In Hong Kong we are spoilt for choice when it comes to health and fitness options. Dedicating an hour in your day to your physical and spiritual wellbeing can go a long way in keeping you healthy on the inside and the outside. Finding the perfect fitness regimen that fits into your busy schedule is difficult. For me, yoga fit the bill.
Ironically my yogic journey started outside India. It was always the gym for me. Yoga, I thought, was slow and boring. How wrong I was! Post-motherhood, I decided to give yoga a shot to help me with the post pregnancy wear and tear my body was struggling with. Yoga works in a way to simultaneously strengthen your mind and body. It is never about getting that perfect body, but instead about loving your body and tapping into its nascent power. Yoga training can do wonders in enhancing your performance in all other spheres of activity as well.
I tried out a few yoga studios before I stumbled upon the Anahata Yoga studio in Central. I have been one of their happy patrons for almost two years now. The studio has a peaceful vibe that transports you away from the chaos of the city. At Anahata, you are greeted with soulful music, spacious studios and an array of classes to choose from. The best thing about Anahata has to be their inspirational group of yoga instructors, most of whom have dedicated their whole lives to the art of yoga and have numerous accolades to their claim.
Yoga is not easy, especially if you are a beginner, but with the masters at Anahata you feel comfortable enough to experiment and challenge your body. The poses are all about patience and practice. And let me tell you, the feeling of finally delivering that posture you’ve been struggling to get right can be nothing short of exhilarating.
Anahata offers a host of specially designed classes that you can choose from:
Destress Yoga – This type of yoga is ideal to help you unwind at the end of a hard day.
Back Care Yoga – Most of us take for granted how important posture and alignment is for our body. This class is focused on strengthening your back muscles and spine.
Slimming Yoga – This type offers a mix of postures that deliver a high intensity cardio workout to help you lose those extra pounds and inches.
Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga – We all know how much our spiritual well-being can impact the bun in the oven. Whether you are trying to conceive, are already pregnant or have just delivered, these classes help you cope with the different phases of early motherhood.
Core Yoga – The overall strength of your body lies in its core. Try these Core yoga sessions to strengthen your core for some overall body conditioning.
Anahata also offers more traditional forms of Yoga such as Hatha Yoga, Patanjali Yoga, Shivananda Yoga and Satyananda Yoga, along with well-known modern styles such as Power Yoga, Hatha Vinyasa and Ashtanga Vinyasa.
Last but not least, don’t forget the kids: Anahata has Kids Yoga classes on the weekends, so your little ones can get in on the benefits too!
Yoga can get a bit monotonous after a point, but with such an eclectic mix of classes to choose from you are sure to stay interested. The only class missing is a mum and baby course, but I’m hoping they’ll add this one soon!
Anahata is open from Mon-Fri from 6:45am-10pm, and weekends and public holidays from 7:30am-7:30pm. Private lessons, workshops and teachers training packages are also available. Visit their website or email [email protected] to schedule your free trial class today.
Anahata Yoga, 18/F, One Lyndhurst Tower, No. 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong