Goodbye 2010, Namaste 2011

Another 3.5 more hours and the year will be up.  Needless to say, 2010 simply flew by, and as I sit in the comfort of my own home with loved ones (instead of joining party revelers in crowded malls and pubs as they await the New Year's countdown), I think fondly of how the past 12 months have treated me. 

• My yoga practice has grown from strength to strength.  But I also recognise that the practice has had its peaks and troughs.  To quote one of my favourite Yogaglo teachers, Kathryn Budig, "some days I feel like a rockstar, and some days I just feel like a rock".  
• I love teaching yoga.... but I am a student of yoga, first.
• My third (and definitely not last) trip to Mysore, India delivered me to the presence of two great teachers in Hatha Yoga and Yoga Therapeutics.  In less than 4 weeks, my notebook was already full of notes, but my heart and mind were immersed with knowledge and shanti.
• There are so many (popular) yoga masters out there, and some shalas have, to an extent formed a cult-like association with that particular yoga style... yet those who seek will truly find the hidden gemstones among the Masters.
• It is not YOU who turns away from Yoga Therapeutics, dismissing its importance in the yoga equation... is your EGO.
• Yoga is not about achieving that much-admired pretzel posture (ok ok, it does look good on the Facebook profile page), but more so, Yoga is about balance... a fine line between nurturing softness with substance.
• Teaching at a yoga studio can sometimes be equated to working towards a slice of partnership in a law firm.  However, when the slice is offered, you get a chance to look closely at the ingredients, and realize that it may not be that delectable in the first place.
• Nothing is permanent... but honestly, non-attachment is also one of the hardest practice of all.
• You start where you are, and your yoga practice will take you there.  And where 'there' is, is exactly where you need to be. 

So as 2010 draws to an end, and the world celebrates a brand new year, I think about my New Year resolution (and creepily, I hear my mind's voice singing "I wanna be a billionaire, so friggin' bad, buy all the things I never had).


But instead, my affirmation would be to continue to do my best work.  I will infuse my teaching with enthusiasm and energy, thus making each class a gift to those who come to the mat.  I will continue to be fully present, as a yoga student, teacher and friend, to nurture, support and to do my part with humility and gratitude. 


Someone once asked me, "wouldn't you want to some day own a studio and leave behind a legacy"?  Well, if I could just touch and change one person's life for the better through yoga, THAT would be my legacy.

Happy New Year, everyone.  May 2011 bring you amazing adventures for the body, mind and heart.  Peace, love and joy always.

xx

The (inter)Neti Connection

Sinusitis affects millions of people each year (and the numbers are climbing with the increase in air pollution and antibiotic resistence).  Your sinuses consist of four pairs of air-filled cavities behind and around your eyes and nose area.  They filter the air you breathe, and keep germs from sneaking into your lungs.  And when you're under attack by the cold virus, your sinus membranes will swell, causing blockage.  Once blocked, your mucus cannot drain properly, resulting in a bacterial infection, and the next thing you know, the area around your eyebrows and cheeks hurt, and you'll have coloured nasal discharge.  Yucks! 

For centuries, yogis everywhere have traditionally chanted the mantra "Om" to help with focusing the mind, opening and closing a yoga practice (be it asana, pranayama or meditation) and to awaken Vishuddha, the fifth (throat) chakra.  And old copy of the Yoga Journal documented that Swedish researchers discovered that chanting or humming the Om can also help to ventilate and open the sinuses as well as ward off infections.  In-ter-es-ting.

Some time around Week 3 of my stay in Mysore, I studied about the Shatkriyas.  The term Shatkarma or Shatkriya means 'six actions'.  Ancient rishis considered these actions to be crucial to yoga.  "In yoga, control of the body starts with the cleansing processes known as the kriyas, the first step to eliminate poisonous substances accumulated in the system”.  The six kriyas are Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka and Kapalabathi Pranayama.

Most of us have heard of two, maybe three of such kriyas, but barely practice one on a regular basis.

Here, I'll elaborate on the Neti : there are 2 types, Jala Neti and Sutra Neti.

Jala Neti is done with the help of a Neti Pot.  Neti pots are made of plastic, ceramic or stainless steel and usually holds about 450ml of liquid.  They resemble a small teapot with a long, thin, tapered spout.  

The Neti Pot

1. To use, fill the Neti Pot with warm salt water (salt is important as it helps to flush out the nasal and sinus fluids). 
2. Bring the pot to your face, and insert the spout well into one nostril.
3. Breathe in through your nose.
4. Tip your head to allow the fluid to flow out through the other nostril, while exhaling from your mouth.
5. Do this til the pot is empty.
6. Stand over a sink or bathroom floor, and practise Kapalabathi Pranayama to get rid of access mucus.
7. Refill, then repeat on the other side.

