Giddy Life

Bad Yoga! Good Yoga!

2012-02-10T03:28:00.000-08:00

a gorgeous image i found (not me)

Ooo la la! Yoga community!

It has been an interesting few days in the wise world of Facebook with the release of a New York Times Magazine article ‘How Yoga Can Wreck Your Body’. Today in the Sunday Times Magazine here, there is also an article about this, in response to a book due to be released next month by the same writer titled ‘Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards’.

You can wreck your body doing anything. Just because in yoga, it looks like we are doing things beyond “normal”, everyone is jumping on the story. During the months of Spring-Summer, so many clients come in with bad backs from gardening!

I was once an enthusiastic wakeboarder. We all accepted that we were wrecking our knees and our backs. People died doing the sport. Ok, it is labelled an extreme sport but no governing body grew out of this sport to say who could and could not teach it and regulate it into a safe sport. That is not to say that associations representing the sport are not concerned about injuries. They do have safety advice. I am not comparing yoga to an extreme sport. All i am saying is that the people who come to yoga are not very different from people who participate in extreme sport. That is to say; you choose to do it because you love it. You do your best not to injure yourself so that you can keep doing it. You are aware of certain risks involved! You open your ears and listen to your body. At least in yoga, you get the chance to pause…be receptive…decide… do I try this today or do I try it another day. More importantly, you do not attempt anything you are not ready for and against all your instincts! You do not need anyone to tell you this; in fact, nobody can tell you this. You are in your own body.

The other side of this story is about the responsibility of teachers. There is more and more debate about good teachers and bad teachers. Whilst i am not in total agreement about how the industry is churning out teachers, i can say with 100% certainty that no teacher intends to be "bad". Everyone tries their best. I guess the one limiting thing i observe is that not all teachers are as committed in their practice as they are in their teaching / business. You can find a brilliant teacher who is not a brilliant practitioner- who is serving yoga beyond asana. But if we are talking about serving a good & safe asana class, then i strongly believe that we should know it in our own bodies before offering it in class. A brilliant teacher is one who has not stopped being a student.

However, having said all that, ultimately, no matter how amazing the teacher is at anatomy, biomechanics, feeling your body?? - they are not able to experience what you are experiencing. You are your best teacher. Your body tells you when to back off and when you are in danger. When you step onto your mat- even before 'open to grace', remind yourself that you are there to make your body better, not harm it. Feel it- know where it is in it's space that very moment. Remember that you only have one of it- and it is your temple. Have full love and respect for it and be responsible for it. And then.... enjoy the practice ;-)

Edging to 40

2012-01-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

Umm.. i think my blogs are starting to sound a bit like a mood hoover! LOL Someone just introduced this word this morning and i love it! Mood hoovers! LOL

So i'll try to lighten up a bit- although actually, the previous post was not written on a low point, but rather on a pondering one... Anyway.....i've just spent a weekend with some amazing people celebrating a dear friend's birthday. It was awesome awesome awesome; because the people were fantastic! Great energy, good fun! Hahahaha... i think at one point i was the oldest person there! How did i get here? LOL

I am edging closer now...I never thought i would feel this way - as in, not really looking forward to 40. I look forward to everything!! LOL I don't feel 40 - but hey, loads of people say this don't they?! There are some signs of it i guess.... i hurt more - although... i am more intense now, than i have ever been with whatever i am doing - ok, maybe not as intense as wakeboarding in my 20's - it did hurt then too. I still enjoy spinning on the dance floor till the wee hours in the morning, although, it is a bit hard to keep going these days... some clothes now look wrong but lots still look alright! I still have romantic ideas but am less emotionally unstable - which is a BIG plus! phew!

30's have been amazing!!! Was it really?? or was it just a more stable time and so felt better?
Nah... it was good. So were the 20's and all the rest of my life before really! I've been told that the 40's are even better and so i will look forward to it. I will not let it pass without giving it my best shot of course! ;-)

Energy Vampires

2012-01-19T01:05:00.000-08:00

One of the worst things you can take away from someone is their energy. It is so hard to prevent someone from stealing your energy. I guess that is why it is so important to be mindful of our words and actions so as not to meaningly harm someone. And this does not have to mean being restrained in our opinions, but rather in the reason for them. Often, we are projecting our weaknesses and insecurities in our words and actions. Since the more primal of our instinct is to protect ourselves and our loved ones, this normally presents itself as something harmful to the other we perceive as possibly "harmful" towards us. Sometimes our friends do this to us. That just sucks big time. We can only try to understand their actions and be reminded ourselves to be mindful and kind in our words and thoughts....even though it still sucks ;-)

:-)

2011-12-15T06:21:00.000-08:00

Just found this and was reminded-

you NEVER forget an epic journey. it may feel awful at the time, but on reflection, you only feel the good stuff :-)

What happened to November??

2011-12-14T16:27:00.001-08:00

You can't miss December and January...
Everyone is selling you thoughtful or clever (or just completely pointless) things you can give to friends and family. They are also beginning to insinuate how badly you've been doing all year and how much better you can do next year. There's plenty of body, mind and spirit to renew... If you listen enough, you might just get a bit depressed and start to look for some solution to a problem you did not have to begin with lol

I wonder....do we feel increasingly dissatisfied with our lives because in this age of information, we are stimulated by so much information about what's out there- what we can have, what we don't have, both real and fictional (no, I cannot be a vampire) that we start reaching out for a bigger life, for bigger experiences, for someone else's life...etc. And of courses, we now know that it is impossible to do it all, have it all- because there is no all....its endless! And yet, we are told, no keep reaching for the stars! Let no one tell us it's impossible! We have the power to do it if we put our minds to it, etc.

I guess i myself have been sucked into all this. If not, I could not possibly feel like anything is missing from my life! I have an amazing life, with amazing family and friends. I am free from danger, from being hungry or cold. Drinking water flows from my tap. I have everything I need and an amazing job that bring the most amazing people into my life. More importantly...I have people who love me.... and people I love....
I think.... after awhile you even forget what you're reaching for & I guess that's when you start to feel a bit lost. And maybe since the flow of life is at sonic speed, we should write down little reminders of what it is we want every time we think about it. And while we're at it, maybe we should also write down what we have that make us happy every time we're aware of it.. And watch less tv...

2011-10-22T03:23:00.000-07:00

I am currently completely out of balance in everything! Makes me want to laugh saying it, i guess because i am such a control freak. This has been an interesting year in many ways... not because many new things happened but because many things that had not happened for a long thing happened. I am referring mostly to doubts, fears, insecurity, loss of direction, etc!

Fascinating!

Some say I feel like this because i do not have kids and so have no bigger issues to focus on
:-)
Maybe...

It could also be that since December, life has been pretty mad - but in such an amazing way. Don't get me wrong, this is not a rant- because when i look back at it - WOW! How lucky am i to have done all that?? But really...... i think some nothing time is equally important just to catch up with yourself?! This is the probably one of 3 weekends in the whole year that I am actually at home and kinda doing nothing because, actually, I have a full day of catching up with friends - again, not complaining...

I have been trying to catch up with me time on my mat but have been so resistant towards even that this past week that i have only managed one practice :-O The last retreat was so intense and i guess was the pinacle of all the events this year that it was like a little full stop. Perhaps i should not have beaten myself up this week over not practicing or not answering emails or whatever. Instead, i've jumped right into 2012 mode and have been busy planning events already - not complaining, so much fun...

What i am saying is that i probably feel so rubbish at the moment because there is no more. My brain, serotonin, spirit and all are on protest this week and i think today, i should really listen to them....and give them as much time as they need.... and not feel bad and end up eating too much chocolate in search of that good feeling - which never comes from just eating chocolate of course ;-)

2011-10-19T09:03:00.000-07:00

Some journey's you walk alone, because nobody else can walk them with you, Your heart will reveal the truth to you if you choose to listen to it, but the truth is never easy to act upon and is not necessarily what's best.

some people insist on holding your hand to walk with you on your journey... some support you from a distance because they want to give you space to grow
we try so hard to fight those who hang on to us and overlook those who watch us from the sidelines...

We are mostly our own source of difficulty because we forget easily...

