1. How did you get into yoga and when did you start practicing?

I started yoga in 2000 after completing a self-help seminar and wanting to explore and try out new things. I can’t really remember what my preconceptions of yoga were at the time, but I do remember that it was mainly the physical aspect of the practice that I was interested in. I wanted to get fit and healthy as one tends to do on a post-seminar “high”. The first class I attended I arrived late for but the teacher put me into Viparita Karani (‘legs up the wall’ pose) and I was sold. The next time I when back things were a little more challenging.

2. What have you learned through the practice of yoga?

I have learnt about personal responsibility through yoga. I have learnt about the true nature of my mind and my thoughts. I have learnt that effort and discipline are required to achieve real freedom and ultimately peace. I have learnt that having a sense of humor is a very important part of my practice.

3. What type of yoga do you practice and where do you practice?

My own practice is a hybrid of styles that has been influenced by all my teachers and the schools of yoga I have been exposed to. This includes classical Hatha, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Vinyasa-based asana practice. I feel that each of these styles has pros and cons and by combining them I can “fill-in the gaps”, so to speak. I am a qualified Jivamukti teacher so my own practice, like my teaching, is ultimately holistic. That is to say that as much effort that I put in my asana practice, I try and allocate an equal amount to my meditation, self-study, philosophy and yoga of service.

4. What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Doesn’t everyone say Shavasana? I think Shavasana (Corpse Pose) is my favorite pose because it is in shavasana that I first became aware of the deeper parts of my practice. The “dying” in corpse pose is the ultimate reset, the loss of the frantic ego and the entrance into that field of pure awareness. I should mention that this only started happening after I stopped falling asleep.

5. Tell us about a cause dear to you.

A cause that is very dear to me is that of personal responsibility. I truly believe that this is the key to all the problems that we are facing in ourselves and in the world today. Through personal responsibility to our yoga practice we develop habits that bleed out into the rest of our lives. By realizing things like: it is your attitude that determines how you feel about an asana or a class; that we have a choice of where and how to focus our thoughts; and that nobody else is able to do your practice for you; we begin to change our way of interacting in every relationship that we have. Using the analogy of a chain, if each person strives to be the most complete link that they can be, the chain won’t have to be maintained as a whole, but rather the self-maintenance of each link with ensure its overall health. That chain is the world and all its inhabitants. We are each links in multiple chains.

1. How did you get into yoga?

During my childhood instinct led me to use my breath when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. Knowing that I could change my mood and get a handle on things just through conscious breathing led me to search for the reasons why and Yoga, when it found me, did just that. This happened at the local gym and lucky for me my teacher, Anne Behrens, just happened to be one of the best most experienced Yoginis around town at the time. Anne inspired my path and I remain eternally grateful for her gentle wisdom and grace in holding the space.

2. What have you learned through the practice of yoga?

The more I learn the more I realise how much there is still to learn! Yoga has inspired me to live my life with an attitude of gratitude and compassion. It has shown me that we are spiritual beings having a physical human experience. I love how as my yoga path has developed so too have the hidden subtle qualities that make life easier. These include using my mind as a highly effective tool, instead of it controlling me. Raising my sensitivity and awareness to the level where a conscious connection to all that is just is! Realising what true freedom means and lastly that our bodies don’t need as much sleep as we believe they do. This is a result of daily yoga practice and meditation, which has a balancing effect on our nervous system.

3. What type of yoga do you practice?

Kundalini Yoga has my heart. I love the awareness and sensitivity it has brought to my life.  The wealth of teachings both esoteric and scientific are the greatest gift to humanity today. Yogi Bahjan called it the Yoga Of Awareness and thru regular practice this is a guarantee!  Heightened states of consciousness and connectedness increase your lovability exponentially.

4. What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Savasana (corpse pose)! The most simple yet most challenging yoga pose to truly master… there comes a time when your work is done and when you let go your practice continues it’s work on a very subtle level. Click here to read more about Savasana on the Yoga Journal website.

5. Tell us about a cause dear to you and what you have learned through the practice of yoga.

I am an earth mother and nature lover. Our impact on this beautiful planet has been devastating and I try wherever possible to make people aware of what effect they have on our Gaia (Earth). It makes me so very happy to see how the ‘green movement’ has become mainstream. Our time here is so short and so many people die without thinking about what type of world is left behind for our children. Yoga has bought me to a place where I tread lightly, speak quietly (yet confidently) and stay soft.

