namaskarA VOICE FOR THE COMMUNITY October 2019

TWO TOOLS TO STILL YOUR MIND MUSIC IN YOGA TEACHER BURNOUT Using breath & gaze, practitioners can quieten Yoga teacher Samrat Dasgupta talks to four How to keep our selves & our teaching fresh ....p24 and bring focus to our mind...... p16 teachers about the role of music in yoga...... p18

Samrat Dasgupta in variation. Photo by Bianca Dasgupta 2 NAMASKAR NAMASKAR - OCTOBER 2019 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR He who has a why to live for ON THE COVER - SAMRAT DASGUPTA can bear almost any how.

Observed Friedrich Nietzsche, one of the most influential philosophers of the modern era.

Although a man living in Germany in the 1800s would have a different life experience than Samrat teaches yoga classes, leads retreats and teacher whoever wrote the , they seem to have made a similar conclusion about the trainings. He lives in Hong Kong with his wife, Bianca, importance of having a purpose in purpose. and their two sons.

Patrick and Gabrielle, writing on our dristi “Teacher Burnout,” came to a similar conclusion - having a clear purpose in life helps ward off teaching blues. Part two of Eric’s history of yoga In This Issue teachers shows us how the yoga we study today was passed down to us through a long line of wonderful teachers. DRISTI - TEACHER BURNOUT LONGEVITY 24 Samrat, who graces our cover, collates the opinions of several notable teachers, on the using BURNOUT’S KNOCKING 28 music in yoga class or home practice. Eugene and Lai Chow tell us how lessons they learned on the mat are informing their lives off the mat. Christine and Sophie share learnings from their WHO DELIVERED YOGA TO YOU 29 teachers. While Quinn and Krishnaa explain simple techniques which can benefit all. SPECIAL FEATURES Thanks to all these contributors, and those behind the scenes - Angela, Carol, Wai-Ling, Joe, HARD TO FOCUS 16 Chester and Anny, all working hard to bring you each issue. Breathe and gaze your way to stillness MUSIC & YOGA 18 Our next dristi will be “Studio Owner’s Path.” We are hoping to hear from studio owners Five teachers share their views themselves or teachers or students with broad experience of studios to share. If you have a BEING BETTER 21 studio, can you tell about your vision and any sense of obligation. How do you balance “giving One yogi’s efforts to use technology for self- the clients what they want” versus “guiding them to a higher purpose?” Or maybe you are a improvement teacher or student who has worked at or practiced at lots of different studio and would like to JUST SHOW UP 22 comment on the approaches. Applying a yoga lesson to life

On the topic of contribution, can you tell us what you think about our Kula section? Is it REGULAR CONTRIBUTIONS helpful, should we continue to include it or has on-line marketing made it obsolete? We ask KULA UPDATES, WORKSHOPS, because we’re receiving fewer submissions from contributors and we’re thinking about what RETREATS, TEACHER TRAININGS 6 to do. Please drop us a note on [email protected] with your thoughts on this and any other areas of Namaskar. TEACHER TRAINING REVIEW 32 MUDRAS 32 BOOK REVIEW 34 DIRECTORY 36

Namaskar provides a voice for the yoga community around the Articles and photographs in Namaskar are contributed at no ABOUT NAMASKAR world. The publication is an opportunity for practitioners on a charge. Advertising income covers production, distribution, yogic path to selflessly offer their knowledge, learnings and administrative costs and discretionary contributions to selected ADVERTISING Carol Adams, [email protected] experiences with others. charities and causes.

KULA Wai-Ling Tse, [email protected] We welcome unsolicited submissions, therefore the opinions Namaskar, is published quarterly, usually January, April, July and expressed within these pages are not necessarily those of Namaskar or October. About 5,000 copies are printed and distributed for free SUBSCRIPTION Angela Sun, [email protected] its volunteers. to yoga studios, teachers, fitness centres, retail outlets, cafes and yoga-friendly outlets. Mostly distributed in Hong Kong, with 1,500 EDITOR Frances Gairns, [email protected] copies mailed to readers in 32 other countries.

October 2019 CONTRIBUTORS

ANGELA SUN CHRISTINE YEUNG EUGENE LEE KRISHNAA KINKARIDAS

Krishnaa lives in London. She studied with B.K.S.Iyengar and now runs classes in London and Angela takes care of distribution After a full career in finance and teaches and mudras for and circulation of Namaskar. Now banking, Eugene took a 200-hour yoga for the and back in her home town of New TT with in 2017. He . She has York, she has been practicing yoga Christine is a yoga teacher in Hong has founded BetterMe a company written 15 books on Bhakti Yoga. for 10 years. She currently teaches Kong. She loves teaching, writing, focused on empowering individu- [email protected] privately. shooting photos and videos. She als to motive corporations globally [email protected] believes we are all travellers in to carry out their Social Develop- LOW LAI CHOW life, and yoga is a beautiful way to ment Goals. CAROL ADAMS live with love and freedom. www.bmegss.mystrikingly.com [email protected] GABRIELLE MCMAHON ERIC SHAW

Lai Chow manifests words for a living. The journalist of 15 years and sometime editor is based in Singapore. www.lowlaichow.com Carol takes care of Namaskar adminstration, advertising and Eric has studied yoga and PATRICK CREELMAN billing from the UK. She works for more than 30 years from home which gives her the and taught both since 2001. He freedom to take care of her son. maintains a lively international Gabrielle is a life and spiritual [email protected] teaching schedule and is the coach, incorporating meditation, creator of Prasana Yoga and Yoga yoga and . She is based in Education through imagery. He is Byron Bay, Australia. an E-RYT 500 with two degrees in www.bebliss.com.au Art and a Master’s degree in Education, Religious Studies and Asian studies. www.prasanayoga.com

4 NAMASKAR namaskar As Pure Yoga’s founding teacher Samrat is a senior yoga teacher at Patrick has been and continues to Pure Yoga in Hong Kong and leads be a pillar in the yoga community workshops, retreats, foundation throughout Asia. Since the and advanced teacher trainings opening of Pure Yoga in Hong Kong globally. samrat.dasgupta@pure- Now on-line at: in 2002, Patrick has taught yoga.com www.issuu.com/namaskarasia thousands of students and trained hundreds of yoga teachers from SOPHIE SANDERS around the world. Informed by the wisdom teachings as taught to him by his profound teachers, Patrick continues to walk this path studying regularly and practicing as Dristi for December 2019: a way of life. patrick@pure- yoga.com Studio Owner’s Path QUINN TAPLIN

Dristi for February 2020: History of Asana

Sophie is a Tier 2 certified Baptiste Yoga Educator, an aspiring writer Dristi for May 2020: and a teacher mentor. She is living and breathing her empowered (yoga) life, moment to moment, Yoga & Buddhism day by day in Singapore and writes on www.sophiexsanders.com/blog

WAI-LING TSE Quinn is a student and teacher of mind-body awareness. He has If you’d like to contribute on any of these topics, please email well over 1,000 hours of training in [email protected] with the idea for your article. Ashtanga, Iyengar, therapeutic, and bodywork. He Contributions are also welcome on other topics. Final articles are travels yearly to and Bali. welcome before November 10 for December issue; January 10 for [email protected] February issue and; April 10 for May issue.

SAMRAT DASGUPTA

Wai-Ling practices and teaches mindfulness, therapy and is Kula editor for Namaskar. [email protected]

October 2019 KULA Updates

AUSTRALIAN Self-Attunement Laughter Meditation PICER, Central Wellbeing For the past 20 years, this Conference community has been assisting people to help bring about real 23 - 30 October change to their lives. Sessions Greenmount Beach Hotel, Gold held Mondays 3 – 4 pm and Coast Wednesdays 8 – 9 pm; HK$100. www.laughterwellbeing.org Call to reserve a space.

HONG KONG For more information www.picer.com / Accessible Yoga (852) 2167 8661 for Everyone with YAMA Global Wellness Foundation Summit 15-17 October Valerie Ho & CoCo Chan, founders on OMSA online platform Platform, Sai Ying Pun Grand Hyatt, Wanchai Yoga for people with special Learn about the latest research OMSA, e- crystals, herbs, essential oils, needs, disabilities or for, and the crucial trends angel and oracle cards. physical challenges. Individual developing in Asia, China and commerce & and group classes for different Hong Kong’s wellness markets. Lifestyle Platform They are offering free shipping in ages and abilities. Held on Hong Kong and Singapore for Mondays 2-6 pm, classes by Namaskar’s founding editor & Launches orders over HK$500. donation. Bookings required. Gong teacher, Martha Collard Aromatherapist and energy will be one of the presenters. healer, CoCo Chan and invest- CoCo and Valerie plan to expand For more information ment manager, Valerie Ho, have the platform to include a direc [email protected] / yamahk.org / For more information launched a online platform selling tory of holistic therapies and a (852) 5507 0268 www.globalwellnesssummit.com community of events and workshops in Hong Kong and Free Lecture on Singapore. Medicines of the For more information Rain Forest www.omsa.world November Classes at Iyengar Central A medicine man and biotherapist Yogasala will deliver a lecture on the South Quarry Bay American tradition of healing. Daily classes on Yoga Basics Participants will gain knowledge Thursdays & Saturdays - Yoga II of healing qualities of medicinal with Maggie / Icy plants from the Amazon jungle. Saturdays & Sundays - Yoga III with Maggie / Icy For more information whatsapp 3-4 pm on Fridays - Beginners (852) 6432 2208 / Wall Rope with Margie [email protected] Monday, Thursday & Sundays -