Autumn Retreat

2011-10-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

Weekend of Yoga, Meditation & Music
(l-r) Jason, Me & Itai & Victoria

24th-16th October 2011
Voewood House

Wow... what a weekend!
Amazing group of participants, perfect weather throughout, lovely food, awesome energy! I went to this with no expectation as we did not know most of the participants. However, having said that, I did feel a surge of excitement the week leading up to Friday. It felt like it was going to be special. Maybe because I had never worked with anyone else on a retreat and this time, there was going to be four of us!! Maybe because of Itai's explosive energy and Jason and Victoria's entusiasm? Maybe it was just everything! As soon as everyone arrived and was sat round the dinner table, it took off in the most amazing way!!! :-)))

Love! love! love! the diversity of the group! In my opinion, that is one of the most lovely things about these retreats; all these people from different lives, getting together to share a practice and their stories. True yogi's they were! They were open to everything that was thrown at them (admittedly, they were all a bit wired after!)

Saturday was pretty intense (in a good way) The first practice was at 07:30 with an opening Vinyasa practice with Jason on the tabla. It was an awesome way to wake up to!! The energy in the room lifted immediately and the krama flowed beautifully. We ended the session with a chakra meditation led by Jason with the harmonium - explosive!!! At the end, everyone just looked at each other with wide eyes of joy (including Jason & I)

That was followed with a meditation with Itai after breakfast followed by an intermediate practice with me, followed by a moving meditation session with Itai, followed by an evening yoga session with me, followed by two hours of divine kirtan with Jason. Yes! :-))) It was pretty intense but it looks like everyone really enjoyed it. We feel so grateful and humbled by the feedback that has been pouring in.

Between all that, the house was filled with hearty laughter. In some bits, utter madness but mostly, just beautiful, blissful laughter!

I especially enjoyed the experience of working with someone else. I think this is the way forward for me now. It just adds so much more to the event as well. I am so inspired by the weekend and am really looking forward to the journey ahead!!

The yoga ended with the peace chant Lokah Samasta Sukihno Bhavantu, that filled the house so beautifully........i still feel it in my heart :-)

Big thank you to everyone! It was a gathering of beautiful beings..
xxx

Complex Beings...

2011-10-04T06:07:00.000-07:00

It takes years of persistent, patient and determined work to get to a place of understanding, especially of oneself, so why do we think we understand someone else? Perhaps it is better if we just accept that we are complex beings and that this complexity is all beautiful. Who I was yesterday is not who I am today....

A dogs tale...

2011-09-24T09:33:00.001-07:00

So I have this dog staying with us this week. He is a big chocolate lab, quite different from my own. It's been an interesting experience at a time when I have been questioning various bits of myself.

The first 2 days were challenging to say the least. The dog would not settle and demanded constant attention. He was a bit of a bully with my own dog, did not know how to get into the back seat and could not manage coming up the stairs :-S He kept nudging and shoving me about, whined a lot and slobbered everywhere lol

Yesterday, I went to help my friend at his awesome farm and took the dogs with me. As it was going to take about 40 minutes to get there, I thought I had better set up the car for them and made this huge space for them. Unfortunately Rosco had no idea what to do with this whole new arrangement and Cooper ended up sitting on the front seat :-S if you are s dog, you will know that this is not a comfy place to be. All the way, all you could hear was this loud panting from the back seat. I was getting so irritated. I could just feel my blood pressure rising! Then I turned my head and looked at Cooper and I swear, that moment, I thought he was the coolest dog on the planet! He had the most chilled out look on his face; completely unfazed by the panting or by my irritation! And in that very moment, all irritation crumbled and I thought, really, nothing is happening here that warrants us to become stressed! And I was calm as a cucumber the rest of the trip, even when I got a bit lost, driving around in circles for about half an hour. How lucky am I to have someone that affects me that way??

So anyway, we arrive at this farm and of course, Cooper ran everywhere and did not stop! He swam in the pond, went mad to his hearts content and repeat and repeat. Rosco in the meantime, never left my side. Just calmly observing it all.

At the end of the day, I concluded this...
When you love somebody, you only see the good things in them and are more willing to accept the big or little things that are out there, or stop seeing them all together. And really, everything is just as it is until you make something of it... Or should I say, everything is nothing until you make something of it. It is easier to just try to like or love somebody and to see the divine in them. Easier said than done of course....ask me how to do this and j have no idea, other than maybe to constantly check your thoughts and try to shift them when needed.....

Rock seems to be the word this week...

2011-09-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

some people just rock your world in the most beautiful way...
and some people just rock your world and bring out the worst in you..
i guess it is our own responsibility to stay centered and steady... but, boy! some people make that so very hard to do! lol

Tandava

2011-09-11T12:01:00.001-07:00

It feels like Lord Shiva danced the ananda tandava (dance of bliss) that mesmerised me and in that dance, the life I knew around me fell apart lol.

I am so grateful to those i call my teachers and to my practice for giving me the tools to see with some clarity the journey that unfolds before me. And especially grateful for this steady centre that through them I have found, that I am able to expand from and that is always there for me to return to.

Of course, at first, I reacted & reached out to hold on to all that was falling apart. But I have soon realised that....perhaps I should just let it go. Autumn seems such an appropriate time to do this... just letting things "die". Remembering also that, sometimes you need to let some things go in order to let new things flourish in your life... and by death, I really mean change...

This is especially true with relationships but also especially hard. And I don't just mean relationship with your loved one but also with friends... I believe that when someone loves you, they will know you well enough and they will do all that they can, not to consciously hurt you. If you have to try real hard to keep a relationship together, then maybe it's time to leave it as what it is and give that love another possibility with someone else....or maybe when you try so hard with that one person, you remove yourself from the others around you, another loved one, someone who loves you, or whom you take for granted is always ok.....
friendship, love, should be easy....surely not something that requires constant effort and watching. A relationship of course requires consistent effort but perhaps more of gratitude. About always being aware of it's beauty and always appreciating it's magnificence, not constantly trying to keep it together or mend....? Basically, I think it should feel beautiful.

Last day in the Maldives

2011-09-04T04:59:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I had one of the most exciting dives of my diving life :-) I think because the dive master, Seb, is always so full of excitement and quite animated so we already started on a high, plus the weather was good. We dropped into the outside of the reef, so if you faced away, all you see if the deep blue... Everything happened within the first 10 minutes. We dropped into a huge school jacks and spotted a large turtle in the blue. Then a giant tuna swam too close by me. I could not really do anything as there was a current pushing me towards it. So I stayed as still as I could as it passed me, a whisker away. Seb laughed. Then a large stingray was spotted and just as it was a reef shark, about 7' at least swam around us. As we fixed our eyes on it, a gorgeous eagle ray swam by, visible in all it's glory, followed by a massive napoleon wrase :-) After the excitement, we drifted with the current and saw giant trevally's, puffer fishes, more jacks, school of banner fish, and all the usual suspects. Awesome!

Today was also unforgettable! Hanging out on an outreef looking out into the blue, huge reef sharks casually swimming by, giant dogtooth tuna, giant turtle, giant grouper, giant napoleon- biggest most of us have ever seen, giant trevaly lol. Everything is a giant here because no matter how far we've ventured out, there is not a fishing boat in sight! They really know what they are protecting! Just started making friends, shame...

The bubbly guy who wheels our tanks in and out, Babul. He's from Bangladesh and has been here for 18 years! His family in Bangladesh! Most here have family far away. Even the locals here, families are about 8 hours away and they hardly get to see them. Life on paradise island.....

So anyway it's time to leave this paradise...but its back home, where it too is paradise in all it's own way...

I will miss
The sea
The beach
The heat
Sweating
Walking around bare feet all day with minimal clothing
Not having to think about day to day stuff, like what to eat :-)
That sticky feeling on the skin and salty hair
Not caring
Waking to the sound of waves
Pineapple

But I look forward to..
Seeing my friends
Seeing my dog
Yoga! My body is screaming for it!
Coffee

Goodbye paradise, till we meet again next time! ;-)

Big things, little things

2011-09-02T06:06:00.001-07:00

The weather here in the Maldives has been far from ideal. It's been raining every day for the last 3 days- not all day but it's been quite cloudy. Woke up at 6 this morning all excited about going out to Noon atol to see the big guys; rays & sharks, but as we set off, a huge storm hit us, forcing us to turn back. We still got 2 dives in. Don't get me wrong, they were pretty spectacular dives but I'm proud to say, it's pretty much like this in a lot of dive sites in malaysia :-) I guess I came with some expectations. I want to see & swim with the manta's so badly but today I was reminded that I cannot always have what I do; some times, it's life decides, and that's that!

