Full circle upon us for wrongs we have done.

Till now we have engaged in those worldly ambitions That aim at success for ourselves in this life;

Hereafter let’s work with pure one-pointed effort To nourish the wish to gain freedom’s far shore.

When our minds are unclear and our hearts are unhappy We are bored doing virtue but excited by vice, This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.

Till now we have led others to acts of non-virtue Hereafter let’s never provide conditions That rouse them to follow their negative traits.

When we hear only language that is foul and abusive, This is the wheel of sharp weapons returning Full circle upon us for wrongs we have done.

Till now we have said many things without thinking.

We have slandered and caused many friendships to end.

Hereafter let’s censure all thoughtless remarks.

We always are jealous of those of great status; We feel holy gurus are threats to avoid.

Overwhelmed by attachment and ruled by our passions We spend all our time lusting after young loves.

Trample him, trample him, dance on the head Of this treacherous concept of selfish concern.

Tear out the heart of this self-centered butcher Who slaughters our chance to gain final release.

More than a millennium after Dharmarakshita penned this lojong text, human nature does not seem to have changed for the better. Without conscious effort, how can it?

Dharmarakshita adds a positive note.

As it’s true what I have said about self-centered interest, I recognize clearly my enemy now.

I recognize clearly the bandit who plunders, The liar who lures by pretending he is part of me.

Oh what a relief that I have conquered this doubt!

In short then, whenever unfortunate sufferings We haven’t desired crash upon us like thunder, This is the same as the smith who had taken His life with a sword he had fashioned himself.

Our suffering is the wheel of sharp weapons returning Full circle upon us from wrongs we have done.

Hereafter let’s always have care and awareness Never to act in non-virtuous ways.

Dharmarakshita certainly does not mince words. This great yogi’s words of wisdom can act as timely reminders to us whenever our deep-rooted tendency to blame others for our own unhappiness surfaces. In a nutshell, it’s you who ordered the pizza darling, so why do you yell at the delivery boy when he deposits your thin-crust with extra cheese hot and fresh on your doorstep, just as you ordered it?

Tia has just surfaced from two wintry months of silent, solitary retreat at her home in Dharamshala, her first solo meditation retreat. She continues to study Buddhist practices, teach Hatha yoga one-on-one and to the nuns of Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s nunnery.

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Retreat Review

Sacr ed W at er Y oga S urf R etr eat acred Wat ater Yoga Surf Re tre

Connected to the rythmns of nature, yoga teacher Wendy in Bali Wendy Wyvill

I HAVE JUST RETURNED FROM THE sacred - Bali, the Ocean and the Desa Seni have once again touched my soul so deeply I have no choice but to live differently.

It always amazes me, how changed I feel in my body and mind, after teaching a Yoga retreat. Even though I am the one leading the adventure, I feel so affected by each retreat on a personal level. Every student influences, or inspires me towards a lighter brighter perspective.

I choose to teach Yoga retreats because I love to go on vacation. I think we all work too much, think too much, and stress out too much. Therefore we burn out and need to leave our daily routine for a while, and recharge. Ideally this should not be the case. In my opinion, one should live life as a daily retreat. Spending a little time alone in silence and in conversation with God, a little time laughing and celebrating with friends, a few moments letting go of the tears, a little time working and playing towards the things that inspire one self.

And the rest of the time we should make every effort to love ourselves and forgive ourselves, and spread that love around us.

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I have lived in Hong Kong almost five years. I came for one. This seems to be the story for a lot of the expats I know. We came looking for change and vibrancy of life and got much more. The pace we live at in this intense world is unsustainable, the expectations of ourselves, and our bodies is un-realistic. It is this reason I believe the practice of yoga is the answer, for calming the chaos that this world seems to be living with. Yoga will heal our bodies, our minds and this planet. But we must seriously take that pause, that vacation, and that retreat to really receive the gifts of yoga and life!

When I teach retreats I try to create a sacred space for the students to start to feel again, to let go of the many stresses they hold in their bodies and in their lives. For most of us, we are so stressed we don’t even see the warning signs that our bodies give us. The small aches and pains we ignore can turn into much more serious conditions.

Yoga means to join or reconnect. When there is disease or sickness, it is because a cell has gone off and started its own little life. It has separated from its source. To heal one must learn to slow down and start to re-join one’s breath to movement, one’s thoughts to prayers, and one’s intentions

towards greatness not destruction.

Coming on a yoga retreat is the perfect opportunity to pause, let go, clean the slate and take time to truly listen to one’s own soul. For me, taking this pause, has become a necessity in life.

We start out every day meeting in silence at 6 am in the outdoor yoga shala. I love the mornings, the stillness just before the dawn. It’s such a sacred time where the possibility of the day just sits waiting.

