Let’s Do Yoga – Interviews with Yoga Instructors
Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice having its origin in India. What better way to celebrate and explore this ancient practice than to invite you to consider Yoga as part of your health workout. We have handpicked a few leading Yoga instructors to inspire you further.
Angeline Liew and Raymond Lim
Co-Founders/Principal Teachers
Prana Yoga KL and Pledge A Ringgit
Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur
www.pranaYogakl.com
Tel: +6012-9764866
What form of Yoga do you teach?
Angeline: Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Yoga, Pre and Post Natal Yoga, Yin Yoga, Myofascial Release and Yoga Therapeutics, specialising in Spinal Care.
Raymond: Vinyasa Flow, Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga and Myofascial Release.
How is your form of Yoga different from any other type of Yoga?
Angeline: My teaching style infuses an authentic, functional and classical approach to Yoga based on my foundational studies in Mysore, India, as well as personal exploration from 16 years of practice. My passion is to make Yoga accessible to practitioners of all levels, by focusing on our unique anatomical differences, and the energetic alignment of body with breath, Prana and mind.
Raymond: My aim is to help practitioners, regardless of body size and capabilities, to develop a breath-initiated mindful Yoga practice, with emphasis on safety, alignment and gradual progression. “Going slowly, steadily and never rushing” is my teaching philosophy.
Why should one start on Yoga?
“Yoga for Everyone” is our life and teaching philosophy at Prana Yoga KL. The ultimate purpose of Yoga is awareness, mindfulness and ultimately inner bliss. The gateway to all of this is through the physical practice of asana. You do not have to be young, flexible, supple or fit to start a Yoga practice. You start from where YOU are at this point in time. Each individual works within his/her own level of comfort and physicality. Yoga is non-competitive, and it does not discriminate. Our practitioners range from newborns to senior citizens, including those seeking rehabilitation from injuries or trauma. Yoga is the path to living a healthier, better and happier life.
Parveen Nair 
International Yoga Instructor
Yoga Sadhana Melaka
www.Yogasadhana.com.my
Tel: +6012-212 9070
Siddhi Yoga
Instructor, Yoga Teachers Training School
Bali (Indonesia), Rishikesh and Dharamshala (India)
www.siddhiYoga.com
What form of Yoga do you teach?
I was trained in two different forms of Yoga – Shivananda Yoga and Iyengar Yoga. But I chose to call my Yoga as Yoga. The names may differ but the goal is the same. I teach mainly from my own experience of what needs to be taught that day. Every class of mine is different as I see progress is essential.
How is your form of Yoga different from any other type of Yoga?
The way I approach the poses, breathing and meditation may differ from other types of Yoga. I believe in a more systematical and methodical way of teaching. As progress in the practice is essential for me and my students, I use props to make the students understand the poses, so that they are safe while practicing, and they understand what they are doing.
Why should one start on Yoga?
Because Yoga has so much benefits to offer. By studying Yoga philosophy itself one can understand the body mind complex. By practicing the Asanans and Pranayams the body health is restored. Health is essential for all no matter where we are or what we believe in. Yoga is definitely a shower of grace to the world. It is a universal prayer.
Yan Ong
Mysore Room
Lorong Binjai, Kuala Lumpur
www.mysoreroom.com
Tel: +6019-234 6290
What form of Yoga do you teach?
Ashtanga Yoga, in its authentic form as taught by the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore, India.
How is your form of Yoga different from any other type of Yoga?
Ashtanga Yoga is one of the last remaining forms of Yoga that remains protected by lineage holders and passed down by generations of great yogis in India. It is different in many ways from what is available in the present day Yoga, but most notably differentiated by how it is taught individually to a student’s capacity with no one to watch or follow and in Ashtanga Yoga, you have to practice daily for years, then daily for months over at least four years at KPJAYI to be considered to teach the system.
Why should one start on Yoga?
Mahatma Gandhi said it best when he said “Be the change you want to see in this world”. Now more than ever the world needs change, the destruction of the world is a result of disconnection to ourselves. The only way to reverse this vicious cycle is to have a practice which focuses on allowing us to know ourselves better (Yoga happens to be not the only, but a great tool for this process) and hopefully as a result we emerge from a stronger place to make calmer choices. We need to practice Yoga to make us, everyday life, everyone around us and the rest of the world just a little more bearable.
Swati Pandey
Jalan Kiara, Kuala Lumpur
Email: supratim.swati@gmail.com
Tel: +6017 264 6021
What form of Yoga do you teach?
The student must not fit the Yoga but the Yoga must fit the student – this is the style I follow. It depends on who is attending and what they need. I am highly inspired by Ashtanga Vinyasa, Andiappan Yoga (Therapeutic style) and Manasa Yoga. Posture practice in my classes is centred on breath awareness in the backdrop of teachings from Yoga philosophy. Meditation is integrated in the practice.
How did Yoga change your life?
Thanks to Yoga – from being an extremely short tempered person, lacking tolerance I seem to have gone through a “system upgrade” where things don’t bother me as easily. I am more joyful! In terms of my body I am far fitter. I have never been “physically inclined” so my body was not so capable. Then Ashtanga Vinyasa was offered to me so beautifully that a non exercise oriented person like me fell in love with the most demanding of Yoga styles! My body changed dramatically. Foods that were unhealthy and addictive have on their own left me without any effort on my part. I feel like life supports me, there is greater ease on a day to day basis. I have found much clarity and greater focus.
Why should one start on Yoga?
You need Yoga if you want:
- Physical and mental health
- Create the life that you want. Yoga gives us necessary tools
- If you are well and want to enhance your life
- Experience greater grace in your life
Barbara Vadiveloo
YOGA2SELF
Section 8, Petaling Jaya
Yoga2self.com
Tel: +6012 337 2796
What form of Yoga do you teach?
I teach Hatha Yoga.
How is your form of Yoga different from any other type of Yoga?
Like different types of food appeal to different people, different styles of Yoga will suit people of different temperaments, different ages or body types. Hatha Yoga, in particular in a beginners’ class, is a comparatively slow paced style that allows the student to absorb the intricacies of the postures, minimising the risk of injuries.
How did Yoga change your life?
My journey has been about learning to flow with life, letting go of expectations, about facing fears and challenges and about finding and walking my own path. Yoga and Life are the same.
Why should one start on Yoga?
Similar to the whole universe always striving for harmony, we too should work towards harmony in all aspects of life. Yoga teaches us step by step how to find that balance. It is as if Asana practice is waking up our body’s own intelligence and once we start following that, instead of the cues of our ego or anyone around us, we will start making better and healthier choices in our life.
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