You chose your dreams

You chose your dreams
for the journeys they'd inspire, and you knew
when you chose them that there'd be obstacles,
dark days, and knuckleheads who'd stand in
your way. They're part and parcel of where
you're headed, and they don't just go away

So when you face your next challenge, welcome it.
Rise up, don't back down. See it as a stepping-stone,
not a wall; a valley, not an abyss. And before you know it,
as one is conquered after another, the journey will be complete,
and the joy of manifesting your dream will pale in comparison
to the satisfaction of your persevering, overcoming and breaking through


Don't you see these are the days, right now,
mid adventure, that will mean the most to you
once your dreams come true?

Enjoy.

Stay healthy with anti aging food

Visited www.wholeliving.com and found some stuffs about anti aging food. Here are some you may already be taking as part of your daily intake. And they are :-

Tomatoes - It contains lycopene,an anti oxidant that helps maintain youthful skin texture and may reduce some risk of cancer (especially prostate, lung and stomach cancers) and heart disease.

Olive Oil - It is rich in anti oxidants and anti inflammatory monounsaturated fat. Again, it lowers the rate of cardiovascular disease.

Nuts - Varieties such as almonds and walnuts contain a generous helping of healthy fats, vitamins and protein that benefit cardiovascular and brain health. Nuts are also high in compounds that ease inflammation.

Red Grapes - Contains anti oxidants call resvaratrol, it has anti inflammatory and anti coagulant properties, which may explain why red wine and purple grape juice also promote heart health.

Fish - It has Omega 3 in it and helps combat inflammation in the body. It also reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease and stroke.


Ginger contains anti inflammatory compounds that reduces the risk of age related conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. Plus anti oxidant substances found in onions and garlic can protect against heart disease and diabetes.

Using yoga blocks

Lately I have been using the yoga blocks to realign students posture. When I first learnt half moon pose, I balanced well on my standing foot, but I would tilt slightly towards the floor. Instead I teach the students to use the blocks while doing ardha chandrasana. This helps them from straining their lower back to carry their upper half of the back should they tilt forward.




Lord of the dance or Natarajasana, one of my favourite yoga poses, helps open the chest and hips. I like it personally cause it makes me feel 'light'.

Natural Home Cleaning

Natural Home Cleaning
Date: July 24, 2007
Written by: Amanda Denz (From Kashi e-article)


Everyone loves a clean, sparkling, fresh-smelling home. But when you look at your shiny bathtub after a good scrub, it’s possible — depending on what type of cleaner you use — that you are inhaling harmful pollutants left over from that scrubbing agent. Studies by the Environmental Protection Agency have shown that levels of pollutants inside the home are easily two to five times higher than levels outdoors. Many home cleaning products greatly contribute to lowering air quality in the home. They can also leave compounds floating in the indoor air long after your cleaning spree has ended.

Conventional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can also be harmful to the environment. When you clean your kitchen sink and rinse that harsh solvent down the drain, where does it go? Choosing environmentally friendly alternatives not only keeps your home a healthy place for your family, but it also helps the earth.

Easy alternatives

Buying eco-friendly home cleaning products is one way to solve these problems. Another idea is to use kitchen items already in your cupboards for home cleaning. There are an astonishing number of simple, easy, and affordable ways that basic home ingredients like baking soda, lemon, vinegar, and essential oils can be used to clean, disinfect, and deodorize your home.

Baking soda. It’ a natural cleanser, deodorizer, and scrubbing agent.
Liquid soap. Mix a concentrated, eco-friendly liquid soap with other ingredients to form homemade cleaners.

Vinegar. Use it to remove grease, wax, dirt, and mildew. White distilled vinegar is usually better because cider vinegar can stain some surfaces.
Isopropyl alcohol. Pour a little on a cotton ball or paper towel to disinfect doorknobs, telephones, countertops, or any other surface (aside from wood, which it dries out).

