Inspire Yoga

We are all conscious beings, but how many of us live in consciousness? Are you aware of your own thoughts? Do you get carried away with your emotions? Are you present to your surroundings or lost in your inner world? Our minds are so sophisticated we tend to go along with the ebb and flow of our stream of thought not realizing that we are greater than this current. When we are just with ourselves, our breath, our energy we feel a deep sense of connection and vitality, this is the point that yoga is reaching. We do poses and breathing exercises to eventually silence the mind and connect with our innermost energy, our life force, this brings us the peace and fulfillment that we go on searching in the outside world. But somehow we get stuck, fixating on the benefits yoga has on the body many of us aren’t able to explore deeper and access is deeper value. Our  breathing and meditation program  is designed to bring you to a state where you are functionally optimally in every ...

he 7 Chakras is a yogic system of energy, the first chakra keeps us rooted and grounded, something most of us lack living in high rises, away from nature and competing in the rat race of Hong Kong’s urban lifestyle. The first chakra, or root chakra, is important as it brings us the power to manifest, whereas the 7th chakra, the crown chakra, governs the power of transcendence. If we are working towards fulfilling objectives and creating a change we want that change to manifest and thus the root chakra needs to be balanced and aligned. The First Yoga Chakra is the Most Important & Needs to be Balance Probably the most common chakra to be in a weakened state is the First Chakra. The Root Chakra is located at the very base of your spine. It deals with issues of physical survival, safety, and security and is blocked and weakened by fear and insecurity. The first chakra acts as a pump at the base of the 7 wheels of energy that help energy rise and flow because it is at the...

It’s a sad fact that today’s youth are plagued with pressure- high expectations to attain academic success, to excel in sports, hobbies and leadership positions and with the onslaught of social media minute by minute comparisons among peers exacerbates the problem. Isn’t childhood supposed to be the time in our life where we are carefree and adventurous? As a parent it can be a tough time supporting a child who isn’t coping well, instead of simply labelling it as a maladaptive behavior, anxiety or character traits, let’s do what we can to identify the problem and nurture our child in a holistic way so that they feel supported as they learn how to traverse the information overload of the digital age. Stress is epigenetic, it gets passed down as a behavior, then a habit than the normalization of being on high alert. Where do they pick this up from? They model what they see, at home and at school, it’s completely acceptable that adults are stressed on a daily basis, that they deal wit...

In yoga, there are two aspects for your mind to focus on: the stretch and your breath. Bringing all your attention to your breath has meditative qualities as it frees you from any other thoughts that preoccupy your mind. When stressed or burdened by emotions it is advised to take a minute to focus on your breathing; taking deep inhalations and slow exhalations, bringing a sense of calmness and lowering your heart rate.  Pranayama,  yogic breathing , influences the flow of energy throughout your body using your nervous system (especially your spine) as the pathway of energy movement.  Our breath is affected by our circumstances and moods. We take more forceful breaths when angry and slower breaths when relaxed. The ratios in which we inhale and exhale vary depending on what state we are in. During sleep, exhalations dominate bringing rest, and during the day inhalations predominate as it is influenced by activity and the external environment. Furthermore, the flow of...

Many of us want to be more flexibile but pushing too much and too soon can be dangerous. Here are 5 tips on how to practice  deep stretching  in a safe and controlled manner. Here we explain what it means to respect and listen to your body to ensure your yoga practise does not cause any damage or excessive stretching. Pain in the best indicator of something going wrong This is a primal mechanism that we should not ignore. We know the difference between a gentle pull on the back of our legs during our first forward bend and the pain from a pulled ligament when we are prematurely forcing our head to our knees in a forward bend. If you feel any sharp pain- STOP! Slowly come out of the pose and alert your teacher. Stay in control Be sure to maintain the pose and be able to slowly move into another pose. Don’t jerk from one pose to another, even if you are flowing with your breath be sure your muscles are engaged at all times and are controlling the movement-...

Now more than ever we need to ascertain what we choose to entertain in our minds. Being unaware of your mental conditions can trap you in a habit of forming stress which is physiologically, psychologically and energetically damaging. The introductory techniques of breathing, meditation, and mindfulness help to look within and start to clear the clutter in your mind, the release of stress by the power of your intention of compassion will feel so freeing and liberating it will connect you with a whole new way of being and interacting with yourself. When we think of going for a movie, catching up with friends over drinks or getting a massage as a way of de-stressing, they help up relax temporality by providing a distraction from the root cause of the feeling. The next time you are in a state of angst, take a moment to examine your thoughts and determine how much are you contributing to this stress response by the way you think? Stress is formed by a repeated negative thought pattern...

We spend so much time in front of our computers sitting, do you suffer from back pain as a result? Stiffness around your neck and shoulders? Poor blood circulation from the lack of physical movement? Occupational tension is a term coined from the physical stress placed on our body from our modern-day sedentary lifestyle. We will go through basic movements that can be done at the desk in your work attire to help relieve the build-up of tightness around the shoulders, neck, back, and hips from sitting for prolonged periods of time. We demonstrate the importance of posture to breathing, mood, and energy levels. Practical tips on the following topics will be outlined -Spine Mobility -Hip positioning while sitting -Feet alignment while standing -Protecting wrists from tendinitis The first step to making a change is to bring awareness of the problem, these seminars facilitate open discussion and reflection so we are more empowered to direct effort into healthier habits and ...

Brain health is intrinsically connected to wellness. Do you feel like your mental sharpness is predetermined? Your intelligence and memory will fade over time? In this workshop we demystify the brain and mind to bring tangible differences in how much you retain, absorb and learn. Discussing diet, lifestyle and awareness we are able to change our state of mind from stressed to active which transforms our ability to think and assimilate information. The takeaways from the workshop you can expect are as follows -The one food that promotes inflammation and decay -The role of stress on the brain -Breathing techniques to balance right and left hemisphere of the brain The first step to making a change is to bring awareness of the problem, these seminars facilitate open discussion and reflection so we are more empowered to direct effort into healthier habits and more sustainable practice. We combine yoga and mindfulness with scientific research and findings for an effective wor...