Martha Collard will be at the Global Amazon Rainforest medicine practitioner Restorative for Beginners with Wellness Summit will give a free lecture in Hong Kong Sandy

6 NAMASKAR For more information For more information 4 - 7 October UNITED KINGDOM www.yogasalahk.com / www.oceansoundyogafestival.com Aonang Villa Resort, Krabi [email protected] www.asiawellness.net Om Yoga Show THAILAND 18 - 20 October KOREA Bangkok Acro Alexandra Place, London Museflower Life Convention 2019 The biggest yoga gathering in Korea Yoga Europe, this event is now in it’s Festival 7 - 9 December 15th year. Former Namaskar Conference 11-14 October Thai Euro Gym, Bangna, Bangkok contributor Sue Yen Wan joins a 4 - 6 October Museflower Retreat & Spa, www.bangkok-acro- huge list of presenters. Ilsan Kintex Kintex Exhibition Chiang Rai convention.com Hall The 5th annual Museflower Life For more information Festival, celebrating all things USA www.onyogashow.com Celebrating it’s ninth year, this healing, holistic, and green with claims to be the largest yoga workshops, fitness classes, 10th Hanuman VIETNAM conference in Korea. This year health counseling sessions, there will be 37 presenters, alternative therapies, signature Festival including Ashtanga teacher David spa treatments, nutritious Asian 11 - 14 June 2020 Essential Yoga Swenson and & musician vegetarian buffets, wellness gifts Boulder, Colorado Zenith Yoga, Hanoi Daphne Tse. and prizes. An outdoor yoga, music and dance “20 hours of Applying the festival. This year’s lineup Principles of for For more information For more information includes Seane Corn, , Correct Alignment” programme www.yogaconference.kr www.musefloweretreat.com / Jai Uttal and others. successfully completed at Yoga [email protected] Thai Tam Giang in Da Nang city at NEW ZEALAND For more information the end of March with Marzena Yoga, Art & Dance www.hanumanfestival.com Kierepka. Hauora Yoga Festival For more information Conference www.zenithyogavietnam.com 2 - 24 November AUT University, Auckland

The second New Zealand yoga conference features 25 present- ers over three days.

For more information www.hauorayoga.org.nz

TAIWAN OceanSound Yoga Festival 4 - 6 October Bishan Campground, Taipei

Aims to be a healthy and fun event inclusive of the English- speaking community set in the mountains of Yangmingshan. Marzena Kierepka (centre) and the most recent graduates of her Iyengar programme in Vietnam

October 2019 KULA Workshops

CHINA 26 June-2 July Doug Keller 5-day Ashtanga Yoga Manila Carlos Pomeda [email protected] Immersion 11 - 15 November Yoga Philosophy Daily Mysore and Space Yoga lectures Sitting Practice www.withinspace.com 18 - 20 October VIETNAM Y+ Shanghai with Dylan www.pomeda.com 3 July-30 August Sadhana Siargao Mysore Sadhana HONG KONG tarik.com/siargao/ and Further Eyal Shifroni Foundations to [email protected] SINGAPORE Explorations with Dylan Bernstein Flight with INDONESIA Ashtanga Yoga 5-9 June 2020 Katharina Primary Series Mandala Wellness, Saigon 1 October Awakening The www.mandala-wellness.com.vn/ The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan Weekend [email protected] / Immersion with UNITED KINGDOM www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) Connection 2544 8398 13-17 December James Figueira Yoga & Rumah Yoga, Jakarta 1-2 June Foundations to [email protected] / The Yoga Shala Meditation www.kiranayogaschool.com [email protected] / (65) according to Backbends with 93635544 / Katharina Hansa Flow www.theyogashala.com Ayurveda 26 October 7 October SPAIN TriYoga, London The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan Water Series [email protected] / 6-8 December www.triyoga.co.uk www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) Jakarta Immersive Yoga 2544 8398 [email protected] / Adam Hocke & www.kiranayogaschool.com course with James Boag Adam Husler’s Therapeutic JAPAN 29 June-7 July Contemporary Foundations Casa Cuadrau Yoga Flow Program with Dr. Buddhism, Yin www.casacuadrau.org/en/ destinations-view/yoga-course- 8 - 10 November Yoga & TriYoga, London Ganesh Mohan james-boag/ www.triyoga.co.uk 2-6 October Mindfulness with The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan TAIWAN [email protected] / Carlos Pomeda www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) 14-16 June Leslie Howard’s 2544 8398 Tokyo Yoga Philosophy sarahpowers.com/iyi/insight- Weekend lectures yoga-intensive-june-2019/ Props for Yoga Workshop 30 November - 2 December TriYoga, London Workshop with PHILIPPINES 2 - 3 November Space Yoga, Taipei www.pomeda.com Dr. Eyal Shifroni Mysore Sadhana www.withinspace.com 16-17 November Yoga Central with Dylan

8 NAMASKAR KULA Retreats

INDONESIA [email protected] Desa Seni Anniversary Yoga 7-day Dharma Escape Healing Fasting 1-20 November & 1-20 December Retreat with Desa Seni, Bali Hilary Hitt [email protected] 1-8 December The Yoga Barn, Ubud Ashtanga Meets [email protected] Baptiste Yoga ITALY Retreat with Ashtanga Yoga Clayton & Retreat with Tryphena Clayton 6-11 November 28 September-5 October Bali www.pure-yoga.com www.pure-yoga.com Retreat Italy: Live the with Missy & Noy Magic with 21 - 26 November Martina & Anjan Jeda Yoga Retreats, Bali 6-12 October www.pure-yoga.com www.pure-yoga.com

NICARAGUA Rest, Sweat, Ocean Conservation & Digital Detox with Tabata Ogilvie Julia McCabe AUSTRALIA www.alpenretreat.com Womens’ Retreat EGYPT with Tabata Ashtanga Yoga Ogilvie Retreat with 15-17 November Marie Maccagno Byron Yoga Retreat Centre Laruga www.byronyoga.com 31 October - 2 November Writing from the Ardi Sahshur, Egypt Heart: Bali AUSTRIA www.laurugayoga.com Breathwork & Retreat with Marie Maccagno Julia McCabe Yoga Retreat Los Cardones, Nicaragua 24-30 November 1 - 3 November 14 - 21 October Bali Floating Leaf Eco-luxury The AlpenRetreat, Austria www.juliamccabe.com Resort, Central Bali October 2019 Yoga Seva Nature SPAIN Handstand & Yoga Retreat with with Dayna Integrated Yoga, AcroYoga Retreat Aisling Guirke Seraye & friends Meditation & wtih Brett Morgan 8 - 10 November Monales Forest, Dublin 2 - 9 November Hiking 3 - 10 November www.dubliniyengaryoga.ie Verdad Nicaragua Retreat Centre Retreat with Vikasa Yoga Retreat, Koh Samui www.hanumanadventures.com www.brett-morgani.com James Boag New Year 8-14 June Yoga Retreat with ecoYoga Retreat Casa Cuadrau 29 December - 3 January 2020 www.casacuadrau.org/en/ Richard Freeman ecoYoga Centre, Argyll destinations-view/yoga- & Mary Taylor www.ecoyoga.org meditation-hiking/ 8-18 December Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui VIETNAM THAILAND Expand the www.samahitaretreat.com 4-day Yoga & Boundaries with Centred Yoga Meditation Annie Chang Retreat with Paul Retreat wtih 12 - 20 October Dallaghan & the Victoria Nhan Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui Dana Lai www.samahitaretreat.com Samahita Team 21-28 December; 28 December-4 JAPAN January 2020 Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui Inversion Retreat www.samahitaretreat.com with Dana Lai 10 - 14 November Yin & Yang Yoga Aso Villa Park Hotel & Spa Resort Retreat with www.pure-yoga.com Simon Low Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui PORTUGAL 11-18 January 2020 Victoria Nhan Hiking, Surf & www.samahitaretreat.com Yoga Retreat Gratitude Vietnam, Hoi An UNITED KINGDOM 4 - 7 October 3 - 9 November Lauren Pisano www.gratitudevietnam.com Sagres Iyengar www.pfmyoga.com Residential Yoga Meditation 7-day Alternative Retreat with Christmas & New & Meditation New Year Retreat Annamaria Sacco Year Yoga Retreat Retreat with Gratitude Vietnam, Hoi An 5 - 9 October 27 December - 2 January 2020 21 - 28 December & 28 December Lauren Pisano Cardy Net House, Fife - 4 January 2020 www.gratitudevietnam.com www.bodysymphonies.co.uk Castelo Branco 26 October - 2 November Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui www.yogaevolutionretreats.com www.samahitaretreat.com