The Sutra Neti, on the other hand is slightly more tricky and a lot less comfortable.  It requires a rubber catheter to be inserted waaaaay back into one nostril, and out from the mouth!  You'll then need to gently move the rubber catheter up and down between nostril and mouth, to thoroughly cleanse the nasal passage.  Do expect much choking, sneezing, gagging or even slight bleeding from the nose.  However, this kriya is most effective in opening the nasal passages to their fullest capacity.

The Sutra Neti (or Tonsil Tickler)

Do note  however, if you're prone to nosebleeds or nasal polyps, it's best to avoid this kriya.

Neti Pots are easily available.  If you're in Kuala Lumpur, you can get them from the Indian shops in Brickfields or Masjid India (they cost about RM10 each).

So, the next time your yoga teacher chants "Om" in class, do participate with an open heart, mind (and mouth).  That might just unleash some clarity in your breathing.

To happy breaths and sinus-free days.

In The Heart of Practice

Just 2 weeks into an intense backbending practice, and the constant and insistent 'more more more' from the Master, I pulled a muscle in my back during an attempt of touching my feet to my head in Kapotasana.  As I exited from the asana, I felt an excruciatingly sharp muscle spasm on my left lower back, and immediately uttered a self-curse under my breath.


The last thing I wanted to earn while in India, was an injury.  And knowing backbends weren't my strongest forte, I had early on vowed to be super careful.


As my Master treated me with a pressure point massage, I mulled over how this could have happened.  

1. Did I forget to engage my legs?
2. Did I not engage my bandha?  
3. Did I bend from my lumbar? 
4. Did I allow myself to get distracted? 
5. Did I allow my ego to rule instead of slowly getting into the heart of practice?

The ego, or self-love in Sanskrit is "ahamkara".  According to yogic philosophy, when one is in a state of ahamkara, he is in a state of of subjective illusion, and the ego is responsible for creating that illusive phenomenon, whereby the self is unready to embrace.  In ahamkara, which is in a state of rajasic, guna (agitation) predominates, thus opening a series of afflictions, like pride, competitiveness, jealousy, even hatred.


So, after taking a 2-day rest from backbending, (and 6x50mg of Voltaren tablets), I gingerly stepped back onto the mat for some baby backbending.

You wouldn't believe how painful it was to even attempt this asana

BKS Iyengar once said, 'those who are less flexible have more to gain from yoga'.  And the late Pattabhi Jois' famous line was 'Do your yoga... all is coming'.  We must acknowledge that there are many ways of learning yoga.  There is so much knowledge and wisdom out there, that have been refined over much scientific research, thousands of years of trial and error, and documented personal experiences and direct observations from Masters to practitioners. (Maybe this is also the reason why there are so many different systems and styles of yoga out there that nobody can agree on what works best... but this topic is best left for another day).


But when we embrace yoga as a practice, I do believe that we should embrace yoga's elements as well... equanimity, compassion, balance, life and ultimately enlightenment.


Our asana practice is but our doorway to a life of yoga.  And painful reminders (like an injury) are like life's handbrake to our practice.... a teacher that is ever so patient, nudging us when we deviate from the barely-scrapping-the-surface yoga practice of ours.


The best teacher is not merely a Master that we prostrate before.  The best teacher lies within us. 


To become more balanced in life on and off the yoga mat, I trust that we should be equally connected to failure as we are to success.
We should strive for progress, not perfection.
And assert cOMpassion whenever and wherever we can.


And as our practice evolves, and yoga takes on a richer flavour, then only can we be truly free.


Stay curious to the teacher within, and pain free always.
xx

Expect the Unexpected

I can't even begin to marvel how sneaky India can be.  The subcontinent has a habit of kicking me out of my comfort zone.  India tested me everyday... sometimes in her wicked spasms of humour, several times a day even.  She wreaked uncertainties on my yoga practice... my patience, endurance, focus, shanti... heck she even deflated my ego.  


The India I've come to know, is a great place to learn the yogic lesson of giving your best effort, but not getting hung up on the results.  In my time here in Mysore, I've come to learn that things here don't often go according to plan, but if I'm cool with expecting the unexpected, what needs to happen usually does.  And it all comes together at some point in time when the soul is ready to receive.


