This course takes place twice during May and June and is targeted to aspiring teachers and yoga practitioners from all traditions. It is for yoga therapists, healers, psychotherapists, yoga / pilates teachers and others who seek a deeper understanding of Yoga Nidra.

Experience a spiritual inner depth of yoga, often unrecognized in popular practice today. Extend your practice and expand its impact. In Sanskrit yoga-nidrâ means yoga of the sleep. Yoga it is the union, the union of the consciousness and the energy, the visible and the invisible. The sleep it is the unconscious. The yoga it is the awareness, the clarity (brightness), the lucidity, the observation of what escapes the common attention. Yoga-nidrâ it is thus the infiltration, the penetration of the consciousness in this dark, opaque, sluggish zone that is the sleep.

Click here to download the details.

Conducted by: Reggeesh Vatta Kandy
Regeesh Vatta Kandy started his yoga studies when he was seventeen with the traditional teachers from Kerala. The searches for higher studies in Yoga lead him to the great Bihar Yoga Bharati (the first university of Yoga in the world). After that he has been teaching Yoga in India as well in abroad.

No flashy banners, no fancy website and no gaudy signboards. KLYoga decides to sneak a peek at a small independent studio called Uni Yoga, which is well known among the yoga community of Klang Valley. We met up with the owner, Foo Jong Hau for a friendly chat at his studio.

How did your relationship with Yoga start?

Foo: Initially when I took up yoga 8 years ago at Fitness First, it was for the fun of it. At that point in time I was more attracted to the in RPM, Body Balance and Body Combat classes. I joined the Yoga class just to help me stretch after the hardcore exercises. Over time doing high impact exercises like Body Combat, my ankles started to hurt. So naturally I reduced those classes and attended more Yoga classes. After a while I found it to be quite interesting and especially found arm balances very challenging.

I started to buy books related to Yoga. The first book I bought was Light On Yoga by B.K.S Iyengar. It opened up my eyes to so many other yoga postures that I wasn’t aware of. There were more than 90% poses in the book that I could not do as I was quite stiff. This spurred me to seek more knowledge about Yoga.

When did you decide that you wanted to make a career out of teaching Yoga and how did you start?

Foo: I was excited to share what I learned about yoga with other people. So I used to give free weekly classes to my colleagues after work. During that time, teacher training courses were not so easily available in Malaysia. After scouting around for an appropriate one, I decided to take a course in Health Education with a Diploma in Yoga under Dr. Dhilip. At the same time, I also made a firm decision to leave my job in the insurance line as I realised an office job was not suitable for me.

Lucikly, right after obtaining my Diploma, the Yoga industry had just begun to boom Malaysia. I started out teaching at small studios and condos, and finally taught my first commercial gym class in California Fitness.

You are obviously doing quite well now teaching at all the major gyms. What inspired you to open Uni Yoga?

Foo: Funnily, I never planned on opening up my own studio. I used to hold classes at a community center in Damansara Jaya. However, when the new management took over, they decided not to rent out the hall. I still wanted to continue offering classes to the existing students, so I looked around to rent a place where people could come together and learn yoga together.

The open concept studio

Yoga accessories on sale, including theOrganic Yoga Mat Spray (Foo’s very own product)

I can’t help but notice that you don’t even have a signboard outside your studio. What is your secret marketing tool?

Foo: Uni Yoga was established in 2008 and started with a little over 10 members. Now we have over 50 members. In fact, most of the members are my long term students who have not only followed me, but have introduced their friends, relatives and colleagues to join the studio I am grateful to all of them for marketing Uni Yoga by word of mouth. There is nothing more convincing that hearing about a positive personal experience from a person you trust.

What type of classes does Uni Yoga offer?

Foo: There are currently 4 instructors teaching here at the studio. Junko and I teach Anusara-based principles and styles. Kelly and Keane both teach Hatha and Flow styles.

Workshop in progress

Assisting and adjusting students

What is Anusara?

Foo: The Anusara method makes it very simple. All poses, regardless of whether it is a backbend, forward bend or arm balance use only 5 principles – Open to Grace, Muscular Energy, Inward Spiral, Outward Spiral and Organic Energy.

Open to Grace basically just means to open your mind to possibilities. Before going into a pose, never think that you cannot do it.

Muscular Energy means to engage your muscles by hugging them to the bone. In simple terms, it means to contract your muscles. Doing so protects you from injury.

Inward Spiral refers to the expanding energy that opens up the back of the body.

Outward Spiral refers to the contracting energy that balances the expanding energy and brings stability into the pose.

Organic Energy means to extend from the central core of the body and outwards to the side-lines. This will leave you with a sense of freedom and confidence in the pose.

Demonstrating the right technique

What are the common misconceptions of Anusara?

