These days has been relaxing, at least mentally. I am very much able to at least pause and take a breather. Sitting in the cafes, staring blanks, opening the packages of thoughts that i'd been shoving them at a corner in my mind, its a kind of bliss. Not too much of any reading though, not till i'd slowly de-clutter my mind.
When previous numbers of months can be busy with classes, bringing most of my focus towards the students, when i still have, but little time for myself. Its time to slowly shift my focus back to my own practice; less teaching more learning. Its always better to take up the role as a student, being able to just absorb and learn whatever life presents to us.
In most times, straddling between tight teaching and practice, for the sake of schedule flexibility, i had most of my self- practice at home. Whenever i get to slot in 2 hours on the mat for myself--- dawn, noon or dusk. There comes a point i think... i think i've max out my capability at that given condition, i need someone to give me a hand to guide me forward, for further self- exploration.
I visited my teacher, Master Paalu, had some chats. Started to read up some articles, videos and posts by other experienced teachers around the globe. Later, i decided to drop into a humble space, Yoga Shala ( where they offer mysore- style practice) , having visiting teachers traveling in asia and coming to singapore.
I went over for my first session, Nigel Marshall ( who based in Bangkok) was teaching that day. I thought his name rings a bell in my ears; later to realized that i chanced upon his name while searching for a practice space in Bangkok which i'll be in next week; the site stated he'll be away from Bangkok and off traveling to teach, i was a little disappointed. Oh! Here he is in Singapore:)
Adjustments, corrections, new information, new insights---- that's what i need for now. What's can be more interesting, we are all going to flock and meet again in Mysore. How irony, that's life!
31 October 2012
27 October 2012
Guilty of getting injured in yoga practices?
Are you a super enthusiastic regular yoga practitioner, that you can't wait to jump on the mat and explore the possibilities of your physical body by trying out those seems to be "impossible" advanced poses? And realized that you gotten few injuries due to the practice?
I used to feel a little guilty whenever i got myself injured during the physical practice--- maybe a few falls that i knocked into the table, straining too much on one side of my shoulders or even getting a micro- muscles tear due to over stretching. No doubt i still feel good and happy, i do aware that i did give some discomforts to the body.
Just by attempting the Primary series of the Ashtanga method, there already has got a handful of more advanced poses that could possibly kill me --- setting challenges that requires the total external rotation of the hips that effects the knees and ankles, super deep twist that one can literally feel their stomach, liver and spleen shifting aside to make way, not forgetting the vinyasa that can really burn the shoulders..... just to name a few.
Yoga teachers are often get frame-up as a perfect picture by the students; that we should always be in a tip- top condition, never ever need to see a doctor or enter a hospital. They had lost sight of one thing: we are all human living on same piece of land, breathing the same air, drinking the from the same river.
I've been admitted to A&E in the middle of the night from an intensed pain due to UTI; been to Ayurvedic treatments for my micro-muscles tear in my hip; Chiropractic treatments for bad shoulders and hip... In fact, jokingly i thought... be grateful that the teachers have been through a whole turmoil in life, so that the students can learn how to manage them when they are facing the same situation.
Yoga is not all about perfecting the poses and life; practicing yoga is a skill... to manage whatever life has got to throw at you; its about making wise decisions of running away or facing an issue; is about making a choice of crying over a spilled milk or picking up the pieces( and not putting milk into glass bottle); its about experiencing life instead of rushing through it.
Yoga is not stagnant, its transcendental.
* check out for my second blogpost of injuries in yoga practices, coming soon!:)
I used to feel a little guilty whenever i got myself injured during the physical practice--- maybe a few falls that i knocked into the table, straining too much on one side of my shoulders or even getting a micro- muscles tear due to over stretching. No doubt i still feel good and happy, i do aware that i did give some discomforts to the body.
Talk to any Ashtangi ( a name given to people who practice Ashtanga method), probably has got a whole list of injuries they had experience. The question is, why are they still in the practice then? Given this method of practices requires a lot more from the physical body, with the jumping forward/ backward, backward rolling....
Because the feeling of greatness prevails beyond the flesh and bones; a deep- core joy.Yoga teachers are often get frame-up as a perfect picture by the students; that we should always be in a tip- top condition, never ever need to see a doctor or enter a hospital. They had lost sight of one thing: we are all human living on same piece of land, breathing the same air, drinking the from the same river.
I've been admitted to A&E in the middle of the night from an intensed pain due to UTI; been to Ayurvedic treatments for my micro-muscles tear in my hip; Chiropractic treatments for bad shoulders and hip... In fact, jokingly i thought... be grateful that the teachers have been through a whole turmoil in life, so that the students can learn how to manage them when they are facing the same situation.
Yoga is not all about perfecting the poses and life; practicing yoga is a skill... to manage whatever life has got to throw at you; its about making wise decisions of running away or facing an issue; is about making a choice of crying over a spilled milk or picking up the pieces( and not putting milk into glass bottle); its about experiencing life instead of rushing through it.
Yoga is not stagnant, its transcendental.
* check out for my second blogpost of injuries in yoga practices, coming soon!:)
21 October 2012
Once, is enough.
Once, is enough.
Many times we hope we can re-live the past;
Revisit the same pain from the attached memories;
We hope we can, maybe made a better choice.