Here are some of my personal favourites : 


1.  We had hired an auto rickshaw driver to take us to the yoga shala everyday at 5am.  He diligently turned up at our gate for the first 6 days, and one cold rainy morning, he was nowhere in sight.  He did turn up the next day however, and when we asked him about the no show, he said, it was rainy, too cold to come and decided to sleep in (he even added a head wiggle for good measure).  On the subsequent morning (and the mornings thenafter), he failed to show up again.
Conclusion : Auto rickshaw drivers here are quick to try and whip an extra INR10 from tourists by faking a faulty meter, but do not seem to want to commit to a regular piece of business.


2.  A 10 minute walk to anywhere in India, if told by an Indian person, is actually 30 minutes.
Conclusion : When in India, adjust to Indian time.


3.  It can be raining cats and dogs during the monsoon season, but a burst pipe causing water shortage in the neighbourhood can take up to 5 days to fix, thus causing drought indoors.
Conclusion : Irony is best taken with a head wiggle.


4.  India is the land of organized chaos.  Traffic rules are made (and made up!).  Vehicles do not seem to stop when approaching a roundabout (known as a 'circle' in India), but instead everyone honks and charges to the centre of the roundabout, AND THEN try to figure who has the right of way.  Surprisingly, at zero accident rate.
Conclusion : India has very creative drivers.

Side saddle and helmet-free

5.  Traffic rules when it comes to road crossing : Cows stopping mid-street to poop, horses and occasionally people who are lost in thought and take their own sweet time to cross the road have the right of way. 
Conclusion : See no. 6


6.  Holy Cow : here's the unwritten law on Indian roads. Bicycles and rickshaws make way for auto rickshaws (or 3-Wheelers). 3-Wheelers stop for cars. Cars make way for buses. And EVERYONE stops for the Holy Cow.  Cows are big and venerated in India. When a cow crosses a road or decides to siesta in the middle of one, they are king!

7.  You can never rush the Indians.  They never seem to be in a hurry.  On the other hand, you can hardly find an impatient Indian.  
Conclusion : C'est la vie (with a head wiggle).


8.  Oh, and about practising with the Master.  Just when you think you're getting into a pretty strong practice, the Master steps in and shatters any egoistic thoughts.  Whether it is purely a kind gesture, or a form of testing your focus or dristhi, the Master uses one of those battery operated mosquito swatters, (you know, the ones that creates a spark and a loud crackle when mossies are caught), and happily waves the swatter in front of you when you're frantically balancing in Virabhadrasana III.
Conclusion : You may wobble and you may topple but at least you'll be dengue-free.

Snap, Crackle and Pop

I love India. I mean, what's there not to love?  She cracks me up daily... opens my mind up to new possibilities... and teaches me to be less uptight because there is no such thing as perfectionism, and nothing is ever permanent.


And over the next few weeks, I made peace with India and opened my soul to a heart opening, spontaneous yoga practice.  I flowed with the tide of change, accepted that transformation begins with imperfection, and learnt to shift my perspective on life, which surprisingly led to great contentment.

Settling In

After settling into my new rented home at Chamarajapuram, I ambled over to the Mysore Academy of Yoga in Lakshmipuram on Day Three, to meet my yoga master, Archarya Ramesh Kumar, and to get the course timetable.


Here's a look at the curriculum :
(Daily, including Moon Days and Saturday, with Sunday as Rest Day)


Asana Practice             5.30am - 7.30am
Pranayama, Mudra
and Kriya I                  8.00am - 9.00am
Yogic Anatomy and
Yoga Therapeutics I      9.00am - 10.30am
Break                         10.30am - 1.00pm
Pranayama, Mudra
and Kriya II                 1.00pm - 2.00pm
Yogic Anatomy and
Yoga Therapeutics II     2.00pm - 4.00pm
Backbend Practice         4.00pm - 5.00pm


Hmmmm..... looks like I've got to get up by 4am (since there are 2 of us sharing the house), which isn't too hard, since I'll be sleeping on this faux luxurious bed...

... wait for 30 minutes so that this high-tech piece of equipment can grant me a hot bath in the freezing cold monsoon morning... 

Water heater (read : boiler) and bath tub (read : orange bucket)

.... in order for me hop onto a speeding auto rickshaw and get to the shala by 5.15am.

The humble Mysore Academy of Yoga

Early nights and sweet dreams, everyone.

Getting Acquainted with the Unfamiliar

Another year, another trip back to Mysore.  This time, to an unfamiliar part of town.... Lakshmipuram.... where the crowd is less sophisticated and a little more rough around the edges, though still steep in warm Indian hospitality.