10 NAMASKAR KULA Teacher Trainings

AUSTRALIA [email protected] / Assisting & 13 December-15 March 2020 www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) [email protected] / (852) 300-hr TT with 2544 8398 Adjusting with 9888 2400 Nicky Grimsdale Tymi Howard 100-hr 29 November-1 December 200-hr Yoga TT & Sarah Metzger & Meditation TT The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan with Emma 1-29 October [email protected] / www.hereyoga.com.au/teacher- Certificate Course www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) Linnitt & Tamika training/ 29 October-5 December 2544 8398 Savory [email protected] Anahata Yoga, Central November-June 2020 www.anahatayoga.com.hk / (852) 300-hr Advanced Sai Kung CHINA 2905 1822 / [email protected] [email protected] Yin Yang Vinyasa 300-hr Hansa Yoga TT (Chinese 85-hr Prenatal & 50-hr Hot 26 Yoga Therapy Program) with Immersion with Professional Pregnancy Yoga Janet Lau TT (Chinese) with 150-hr Mindfulness (Module Part Missy & Noy Training 1) 28 September-4 October 2020 4 - 19 January 2020 22 October-5 November Holly Wong 150-hr Mindfulness (Module Part Pure Yoga ChaoWai SOHO, Beijing 6-24 November 2) 13-22 November 2020 www.pure-yoga.com [email protected] / The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan www.hansa.yoga [email protected] / [email protected] / INDONESIA www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) www.yogaroomhk.com/ (852) HONG KONG 2544 8398 2544 8398 The Collective TT Desa Seni School of Yoga Integral Yoga 28 September-26 October 200-hr TT Advanced TT with [email protected] 12 October-17 May 2020 Ana Forrest & Platform, Sai Ying Pun 60-hr Advanced [email protected] / Jose Calarco TT for Teachers hershayoga.com 2 - 10 November Pure Yoga with Mark The Foundation www.pure-yoga.com Whitwell Training for Yoga 20 - 28 October Yoga for the Yoga Barn, Ubud Teachers with Special Child 95- www.theyogabarn.com Patrick Creelman hr Certification Kirana Yoga & Rinat Perlman Programme Ganesh Mohan 14 October - 7 December School 200-hr TT Part 1: 20-25 November Pure Yoga 4-11 October, 1-5 November, 1-11 Part 2: 27 November-3 December RYT 200 Svastha www.pure-yoga.com December [email protected] / Yoga TT (Bi- Yoga Heart Corner, Bandung hershayoga.com 90-hr TT [email protected] / lingual) with www.kiranayogaschool.com with Ariel Tang 15-Hour CET - Ganesh Mohan & 19 October-10 November The Art of The Yoga Room, Sheung Wan team

October 2019 300-hr Passion & Unwind the 29 September-27 October Foundation www.sivananda.org/thailand Purpose YTT Feminine Course led by 1-29 October Specialised Yoga 200-hr TT Arielle Nash Samadi Bali, Canggu 27 October - 24 November 9 May - 6 June 2020 www.Hereyoga.com.au Training with Bex Vikasa Yoga Retreat, Koh Samui Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui Tyrer www,vikasayoga.com www.samahitaretreat.com 300-hr High Vibe 13-20 December Yoga TT with Yoga Barn, Ubud Yoga & 300-hr Advanced Emily Kuser [email protected] Karam Kriya TT Yoga TT 3 - 30 November Yoga Immersions 8 - 13 November 7 May - 11 June 2020 The Yoga Barn, Ubud Fisherman’s Village, Koh Samui Vikasa Yoga Retreat, Koh Samui www.theyogabarn.com Training with www.kundaliniyogaasia.org www.vikasayoga.com Damien De Foundation USA Shamanic Yoga Bastier Course led by TT with Levi Module I: 27-31 December 95-hr Kids Yoga Banner Module II: 3-7 January 2020 Arielle Nash Samadi Bali, Bali TT with Lesley 12 November-11 December 9 November - 7 December www.samadibali.com The Yogi’s Garden, Ubud Samahita Retreat, Koh Samui Carney [email protected] www.samahitaretreat.com 3 - 10 November Insight Yoga TT St Petersburg, Florida 300-hr Level 2 TT Intensive Primary 200-hr Yoga TT www.rainbowyogatraining.com with Gwendoline Level with Sarah with Peter Mystical 200-hr Ferreira, Echo & Powers Clifford Yoga TT 10 November - 6 December Lisa Nelson 10-19 January 2020 10-30 January; 9-29 February The Yoga Barn, Bali The Sanctuary, Koh Phanghan 22 November-20 December 2020 www.sarahpowers.com www.thesanctuarythailand.com Yoga Bliss, Nusa Lembongan School Yoga Institute [email protected] www.schoolyogainstitute.com / TAIWAN 95-hr Kids Yoga [email protected] Living Wisdom TT with Christina 150-hr Advanced VIETNAM with Bex Tyrer TT with Hart Lin 2-9 December 18 - 24 November 100-hr Ayurveda Yoga Barn, Ubud Lazer Alogo Yoga, Bangkok freedomthrumovement@ 14 - 23 December, 14 - 23 www.rainbowyogatraining.com Training with gmail.com February & 1 - 10 August 2020 Balarama Space Yoga, Taipei 100-hr Anusara 100-hr Vaidika www.withinspace.om Chandra Yoga TT with 10-22 October Dharma with THAILAND Jonas Westring La Veranda, Phu Quoc Island www.shantaya.org Daniel Garza 5-19 January 2020 6-16 December International Amaravati Ashram, Chiang Mai The Yoga Barn, Ubud www.shantaya.org [email protected] TT

12 NAMASKAR October 2019 14 NAMASKAR October 2019 YOGA TECHNIQUES HARD TO FOCUS? Breathe & Gaze your Mind to Stillness BY QUINN TAPLIN

Our helps to steady the afflictions of the mind, find physical stability and enter more deeply into ourselves. To put it more simply, driving your eye gaze to focus will slow down your racing thoughts.

Yoga is an opportunity to practice focusing for our daily lives. Learning to focus during asana and meditation practice can evolve into daily life. When the power of conscious concentration is discovered, the light begins to peek through onto all areas of your life.

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have 24-hour days.” ZIG ZIGLAR

How do you focus in yoga? An easy way is to start with breath. Tuning in to the breath with body movement - one breath to one movement, as if breath-posture were not separate from each other, yet one entity.

For example, exhale samastithi stand straight, inhale raise your arms above the head, exhale forward fold , inhale lift your head and engage your core and extend the spine, exhale jump or step back to chatturanga. Once you understand the concept of linking the breath with an engagement of movement, then your practice serves as powerful tool for gaining a better understanding of body awareness. Breathing also allows you to send consciousness to areas of tension you may be holding in your body. The result is a sensation of softness beginning to arise.

Once you can stay with your breath, add the technique of drishti, or eye gazing. It requires a more advanced focus that enhances the attentiveness of the mind. In ’s Yoga Sutras, drishti is directly coupled with dharana and dhyana which are the sixth and seventh limbs of Pantanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga. Dharana works on cultivating focus on a single point to prepare for meditation.

In the method, there are nine drishti points: 1. Angusthamadhye drishti rests on the middle of our thumb 2. Nasagra drishti rests on the tip of our nose 3. Hastagre drishti rests gently on our hands 4. Parsva drishti (left) looks to the left side of us 5. Parsva drishti (right) looks to the right side of us 6. Urdhva drishti looks up or outward 7. Nabhi Chakra drishti brings the gaze to the middle of ourselves, our navel 8. Padayoragre drishti brings our gaze to our feet 9. Bhrumadhye drishti directs our eyes to the middle of our brow at the third eye center.

16 NAMASKAR October 2019 FOR TEACHERS MUSIC & YOGA Better Focus or mostly Distraction? BY SAMRAT DASGUPTA

When I started yoga, more than 30 years ago, class. However, if chosen wisely, music can awareness we should rely on will power, I didn’t have a proper or air- calm the mind, balance the emotions, and discipline and a reflective mind to use asana conditioning, let alone music to practice by. steady the energy. Consequently, music can as a powerful transformational tool. Today music is a popular tool in yoga classes. be selected judiciously and used if it supports The big, and controversial, question is the intention and flow of the class.” Let’s not reduce asana to aerobic fitness and whether music holds a place during practice. superficial ear candy that takes away from There was a time I used music in my classes. I our inner bliss. The music is already playing I discussed this topic with a few experienced later realized it was more difficult for me to within us, it’s a matter of Divine attunement.” yoga teachers who have inspired my journey. connect with students’ energy because of the They have taught in different corners of the disruption of the music. In the absence of Practicing in silence can be rather challenging world and not to my surprise, all have similar external sound, it was easier to mould them as there are no external aids to help let go of opinions, which I will share with you. into their own breath and body awareness. stress. Playing music on the other hand can be an external trigger which allows the Personally I do not use music in my classes. MAS VIDAL individual to let go and be present. Music Though I am not against playing music in does lift up one’s endorphin level and classes. I do my own practice in silence distracts minds from thoughts. because it helps build my dharana (concen- tration) and drishti (focus) within myself. As For a beginner, music would undoubtedly teachers, it is always good to teach what we help lessen the vrittis and it works better on practice and that’s why I defer playing music them as they tend to forget the duration or during practice. However I sometimes play intensity of class when tuning into the soft, soothing and calming music at low harmony. If choosing music, soft volume during Yin and because instrumentals, low background music can help dive the mind into a deeper should be used during this early stage of state of relaxation during long static practice if it helps a practitioner to fall in postures including Shavasana. romance with the ancient yogic science. Bear in mind music is very personal and one GANESH MOHAN doesn’t know what kind of emotional Mas Vidal, Director of Dancing Yoga & response a student could have to a particular Ayurveda says - “Music can be an inspira- song. It can be supportive for some and tional tool for spiritual transformation or repulsive for others. For this reason we even for enhancing asana practice, although should avoid music with any form of lyrics. the quality of the music needs to be carefully examined. According to Hatha-Raja, for yoga MASTER KAMAL traditions focused on asana as a preparation for a higher meditation, modern music if not sattvic (pure) can become an obstacle to pratyahara or sensory withdrawal.

