Compared to other sports, yoga emphasizes the connection of body, mind, and spirit, it is a comprehensive personal practice. A seemingly simple physical movement not only requires the coordination of muscles and tendons, but also the alignment of breath and inner self. While some people only focus on the completeness of yoga movements, yoga instructor Stefanie Chaukei Wei hopes to achieve longer-lasting benefits through yoga, a more fulfilling experience for the soul.
// It all starts with chronic illness //
Can you imagine that the fit and honey-skinned Stefanie in front of you used to be a long-term patient who frequently visited hospitals? Stefanie’s story, just like her Chinese name “秋琪,” is a “miracle of autumn.” Born prematurely, she has been troubled by respiratory problems since childhood, often experiencing difficulty breathing and seeking emergency medical treatment. Her breathing problems worsened when she moved to Taiwan for work. Unfortunately, despite various tests, the root cause of the problem could not be found. At that time, Taiwanese doctors suggested that everything might be related to her psychology. This wake-up call prompted Stefanie to seek psychological solutions, resign from her high-stress interior design job, move to Canada to study psychology, and embark on a yoga practice that would influence her life. Transitioning from a non-athletic woman to a professional yoga instructor, she founded a hidden yoga studio in Discovery Bay, teaching not just yoga poses, but also the connection between body and soul.
// Return to breathing, slow down without exerting force //
Everyone knows that yoga has a stress-reducing effect, but how do you actually reduce stress when you are fully focused on different movements? Yoga emphasizes concentration, regulating breathing frequency, focusing on feeling the pull of every muscle group in the body, and naturally allowing the mind to temporarily escape from stress and worries. “One of the theories of yoga is mindfulness. Understanding the body requires a return to breathing, using breath as a bridge to connect the body and mind, like peeling back layers of an onion, starting to understand oneself from the body. When faced with negative emotions, knowing to remind oneself to take a step back, not allowing oneself to linger in negative emotions, adjusting breathing to adjust emotions, and returning to a positive track.”
Adaptation is about making appropriate adjustments, not struggling too hard. Stefanie, who once “tried too hard,” reminds everyone that adjusting breathing is actually about slowing down breathing. Struggling too hard is like struggling in water – the harder you struggle, the faster and deeper you sink.
// Small Pleasures on the Yoga Mat //
Beyond stress relief and exercise, urban men and women now have another obsession with yoga. Wearing stylish yoga clothes to perform challenging poses, taking photos for social media validation. While this trend may bring satisfaction, what is left of your personal gain after subtracting the likes and comments? “Hong Kong’s lifestyle is goal-oriented, even in yoga, the focus is on achieving difficult poses, finding satisfaction in doing what others cannot. But for me, just being able to step into a yoga class on time, unroll my mat, even if I spend the whole day practicing just wrist movements, is already a satisfying step towards success.” The satisfaction on the yoga mat is not materialistic or formalized, yoga will not bring you lavish material pleasures or vanity. There is no competition or benchmarks, only focusing on personal progress in practice, this satisfaction brings the purest happiness to the soul.
// Ideal Mindful Living //
Even as a yoga instructor surrounded by yoga mindfulness every day, as a modern person facing life’s pressures, Stefanie naturally has moments of frustration and negativity. “The impact of the epidemic on yoga studios is significant, and it has made me question myself, even think about giving up. But I know how to adjust my mindset. When you feel like you’re about to fail, it’s actually an opportunity to push your limits.”
Challenging the present, not giving up is the secret to success, “Don’t let negative thinking completely control you.” Stefanie’s yoga studio has 3 concepts, Tune up, Light up, and Wake Up. Tune up is like starting a car to awaken the body, Light up is a positive emotional uplift, and Wake Up pursues inner training. Dealing with adversity with a positive attitude is not only important for physical health, but also a crucial lesson in yoga practice.
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Producer: Vicky Wai
Editor: Candy Chan
Videographer: Andy Lee, Anson Chan
Photographer: Anson Chan
Video Editor: Andy Lee
Designer: Edwina Chan
Special Thanks: Stefanie Ngai, Yoga Up Studio
