“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.” – BKS Iyengar, founder of the Iyengar school of yoga
Students taking part in one of Jenny's yoga classes. (Aung Htay Hlaing/The Myanmar Times)
It's 6pm on a Wednesday evening and I am rushing through Yangon’s traffic in a taxi.I’m worried that I am late – late for my yoga class, late for my effort to find some peace of mind and tranquility at the end of a stressful day. When we pull up I pay the taxi, check the address on the crumpled piece of paper in my pocket and then make my way down an alley toward an apartment building. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see others with yoga mats under their arms, marching – like me – toward their safe haven.
That safe haven is a small, cramped apartment six floors up. Inside, Siu Sue Mark, an international development consultant and yoga teacher from the United States, is rearranging her furniture to prepare for the onslaught of students. We arrive in pairs and alone, lay our mats down and take our places on the living room floor, avoiding the television and furniture now set aside. Initially, some of the other faces show concern – maybe it will be too crowded, awkward, or uncomfortable for a yoga class – but within five minutes the room is focused, all are engaged and the journey into the practice of yoga begins.
In many cities around Asia and throughout the world, finding a place to practise yoga is easy. But finding a qualified teacher and studio in Yangon often depends on which email list you belong to and whether you are an English or Myanmar speaker. The good news is Yangon’s yoga scene – like the city itself – has a character all its own, with authentic, dedicated teachers in both languages. Classes may take place in a studio or in a teacher’s cramped, sweaty apartment, and may not adhere to a consistent schedule, but prices are reasonable and students rarely leave dissatisfied.
For Ms Mark, the journey into yoga began nine years ago at a fitness centre in Washington DC. It was not her intention back then to become a “yogini” or female yogi, Ms Mark said. Rather, she was intrigued about yoga’s physical aspects. She began taking classes with a teacher who practised Iyengar yoga, a discipline which focuses on careful poise and mindful breathing. Ms Mark described Iyengar as being “a bit like classical ballet”, integrating anatomy and alignment. Compared with other types of yoga she has tried, she said, it is “more intellectual” and “requires more depth to understand”.
It's 6pm on a Wednesday evening and I am rushing through Yangon’s traffic in a taxi.I’m worried that I am late – late for my yoga class, late for my effort to find some peace of mind and tranquility at the end of a stressful day. When we pull up I pay the taxi, check the address on the crumpled piece of paper in my pocket and then make my way down an alley toward an apartment building. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see others with yoga mats under their arms, marching – like me – toward their safe haven.
That safe haven is a small, cramped apartment six floors up. Inside, Siu Sue Mark, an international development consultant and yoga teacher from the United States, is rearranging her furniture to prepare for the onslaught of students. We arrive in pairs and alone, lay our mats down and take our places on the living room floor, avoiding the television and furniture now set aside. Initially, some of the other faces show concern – maybe it will be too crowded, awkward, or uncomfortable for a yoga class – but within five minutes the room is focused, all are engaged and the journey into the practice of yoga begins.
In many cities around Asia and throughout the world, finding a place to practise yoga is easy. But finding a qualified teacher and studio in Yangon often depends on which email list you belong to and whether you are an English or Myanmar speaker. The good news is Yangon’s yoga scene – like the city itself – has a character all its own, with authentic, dedicated teachers in both languages. Classes may take place in a studio or in a teacher’s cramped, sweaty apartment, and may not adhere to a consistent schedule, but prices are reasonable and students rarely leave dissatisfied.
For Ms Mark, the journey into yoga began nine years ago at a fitness centre in Washington DC. It was not her intention back then to become a “yogini” or female yogi, Ms Mark said. Rather, she was intrigued about yoga’s physical aspects. She began taking classes with a teacher who practised Iyengar yoga, a discipline which focuses on careful poise and mindful breathing. Ms Mark described Iyengar as being “a bit like classical ballet”, integrating anatomy and alignment. Compared with other types of yoga she has tried, she said, it is “more intellectual” and “requires more depth to understand”.
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