Are you living consciously or unconsciously? How often do we ask ourselves that, or maybe the question never even crossed your mind. When you walk, do you think about the sensations of your feet with each step? When you eat, do you feel the texture and taste of the morsel you are chewing on? Mostly we just take these mundane actions for granted and let our minds drift off into other thoughts of the pass or the future. If this sounds familiar, then you are living unconsciously.

Why is it important to cultivate awareness in everyday living?

The answer is simple.

We are not able to change the past and neither can we predict the future. What we are in control of is the now and through the practice of awareness we learn to lead a consciously fulfilling life.

Do you remember when you were a child, where the world was a giant playground and the experience of sheer joy was so easily invoked? As a child we did not have so much of a past reminisce about and did not have much interest in the future because what captivated us was the present moment. Those were the wonderful times when we allowed our imagination to run wild, watching the clouds change form or when we danced gleefully trying to keep up with the fluttering butterflies in the garden.

As we grew older, all the wholesome things in life that used to bring us bliss became clouded when we eventually succumbed to society’s perception of reality. Greed and obsession to acquire object-based comforts threw us off-course into the vicious cycle of perpetual discontentment.

In Paulo Coelho’s Alchemist, a wise man sends Santiago exploring his magnificent palace grounds but with the condition that the boy carry a spoon with two drops of oil. Upon his return, Santiago was quizzed on the glorious sights that he encountered but as he was too busy concentrating on keeping the oil intact, he missed out on the surrounding splendour. The boy was sent off again but this time was so engrossed in soaking in the beautiful view that he spilled all the oil. The wise man then finally spoke, “The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.”

My analogy of this parable is that we should constantly be reminded not to get caught up with the giddy delusions of material happiness and in the process lose touch with the essence of what remains true to us. Cherish and be thankful for the warm roof over your head, for the good fortune of health that you enjoy, for the amazing wonders nature has to offer and for the loving relationship you have with your friends and family, as these are the stuff that you are able to experience now, in this present moment of reality.

There is a common inclination towards placing the entire weight of your upper body on the crown of your head as you arch your back into postion. Instead, you should continue to open up your chest by moving your shoulders back and transfer your upper body weight back down to the center of your abdomen.

There are a few variations in Matsyasana. Traditionally it is performed with your legs in Padmasana.

Or as a beginner both feet are placed together on the ground.

In the finishing sequence of Ashtanga, the Extended Fish Pose (Uttana Padasana) is performed. In this variation, both legs are raised 45 degrees from the floor and the arms extended forward with fingers pointing towards the ceiling.

My yoga teacher once told me that one can float by performing the Matyasana in water. I was sceptical at first but tried it out of curiosity, and surprisingly it worked!

One of the most common injuries sustained are wrist injuries. Here are some tips on how to practise safely to avoid damaging your wrists.

1) Grip the mat

Poses such as Adho Mukha Shvanasana (Downward Facing Dog), Bakasana (Crow) and Plank are physically demanding on the wrists. In these poses, the wrists support most of the body weight. Many practitioners place their palms and fingers flat on the mat but by doing so, all the pressure is concentrated on the wrists. Instead, spread all your fingers as wide as possible, engage your hand muscles and grip the fingertips into the mat. This protects your wrists as weight is evenly distributed throughout all the fingers.

2) Tuck in the elbows

Always keep the elbows as close as possible to the trunk of your body when in poses such as Bhujangasana (Cobra), Urdhva Mukha Shvanasana (Upward Facing Dog) and Chaturanga Dandasana (Four Limbed Staff). If the elbows are sticking out, the pressure that comes down onto the wrists is skewed towards the sides, which prevents even weight distribution.

3) Proper alignment and form

There is generally not enough emphasis on proper hand and arm alignment in Chaturanga Dandasana. People tend to push the body back towards the feet, which results in the elbows not being perpendicular to the wrists. This strains both the elbows and wrists. Next time, when coming down to Chaturanga Dandasana, push your body forward and ensure that your elbows are directly above your wrists.

Be on your way to a lifelong appreciation for yoga and its benefits through integration of mindfulness and awareness in your practice.

Exclusive promotion for KL Yoga readers!!!

Free appetizer of choice with every order of a daily set meal. Just mention ‘KL YOGA‘ upon placing your order. Offer valid till 31 December 2009.

Click below for map.

50-2 Kelana Mall
Jalan SS6/14 Kelana Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-78062035

Recently, KL Yoga managed to speak with the proud owners of Chayo, a premier boutique yoga studio and cafe located in Kelana Jaya. In this interview, American born Guru Jaswant Kaur Khalsa, together with her Singaporean husband, Rajveer Singh passionately share with us their journey and vision.

