The 5,000-year-old science of yoga has flowed easily into the internet age. The tradition of teachers passing along the knowledge of poses, or asanas, and pranayama, or breathwork, via mouth and practice is no longer confined to ashram retreats, yoga centres and clinics. New-Age teachers are using social media to introduce yoga and its benefits to inspire an ever-growing population of practitioners.
Briohny Smyth and Jacquelyn Umof are among the superstars. And they will be sharing their tips and techniques live in Hong Kong later this month at the four-day Evolution Asia Yoga Conference at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Smyth, 36, has cultivated a large social media presence with her insights on wellness, parenting and entrepreneurship. She shares her yoga routines by uploading short videos on her Instagram feed @yogawithbriohny which has more than 183,000 followers. Her tutorials range from yoga sequences to meditation. Her classes blend an invigorating flow of yoga poses with instruction on alignment.
“Yoga slows everything down and gives you the opportunity to peel away layers of the onion,” she says.
Smyth shares photos of herself in various poses, which often include her two children. She has produced videos of yoga for beginners, handstand and headstand techniques, poses to prevent shoulder pain, and short talks on yoga philosophy.
“Inversions are my favourite pose – turning yourself upside down gives you a moment to reflect. It energises the body and the mind,” she says.
Smyth shot to fame when she starred in a yoga video posted by Equinox in 2011 that went viral and has attracted more than 12 million views. It showed her flowing through her morning routine, effortlessly lifting herself into perfect handstands.
After the birth of her daughter in 2004, Smyth dedicated herself to her practice fully and became a yoga teacher. With more than 10 years of experience building yoga teacher training programmes and online training content, investing in yoga festivals such as Wanderlust, and conducting retreats, Smyth is acclaimed as a leader in the global wellness community. She holds online classes and conducts teacher-training programmes in Thailand through Bryce Yoga School which she co-founded with her ex-husband.
Born to an Australian father and a Thai-Chinese mother, Smyth was thrust onto the world stage at an early age when she became a child pop star in Asia, with a platinum album by the time she was 13. The exciting but gruelling lifestyle, along with the pressures of being a child star, took a toll and she developed eating disorders, bulimia and anorexia. A chance visit to India in 1999 led her to a yoga ashram. Through yoga she found health, healing and a new life.
Smyth will be conducting two sessions on the fundamentals of handstands and backbends at the Evolution Asia Yoga Conference. Details of her sessions can be found here.
Umof, 34, goes by the name Action Jacquelyn on social media. She is among the biggest online yoga influencers with more than half a million followers on Instagram, a large YouTube audience, and a popular interactive blog. Her stunning asana images, positive messages and exquisite photography engage and inspire followers.
Umof has found a way to make yoga simple, time-effective and fun. Her popular “Get Stretchy” programme offers five- to 15-minute daily routines to get fit. Her Instagram account has the tag line “Be A Stretchy Babe – less pain, more flexibility”.
Her website and Instagram feed post a different routine every day – energising morning stretches, yoga for tight hips and hamstrings and for relieving lower back pain, and a travel stretch routine, to name a few.
Her “Get Stretchy At Work” series presents five-minute yoga routines to de-stress and energise at work without having to leave your desk or change clothes. The exercises incorporate yoga stretches such as arm lifts, wrist shakes and breathing that mitigate the negative effects of prolonged sitting, typing and texting.
“I believe that daily mindful movement can create a happier life, a more positive outlook, success in work and relationships, and a deeper sense of self-worth,” she says.
Umof holds one-week challenges, gives daily motivations, and provides tools for mental and physical strength, growth and improvement. She takes a spiritual approach, acknowledging that a peaceful mind is key to feeling your best.
“Fitness is so much more than crunches and squats. It’s about taking care of your body and mind through a consistent practice of yoga, stretching, journaling and eating healthy,” Umof says.
Umof trained as a ballerina from a young age and is certified in Kundalini yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Reformer Pilates, barre (a style of exercise that fuses the principles of mat Pilates and ballet) and personal training. She has danced professionally for Lines Ballet, and went on to join the cheerleading squads USC Song Girls, Clipper Girls and Laker Girls. She plays the violin and loves to salsa dance.
Umof says she practises mindfulness daily to stay in the present and loves to inspire others through her posts. She will not post about a product she doesn’t believe in and never shies away from sharing her journey.
Umof will conduct four sessions at the Evolution Asia Yoga Conference. Details of her sessions can be found here.
The annual Evolution Asia Yoga Conference takes place from June 13 to 16 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. Go to www.asiayogaconference.com to register.