Essential oils. Tea tree, eucalyptus, and lavender oils can all disinfect as well as add a pleasant smell to your homemade cleaners.
Lemon juice. A cleaning agent on its own, it can also add a nice, clean smell to your homemade cleaners.

The recipes

All-purpose mildly abrasive cleanser. Baking soda, liquid soap, and an essential oil of your choice — tea tree, eucalyptus, or lavender —are a great team because of their disinfecting properties and combined scent. Use a generous amount of baking soda and mix in the liquid soap until you have a smooth pastelike consistency. Add a few drops of the essential oil and scrub away at your bathtub, sink, or toilet. If mold or mildew is present pretreat the area with hydrogen peroxide, and if there is grease use vinegar.

Nontoxic furniture polish. A combination of oil and vinegar works to extract dirt from furniture as well as moisturize and protect wood. Olive oil and jojoba oil are good choices, and white distilled vinegar is best because apple cider vinegar can stain. A ratio of 1 part oil to 2 parts vinegar will work, and can be adjusted depending on the finish of the wood.

Chemical-free oven cleaner. Who wants to put a rough chemical solvent in the same oven in which they will later bake food? A great alternative to conventional oven cleaners is baking soda and water. Cover the bottom of the oven with baking soda and then spray with water. Leave the mixture overnight and then spoon it out in the morning. It's that simple! Add a little lemon to the water for a fresh scent.
Keep your home’ air clean

Once you start experimenting with the ingredients above you’ll be amazed by how effective they are.

http://www.kashi.com

3 Days 2 Nights Yoga Retreat

Yoga Retreat in Langkawi

This is an opportunity to have fun, do yoga with our tirisula yoga masters, detox and relax. Wanna join in?


Langkawi, Malaysia

26 to 28 Sept 2008



Workshop Highlights:
§ Ashtanga Vinyasa Workshop

§ Aqua Yogaerobics Workshop

§ Introduction to Numerology Workshop

§ Daily Asanas and Pranayama practice, including Sunrise Yoga

§ Kids Yoga Games session

§ Meditation


Retreat Outings:

§ Langkawi Cable Car, Gunung Matchinchang

§ Seven Wells Waterfall/Durian Perringin Waterfall

§ Beaches





Langkawi is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. The islands are a part of Malaysia's Kedah state, but are adjacent to the Thai border.



Pulau Langkawi's landscape is painted with marbled mountains, vast paddy fields and rural villages, miles and miles of white sandy beaches, secret caves, and pockets of virgin rainforests dating back millions of years.

Sheltered by the mountainous backbone of Peninsular Malaysia, Langkawi escapes the northeastern winter monsoon entirely and enjoys sunny skies in winter when the eastern provinces are flooded. Coupled with natural white sand beaches, lush jungle foliage and craggy mountain peaks - the island was at one time touted as "Malaysia's best-kept secret".

You will experience doing yoga with a group of yoga enthusiasts in natural surroundings. This is a value-for-money retreat with packed yoga and activities during this 3 days 2 nights program. One Fitness has been organizing Yoga Retreats for the past 3 years and the responses were overwhelming. Next page shows the itinerary of the retreat.

One of the main activities is the cable car ride. Take an exhilarating ride on the Langkawi Cable Car up the escarpment on Mount Machincang and over ancient rainforests. Sit back in awe, take in one of the world’s steepest incline rides at 42° and be enthralled by the spectacular scenery as it unfolds on this unique L-shaped route. Langkawi cable Car has the world’s longest free span for a single rope cable car at 950 metres.



Cost:
SGD 350 or MYR 800 (early birds registration by 1 July 08)

SGD 400 or MYR 920 (closing date 15 Aug 08)

This includes all Yoga programs and workshops as listed above, plus accommodation, food (2 breakfast, 1 lunch and 2 dinner), entrance fee to cable car and transportation within Langkawi from start till the end of the program. Price excludes transportation to/fro Langkawi, insurance, room service, additional food and beverages and personal expenses.

