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Sivananda Yoga Hong Kong Community, Hong Kong (2025)

03/06/2024

🌟 What is Ashtanga? 🌟

You might have heard the term "Ashtanga Yoga" in different contexts. Let's clear up the confusion before sharing more posts about each of the 8 limbs of Ashtanga philosophy.

Ashtanga Philosophy comes from the ancient texts of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, describing an eight-fold path to a meaningful and purposeful life. The word "Ashtanga" means "Eight Limbs" in Sanskrit

Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a specific style of yoga taught by the late K. Pattabhi Jois. This method emphasizes a dynamic, physically demanding practice involving a set sequence of postures, synchronized with breath. While it shares the name "Ashtanga," it specifically refers to this style of yoga practice.

1. Beyond the Poses (Asanas): Yoga isn’t just about fancy poses. It’s a whole package—mind, body, and spirit. Imagine it like a puzzle where all the pieces fit together for your well-being. What we often refer to as “Yoga” on a mat is, in fact, Asana practice

2. Ancient Wisdom: Ashtanga Philosophy comes from ancient texts called the Yoga Sutras. Think of them as timeless life lessons. They guide you toward purpose and meaning. 📜✨

3. The Dynamic Flow: Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a specific style of asana practice. This method emphasizes a dynamic, physically demanding practice involving a set sequence of postures, synchronized with breath. 🌊🕉️

Join us as we dive deeper into each of these eight limbs in our upcoming posts. Whether you’re new to yoga or looking to deepen your practice, there's something here for everyone.

03/06/2024

❔ What is Yoga? Traditional Meaning vs. Modern Understanding ❔

Yoga is often thought of as just physical postures (asanas), but it’s actually a comprehensive system for overall well-being, encompassing the mind, body, and spirit.

The word “Yoga” means “union” in Sanskrit, signifying the union of mind and body - and of individual consciousness with universal consciousness.

🧘‍♀️ Traditional Yoga (The Real Deal):

- 🌟 Holistic Practice: Yoga isn’t just about bending like a pretzel. It’s a soulful journey that unites mind, body, and spirit. Imagine weaving a tapestry of breath, meditation, and self-awareness.

- 📜 Ancient Wisdom: The word “yoga” means “to yoke” or unite. It’s an ancient Indian practice that aims to harmonize our inner universe. Flexibility? Yes. But also peace, balance, and purpose.

- 🌊 Beyond Poses: Yoga transcends the mat. It’s about finding stillness within chaos, connecting with your essence, and embracing life fully.

🏋️‍♀️ Modern Yoga (Asana, The Misunderstood Side):

- 🧘‍♀️ Physical Poses: Asana refers specifically to the physical postures practiced in yoga. Think tree pose, downward dog, and warrior. But wait, there’s more!

- 🚫 Not Just Stretching: Asana isn’t a mere workout. It’s a gateway—a seat for meditation. Each pose whispers ancient secrets if you listen closely.

- 🙌 Mindful Movement: Align, breathe, feel. Asanas teach presence. They’re like love letters to your body, saying, “Hey, I see you.”

Remember, yoga is a symphony, and asana is just one sweet note. 🎶✨

Like, Follow and Share for more upcoming posts about Yoga!

28/05/2024

🌿 Join Us for a Vegetarian Buffet Dinner and Satsang! 🌿

We are excited to kick off our first Sivananda Yoga Hong Kong Community gathering! Come and enjoy a delightful evening with a delicious vegetarian buffet, meaningful conversations, and a satsang.

📅 Date: Thursday, May 30th
🕒 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Ahimsa Buffet, Graham Street, Central
💵 Cost: 138 HKD (Pay at the venue)

Connect with fellow yoga enthusiasts, share your thoughts, and help us plan future events. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced practitioner, everyone is welcome!

🔗 RSVP: lu.ma/2f5jyliu or swipe to scan the QR code

📲 Join our WhatsApp group (link in bio and event details)

For more details, swipe and scan the QR code in the post.

