I like 'hello's' more than I do with 'goodbye's'. I like to 'arrive' more than I do to 'depart'. I'm good at laughing and smiling but I'm terrible when it comes to crying. 'Do's' works better for me than 'don't's'. 'Trying' is always better than ' I don't think I can'. 'Definitely's' are better than 'maybe's'. 'I forgive' is better than 'I don't, so bugger off.'. And to know, is better than not to know, cause if you know and understand better, you move on. And last but not least, it is less stressful to trust and love, than to suspect and hate. These are my days.............................. Ikuyo L. has left for Tokyo and it was quite a sad moment to see her go. But I hope that we'll meet again someday in the near future. It would have been good to have her join us at the new studio. Maybe she'll pay us a visit again soon.
Kristie and I have been meeting up lately, making plans for our new yoga studio. Carpe diem ! Life moves on. Excited and happy. (ps. thank you everyone for your patience and loving support on our new move :O)
The next best thing is I'm looking forward to is seeing my sister and her two boys again. Can't wait to give them a cuddle, a kiss and a bite.
And then 5 more days to go till my holidays. Woo hoo!
Ah Hua went for a job interview to be a secretary.
When the manager saw Ah Hua'scolorful attire and gold, white-highlighted hair, his mind is screaming, 'NOT THIS WOMAN!!!'. so chekai, Nevertheless, he still had to interview Ah Hua.
So he told Ah Hua,"If you can form a sentence using the words that I give you, then I will give you a chance! The words are GREEN,PINK,YELLOW,BLUE,WHITE , PURPLE and BLACK"
Ah Hua thought for a while and said, 'I hear the phone GREEN , GREEN , GREEN, then I go and PINK up the phone, I say YELLOW..... BLUE's that? WHITE did you say?" He continues... "Aiyah, wrong numberlah.....Don't PURPLELY disturb people and don't call
BLACK, ok? Kum Siah."
The manager fainted....
** Ps . I don't know about you guys but I employ Ah Hua to be my jester! Kum Siah!**
Just a word of encouragement for the beginners and also the in-betweens to advanced yogis. Sometimes when a pose or a 'situation' gets challenging, be patient. In the beginning it feels like 'impossiblity' but with endurance and will power to 'live', impossiblity could become a possiblity. Peeling away the hard outer parts till you get the nice soft mushy parts is the part I find most exciting. Patience over time will reap huge benefits than a quick fix. Discover the mind and body without rushing.
Ahimsa means 'non violence' in sanskrit. I like to look at it as an act of loving kindness not only to others but ourselves. It's nice when you're able to display some kindness to someone else during the day. It could possibly be something simple like," How's it going?" and really mean it when you asked. More often, I find as we become adults, we become engrossed in our own lives and 'busier'. Everything around us becomes oblivious at times. Perhaps we are generally to look out for ourselves to gain independence. But maybe if we take time out to 'climb out of our heads' and look around us, you'll probably be able to use your own instinct sometimes to suss out somebody who might not be feeling themselves lately. And all it takes is 'Hey , How are you?" And I guess, if you can do that for somebody else, you could do the same for yourselves too. Being able to nurture the inner self when you're feeling worn out, despair or lost. This could just be a 'time out' like a break from everything around you. Or what I like to call, my 'ahimsa' time.
Life is not fair. Sometimes when you think you've already climbed over one hurdle, another situation comes along. A feeling of desperation to have some breathing space. Often enough, we have pushed through tougher times but with a thought that the ones we're having right now are probably harder that the ones before. And if it is, perhaps a little part acceptance into the situation rather that resisting it, will probably give us a clearer understanding.
Here's a little something from Daily Om which I find really helpful.
When we send healing light to ourselves, it is important that our intentions and our self-trust be stronger than ever to counteract doubt.
As we bless ourselves in this way, we serve as both an active channel and a passive destination. This should not change the way we interact with the valuable energy we wish to receive, however. Though we may be tempted to consciously direct or influence the manner in which light impacts our lives because we know ourselves most intimately, we should not try to control its path. When we draw the white light of protection and purity to our bodies, taking it into ourselves with each inhalation, our belief in the fact that it will naturally move toward areas of dysfunction will ensure that it flows through every muscle and organ. And when we fill our spaces with this light, our environments are cleared of all the negative energy that can sap our strength and our spirit. Surrounded inside and out with healing light, we feel safe and protected, healthy, relaxed, and content just as those who regularly receive such loving gifts from us do.