Foo: People think it is all about back bends, which is not entirely true.  As you improve and go deeper into the pose, you will naturally curl back, and at the same time it looks like an intense backbend. The concept is always the same. The action is always equal and opposite. You have ‘hard’, you have ‘soft’, you have ‘in’ you have ‘out’. Ultimately it is about finding a balance.

How effective is the Anusara method?

Foo: Before, I had very stiff shoulders. Doing backbends and wheels were out of the question. Now after a year of applying Anusara principles into my practice, I am able to perform the drop back (dropping backwards into wheel from standing position). This is how effective the technique is.

Anusara is a process-oreinted, step by step method. It focuses on the preparation to get into a pose.  So, it is very important to listen and be open to change. Because many flexible practitioners find it easy to go into a pose, they often don’t listen and get injured in the long run. However, if they listen, they will be able to go deeper into the pose without hurting themselves.

Many of my students are middle aged and are not that flexible when they first started off. But through adopting the basic 5 principles of Anusara, their flexibility has improved immensely.

For example, a lot of people think that arm balancing poses are difficult to perform. But in Anusara, we learn to use different groups of muscles. So it is not surprising that a person who is not so strong in the arms is able to do the hand stand. In the final pose, there should be a feeling of lightness and the ability to hold a pose longer because you are in an equilibrium and most efficient state.

Junko and Foo performing gravity-defying poses

What are your future plans for the studio?

Foo: My focus now is to work on getting a bigger evening crowd, mainly targeting working individuals since the studio is located conveniently opposite the Kelana Jaya LRT station. I plan to also continue giving more workshops like the one that I conducted in December on painfree backbends.

Uni Yoga has a cozy and close-knit environment. It is a place where friendships are made and support is given to one another. I want to be able to keep that as an integral part of Uni Yoga, setting us apart from being just another commercial fitness center.

Planning to drop by? This is where Uni Yoga is located.

Uni Yoga
1C Bangunan S.E.
Jalan SS 25/12
Taman Desa Suria
47301 Petaling Jaya

Tel: 012-2205512 (Foo)
Email: foojonghau@gmail.com
Or simply search Uni Yoga on facebook.

First time members are entitled to sign up for 1 month unlimited classes at only RM70.

How did you get involved in dance and yoga?

Joey: I became serious about dancing when I was 18 years old after graduating from high school. In order to keep my promise to myself to be a professional dance artist, I made my way to New York to study dance at the age of 22. I seriously injured my back before I went to New York and was diagnosed with having a slipped disc on the 5th lumbar vertebra. The doctor recommended surgery with 50% chance of full recovery but I definitely could not dance professionally anymore.

It was shocking, of course. After long discussion with my family, we decided that I should not go through with the surgery. Instead, I held on to my initial decision to pursue my dreams. I prayed and desperately looked for information to heal my back while I was in New York. That was the first time I encountered the yoga and Pilates method. After about six months of rehabilitation-based yoga and Pilates exercises, I was up and dancing with more strength and technique than ever before.  Since then dance and yoga were never separated from my life.

What inspired Dance City and who are the main figures behind it?

Joey: After coming back from overseas in year 2000, I was full of passion and wanted to share with people the art of dance and the tremendous healing power of yoga. It became a motivation for me and my partner (who coincidently is my dearest husband – an artiste and a certified personal fitness trainer) to open up the academy.

Dance seems to be the main focus of the academy. What are the classes and courses offered at Dance City?

Joey: In the beginning, when we were setting up the studio, most of our courses were dance lessons with 1 or 2 yoga classes. At first, we named our school AKNT Creative Arts. Now, we call it DANCE YOGA. We tried to promote yoga then but it was not as popular as it is today. People did not seem to know yoga as much as these days. I started with 2 students in a class and eventually increased to nearly 40. I was pretty happy and enjoyed teaching dance and yoga at the same time because I could share the experience with my students about these two different forms of body movements.

The classes we have now at DANCE YOGA are dance teacher training course, yoga teacher training course, and other regular classes such as Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom, Modern Dance, Yoga, and Children/Adult Dance Performing course.

The academy seems to portray a distinct expression of artistic flair. Is this somehow integrated into the yoga classes?

Joey: Yes. Dance is a sport and art form that generally refers to movement of the body. We teach our students to move and flow with the yoga poses like a dancer aesthetically and artistically. We don’t just teach our students yoga poses, we teach our students to love them.

Fluid and artistic movements in dance and yoga, as demonstrated by Joey

Tell us about the different varieties of yoga classes conducted at Dance City.

Joey: We mostly do flow yoga and some Hatha. Our main focus is on teacher training.

What types of clients are attracted to sign up for yoga classes here and why?

Joey: Most of our students are from the neighbourhood and the majority are ladies. However, there are students from all over Malaysia as well as from overseas such as China, Singapore, and Indonesia, who have signed up for the yoga teacher training course.

How many studios are there in Malaysia and do they all have the same offerings?

Joey: There are 2 locations in Malaysia; Cheras and Sg. Long.  We offer the same courses, but teacher training courses are conducted in our Cheras branch.

