Interview: Aiko Sakurai talks about studying yoga abroad and learning Vedic Chanting
Aiko Sakurai is a professional yoga instructor active in Tokyo and Yokohama teaching a variety of hatha yoga classes. After several trips to India to the famous Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, completing a 2-year teacher training course, Aiko started teaching Vedic Chanting workshops. In this interview, I ask Aiko about her experience living and studying yoga abroad in Australia and India, and also about her Vedic Chanting studies.
Yoga Teachers: Open Yourself to Abundance and Earn More
Many people think that yoga and making money are exclusive or that somehow you are purer if you teach yoga for free or for donations. But, with more money, couldn’t you make more of a difference in the world and help more people? There are no short cuts to success, but if you follow these steps in your quest to becoming a yoga instructor, earning money will come more easily.
How to escape the emotional roller coaster by keeping calm (Part 2/2)
Yoga isn’t all about exercising and learning poses, but being able to control the mind. In my last article, I presented ways to implement the basics of yoga into our daily lives and especially into relationship matters. In order to stay calm and keep our minds under control, setting goals is important.
Vegans Get Vocal in Japan: Anti-Fur Demonstration in Tokyo
The Animal Rights Center (ARC) organizes an annual anti-fur march in Autumn, a time when many shops in Tokyo are stocking fur products on store shelves. This year’s was held on on October 23, 2011. Around 300 participants marched with banners and placards in hand through major commercial centers, Shibuya and Omotesando.
Yoga’s Prayer Hands Explained
This gesture is called anjali mudra (AHN-jah-lee MOO-dra). These ancient Sanskrit words mean “sign of loving offering”. A mudra is a sacred position with rich symbolic meaning. Most mudras are done with the hands (a little like sacred gang signs), but a few are done with the eyes or the whole body. All together, there are thousands of mudras used in classical Indian dance and Hindu rituals. A series of hand mudras, flowing one into the next, is its own type of dance.
HelloYoga.com Party #04
On November 12, 2011 HelloYoga.com and Be Yoga Japan collaborated to produce an informal, simple and fun gathering for Tokyo’s yoga community, called the “Bare Foot Yoga Party”. Everybody enjoyed trying many new and fun experiences for the mind, body and soul in one night! 50% of entry ticket proceeds will be donated to the Tyler Foundation, a charity which supports children with cancer in Japan and their families.
