WELLNESS SUNDAY Presented by HSBC - A Full Day of Events That Nourish the Mind, Body & Soul

What better way to engage with a post-Covid world than with a personal commitment to good health and well-being. India by the Bay presents a day of wellness with a line-up of events, activities and experiences that celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of India and promise to energise and stimulate the mind, body, and soul!

INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS
(Kindly note that prior registration is required for each session as we have limited seats available)

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HKD 100
Non-members Ticket: HKD 120

FULL DAY PASS
(Kindly note that prior registration is required for each session as we have limited seats available)

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HKD 450
Non-members Ticket: HKD 500

Indian Vegetarian lunch will be available for purchase onsite.

*Moderators and speakers are subject to change

PRANAYAMA – BREATH & THE BODY
Registration at 9:00 am | Program 9:15 am – 10:15 am

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

Certified Iyengar Yoga teacher George Dovas, will lead this session which is suitable for beginners and all levels of yoga enthusiasts. HOW we breathe is as important as the fact THAT we breathe! Pranayama, an integral part of yoga, is the practice of breath regulation. In Sanskrit, ‘prana’ means life energy/vital life force and  yama” means control. The practice of pranayama involves breathing exercises and patterns that calm and steady the mind and body. Join George Dovas and explore the most vital aspects of breath, in an hour of ‘pranayama’, as we prepare ourselves for the day of activity to follow at India by the Bay.

George Dovas encountered Iyengar Yoga in Sydney, Australia in 1999. Since then, he has continued to faithfully practice the teachings of Yogacharya BKS Iyengar. In 2001, George moved to Hong Kong where he is now a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher at The Iyengar Yoga Centre of Hong Kong. Annually, he spends a minimum of one month studying at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute (RIMYI) in Pune, India with the Iyengar family. George is the Chair for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Hong Kong (IYAHK) and is also an assessor of teachers, seeking Iyengar Yoga certification in South East Asia and China.

IYENGAR YOGA SESSION
Registration at 10:15 am| Program 10:30 am – 11:30 am

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

Iyengar Yoga, named after and developed by BKS Iyengar, is a form of yoga that emphasises precision and alignment in the performance of yoga postures/asanas. Join Devika Virmani, a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher as she leads this session which is suitable for beginners and all levels of practitioners. Recognising that everybody is unique, Devika will guide this session focussing on what is suitable for the individual participant. An hour of yoga that focuses on alignment and postures, with tips on how to be present outward but focus inwards at the same time, the session will leave you more energised and at the same time much calmer.

Devika Virmani - After having given up a 10-year career in banking, Devika Virmani, a long time student of Yoga, is now a certified Iyengar Yoga teacher who teaches in Hong Kong. Yoga provided her with strength – physical, emotional and spiritual - and helped her chart a new direction in her life. Devika is the Vice-Chair for the Iyengar Yoga Association of Hong Kong (IYAHK).

YOGA FOR THE FAMILY & TEENAGERS (with a focus on teenager's well-being)
Registration at 11:30 am | Program 11:45 am to 12:30 pm

Asia Society members/ Friends of IBB/Students: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

Bilingual Session: English & Cantonese

Icy Lee will lead this bilingual session for the family. Icy has been teaching Yoga for nearly two decades and the founder of Yogaśālā Hong Kong. She trains teachers & serves as an assessor on the Iyengar Yoga Assessment Committee of Southeast Asia.

Yoga is a healing, strengthening, calming, and empowering practice that offers something for everybody, regardless of age, gender, and fitness level. Icy will guide adults and children through this 45-min session which will enable us to better connect with each other and with oneself through a routine designed for the whole family.

CONNECT THROUGH STORYTELLING WITH HK STORIES
Registration at 1:45 pm | Program 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

Join Rachel Smith from Hong Kong Stories as she leads this storytelling session for India by the Bay and addresses the challenges of a post-Covid World through individual personal experiences. Hong Kong Stories is a group dedicated to the art of storytelling in Hong Kong. They focus on telling true, first person stories live on stage, without notes and in front of an audience.

Hong Kong Stories is dedicated to the art of true, first person storytelling in Hong Kong. They are volunteer led and run by members of their community. You can access their past stories on their podcast and find details on workshops and how to attend them on the HK stories website. Rachel Smith, an artist, teacher and storyteller, is the producer of the group and the host of the podcast. Find all the information needed to tell great stories at www.hongkongstories.com

WELLNESS REDEFINED - A PANEL DISCUSSION
Registration at 3:00 pm | Program 3:15 pm to 4:15 pm

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

This special session emphasises the need for a holistic engagement with health, focussing on balancing the mind, body and soul. Join an interactive panel discussion where the question of ‘what is wellness’ is discussed with a focus on ayurveda, yoga, meditation and other ancient Indian practices that continue to inform the well-being of mind, body and soul even today. What better way to engage with a post-pandemic world than to focus on one’s health and well-being?
 

Ramkumar Kutty, Founder-Director of Punarnava Ayurveda, will introduce the basic principles of Ayurveda and demonstrate how they can be applied to daily life.

Falguni Mather will focus on the importance of mental health and how it is part of the very foundation of personal health and wellness, something that is oftentimes overlooked.

George Dovas will tap into his vast experience of practising and teaching yoga and demonstrate the benefits of a wellness routine that includes focussing on physical posture and alignment through yoga.

Michala Sabnani (Moderator) is a TV producer, journalist and seasoned media executive with experience working across news outlets from CNN to SCMP. She is the host of Equanimity, a podcast series featuring South Asian narratives that force us to challenge stereotypes and broaden perspectives.

MUSIC WITH CHINMAYI & JOELL
Registration at 4:15 pm | Program 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Asia Society members / Friends of IBB / Students: HK$100
Non-members: HK$120

"The joy I have found in frugality
That cannot be found in plenty
My Mind has taken to living free!"
-Kabir

Immerse yourself in the experience of listening to the 'Timeless classics of Kabir and Meera along with the gems of Chhayawad poetry' in a unique musical initiative by the founder, Chinmayi Tripathi, who aims to create a bridge between classic, timeless poetry and contemporary music.

Chinmayi Tripathi is a singer songwriter and composer, and is partnered by Joell Mukherjii- the multi talented, multi instrumentalist composer- producer. Their band, Music and Poetry Collective, is an attempt at reclaiming classical compositions through contemporary music.

With the objective of popularising great poetry through music, Chinmayi and Joell have produced a series of songs and videos based on the classical icons of Hindi poetry as well as contemporary poets and timeless classics by Meera and Kabir. In their inimitable style they make the music accessible to everyone through an interactive experience that draws the listener in.

About India by The Bay:

India by the Bay is a week-long celebration of Indian art and culture co-presented by Teamwork Arts and the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, with the support of the Consulate General of India in Hong Kong. The festival features literature, music, food, dance and theatre, encompassing both the contemporary and classic.

The Festival is dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships between India and Hong Kong. It is a unique opportunity for the people of Hong Kong to experience and engage with India’s rich cultural heritage.

*Moderators and speakers are subject to change

Sign-up link

https://bit.ly/3QIHYmL

The views and opinions expressed are those of the speakers and participants and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, do not reflect the opinion, position or official policy of Asia Society Hong Kong, its members, or its committees. Asia Society Hong Kong does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for the content of the information presented.