Settling down this time was certainly not as smooth sailing and well-oiled as my last trip in 2009, in the more posh suburb of Gokulam.  The "Rent Mafia", we were told, had taken dominance over the house rentals within Lakshmipuram and the nearby areas.  Apparently, the "Don" at a certain popular yoga shala in this district monopolises all rental enquiries, and by defacto standard, all landlords appoint them as Rent Agents, and the agent commission is tiered, depending on where you're from (read : commission for locals and Asians is slightly lower than Americans and Europeans).  It is a bit unsettling to see how some of the locals have become unattractively greedy (from the self declared housing agents, to rickshaw wallahs)... this, I suppose, comes from the opportunity of leveraging on foreign yoga students who flood to Mysore yearly.


However, for those who come to India with a pure heart, there is always a cloud with a silver lining. You'll just need to look for it.  Mine came in many blessed ways.  Like in the guise of a kind and honest landlady who stood up for me when confronted by an overzealous rent agent.... a humble Yoga Master and his family who ensures that I eat breakfast and lunch at his house daily.... a rickshaw wallah who waives a waiting fee while I was practising in the shala... a vegetable seller who waits patiently whilst I picked up my fruit and veg (eventhough he was in a hurry to go for his Friday prayers).... and a little stray dog who led me to the shala when I lost my way in Day One in Lakshmipuram.


I realise that India, like your yoga practice, tests you every day.  She demands your total surrender... tosses you out of your comfort zone, plays havoc on your patience, perseverance, focus and intention.  As it's the monsoon season, she rains on your parade but chooses to cut off water supply to the housing area for 5 days .... 

The kitchen roof was leaking rainwater and caterpillars!

... and presents you with the saggiest mattress known to mankind, and gifts you with constant backache when you wake up each morning.

My little dungeon for 7 weeks

Yet, India, like yoga, teaches you to expect the unexpected, and embrace total acceptance for The Now.

In time, I learnt to recognise each blessing that came my way, and these definitely outweighed each obstacle, hiccup and unfavourable moment.


And for the next 7 weeks on, I, The Seeker, found humility, light, peace and renewed passion in my yoga teaching and practice.


Om Namah Shivaya.

OM My!

After being laptop handi-uncappable for the past months since my return from India, I'm finally out of the woods.  Just got hooked up with my new 'baby' yesterday, and after peering through Windows for many many years, it's back to basics as I re-learn new MACpplications.

Thank you for your patience - I promise I have stored up my writing (and rantings), and will fill up this space soon.

Keeping it real on and off the mat,

xxoo

Time Out

Just me, my practice and I.

Wishing all love, peace and light always.

Soulmates

According to Wikipedia, a soulmate is "a person whom you have a feeling of deep and natural affinity, love, spirituality, compatibility, or intimacy/sexuality with.  A twin flame or soul, for which all souls are driven to find and join".

Does everyone have a soulmate?  Yes, I think so.  To me, soulmates need not be confined to a single person.  A soulmate could be your sibling, twin, spouse, friend.... I even believe a boy and girl in a platonic relationship can be soulmates.  I mean, why can't there be different soulmates for different occassions?  Is it set in stone, that there should only be one?

Some say, the lucky ones end up meeting their soulmates and marrying them.  I say, the luckiest of the lot are those who can identify the different soulmates in their lives, and live a life of abundance and happiness.

While I acknowledge (and love) my different soulmates, here's one I particularly want to mention.  Our first trip to India was nothing short of incredible.  You share my passion in the beauty that the people and the land has to offer, the intense spirituality in the path of yoga, and the humour when 'things' don't always turn out the way we expected them to.

For the times that we....

yoga'd by the beaches in Kerala,

wept at the beauty and sheer
magnificence of the Taj Mahal,

got blessed by the "Pushkar God",

(before getting rammed by the holy cow!)

opened our eyes to a "Match Made in Heaven", Bollywood style,

and left smiles all over the Indian sub-continent...

Here's to beautiful memories, endless laughter and more travel adventures!

Spreading the Light

I had just completed my 4-day session as a guest speaker at a NLP Weight Management seminar here in Kuala Lumpur and I'm still riding high on the awesome response I received from the participants.

We discussed wellness in body, mind and spirit.... detox.... nutrition... and we also had 90 minutes of yoga practice during the 4 days.

The enthusiasm and energy from these people were amazing!  Infectious, even.  It was their first time ever on the mat, but I have never met a more curious, committed and open-hearted bunch of practitioners!  The first day was a bit of an eye-opener (not to mention the many oohs, aahs, and ouch that followed!) as they discovered tight hamstrings, even tighter hips and barely-there core muscles.