Then a rooster caws and the many tropical sounds start to chime in. We silently walk out to the beach in meditation focusing on our breath and contemplating the vastness of the present moment. This is a wonderful way to cleanse the mind. It’s like giving the mind a bath. De-cluttering it.

As I watch the students cross the rickety swinging bamboo bridge to the beach, I am curious what each is thinking and feeling. We all gaze out to the ocean, in awe of the waves and what sits resting behind them. Our eyes all wonder, as to what is really out there! I sense a great seeking in all of us, a longing to find something to complete us. The first day of a retreat is always a melting in and a letting go of the intensity we all live with. To change one’s

routine and redirect ones focus is not always easy. But when you are in a space that is held and guided it can come quite naturally. I find this is the most important shift for me. It’s such a struggle to let go of the habitual response to always do more, be more and achieve more. While I am leading the retreat I am in constant battle with the old me and the new lighter, me. I have to continually remind myself, that it is this new me that can be a greater inspiration to my students.

For who needs a stressed out disconnected yoga teacher?

The rest of the day is full of asana, pranayama and meditation, surfing, swimming, shopping, and spa, eating healthy and of course relaxing, chilling, journaling and spending quiet time.

An evening candlelight meditation ends our day. Bed time is usually around 9 pm, as we are very connected to the rhythms of the earth. Up at sunrise, down at sunset.

This rhythm is so healthy for us, but difficult when we live in a city that seems to not take savasana. I am exhausted at the end of the day but in a good way. I never sleep so deeply as when I teach retreats.

Living in a semi outdoor setting, practicing and teaching yoga in an outdoor shala and walking on the earth is a speedy way to connect to my natural rhythms. There is something so settled in my heart when I am doing what feels so right.

My main goal when I leading retreats is to give students space to let go of the things that aren’t serving them and use the time to contemplate the things that are. We journal and share with the group and spend quiet times alone contemplating what it is that they are trying to manifest in their lives.

I believe what we focus on we strengthen, and what we turn away from we let go of.

So spending a week focusing on healthy, healing, positive, loving peaceful playful activities will carve out a new groove in one’s life. A groove that has a new rhythm.

As balanced on her hands as she is on a surf board

When the retreat draws to a close there also needs to be a letting go period. For each group is unique and bonds in their own way. But for the week we have become a family, sharing, playing, praying and celebrating the magnitude within each of us. To return back to our lives after a retreat is really when the real yoga begins. I have to remember the peace that was found in Bali and understand it is always within me even if I am in the hustle of Hong Kong flow. I try to remember: “Peace is our only Goal” in yoga and in life!

Wendy hosts yoga surf retreats as well as yoga Ayurveda retreats in Bali and Sri Lanka. She is presently working on yoga, ski, snowboard retreats as well as yoga and diving retreats. For more information please email her at wendy.wyvill@pureyoga.com or see Pure Yoga’s website www.pure-yoga.com for details.

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Tia’s Crossword This crossword is dedicated to mystic poets and poet-saints whose visionary and beautiful poems and unusual lives, often of humble origin, continue to inspire us.

ACROSS 1. Born in Aquino, Italy, this poet and lover of Catholic scriptures from a young age, described meditation and solitude as the greatest opportunity offered to a human being. (6, 7) 3 & 16 DOWN. Composer of the epic poem, the Mahabharata. (4, 5) 5. Scholar and theologian turned mystic who spent most of his life in Konya, Turkey, best known for the dance of the Whirling Dervishes and ecstatic love poems in Mathnawi. (4) 6. Jumble ‘tack her’ to give the medieval German mystic, Meister ........ (7) 10. See 20 ACROSS, 1 DOWN, 13 DOWN & 15 DOWN. 11. Jumble ‘i bark’ to give a weaver from Varanasi, a religious reformer whose songs and dohas (couplets) are still popular in India. (5) 17. See 18 ACROSS 18 & 17 ACROSS. Persian poet whose immortal words have been translated by Fitzgerald Here with a Loaf of Bread beneath the Bough, A Flask of Wine, a Book of Verse and Thou Beside me singing in the Wilderness, And Wilderness is Paradise enow. (4, 7) 19. ........ of the Cross, a mystic who composed most of his greatest poetry in a prison in Toledo. (4) 21 & 20 DOWN. The 7th ....... ........ , a former spiritual and temporal head of Tibet, renowned for his poems on spiritual transformation. (5, 4) 23. See 13 DOWN 24. The young and dashing Orgyen Trinley Dorje, the 17th ..... , a lover of esoteric knowledge who began composing mystic poetry as a teenager. (7) 25. Jumble ‘Lima pear’ to give Great Sorceror turned cave 48