Fully equipped studios where dance and yoga classes are conducted

Besides regular dance and yoga classes, what other courses are available to the public?

Joey: Each year we will organise dance teacher training workshops for primary schools and kindergarten teachers, and also yoga workshops. Once in a while, we do offer dance workshop such as Jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary dance.

What makes Dance City stand out from the mass of yoga studios that have sprouted all across Malaysia?

Joey: We teach our students how to carry out the beauty of the flow in yoga poses, we also teach our students physiology and anatomy behind yoga poses, so that they can move their body accurately and beautifully like a dancer, and most importantly to practise injury-free.

What interesting developments can we expect to see in the near future?

Joey: We will continue to inspire and open our door to people who are willing to become yoga teachers. We will also increase our efforts in overseas student enrolments.

How is the yoga scene in Malaysia compared to Canada?

Joey: I’m glad to see that there is an increasing amount of people in Malaysia who are getting more conscious about their health and wellness. Many people take yoga as part of their daily living routine as in Canada.

There is an increasing awareness and appreciation these days for art and culture. How do you think this will shape tomorrow’s society?

Joey: Every art form and culture is related to the human being. It is an expression from within our spirit through our body. Humans need to be connected, especially in this high technology society. I believe the awareness and appreciation for art and culture will link every human together, and ultimately bring us to understand that we are all one.

The Dance City is located at:

149-5 Jalan Lancang
Taman Seri Bahtera
56100, Kuala Lumpur

Tel: 03-91331642
Email: info@thedancecity.com

Inconspicuously tucked away in a corner lot at Lucky Garden, Bangsar is an unexpected little find bearing a name that immediately screams fun and creativity with a hint of difference. How can anyone forget an intriguing name such as ‘Purple Yogis’. That was the reason KL Yoga decided to find out about what this curious establishment was all about.

I climbed up the narrow stairway, rang the doorbell and was warmly greeted by Preeti Patel, the studio administrator who immediately offered to show me around the studio.  I was instantly drawn to the ‘clean and fresh’ air that permeated throughout the whole space. It was then that I found out that Purple Yogis is Malaysia’s first allergy friendly yoga, dance and drama studio.  Using a combined system of surface treatment, advance air purification filtration and bi-polar negative ion technology supported by the US Environmental Protection Agency, it reduces the transmission of indoor pollutants by up to 98%. All around the reception area, corridors and studio rooms are ceiling mounted and floor standing air purification devices, as well as germicidal medical lamps and ultraviolet light that destroy contaminants. Even the floor surfaces are coated with a biostatic film to prevent the growth of bacteria, fungi, mould and mildew. This is what makes Purple Yogis stand out from other similar places, as it sets out to provide the highest level of comfort and protection to their clients and employees.

Purple Yogis is the brainchild of the young and enterprising Shobie Malani. Right out of law school, she briefly worked in the industry but soon realised that the 9 to 5 job routine was not her cup of tea. She went on to teach English at private colleges and to front-liners of corporations before starting up an event management company which she ran tirelessly for 5 years. Being a naturally creative individual who loved painting, scrapbooking and photography, Shobie then turned to teaching kids art. She helped her husband out in his business for 2 years after they got married and then decided that her heart still belonged to the arts. That was when Shobie set out to study yoga under Master Mani of the Malaysian Yoga Society (MAYI). It marked the beginning of her dream to have a place where people could learn and enjoy the creative arts. Purple Yogis was officially launched in September 2009.

Shobie Malani, founder of Purple Yogis

Although barely 2 months old, Purple Yogis has an impressive selection of yoga, dance and drama classes that appeal to the various array of picky urban dwellers. Yoga lovers will be thrilled to find that this place offers Traditional Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Teen Power Yoga, Kids Yoga, Corporate Yoga, Lunch-Break Yoga, Men’s Yoga, Pre & Post Natal Yoga, Mums & Bums (for mummy & baby) Couples Loving Yoga and Slimming Yoga. Dance lovers are not left out with the choices of classes such as Breakdance, Hip Hop, Bollywood Jam, Belly Dancing, Jazz, MTV Dance, Cardio Dance, Cuban Salsa and Line Dance. Drama classes designed for kids are also available at Purple Yogis.

The Kid’s Room – Where drama classes are conducted and where yogi moms can safely leave their little ones while performing the Sun Salutation

It is Purple Yogis’ mission to offer affordable classes and promote healthy, eco-friendly living. They even have a juice bar that serves up delicious healthy shakes and fresh sugarless juices, the perfect after-class thirst quencher. The staff and customers of Purple Yogis are true advocators of green-living. Over here, irresponsibly convenient paper cups are not an option, electricity is mindfully conserved and double side printing is religiously observed. The next project they are working on is to set up a mini recycle station at the studio.