Firing up the core muscles

Bear in mind, in (almost) all cultures around the globe, saying the 'F**' word is extremely sensitive.  So I recognize and greatly respect the fact, that it takes a lot of courage to step forward, in a public seminar, and admit that one is indeed facing a weight problem, needs help and wants to lead a healthier lifestyle.

Words like 'diet', 'bingeing', 'anorexia', 'bulimia', 'incessant food cravings', 'lazy', 'love to eat', 'stress management through eating' were floating around quite a lot. 

And exercise?  "When pigs fly", was the response from one of the participants.

And yet, for 4 days, these people diligently changed into their exercise attire at 5pm, and gently flowed into a Hatha yoga practice with me.

Yoga, I explained during my talk, stems from the word 'yuj' which means "to yoke" or "to unite" the body, mind, spirit and breath.  It's about aligning your consciousness with the Universe's consciousness, so that one's emotions, action and intelligence is in balance.

In today's society, 'yoga' usually means a workout that strengthens and tones the body, relieves stress and calms the mind.

During the 4 days, I invited them to explore beyond just yoga poses.... what yoga means to each of them.  Even the simple act of being aware of the breath and acknowledging the motivation of stepping onto the mat, is yoga.

Learning to let go

We explored Surya Namaskar to invoke our inner flame, flowed into basic asanas such as Vrksasana to try to find balance and stillness in the mind, Agnistambasana to apply compassion and ahimsa to one's body, and yoga therapeutics to understand, heal and accept oneself.

Agnistambasana with a smile

Not once during our yoga practice did anyone touch on being overweight or fat.  "You start where you are, and yoga will take you there," I said.  "And where you are today, in this pose, is exactly where you're meant to be in your practice right now".

Many of them said they felt a small, positive transformation taking place after the practice sessions.  Hopefully this transformation will guide them along this wonderful journey of yoga.

I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to introduce yoga to them... to inspire and support them in igniting the fire of tapas, in this path we call life.

Wishing them many more OM's to come.

Why not India?

There's another 2 weeks of teaching to go before I leave for 6-weeks of yoga bliss in India.  The studios where I teach have already let the word out, and some students have approached me on 'why India?'

Why not India?

I can understand, for someone who's never been there, just the idea of going to India, not to mention live there for weeks, can be extremely daunting.  It seems to be the land where the usual rules don't apply.

Sitting side saddle sans helmet

Look Ma! No Hands!

Freshly laundered clothes come wrapped in yesterday's newspapers

I mean, nobody can truly be prepared for India.  It is a beautiful destination..... incredible, no doubt, but compelling at the same time.  A fascinating land of mixed smells (yes, you get the whole nine yeards... pleasant AND non!)..... incessant honking at every road junction.... chai wallahs by the thousands.... rickshaw wallahs who slyly claim their metres are 'not working'.... kids running after you and asking if you've "got pen?".... cows and their droppings literally everywhere.... turmeric coloured food.... beautiful temples.... the gorgeous smell of jasmine in the air especially when there is a pooja.... ladies young and old, doing anything and everything in the most colourful of sarees, even sitting side-saddle on motorcycles.... old, really skinny men in white loin cloths, chanting or meditating along the Ganga, while further down, a body can be seen burning.... and everybody wants to know my name and if I'm from Japan!

And then, there's the yoga.... anything from big schools with fancy websites, medium sized shalas with ashrams, smaller non-descript shalas with just regular cement flooring, to free yoga practice at the temples at sunrise.

Most people who have gone to India all say the same thing... "you either love India, or hate it".

The sub-continent is huge and I've barely scraped the surface.  I've landed in Bangalore, found my way to Mysore and stayed there the longest for all things yoga, gone down to Kerala at the southern tip of the sub-continent, made my way up to Delhi, left footprints all over the kingdom of Rajasthan, wept over the sheer magnificence of the Taj Mahal, and left India with beautiful memories, newfound friends, renewed spirit and the dreaded 'Delhi Belly' stomach bug.

This will be my third consecutive year to India, and my second 'pure yoga' sojourn. 

I'm looking forward to, once again, detaching myself from the regular demands of life, and totally immersing myself into days of asana practice, pranayama and meditation. 

I yearn to be part of a daily ritual where yogasana is used to get into the depths of the mind and to tap into that inner sense of being, rather than being attached to trying to improve on postures. 