So just to let my Malaysian friends know, if you want something more spectacular than what we already have, come when it's not monsoon time so you have a chance of going to the desired dive sites, and stay longer. You will not be disappointed here but it is way way more expensive! I have not dived back home for 5 years now so am not sure what it's like these days though. I hope it's still as beautiful for all to enjoy!

I do two things when diving- either look out into the blue for big shadows or look closely into the reef to spot little things (mostly, I am on the look out for pipefish & seahorses lol) I resisted doing that today and realise that actually I miss so much around me. The "common" things are actually gorgeous and quite exciting to watch. I guess, some times we fail to see the beauty around us when we busy ourselves looking for "bigger" things :-/

Dolphins galore!

2011-09-02T05:42:00.001-07:00

There was a great big storm yesterday morning. It was awesome (lol) to watch! Beach chairs flew by, sea going mad, coconut trees bending in the wind, horizontal rain and all! I stood in it for a few moments to feel the intensity of it, but the rain felt like needles and it was about 07.30 & my giggling might have been a bit too intense for some lol The dive boat still went out tho! -without us in it :-/

We made it to a boat dive in the afternoon to a site Nakolhu Giri. So now I know giri's are partially submerged islands. They are the turquoise circles seen from the air. The darker circles are thilai's, which are more submerged. So on the way to the dive site, a large school of dolphins swam by :-) gorgeous! The dive was littered with schools of fusilers, red tooth trigger fish, parrot fish, trevally, black jacks, etc. Spotted 2 pipefish, lion fish, lobsters and groupers.

We came back in and decided to do another dive off the house reef at 6pm. So glad we did despite small current. A White tip shark slept on the sand floor, we came across 5 green turtles having a play and on our safety stop, we stayed with a fire fish whilst 2 humphead parrot fish swam by. There were blue fin trevally's, lion fish, unicorn fish....to be honest, the dive sites here can be s bjit overwhelming at times. There is always something interesting passing by and abundant fish all around you; left, right, up, down...it's almost best to just stay in one place and take it all in?

This morning, dolphins casually swam past our hut. It's a bit like the movies all this...

You can't live your life doing great things but you can do things with great love

Day 2 Diving!!

2011-08-30T06:48:00.001-07:00

It's gorgeous here but I have yet to find a spot away from it all where I can have a quiet practice. I might have to wake up earlier tmrw. Still....felt good to practice outside by the sea to the rising sun, black tips swimming in the background- surreal!
On the way back to the hut a baby turtle crossed my path, on it's first journey to the sea! And then another. You can't help but cheer when they make it, even though I knew black tips lined the outside of the lagoon. Hopefully they were missed. Then on the way to breakfast, a juvi moray eel swam about in search of it's breakfast :-)

We went diving for the first time today. The check out dive was with french Nico, who has lived here for 3 years!! What a riot he was! So he showed us around the house reef and just made sure we knew what we were doing. House reef- oh my word! Where do I start? Corals were not great but trevali jacks, school of bat fish, surgeon fish, parrot fish, groupers...things I can't name... Gorgeous octopus...and... Spotted a giant tuna- it was epic! And and.....a manta ray!!! Eeeeeee!! It wasn't very close but close enough to see it's tusk and to watch it majestically flap by! Please please let me see more of them!! Lol It was so good we are going again this afternoon and hopefully spot a few more giants. I am doubtful of any micro beauties on the house reef.

Kuredu is awesome.
Our waiter is super! Today is Raya so staff are also extra happy :-)

Why is it so mesmerising to watch, listen and feel the waves roll in and out...
I could stand in the water forever if not for burning in this glorious sun.
The clouds are a welcome...but maybe not now as we prepare for our second dive..

:-O it was fab! What I really enjoy is the freedom to dive whenever you like without anyone else. So this afternoon, we were the only 2 people on the house reef. And every where you look, it's just fish, fish, fish! Saw a seahorse this afternoon :-) moray eel, a green turtle swam overhead just when an eagle ray casually swam by in all it's glory. There were jacks, sweetlips, a giant napoleon wrase, emperor trigger fish and then... 2 most beautiful hawksbill turtles! They were huge! Diving here is really worth it! I can't list everything down from these 2 dives today. It would take too long and bore the non divers :-)

From paradise....

2011-08-29T06:32:00.001-07:00

I first heard about the Maldives when I was 19 through a lovely Maldivian named R. He really captured my imagination when he described it and later brought me books to show me what he was talking about. He was 100% passionate about his country and what he shared etched a bit of itself onto my heart! There were two of them studying at that same college and both were just the most beautiful souls you could meet. All my friends remember him. He was just an all round awesome guy!!

Since then, it had always been a dream to come here. 20 years on, I have made it! When the plane arrived at the islands and the captain announces to look out the window....wow...it took my breath away! Literally! It was as described and more. To see with my own eyes what he described brought tears to my eyes. I have never seen so many shades of blue and green! The sky meets the sea and turquoise circles mark the sea...I thought I've seen some beautiful places but this really does redefine my understanding of beauty!

And right this moment as I write this, a heron has just landed in front of my hut with a fish in it's beak! And now it's in it's belly.

And within the first hour of being here, whilst walking back in the sea, back to my hut, I've seen juvenile black tip sharks, stingrays and various other curious fishes I could not yet identify! It is going to blow my mind away for sure! I cannot wait to get under!

The seaplane ride here was pretty awesome too as we passed more turquoise circles and magical islands. The pilot and co-pilot were quintessential islanders! Laid back, flying barefoot and having such a laugh throughout the flight. We were lucky nobody else wanted to seat right up front so we did and it made me smile so much watching them laugh like children!! Awesome awesome!! (sorry about the overuse of this word!)

This is really in the middle of no where! And I can also tell you, that as soon as you are here, it seems like all is forgotten and nothing matters in all this beauty! So if you ever need a bit of that, or just to be close to heaven, then this is really worth every sweat and blood penny!!

There's also something about the Maldivian! They all remind me of R!! They are lovely! Not just because they work here. They really seem happy and happy to share their bit of paradise. If R were still with us, he'd be so chuffed about my excitement! And this is only day 1!

Awakening

2011-08-27T12:43:00.000-07:00

I would also like to share my friend's journey with you, that had really inspired me to offer a new course in the Autumn and more so, to really look at my own practice. My friend had just started to embark on a self practice journey and within a couple of weeks, I have come to notice an incredible improvement in his asana and practice; a clearer mind-body-breath connection and definitely a much more conscious and receptive practice. What i really respect is that he consciously chooses to include in his practice, the asana's that challenge him the most and spend more time with these than those he is comfortable with. We all know we should do this, but not many of us do. More importantly, i also came to realize that, off his mat, he is just as determined and when faced with making difficult decisions, he takes charge and does not shrink away from it, even when he can.

This has been significant to me because i have come to realize that I have been pretty passive in my life recently. It is easy to fall into auto-pilot when life seems easy. It is much easier to just let things be and operate within comfortable boundaries, even when you do not wish to be there. By doing so, the mind becomes limited and beautiful possibilities pass you by. A teacher I found in my week back home, put me into a couple of poses that I had stopped trying because i was convinced that it was not possible for my body! (And by the way, this came after two previous "awakenings" i have had weeks before) It was both exhilarating and unsettling. Exhilarated of course, because it felt awesome! Unsettling because I came to realize how closed my mind had become, not just in my practice but in my general believe in myself, just by being a bit passive!

Of course, I am not implying that we should be taking charge of our lives at all times. As our teacher Douglas Brooks said - sometimes, it is ok to be "pashu" - just contented to chew like a cow and just "be". But, if you have the chance to decide for yourself what you want and do not do it, then you leave your life in someone else's hand. And again, this is fine if it makes you happy.

So anyway...... I always look at my habits on my mat and find the same habits off my mat. These recent realisations have prompted me to take a bit more responsibility on my mat, with my practice and to challenge myself a lot more, thanks to the little inspiration from my friend's little remark about his self practice along with these little events that have awakened me. I feel different already, just from being a bit more mindful towards my practice. In choosing to choose - to begin with, on my mat at least. I am confident that this will also lead to more mindful journeys off my mat.

Self practice is a great place to cultivate this; when you have to rely on yourself for a good practice, where you are solely responsible for challenging yourself and a place where you are able to profoundly listen to your body and your breath. It can be a meditative space to watch your habits and your thoughts and with no time constraints, a space to make any necessary adjustments you need. I really recommend it. It does not have to be a practice of any length. Time on the mat should feel good no matter how long or short.