For additional info, please visit www.tirisulayoga.com

Partnering Yogis

White Food

Hospital foods aren't the best among catered foods unless you have bribed the chefs with a nice gift. I used to work in the NHS hospitals in UK and even then, I have always thought the food they served the patients were pretty bland. I guess the tastes of food doesn't matter as much if you aren't fussy. But when you aren't feeling well, the last thing you liked to see is pale,boiled, tasteless food. Paper coasters anyone?

I know, I should be grateful for what I have. I do. Just that I don't really understand the concept of giving patients bland food. My previous managers always told me we have to feed the patients healthily. Hmmmm, feed? I think it's more like us serving them the tray and them looking at the tray first then at the nurses saying,.......'You are kidding me right?' And sure enough, 70 % of the time, the patients hardly eats any of the food served. You think, 'it's okay, they can bring their own food'. Well, depends on hospital policies. The previous ones I worked with says no, you can't. Unless it's permitted by doctors. And of course, because doctors have to promote hospital food, they will say," Eat the hospital food, it's good for you." ..........Patient raises one eyebrow and says," You eat it and see if you can digest it."

My opinion is you cannot change someone's eating habit in just one day or a few days stay at the hospital. All of us are usually fussy with our food. Usually. So, instead of the patients being malnourished and appetite loss, why don't hospitals serve food that patients can still eat without having to feel someone has passed them the 'xerox paper' meal.

What I think is pretty nonsensiscal is when fruits are weighted out for each meal. Huh? One time, they served a tray of rice porridge, big enough for two people to consume and a handful of boiled chicken (no salt, no pepper) and a small plate of 3 pieces of watermelon ( the size that fits a 12 year old hand) with two pieces of grapes.

Hummmm, fructose of fruits compared to complex carbohydrates of rice porridge.

The vicious circle involves patient losing muscle weight because of appetite loss. But when the patients return home, they eat the usual food like nasi lemak or other kuih. Back to patient's old regime of 'not so good' nutrition. The hospital defeats the true purpose of healing the patient in the first place.

Suggestion....why don't they just educate patients properly on food 'do's and don't's '? Rather than forcing what I call 'white food' to patients?

So, ........

Beijing Olympics 2008

Sat and watched the recorded tape of Beijing Olympics 2008 with my family and all I can say is ..........Wow! Very impressive. It truly was amazing. Would have loved to be in the crowd to see it live. Everything in it was detailed down to their hairstlyes. How long would it have taken them to prepare? The dances were schronised, the movements were cheographed well and the drums in the music background were fantastic.

I think the final part where the athelete ran along side the walls to light up the olympic torch was a brilliant idea.

So many themes well displayed and expressed through the dancers and the paintings. I like the part where they displayed different faces of children. The significance of the universe, the different cultures to pass on, and to build a better future for the children of the world.

All in all, they have really done a good job for the official opening .....Bravo!

Bought & Forgotten

Have you bought clothes you imagine yourself wearing for a certain occasion? And that certain occasion would be that ‘ maybe’ or ‘ just in case’ days? I am that person, buying clothes for occasions I imagine in my head, thinking it will happen sometime soon. Could be a nice top for a dinner party or a dress for a formal dinner. Problem is, I don’t attend that many party dinners to begin with. So, over the last few years or more, I have collected a wardrobe of clothes either once worn or just kept for the sake of it.

Some of it would be clothes I use to fit in and now has shrunk. Okay, stop laughing! I do think the water in Brunei shrink clothes. So, I had it in my head that I will try shrink to get back into those impossible waist 26” skirts!

It just occurred to me I have no use for any of the clothes other than looking at them. I mean, yes, even though I may be dreamy about fitting back into my wedding dress again, I am realistic that my body changes with each year passing by. Must be that birthday feeling arising again. I am okay with just letting go of clothes I hardly wore and giving it away to friends. Hopefully, they will wear it more than I ever did.

It feels good to see spaces in my wardrobe now and being able to just choose out of just a few instead of a hundred. It sounds zen doesn’t it?