If you sincerely believe that there is a part of yourself that exists independently of upset and illness, the love and light you send yourself will help you connect with it. You will see the affirmative impact of this connection almost immediately when you include yourself in the recipients of your healing gifts, as life's frustrations become more tolerable and your bliss becomes ever more palpable.
Santosha means 'contentment'. They are the moments when you feel blissful, and these moments are pretty rare. It is possible to find 'santosha' in your asanas when you practice with diligence and full awareness of your movements. Moving with intelligence, strength, elequonce and beauty in sychronisation with your breath. It brings a sense of calmness and focus into the present moment. It is the energy you feel that settles and grounds you for the rest of the day.
Here's a good article I thought explain it in one of the best ways possible from Yoga Journal about 'prana' and the goodness of it all
".....you can learn to tune in to prana when you're awake and to build reserves of it.When you remove obstacles to free-flowing prana, you feel more alive and present in your life. Think of how great you feel after a yoga class or a night of dancing or making love. Movement can awaken both prana and awareness. Slow-motion movement slows your mind. Just a few minutes of it before sitting is an excellent segue to a more subtle meditation practice. Try lifting your arms overhead and slowly releasing them to your sides, concentrating on the micro-movements of your hands as they flow through space. Just a minute of this helps you move into pratyahara, sense withdrawal.
Paying attention to slowing down helps you be mindful during the day. Try brushing your teeth or washing dishes more slowly and see how that brings your mind into the present. Slowing down a yoga pose also helps draw you into a dynamic flow of sensation, breath, and awareness.
A fascinating paradox emerges when you allow yourself to become absorbed in the small details of any physical action. Embracing movement, you are inexorably drawn to the stillness within." (Jonathan Foust, M.A)
I heard Ref Station had a new collection of easyoga clothes on the rack today, so yup....I went to check it out. And I wasn't disappointed at all, lovely Angie was there to show me all the new tops and pants. You could check her yoga apparels in Kiulap, just opposite Petlink and close to Sweet Deli Bakery. I'm glad she's able to stock the yoga apparels for us, at least it saves us the online hassles and trying on the clothes is way better than just taking a guess at your size. Lucky for me, Angie had the 'L' size. Yup, yup, I like mine spacey.
I reckon most of the yoga tops Angie has are the collection from the Bertii Series, and they fit like a glove....very comfy too! So, do check it out. It's worth a trip to see her new collection of yoga mats too.
This week's ingredients is the best I can muster, for the moment (and it's within my budget...I'm all 'smiles' to that!) :-
Made carrot potato soup served with delicious wholemeal home made garlic bread with extra virgin olive oil. Very yummy for the tum tum! Chamomile tea (added with half a tea spoon of raw sugar) has been top of my list this week. Next try will be watercress soup.
Honey shampoo from the Body Shop, lurve the texture it leaves in the hair after.
Colonic therapy - great way to detox especially with the promotion going on right now (yup, you don't have to be a Gweneth Paltrow to afford one in Brunei.) $180 for a trial of two sessions. Reminder: give Elaine a call later ( If you like to try it, call her at 8846848)
Yoga & Joyful Living (mag: issue Oct 2008) : Iove the article Living Kindness " I love you in this way because I don't know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep it is your eyes that close." Pablo Neruda Poem Meister Eckhart:"You need to love all persons as yourself, esteeming them and considering them alike. What happens to another, whether it be a joy or a sorrow, happens to you."
From the Yoga Sutras : 1.14 sa tu dirgha-kala-nairantarya-satkara-adara-asevito drdha-bhumih To achieve a strong foundation in our practice, we must practice over a long time, without interruption, believing in it and looking forward to it, with an attitude of service. ...an advice to recognize that there is going to be some effort involved when you undertake anything new. To consciously create the foundation you hope to build on, not just to attain a successful outcome but also to feel good in the process. ...dirgha-kala or ''long time''....means recognizing that what you are undertaking cannot be perfected overnight, that you have to commit over time to get lasting results that you are happy with. Nairantarya as "no interruption", which addresses your commitment to the process. Your efforts must be wholehearted; an attitude of a little bit here and a little bit there is not going to help you reach your goal. Imagine trying to lose weight while eating healthfuly only once in a while.
