Yoga Journal Singapore — April-May 2017

74

april / may 2017

yogajournal.com.sg

Kenrick Goh

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DETAILS Some of his favorite things...

What do you do when you’re not

teaching yoga?

Laze around at a cafe or simply take a

stroll. I like to pause, watch and

appreciate how the world goes by.

Fav Sport

Swimming

Fav Pose

Head to Ankle Pose. This is a

Forrest yoga pose that taught

me a lot about letting go.

Fav

TV Show

Modern

Family

Kenrick Goh is a man who has “tasted the goodness of yoga” and incorporated a unique

combination in his teaching method—the philosophy of Taichiquan! Find out what he found

similar in the two ancient practices—Yoga and Taichi—and how he blends them in his classes.

If you weren’t a yoga teacher, you’d be?

A chef. I would want to share my love for

Asian food. Cooking, like yoga, reflects the

individual, the community and the culture that

gives flavor to the cuisine.

Kenrickteaches in Comoshambala, Freedom Yoga and Ziva

Yoga in Singapore.

What made you start yoga?

I started yoga years ago as a form of cross training when I was competing in

National and International Taichiquan competitions. It helped me improve my

flexibility, as well as release the tension from my intense trainings.

What inspired you to become a yoga teacher

in Singapore?

Yoga has taught me a lot about taking care of myself beyond the physical.

My learnings on the mat extend into my life, both mentally and emotionally.

Being a homegrown Singaporean, I wish to share my transformational

experience with the people who are living on this beautiful land.

Tell us more about the unique form of yoga

you teach. What made you introduce this?

I mostly teach Forrest Yoga (founded by the internationally acclaimed yoga

teacher and healer Ana Forrest) and Yin Yoga. However in all my classes, I

share the approach of seeking balance between Yin and Yang energy within

each pose, regardless of it being a dynamic or passive practice.

Through my years of practicing Yoga and Taichiquan, I realised

some similarities in the techniques between the two, which are

complementary. A case in point is the technique of “Sinking”. In

yoga, students are often taught to feel grounded as their feet press

down during a standing pose. But their legs tend to be either overly

engaged or inactive. I incorporated the concept of sinking from the

philosophy of Taichiquan to explain what a grounded pose should

feel like. Through constant explorations, one is eventually able to

relax into poses without collapsing the body.

On an average how many male students

do you get per class? Do you feel that

more men are taking to yoga?

I get 1-2 male students on an average per class. But it really depends

on where the classes are conducted. There is typically a higher

percentage of men attending my yoga class in fitness centres as

compared to yoga studios.However, I do feel that there is an overall

increase in men attending yoga classes.

Why do you think men don’t embrace

the mat like women do?

Yoga was practiced mostly by men in the early times. However, all

around the world today, it has somehow got projected with a more

feminine image, which pushes men away. I believe that if one has

tasted the goodness of yoga, he or she will be less intimidated by

what they cannot do and how they look in a pose, and will embrace

the practice better.

What message can you give men who

shy away from attending a yoga class?

We practice yoga for our own wellbeing and growth. Do not let the

judgment and expectations of others stop you from experiencing

the magic of yoga.

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

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ART DIRECTION : ANUJA BAGADE