I want to open my heart and mind to the possibility of being more dharmic, in my outlook and response to what life has in store for me. 

In order to look after others' needs, I also need to look after mine.

To be able to teach well, I must continue to learn.

Do continue to practice and share the light.... because when I return home, I will share my light which will be burning oh-so brightly within me.

Om Namah Shivaya.

Low Motion

I was in the mood to teach arm and core strengthening asanas this week.  So I picked Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose) as the flavour of the week.  The moment I mentioned this in class last evening, groans were heard immediately around the room.

"Why the drama?" I asked.  "This pose is great for strengthening the arms and legs, tones the abs and builds healthy shoulders".

Moans and whimpers about "I hate this pose", "my arms are too weak", "my wrist and shoulders hurt" and "it's a pose for guys" were audible.  I hear them.... because for the first few years of my yoga practice, I found this asana to be incredibly tough, mainly because I found it so un-doable without putting unnecessary strain on the shoulders and wrists.

Until a teacher imparted the principles of alignment of Chaturanga Dandasana...and that's when I found myself getting into the posture with integrity and ease.

Strap Up

So, after a few rounds of abdominal core work, I got each practitioner to grab a block and strap.  "Here's where the fun starts," I grinned. They were asked to strap their arms about 2 inches above their elbows, loose enough for both arms to fall comfortably by the side body.  The purpose of the strap is to avoid the elbows from splaying to the sides, thus burdening the wrists and upper body.  When lowering the arms in Chaturanga Dandasana, it is important that the upper arm is in line with the side of the body, and the sternum is lifted forward.  There should NOT be any anterior rotation of the shoulders (shoulders rolling forward).  Maintaining this alignment in the shoulders and chest while bearing weight is challenging yet crucial.

Next, the block was placed directly under the sternum (beginners were told to use the tallest side of the block).  With knees on the mat, keeping the gaze to the front, the practitioners were asked to focus on coming forward rather than coming down.  They were asked to do 3 reps of half Chaturanga Dandasana, just to get the hang of the work in the arms and shoulders.  We then lowered the block's height, followed by another 3 reps in half pose.

After a couple of restful breaths in Vajrasana, I urged them into the next stage of the posture.  We all moved positions and went against the wall.

Pressing the feet against the wall to lift the quadriceps up, shoulders stacked above the wrists, they were asked to engage their core muscles and come into Plank Pose.  Think of pulling in the ribs (rather than just sucking in the stomach), as this action will elongate the spine.  Extend the sternum and the gaze forward but release the tailbone down and towards the back of the legs.  Soften the gaze, and push the triceps to the back to draw the heart forward.  This action prevents the chest from collapsing as well as the lower back from arching.

Elbow-and-shoulder-safe Chaturanga

With the arms still strapped and the block under the sternum, they pressed their heels back against the wall and lowered the elbows until the chest touched the block.  After 3 reps of Chaturanga Dandasana, a couple of smiles and gasps of "hey, it's not that hard after all", we rested in Vajrasana before flowing into the rest of the practice.

So, here are a couple of take-aways that I hold close to my heart, be it as a student or a teacher :

• Baby steps : Start small but dream big.  When you learn an asana, learn it properly.  Celebrate the small victories and then up the ante.  Remember to practise ahimsa... pain is only an option.
• Think of asanas as a project : give your body a timeline.... 6-months, 1 year, 2 years.... Practise regularly but allow yourself to embrace the posture in your own time.  Don't rush. Remember, this is your practice, your growth.
• Commit : Believe in yourself, your practice and listen to your body at all times.  
• Have fun : take your practice seriously but also learn to have fun and laugh at yourself.

Yoga is beyond the physical grace, strength, power and beauty of the pose.  The more you practise, the more significant progress the body makes.... and in time, this progress seeps into the mind, and opens many doors to the rewarding paths in your yoga journey.

Sat Nam.

The Day I Met A Yogi

"Living in solitude, eating lightly, controlling the thought, word and deed; ever absorbed in yoga of meditation, and taking refuge in detachment.  Know that the true yogi is the one who neither hates nor desires the worldly. Free from duality, O mighty-armed, he easily breaks free from bondage" (Bhagavad Gita - Yoga of Detachment). 

I met a yogi recently.  A visiting teacher, whose backbending workshop I attended.

With the little he has spoken...... a lot has been said.

And I.... have a lot to learn.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti.

A New Project Beckons

So, I've been invited to be a speaker in a "Hypnosis-NLP for Weight Management" programme at the end of July, here in Kuala Lumpur.