How does stress affect our breathing? We experience stress as the ‘fight or flight’ response which is rooted in the emotion of fear stimulated it is governed by the limbic brain. This causes a physiological domino effect causing us to hold our breath or hyperventilate, causing muscles to tighten, the heart rate to increase, cortisol levels to raise and sustained periods of this leads to lower immunity, sleep disruption, digestive issues, lower fertility rates, and premature aging. What connects the stimulus on a mental level (stress) to a physical manifestation (deterioration of health)? It’s the breath! By addressing breathing patterns we can reverse engineer the effects of stress to ensure we stave off the adverse health conditions. Setting up the  breathing exercise Long Back, Fluid Breaths A long extended spine allows for maximum lung capacity breathing, fluid breaths. As we breathe in first fill up the abdomen then the rib cage and finally ...

Neck and shoulder stiffness is a common symptom for people in the modern era. Postural habits are the ultimate culprit. Too many corporate warriors and office dwellers spend long hours in front of the computers.  When we are stuck physically idle in the same position for hours with minimal movements, the muscle and connective tissue tend to be dehydrated and weakened. The next most common cause for problematic neck and shoulders is smartphone usage. Since the birth of the smartphone, wifi and unlimited data plan, people of all ages are constantly on their device for a long period of time.  The increased usage of the mobile phone becomes a mindless action during commute; it is so severe that many people are not aware of their poor postural habit. Next time, take a few minutes and observe your train/bus/ferry ride – you will be surprised to see the number of people slouching. Fortunately, this poor postural habit can be corrected consciously. The most natural way to hydrate ...

Feeling a dip in energy in the middle of the day is inevitable, especially when you already had your morning cup of coffee and wanted to limit caffeine is a new years resolution. The great news is that there are many ways to give ourselves a nudge and stay focused for the rest of the day.  Controlled breathing techniques are arguably the most powerful tool; as a quick fix to brain fog, there are different ways to breathe to reach different results. One of the easiest ways is to close your eyes softly, take 10 long deep breaths, and count down in your heart. Stay seated at your desk with your spine neutral, avoid leaning toward the back of your chair.          With your right hand, use the thumb for the right nostril and the ring finger for the left side, and feel free to fold the index and middle fingers down.          To begin, take a full breath with both nostrils first.    ...

There has been a growing trend in Hong Kong’s  wellness industry  towards corporate wellness, is catching o because it is now what is popular or are there actual bottom line results to investing in employee wellbeing? The short answer is yes, investing in employee health and satisfaction has proved with many multinational companies that are making a positive impact on the profitability of the firm. Tech was first to adopt  wellness practices in the workplace , financial institutions and law firms are quickly following suit as they are threatened by high burn out rate due to sustained high-stress levels in the office. Here is the 3 main benefits corporate wellness programs advocate: Increased job satisfaction Learning practical tools in how to release stress, align posture and undo the occupational tension from being in front of the desk all day not only allows employees to feel better in their body, they also feel better in themselves and feel better about being...

Remember the days where we all huddled around the TV to watch the weekly episode of the X-files? Getting together and watching a favorite show as a family was a time of bonding, we waited the whole week for it and would excitedly discuss how the story would evolve in the next episode. We would go to the toilet only during the commercial breaks and sshh anyone who spoke during Skully and Moulder’s dialogue. Fast forward 15 years, we all have our own personal devices that we can watch a show on, there is a plethora of options available to us to choose, we can access hundreds of episodes immediately and commercial breaks during shows don’t exist anymore. Wow, this is a real change, moving from an addiction to screen time, a mode of isolation, binge watching for hours at a time- all this has drastically affected our relationship with screen time, our health and our family, all in the name of innocent entertainment. We are at a tipping point where more is no longer better, our overdos...

Are you looking for a natural way to relax and sustain your energy levels? Don’t miss this  exclusive event , where the founder of Inspire Yoga, Neelam Harjani, will be explaining her proprietary 5 step model of tension release included in her book ‘Secrets to Live Stress Free’. Learn about the science of sleep from Dr Kate Bridle, Founder of Sleep HQ and experience instant calming and restorative exercises that will ensure you get a deep restful sleep every night. Get your tickets  here ! “ A brief overview of the science of sleep including practical take-home tips on how to immediately start improving your sleep quality.” Speaker : Kate Bridle, BSc, RPSGT, CSSC With over 14 years experience working in the field of Sleep Medicine, Kate is one of a small number of highly accomplished, globally certified sleep physiologists. She has vast clinical experience having spent 9 years working in the UK’s largest Sleep Disorder Centre in London. She has contributed to pub...

The yogic ideal of movement encourages the body to move freely and increases your range of motion. By regularly practicing yoga postures you will begin to experience your spine and muscles becoming more supple thereby preventing joint stiffening and muscle shortening that often accompanies injury, inactivity, and aging. The 4 main elements of yoga pose used in Spinal Care Therapy include: Forward Bends Backward Bends Lateral Stretches Twists A Basic Yoga Exercises Can Protect & Develop a Healthy Spine Maintaining a healthy and limber spine is of utmost importance as it has a direct effect on your health and vitality; the structure is the foundation of your body. The 33 vertebrae enclose the spinal cord which houses all the nerves that stem to the brain. Each vertebra has nerve openings that branch out to every part of the body. During a yoga class, we often stretch our back in 6 directions: forwards and, laterally on each side and on each side. This creates a ...