Some times we hope to retrace our footsteps;
We want to, re- taste the sweet times;
Finding ways to retain it.
Its time, to be awaken, to live every moment.
In that instant,
Laugh & smile all you want;
Cry & sob for all you like;
Be in the pain & joy without any visa;
Just once, is enough.
09 October 2012
Why should i help? Why not?
I first get to know about Operation Shanti during my first trip to Mysore, India in 2009. As their top priority was to keep the privacy of the little children- they are pretty strict with outside visitors. Very fortunately, we got to spend some days towards the end of our stay with the kids. We got to do wall painting together--- and couple of really talented kids helping out with the Kananda writing.
From the very first moment shared with the kids, till today, sometimes, they still do flashes across my mind before i goes to bed. When every time this happens, i wanted to see them again.
The second time visit to Mysore, India was pretty awesome. Together with Shirly & Joanne, we got to spend more time with the kids. I was very happy when they did recognized us, even after a year apart. The kids could not remember or pronounce my name, and they gave me a name call " ABC Madam" Every after morning yoga practices, besides the days of traveling, we got to see the kids. Tracy, the founder of the home, i really take my hat off her. Her energy of releasing care was almost bottomless.
In the evening, we would get follow the old uncle, the dog and a puppy to the school, picked the kids home from classes. They are very very adorable, with they tiny little body, dragging a big school bags, charging towards us. It was like a little competition among themselves, who ever gets to hold our hands and grab our attention wins. As soon as they naughty little boys started to hold by the corner of my blouse and grab my butt.
We sang & danced on our way back to home.
That was when i this little girl hastily walked towards me. She wanted to run but her hands was busy adjusting her school uniform, smiling at my shyly. i was wondering if she was uncomfortable, or maybe her uniform was torn. Later then i realized that her panties was so loose, gonna drop down if she did not hold it tight enough. For the whole day in school, that's how busy she was... holding up her undies.
My heart ached a little when i saw that. Pondering about that every now and then, these are basic things that most of us take it for granted. The kids values every little things that they have. I was amazed how they can make their own toys. One boy even made a " scooter" out of just three items--- a ruler, a string
& a stone. Proudly he scooted his creation around the field.
For the older boys, loved them much! Squeezing into the kitchen, on the floor, making chapatis, trying to communicate in English that made out full loads of jokes; the boys sharing their dreams and a little on their background while they were on the streets. The boys show casing their Takwando, and the girls performing singing & dances, and we... playing around with yoga stunts.
I would cry in front of my computer when i started to read the profile of each child. I couldn't come to sense the events they had been through, some were physically abused & some were abandoned in bus/ train station at very very young age.
Given a chance to really communicate with the kids, and getting involved in their daily activities, the teach me what's a Simple & Happy life. Honestly, i personally is very skeptical about NGOs, with so many NGOs fraud cases in Singapore & in India itself. I vouched for the humbly set up of Operation Shanti.
Do check out their sites,
For updates on the kids: http://operationshanti.blogspot.sg/
For donation contribution or sponsor a kid: http://www.operation-shanti.org/donate.html
Shanti, means peace in Sanskrit. Share a piece of yours with them.
From the very first moment shared with the kids, till today, sometimes, they still do flashes across my mind before i goes to bed. When every time this happens, i wanted to see them again.
In the evening, we would get follow the old uncle, the dog and a puppy to the school, picked the kids home from classes. They are very very adorable, with they tiny little body, dragging a big school bags, charging towards us. It was like a little competition among themselves, who ever gets to hold our hands and grab our attention wins. As soon as they naughty little boys started to hold by the corner of my blouse and grab my butt.
We sang & danced on our way back to home.
That was when i this little girl hastily walked towards me. She wanted to run but her hands was busy adjusting her school uniform, smiling at my shyly. i was wondering if she was uncomfortable, or maybe her uniform was torn. Later then i realized that her panties was so loose, gonna drop down if she did not hold it tight enough. For the whole day in school, that's how busy she was... holding up her undies.
My heart ached a little when i saw that. Pondering about that every now and then, these are basic things that most of us take it for granted. The kids values every little things that they have. I was amazed how they can make their own toys. One boy even made a " scooter" out of just three items--- a ruler, a string
& a stone. Proudly he scooted his creation around the field.
For the older boys, loved them much! Squeezing into the kitchen, on the floor, making chapatis, trying to communicate in English that made out full loads of jokes; the boys sharing their dreams and a little on their background while they were on the streets. The boys show casing their Takwando, and the girls performing singing & dances, and we... playing around with yoga stunts.
I would cry in front of my computer when i started to read the profile of each child. I couldn't come to sense the events they had been through, some were physically abused & some were abandoned in bus/ train station at very very young age.
Given a chance to really communicate with the kids, and getting involved in their daily activities, the teach me what's a Simple & Happy life. Honestly, i personally is very skeptical about NGOs, with so many NGOs fraud cases in Singapore & in India itself. I vouched for the humbly set up of Operation Shanti.
Do check out their sites,
For updates on the kids: http://operationshanti.blogspot.sg/
For donation contribution or sponsor a kid: http://www.operation-shanti.org/donate.html
Shanti, means peace in Sanskrit. Share a piece of yours with them.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)