meditator turned poet-saint whose Hundred Thousand Songs continue to guide us on the Tibetan Buddhist path. (8) DOWN 1 & 10 ACROSS & 4 DOWN. Founder of 17 Carmelite convents, a courageous woman whose near-death experience changed her life to one of meditation, religious reform and composing spiritual literature and poetry. (6, 2, 5) 2. Jumble ‘satin’ to give a canonical title given to 19 ACROSS, 1 DOWN, 13 DOWN & 14 DOWN. (5) 3. Jumble ‘Viki Lam’ to give the bandit turned poet who composed the Ramayana in Sanskrit. (7) 4. See 1 DOWN 7. Called ‘The Tongue of the Invisible’ this Persian poet sang wild and beautiful love poems from God. (5) 8. Marathi poet saint who composed playful devotional poems called ‘abahangs’. (7) 9. Born in Basra and as a child, stolen and forced into slavery and prostitution, she became one of the greatest women poets known to history. (5) 12. See 15 DOWN 13, 10 ACROSS & 23 ACROSS. Commonly depicted with birds flocking to him, this saint penned the lines, Make me a channel of your peace... (7,2,6) 14. Born in Siena, Italy, she defied her parents and became a Dominican nun, devoting her life to meditation, serving the poor and healing the ill till her death at the tender age of 33. (9) 15 & 12 DOWN. Jumble ‘oh run! u pick hen’ to give an Indian Lama renowned for his sweet verses on bodhichitta (the awakening mind) in a collection called ‘Vast as the Heavens, Deep as the Sea’. (5, 8) 16. See 3 ACROSS 20. See 21 ACROSS

22. Medieval Hindu princess who, believing herself married to Krishna, became a great mystic poet, devotional singer and religious reformer. (4)

The solution to this crossword can be found on page 50

Yoga Teachers & Studios AMICO STUDIO

FLEX

KATE PORTER YOGA

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1/F Regency Centre (Phase II), 43 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aerdeen, Hong Kong s: Iyengar, Ashtanga, Hatha Vinyasa t: (852) 2813 2212 f: (852) 2813 2281 e: info@flexhk.com w: www.flexhk.com

Yoga for normal people Small public classes & luxury yoga holidays 5000G Marine Parade Road, 0429 Laguna Park, Singapore s: fusion of Hatha, Vinyasa, Iyengar and Yin classes l: English t: (65) 9781 3403 e: kate@KatePorterYoga.com w: www.KatePorterYoga.com

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IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE OF HONG KONG Room 406 New Victory House, 93- 103 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan, Hong Kong s: Iyengar t: (852) 2541 0401 e: info@iyengaryoga hongkong.com w: www.iyengaryoga hongkong.com

IYENGAR YOGA CENTRE SINGAPORE 149B Neil Road, Singapore 088875 s: Iyengar t:(65) 9052 3102 & 6220 4048 e:info@iyengaryogasingapore.com w: iyengaryogasingapore.com Hari Amrit Kaur (Kaldora) Privates, workshops d: Central, Discovery Bay s: Kundalini, Radiant Child yoga l: English, Cantonese t: (852) 6428 5168 e: kaldora_lee@hotmail.com w: www.kundaliniyogahk.com

NAMASTE YOGA STUDIO 8A, Minden House, 13 - 15 Minden Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong s: privates, Hatha, Iyengar, Sivananda, Satyananda, Kriya yoga t: (852) 9763 4105 e: namaste.yoga@ymail.com w: www.namaste-yoga.com.hk

Ming Lee Privates, workshops s: Iyengar Certified teacher l: English, Cantonese, Putonghua t: (852) 9188 1277 e: minglee@yogawithming.com

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Kate Leung Privates d:Hong Kong s:Hatha, Yoga Therapy, Pre-natal & more l: Cantonese t: (852) 6696 1802 e: lmanfaye@yahoo.com

PURE YOGA

LIFE MANAGEMENT YOGA CENTRE Non-profit Classical Yoga School d: Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong s: Patanjali yoga, Kids, Seniors, Corporates l: English, Cantonese t: (852) 2191 9651 t: (852) 6349 0639 (Chinese) e: life@yoga.org.hk w: www.yoga.org.hk Master Luke s: yoga therapist for chronic diseases, M.Sc.(Yoga therapy), P.T.D.N.Y.S.D.Y.SC.ED.,Y.I.C., Experienced Hatha yoga therapist &instructor in Basics, Intermediate, Advance, Privates l: English t: (852) 9763 4105 e: namaste.yoga@ymail.com w: www.namaste-yoga.com.hk Ursula Moser The Iyengar Yoga Centre of Hong Kong, LRC d: Central s: Iyengar Certified (Junior Intermediate I) l: English t: (852) 2918 1798 / 9456 2149 e: uschi.moser51@gmail.com