This month fellow yogi, Nzinga Qunta, founder of new media company JucyAfrica and co-owner of boutique model agency, Ayana Africa, tells us why she loves Bikram yoga and shares her secrets on how to de-stress and reenergise.

How did you get into Yoga?

I’ve been doing yoga for 2 years now. My mother has done yoga since before I was born but I never ‘got it’. I read about Bikram Yoga and thought I’d like to try it as a form of exercise and to help me focus and be calm. I roped in two of my girlfriends and we went for a trial. My first class was awful and I fell sick afterwards. When I went back and got used to it I fell in love.

Do you have a favourite style of yoga?

Bikram Yoga. It always challenges me as I never get each posture in the class right and I’m still not able to do the standing leg pose properly after trying for so long.
I’ve tried Ashtanga vinyasa yoga but Bikram is my favourite.

What is your favourite Yoga pose?

Camel. It makes me feel open, alive and free. it was a struggle to get into it initially but it’s a liberating posture. Standing bow pose comes a close second. It’s a challenging posture which requires focus but is also fun trying to balance (and not giggle when I fall out of it).

Where is the most interesting place you have practiced Yoga?

On a beach in Xai Xai in the morning. It was beautiful but impractical as I kept sinking into the sand. I did some yoga in the sun in Livingstone, Zambia which was cool. The ladies cleaning up the place I was staying started asking me about it, and why I did it and it was cool to talk to people who had never heard of yoga.

Have you ever been to a yoga retreat?

I’ve never been! I’m looking forward to going on a yoga retreat in 2012.

Many of our readers lead demanding and busy lives – do you have any tips on how to make time for yourself in order to de-stress and reenergise? 

Get enough sleep! It sounds twee but seriously, it starts off your day on the right note. Keep 2 hours aside a day to go to a yoga class, especially when you’re stressed. The hour/hour and a half that you are in class gives you time to sweat out the stress of the day, calm your mind and get the endorphins going. If 2 hours is a big ask take a walk around your garden, complex or road. It’s a small burst of exercise and fresh air that feels good.

Watch a sunset. It gives you perspective, is calming and beautiful.

Lisa Heath is a  Sivananda qualified yoga instructor who founded ‘The Heart of Yoga‘ studio in Fairland, Johannesburg after completing teacher training at an Ashram in France. Here Lisa tells us how yoga helped her through a difficult time and her journey of self-discovery.

How did you get into yoga?

I had reached a crossroad in my life, a mother of 2 young children, no longer happy in my job and on the edge of a mental breakdown. Stressed, depressed, without direction, I hit an all time low.  A friend introduced me to The Journey, with Brandon Bays, a course on self-healing using very powerful tools and techniques.  This turned my life around and I went on to complete the training to become a Journey Practitioner, so i could assist others needing healing. A year later I found myself in India on a Sacred Pilgrimage (yatra), with Brandon Bays and over 100 Journey Practitioners from around the world. It was an extraordinary experience and I was introduced to Dru Yoga, which we practiced every morning after meditation.  I was hooked.

Why did you start practicing yoga?

Returning to South Africa, I attended regular Hatha Yoga classes at the local gym. I loved linking the breath to the asanas, which made me feel centered and grounded with a strong awareness of the present moment.   I had never felt more healthy, happy and energised.  An internal sense of joy and peace arose and it wasn’t going away!

What type of yoga do you practice? 

I completed Hatha Yoga teacher training with Kerry Weavind, Haum of Yoga in Johannesburg and went on to open a studio in 2007, with the intention of sharing the gift of Yoga with others.  I had realised that there is a far greater purpose to life than pain and sickness. Life’s purpose requires a keen intellect and strong will, which are products of a healthy body and mind. Wanting to dive in deeper, a few years later I completed a second teachers training at the Sivananda Ashram in Orleans, France. Swami Sivananda’s life was a radiant example of service to humanity.  His ideals were ‘ to serve all, love all, mix with all and see God in all beings’.   I have embraced and enjoyed many different yoga styles however find myself always coming back to Sivananda Yoga and its simple, natural holistic path which includes the 5 basic principles, proper exercise (asanas), proper breathing (pranayama), proper relaxation (savasana), proper diet (mindful eating/vegetarianism) and positive thinking and meditation (vedanta and dhyana).  The ultimate goal of this style of yoga is, inner and outer peace and the realization of unity in diversity.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

I have to say my favorite yoga pose is Headstand (Sirsasana), ‘the king of the asanas’. It is one of the most powerful asanas for body and mind. Mastering the Headstand requires a little strength, but it is mainly a matter of conquering fears and believing you can do it. A well-known quote from the Yoga Tattwa Upanishad’s is “One who practices the Headstand for 3 hours daily, conquers time”. I haven’t got there yet but its certainly helped to manifest a greater sense of ‘groundedness’ within me.

