Tripsi-who?

Ever since I got onto the teacher's mat, I'd told myself that I would take a break from teaching each year.... to treat myself to a little bit of 'me' time (totally yoga-skewed, nonetheless).... and take the time to rejuvenate, refresh, rediscover the sweetness of the yoga nectar, and to fall in love again with my practice.


In my opinion, a teacher who teaches continuously without taking a break, (nor takes the time to advance and deepen his/her personal practice), is not good for neither the teacher nor the student.  Needless to say, I've attended yoga classes in my free time, and have come across teachers who not only look extremely tired (read : jaded) but also sound like a tape recording from the front of the room. Not only do they not innovate nor change their vinyasa sequencing, some don't even look at the practitioners, let alone provide hands-on assist. 


So, after religiously traipsing back to my Masters in Mysore annually since 2008, I've decided to give Incredible India a break this year, and immerse myself in the 500-Hour Tripsichore Yoga Teacher Training Program organized by Jiva Yoga, right here in Kuala Lumpur.


He shall be Master.... 

Edward Clark

And I the humble student....

The training will have grueling, entertaining, exhilarating yet demanding vinyasa sequences, and graduates of the course will have to be conversant with the sequences of Tripsichore Yoga, and the intricacies of the techniques and philosophies that form it, with the knowledge and versatility to apply to other forms and styles of yoga practice.


Edward Clark is infamous for his creative inversions and arm balances.  I'm super excited at what I'm about learn, and the fun I'm going to have on the mat, yet in the same breath, I'm about to have a nervous breakdown just thinking about it....


So, as I take the next couple of weeks to prepare myself mentally, spiritually and physically for D-Day on 18 April, I surrender to the fact that, in order to stay up and upside down, I must first fall down again and again and again... 


To attempt to fly, one must first learn to ground.  And ground I shall, as I allow the Universe to channel me toward a fun-filled path on my yogic journey. 


Love and Light.

The Gift of Yoga

Check out Jennifer Aniston's gift to Oprah. We all know Oprah loves dogs - I guess she'll soon be doing the Downward Dog in customised-mat style :)

Namaste, Jen and Oprah!

The 5-Day Detox Diet and Liver Cleanse Program

Putting behind all the glorious overeating during the Lunar New Year festivities, it is now time to cleanse, purify and restore balance in my (slightly curvier) body and doshas.


I incorporate a detox program into my schedule at least twice a year.  The secret to a successful detox program is quite simple : 
1. Decide when's a best time to start, and once you start, commit to it.
2. Make it fun and not torturous.
3. Accept small changes, and NOT expect big results (remember, baby steps, if it's your first time).


Out with the Old : Day One
The purpose of this cleanse is to purge the liver, gall bladder and colon of impurities, and to boost the function of your liver.  It's best to be in the comfort of your own home during this stage.


Ingredients for The Purge :
1 dose of Castor Oil according to your weight (35-45kg = 4tsp, 46-65kg = 6tsp, 66-85kg = 8tsp)
125ml of fresh fruit juice (orange, apple or grapefruit)
Mix the ingredients, and drink on an empty stomach first thing in the morning.
Throughout the day, hydrate yourself with lots of warm water (at least 2 liters).
Regular Liver Cleansing will also help lower cholesterol and clean your gut of toxic build-up.
Don't be surprised if some people even pass out small gallstones.


Liquid, Lively, Fluidity and Grace - Day One to Three

Get your Fresh Squeeze

Days 1 to 3 are Juice Fast Days.
Drink a big glass of freshly squeezed fruit juice every 2 hours.
Some ideas for juices :

• Carrot, apple and ginger (antioxidants and anti-ageing)
• Watercress, carrot and cucumber (boosts energy, cooling)
• Beetroot Booster (antioxidants, boosts blood circulation, revitalises)
• Bittergourd and lime (removes toxin, clears skin)
• Apples, grapes, beetroot and ginger (a power booster combination)
• Watermelon and honey (cleanses, cooling)
• Celery and carrot (refreshing, antioxidants)
• Fresh coconut water (great immune booster)

Get Raw - Day Four and Five

Get Fresh and Frooty

Eat one serving of fruit every 2 hours on Day 4 and 5.
Finish your day with a light salad of choice - add legumes like chickpeas or lentils for an added energy booster.
Dressing : lightly sprinkle 1-2 tbsp of organic extra virgin olive oil or organic flaxseed oil over your salad.
Enjoy!


Daily Yoga - Detox and Feel Great Sequence
Begin with Breath Cleansing exercises - Nadi Soddhana and Kapalbathi pranayama.
Surya Namaskar A & B - 3 rounds each
Trikonasana, flowing to Ardha Chandrasana
Virabhadrasana II, flowing to Parsvakonasana (bound)
Virabhadrasana I, flowing to Low Lunge and Parvritta Parsvakonasana
Pada Hastasana, flowing to Utkatasana (with raised heels) then to squat and seated postures.
Janusirsasana A
Ardha Matsyendrasana
Paschimottassana
Purvottanasana
Jthara Parivattanasana
Supta Baddakonasana
Savasana


Here's to a refreshed and more Sattvic you!


(extracted from my seminar notes as a speaker at the Hypnosis-NLP for Weight Management Certification Program in Kuala Lumpur, 29 July 2010)

Enlighten Up - A Skeptic's Journey Into the World of Yoga

So, I'm home for a week, as it's the Lunar New Year holidays here in Malaysia. After two full days of cooking up a storm for the family, and skipping yoga practice under the guise of entertaining friends and relatives who visit, the only stretching I did for the past couple of days was to reach out for the jar of buttery pineapple tarts.


So after waving goodbye to the last of the in-laws this morning, I propped up my tired feet, decided to (slowly) ease back into yoga-mode, and slipped in this DVD.  And for the next hour plus, I was laughing and nodding my agreement to Kate Churchill's docufilm, Enlighten Up.  


Here's a synopsis of the film - a must-watch for anyone who's practising yoga. It also features yogis like BKS Iyengar, the late Shri K Pattabhi Jois, David Life, Sharon Gannon, Dharma Mittra, Cyndi Lee, Norman Allen and more. Enjoy!

Kate Churchill is a filmmaker and a dedicated yoga practitioner who insists that yoga can transform anyone. She decides to prove it. Her plan: select a subject, immerse him in yoga and follow him until he finds a yoga practice that transforms him. Her subject: Nick Rosen a skeptical, 29 year-old journalist living in New York City.

Intrigued by the opportunity to peek behind the curtain of a 5.7 billion dollar "spiritual" industry, Nick signs on to investigate yoga for 6 months. Before he can say OM, he finds himself twisted up like a pretzel, surrounded by celebrity yogis, true believers, kooks, entrepreneurs and a gentle teacher from Brazil who leads his class with his feet behind his head.

The more Nick investigates yoga the more contradictions he discovers, leading him to question whether yoga is anything more than a workout. As Nick searches for concrete facts and discards the lofty spiritual theories of his yoga teachers, he strays further from Kate's original plan. The two find themselves lost in Northern India, embroiled in a struggle between Kate's expectations and Nick's overt rejection of "spirituality."

They circle the globe talking to mystics, gurus, mad men and saints searching for the true meaning of yoga. Ultimately, both Nick and Kate end up in places they never could have imagined. They don't find the answers to their questions, they find much more.

Pix from rottentomatoes.com

Pix from rottentomatoes.com