I hope this has inspired you to try it.
Namaste x

get dependent files

2011-08-15T10:33:00.000-07:00

Jet lagged in my bedroom back at my folk's.... it is a curious place to be at this very moment. I've had this room for a long time and it hold's my dark diaries from those "dark days", love letters, hurt letters, fun days photo's, not so fun days photo's LOL There's a lot of energy in here- impressions left by the me from the past.
Some days, when i am here, i just close my eyes and feel those things and smile :-)

When life seems challenging, i think it is actually a time of awakening...
someone close to me say that some of us like these little (or big) moments
i think he is right

Someone walked up to me at the airport and in a beautiful sympathetic voice, asked me if i was ok because i looked quite sad. I was a little touched and surprised by the gesture - nobody talks to each other these days, nevermind ask something like that...i was not overly friendly in return though... i don't think i was in the mood for a deep conversation with a stranger. But it did make me examine what i was feeling that was reflecting in my face... and even though, i was feeling pretty even, it kinda really put me in check - how mad - so he made something arise out of nothing?! LOL

2011 Summer Retreat - Puglia

2011-08-12T03:01:00.000-07:00

the 2011 tribe

This year's retreat was good fun. It was quite different from the one's before- more of a yoga holiday than a yoga retreat. It was not intended to work out quite like this but such is the flow of life ;-) What i enjoyed most was watching people form friendships and build bonds and i think this is what i took away from this retreat.

What was challenging for me on this retreat, sorry, holiday, was to stay in the work head capacity. I guess i too wanted to go off and have some fun and some off time with some super fun beings. Even harder that i am friends with half of the participants. I stayed on track as much i could.

Everyone was great. It was way noiser than previous retreats or any other one i have been to LOL I'm not complaining though. It was fun being a bit more active by the pool or playing around on the lawn

Masseria della Zingara was actually gorgeous. Huge and spacious with a gorgeous terrace to sit and watch the sunset over the olive groove. It was different this time as the property had been privately rented so there was little restriction, if any! Gorgeous big pool - although some shade would have been welcomed ;-)

We had 2 celebrations in the week - a birthday and Rakhi day. It was such a joy to share the birthday with Anna who was full of smiles all day long. Made us all so happy! And the day after was Rakhi day when we exchanged bracelets of good intention and love. I know, it's meant to be a sibling thing but it was nice to celebrate it as friends anyway. Still got mine :-)

Big thank you to all the yogin's for the smiles, the laughter and some contemplation!!! And for bringing the music back to my life! I love my tabla but it's nice to have added the guitar that actually sound like i am playing something lol

namaste beautiful bright stars xx

This Life

2011-08-12T02:29:00.000-07:00

So here i am again... churning...digesting, the events of the past couple of weeks. I have not been here for awhile and whilst it is draining the shakti out of me, i actually appreciate being here. It is so easy to go into auto pilot when life is easy. I feel like a part of me had been revived from being in deep sleep. It is a mix between a blurry awakening and a shocking one.

After a week of messing around with a guitar at the recent retreat, i came home and went straight to the shop and bought one. It reminded me so much of college days and made me happy! I also have not been impulsive for awhile - impulsive being one of my main traits before. LOL, not that this is a good thing! My fingers hurt but inside, my heart is beaming a great big smile.

I've also had a think about my job - that i love by the way. Last weeks events got me thinking.... is it possible to maintain a professional relationship when clients become good friends?? Made me realize that i have never looked at my job as a job- but more as a passion i share. I think i need to wake up though - and as one of my teachers said - if clients come to you in that capacity and if you are take the seat of a teacher , then do it professionally.

I feel like i have been passively participating in the last few years of my life and feel grateful today for feeling crap at the moment.

50+ Yoga Retreat

2011-05-15T05:07:00.000-07:00

Santa Maria del Sole

The 50+ Yoga Retreat at the Santa Maria del Sole in Puglia was an amazing week! When i first visited this retreat center last year, I was blown away by it's magic and this year, it felt even more special. You would never think that the food could get any better, but it did. The energy surrounding the property is powerful. It is hard to explain but perhaps when so much heart is put into a place and when so much love is shared in a place, magic happens!

When I returned from here last year, I shared my experience of the place with the 50+ group and mentioned how I had wished I could share the experience with them and within that conversation, thought, why not? I think it was not long after that - a couple of weeks perhaps, that I then booked us in to be there for a week! To be honest, shortly after this, I panicked a bit. Had i hyped it up too much? What if it does not meet expectations? Will I be able to serve them well? aaarrrggghhhhh what have i done??

And so the week arrived (7th - 14th May) In the very last moment, I had enough participants; so so grateful to my two friends for coming along! We were met at the airport by PJ and Marco from SMDS and immediately, I relaxed a little. When we arrived at SMDS itself, met by the rest of the family and staff, I felt surrounded by support and knew it was going to be an awesome week!

Leoni surprised me when she hopped
up into a full headstand but I stayed
with the moment and enjoyed it with her

I was so excited the first morning! Practice went well and I was so excited by the strength of the group. I did have to keep reminding myself that most participants were in their 60's. They were there to do two practices a day, about 3.5-4 hours a day, for six consecutive days! Pretty awesome! 99% of them were present 100% of the time. I threw in as much as i could - lots of abdominal work - forearm planks, dolphins, forearm side planks, dhanurasana, urdhva dhanurasana, headstands, shoulderstands - we breathed, danced and sang! Everyone was amazing! What inspired me most was their openess and attitude towards their practice. They always gave it a shot and if it did not work, they were happy to have just done that. They would always arrive at the yoga hall with a big smile and no matter how tired they were, with the will to try. It was a privilege to work with them!

There were some challenging aspects for me this week that was interesting as a teacher. The group was very varied in their experience and strength and perhaps also their background. I had to work with extra sensitivity (extra eyes,ears, heart, feel...) and strike an ever changing balance between between being "kind" and encouraging them forward. This of course took quite some energy; more than expected (*laughs*) but it was also so rewarding. I don't say this in an egotistical way, as I don't think that I was successful every practice.

I am also so grateful to my two friends. I have no idea why we were on such a laughing journey this week. We laughed so much - mostly at each other i think. I cannot even remember what we laughed so much about but i guess it does not matter. It was my yoga between the yoga! It is so clear what i have...

We had varied weather -which turned out to be a good thing as this meant we did not just lay out in the sun all day like gecko's. We actually went out for some nice walks exploring the surrounding countryside. The wild flowers were a feast for the eye's! The winds were a bit manic but this meant pockets of blue skies, sunshine and interesting clouds.
Check out the photo's from the trip here.

A big thank you to everyone for sharing their stories with each other, for sharing their time, their space and their beautiful energy! I am so grateful for the opportunity to share this time with you in this way. And so thankful to be here in this very place, very space, very life...

namaste <3

Loving The Practice

2011-04-26T15:58:00.000-07:00

<- Andy Riley's cartoon

Today, i attended a class run by my lovely friend Kate, whom, by the way, is an awesome teacher... and realized that I had not noticed anything about the space until bits of things were mentioned. Then, i tried to remember what the other spaces have been like and to be honest, I do not remember much about them either. However, i remember everything about how the practice felt. I love it! It does not matter anymore where the class is, how close or far the next mat is - in fact, the closer the better these days!, what type of light was in the studio, what music or even what class. I feel totally in my own space when I am on the mat now :-)

Ironically, this all can seem a bit self absorbed... but really... yoga asana practice is a bit about that isn't it? When I am in tuned with my breath, I hardly know anymore what is going on around me, until i am out of that sync again..sometimes, it is trance like, other times, it takes a lot to be present and even this then totally absorbs me. Love it! Just to have this moment to stop being outwardly and to stop external receptors- eyes, ears, skin, nose, collecting all sorts of signals. Anyway... just thinking, that I love being in this space...

So i guess you have figured that this has absolutely nothing to do with the above cartoon. I had to share it. It is so simple, so clear, so funny!!

Kula Shakers!

2011-04-18T05:55:00.000-07:00

I feel extremely blessed to be on this life journey! I cannot imagine what my life would be like right now, if it had not been for the spirit of the yoga community that surrounds me.