Here's a few tips on decluttering your wardrobe....

1)If there's a particular item has not been used or worn in the past year, well, what are you waiting for? Give it to somebody else who might want it. Don't go tearing it up to shreds as a 'tampoh' or ' wet cloth' for your dinner table!

2)If you have worn it only once and it's gone out of fashion, again, what are you waiting for? Give, give, give to your 'pingyou' or your dearest friends! Pass it on.

3)K, next...don't go buying clothes that looks so similar to all your other tops. Then you'll have a tendency to stand in front of your wardrobe for 2 hours deciding which color you like for the day. Next time you buy clothes, just buy one unique item you like.

4) Don't start wearing your nice 'froo froo' dress at home just because you can't let go of it. Reasons for not letting go of that party dress..erm, let me see..is it the first dress your husband said you look great in? If he doesn't remember you in it or the Brunei water has shrink it..........PASS IT ON

Right, time for me to go home and revisit that wardrobe of mine.........

How to get baby soft skin

Being a yoga teacher, I practice with the students four to five times a day. I have dry skin, no matter how much lotion I slab on my 'brillo pad' skin, it still stays dry. Because of the way I rub my feet across the yoga mat when I do different poses, my skin under my feet tends to slowly peel off. (Yes, I do hope you are not reading this while eating your meal. Lucky you, I haven't gone full into details.) I think wearing slippers all the time doesn't help. Didn't get much of the 'Frodo' feet when I was in UK. Guess it was because I was wearing socks all the time for most of the year.

My feet therapy now involves paying a visit to Shiatzen Spa, get the foor spa done and have a feet pampered by a professional. Ahhhhh, that for me, is my treat for the week. I do try and exfoliate my feet when I return home. And yes, I moisturise my feet now with butter shea ( I ice skate on my wooden floor) and wear socks to bed.

Yoga students with me at Seraphina will have notice I love my handiplasters on my big toes. Ya, I should have a private account with Johnson band aids.

Anyhow, here are some stuff I found from wikihow, have a look through and see if it helps you if dry skin is your problem too.

1)Cleanse your skin once a day with soap free body wash, water, and a soft sponge.

2)MOST important step- Ex-fo-li-ate! Exfoliate once week or once a fortnight if you have sensitive skin. It will remove dead skin cells, dirt and oil and will leave your skin baby soft! You can do this with an exfoliating puff, exfoliating shower gloves or with an exfoliating scrub. (store bought or hand made)

3)Pat dry with a big fluffy towel. Don't rub or scrub - this damages your skin and also creates wrinkles later on in life.

4)Apply lotion, cream or body oil before you leave the steam-filled bathroom. This is the best time to moisturize your skin because your pores are still open and your skin is still moist.

5)Wear sunblock if you're going to step outside of your house. One of the reasons babies have such soft skin is that they haven't been exposed to the harmful effects of UV rays

Tips

For particularly rough dry areas such as feet & elbows slather on some lotion or body oil before you go to bed, when you wake up they will feel a whole lot better.

Drink half your weight in ounces of water every day. For example, if you weigh 140 lbs, you should drink 70 ounces of water every day, this will keep your skin hydrated from the inside out.

Take a daily multivitamin to help your skin fight off damage and wrinkles.

Gentle, ph balanced,soap free body wash is best for your skin, soap can be very drying & contains a lot of chemicals that can damage skin cells.

Add a handful of sugar (brown sugar works best) to your favorite lotion and mix. Rub it into your dry skin and then towel it off.

Brazillian women have some of the smoothest, sexiest skin in the world, whilst at the beach they will often get a hand full of sand & rub it over their thighs, elbows & bum cheeks to exfoliate.

Try a milk & honey bath for a luxurious way to baby soft skin, run yourself a warm bath, add about half a litre of milk, about 3 tablespoons of honey (this is not enough to make you sticky) and break open a vitamin e capsule into the water.


*Tips are extracted from www.wikihow.com*