It is a 4-day intensive workshop, that teaches weight management techniques from a physical as well as psychological aspect.  The physical aspect (that's my bit) covers a specially designed yoga practice for the home as well as office, plus a 7-day detox/healthy eating plan.

Basically, my topic on "Healthy Body & Mind Through Yoga" will cover a whole day, followed by a 90 minute yoga practice for 3 days. 

Hmmmm.... a lot of work awaits.

Inner strength, love and light always,
xx

Journey of the Breath

As I prepare the necessary documentation for my yoga sojourn back to India, I realise it's already been 13 months since I had first gotten onto the teacher's mat.

The past year has been one that's been filled with in-depth exploration of my own personal practice... finding my style, flavour and 'voice' as a teacher... learning and cultivating the willingness to be open and to absorb as a student and from my students... turning inward to observe my current state of breath and mind as I get onto my yoga mat... as well as facing the unknown as I slowly step away from my comfort zone and face new challenges in a less goal-oriented way.

And throughout the year, I've discovered that :

• It truly is 1% Theory and 99% Practice - there is no better way to truly understand yoga than to have a regular self practice.
• Going for yoga classes is fun... there's often great group energy and you learn from different yoga styles, but when you cultivate your self practice, THAT'S when the real insights occur, as you learn to move at your own pace, tuning to your limitations, emotions and allowing your personal practice to develop a sense of curiosity rather than self-judgement.
• The best way to teach is to practise what you're teaching.
• While it's a good habit to prepare what to teach in a class, it's an even better habit to tune into the practitioners' needs and allow each moment to be fluid so that the practice becomes a beautiful and meaningful one FOR the practitioners.
• Although I'm a morning person, and the early dawn is the most beautiful time to practice yoga, I don't beat myself up over it, if some days I choose to sleep in, pick up the Yoga Journal, get inspired, meet friends for lunch, and then hop onto my mat later on in the day.
• Detachment makes life simpler, but not with less compassion.
• Yoga is indeed a lifestyle..beyond the mat, beyond 'wow' postures... yoga is anytime, anywhere. 
• Yoga is a journey.... one that is led by a constant companion...the breath.
• Balance in our bodies and in our lives, are connected to the relationship between effort and surrender.

And as I roll out my mat for a gentler evening practice (while avoiding inversions today), I remember a quote from Zen Master, Shunryu Suzuki's "Not Always So"....

"Even though you say your practice is not good enough, there is no other practice for you right now. Good or Bad, it IS your practice". 

Love to all.
xx

What's Up?

Wow, it's already mid-May.... and I realize this is the only entry of the month so far.  Time flies when you're busy....

Busy with "looking-at-the-world-the-other-way-up" stunts.

Busy splitting myself into new directions.

Busy teaching, sharing and learning.

Busy planning and counting down to....

• A much anticipated Chakra Vinyasa workshop by Delamay Devi (11 Days to go)
• A work trip to the Land my ancestors are from but of which I do not speak the Language (19 Days to go)
• A weekend of Iyengar yoga with Karin O'Bannon (24 Days to go)
• A much-deserved by-the-beach weekend getaway (38 Days to go)
• An eagerly awaited 6-weeks of intensive training to deepen my practice, re-center and replenish my yoga mojo (82 Days to go)

In the meantime, it's practice, practice, practice... and keeping life simple, sweet and filled with joy.

Love, light and peace always.
xx

Violation of the first Yama

"The Sadhaka can be considered firm in his postures when persevering effort is no longer needed.  In this stability, he grasps the physiology of each asana and penetrates within; gaining the art of relaxation, maintaining the firmness and extension of the body and mind (consciousness)".   from BKS Iyengar's Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

In our quest to acquire the mastery of an asana, we relentlessly pursue this 'perfection' through perseverence, alertness, and countless hours of practice... allowing ourselves to get carried away by the motions and actions of the physical, losing sight of the real essence of yoga.

Dear Ahimsa (non-violence, non-injury), 

How quickly I am reminded of thee, as I nurse an injured left wrist this week from 'overdoing it'.
I am indeed humbled by your presence, and am very grateful that this week is not as hectic as the last 3.  Instead I am taking the time to rest more, read and research, rekindle ties with old friends Pranayama & Meditation, and surrender into a more yin-like practice.

With love, peace & light.  

Time of Change

Most women I know (almost) always heave a sigh or two when the dreaded "M" word is mentioned.

Menopause.

While few women breeze through this time of fluctuating hormones, treating it as nothing more than a (short) phase of hiccups, most women battle perimenopausal symptoms up to as long as 6 years!  It's almost as if we are mourning the end of youth itself!

