Issue 107 Novem

ber 2011

US$ 3 / INR 50

www.asanajournal.com

10 Great Tips to Enjoy Your Yoga Practice in a Yoga Studio

Empowerment | Work Your Body's Meridians & Qi Flow with Yin Yoga

Animal Instincts | Partner Yoga | Yoga Therapy to Prevent Wrist Pain

Diwali SpecialKarma Yoga

The Festival of LightsYoga Music

International Yoga Journal

Table of Contents

The Editorial Team 4From the Editor 5

Yoga FeatureKarma Yoga 6

Expert Advice10 Great Tips to Enjoy Your Practice in a Yoga Studio 9

Yoga PracticeEmpowerment 10Mantra Chanting The sacred Sounds of Yoga 11Work Your Body’s Meridians & Qi Flow with Yin Yoga 13Animal Instincts 16Sun Salutation – Surya Namaskaram 18Yoga in Japan 20Partner Yoga 21

Yoga TherapyYoga Therapy to Protect Against Wrist Pain 22

Yoga Music 24

Yoga PhilosophyThe Principles of Andiappan Yoga Tradition 25

InspirationThe Poetry of Yoga 26If There Hadn't Been Hatha Yoga, If There Hadn’t Been Inversions ... 27My Yoga Journey 28

Yoga CommunityThe Festival of Lights 29

Yoga Studios & Retreats 33

Yoga Calendar 34

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Karma Yoga

Described as one of the most ambitious self-help epics of all time, Karma Yoga – The New Revolution is an upcoming international film shot all over the world from Napoleon’s Palace and the Louvre Museum in France to the sal forests of India where the Buddha taught many of his sermons. The movie explores all aspects of Karma and the axiom of “what goes around comes around” in a modern day context combining both Eastern and Western philosophies.

The film explains how Karma Yoga has helped people overcome unfathomable adversity in their own lives from escaping war-torn areas to battling cancer. It showcases real-life testimonials from Westerners who have used the principles of Karma or Karma Yoga to overcome serious challenges including:

- The inspiring tale of an American soldier keeping the peace in Haiti and interacting with President Clinton- The harrowing tale of a young

Become the architect of your destiny!

woman whose family used principles discussed in the film to escape a war-torn country and survive in refugee camps before pursuing the American dream- A teenage leading her young siblings in their fight to deal with the simultaneous cancer of her father and stroke of her mother- The family of a one-year old battling ocular cancer- An African-American model growing up in a single parent home and seeing the younger brother he helped raise be arrested by the police - A former child soldier working with Amnesty International to turn his life around

These people have used the Laws of Karma to give them strength and courage in their hour of darkness and to teach them to re-write the story of their lives casting them as survivors, not victims. The Laws of Karma that they applied are explained in detail as well with meticulous research on the ancient philosophies and a motivational style to update them for our present day lives in the

technological age on a scale never seen before.

The film explains how the Laws of Karma worked in present day pop culture scenarios like the noble lesson taught by the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson and the redemption of Tiger Woods to show the influence of Karma even in the current affairs of today.

Yoga Feature

World's oldest sculpture of Amitabha Buddha in meditation, from 1st century CE, Gandhara.

Zen Acharya - motivational speaker, filmmaker and founder ofThe Zenji Museum

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The film explains the Law of Detachment that brings the Law of Attraction to a whole new level and was instrumental in helping Mahatma Gandhi change the world.

The film is being released in the 2600th year of the Buddha’s Enlightenment and will contain an unprecedented number of teachings of the Buddha who according to Vivekananda was “the greatest personification of Karma Yoga in history”. There will also include wisdom from Bodhi Dharma – the founder of Zen Buddhism who resurrected to the Western Pure Land of Amitabha. In addition, the film references other sources that also compliment the Buddha’s teachings and philosophy on Karma including the Bhagavad-Gita, Upanishads, Mahatma Gandhi, Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore and

An original artwork of Bodhi Dharma -- the founder of Zen Buddhism and often dubbed the most influential Buddhist after Shakyamuni -- by Hakuin Ekaku (1686 to 1768) -- often described as "the most influential monk of the last 500 years" and the author of the Koan "what is the sound of one hand clapping". Hakuin taught Buddhism through painting and his depictions of Bodhi Dharma are among the most coveted Buddhist artworks in the world -- only present in a handful of museums.

Antique Ganesha rescued from Kashmir shows the popular God of Overcoming obstacles as a patron of the arts and entertainment as well. Ganesha is popular with both Hindus as well as esoteric Buddhist sects like Tibetan and Shingon. This piece is called "Ekadanta" or "One Tusk" for Ganesha is believed to have used the other tusk to write the Mahabharatha which provides the setting for the Bhagavad-Gita - a comprehensive treatise on all forms of Yoga.