Hearing loud music or music produced under tamasic (heavy) and rajasic (stimulat- ing) states of mind will do the same to the listener. What junk food does to the body, so According to Dr. Ganesh Mohan - “When do junk impressions have on the mind. practicing yoga, inner awareness of one’s own body and mind is important. How is my The responsibility of a yoga teacher is to body? How is my mind? Students should be teach students how to transcend the senses, encouraged stay in touch with this when to go beyond them to realize...we are not the practicing. Music is neither necessary nor body or the mind. Music can create appropriate in every yoga class. Music is attachments and limitations to sensory Master Kamal, founder of KriYoga and a powerful. It can shift awareness, energy and withdrawal. Yoga also endorses self- pioneer of yoga in Hong Kong says - “Adi yogi mood. Music that distracts from present motivation or support from the sanga is a great dancer. There must be a tremen- moment awareness, disturbs the energy or (community) rather depending on some dous connection between dance and sounds vitiates the mood, is unsuitable in a yoga outer tool like music to transcend to a higher of music.

18 NAMASKAR Nature is filled with melodious sounds, if you nature, let the sounds of the nature be the where we want to take our students and become sensitive to sound. What’s wrong to rhythms of your yoga training. Nature has whether the track is correct. have musical sounds that suits your moves, the best sounds of music that reconnects and uplifts your spirits and makes you stay reverberates your very sound within.” DAVID SWENSON focused within yourself. You could appreci- ate a yoga demonstration when the partici- The question here is whether we should use pant synchronizes with the musical sounds. an external aid for calibrating our minds or Differentiate between noisy sounds and should we use our austerity and tapas? Isn’t music that soothes your mind and emotions. yoga a spiritual discipline, blissful when an individual’s three greatest elements (body, People listen to certain sounds of the music mind and spirit) attain internal harmony? that can make them loving, some sounds of You might have questioned this as well, but music can make you aggressive. ultimately there isn’t any right or wrong, and what’s important is to find your own Many Indian ragas and sounds can help purpose of practice and work towards self- reduce blood pressure and promote states of realization of your true nature. I leave you with a final thought from relaxation and meditation. I am not boasting Ashtanga teacher David Swenson - “In about Indian music or ragas, just try any After sharing thoughts from different Ashtanga Yoga we use the sound of our sounds to help bring tranquility. teachers, you may have come to your own breath as the guide for our practice. It conclusion. My personal view is one should soothes the mind and acts like an internal Spend some time finding a right sound of create his own melody through the cadence to keep us focused and present. music that suits your class. Perfect music in of his own inner divination and tranquility of Breath is the central hub of a yoga practice a yoga class will make you forget the chaos of breath, which guides our body’s speed and and that is another reason we use a type of city life and keep you focused within the movements. This movement might be altered sound breathing. This keeps us engaged and room creating an atmosphere of calmness with the rhythm of music. cognizant of the quality, texture and energy and self-centeredness. Choose a dynamic of our breath. Breath is our music! music for dynamic moves and soft sounds If one is practicing Pratyahara (withdrawal for stillness and relaxation and play them as a of senses) which is an authentic reason of Having said that I will add if someone is soft background sound synchronized with asana practice, he will not hear the music or practicing at home alone and they need your movements. sound anyway because he is receded from the inspiration to get to the mat and a little music sense of hearing. So music is not a requisite helps, then go for it! Overtime maybe they I also suggest you to sing/chant certain during yoga-asana practice. Although one can wean themselves off the external sounds, if you can sing to bring the state of can use it as an initiator and a source of stimulus of music and return to the god- wellbeing during relaxation and meditation to building motivation in initial stages, but given music of our life, breath!” deepen your practice. But when you are in eventually as a teacher, we should explore

October 2019 20 NAMASKAR YOGA ENTERPRISE THE GOLDEN BRIDGE To a Better Me BY EUGENE LEE

families around us who questioned our For example, an overworked mother, reasons; the truth was, we didn’t know why struggling to balance family and business but it felt right. There were those who also wants to start a meditation practice. She lives understood and supported our journey and in a country lacking in self-help resources. others who didn’t. BBM uses technology to connect her with a teacher who teaches her how to reduce her Fast forward to 2017, I returned to NY to stress. Simultaneously BBM brings in third- study under Sri Dharma Mittra and started party partners such as artificial intelligence, developing an idea about how to help others which assists in diagnosing her health through purification and self-realization. situation to automate advice on her diet, Further discussions with yoga teacher Andre sleep patterns and exercises routines. As she Ram helped us solidify this idea. gets better at reducing her own stress, she gains points, which she can use to purchase As I look around it seems the world is goods and service at BBM member compa- crumbling. Violence has reached new heights nies. and people are suffering from their unmind- ful acts. I ask myself “how can we motivate It’s extremely difficult to motivate people to In the summer of 2016 I was in Soho, New people to become better?” change their habits, and it takes time and York City, in dire need of a bathroom. The endurance to set them on the right path. reflection of a sign - “Golden Bridge,” caught I think the change would have to come from However we undertake this challenge my eye and in a -second decision, I within and happen one person at a time. And I willingly because it forms our mission: to rushed in for their kindness. As I walked out feel it’s my responsibility to bring teachers become a better version of ourselves, for of the toilet, my friend was speaking to a tall who have the right knowledge, intentions and those we love. gentleman behind the counter. At 6’ 5" he character to those in need of their help. towered over us! He had a white turban on We are slowly realizing the potential of this his head, a long white bandhgala (Indian This mission took a life of its own when in platform and are expanding into new style jacket) covering a bright shirt and a pair 2018 I founded BetterMe (BBM). It is initiatives such as challenges to help save the of extremely short cut-off jeans! inspired by the UN’s 17 Sustainable Develop- rain forest, mental health, depression, and ment Goals (SDG), a blueprint for dealing relationship management. “I was once a runway model in Paris and with the global challenges of poverty, posed for Vogue magazine. My life centered inequality, environmental degradation, In September BBM aims to spread the around parties, champagne and drugs. But all climate and others. teaching of Ahimsa, non-violence, the highest that came to a dramatic stop when I found virtue and the root of all other virtues. Non- yoga, it settled me, brought me to this state, a BetterMe is an online platform through violence means not harming or injuring calmer and better version of myself,” he said. which people can undertake health and oneself, or any living being, intentionally or altruistic challenges. As they work towards unintentionally. Whether it’s mental, Coincidentally, we were in New York their goal, they accumulate points. These physical, vocal, we aim to remind and searching for a unique business to bring back points can be spent on services and goods strengthen a group of teachers, influencers to the HK yoga scene. So we asked, “what are offered by member companies. As part of and purposed individuals in their study of the top studios to visit in NY?” Sure enough their membership covenant, these companies Ahimsa and to spread this core value to our Dharma Yoga was at the top of the list, funny are obligated to commit resources to their students and society. enough both of us had practiced Dharma Sustainable Development Goals. yoga religiously under Joakim Olin in Hong Kong, and neither knew Dharma Yoga was born in NYC. We then spent the remaining part of our vacation with Sri Dharma Mittra, If you seek enlightenment, or if you practicing for two hours a day with him. It would set us on a different path in our lives. seek happiness, go to the cause.

As the Yoga settled in, we became Nothing exists without a cause. minimalists, detaching from material goods. We both eventually became vegetarians and The root cause of happiness is became much more grounded compared to compassion. our previous selves. There were friends and H.H. DALAI LAMA

October 2019 YOGA OFF THE MAT JUST SHOW UP Again & Again BY LOW LAI CHOW

Author and philosopher Alain De Botton once wrote in his New York Times article, Why You Will Marry the Wrong Person, that we must all lay to rest a certain notion – and that is...