It is during this time that fluctuating estrogen and progresterone levels play havoc to our bodies and minds, triggering a myriad of less than desirable symptoms :

     ♥   hot flashes

     ♥   insomnia

     ♥   mood swings

     ♥   anxiety attacks

     ♥   depression

     ♥   memory lapses

     ♥   erratic periods

Depending on the severity of these symptoms, some doctors would prescribe menopausal women with HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) drugs to cope better during this stage in life.  However, many studies (although not definitive) have shown that HRT can be linked to increased risk of breast cancer, stroke or heart diseases.

So, if HRT is not preferable, perhaps a Naturopath or Traditional Chinese Doctor could help with a more holistic solution? 
Would yoga also be a non-evasive option to keep these unpleasant symptoms under control?

Although it is not meant to be a cure-all, having a regular yoga practice can help menopausal women adjust better and more comfortably during this hormonal roller-coaster ride.  Restorative asanas have a natural and direct effect in relaxing the thyroid and pituitary glands, stimulate the parasympathetic system, thus allowing women to live happier, find solace and inner peace instead of being (helplessly) overwhelmed by these uncontrollable symptoms.

With the help of props like yoga blocks, bolsters, pillows and blankets, a calming, restorative yoga practice for menopausal women can include asanas like :

• Baddha Konasana / Supta Baddha Konasana
• Paschimottasana (over a bolster)
• Janu Sirsasana
• Adho Mukha Svanasana (with head on block)
• Vrksasana (for calmness and stillness in the mind)
• Viparita Karani
• Supta Virasana
• Setu Bandhasana
• Ardha Salamba Sarvangasana
• Ardha Halasana (with legs on a chair)
• Gentle backbends like supported Ustrasana
• Matsyasana (to release tension in the heart)

While having a regular yoga practice prior to menopause would make a world of difference, it is never too late to start your practice.  Yoga has its roots in lifelong rewards when one practises to bring harmony to the body and mind. 

The Chinese believe, that a woman's reproductive system is the centre of her creativity.  Why not take this time to learn a new craft, take up yoga or line dancing, or join friends for early morning tai-chi sessions, followed by a hearty, healthy breakfast?

Support from family and loved ones are also crucial at this particular point in life.  Try to be extra patient and understanding if you're living with someone going through menopause. 

May all women find that calm in life to remain happy and grounded during the "Big M" stage.

Practice.... all is coming!

The late Shri Pattabhi Jois' famous words. 
Short, sweet and straight to the point.

And oh-so true, as evident in this morning's class.


Age : 42
First yoga class : June 2009
Frequency : Twice a week
Other exercises : None
Yay! Moment : Bakasana for 5 deep breaths


Definition of a "Yay! Moment" :
To a student : a cocktail of exhilaration, joy and a sense of accomplishment, followed by a big, happy grin and accelerated heartbeat.

To a teacher : one of life's most cherished rewards, as the student journeys inwards and catches a glimpse of one's true self.

Bare Your Heart

So much has been said these days, about 'heart opening', 'leading with the heart' or 'soften the heart'.  Spiritual teachers emphasise on opening the heart to allow ourselves the opportunity for growth and transformation.  Many yoga styles, like Anusara Yoga, for example, focus on 'Opening to Grace' as their first of five Universal Principles.  Even Bollywood movies have the heroes wearing their hearts on their sleeves (as apparent in every song and dance).

In our daily lives, it's natural to build invisible walls around our hearts to protect us from betrayal and hurt... the old 'trust has to be earned' mantra.

In our daily yoga practice, how much do we actually know about opening our hearts... learning to forgive... letting go of resentment...and most importantly, releasing fear?

Backbending asanas have a direct relation to opening the heart, physically.  It also sets the foundation of baring your heart, surrendering to and trusting in God or the Universe.  My heart always pounds furiously when I stay in Ustrasana (Camel pose) for longer than 2 minutes.... crossing this threshold also means the demons in my mind come out to play....taunting me with distractions and crazy emotions....wreaking havoc on my breathing and concentration.... sometimes even causing an unexplainable outburst of tears.

I received a copy of the Moondancer Sequence today... a gentle yet powerful heart opening practice.  (The Universe really has a funny way of delivering, as I was indeed mulling over this week's affirmation for my classes, "To Be Free, I Will Lead with an Open Heart").

So, as we step onto our mats this week, may we all learn to lead our lives with an open heart, release useless emotional baggage, and experience more love, laughter and joy.

Namaste.