The Garden Area – a place to reflect and relax while sipping a tall glass of health shake fresh from the juice bar

Flexibility is another appeal factor here as classes can be tailored and conducted according to the group’s convenience. Recently a few guys approached the studio, requesting for a yoga class exclusively for men. So being true to their tagline of ‘If we are available and have the manpower, we will do it!’ the Men’s Yoga Class is due to commence in January next year. The studio rooms are also open for party, meeting, private practice session and workshop rentals.

The Studios – Always kept smelling Lavender fresh and germ free

Visit Purple Yogis for more information about the attractive promotions they are currently running. Sign up for a 3 month Slimming Yoga course with effective techniques to lose and keep unwanted weight at bay forever. Or join the Cuban Salsa pioneer batch and learn how to perform those sexy moves with flair and grace of a Latino dancer.

Purple Yogis
2A Lorong Ara Kiri 3
Lucky Garden, Bangsar
59100 KL
Website: www.purpleyogis.com.my

Tel : +603 20952520
Mobile : + 6014 2284079

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

Oriental TCM Yoga Centre in Puchong offers a unique form of yoga – a combination of Ashtanga yoga and the art of acupressure. From her youthful appearance, one would not expect that Jenny Pang, the owner and master instructor of the comfortable yoga centre, has more than a decade of in-depth knowledge of both yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

Recently we were fortunate to have a chat with the friendly and talented Jenny at her studio, where she shared with us her how she came to create her own unique form of yoga, its health benefits and her future plans for her yoga centre.

How did you get involved in TCM?

Jenny: My family runs the Nanjing Chinese Medical Centre and the Oriental Academy of Chinese Medicine. The principal of the medical centre and the institute is my father, Prof K.M. Pang. So it was only natural that I would also learn and be trained in TCM.

Jenny demonstrating how to activate pressure points while performing yoga

How did you come up with this unique form of yoga combined with TCM techniques?

Jenny: In the course of my TCM training, I was sent to various parts of China to learn from institutes and hospitals. Yoga is highly recommended as an exercise to complement TCM to promote healing and cure certain illnesses.

The hospitals referred me to some of their well-known yoga centres and I started learning from them. After feeling the benefits of yoga, I developed a passion for it. As I saw more patients, I wanted to help more people regain their health and that’s when I decided to start sharing yoga with the community.

Over time, I developed a form of yoga that incorporates acupressure techniques into the poses. In TCM, we learn that there are pressure points all over our body that can be activated to enhance our health. For example, pressing a point in the centre of our ankle joint can reduce eye bags and water retention. Or applying pressure at a point between the big toe and the second toe could cool down a hot temper.

So I thought, why not apply acupressure as we are performing yoga so that we could reap twice the benefits?

Interactive sessions for students to help one another as well as to encourage bonding

What is the style of yoga you created and what are their benefits?

Jenny: The two types of TCM yoga are Meridian Dance and Spinal Core Yoga. Meridian Dance is more acupressure intensive. It starts off with 35 minutes of acupressure exercises, followed by a little yoga and then finishes with 10 minutes of meditation. The acupressure exercises will help stimulate different parts of the body and various organs to promote blood circulation, detoxification and healing.

Spinal Core Yoga is a set of yoga poses that mainly stretches the spine and back muscles. This yoga is popular among working executives who suffer from back and shoulder aches due to spending too many hours of working on a computer. It is also highly recommended for young students and children as it can help them align their spine, which may become lopsided due to carrying heavy school bags daily.

Spinal Core focuses on poses that stretch the spine and back muscles

What other classes do you offer?

Jenny: Other classes offered are Belly Dancing, Yoga Pilates, Ashtanga Yoga and Prenatal Yoga. Ashtanga Yoga would be a much faster-paced and intense form of yoga, where one pose flows to the next quickly.

For prenatal yoga, we teach specific exercises that are good for soon-to-be mothers, such as exercises to induce production of breast milk, and poses to strengthen the womb and hips.

Bellydancing classes are also available at Oriental TCM Yoga centre

Do you offer training of TCM yoga to students?

Jenny: I do have several students under me who have shown the interest to become instructors. We are currently trying to organize training in China for them.

In your opinion, what makes a good and successful yoga instructor?

Jenny: A good teacher must have self-discipline and self-practise. And one must always be concerned about the students. We should always pay attention to their expressions to see if they are able to follow the class.

We must also be aware of the health problems of the students so that we know when to push and when not to push a student to his/her limit.

For example, I have an advanced student who had surgery not too long ago. She is now starting again with basic yoga to strengthen her body. Because I know her condition, I pay closer attention to her and I don’t push her too much.

Six months ago, I had another student with chronic skin problems who was shy and reserved in class at first. But I pushed her to perform the poses so that it would help detoxify her body. Now her complexion has cleared up and her skin has gotten much smoother.

Students that lack flexibility or have back problems are monitored and advised to use props such as a towel as shown above

What are your future plans for your yoga centre?