Like, share and follow for more updates on future events and more posts about yoga 🙏🏽

Looking forward to seeing you there! 🌱✨

27/05/2024

🔍 Discover the Structure of a Sivananda Yoga Class 🔎

Ever wondered what to expect from a Sivananda Yoga session? Here's a breakdown of our class sequence to guide you on your journey to inner peace and physical well-being:

1️⃣ **Opening**
- Begin with Initial Relaxation 🧘‍♂️
- Center yourself with an Opening Prayer 🙏

2️⃣ **Pranayama**
- Energize your breath with Kapalabhati 🌬️
- Balance your mind with Anuloma Viloma 🌿

3️⃣ **Warmups**
- Awaken your body with Sun Salutations ☀️
- Strengthen with Single & Double Leg Raises 💪

4️⃣ **Asana Practice**
- Explore Inversions 🔄
- Flow through Forward & Backward Bends ➡️⬅️
- Find stability in Twists, Balances, and Standing Poses 🧍‍♂️

5️⃣ **Closing**
- End with Final Relaxation 🌌
- Conclude with a Closing Prayer 🙏

This is why we say that 90 minutes of Sivananda practice gives you 90 minutes of exercise, breathwork, meditation and relaxation!

Join us at to experience the full transformative power of Sivananda Yoga. Whether you're a beginner or seasoned practitioner, our classes are designed to enhance your practice and bring harmony to your life.

✨ Swipe through for more insights and follow us for updates! ✨

27/05/2024

👑 Shirshasana - The Headstand 👑

Turn your world upside down with Shirshasana, also called the King of Asanas! Imagine your roots reaching toward the sky as you balance gracefully on your head. 🌟

Benefits:

- Crown Activation: Energize your crown chakra.
- Brain Boost: Blood flow invigorates your mind.
- Core Strength: Engage your abdominal muscles.
- Shoulder Stability: Find strength in your upper body.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

- Rushing In: Lift your legs mindfully, one at a time.
- Neck Compression: Support your neck with a cushion.
- Over-Gripping: Firm grip, but not too tight.
- Wall Support: Practice near a wall for stability.

Shirshasana is an advanced pose, so practice it under the guidance of a trained yoga teacher. Learn the 8 step method for entering and exiting Shirsasana according to the Sivananda Yoga Tradition 🙌🧘‍♀️

Share your celestial journey! Tag and let’s elevate together. 🙏🌟

27/05/2024

🌟 Sarvangasana - The Shoulder Stand 🌟

Balance your world with Sarvangasana! As you lift your legs, buttocks, and back, imagine the universe aligning within you. This inversion influences every part of your being. 🌌

Benefits:

Thyroid and Parathyroid Activation: Harmonize these vital glands.
Strong Arms and Shoulders: Support your cosmic pose.
Brain Nourishment: More blood flow for clarity.
Heart Stretch: Return venous blood to the heart.
Digestive Ease: Bid constipation farewell.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

Neck Strain: Keep neck muscles engaged, not compressed.
Health Precautions: Consult if pregnant, high blood pressure, or with specific conditions.
Share your celestial journey! Tag and let’s elevate together. 🙏🌟

23/05/2024

🐠 Matsyasana - The Fish Pose 🐠

Dive into Matsyasana! Arch your back, lift your heart, and feel the opening in your chest. As you recline, imagine floating like a fish in tranquil waters. 🌊

Benefits:
- Chest and Neck Stretch: Relieves tension and improves flexibility.
- Deep Breathing: Enhances respiratory function.
- Gland Activation: Tones the parathyroid, pituitary, and pineal glands.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Straining the Neck: Keep your head supported; use a folded blanket if needed.
- High or Low Blood Pressure: Consult your doctor if you have these conditions.
- Serious Back or Neck Injuries: Skip this pose if you’ve had such injuries.

Share your fish pose journey with us! Tag and let’s flow together. 🙏🌟

23/05/2024

🧘‍♂️ Paschimottanasana - The Seated Forward Bend 🧘‍♀️
Stretch toward the sunrise with Paschimottanasana! As you fold forward, imagine facing the sun, stretching the west side of your body. This foundational pose offers practical benefits for body and mind.

This Asana should also always be followed by Purvottar Asana - the Inclined Plane.

Benefits:
- Hamstring Stretch: Lengthen those tight hamstrings.
- Spinal Release: Ease tension in the lower back.
- Pelvic Opening: Create space in the hips.
- Mindful Stillness: Calm the mind as you surrender into the stretch.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Rounded Back: Keep your spine long; avoid hunching.
- Overreach: Bend from the hips, not the waist.
- Locked Knees: Soften your knees slightly.
- Forceful Pull: Gently reach for your feet; no strain.

