Breaking your own perception.

I had a hands- on talk with a group of retailers ( who started to complain how long they have to stand during work), sharing with them how simple breathing and movements they can practice independently to reduce their stress level. Just in the first half of the talk, an aunty told me openly, " my friend did yoga yesterday and her whole body aching in pain leh!" Trying to get some supporters around her that yoga = to body pain. Nobody bothered. I quickly acknowledge her view and continued with the rest. Ironically, she participated enthusiastically too.

At the end of the session, while on my way out to the exit, a participant grabbed my arms. She too, said openly that she had finally relieved her back pain after the sessions, that acted up from last night.
 " Wha, this yoga stretches really works for me leh!".

Later in the day, i met up an old friend, while he shared with me on a self- help course he signed up       ( which coincidentally in the same week, my Hindi teacher talked to me about it too!).  One main topic was on "Perception". How we need to shattered all those thick- skinned of perception, which we layered over the years; which is essential for each of us to decide our next step, unpolluted thoughts.

We tend to live a life through the perception of others, living according to their views, expectations, memories, their plans... we want to live their lives for them. We live through their anger, their fear, their happiness, their achievements... Why? We are so attached to the perception, that we keep getting stuck in their blurry and dusty lens. We couldn't get a clear view of our own plan.

Take my encounter as an example. The first aunty already had a perception of yoga practice was pain, which even before she started doing it, which she took the impression from her friend's experience. She couldn't hold her viewpoint strong enough when none agreed with her, that she was too very unsure about it herself. So, she gladly did it.

And thus, her own experience had broken her own perception, after the whole event.

Everyone has their ownstruggles, their own challenges, and a different path that they chose to get to where they are. ~ Marc and Angel

Speaking to your teacher.

Don't be taken in by the " always smiling" face of the person adjusting you in a yoga class. My little fallacy of yoga teachers are always happy shattered when i become one. I too, find myself smiling once i step in front of the class; even i may have a bad day. Am i faking it?

Nope, haven't a time i have to force a fake smile to the class. I appreciate their presence, and always glad that i am there. Every student who choose to appear on the mat out from their schedule, or every yoga teacher appearing at the podium is indifference. We are all back up tons of everyday issues, worries, fears, anxieties, angers, hatred---- yearning to enjoy a little peace of mind on the mat.

Many student, like i used to think that yoga teachers are " God Almighty", who are living in their little heaven as they sing " Om peace peace peace". Not really in actual fact, i would say rather they have learn how to manage the the ever changing society. Flipping negative to positive vibes from the external world, by maintaining the equilibrium of the internal world.

Sometimes, it took us a while just to realize that we are at a loss. Till the level i realized i was pushing my own button, till i see that i am running in a pattern. There is a inner voice trying to communicate, but i didn't seem to understand its language. It can be quite frustrating, just like parents not understand baby language  -- and the poor kid can just go on crying.

Like how i always asked my students if there's any question they are free to approach me. It takes a little bit of courage to approach a teacher ( maybe its just me), some students are too shy to do that. I understand that it'l be very helpful and beneficial for both parties; i do encourage questions flowing in from the students.

As Yoga teacher to the students, i'm still a student of life. I feel that its very important for yoga teachers to be courageous enough to talk to someone who can guide us forward. That we are still learning, making mistakes, maybe self- inflicting pains; while we're busying managing all those stuff, we need a teacher to give us a pinch so that we learn.

Eventually, i got a chance to speak to my teacher, Master Paalu. Honestly, it can be quite intimidating speaking to him sometimes; he has this two sharp bionic eyes which seems like being capable of seeing through anybody, including me. I feel like i shrink, sitting in front of him; because he can sees me better than i can see myself, and this frightens me, a lot.

Speaking to my teacher, nothing is sweet nor bitter to my ears. I would describe his words as " super- organic", very raw. To me, visiting guru is a essential part of the learning journey. It enables me to re-connct to the source i may have lost. If we got burnt by playing with fire and pains teach us a lesson; gurus are those who teach us how to put fire into good use with wisdom.

A Kapha morning, sleepy practice.

Honestly, do i wake up every morning happily, eagerly and enthusiastically to meet my yoga mat? How i wish, but no. Somedays, i take 1 minute from my bed to the hall to roll out the mat. Somedays... quite a handful.... more than just a handful of days, like today, i took 2 hours and finally crawling out from the room and to the hall.

In Ayuvedic point of view, the dosha ( type) in the morning was very Kapha ( heavy & cooling). I woke up shutting my alarm, and fell back to sleep, snoozing every 15- 30minutes to keep track of how long i can steal to snuggle in such a cool morning.

2 hours! i fought for 2 hours! And finally appearing on the mat, with eyes closed, half asleep. The first few rounds of sun salutation was like "Zero calories"; i kept telling myself that i just have to keep moving to start my engine ( like how we need to warm up the engine of the car). Soon after, i felt my energy spiraling upwards, the heat swelling up the under skin, and sweats finally were bursting out from the pores.
I slowly open my eyes, and the practice kept going.

" Phew, i woke up now" I thought.

When on the path of yoga, we may discover many amazing things to surprise ourselves. Attending yoga classes was never a problem for me, always readily to hop onto the mat in the class. As time goes by, when the practice some how become so routinized, reaching a plateau, when all my enthusiasm has all burnt out, with so many things happening in my life that was dragging me away from the mat;

The time when i feel like giving all up, i'll always remember what most yoga teachers out there said,
" Just keep going for the one last bit."
When we feel like everything around us is falling apart, whether we are confused, lost of identity or down; just keep appearing on the mat, no matter how long we've to fight the inertia, the laziness, the hesitation.

Quoting from the yoga sutra: sthira sukham asanum 
Literally can be read as: steady and comfortable pose ( soul)

Putting aside the physical aspect of a regular yoga practice keeps us away from bodily illnesses, that one should be taking the practice and working with the body to reach a steady and comfortable physical  position.

Beaming into the spiritual aspect of the practice, with regular practice inwardly; slowly slowly we start to grasp the idea of being able to be mentally firm enough, emotionally strong enough and spiritually healthy enough to NOT to be shaken by the forever changing condition of the external.

Being aware but totally not affected or shaken by the drastic circumstances; with firmness yet gentleness, the soul (we) seats comfortably in the centre of our self, staying grounded always.

Easier said than done, i know. Every lesson is learn when we know how to draw positivity out from negative situation.