Jenny: I hope to expand and spread the teachings of yoga which I have learned. Apart from conducting classes, I am also focusing on developing more yoga instructors in my centre. Hopefully, when I have more independent instructors in the future, I will be able to take some time off to further my training in other countries. If things go well, I also hope to open more yoga centres in KL.

Jenny is certified by Om Karananda Patanjali Yoga Kendra Rishikesh, India and Light On Yoga Training Centre Beijing, China. The details of her yoga centre are as follows:

Oriental TCM Yoga Center
No L-03-05, Jalan PPK1, Sec 3, Jalan Puchong, Taman Kinrarra
Website: http://www.ortcm.com.my
Tel: Puchong 8076 8642 / Cheras 9133 1642 / Ampang 4296 9728 / Kajang 9076 3376

Jestine Yap (right) relaxes in her lounge at Sim Yoga. Behind her is the kitchen showroom for her part-time interior design business.

How did you get involved in yoga?

Jestine: I was initially an interior designer for several companies such as Kitchen Cabinet Co. and Design & Built. But after working for several years, I decided to pursue something which was less hectic and could give me more flexible hours.

One day, I attended a yoga class and decided that was what I wanted to do – teach yoga. And because I had always been quite flexible and have a dancing background of 4 years, I found yoga quite easy to pick up.

How did you train yourself to become a yoga instructor?

Jestine: I took up Teacher’s Training Courses (TTCs). Even now, I still regularly attend training. I gained my teaching skills when I was attached to Dance Yoga as an instructor. Back then, I was very fortunate to be given 80 classes a month to teach. Although starting off my salary was quite low then, I learned a lot.

Is it important for an experienced instructor to still attend training? Where do you train nowadays?

Jestine: It is very important for a yoga instructor to constantly upgrade herself/himself as there are always new trends and techniques coming up. When I am teaching, it is not considered self-practise because I am concentrating on guiding the class and not on myself. So having time for self-practise is very important.

Currently, I am a member of YSynergy Asssociation, an association that is set up to foster quality yoga instructors through training. They invite international instructors to hold their training courses and workshops, which I frequently attend.

Did your health benefit in any way from yoga?

Jestine: Yes. Back then, even though I occasionally jogged, my body was often lethargic. And my body tended to put on weight easily due to the lack of exercise. When I started to practise yoga, the first thing I noticed was that all my pre-menstrual symptoms disappeared within a month.

My energy levels improved. Also, due to the exercise and breathing techniques, my body automatically needed less food, and so it helped me to maintain a slim figure.

Students warming up in the spacious Sim Yoga studio

You have some varieties of yoga offered at Sim Yoga which are quite uncommon in other centres in KL for example Lift Yoga, Family Yoga and Man Yoga. Can you explain what these are?

Jestine: Lift yoga incorporates the usage of 2 pound weights into yoga. This is especially suitable for women after 35 years old, who have given birth and are quite weak. It can help build better posture, denser bone structure, increase metabolism and increase strength of arms and overall body. Actually Lift Yoga is popular in Western countries but is still relatively uncommon here.

Family yoga is a family-bonding form of yoga. At least one parent and their child must be present to practise family yoga. This can really help parents to bond with their children, especially with the kind of hectic schedules that parents follow nowadays. It will help parents understand their children better.

We also have a special class for children called Kids Yoga. But Family Yoga and Kids Yoga are only held during school holidays for now as this is usually the time that parents and their children have the time for such activities.

Man Yoga is a yoga workshop specifically for men. This class is held to encourage more men to try out yoga, particularly those who are interested but feel uncomfortable attending yoga with ladies. The class is also conducted by a man instructor.

Where do obtain your certification to conduct these classes such as Family Yoga and Kids yoga?

Jestine: We are certified through Ysynergy.

Other than yoga, you offer a range of martial arts and dance classes too?

Jestine: Yes. My partner, Kian Yap, is a martial arts instructor and enthusiast. So we decided to bring in classes such as Capoiera, a rhythmic, dancing form of martial arts, and Kids Wushu.

What are the classes you currently hold and how many instructors do you have?

Jestine: We have about 10 free-lance instructors. Our usual yoga classes are mainly Hatha and there are several levels. More of our uncommon classes are such as mentioned earlier. Other than yoga, we also offer Pilates, Taerobic, Belly Dance, Kid’s Ballet, Kid’s Latin and Reggae Dance.

What are your corporate packages like?

Jestine: We cater to companies who want to encourage their employees to de-stress and lead a healthier lifestyle. Our packages varies from client to client and depends on how many people are involved, the location and how many classes are to be held. We can offer a variety of classes depending on what they like, for example we could conduct a mixture of yoga and dance classes.

The Chempaka School is one of our clients. They have a Sports Club and we hold yoga classes for their teachers twice a week at their schools in Damansara and Cheras.

What is your advice for budding instructors to become successful such as yourself?

Jestine: Lots of patience. And never give up. Never give up on building knowledge and on the practise.