Tell us about a cause dear to you and what you have learned through the practice of yoga.

Mahatma Ghandi once said “Be the change you want to see in the world”.  To change the world we have to change ourselves first.   ‘We must find peace within before we can find peace outside ourselves’.  Yoga teaches me that in order to open my heart to the world I need to do that to myself first.  This means exploring, surrendering and letting go of anything holding me back from finding my life’s true purpose. This process is an on-going journey of self-discovery and acceptance of who i am.   Karma yoga or selfless service to those less fortunate in life has become more and more important to me. Giving of myself, opens my heart to receiving the reward of knowing that I can personally make a small difference in other peoples lives, one step at a time.

How did you get into Yoga? 

My first experience with yoga was in 1978. After 3 months of imitating the poses from a large colour illustrated yoga book I experienced a series of events that propelled me into a powerful awakening of self realization that I needed help. My relationship with yoga began with a insatiable longing to be free from the suffering and turbulence of emotional and mental conflict. I came into contact with my mentor Swami Satyananda at a time when I was open and receptive to a teacher. I had not been able to resolve my inner conflicts even though I had explored many concepts and philosophies. His advice was simple “Work hard and sweat to purify your body. Keep the mind engaged in fruitful activities to transform your karma of negativity. Be regular in your daily sadhana and always remember that any opportunity to help someone will uplift your spirits and inspire you” (Karma Yoga). I had no prior knowledge or experience of yoga and yet my first experience left me feeling complete and at peace with myself in a way I had never experienced before. Something was familiar about the intimacy of stretching and breathing that simple clicked every fibre of my being into a joyful expression of Yes Yes Yes (this is it).

Tell us about the type of yoga you practice

I was initiated in 1980 by my Guru Swami Satyananda who founded the Bihar School of Yoga and is widely revered among all yoga aspirants today as one of the visionary teachers of yoga. Swami Satyananda was both a tantric and practitioner of Vedanta however his gift to humanity are the practical teachings of yoga techniques. The texts and publications of the Bihar School of Yoga are without doubt the foundation of all yoga practice in the west today and they provide access to techniques and systems of yoga that were unknown before Swami Satyananda began his mission.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Ultimately my favourite asana (pose) is Siddhasana the traditional seated pose of an adept who likes to sit for 3-4 hours in deep meditation. We evolve as practitioners and our experience of yoga also evolves. The asanas have always played an important role for me because they release all of the muscular tensions and align my skeletal system so I can sit comfortably in meditation. My asana sequence will always end with Yoga Mudra because forward bends especially Yoga Mudra introvert and calm the mind. They also align the hips and pelvic girdle to enable the practitioner to sit tall and firm in meditation.

Tell us about a cause dear to you

I live for the joy of yoga and sharing my knowledge and experience with others. There is no greater gift to humanity that the science of yoga. Whenever I begin to teach I am transformed by the genuine caring and joy of imparting the techniques of yoga that liberate and empower the students with their own sense of independence and freedom to relax. Even if the student only attends one class and I never see them again I know in my heart that their experience has left an impression and the impact of that class has initiated in them an indestructible seed of change and transformation that will eventually enable them to become fulfilled spiritually and as human beings living in this world. The cause dear to me is my gurus mission of selflessly dedicating my life to the  vision of “Yoga from Door to Door and Shore to Shore”

Where is the most interesting place you have practiced yoga?

India and specifically in Rikhia which is the place where my Guru lived and practiced an ancient tantric sadhana of Panch Agni. In Rikhia the shakti or energy is so strong everyone who goes there becomes intoxicated. Sometimes you feel as if there is some drug or intoxicant that has somehow been given to you but of course this not the case and after a few days you realize that the feeling is continuous it never leaves you and you can literally feel the cells in your body beginning to change and transform. All I can say about Rikhia is go there at least once in your life.