I moved to Norwich 10 years ago and knew no one here. The first thing i did, (as would many yogi's) was to locate a yoga teacher / studio. And of course, as with all meetings of yogi's (normally), one thing led to another and to beautiful friendships! Teaching has also made a tremendous difference of course! In the last four years, I have made friends from all over the country and around the globe, some who have, essentially, changed my life! I know this sounds a bit dramatic, but it is the absolute truth :-)
This is one of the magic of the practice and strength of the kula! It is so precious to have that one thing (the practice) that is absolutely familiar, to share in an unfamiliar place, and to have support from the community, from sharing this practice.

I was reminded of this last weekend, from being connected to the London Anusara kula, and from being connected to the Gotenburg kula a few weeks ago. Really reminded me how, had it not been for the practice and the kula, life would not have moved on in the same way..

Whether it is in my age... on in the age of my practice, life is just good. To be able to wake up each morning and feel like it is a new day is a gift beyond gratitude. And to be able to see now that there is no such thing as routine, when viewed thru open eyes. This is not to say that my life is perfect and blissfully happy- but it is! In all it's imperfections and "misery", it is great!

Gratitude to my friend Victoria Akerstrom, who emanates of Bhakt and who keeps shinning these crazy awesome light into my life!

namaste

(Almost) Another Decade

2011-03-03T09:38:00.000-08:00

my creators

This year, I have decided to make a big fuss about my birthday! What the hell really? I am in the mood to celebrate! To celebrate:

what my parents made,

the life and opportunities they have given me for me to be here right now,

the life i have made, past and present, from these opportunities,

the lovely friends and family who make my life so amazing

and just about everything in my life, whatever that may be!

Just to be clear, my life is not perfect and there are bits about it that breaks my heart. However, I do not feel that it negates everything else about it. Also, I have not always been a happy person. Quite the opposite actually. I was often very sad. I still have these sad feelings inside me but these days, I understand that it is really o.k. As my friend quoted recently, "feeling sad is not the same as being unhappy... I can be happy and still feel sadness sometimes" It feels so good to be in this place and to be clear about these things.

It is not enough to say that i am so grateful for this life! For every day that has passed and every bitter sweet experience I have had and will have. And most of all for the friends and family in my life! Personally, i think, one can have everything in life, but without the love from friends and family, life is pretty empty. I have been so so so so lucky that throughout my life, I have always been surrounded and loved by the most beautiful souls!

So i am celebrating - this year and next year - and maybe make it a habit to just celebrate this life every year - or every day. I think it is not so much about celebrating MY life as celebrating all the people and all the journeys that make my life. It seems wrong not to!

I am so happy today......

Lokah Samastha Sukhino Bhavatu

May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may my thoughts, words and actions, contribute in some way to that freedom and happiness for all...

Days Like These...

2011-02-25T16:37:00.000-08:00

eka pada urdhva dhanurasana

This week, I just could not stop smiling after my 50+ class on Thursday. It was a small class of nine this week. I can't remember exactly how it got started, but half way through the class (something led to) one of the ladies mentioned that she would really like to do the pose on wall (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Dog).... then another asked if I could do the pose on the other poster (Eka Pada Urdhva Dhanurasana) and requested to see it......then the question was "can we do it"... A big smile came over me. I never say no.... I strongly believe that even if it were not possible, we should not, first of all, put it in our minds that it is not possible ;-)

The thing is.... i had just spent a week at an Anusara Immersion 3 (which was awesome by the way..) with a 67 year old lady (no, she had not always practiced yoga) who got into Urdhva Dhanurasana, supported, beautifully! She also did most of the practice with us. I was lucky that for most of the week, she stood behind me, so i was able to fully appreciate what she was doing. I don't want to sound patronizing - but aging is a reality - our bodies DO loose some muscle tone, most of us do loose some of our fitness no matter how hard we try to maintain it. It's not a bad thing, it's just life. So, it was truly inspiring that this person was not afraid, and did not hold back, in participating in this event :-)

So anyway.... I shared this experience and before i did, i could already see the eagerness in some of them to at least give it a try - so try we did! It was their first try and all of them managed to get off the floor supported. The last participant got off the ground easily and then unexpectedly took it into Eka Pada - one leg! The room burst out in giggles of delight!!
It took me some time to bring them back to continue stretching out the second side :-)

There are many days like these in my "job". Not every day is as amusing but every day is magic. I am looking forward to spending a week at retreat with them. I am sure i will have some amazing photo's to share then. Can't wait ;-)

Falling...

2011-02-08T03:52:00.000-08:00

Last night, I had my first accident in class when a student fell from a handstand. I am thankful she did not break her nose although, she was bleeding quite a bit from it. I am also lucky that she was someone quite strong by character and did not freak out even though she was shaken by the fall. It was a small class last night and nobody freaked out, although one seemed quite concerned. Overall, i think it probably threw me off the most. After four years of teaching without incident, it shook my world. She kept apologizing, and even asked if it was ok if she came back next week :-O Bless! What a trooper! She even took her time to pay me!

I came home and put it out to my beautiful friend who told me that i had to stay strong and proud like a warrior and use this accident as an opportunity to grow. My husband, the ever practical and objective, pointed out that children learn handstands in school and fall. I am grateful for these words but still feel pretty rubbish and can't help but feel that i should have done more and might have been a bit complacent from having years of incident free classes! So this has been a big lesson - a good lesson for me. A big knock on the head, slap in the face! All the training i do is pointless if i become complacent!

But yes - my friend is right - i must stand strong in this incident - like the girl who has now fallen, i too have to face my fears and not contract from teaching challenging poses but rather move forward and be better at it. She reminded me that we all fall at some point in our life's and in many areas of our life. This is the yoga of life - learning to get up, learn from it, be better at it and move forward.... In fact this is something the girl who fell has done well, that i have to learn from... ooooo ouch, it's hard...

Full Of Love

2011-01-27T08:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I was sent a link on facebook about a couple from Malaysia, being really cruel to their poodle. Apparently it is all over the news around Asia - which i was relieved to hear, because animal welfare is not big in Asia (yet) I could not bring myself to watch it but read enough to know that it was pretty mean

I cannot imagine how anyone can be cruel to their dog. It doesn't take long to connect to an animal, and once you establish that connection, so much dialogue goes on everyday! They ARE very much like children. Since they are not wild, they depend on their owners for their basic needs - security probably being top on their list. The thing is, most dogs will not even fight back when they are being treated cruelly. I mean... after all, they CAN bite.

I am so in love with Cooper. I feel this every day and cannot stop cuddling and kissing him. Must be very suffocating! He is so so special though. I am sure everyone says this about their dog but mine is extra extra special. I have known many dogs but he is...different. Kind, patient, soft (but very very noisy!!) I often wonder why he's here. After all, we did not plan to have him. He just happened over-night! How could his previous family not want him? And what have we done to deserve this privilege of having him here?

I don't think i have been this attached to something or someone! I wonder if it is because I am aware that the journey with Cooper is not going to be a long one. He will be seven soon. Would we feel this way about everyone if we only have a short time to share with each other? I guess it would be pretty intense....

Starting January...

2011-01-25T08:20:00.000-08:00

Wow.... it's been some time since I last blogged, despite having had loads to share! I normally love blogging especially when I am back in South East Asia, but the opportunity was not there this time. As always, one learns so much when traveling, or perhaps it is when you are out of your routine as you have more time to observe the life around you?

My observations this trip (Dec '10) lead to the 'theme' that I had offered in class throughout January; which was about the importance of being kind to yourselves. It is not a new idea, but it became so apparent to me that no matter how hard to you, or how sincere your intentions are towards someone else (especially those nearest and closest to you), it is impossible to be compassionate, kind, giving, loving (etc) towards someone else, if you are unable to first make those offerings to yourself.

So all of January, we focused our intention for our practice towards being kind to ourselves. This was also tied in to the yoga sutra teaching of "yoga chitta vritti nirodha". Practicing to notice the internal dialogue that most of us participate in on a daily basis, some times without even realizing it. These are harmful little things that we say to ourselves, about ourselves, that we would never ever say to someone else. It leads to false perceptions about ourselves and in a way, i suppose, a form of verbal abuse! Keeping it to yourself does not harm anyone else but it should not be ok to harm yourself either. I have been practicing this myself and have caught myself making so many comments about my practice and myself - all completely unnecessary! This is something that I have really connected to doing and will continue practicing on & off my mat ;-) Hope it has been helpful to some too.

namaste

tuning in to the buzz

2010-11-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

I feel the autumn buzz so strongly this year. Maybe because i have had my dog for longer now. Or perhaps this is just the progression from my practice. Whatever, the reason, the result is exciting! As the forest thins, animals become a bit more visible. I've spotted foxes, a muntjac and of course, our usual squirrel friends. I am not sure what the foxes and muntjacs are doing but the squirrels are definitely busy fattening themselves up and hoarding. We also bumped into some lovely people putting up owl shelters in the forest. It has really made me realize that we too, should really tune into this buzz and start preparing our homes and our bodies for the months ahead.