Before we end, what are some of your future plans for Sim Yoga?

Jestine: Moving forward, we’d like to hold health cooking classes to encourage and to teach people to eat healthier and more natural food. Recently, we visited an organic farm to gain a little insight on this.

We will also start holding yearly yoga retreats for our students. Next year, we hope to have a trekking retreat to Kota Kinabalu.

For more information, you may contact them through the following details:

Contact person: Jestine Yap
Tel: 016-217 7761 / 016-263 1307
Address: Lot 2-25, Jln SP2, Taman Segar Perdana, Cheras, 43200, Selangor.

The new Energy Yoga family (L to R) : Matthew, Nicole, Michael, Pari and Michelle

How is TSM Wellness Sdn Bhd related to TSM Global Bhd (TSM Global)?

Michael: TSM Wellness Sdn Bhd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of TSM Global Bhd.

Why did TSM Global decide to venture into the yoga business and take over the three ex-Yoga Zone centres?

Michael: We were looking to diversify our business and felt that the wellness industry had a huge potential. Especially after speaking to some of the key people and instructors of the former Yoga Zone centres, we were even more convinced that it was a viable business.

On a personal level, I too used to attend Yoga Zone classes to help me overcome my back problems. At that time, I found that their yoga classes were authentic and conducted by a team of fantastic instructors, which further sealed my confidence in them.

That’s why we decided to take over the centres from Urban Yoga in February this year.

Elegant and sophisticated lounges of Energy Yoga, Plaza Cheras branch

Yoga Zone went into financial difficulties last year, causing a furor among its members who had paid substantial amounts of upfront money for their packages that were not returned to them. This has led the community to have a negative perception of large health and fitness centres. How will Energy Yoga avoid this?

Michael: First of all, Energy Yoga is structured under the umbrella of TSM Global Bhd, a listed company which reported a revenue of RM260 million last year and gross income of RM40 million. With our strong financial backing, we will definitely be able to take care of our members and instructors in any circumstances. However, we are confident that we will be here for the long run. We already have a three-year business plan in place for Energy Yoga and we are looking to break-even by this year.

Of course we have also retained the same team of experienced instructors who were originally with Yoga Zone, so that we can provide quality yoga classes to our members. In addition to this, we offer top-notch facilities and service.

We have also invested in getting experts to assist in marketing and running the operations of the centres. For example, we have just employed two new Club Managers to run the Plaza Damas and Kepong outlets respectively.

Spacious studios at the Plaza Damas branch of Energy Yoga

So far, have the people’s perceptions changed?

Michael: I think their perceptions are slowly changing. With more members’ meeting and as time goes by, they have started to see that we are serious and our memberships have gradually been increasing. We want to let our members know that we are fresh investors who are unrelated to Yoga Zone and Urban Yoga, who are here to stay for the long run.

Presently, how many classes are being held weekly at Energy Yoga and how many instructors do you have handling these classes?

Michael: Inclusive of all three centres, we hold 180 classes per week and we have over 30 yoga instructors.

Are your instructors mainly attached to Energy Yoga on a full-time or part-time basis?

Michael: At this present moment, our instructors are hired on a part-time basis with the exception of Matthew and Pari. We do not restrict our instructors in teaching at other centres. However, we are working out a plan to ensure that our instructors will have opportunity for career progression by gradually giving them more classes. Instructors will also be ensured of a stable salary and a fixed time frame for their classes that they will be comfortable with.

Going forward, we do hope to employ our instructors on a full-time basis where they will be able to enjoy benefits such as subsidies for workshops and training, for example.

Class in session conducted by Ethan

Are you still hiring more instructors?

Michael: No, we are not hiring any more at the moment.

Do you currently hold any Teacher Training Courses (TTC) or offer them to your instructors?

Michael: Not currently. However, we do encourage our instructors to participate in TTCs available elsewhere, and as I mentioned before, we will look into providing subsidies to full-time instructors who wish to do so.

It sounds like Energy Yoga has everything in place and is now raring to go. Before we bring this interview to an end, could you share with us what Energy Yoga has in store for us in the near future?

Michael: We have lots of exciting events and activities coming up. On 18th of July this month, we will be having our launch, which will be officiated by the Health Minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai. During the launch, we will have performances, events and goodie bags to giveaway. We have invited members of the media to give coverage to the event.

Besides our current range of yoga and pilates classes, we intend to bring in more varieties of exercise such as Kids Yoga, Jazzercise and maybe even pole-dancing.

We have also begun talks with third parties in order to provide more privileges and discounts to our members.

Another exciting news is our plan to organize a yoga retreat with a difference. TSM Global owns a resort and golf course in Langkawi, so logistics-wise, we would be able to offer an attractive package to members.

Energy Yoga offers a wide range of classes which include Hatha, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin, ChiPilates, Yogalates, YogaFit and X-Pilates, to name a few. For more information on Energy Yoga, visit their website at www.tsm-energy.com.

