Social media yoga stars Action Jacquelyn, Briohny Smyth on their practices before yoga conference

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.