… the founding Romantic idea upon which the Western understanding of marriage has been The only way to master Standing Forehead to Knee Pose, as Low Lai Chow demonstrates, is to keep showing up on the based for around the last 250 years: that a mat, again & again. perfect being exists who can solve all our dissatisfaction we have with ourselves – and after a week at the new studio. I wasn’t really needs and satisfy our every yearning. give us the beach bod we all want (for which I embracing change. I was running away. I liked suggest go the beach). Perhaps it can also bail the original studio just fine. Why not stay? This is how I feel about the allure of yoga. Or us out from that health condition that’s rather, how I feel a lot of us who believe in dogged us for years? Name your medical And so I stayed. yoga feel about yoga: that it can do anything malady, and someone out there, I guarantee from deliver ultimate transcendence beyond it, will vouch for yoga as a cure. It’s a strange feeling to see a person when the monkey mind, to dissolve the deep-seated you’re no longer seeing each other. It wasn’t Strangely enough, it took an accidental long before I did see him at the place I’d intervention fromX, my ex-husband, for me deemed sanctuary. But I’d already imagined I to realise I too, was a convert to this fantasy, would. I see him – I’ve seen him – I saw him that yoga is everything. I had frequented a before I did. The space is vast enough to particular yoga studio in Singapore for the accommodate us, and so much more. Yes, past five years, taking classes as a daily ritual. even for our weird dynamics to exist One day, while picking up our two-year-old fleetingly as past lovers cocooned into daughter for the weekend (co-parenting is current co-parents. Yoga had seen me our only reason for maintaining contact), he through trying announced he would soon be teaching at this is the classic mountain pose. In very studio. Sanskrit, tada means mountain. Coinciden- times, as it had tally in Korean, it means ‘let’s ride’ (it’s all “But yoga is my way of self-care,” bubbled up about the journey, not the destination – good ones in my mind. “Yoga is my sanctuary.” While I how’s that for collateral context). And of was happy for X to find a new steadying base course, when you exclaim it out loud – in his teaching, I was unsettled by the “TADA!” – it simply signals, ‘Here I am’. All impending loss of my own practice as I knew in, staying present, in whatever configura- it. Yoga had seen me through trying times, as tion. Surrendering is not the solution. it had through good ones. I sought it to keep Neither is seeking control. Letting go of my peace undisturbed, for my atoms to stay worrying is. in place, for me to stay functional. “Just show up,” was the advice when I started yoga “Yoga is magic – haven’t you heard?” was in 2012. Simple advice, but it was now looking what one of my teachers, Kiki, once wryly shaky; yoga had suddenly become compli- observed as she gently coaxed a student into cated. sasangasana. “The thing is, you need to support that magic.” This rabbit is not That entire month, I scrambled to make the coming out of a hat; it is surfacing from the switch to a studio in the CBD where I would mat. not run into X. Change is good, I thought. Wouldn’t it be good to have a change of Here I am. Here we are. Here is yoga. Here is environment? But I was still feeling unsettled life.

22 NAMASKAR October 2019 DRISTI - TEACHER BURNOUT

LONGEVITY On the path of teaching

BY PATRICK CREELMAN

BURNOUT’S KNOCKING ON OUR DOOR...... 26 WHO DELIVERED YOGA TO YOU...... 27

24 NAMASKAR Photo by Paul Green on www.UnSplash.com

October 2019 At the end of one of my first yoga classes a is to practice. Some days it happens at home FOUR, MAKE A FRIEND more experienced student came to me and in the early hours before the city awakes. From the plethora of people we are sur- said, ‘wow, you’re enthusiastic! Are you a Other times it happens mid-morning, after rounded by in yoga, the studio, class, during new teacher?’. I have been teaching yoga for coffee with music on and the windows open. our teacher trainings, etc. we have the two decades now and wonder what her Still other days it happens at the studio opportunity to choose one person, to response to my class would be today. between the classes I am teaching that day - dedicate ourselves to practice with them, to taking final savasana as my students spill encourage them when they are unmotivated, Enthusiasm ebbs and flows with anything in into the yoga room awaiting my class. to listen to them when they encourage us. life, and often I hear about the search for inspiration, as well as the description of burn TWO, I GO TO CLASS To cultivate a yoga partnership is one of the out from fellow yoga teachers. Getting Two - three classes per week, consistently. keystone aspects of my life in yoga. Yoga burned out on something you love sucks. So The class needn’t be advanced. A clear steady teaches us to seek freedom, and to find what can I do to avoid burn out? A question I sequence allows me to trust the teacher and independence. This is undeniably challeng- ask myself is, ‘Can I foster genuine interest in let go of my leadership mind set. With the ing, and yet a worthy goal. The caveat to it for my yoga over time as a service to my students atmosphere of someone else’s leadership me, is that when supported, when not and my business? If so, how?’ along with a group of people, going to class isolated, I tend to progress. helps dissolve whatever sense of isolation Teaching yoga is the one role I have spent the has built up around me through my teaching With a yoga friend, the conversation of yoga most time in as an adult. A life of teaching and my practice week by week. stays alive. The practice takes new turns shares many of the same ups and downs as when I let another perspective take a hold of with any chosen career path. Including the Too much alone time and I can feel miles what I might do. Yoga is not a straight path, rising and falling of enthusiasm toward our away from any human, even whilst sur- and not one where you can see the destina- work. One aspect of this life I discuss when rounded by devoted loving students. The tion. A friend on the path day by day serves a teaching teachers is that most people who collective mutual suffering of class is key. different role to the teacher. For me it has choose this path, do it by passionate proven equally as valuable over time. conscious choice at the sacrifice of other THREE, I HAVE A TEACHER more stable and lucrative paths. It is My primary teacher has changed over the FIVE, CHOOSE A STUDENT something people want to do. And that was years. I thank the gods for the people who Or two. Regardless of whether a student certainly the case for me. have been in this role for me. Some it seemed chooses us as their teacher, we can choose them as our student.

Teaching someone you’ve decided is your choosing a life based on learning, student brings a whole realm of ourselves, and our wisdom that is often hidden even to I fend off the threat of burn out ourselves.

It is an act that has brought up great vulnerability for me, and made the experience I reached a point where my practice no longer of teaching a personal one. Not just a The people, the atmosphere, the practice, the matched what they were teaching, so I function of knowledge transference, but of sweat, the effect on my mind and emotions all stepped into a different path with a new authentic connection, responsibility and lead me to choose this as my career, my art, teacher. Other times, the teacher themselves accountability. my light, my community, my life. stopped teaching, or became less accessible and I had to seek guidance elsewhere. These are the true markings of great teaching Although the intensity of my yoga has that I attempt to stride toward. From an fluctuated over the years with different Either way, I have always sought out a more authentic connection we transform. And teachers, different teachings, different established person whom I could lean into, even if burnt out, transformation is the goal. people, different places - the one constant think of, work hard for, seek answers from, has been the commitment to learn. I have or simply go to for full whole-hearted Here’s to the calling of the teacher within. found by choosing a life based on learning I practice with throughout the years. have managed to fend off the threat of burn out, and of the painful fade away. Compla- Some years it would take the form of a week- cency being my worst fear as a teacher. So long intensive or training every few months, here follows a few key points which have reading and practicing what I had learned in- helped me over these years. between. Other years it has taken the form of mont-long intensives where I indulge all the ONE, I CHOOSE TO PRACTICE FIRST way into practice and let go of thinking I am The instagram meme of ‘First the Yoga, then getting somewhere new. Just practice. To the things’ has been my greatest guideline. have someone in my mind or heart that Practice always supersedes anything else. triggers my deeper will power to do the work, to dig into my self and not give up has This is not meant to be a badge of honour as been infinitely rewarding. much as a safeguard against the creeping lethargy and emotional barriers to hard work Over the years I have on occasion had to fend that I am susceptible to. off the desire for finding ‘the right teacher’ to simply have a teacher. Nothing is perfect, Through the great and loving guidance of a and I am a better human when I have few extraordinary teachers and friends I have someone I can be accountable to for my been supported in maintaining this commit- practice and teaching. Find someone you ment. Day in and day out, the main objective trust, and trust them for a while.

26 NAMASKAR Photo by Ed Leszczynskl on www.UnSplash.com even if burnt out, transformation is the goal

October 2019 We are all teachers in some way, formally or informally. Whether professional yoga teacher, parent or friend, we have a role to play in inspiring others. So it’s important to have some tools to maintain our equanimity, and help us regain our balance when we falter, when we fall prey to our human condition of suffering.

TWO DARTS OF SUFFERING Buddha explained how we experience the pain and suffering of the initial thought or bodily sensation, then we deepen this initial hurt and pain with the second dart - how we react to the first dart (also known as arrow). ”When an untaught worldling is touched by a painful (bodily) feeling, he worries and grieves…He thus experiences two kinds of feelings, a bodily and a mental feeling. It is as if a man were pierced by a dart and, following the first piercing, he is hit by a second dart.”

Each day we are faced with many opportuni- ties and challenges to make wise and wholesome choices for our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. By holding our deep purpose close to our hearts we can stay connected to each moment, to make the right choices to live authentically as best as we know how.

If I revisit the times when I felt depleted, burnt out or overwhelmed, I see those times correspond to a lack of connection with my purpose. This loss of connection and awareness can lead me out of present moment mindfulness, into layers of mindlessness, accordingly unwise and unhelpful choices seem to arise more readily.

By determining the tools and resources to support ourselves each day we can maintain our internal equilibrium and over time practice our ability to bring ourselves back to Photo by Denny Muller on www.UnSplash.com this state more easily and quickly.

To regain the even ground, we need a starting point. Purposefulness and connection for me DRISTI - TEACHER BURNOUT begins with CARE: Connection, Awareness, Reflection and Expansion. This is an acronym I developed over ten years ago to identify and BURNOUT’S realise how best to live my life of choice.

KNOCKING AT OUR CONNECTION Connection with self, others and nature through various practices help us to embrace DOOR this world and its experiences more fully.

We can look at this connection from both a Open with Care gross physical perspective and a subtle energetic practice. What daily tools do you BY GABRIELLE MCMAHON have to support and nourish you deeply? Perhaps physical practices of asana, tai chi, walking, gardening? Or the more subtle practices of pranayama, breath work, relaxation techniques and meditation practice?