Not a newcomer to being in the public eye, she has been a contestant on Fear Factor, a finalist for Nescafe Kick-start and published Malaysia’s first yoga magazine, Hati Yoga. Read on to find out what makes this yogapreneur tick.

How did you first get involved in yoga?
Ninie: Back in my school days, I used to be an avid athlete. Unfortunately, during my teens when I was studying at a boarding school, I developed serious asthmatic problems and had to be sent to the hospital almost twice every week.

About 10 years ago, I picked up yoga, and amazingly after 6 months, I stopped getting the asthma attacks up until today. I strongly believe it is the technique and discipline that has helped me heal from asthma.
On top of this, I don’t suffer from period cramps anymore and I am much more in tune with my body.

What made you decided to pursue yoga as a career?
Ninie: I started teaching yoga simply because, after my health improved drastically, I was inspired to share
the gift of yoga with everyone around me. So from 2002 up to 2006, I began conducting yoga classes at a boutique yoga centre at Damansara Heights where I honed both my teaching and yoga skills. My first teacher was Ms. June, from whom I learned a lot from. Along the way, I’ve also attended many international TTCs to improve my techniques.

Later in 2007, I was offered a resident instructor post by Yoga Zone, where I taught until the centre closed down in 2008. But I always believe that when one door of opportunity closes, another one opens, and so Beyoga opened its doors for business in May this year.

Relax while you wait at the stylish lounge of Beyoga

Tell us a little bit about Yoga Zone (YZ) and how it affected you.
Ninie: Being part of YZ was a real eye-opener for me. It gave me an opportunity to learn how to conduct classes in a large scale and how to handle an exclusive clientele. At its peak, YZ had 25,000 members in the Klang Valley alone and there were up to 22 classes held in a day.

I guess, at that time, I was having my dream job and I tried not to see the problems that were becoming evident at the centre. YZ officially closed down in August 2008, but our last salary paid was in April. Even then I continued conducting classes everyday out of my love for teaching, the students and yoga.

You are the Official Ambassador for adidas yoga line ‘Stella McCartney’ in Malaysia. Could you please share with us how you snagged such a lucrative endorsement?
Ninie: I was discovered by adidas after participating in Fear Factor in 2005. Back then, the yoga industry was booming and there was a demand for yoga models. And I fit the role of a fashion model who was good at yoga.

When adidas approached me with the sponsorship, I went for it. Not just because I found their clothes comfortable, trendy and fresh, but also because it was environmental friendly.

Spcaious and well-lit studios

It’s amazing that you have achieved so much at such a young age. Please share with us your experience in the world of publishing.
In 2006, I joined Nescafe kick-start (local reality programme that helps aspiring young entrepreneurs realise their dreams) where I was a finalist and awarded sponsorship to publish Hati Yoga, Malaysia’s first yoga magazine. It was a dream come true for me then. This became my stepping stone in publishing and becoming the editor the first issue of Prana Mag, a yoga magazine owned by YZ. Unfortunately, the magazine has since been discontinued after YZ closed down.

While it was a great experience, I doubt I would ever return to publishing again, as it is an extremely taxing responsibility to run a magazine, especially with a small team. Now, I would like to focus my energy on my new centre, Beyoga.

Recently there was the whole “Yoga Fatwa” and “yoga to be banned” fiasco due to religious issues. Did this affect your business in anyway?
Ninie: The controversy happened in November last year, at the same time Beyoga was slated to open for business. It couldn’t happen at a worse time! We had to postpone the opening of Beyoga due to some of the investors panicking and pulling out.

Fortunately, things have worked out even better now, with more people gaining interest in yoga because of the publicity. I’ve had lots of calls from BBC and CNN calling me up, asking for statements. So far, since our opening in May this year, business has been quite brisk.

What is your stand on the Fatwa issue?
Ninie: Actually, most of the people I knew who practised yoga or knew what yoga was about were against it. Most yoga practised in Malaysia doesn’t include meditation or chanting of any kind. In fact, the years of practising yoga have actually strengthened my religion because I am now more aware of my body and care for it more.

And to address the concerns of our students, we assure them that there are no spiritual or religious elements in our lessons at Beyoga.

Well, Congratulations to your opening of Beyoga on last month. Before we conclude this interview, could you share with us a little on Beyoga and how you maintain the standards of the yoga classes held?
Ninie: Basically, we are encouraging people to be the best that they can be and to believe in themselves. Hence, the name Beyoga.

We have four instructors who specialize in different types of yoga – Azmi in Ashtanga, Leela in prenatal yoga and Iyengar, Ken (ex-chief instructor of pilates in YZ) in pilates and myself in Vinyasa/Flow. To encourage continuous learning among the instructors, it is compulsory for each instructor to attend at least one TTC each year.

