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Hello Wanda, can you please tell me what is the difference between meditation and yoga?
Queenie Tong, Kowloon

Dear Queenie,
To many, the word yoga means a series of physical exercises, stretching and tying our bodies into impossible knots. But these physical postures are only one aspect of yoga, known as "asanas." The physical postures of yoga are practiced for their health benefits, and because they help to prepare the body for meditation.

Yoga is both a philosophy of life and a system of spiritual practice. The word "yoga" actually means union between the individual self and Infinite Consciousness. Meditation is a very important practice in the yoga system and is the means by which this merger or union is achieved. So yoga is a system or science that enables individuals to develop themselves physically, mentally and spiritually, and meditation is the practice that makes the mental and spiritual development possible.

Dear Wanda, I hope you can help me with the following problem I am having. When I'm in Dandasana posture [staff pose] with my palms on the floor beside my outer hips, I notice that if my arms are straight, my shoulders move upwards to the ears. If I bring the shoulders down, my arms bend at the elbows. Can you kindly advise which position is preferable?
Mebel Tsang, Sai Kung

Hello Mebel,
In this pose, as in most yoga poses, it is more important to keep the shoulders sliding down away from the ears than to straighten the arms. Some people have longer arms, others shorter, so being able to straighten the arms can be a matter of simple anatomy. In staff pose, move the shoulders down, keeping the shoulder blades on your back and keep pressing into the floor with your palms. If this brings a slight bend to your arms, so be it.

Dear Wanda,
I have an issue that is affecting my practice, and glancing around some of my classes, I'm not the only one. When I am in a position such as Warrior I, with my arms straight up, my shoulders follow my arms. I am seemingly unable to keep my shoulders down and relaxed; they creep up around my ears. I try to be very mindful of it, but the only time I've been able to experience the proper posture is when I try this with one arm at a time. It's very frustrating. One of my yoga teachers actually said during class, "You type a lot, don't you?" Is there anything I can do? Help!
Albert Cheung, Mid-levels

Dear Albert,
People who spend a lot of time working on computers tend to have tight shoulders. Poses that require the shoulders to be relaxed down the back will be particularly challenging, but these types of poses are extremely important in counteracting the hunching caused by a desk job.

In a classic warrior I posture, the arms are straight and the palms press together overhead. This is challenging to do while keeping the shoulders down away from the ears. The solution is to practice the pose with the arms separated -- keeping the shoulders down is more important than bringing the palms together. You can separate the arms as much as necessary, bringing them shoulder-width apart or even wider, making a V shape. If the shoulders are still coming up, take the arms into a cactus shape with the upper arms parallel to the floor and the forearms perpendicular. This really helps bring the shoulder blades onto the back. Find the arm variation that allows you to keep the shoulders down and work there. It may take years for the shoulders to open, but with consistent practice they will.

Dear Wanda, A friend of mine who does not do Yoga told me that meditation is a form of brainwashing. Is this true or is my friend just mixed up?
Loretta Fong, Tin Shui Wai

Dear Loretta,
While it is no doubt true that the minds of some people could do with a good wash, I have to say that meditation is not a form of brainwashing. Usually when people express concern about brainwashing, they are afraid of losing control of their minds and being manipulated. Meditation actually helps to protect us against having our minds manipulated by strengthening our willpower and making us more self-aware.

If you're seriously concerned about other people manipulating your mind for their own purposes, I suggest that the first thing you do is switch off your television, a device which is used to great effect by advertising companies, amongst others, to influence people's behaviour.
Namaste,
Wanda

Wanda Hewitt is the Director of Yoga Education at Yoga Limbs. Yoga Limbs is family run and operates two locations in Hong Kong. Check out www.yogalimbs.com or call 2525-7415 for more information on learning or practicing your yoga skills.


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Dear Wanda: Yoga FAQ’ Have a question about yoga? Ask Wanda… *Hello Wanda, can you please tell me what is the difference between meditation and yoga? Queenie Tong, Kowloon* Dear Queenie, To many, the word yoga means a series of physical exercises, stretching and tying our bodies into impossible knots. But these physical postures are only one aspect of yoga, known as "asanas." The physical postures of yoga are practiced for their health benefits, and because they help to prepare the body for meditation. Yoga is both a philosophy of life and a system of spiritual practice. The word "yoga" actually means union between the individual self and Infinite Consciousness. Meditation is a very important practice in the yoga system and is the means by which this merger or union is achieved. So yoga is a system or science that enables individuals to develop themselves physically, mentally and spiritually, and meditation is the practice that makes the mental and spiritual development possible. Dear Wanda, I hope you can help me with the following problem I am having. When I'm in Dandasana posture [staff pose] with my palms on the floor beside my outer hips, I notice that if my arms are straight, my shoulders move upwards to the ears. If I bring the shoulders down, my arms bend at the elbows. Can you kindly advise which position is preferable? Mebel Tsang, Sai Kung Hello Mebel, In this pose, as in most yoga poses, it is more important to keep the shoulders sliding down away from the ears than to straighten the arms. Some people have longer arms, others shorter, so being able to straighten the arms can be a matter of simple anatomy. In staff pose, move the shoulders down, keeping the shoulder blades on your back and keep pressing into the floor with your palms. If this brings a slight bend to your arms, so be it. Dear Wanda, I have an issue that is affecting my practice, and glancing around some of my classes, I'm not the only one. When I am in a position such as Warrior I, with my arms straight up, my shoulders follow my arms. I am seemingly unable to keep my shoulders down and relaxed; they creep up around my ears. I try to be very mindful of it, but the only time I've been able to experience the proper posture is when I try this with one arm at a time. It's very frustrating. One of my yoga teachers actually said during class, "You type a lot, don't you?" Is there anything I can do? Help! Albert Cheung, Mid-levels Dear Albert, People who spend a lot of time working on computers tend to have tight shoulders. Poses that require the shoulders to be relaxed down the back will be particularly challenging, but these types of poses are extremely important in counteracting the hunching caused by a desk job. In a classic warrior I posture, the arms are straight and the palms press together overhead. This is challenging to do while keeping the shoulders down away from the ears. The solution is to practice the pose with the arms separated -- keeping the shoulders down is more important than bringing the palms together. You can separate the arms as much as necessary, bringing them shoulder-width apart or even wider, making a V shape. If the shoulders are still coming up, take the arms into a cactus shape with the upper arms parallel to the floor and the forearms perpendicular. This really helps bring the shoulder blades onto the back. Find the arm variation that allows you to keep the shoulders down and work there. It may take years for the shoulders to open, but with consistent practice they will. *Dear Wanda, A friend of mine who does not do Yoga told me that meditation* is a form of brainwashing. Is this true or is my friend just mixed up? Loretta Fong, Tin Shui Wai Dear Loretta, While it is no doubt true that the minds of some people could do with a good wash, I have to say that meditation is not a form of brainwashing. Usually when people express concern about brainwashing, they are afraid of losing control of their minds and being manipulated. Meditation actually helps to protect us against having our minds manipulated by strengthening our willpower and making us more self-aware. If you're seriously concerned about other people manipulating your mind for their own purposes, I suggest that the first thing you do is switch off your television, a device which is used to great effect by advertising companies, amongst others, to influence people's behaviour. Namaste, Wanda Wanda Hewitt is the Director of Yoga Education at Yoga Limbs. Yoga Limbs is family run and operates two locations in Hong Kong. Check out www.yogalimbs.com or call 2525-7415 for more information on learning or practicing your yoga skills.