Dynamic Duo: The charismatic Rajveer Singh and the energetic Guru Jaswant

1)    What is the story behind Chayo?
Rajveer:
One day after yoga class, a friend and I came up with the idea of starting up a yoga cafe. He suggested that I also open up a yoga studio, a concept which at that time I wasn’t too keen on. However eventually I was led into it due to the opportunities available. I believe that the cafe will always be the altar of the business, while the yoga studio is meant to serve the community.

Guru Jaswant:
We realized that we could not put the pressure on our students to support us and therefore needed to do something else for our own comfort level as people. At that time we were coming a lot to Malaysia to teach, so it naturally developed into this.  We always wanted the cafe to be a place where we could share that feeling of cosiness. The reality is that not everyone is going to try yoga, but everyone is willing to try a cup of tea.

2)    Why the name ‘Chayo’?
Guru Jaswant:
We wanted to be accessible to any culture and in a lot of cultures the world ‘Cha’ is tea. And ‘Yo’ just simply comes from ‘Yoga’ or ‘Yo’ in a form of informal greeting. We went through a lot of names and their meanings but in the end settled for ‘Chayo’ as we felt it had a strong universal connection and was easy to pronounce.

3)    What are the yoga styles taught at Chayo Studio and how are they different from other centers?
Guru Jaswant:
We started with Kundalini, which is our passion but we recognise that it’s not for everybody and our intention is not to force everyone to do it but instead to offer, and to say that this has helped us and so we want to share it. We also know that people want other kinds of balancing exercises in yoga, so we have Hatha, Ashtanga and Radiance of a Woman. We even have other kinds of activity like Taekwan-Do, Kid’s Yoga and Bhangra Dance to reach out to people who are not comfortable with meditation but would still like to have something fun and physical.

4)    What is Kundalini Yoga?
Rajveer:
‘Kundalini’ means opening or unlocking and ‘Yoga’ simply means union, to become one. Kundalini Yoga works with the unlocking of energy, consciousness and spirit. It combines different types of exercises, breathing, postures, kriya and meditation to prepare your body and mind for the awakening of the Kundalini, a dormant life force within us. Raising the Kundalini ultimately brings awareness, mental clarity and releases the unlimited potential that exists inside each of us. But it is important that this form of yoga is practised under the strict guidance of a qualified teacher.

5)    You also offer Gong Meditation classes. What is that about?
Rajveer:
Gongs were anciently used in Tibet and India because the sound of the gong was known to loosen up the body’s internal tensions. It is like an internal sound massage. Dharamjot, our Gong Meditation teacher from Melbourne is a specialist in that area. In her class, she will take you through some yoga postures, and then play the gong while you submit yourself to the sound vibrations. At the end of the session, you will feel a complete sense of relaxation.

Yoga classes in progress at the cosy studios

6)    Can you walk us through the types of food served at the Cafe?
Guru Jaswant:
We serve a selection of affordable vegetarian food with no egg but our biggest attraction is the snacks and drinks. The snacks are mainly north Indian influenced ranging from our Bombay Toast and Pakoras to Eggless French Toast and Tortilla Wraps. We have a whole range of herbal teas, our own five signature teas, fresh juices and smoothies. We also have Local, Indian and Western mains such as Nasi Lemak, Palak Paneer and Pasta. Whenever possible, we try to incorporate organic or local ingredients in the food we prepare.

Some of the scrumptious delights available at the cafe
Clockwise from top left: Throat Comfort Yogi Tea; Bombay Toast; Tofu Scramble with Toast; Marble Cake

7)    Tell me more about the specialty teas you carry.

Guru Jaswant:

Yogi Tea is from the United States and was inspired by the knowledge and wisdom of my master, Yogi Bhajan. In the beginning, some of Yogi Bhajan’s students started using the home recipe that he gave for the tea after the yoga classes. This was the original Yogi Tea, which we also brew and serve here. Eventually, they started to expand the offerings by creating other blends of tea as people wanted to buy it.  Yogi Tea has an exotic aroma and strong flavour of blended herbs and spices to heal the mind, body and soul. Among the ones we sell are Himalayan Apple Spice, Woman’s MoonCycle and Throat Comfort.

Hari Tea is from the Netherlands and for added variety, we have picked a more subtle and herbal range for our cafe. Some of the unique and amazing blends we have are Linden & Chamomile, Rose & Hibiscus and Green Tea, Mint & Chilli.

Available: Yogi Tea and Hari Tea to enjoy in the comfort of your home

Chayo is certainly everyone’s cup of tea. Whether you crave to experience the exhilarating energy of a bhangra dance, enjoy the relaxing benefits of a yoga class or simply want to drop by for a satisfying yet healthy treat.

KL Yoga readers are entitled to a free appetizer of their choice when they order a daily set meal.
All you have to do is to mention ‘KL Yoga’.
Offer valid till 31 Dec 2009.

Chayo Studio (Opposite Giant)
50-2 Kelana Mall
Jalan SS6/14 Kelana Jaya
47301 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 03-78062035
Website: www.chayo.com.my
Email: info@chayostudio.com.my

Guru Jaswant’s passion for Kundalini Yoga and Bhangra Dance coupled with her fun and lively methods of teaching have attracted students from different age groups. She believes that yoga and dance help to connect, energize and uplift the body, mind and spirit.

Rajveer brings with him more than a decade’s worth of experience in his classes which are filled with nothing less than an intense celebration of music and life. He combines postures, movements, breath, stretching, relaxation, meditation, rhythm and sound in a holistic approach to enhancing the wellbeing of the mind and body. People are automatically drawn to his charismatic and mesmerizing aura which he projects wherever he goes.

Calling all horror-loving, avid yogi practitioners!

Do keep a lookout for the latest K-Horror released in Korea two months ago simply titled ‘Yoga’.

It all started with Winter Sonata, which sparked the wave of Korean drama craze that hit the Chinese female population in Malaysia.

I could never understand what the big hype was over the typical long-winded plots that revolve around cancer-related tragedies, bawling women, rich jerks and complicated love triangles. Although, I must admit that I once pulled an all nighter watching Full House with my cousin… because she was raving about how funny it was and didn’t mind watching it a second time round.

But Korean Horror….now, that stands out in a class of its own! I loved Tale of Two Sisters, Wishing Stairs and Whispering Corridors. Being a horror flick snob, I do indeed do my homework before committing one and a half hours of my precious time in front of the screen.

Here’s the plot of ‘Yoga’ as I understand it….

A beautiful Hyo-Jeong visits a mysterious yoga institute run by an ex-actress. During the intensive training, yoga master Na-Ni explains to Hyo-Jeong and the other girls that only one person who masters the course most successfully would obtain the secret of ultimate and immortal beauty.

There are five rules to follow during the 1-week yoga course:
1. Do not eat
2. Do not take showers within an hour after class
3. Do not look at the mirror (I suspect this is the hardest for most yoga divas haha!)
4. Do not leave the building
5. Do not call anyone

As the training goes on, the girls get tempted to break the rules and Hyo-Jeong starts to sense something wrong about the place and the ex-actress who doesn’t seem to get old…

Misled by desire for eternal beauty and youth, a few perfectly gorgeous women are led to a sinister place where they all end up screaming for their lives.

Many will also be delighted to know that this pose promotes anti-ageing effects such as a youthful and clear complexion.

To come into Salamba Sarvangasana easily, place your palms facing downwards, right under your buttocks. Tuck in your elbows, upper arms and roll back your shoulders, creating a space between your lower back and the mat, then swing both feet up with both palms supporting your back and slowly adjust your alignment so that your chin is as close to your throat as possible and your entire spine from the base of your neck right up to the feet forms a straight vertical line.

There should be an internal rotation of the thighs as you keep both big toes touching one another. It is important not to move your neck once in the pose to avoid neck injury.

You can explore other variations by coming into Baddha Konasana (Cobbler’s Pose) or Padmasana (Lotus Pose).

The current economic turbulence has affected each of us some way or another. Be it the fear of losing your job, or having already lost your job, or knowing a friend or relative who has already lost his/her job. When faced with such a situation, the negative energy of fear and uncertainty begins to manifest internally leading to increased stress and anxiety.

Hallelujah if you are a yoga practitioner because now is the best time to apply your knowledge to everyday living!

Asana
Perform more standing and balancing poses such as Tadasana (Mountain Pose), Vrksasana (Tree Pose), Natarajasana (Dancer Pose) and Virabadhrasana III (Warrior III Pose). In standing poses, we learn to root and ground our feet firmly to the earth. In balancing poses, we continuously concentrate and focus to maintain our equilibrium. Similarly when life throws us obstacles, we need to stay strong, stable and remain undeterred by the challenges that lie ahead.

Pranayama
Deep and slow breathing has been known to diffuse anger, ease tension, cure the jitters and neutralise all kinds of bad emotions. If you have been skipping all those pranayama techniques, do start bringing them back into your practice. Nadi Shodhana (Alternate Nostril Breathing) and Ujjayi (Ocean Breath) both help to bring calm and peace to your inner self. Only when you are at peace with yourself do you feel empowered to make the necessary changes to transform your life positively.

Meditation
No one has to be an expert to practise meditation. By just spending some peaceful time alone to calm the mind and to escape the flurry of daily commotion already counts as a meditative moment. At the end of it, you might even discover the power of clarity that had always been within you.

Contentment
Aparigraha, the fifth Yama in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is also known as abstinence from greed. When resources are scarce, we find ourselves naturally inclined to protect our own interests and grab more than we need. Practise Aparigraha effectively by reflecting on the things that are really necessary in your life. Ultimately, happiness is what humanity seeks and when we open our eyes, we will start to see that happiness lies in the basic beauty of simplicity like being around nature or sharing a home-cooked meal with loved ones.