Practice Paschimottanasana mindfully, honoring your body’s unique journey. Share your sunrise stretch with us! Tag and let’s flow together. 🌅🙏

23/05/2024

🐍 Bhujangasana - The Cobra Pose 🐍

Elevate your heart and open your chest with Bhujangasana! This heart-opening backbend stretches your entire upper body. As you lift your chest majestically, imagine your legs as the snake’s tail, reaching long behind you. Emulate the powerful yet fluid motion of the king cobra.

Benefits:
- Stretches your abdomen
- Strengthens shoulders, arms, and back muscles
- Improves posture and counteracts slouching

Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Overarching the Neck: Keep your neck in line with your spine. Avoid craning your head backward excessively.
- Squeezing the Buttocks: Instead, engage your glutes gently to maintain stability.
- Tensing the Shoulders: Relax your shoulders away from your ears. Let them melt down naturally.
- Neglecting Core Engagement: Activate your core muscles to protect your lower back.

Practice Bhujangasana early in class as a warm-up and precursor to more intense backbends. Set a strong foundation for complex poses like Dhanurasana (Bow Pose) by engaging your legs, pelvis, and abdominal muscles.

🌟 Share your cobra pose journey with us! Tag and let’s flow together. 🙏

14/05/2024

Ardha Salabhasana - The Half Locust pose - strengthens the lower back muscles, improving the quality of all sitting and standing activities. This asana should always be practiced before the Full Locust - Salabhasana as it warms up the body for the full pose. Similar to the Full Locust - the benefits of Ardha Salabhasana are:

- Improved function of intestines while massaging the pancreas, liver and kidneys
- Backward bend of the spine, opening the chest and shoulders
- Increased blood supply and flexibility to the neck, throat and cervical spine
- Strengthens the biceps, deltoids, nack and shoulder muscles

Common mistake to avoid when practicing the Locust are:
- Do not let the chin come off the mat
- Avoid keeping the nose or forehead on the floor
- Never jump into the position - come up slowly and with control

As always, please learn and practice this asana under the guidance of a teacher who can ensure you are practicing in a correct and safe manner 🙏🏽

14/05/2024

Salabhasana - The Locust pose - tones the upper half of the body. When the full Locust is performed correctly it looks opposite to Sarvangasana - the Shoulder Stand. Benefits of Salabhasana include:

- Improved function of intestines while massaging the pancreas, liver and kidneys
- Backward bend of the spine, opening the chest and shoulders
- Increased blood supply and flexibility to the neck, throat and cervical spine
- Strengthens the biceps, deltoids, back and shoulder muscles

Common mistakes to avoid when practicing the Locust are:
- Do not let the chin come off the mat
- Avoid keeping the nose or forehead on the floor
- Never jump into the position - come up slowly and with control
- The knees should not be bent or kept apart

As always, please learn and practice this asana under the guidance of a teacher who can ensure you are practicing in a correct and safe manner 🙏🏽

14/05/2024

Dhanurasana - The Bow Pose - is a backward bending asana that raises the top and bottom halves of the body at the same time, giving the body the appearance of a bow. This asana gives the combined effect of the Cobra (Bhujangasana) and Locust (Salabhasana), and these should always be practiced together as part of the backward bend sequence. Dhanurasana also acts as a counterpose to the Plough (Halasana) and the Sitting Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

The benefits of Dhanurasana are:
- Improved flexibility to the entire spine - cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral
- All the internal organs - especially the digestive organs - are massage and invigorated
- Relieves chronic constipation, dyspepsia and other gastrointestinal issues.
- Massages the back muscles, strengthens the abdomen, and expands the thoracic region

Moreover, it is said that those who practice Halasana, Mayurasana and Dhanurasana will never be lazy and be full of energy vigor and vitality.

Common mistakes to avoid when practicing this asana are:
- Holding the top of the feet instead of the ankles
- Elbows should be straight
- Head should be up, not forward
- Do not let the body twist to one side

As always, please learn and practice this asana under the guidance of a teacher who can ensure you are practicing in a correct and safe manner 🙏🏽

Sivananda Yoga Hong Kong Community

03/06/2024

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