28 NAMASKAR said, “each man must Buddha said: “So watch the thought and its is the mysterious. It is the source of all true begin where he stands, must learn to control ways with care. And let them spring forth art and all science. He to whom this emotion the things closest to him”. That is from the from love. Born out of compassion for all is a stranger, who can no longer pause to body, to the mind, to the most subtle . beings. As the shadow follows the body, as wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as We must begin and maintain healthy we think, so we become.” dead: his eyes are closed.” lifestyles: physically, mentally and emotion- ally. By creating the space to soak up times we are EXPANSION in awe, we can nourish ourselves in our Expansion here means personal growth into Additionally, Ayurveda, the world’s oldest purpose. This feeling of awe may well our full potential, to be our contented best, system of healthcare, offers much insight reconnect us with the natural world, away with creativity and curiosity, as we make a into how to achieve perfect health for our from our busyness and screens. This week I difference to the lives and the world around entire being. By working with the laws of was in awe of whales and dolphins playing in us. We have the capacity to learn how to nature and keeping a close connection with the ocean, and of children laughing un- create greater peace, harmony and equanim- nature rather than against it, Ayurveda offers bounded. ity in the world, whether we are professional common sense preventive medicine tips for teachers or symbolic teachers. all of us. Latest research shows times of awe can create flow-on effects, like deep satisfaction, In either case, we may be faced with burnout. AWARENESS for days after. Using CARE as a daily practice, I better Awareness of thoughts, words, actions and understand how to connect with myself, emotions is paramount. Swami Vivekananda Albert Einstein expresses awe in this way: others and nature. It is my tool for coming writes in his book “A Yogi must “The most beautiful thing we can experience back to a purposeful and connected life. not injure anyone by thought, word or deed.”

If we begin with right and wholesome thoughts, then we can begin to change our internal world and how that flows out to our external world. Patanjali explains this beautifully: “The restraint of the modifica- DRISTI - TEACHER BURNOUT tions of the mind-stuff is yoga”.

Sharing our thoughts and opinions, our WHO DELIVERED experiences and feelings mindfully and with respect takes awareness of both our internal and external environment. Creating YOGA TO YOU? awareness of what is going on within us and how we are responding to a given situation and ultimately mindfulness in our daily life Lineages of Modern and how we choose to live. Yoga, Part II Taking a step back and developing the ability to recognise negativity arising in one’s thoughts, words and actions is a powerful BY ERIC SHAW reminder of our full potential for awareness. Many of us are prone to negativity and become trapped in negative loops of thinking.

REFLECTION Reflection on our daily life, our purpose and In the last issue of Namaskar, I traced the Chicago, on 11 September 1893, we can apply a our contribution to society, includes areas lineages of Modern Postural Yoga (MPY), generational model to yoga, labeling Swami V: for improvement, gratefulness and apprecia- beginning with Swami Vivekananda’s work in “Gen 0.0” tion. Create some time each day for quiet the West beginning in 1893. enjoyment, stillness, and observation. The Using very approximate dates, each subse- clarity that arises affords us self-compassion Not only is he the first figure of MPY, he’s quent generation of prominent teachers and the opportunity for loving kindness for also the first figure to burn-out - to follow began their public teaching in the following others. With a more positive perspective and this issue’s theme! He basically worked years. Sometimes, these dates are stretched awareness, we can connect to our heart with himself to death, traveling India and the quite wide - as in the case of Bikram a wiser intent. world nonstop once he turned 25 and his Choudhury, who clearly belongs to the Gen passed away (in 1888). He died at age 2.0, but began to teach in 1970, at age 34. 39—strangely, having predicted his death Contrastingly, his similarly prominent 2.0 years before. colleague, BKS Iyengar, began his instruction in 1934 at age 16. Nonetheless, he started our contemporary the times I felt conversation with India’s The Generations roll out this way: traditions (teaching postures and other burnt out practices, even as he disparaged hatha in his Gen 1.0, in 1920 (Krishnamacharya, Swami writings), and he is the singular figure who Sivananda, Yogananda, Bishnu Ghosh, etc.) correspond to a opened the door for a flood of later teachers Gen 2.0, in 1950 (, lack of connection of every persuasion. Desikachar, , Iyengar, Pattabhi Jois, etc.) with my purpose From the seeds planted in his first speech in Gen 3.0, in 1980 (Baron Baptiste, Ana

October 2019 Forrest, , Rod Stryker, etc.) 1949). Gen 4.0 (not discussed here) in 2010. Swami Sivananda was also a titan of the Having walked through many lineages in the Hatha Yoga Renaissance whose produced a previous article—Vivekananda, Yogananda, number of powerful disciples. Iyengar, etc., we circle back here to tell the story of the seminal Gen. 1.0 figure, An Indian doctor who served in Malaysia, he Tirumalai Krishnamacharya… renounced householder life upon his return to India in 1923, founded the Divine Life GENERATION 1.0 Society in Rishikesh, and authored over 200 Iyengar’s older brother-in-law is widely books. understood to be the most influential teacher of Generation 1.0. Like Krishnamacharya, Sivananda also tutored four primary teachers who offered This man, Tirumalai Krishnamacharya (1888 meaningful guidance to the - 1989) (I’ll call him “K”) was Iyengar’s direct project. teacher from 1934 - 37, and is the person we most look to for updating yoga’s ancient These include the posture master, popular- practices for contemporary audiences. izer of Sivananda Yoga, and founder of a worldwide chain of Sivananda Raised in a Brahmin, Vishnu-worshipping Centers, Swami Vishnu Devananda (1927 – household, Krishnamacharya studied with 1993); the founder of Yogaville and the style his father, the vedic scholar, Sri Tirumalai called Integral Yoga, Swami Satchidananda Srinivasa Tatacharya (d. 1895), the posture (1914 - 2002) the German-Canadian founder master Ramamohana Brahmachari, and Swami Sivananda (seated) with Swami Satchidananda of Yasodhara Ashram and Ascent Magazine, accomplished professors such as Ganganath Swami Sivananda Radha (1911- 1995); and the Jha (1872 – 1941) before becoming an master Tantrist, prodigious author, and undisputed master of numerous Indian arts Besides Krishnamacharya, other Generation founder of northwest India’s accredited and sciences and reformulating yoga’s 1.0 teachers include the doctor-turned- graduate school, the , posture practices for the modern world. renunciant, Swami Sivananda (1887 - 1963), Swami (1923 – 2009). the laboratory tester of pranayama and He seemed to understand something about posture, (1883 - 1966), In the last article, we discussed the Genera- burn-out. Despite his many activities, he and the householder yogi, tion 2.0 teacher Bikram Choudhury and his cultivated his energy carefully, chanting and (1897 - 1989). Generation 3.0 disciples. Behind Iyengar and meditating often, and doing postures till his Choudhury, the third most influential last days. He died at 100, having maintained Though B. K. S. Iyengar was teacher in Gen 2.0 traces his lineage to a an impressive clarity of mind. Krishnamacharya’s most impactful student, number of obscure and semi-obscure Indian writing over 25 books, popularizing yoga . throughout the world, and translating the practice into a system for health and beauty, Yogi Bhajan (1929 - 2004) was a master of PR a number of other teachers who studied and the builder of a worldwide spiritual under K meaningfully affected world yoga, organization, 3HO. He synthesized powerful too. asana, pranayama and chanting techniques into a coherent and effective yoga system— GENERATION 2.0 Chief among these Generation 2.0 teachers were the aforementioned Desikachar, the Ashtanga Yoga master, Sri Pattabhi Jois (1915 - 2009); and Indra Devi (1899 - 2002)— who spread the yoga gospel by publishing Krishnamacharya (standing) and his son T. K. V. books, teaching yoga to prominent politi- Desikachar cians and movie stars while linking yoga to K’s son (and Iyengar’s nephew) T. K. V. holistic health. Desikachar (1938 - 2016) was a world teacher of yoga therapeutics. This quaternary of “World Teachers”— Iyengar, Desikachar, Jois and Devi— Desikachar wrote significant books on the interpreted K’s teaching in divergent ways Yoga Sutras, yoga and religion, and yoga and gave the wider world its first practical practice. He was also the founder of both the lessons in the yogic arts. Viniyoga style and ’s yoga teaching and health center, the Krishnamacharya Yoga Other students of K who have had global Mandiram. influence are the innovator of yogic move- ment, (b. 1939 and a Krishnamacharya was part of a pan-Indian student of K for 33 years); K’s other son, the Hatha Yoga Renaissance in the first half of teacher in Europe, Sri T.K. Sribhashyam the 20th century, which - spurred by an (1940 - 2017); the traditional Ashtanga emerging confidence in the power of India’s Vinyasa teacher, B. N. S. Iyengar (b. 1927); deep spiritual insight - successfully steered the master of a multi-faceted practice, A. G. Swami Sivananda (seated) and Swami Sivananda yoga’s somatic practices toward the Mohan (b. 1945) and the subtle teacher of Radha imperatives of modern fitness. yoga’s emotional side, Mark Whitwell (b.