Where i am from in Malaysia and in most of South East Asia, there is never a dulling time. The energy level is always high and it is just constantly chaotic - it's like an consistent and constant market buzz! While i miss this high energy, i think too much of it can drive you a bit mad. Lucky for us there, there are beautiful mountains and beaches to escape to. This however, is nothing like a few months of winter when the overall energy dulls. I was in the London underground last week, and even the colors on the underground changes from vibrant colors and soft floaty fabrics to shades earthy colors to that of gray and black heavy materials. It's awesome! (not that a bit of color during winter would hurt)

I am fascinated that people spring clean. Seems to make more sense cleaning out our homes now as we start to stay inside a bit more. I feel like this is the time to tune in to nature's buzz, clean out our pads, stock up with hot chocolate, biscuits, scented candles, warm blankets, get out the hot water bottle and warm fluffy slippers! A time to prepare to move indoors. As it has been such a crazy year for Steve and I, i am also looking forward to take this time to reconnect with each other as the energy levels calm. I find it is a truly meditative time, or a good time to start to incorporate meditation into your practice.

As for our bodies, it is also time to tune into it's natural needs. This means warmer foods for most of us. I am sure some would disagree but your body never lies. Just go with what feels right as opposed to what you are told is right for you. But this also means it's time to fire up the digestive fire to keep digestion smooth and efficient. So....our focus for the next few weeks will be centered around this; removing excess heat and tending to our digestive fire, before leaving you for FOUR divine weeks :-/

Enjoyyyy!!

Shades of Yellow, Orange, Brown & Green

2010-11-02T01:34:00.001-07:00

Having my dog has changed my life in so many ways. I was told that when you live with an animal, you become so much more in touch with nature. I always though they meant through the animal but it is much more than that. It is amazing how much communication goes on between us. We've only had him for almost 2 years. I guess that is 14 dog years x-) Anyway, the other thing that has changed is, of course, lots of walkies in the forest! This has really put me in touch with the season changes around me and autumn in the forest is just awesome!

The light in the forest recently, has been almost....fiery orange! And when the wind blows, it rains orange leaves! I find myself walking around mesmerized by the intensity of the drama around me. How ironic, since essentially, the trees are shedding their leaves and leaves are dying all around me. There is beauty in death....

At the end, there is only love

2010-10-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Taken a few months before she was admitted to the hospital

There are two very powerful moments in life - birth and death. I have yet to witness a birth of life; the closest i've been is when i was visiting an uncle in the hospital when a door opened and a nurse appeared with a baby, still wet and bloody - even that was pretty powerful.

I have however, been around someone through their last days and final breath. The experience was also powerful and intense. This year, my mother-in-law, Hilda, passed away and the last days of her life really touched me.

Hilda was special. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. While she would always be there for her friends and other family members (and this happened often) her priority was always to her husband, her son and her grandson(s) and extended family. She made a point to remember birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and would always send a card to let people know that she was thinking about them. She would always make time for coffee, or have friends round at hers, to listen and offer comfort.

She had a small family and was devoted to them. Her daughter passed away very suddenly at a young age of 35, she never got over it. When my father-in-law was hospitalized, she rarely left his side - only when there was another family member to sit by his side. She was with him when he passed, whispering tender words and covering him with kisses right till the end. At his funeral, she was resilient and demonstrated humble pride in the life they had together.

She was also a bit OCD at home. You could eat your dinner off her bathroom floor - honestly! Everything was always immaculate and clean. She was always well groomed and well dressed. Everything at home and in her life was in absolute order. I would stress about what to wear when i visited. To be honest, i am a bit plain and casual :-S

So anyway....

Very shortly after my father-in-law passed away, she detected a hard lump in her breast and was diagnosed with cancer. At this time, the cancer had spread and only treatment to control the cancer was available to her. It would be an understatement if i say how strong she had been with her fight with her cancer. She had 2 courses of chemotherapy and even when she finally decided she had had enough, you could not tell that it had defeated her, and would not know had she not said it. She was mostly alone through it all. It breaks our heart to think about it. She didn't want it any other way either. She only wanted us to visit on her good days, to see her well and i guess, to remember her well. She wore a wig mostly, until the last couple of weeks of her life. Eventually, she had gotten so weak that it was no longer safe for her to be at home, so she was admitted into the hospital and eventually into a hospice.

It is here that i had a glimpse of the meaning of happiness....

As soon as the fight was over, she completely relaxed and i would say, she was happy! It did not bother her one bit that she would not see her home, or her things again. She surrounded herself with a few of her favorite pictures, and orchids -- she loved orchids, and nothing else was important any longer. She had no regrets nor felt like there had been something she had not done. In the hospice, she joked with her friends - this one i liked:

In school, there was a nun whom they did not like very much - and they were wondering if they would see her in heaven and if so what it would be like. They laughed so hard they were in tears. I wonder what the other patients must have thought :-D

She had a string of endless visitors and towards the end, she did not have enough strength to see them all and was very clear about this. She made out a list for the nurses and only certain people were allowed to visit. This was what she was like when it required. Strong and clear. She wanted to make sure that she had enough to give to those she loved and loved her.

She hardly cried- only the once when i saw her. Not even when we cried around her. She was totally ready. She had everything in her life and had led a full beautiful life. She was surrounded by the fruits of her life (her relationship with her family) and was full of love in her heart. In the end, it is only this love that we have. All else is immaterial. In the last few weeks of her life, all i saw in her eyes was this love. She was truly happy. You could sense it around her - which touched me so deeply and moved me to tears. She made us a list of what she wanted for her funeral- nothing elaborate, just small and simple with close family, told us what she wanted to wear and what to do with her stuff and where everything was. In the end, we had an elaborate funeral for her as she so deserved it and so many people turned up to say their goodbyes. She was a truly special wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister and friend. We miss her.

this picture was taken on the last day of her life. she would write us list of little things to do for her lol They were always quite sweet

Kichanga Foundation

2010-10-12T01:20:00.001-07:00

kids at Michanvi School

Last year I spent a week at Kichanga Lodge Zanzibar, celebrating a friend's 40th birthday. If you are ever planning a visit to Zanzibar, i recommend looking into this place www.kichanga.com. It is gorgeous!! A little piece of heaven! The staff are amazing - they are friendly, good fun and helpful (one of the guys came to my rescue to remove a spider from inside my poster bed - without harming it). The food is yummy - papaya jams, watermelon jams were among my favourites. There is a private beach only visited by some neighbouring masai friends who are more than happy to join in for a game of beach volleyball ;-) You can see my pictures here http://giddylife.smugmug.com/

While we were here, we met the owner Nigel Firman. He is such a lovely person! Him and his staff made the week a holiday of our lifetime! But i have to tell you, if you are on Nigel's beach volleyball team, he is serious about winning - and win we did LOL. Between the fun and games, we discovered that he was actually there to oversee a water tank project at Michanvi School, a neighboring school that his foundation supports.

Nigel and his partner Andrea Brunetti, had set up Kichanga Foundation in 2005. They are committed to the local communities around them, working to empower them with sustainable projects. Their projects mainly focuses on children and include the development of Michanvi Kae (a village next to the school) and Michanvi Pingue village school. Speaking to Nigel truly inspired me. There was sincerity in his eyes, passion in his voice and fire and dedication in his actions. He was also full of compassion. To date, the foundation has built new classrooms, built a computer room and provided computers, built a sports playground and provided sports equipment and provided a water tank, as well as supply the school with regular water supply.

Recently i was chatting to a client about how when I was 17, all i wanted to do was work in Ethiopia. Back then, I thought i could change the world! What a romantic idea. But it is such a shame that most of us grow out of that completely! Throughout my teen years, I was a compulsive volunteer. Thinking back now - i am pretty sure i volunteered somewhere every day! My time was split between old folks home, an orphanage, a blind center, cerebral palsy center and a down syndrome center. I think as i came into adult life- i had less romantic ideas and more self centered ones! Nigel has really re-opened that door for me. What he is doing makes total sense. Instead of changing the world, why not impact those around you. This will just create a rippling effect over time. The lives of those that he is impacting will themselves be inspired to continue on the same trend, just as he has inspired me to look into mine.