What have you learned through the practice of yoga?

Everything originates in the psychic dimension of consciousness. For most of us we equate this with the mind but for me the mind is a field of energy that we experience through the process of thinking and feeling but it is not the source. A fire produces heat and light with colour and sound. All of the qualities and the attributes of a fire can be equated with the mind. The source of the fire is not the wood nor the flame. It is not the heat nor the light and colour of the flame. The source is the force of combustion and even though you know it exists and can explain combustion in terms of oxygen and other elements the truth is you cannot see combustion you can only see the effect. The mind is the effect of consciousness and all of the emotions and ideas you have about this life is subjective. We are emotionally and mentally conditioned by our society, culture and education. What we belief and consider to be true is mostly assumed. Yoga has enabled me to recognise and accept that which is true. Most importantly Yoga has empowered me with the realization that each and every moment is unique and there is only one absolute reality. Everything else is in transition and subject to change. Yoga is the process of empowerment so that I can remain in contact with that one absolute reality by awareness of each and every moment.

Click here to read more about the different styles of yoga including Satyananda yoga

How did you get into Yoga?
At 17 years of age I had an inquiring mind and a hungry soul, which led me to practice Yoga. While holidaying in Natal I visited the Divine Life Society leaving with a stack of interesting Yoga literature which I was craving for. I began practicing yoga in 1972 and later in 1982 I became a certified Sivananda Yoga Instructor.

My yoga teacher Dayani, singled me out and invited me to do the 2 year teachers training that Sivananda were offering. The thought of being a teacher never occurred to me and self- doubt crept in, but with her gentle persuasion and openness, I realised it was a calling and have been practicing yoga for 40 years.

Why did you start practicing Yoga?
I had many questions that needed to be answered so I joined Sivananda Yoga School, which was probably one of the few Yoga institutions in the 70’s located on the 1st floor of an office block in Bree Street in the city centre of Johannesburg (some of you more mature Yogis may remember this little haven!). I thrived on attending Yoga classes as well as weekly Satsangs, and I knew I had to integrate Yoga into my life. I do daily Sadhana (spiritual practices) alone, and enjoy participating in classes at Gururamdas and Virgin Active Group as well as joining the many other inspiring yoga institutions offering Yoga here in Cape Town.

Tell us about the type of Yoga you teach?
For a period of 17 years I taught at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Westcliff and had the privilege of being in the presence of great Yoga Masters where I developed an understanding of the principles and disciplines that are required to be a Yogi. I continue to teach in the Sivananda Yoga Style, as well as incorporating Vinyasa flow practices remaining in the long lineage of ancient Yoga Wisdom, and enjoy exploring and participating in many of the world’s different spiritual traditions. A typical Sivananda class follows a set structure that includes Pranayama (breathing), classic Asanas (poses) and Savasana (relaxation). It is slow paced allowing for a full exploration of each pose and non-competitive. It is a comprehensive system which cultivates and maintains physical, mental and spiritual health, a meditative exploration of yoga, bringing the student to a point of inner awareness that allows them to come in touch with a deeper, subtle aspect of their being, ultimately bringing them inner peace.

I was instrumental in introducing and offering Yoga within the Virgin Active Group where I have been teaching for 14 years. In 2010 I relocated to Cape Town, where I teach at various Clubs for Virgin Active and at a Wellness Centre in Llandudno. I also regularly spend the summer months in Cyprus teaching privately and to groups, promoting Yoga to various exclusive 5 star hotels that wisely offer Yoga tuition to their guests. I am in the process of organising Yoga Spa Retreats in Cyprus next year.

What is your favourite Yoga pose and why?
Hmmmm…… I don’t have a favourite yoga pose, and enjoy performing all asanas with devotion and a spirit of humble enquiry!

Where is the most interesting place you have practiced Yoga?
While visiting Muscat in Oman where the temp was 40deg, I attended a women’s only yoga class held at a Ladies Club where the local woman practiced the yoga session attired in their traditional Abeya’s. It was interesting that they looked so cool and elegant and undistracted!

What have you learned through the practice of Yoga?
Yoga has taught me to discover the wholeness that already exists in myself, promoting the integration of one’s own personality, and having a harmonious relationship with others on all levels as well as cosmic consciousness. “Yoga is Peace and Harmony”

How did you get into Yoga?