Paramamsaha Yogananda. Western sources include Jesus Christ, Benjamin Franklin, Carl Gustav Jung, Julius Oppenheimer, Bertrand Russell, Arthur Schopenhauer, George Bernard Shaw, Mark Twain, Voltaire, HG Wells and Albert Einstein who even famously dubbed Buddhism “the religion of the future”.

The film is presented by self-help sensation Zen Acharya who uniquely combines Eastern philosophy with British Motivational Speaking and is the West’s only expert from the world’s oldest spiritual lineage. He is also the founder of The Zenji Museum, the world’s most exclusive gallery for the conservation of spiritual art and antiquities.

When the film makers were exploring the options of releasing the film in September, they were bombarded

with countless e-mails from all over the world – from Buddhist monks and Indian yogis with no income to teenagers and unemployed people reeling from the recession. They realised that they had to find a way to invite people to join the Karma Revolution regardless of their financial situation. Therefore they are working on giving everyone the option of either purchasing the film at its full price to support the Zenji Museum or contacting them to request a free version. If after watching the film for free, they felt inspired to make a donation to the Zenji Museum, then they could do so as per their convenience sans obligation. Otherwise, then as long as they are empowered in some way and can generate positive karma for themselves and the world, no reward is expected as per the Karma Siddhanta.

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Karma Yoga will be released online and will be available via Digital downloads in both High-Definition and iPhone formats, DVD's and MP3s.

For Asana, the download is activated simultaneously when this November issue is published.

The proceeds of the film will be used to launch a new Yoga Wing for the Zenji Museum which houses the world’s most influential artifacts from all schools of Buddhism -- from Pure Land and Zen to Nichiren and

Theravada. As Lord Buddha has been dubbed “the greatest yogi” of all time by Hinduism's highest gurus from Adi Shankar Acharya to Swami Vivekananda, the new wing will build a bridge between Buddhists and yoga enthusiasts and feature important works from the oldest extant manuscripts of the Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana to a full retrospective on the life of Mahatma Gandhi and early depictions of all Hindu deities that have also been featured in Buddhist texts and archaeology. This will compliment the existing

A small section of the world's longest antique Thangka from the 12th century, Bengal where Tibetan Buddhism was founded. It shows an Indo-Tibetan influence and many Vajrayana deities that are very rarely seen today. The thangka is made out of pure gold leaf and bears the real handprints of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas on the back as a sign of blessings. This thangka is close to 20 feet long and was only unfurled in monasteries on special occasions where the congregation could receive their darshan. The thankga depicts the entire Buddhist pantheon including Amitabha, Shakyamuni and Bhaisajyaguru - protected by Dharmapala emanations including Vajrapani - the most powerful of all Bodhisattva Guardians, the personal protector of the Buddha and the deity of the Shaolin monks.

It must be noted that each artwork will be used to teach Buddhism and Karma to the visitors who will also be allowed to interact with these ancient works through prayer and meditation - something no other museum allows.

collection of the earliest and most influential depictions of Lord Buddha comprising many rare antiquities not found in any other museum. The Museum will also include a center to teach workshops and classes on Karma, Buddhist philosophy, spiritual and physical yoga, healing and wellness, stress relief, chanting, Shaolin martial arts and all forms of meditation.

For details, please call 2905 1822 For details, please call 2905 1822 18/F, One Lyndhurst Tower, No.1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong

www.anahatayoga.com.hk

Advanced Hatha YogaTeacher Training - Level 1 & Level 2 (Part-Time)

with Yogananth Andiappan

Starting Date :

Level 1 - 3 June, 2012

Level 2 - 8 July, 2012

This intensive Hatha yoga teacher training takes teaching yoga postures to new limits. Practice,

explore and learn to teach some of the most advanced Hatha yoga postures. Immerse yourself and

set new heights in your advanced Hatha yoga practice. Explore the limitless possibilities of your

body, mind and spirit.

This course will help develop the knowledge and

understanding about the fundamentals of Hatha yoga

practice and its philosophy. Students will learn how to

practice and teach advanced postures with different

modifications and approach according to individual’s

body. Students will also get to learn the warm-up

sequence, steps, benefits, energy movements, and

relaxation techniques for each and every sequence.

Detailed study of Pranayamas and its benefits are also

taught during this teacher’s training. Interested

students can learn all different types of kriya

(cleansing techniques) that help purify the body, mind

and soul.

This course will help develop the knowledge and

understanding about the fundamentals of Hatha yoga

practice and its philosophy. Students will learn how to

practice and teach advanced postures with different

modifications and approach according to individual’s

body. Students will also get to learn the warm-up

sequence, steps, benefits, energy movements, and

relaxation techniques for each and every sequence.

Detailed study of Pranayamas and its benefits are also

taught during this teacher’s training. Interested

students can learn all different types of kriya

(cleansing techniques) that help purify the body, mind

and soul.