Ken conducting a Yogilates class

Our instructors are chosen not only based on their prowess in yoga but also because they exemplify the qualities and values of a yogi at all times. We also strongly believe in doing our part to reduce our carbon footprint on the environment and we encourage our students to do the same by installing recycle bins at Beyoga. It is highly important that every one of us plays a part in preserving Mother Nature.

Beyoga is located at W-102 & W-103, Ground Floor, Metropolitan Square, Damansara Perdana. For further details, contact the team at 7728 6182 / 7729 6182 or via email at info@beyoga.my. Or simply sign up for a first free-trial lesson through their advanced online booking system on their website beyoga.my

Pretty in pink: Ninie sportingly poses in Adidas wear

Just For The Ladies

Classes in session at Studio W

When Intan and Ikram first set up Studio W two years ago, their aim was to provide a comfortable environment where ladies could perform at their best without feeling self-conscious about the way they looked, a place where it didn’t matter if they were wearing a baggy-T or if they had no lipstick on.

As Intan explained, she had noticed that large gyms in the Klang Valley catered mainly to mixed genders or at most, allocated only a small separate section for women. There is also the constant pressure to dress up and look good at these gyms, which may be a hindrance to some.

Intan recalls a shocking incident when she overheard a crew member of a local gym refer to the ladies’ section as “the place where fat women exercise.” Strongly disagreeing with this “unhealthy concept where women are told they have to be a certain size and shape”, Intan was driven to provide a proper venue where women could feel confident about themselves and not be judged by their appearance. “By removing distractions, they can concentrate fully on their workout,” she said.

Intan energetically conducting a workout

In addition to this, Intan wanted her studio to be friendly to all religions and cultures. At a ladies-only environment, muslim women could comfortably remove their head scarves for a good workout. The studio also conveniently provides a prayer room for muslim ladies who will not have to rush to or from their homes for Maghrib prayers.

Yoga and Religion

Studio W offers three types of yoga classes – Power Yoga, Flow Yoga and Alignment Yoga, which are conducted by her team of certified yoga instructors and on occasion, by herself. It was no wonder that Intan was taken aback when she received news that the National Fatwa Council had announced that yoga was haram in Islam on November 22, 2008 as it involved religious elements of Hinduism.

After much objection from the people, the issuance of a fatwa (Islamic ruling) prohibiting practise of yoga among muslims was later deferred.

Since then, Intan has been outspoken on the issue of yoga and religion. She appeared in a video for local news website Malaysiakini (http://www.studiow.com.my/press.html) and contributed a thought-provoking article to Shape Magazine on the controversial issue of yoga and Islam.

Classes in session at Studio W

Intan believes that the whole debacle could have been avoided if only the Council had properly researched on and observed how yoga classes were conducted locally before issuing the Fatwa. “Yoga classes conducted in Malaysia do not have spiritual elements such as chanting or meditation, and are merely a form of exercise,” said Intan. She adds that,

Muslims in Malaysia are extremely grounded in their religion and do not attend yoga classes to seek out spirituality but for health purposes.

She has also clarified the issue with several yoga experts in the country who are of the opinion that yoga is not a religion, but simply a physical exercise. However practitioners may choose to incorporate their own spiritual elements into the exercise, though it is not compulsory to do so.

Intan encourages those who have concerns regarding yoga and spirituality to sit in some of the classes and observe the sessions for themselves before deciding to take up yoga classes.

The Business of Staying In Shape

Intan energetically conducting a workout

Intan’s interest in fitness started in 2005 when she began attending Jazzercise classes to fill up her leisure time and to lose weight. For those who have yet to come across this form of exercise, Jazzercise is a cardio work-out with elements of dance, kickboxing, resistance training, Pilates and Yoga.

Seeing positive results through her weight loss, she was hooked. And since she had always desired to start her own business, it seemed natural that she would start her very own fitness studio with her partner, Ikram.

As she mastered Jazzercise, Intan would practise yoga on the side to complement her workout. Through her own self-practise, she found that yoga helped her become more aware of her body. “Yoga taught me to understand my body and respect my body’s limitations, and to progress through patience and proper breathing, without straining myself,” she said.

Classes in session at Studio W

On the subject of the standards of yoga at her studio, Intan says she is particular about hiring experienced and quality yoga instructors as she believes that it is important for her students to learn the right techniques so as to prevent injuries. She also stresses on building long-term teacher-student relationships so that her instructors could better understand the needs and limitations of each of the students.

Intan certainly comes off as one who puts her students well-being above all else in Studio W. The spacious studio, located at Dataran Sunway in Kota Damansara, is a place not just for a great workout, but also where women can truly let their hair down, have a great full-body workout and build lasting friendships.

The spacious studio allows for large classes

Studio W is located at 16-3, Jalan PJU 5/17 Dataran Sunway, Kota Damansara 47810, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. For further details, contact Intan at 012-324 5144 or via email at intan@studiow.com.my, or visit their website at www.studiow.com.my.

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