I have been fascinated with the mind/body/spirit connection for as long as I can remember.  From physical theatre to Balinese dancing, I spent a large part of my childhood trying to understand the connection between our bodies and our energies – trying to make sense of presence and connectedness.  Then, when I was 19, I met a man in the Sinai Desert who had returned from studying Yoga in India. He spent an evening explaining the philosophy of Yoga to me, talking me through his course booklets filled with descriptions of pranayama, the chakras, asana, the yamas and niyamas. It felt like everything I had tried to understand suddenly made sense. I was enchanted, and knew I had to meet his teacher. The man drew me a little map to his ashram and within a month, I was studying there. I spent a year in India discovering Yoga in all its forms. 11 years later, I still have that little hand-drawn map. It symbolizes to me the day I became ready to be taught.

Tell us about the type of yoga you practice

I find beauty and benefits in all types of Yoga, although Jivamukti Yoga is my practise of choice. To me, Yoga is not simply an exercise routine, it is a way of living – and Jivamukti covers all the bases: bhakti, meditation, pranayama, asana, nada yoga (music and sound) and studying of the ancient texts. Jivamukti takes the various pillars of the ancient philosophies and not only incorporates them into every class, but encourages us to carry these practices out into our daily lives.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Adho Mukha Vrkasana. It is invigorating, challenging and magical. When I teach Yoga to children, they have a tendency to leap recklessly and joyfully into handstand at any given opportunity, and laugh when they tumble into a heap. It comes so naturally to them. Only when we get older do we allow our fears to prevent us from risking falling over. Handstand breaks down these ego-based fears. It is a risk which liberates us from taking ourselves too seriously. And when we manage to hold the pose, it gives us the opportunity to prove to ourselves that we are stronger and braver than we allow ourselves to believe. I love being upside down and seeing things from a different perspective.

Tell us about a cause dear to you

Environmental sustainability and animal rights. Taking only what we need from the earth, and giving back in every way we can. Patanjali talks about our connection to, and mutual relationship with, the earth in the Yoga Sutras, written hundreds of years ago. Today, it is more applicable than ever. People are becoming more aware of the crisis, but we still live wastefully and better education is required to implement the necessary changes. Even small steps, like recycling, or cutting meat out of our diets, can make a difference. Building a relationship of mutual respect with nature and all beings is the only path towards sustainability.

Where is the most interesting place you have practiced yoga?

India – the home of Yoga. There is so much to be learnt from so many great teachers there.

What have you learned through the practice of yoga?

A way of life – a striving to live consciously and with compassion. I’ve learnt that breath and stillness have the power to create a strength and liberation far beyond anything I imagined possible. Mostly, Yoga has taught me to be present with awareness in every moment. Because that is where true joy exists.

How did you get into Yoga?

I was working in advertising and stressed out of my mind, I desperately needed something to help me relax and stay sane. That thing was Yoga. It was started with just wanting sanity, but its become an entire way of being. Its become my path with everything in my life grounded and rooted in the practice.

Tell us about the type of yoga you practice

My personal practice is a combination of Ashtanga Yoga, Kirtan (Devotional singing), Vipassana meditation and Karma Yoga. I of course love attending Jivamukti classes because this is what I teach, but really, everything that brings me into contact with the divine source is Yoga and I try practice that as many times a day as I possibly can.

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Shavasana! (because it means that the practice is over and I can sleep, haha!). Seriously, I like Shavasana because I really need to practice complete surrender of the ego, of life, and Shavasana gives me the opportunity to do that.

Tell us about a cause dear to you

Animal Rights! Until we are able to see ourselves in every other being, we cannot know Yoga. Practicing compassion for all living beings and doing all we can towards their liberation and their happiness, will go a long way towards realising our own liberation. Visit Naked Yoga to find out how you can support the fight against animal cruelty.

Where is the most interesting place you have practiced yoga?

Hong Kong, I had no idea how big yoga is there. Right in the middle of one of the noisiest and vibrant cities I’ve ever experienced is a hub of very dedicated Yogis practicing every day, it’s great.

What have you learned through the practice of yoga?

That Yoga is happening right now. That we need to not try so hard, that we are already perfect. That heaven is right here now, on earth.. if we can just open our eyes to it.