30 NAMASKAR called —within a new form of in 1969. Rama soon amazed U.S. doctors by integrated a great deal from America’s Native Sikhism. In 1968, he arrived in North stopping his heart and changing his American traditions as well as techniques America from India and applied methods he brainwaves at will. He went on to found from addiction recovery. Her powerful learned from the highly-regarded Sant (Baba) Pennsylvania’s Himalayan Institute in 1971 - personality, unyielding work ethic, and awe- Virsa Singh (1899 - 2007) and the controver- an institution with branch centers in provoking asana practice continues to sial Dhirendra Brahmachari (1924 – 1994) Cameroon, India, Great Britain, Malaysia, inspire innumerable students. Her yoga along with his own insights to create and Mexico. In 1997, the Institute began teacher trainings are famed for their potency Kundalini Yoga’s mix of practices. publishing the highly-regarded Yoga and rigor and have fostered a new generation Bhajan’ contemporary, (b. International Magazine. of consequential preceptors in the practice. 1932), also emerged from a little-known lineage. Rama’s primary disciple and current Though Tim Miller, Ganga White, Roger Cole president of the Institute is the scholar and and did important work Tantrist, Pandit Rajmani Tigunait (b. 1953). translating K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga system into a simplified, fitness-focused GENERATION 3.0 regimen, the chief effort was done by Beryl Rajmani became the teacher of the famed 3.0 Bender Birch in the mid-1990s. She has scion, Rod Stryker (b. 1957). Stryker’s published four books on “” and teaching is characterized by unapologetic continues to lead workshops and retreats masculinity, articulation of a practical throughout the world. Tantric philosophy and - in his Parayoga form - a deep knowledge of subtle body In comparative history, modern postural processes. yoga rushed into prominence in nearly the exact same period as modern psychology. At this point influential teachers start to Similarly, it looks toward a pair of founda- proliferate in such a way that a complete tional figures. account would stretch to book length. In this way of thinking, B. K. S. Iyengar and To keep the size of this essay manageable K. Pattabhi Jois are the Freud and Jung of size, I must leave some number of important Modern Yoga. players within Generation 3.0 unmentioned. Though both have come under criticism of Swami Sivananda (left) and Swami Satyananda That said, most of these individuals I’ll Saraswati late, their shared influence is difficult to discuss are disciples of either K. Pattabhi deny. Almost all living yoga teachers have Desai arrived in America in 1960, having Jois or B. K. S. Iyengar. been touched by their potent teaching in demonstrated miraculous powers in his some way. youth. His teacher was Swami Some smaller number of them are students Kripalavananda (1913 - 1981). He eventually of Desikachar, Sivananda, or gurus who have Our living tradition - the bright lights of Gen brought Kripalavananda the U.S. to teach at never been well-known. 4.0 - are inventing new forms from the his prosperous Massachusetts, Kripalu Iyengar-Jois matrix and a host of other Center. Desai created both Kripalu Yoga and Besides Stryker, the most prominent teacher influences. They are exploiting new media, Amrit Yoga and was famed for granting of this generation is distinguished by his and spreading the practice to new people and to his followers. Though he is less humor, integrity, emotional warmth, posture places in ways that their generational influential now, his school was a “Harvard” mastery, worldwide teaching career, unique forbears would be proud to see. And, of yoga in its heyday. insights into meditation and movement, and hopefully, they are maintaining a healthy long proctorship of a successful yoga school, work-life balance in all these creative (1925–1996) is the last key 2.0 The Yoga Workshop, in Boulder, Colorado. pursuits, avoiding the kind of burn-out this outlier. Richard Freeman (b. 1950) is a direct disciple issue of Namaskar warns us about. of Iyengar and Jois, and a student of After training under great masters and Japanese and Tibetan forms of Buddhist founding ashrams in Asia, he came to the U.S. meditation.

Gary Kraftsow (b. 1955) mastered Desikachar’s Viniyoga form, becoming an important author of books and videos and a leader in the yoga therapy movement.

Expressing her roots, Shiva Rea (b. 1967) is a master of PR and an advocate for motherhood, dance practice and environmental causes. She is a gifted teacher and rooted innovator who studied under as well as a host of important Iyengar and Ashtanga teachers in the fervent period of the late 1980s at Maty Ezraty’s (1963 - 2019) YogaWorks studio.

Ana Forrest (b. 1956) studied with Iyengar Yogi Bhajan (seated right) and Amrit Desai (standing briefly in Pune in 1981, but had an early left) tutelage under Ganga White. Her method has

October 2019 32 NAMASKAR IN BRIEF REVIEW A month with a Himalayan Master BY CHRISTINE YEUNG

“You have tried and you continue to try, this is sadhana.” Swami Janardhanananda’s words echo in me whenever strength is needed the most.

During the one-month in the Himalayas, he came from Uttarkashi to Netala everyday to teach us Vedanta, the timeless wisdom from the Vedas.

Dressed in saffron robes with a light orange scarf and tote bag with our homework, he arrived The river Ganges, India the asana hall before most of us. He sat on the low platform with three bodies in good shape?” the senses, sense withdrawal, knowledge from which to offer Swami Sivananda and Swami Swamiji jokingly referred to our endurance, faith and perfect advice. Vishnudevananda’s pictures mental and astral body apart mental balance. from the physical. The students may perhaps not I asked myself - am I ready to practice or are irregular in The way he sits delivers great take this, and my being told me if attendance. Nowadays most sense of freedom. By watching it is what you want for life then people are in stressful situa- him, it becomes effortless to go for it. And come what may, tions of every possible type and enter into meditation. We you continue to try. therefore are tense and became lakes without ripples to exhausted. You might be hear what he has to say about After the class, I went and teaching in a place with a large topics from karma to reincarna- watched the Ganges, I saw her turnover of students and it is tion to mind of the aspirants. flowing. Then I felt on the difficult to give continuity. It is a spiritual path, I can just keep luxury and desired situation From the beginning of the course flowing like Ganga. where your students have been he emphasized purity is needed coming to you for 20 years! to receive the teachings of Vedas. In every case a teacher must be Swami Janardhanananda “Are you eligible to study the able to generate within them- Vedas?” Swamiji raised this selves enough motivation, behind him, waiting for us to crucial question from time to IN BRIEF rooted in a sense of responsibil- come with our foldable wooden time. A calm and stable mind is ity and be a worthy representa- benches and cushions borrowed needed to hear and understand tive of Yoga and the Guru, able from the satsang hall. We were the truth. MUDRA to present refreshing and varied sitting on the floor, all dressed in To boost Strength ways to help all of their students the same yellow shirt and white “When you are eligible, knowl- to enter the deeper dimension of pants with our manual and edge keeps coming everywhere, & Joy Yoga and there be able to realize notebooks ready. like a direct access from nature,” BY KRISHNA KINKARIS their own capabilities to help he said. But before that, it is a themselves. Five minutes before the class long process of preparation to Being a yoga teacher needs a lot started, Panditji would bring cultivate purity and enter the of enthusiasm and powerful For the teacher this constant coffee from the kitchen for subtle realm of life. energy. Many of those who will openness to the innovative and Swamiji. They exchanged enter your class will be looking also solid adherence to the infectious smiles, filling the That is why our study and for a solution to a problem. Yoga ancient basic foundations of the entire environment with love. practice are to prepare ourselves in all its aspects offers a wide Great Masters, that are eternal and gain eligibility to receive the range of such solutions, whether and still packed with power, is The class began with chanting of timeless knowledge. It is not an they are physical, mental or essential. dhyana sloka to invoke divine easy path as one proceed to spiritual. energy for a fruitful study. cultivate the shatsampat, six- You have to see each student as a fold virtues. They include In every situation the teacher spirit soul and be humbly ready, “Is everybody here? Are your tranquility of mind, control of must have the insight and great at any time, to guide them. The patience along with a store of solution to teacher burnout is

October 2019 BOOK REVIEW live in our head. Our thoughts every sensation, see what’s are real but not true. around you, appreciate what is Right Here, in the present INTRO... YOU ARE NOT YOUR moment. THOUGHTS! to First of Being Now Here is the first step I’ll be writing about the second Baptiste’s Eight to go beyond our edge and into principle “Be in the Now and You the fire. Because what stops us will Know How” in the next Principles from leaping off the edge are issue. BY SOPHIE SANDERS fears, doubts and worries. In the meantime, I invite you to The edge is where we come up Being Now Here is giving be in discovery of what’s right up against ourselves and yourself permission to invite possible for you if you embody what we can do and be. It is the more love and kindness, into being Now Here, in your life and boundary between where we are your headspace. yoga practice. Rudra Mudra, said to stimulate earth, and where we grow, the place of wind and fire energies within comfortable discomfort, where By choosing to be Now Here, you Practice being present when you all the growing and healing choose to drop the negative wake up, are on the train, at well defined in Sri Patanjali Yoga happens. The edge is the point in thoughts, fears and judgement. work; with your partner, kids, Sutras,1,12: every pose when you are still family; are practicing yoga and Abhaysavairagyabhyamtan within your capacities but are It’s not about running away from meditate; are walking, are taking nirodha: the cessation of the challenging yourself to go just a the thoughts, but being aware of a shower, are alone; notice your fluctuations of the conscious- little bit farther. Stepping up to the thoughts that come up. Not home movie starting. ness is attainable through this edge and daring to leap is to judge but to bring your kind practice and renunciation. how you break through and thus attention to the present Play with your Edge. Despite all odds, a soul truly break with old ways of being. moment. You have the choice to Start by being Now Here. dedicated to yoga teaching will be - Baron Baptiste be Now Here, with what’s constantly observing themself coming up for you right now. and making sure their teaching Whenever you find yourself career reflects evolution in their This is the first of eight articles, struggling or drifting off into the deepest self and hence a to introduce the Universal Nowhere world, re-anchor and continued ability to satisfy the Principles for Stepping up to the follow your breath back to your students’ needs. Edge, by Baron Baptiste from his physical body. “Journey in Power”. Pause. Slow down. Breathe. Feel RUDRA MUDRA Here the Rudra Mudra can be Each principle gives access to very useful. It activates the what’s possible beyond the edge energies of earth, wind and fire if you are willing and ready to to stimulate the earth element in leap off. the body to further activate the lower and heavier energies so PRINCIPLE 1: WE ARE EITHER there is a steady upward flow, NOW HERE OR NOWHERE thus providing a good store of As I am writing this, I am ever self-generating inspiration. conscious of my fingers furiously typing on the keyboard In all mudras the contemplative and speaking to myself out loud. time is a charge to the battery And a voice of doubt comes and a healthy reboot: gratitude “Who am I to write about arises in the heart for the Baptiste Yoga? What if I say the wonder that is this yoga and this wrong thing?” can be truly shared, paid forward. While assisting a Baptiste programme a few weekends ago, Adopt a suitable still position, I thought “what’s the point of me sitting, lying or standing. being there? Who am I? No one! I can’t do this. My body isn’t Palms facing up, join the tips of strong enough. What if I fail to the ring finger, index finger and live up to expectations?” thumb. The other two fingers are extended and relaxed. I have fears of not being good enough, not being worthy, of Regulate the breath, hold for at being a failure, of being judged least 5 minutes; you can do it 3 etc. I have a long list of concerns times a day or at any time when that stop me from seeing the you need to boost the strength possibilities of leaping over the and joy that lie at your centre. edge.