I am happy and privileged to support the foundation through my work. Please look out for classes and workshops run to raise funds for the school. Funds from my sevaa project 50+ class will also be diverted to the foundation. For more information and updates, please visit my blog http://kichanga.blogspot.com/ dedicated to them. You can also visit their facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kichanga-Foundation/149354997673 where you can see photo's of the school and their projects.

Thank you Nigel & Andrea, for the beautiful work you do!

nigel (L)

Some Random Thoughts...

2010-10-04T15:47:00.000-07:00

..........on chanting sanskrit mantra's

The sanskrit chants are arranged in such a way that supposedly stimulates certain cells in our bodies. If this is not true, then it is a lovely language anyway. We could chant mantra's in any language really. I've tried this - it is possible but it just does not seem to resonate the same way LOL

I have sat in many Buddhist puja's reciting things i have no idea about (i try) In fact i probably understand sanskrit chants more than the Buddhist one's x-) The point is in the intention of it all when you are chanting. I used to think it was important to know what the words meant but i have come to realize that it does not really matter. When you sing then with your heart and direct them towards your intention, you feel "it", whatever "it may be ;-)

....... on karma

This is completely my theory and understanding of what i have studied.....

For the sake of visualization, say there was a huge ball of energy matter. This is the collective consciousness of all living things (which is why we are all connected and when we hurt someone, we hurt ourselves essentially) So in a human body / life, we start to create "self" impressions that get left behind when we die. Pure energy remains and rejoins this ball. (this ball has no size by the way- it vibrates with strength or weakness - depending if good or bad prevails?) Because we are one consciousness, whatever imprints we left, we leave to be experienced in some other life - this could be good or bad (karma) that someone else will have to resolve / enjoy (it doesn't matter who since essentially, we are all the same)

:-D

i believe in karma

it is a fab blueprint for good living

;-)

Brian Cooper Weekend

2010-09-29T13:44:00.001-07:00

brian cooper

Brian visited Norwich for the second year, this time teaching a workshop about 'granthis' or knots that prevent free flow of prana in the body. Everyone really enjoyed the workshop. It was insightful and on top of that, we were privileged to study with Brian in a small group, making the event arm, casual and so much fun. I think what we enjoyed most about his company was his total honesty and his sense of humor.

Some highlight of the workshop:

*refining asana by drawing upwards and inwards

- drawing from the ground up, as opposed to just allowing the feet to slip outwards, especially in warrior poses

*pranayama techniques

-very interesting way of approaching bhastrika pranayama - i really enjoyed this way of not forcing, but rather just looping the breaths

*using bandha's in asana and as mudra's

*chakra theories

-chakra centers being also where many nerve endings meet

-how these chakra's may relate to mental or neurological states

*yoga theories

- some clarification from Brian regarding tantra and the yoga sutra's

Do join us next time. It is impossible for me to impart what was taught over the weekend, the way Brian masterfully did.

BIG thank you to all who came.

Namaste, gratitude to Brian for sharing his wisdom.

Aries Full Moon Thoughts

2010-09-23T06:10:00.001-07:00

I don't normally do this, but today, I decided to check out what the full moon brings. I guess because i had thought it was a Pisces Full Moon (i am piscean) but this had occurred whilst i was in Puglia on retreat - which was also an interesting point for me!! It kinda puts things into perspective in a cosmic kinda way?? Anyway.... so this is what i found....

Falling right on the 0 degrees Aries point, this full moon promises to adjust attitudes, push another wave of relationship reshuffling and reassess present aspirations. With strong aspects of Jupiter and Uranus, the energy in general is one of heightened restlessness. Your emaotions are keen for movement and you are enthusiastic about present ambitions for the future, Protective of your independance, you are firm about your boundaries, rebelling if anyone attempts to make you conform

The full article was even more interesting. I guess like most things - it is what you read into that makes the content relevant and/or interesting for you ;-)

There is definitely a sense of heightened restlessness with me at the moment. It feels like something got awakened at the last full moon and is refusing to rest since! It is my spirit that stirs. I am yet to understand what it is asking of me - I have plenty of "disillusioned" ideas about what it is though. LOL!!

I feel that I have led a VERY fortunate life so far. It has had it's ups and downs but even these, i consider are gifts! I would like to think that in the past, i led a good honest life to deserve this, and hope that I am doing the same in this! The point I am getting to, as usual, in a roundabout kind of way, is that, with through this good life, I have acquired many beautiful, exciting and special experiences. It is quite a task to stay grounded and present when you have these.

Attachment is a true cause of suffering!

The problem is, an overwhelming, soul touching, big, beautiful (i am throwing all the words i can find here) experience is what it is, because of what it is! And when you've touched it once, you will always seek it- only to be disappointed - because how can an experience be special if you are able to find it all the time? And all of this just leads to living in past events, day dreaming about past events, longing, missing, etc!! Attachment to what is already past!

One of the amazing thing about yoga practice is that it teaches you non attachment. Yes, this lesson also requires strong consciousness and awareness! I think yoga practice (experiences) is a good example of what i have just said about experiences. The more you practice, the more you encounter moments during your practice that just feel - WOW!!! Like you did some amazing thing - and only you noticed it of course, because nobody else knows your practice so well other than yourself. And then for the next few days or weeks, you keep going to your mat to try to find that WOW - and of course, it is not possible. Some time later, you feel that WOW again, but it is not the same WOW and on and on ;-) I think this practice has taught me so much about attachment. Learning to enjoy the moment and not be attached to it or seek it again. If only i could apply it to my life - as easily as i say it. Of course, it is not a magic fix-it-all. Life can be either super simple or super complicated depending on how you choose to live it. The way i see it, i have chosen the complicated path and have to accept what comes with it. I could not imagine living my life any other way ;-)

something beautiful on one of my teachers site..

"let the beauty of what you love be what you do - Rumi"

divine love to you x

Yoga Aid Norwich

2010-09-12T12:41:00.000-07:00

What a fun day!!! The first Norwich Yoga Aid 108 Sun Salutation event took place today (12th September) Just over 20 participants took part in this and raised over £1400 for the Africa Yoga Project and the Phoenix Prison trust!! I think that that is really successful for the first event considering also that we did not have much time!! ;-)

It was a really good day!! It started at 9am when the 7 teachers met - some for the first time. I love it when kindred spirits meet - you can feel the buzz in the air - bzzbzzbzz. The human race functions best in tribes (it can also manifest at it's worst i suppose!) Anyway, these lovely beings made it in the end, to lead the tribe through the 108:

Me :-)

Lou Kitchener

Mandy Brinkley

Abby Hoffmann

Hayley Winter

Joss Guin

Kate Coulson

Each offered a different variation of sun salutation, which kept the 2.5 hours interesting ;-)

I am pretty sure that most completed the 108!! Each teacher led 12 consecutive sun saluts so everyone had a few minutes break between changes. It worked really well and we will definitely keep to this format, perhaps breaking it down even more with more teachers participating.

We are so grateful to all who participated and all who contributed! This year, with London canceling their event, Norwich was the UK flagship event! So we did really well. The Yoga Aid team is really pleased and would love for us to host another event next year. We have all agreed that next year will be much bigger and much more public. Hope everyone starts telling their friends now and hook up with us for news and updates!!

Yoga practice is fun - but nothing beats gathering with friends and other yogi's and yogini's, doing what we love most, and doing it for a good cause! See you all on the mat - full of love and joy!!

i bow to you

Mixed Mess

2010-08-30T03:48:00.000-07:00

mixed messages!!

it is all an illusion...

all experience is real....

hmmm.....

so is it an illusion or not?

x-)

we need to keep external senses in check so they don't just take in everything that is out there unconsciously and create false perception -- agree

how about when something manifests itself in the body? because....isn't the body an intelligent vehicle that knows things...

so in practice, we teach ourselves to be perceptive towards the messages our body sends us. it can tell us when we are about to fall sick, whether we are happy, sad, excited, etc... and take action to put things right if need be. so in other words, the body does not lie. we are programed to sense fear, feel love.....i wonder - are we practicing control or just trying to become more in tuned?..... back to the books.....