Practice some yoga off the mat, try a few asana stretches when you get up in the morning, have a few deep breaths....if you will it, it takes place. Yoga doesn't necessarily mean 10 chaturangas and headstands for 10 minutes. It's about feeling 'wholesome' and living compassionately...a path to self discovery, mindful thinking, mindful decisions, mindful actions. Asevito ..approach each endeavor with an attitude of service......For me, I'm in service of others if I can help. Something simple but effective. Adara ...look forward to what you're doing. Whatever you set out to do, on some level, you must enjoy the job at hand. Even if what you're doing is difficult or tiring, there can still be joy or satisfaction in the effort if you know that you are experiencing something positive from it. Adara is important because without it, you are prone to burnout or to abandoning your commitment.
And last but not least, to have an attitude of friendliness toward those who are happy, compassion toward those who are suffering, pleasure and delight at those who are doing good deeds in the world, and an attitude of nonjudgmental watchfulness toward those who do harmful deeds. (and p.s these applies to all and everybody)
On an ending note, love the fact that we actually burned 520 calories on the last class. Woo hoo!
Have been living breathing eating 'yoga' in and out this past two weeks and maybe just a little much to take in all at once. But it's all good! Peter got me Maya Fiennes CD and (woo hoo!) at last ...I can just chill out to the soothing sounds of 'Ra Ma Da Sa'. Candy C.got me to check out Yoga Anonymous, and Brock Cahill has crazy moves in his 'Flight' vinyasa. I reckon they would have burned at least 1000 plus calories or more in one hour alone. Talking about calories, I had a close friend joining my classs yesterday afternoon, and she had a calorie counter watch on, (just out of curiosity )....guess what....at the end of the class, we actually burned 450 calories. Awesome! I never knew it was that much, figured we could have done 200 plus but 450?!!!! (woo hoo!) (pps...this was an intermediate/advanced session )
By the by, have you seen this video of Yogi Cameron from Ellen DeGeneres TV show? Pretty interesting on how this yogi can tell what your imbalances on your body are just by looking at the tongue. Plus, you can visit his website and take the Ayurveda test just to find out what hormonal imbalances are based on doshas and gunas. It's embarassing when I took my test, and nopeedoo, ain't telling you what was my dosha/gunas.....aiyaiyai! More detox Jac, detox!!!!!!
'Quote from Ellen DeGeneres on right versus left body non-symmetry “One side could be Cirque du Soliel and the other side could be a 52 year old woman.” Sister, don’t we know it! '
By the by, this is taken from Yogi Cameron website on Ayurveda- Science of Life
Ayurveda is the oldest medicine in use today. It is over 5000 years old.
It says:
All disease has a cause root where it starts out from. Disease first starts as a mental thought. Disease will continue to become physical if thought pattern is not changed. Any disease can be cured as long as the cause root is treated.
There is no name for any disease as disease is ever evolving into other forms.
Most diseases are first psychologically created then move to spread in the body.
An ayurvedic doctor examines with his eyes and touch.
All our inner life is written on our outer canvas.
Elements in balance = health
One element more dominate = imbalance, start of illness
Ayurveda treats people as individuals.
Firey energetic people have too much pitta.
Earthy people are heavy and lazy in mind and body.
Airy people move about a lot and find it hard to stay in one place.
As our mood changes so do the elements.
Elements move up or down depending on our lifestyle.
Our environment, job, family life, thoughts, etc. determines which
elements dominate us more.
The 5 elements Water . space . earth . Air . fire
Doshas . Body pitta . fire
Kapha . earth
Vata . air
Gunas. Mind Sattva . balance
Rajas . over stimulated
Tamas . lazy
By the by again guys, if you would like to take a test on what the Ayurveda Element Quiz, pay a visit toAyurveda Test