Adopt the favourable and let go That’s the Nowhere world. of the unfavourable for optimum The Nowhere world are like our heath and keep burnout at bay. movies of past and future, which

34 NAMASKAR October 2019 DIRECTORY Guide to yoga studios & teachers

ANAHATA VILLAS & SPA David Kim Yoga Level 1 The Pulse, 28 Beach #01-501 Suntec City Mall, North RESORT E-RYT 500+, Senior YogaWorks Road, Repulse Bay Atrium, 3 Temasek Boulevard Ubud, Bali, Indonesia and YogaWise Yin Yoga Teacher t: +852 8200 0908 t: +65 6100 8818 s: group retreats, yoga for Trainer; International TTs, private & corporates. Yoga Workshops & Retreats 7/F World Trade Centre, 280 Ling studio available for rent. d: USA, Asia, Europe, Australia Gloucester Road, Causeway Bay Yoga and Wellbeing, Private l: Indonesian & English s: Yin Yoga, YogaWorks, Vinyasa t:+852 8108 7889 Yoga Teacher, Privates, Groups, t: (62) 361 8987 991 / (62) 811 Flow Corporates, Free Yoga 8748 910 / (62) 811 1442 233 f: l: English, some Korean Level 1 Pacific Place, 88 Community Event: Yoga in the (62) 361 8987 804 t: +1 310 480 5277 Queensway Park with Ling www.meetup.com/ e:[email protected] e: [email protected]: t: +852 8108 7668 yogaintheparkhk / [email protected] www.davidkimyoga.com d: Hong Kong, China w:www.anahataresort.com 20/F Tower 1 Grand Century s: Yoga Therapy, Sivananda, YOGA CENTRAL-IYENGAR Place, 193 Prince Edward Road Hatha, Svastha, Mindfulness, ANAHATA YOGA CENTRAL West, Mong Kok Yin, Breathing (Pranayama), 18/F Lyndhurst Tower, 1 s: Boutique studio with Iyengar t: +852 8200 8018 Guided Meditation, Total Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Yoga classes; flexible timings for Relaxation () Hong Kong corporate wellness, schools, 25/F Millennium City 5, 418 l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Yoga small groups and privates Kwun Tong Road, Kwun Tong t: +852 9465 6461 therapy, Yin and more. Groups & l: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, t: +852 8200 8088 e: [email protected] privates French, Malay w: www.facebook.com/ t: +852 2905 1822 t: +852 2982 4308 3 - 19 Wing Fung Street, yogawithling e: [email protected] e:[email protected] Starstreet Precinct, Wan Chai w: www.anahatayoga.com.hk w:www.yogacentral.hk t: +852 8200 8208 SPACE YOGA s: Hatha, Ashtanga, Advanced, Anna Ng PURE YOGA Shanghai Flow, Yin, Yin Yang, Restorative, Privates Hong Kong 615 iapm mall, 999 Huai Hai Hot, Yin/Meditation, d: Hong Kong 16/F The Centrium, 60 Zhong Road, Xuhui District Pranayama, Mat Pilates, s: Hatha yoga Wyndham Street, Central t: +86 21 5466 1266 Jivamukti, Universal, Myo- l: Cantonese t: +852 2971 0055 fascial Release Yoga, Mindful t: (852) 9483 1167 335 Plaza 66 Mall, 1266 Nanjing Yoga, Rope Wall Yoga, Yoga e: [email protected] 25/F Soundwill Plaza, 38 Russell West Road, Jing.an District Nidra and Yoga Therapy St, Causeway Bay t: +86 21 6279 1119 l: English and Mandarin B.K.S. IYENGAR YOGA t: +852 2970 2299 w: www.withinspace.com L4-020 1192 Century Avenue, ASSOCIATION OF MACAU Century Link Mall, Shanghai 174, Rua de Pequim, Edif Centro 14/F Peninsula Office Tower, 18 An-Ho Studio Com. Kong Fat, 7A, Macau Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, t: +86 21 5077 5310 16 F, No. 27, An-Ho Road, s: Iyengar Kowloon Section 1 t:(853)2882 3210/6662 0386 t: +852 8129 8800 Singapore Taipei, Taiwan e:[email protected] 391A Orchard Road, #18-00 t: +886.2.2773.8108 w:www.iyengar-yoga-macau- 9/F Langham Place Office Ngee Ann City Tower A china.com Tower, 8 Argyle Street, Kowloon t: +65 6733 8863 Tien-Mu Studio t: +852 3691 3691 #5, Lane 43, Tian-Mu E. Road, #09-01 Republic Plaza Tower 1, Taipei, Taiwan 4/F Lincoln House, TaiKoo 9 Raffles Place t: +886.2.28772108 Place, 979 King’s Rd, Quarry Bay t: +65 6100 8828 t: +852 8129 1188 #06-02 Asia Square Tower 2, 12 2/F Asia Standard Tower, 59 Marina View Queen’s Road, Central t: +65 6100 8866 t: + 852 3524 7108

36 NAMASKAR namaskar 4 times a year 5,000 copies 21 countries Sravaniya DiPecoraro d: Hong Kong s: Barefoot Philosopher Yoga, Vedanta, Bhagavad Gita, Yoga Sutras; beginners and advanced; ACBSP disciple (1971), YA E- Australia Austria Canada China Finland RYT500, Hong Kong India Indonesia Japan Macau Sivananda Certified (1991) l: English and Mandarin Malaysia Netherlands Philippines Singapore t: +852 9856 0799 South Korea Taiwan Thailand Turkey UK e: [email protected] w: www.barefootphilosopher.press USA Vietnam

THE YOGA ROOM 3, 4, 6, 16/F (Studios) & 15/F (Office) Xiu Ping Commercial Bldg, 104 Jervois St, Sheung DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES & SIZES Wan, Hong Kong Outside back cover HK$27,000 210 mm x 297 mm s: Hatha, Hot, Ashtanga, Inside front cover HK$3,800 210 mm x 297 mm Vinyasa, Candlelight Yin, Yoga Inside back cover HK$2,900 210 mm x 297 mm Therapy, Jivamukti, Hammock Full page HK$2,400 210 mm x 297 mm Yoga, Mindfulness Yoga, Detox 1/2 page (horizontal) HK$1,700 180 mm x 133.5 mm Yoga, Pre-natal Yoga, Pre-natal 1/2 page (vertical) HK$1,700 88 mm x 275 mm Pilates, Mat Pilates, TRX, Kids 1/4 page HK$740 88 mm X 133.5 mm Yoga and Mum & Baby Yoga 1/8 page HK$470 88 mm x 66 mm l: English, Cantonese t: + 852 2544 8398 e: [email protected] DIRECTORY w: www.yogaroomhk.com Individual listing HK$670 for full or partial year Studio listing HK$1,400 for full or partial year

THE COLLECTIVE, DESA SENI PUBLICATION DATES, BOOKING & MATERIAL DEADLINES SCHOOL OF YOGA Publication date Booking Deadline Material Deadline Jl. Subak Sari #13, Canggu, Bali, January December 1 December 10 Indonesia April March 1 March 10 s: Full service resort, Ashtanga, July June 1 June 10 Embodied Flow, Hatha, October September 1 September 10 Kundalini, Restorative, , Therapeutics, Yin, Yang, NOTES Vinyasa, Buddhist Meditation, Advertising materials should in black & white and submitted as Vedic Meditation. Teacher 300 dpi high resolution .tif files (no pdf or ai files please) Trainings, Intensives, Privates, Listings should be submitted as text only (approx 35 words) Workshops, specialising in hosting retreats. PAYMENT t: +62 361 844 6392 Payments should be made in Hong Kong dollars to: e: [email protected] Namaskar c/o Carol Adams, Flat 101, Block L, Telford Gardens, w: www.desaseni.com Kowloon, Hong Kong

INFORMATION Carol +44 75432 55886 / [email protected] Frances +44 7543 833014 / [email protected]

October 2019 38 NAMASKAR October 2019 40 NAMASKAR