Hong Kong 16/F The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street t: (852) 2971 0055 25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell St, Causeway Bay t: (852) 2970 2299 14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon t: (852) 8129 8800 9/F Langham Place Office Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon t: (852) 3691 3691 4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo Place, 979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay t: (852) 8129 1188 Singapore 391A Orchard Road, #18-00 Ngee Ann City Tower A t: (65) 6733 8863 30 Raffles Place, 04-00 Chevron House t: (65) 6304 2257 Taiwan 151 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 4, Taipei t: (886) 02 8161 7888

REAL YOGA 176 Orchard Road #06-016/07 The Centrepoint, Singapore s: Hatha, Power, Ashtanga and Gentle Yoga l: English t: (65) 6734 2853 w: www.realyoga.com.sg 49

SPACE YOGA 26 / F, 27 An-Ho Road, Section 1, Taipei 106, Taiwan s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Anusara Inspired, Flow, Yin, Restorative, Power, Hot, Meditation, Pranayama, Virya Sadhana, and Yoga Dance l: English, Mandarin t: (886) 2 2773.8108 e: info@withinspace.com w: www.withinspace.com

KUNDALINI YOGA @ SHAKTI 3/F 34 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong s: Kundalini Yoga, Qigong, Guided Kundalini Meditation, Pilates (privates), Energy Healing, Life Coaching. Also Studio & Healing rooms for rental t: (852) 2521 5099 e: info@shaktihealingcircle.com w: www.shaktihealingcircle.com

THE YOGA ROOM 3, 4 & 15/F Xiu Ping Commercial Bldg, 104 Jervois St, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin, Yin Yang, Hot Yoga, Vinyasa, Asana & Pranayama, Svastha Yoga, Pilates, Pre-natal, Mom & Baby, Yoga kids, Belly dance and more. t: (852) 2544 8398 e: info@yogaroomhk.com w: www.yogaroomhk.com Wai-Ling Tse Freelance, Privates and Groups d: Hong Kong s: Sivananda certified, Hatha, Svastha Yoga, Power, Hot, Yin, Pranayama and Meditation l: English, Cantonese t: (852) 9465 6461 e: wltse11@yahoo.com

YOGA CENTRAL 4/F Kai Kwong House, 13 Wyndham Street, Central, HK s: Hatha/Iyengar Yoga classes, yoga teacher training workshops, mat-based Pilates; suitable for private group classes and corporate health programs t: (852) 2982 4308 e: yogacentralhk@yahoo.com w: www.yogacentral.com.hk

Crossword Solution ACROSS 1. Thomas Aquinas, 3. Veda, 5.

Rumi, 6. Eckhart, 10. Of, 11.

Kabir, 17. Khayyam, 18. Omar, 19. John, 21. Dalai, 23. Assisi, 24. Karmapa, 25. Milarepa DOWN 1. Teresa, 2. Saint, 3. Valmiki, 4.

Avila, 7. Hafiz, 8. Tukaram, 9.

Rabia, 12. Rinpoche, 13.

Francis, 14. Catherine, 15.

Khunu, 16. Vyasa, 20. Lama, 22. Mira 50

YOGA on CAINE ROAD @ COSMO KIDS 1/F, Jadestone Court, 138 Caine Road, Mid-Levels, HK s: Pre-natal, Kids yoga, Family yoga, Private yoga, Yoga studio rental t: (852) 2915-8138 e: ask@cosmokids.net w: www.cosmokids.net

HK$500 for individual teacher & HK$1,000 for studio for the remaining two issues of 2011, fgairns@netvigator.com for details.

NAMASKAR DISPLAY & LISTING ADVERTISING RATES FOR 2011 (IN HONG KONG DOLLARS) Outside back cover Inside front cover Inside back cover Full page 1/2 page horizontal 1/2 page vertical 1/4 page 1/8 page

(210 mm x 297 mm) (210 mm x 297 mm) (210 mm x 297 mm) (210 mm x 297 mm) (188 mm x 137.5 mm) (90 mm x 275 mm) (90 mm x 137.5 mm) (90 mm x 63 mm)

Teacher listing Studio listing

(January - October 2011) (January - October 2011)

$20,000 $2,700 $2,200 $1,700 $1,000 $1,000 $550 $350 $500 $1,000

Advertisements should be submitted as high resolution (300 dpi) .tif files (no pdf or ai files please).

Advertising fees are payable in Hong Kong dollars only to: Namaskar c/o Carol Adams, 1/F 46 Leung Fai Ting Lower Road, Clearwater Bay, Hong Kong For more information contact: Carol (852) 9137 9992 /kambotan@netvigator.com or Frances (852) 9460 1967 / fgairns@netvigator.com

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