Return From Puglia

2010-08-29T14:46:00.001-07:00

This year's retreat took place at the Santa Maria del Sole in the Puglia region of Italy. The space is truly special. I would use the word magical as i find it difficult to describe how special it is. There was just something about it - it was simple but beautiful and very peaceful. The people who work and live there are equally beautiful & gentle. It guess it all added to the weeks experience. I hope i had served the participants equally well.

I did not intentionally choose it, but it was also the last summer full moon of the year. The opportunity for an outdoor full moon practice could not be missed. We practiced the chandra namaskar together to the mantra's from Shiva Rea's 'Drops of Nectar' cd. It was just truly magical. We felt it so deeply that we did it twice :-D The picture above was what we practiced to. What can i say? aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh

After practice, we had dinner under the sky and kirtan to finish the night.... it was a bit surreal.

It was also beautiful, yet again, how many life stories were exchanged. Each with purpose. It was not all serious though - on the contrary, we laughed so much. I am so thankful that everyone got on like a house on fire. I love these small groups. It could not work any other way.

For me however, the journey was one to reflect on....

It is not often that i have the ground fall from my feet but on this occasion, that seems to have happened. I guess it has been a pretty intense year with little, if any, time to reflect on the past 8 months' events. It is amazing how it all presented itself in an intense, chaotic, mass of energy in my body. At times, it was nauseating! Don't get me wrong though - i do not see this as a negative event; more a necessary one. I wonder though..... did this happen because i suddenly went from 100mph to zero? Or was it because of the surreal space i was in that kinda put my spirit in the clouds? I guess this is important because the retreat should be grounding - but perhaps i am missing the point and this IS the point of it all. Never-the-less, the intensity was amazing. It took several yoga nidra's and quite contemplation to stay a little bit grounded at least so as not to loose the plot completely! hahahaha

Am i slowly landing? - slowly, yes. Perhaps i am even deliberately still up in the clouds. I guess it is because i know that come Tuesday, i have at least 4 weeks of just mad work that will take me away from any chance to feel so in touch with feeling, as opposed to just practical stuff. I hope i have learnt that no matter what, I need to take that time off to keep in check with myself....

I am thankful it is a holiday tomorrow but am looking forward to Tuesday!!

;-)

namaste

hOMMMMMe

2010-01-19T00:52:00.000-08:00

Is there really no place like home? No place like my home perhaps x-)

I am of course referring to my home in Kuala Lumpur. It's not about the weather - definitely not about the stable politics (LOL) nor the service and definitely not public services. Actually, a lot of things are rubbish back home. I am not sure if it is a good or bad thing, but most of us accept this and try to live around it - we laugh about it and complain about it, but mostly we just accept that it will not change tomorrow. Home is special because of the people who live there. Not that the people here are rubbish. On the contrary, they are actually lovely!! But there is nothing like friends who share a history with you, a common language (yes we speak english but it's not the same english) and of course, there is nothing like family who have known you all your life.

19 days into the new year and I have been making it my daily meditation and mantra to stay present and to stay conscious of the beauty of my life as it is. It is difficult after having been home and being reminded of what life used to be or could be. Of course, that is akin to living in the past and predicting the future - both of which has no substance. The fact is so simple, yet it seems to take so much to stay on the path of being absolutely present and enjoying every moment of this very special life. It is not the same as simply being content though.... While i believe in being content, I also believe there should be progress. Being content without stagnating...

Last week a 78 year old lady walked into the 50+ Yoga class. She was full of cheer and had never done any yoga before but decided to try something new and something to improve her flexibility and fitness. Isn't that just the most inspiring moment??? Yes it was! And she was brilliant. She tried everything even when i told her she didn't have to- but she insisted. She wanted to :-) This is one of my many beautiful encounters since embarking on this path. There are about 13 students over the age of 60 at the moment. They are all inspiring in every way. Their interaction with each other is genuine and fun - always fun!!! There is much to learn from them! Ommm...stay present ;-)

Hello 2010!!

2010-01-09T04:37:00.000-08:00

Ahh... shame that time is whossing by (whatever that means) I still remember so clearly celebrating the new millennium! More importantly, I remember when every Christmas and New Year's eve was an exciting event!! A time to party & celebrate!! Having out with someone younger reminded me of those days when everything was exciting. I realized that I was beginning to take things for granted. This was my new year's revelation and with this I made a promise to myself to stay ever more present this year and offer up a beginner's mind on every brand new day. To treasure and enjoy every moment of every day.

I have just spent about a month back in Asia with friends and family. I feel i have returned with so many revelations and lessons or experiences. I suppose this is because I am in touch with many more people when I am back there. Interaction seems equally important as meditation, in learning about oneself!

It is a bitter-sweet experience every year when I make my way back to Malaysia and back to Norwich. This trip was particularly difficult, perhaps because I had spent a week on holiday with my mum. To be honest, I wasn't expecting anything other than a bit of stress perhaps! Instead, the holiday was brilliant. I really enjoyed spending time with her and my two cousins. I think this made leaving even more so difficult! I think it also made it a bit more difficult for her to see me go - and this in turn made it more difficult for me too. It's a bit like karma - just going round & round & round :-(

It was also so nice to hang out with friends and reconnect with some friends whom I had not seen for a long long time! Friends are so important. They provide the ground for which holds you steady. Even those who attempt to unsteady you ;-)

I was on a 25 hours journey back to England and so had a lot of time to contemplate all the information that i had gathered in my head & my soul, over the month. This i know - if you stop living in the moment - if you stop being present, then you will miss the beautiful unfolding of events before you. If you keep having your sights on something that you do not have, then you will completely miss all the beautiful things that you possess, this very moment. And by this, i mean the love, the friendship and all the beautiful moments around us, that will pass us by if we don't stay present & conscious & grateful.

Happy New Year!!!! May you receive all the positive energy from all that pulsates around you & see all that you have worked for manifest itself in the most beautiful way!

CO2 stuff

2009-12-10T05:07:00.000-08:00

So last night, I watched a program on BBC1 called Hot Planet - i think that was what it was called. It was about climate change anyway. It was not so much about how much the planet was changing but more what solutions some scientist have come up with. It fascinated me so much it kept me up at night! We (humans) are so clever!! We've figured out all sorts of thing! Just the face that we are able to date things back thousands of years already fascinates me. I think curiosity is a part of all living species but i guess the other animals haven't got our brain capacity to take it quite any further than a bit of sniffing, licking, digging, etc. Anyway.... it also fascinates me that we are all so curious to learn learn learn - it's all so cool!!

Anyway..... there was a segment about these artificial trees! It seems like the first report about it came out in 2003 & i've only just heard of them - oh well.... *blush* (You can read about it here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2784227.stm) And a segment about artificial meat - not sure about that - but i guess, as Steve points out to me- not very different from me eating tofu or quorn! I suppose....

I am full of admiration for these people with so much passion about what they do (not just these scientist but anyone with that level of passion, belief and commitment towards their purpose) In my younger days (hehe) my mum would say to me that I have may passions but am a jack of all trades but master of none. Whilst I am passionate about yoga, I still do not feel that i possess the same level of passion. I think "that" level of passion removes the notion of impossibility. That didn't come out right but i think it gets the message across. I think when you are 100% passionate about what you do, doors open in your brain, you become a genius at what you do, etc etc etc

I want to be like that - but obviously not enough hahahaha

I live with someone like that though - i love it! It's lovely just to observe the way they function ;-)

Of course, such passion comes with sacrifice - but it must feel completely worthwhile!

While us mere mortals stand to enjoy & reap all the benefits that come with it!

Anyway.... so i was kept up all night thinking about my carbon emissions.

Don't think we do too badly but I guess more can always be done.

Knowing that there are people out there who are trying so hard has inspired me to try harder.

;-)

Beautiful Angels!

2009-11-27T03:49:00.000-08:00

Budi Soehardi www.roslinorphanage.org

Budi Soehardi did not win the 2009 CNN Heroes award but the winner, Efren Penaflorida deserves it never-the-less! I have been so inspired by their stories of devotion to their causes. Each, doing their best in their little space. A lot of us think that we are just one in this chaotic world, we can't possibly make a difference, but really, we can, it is just a matter of whether we really want to or not.

These days, much of our news are of disasters and crime. Every now and then, we get a small snippet of some bravery somewhere. I think the general idea we get from the news is that, we are all killing each other in some way or other, we are poisoning ourselves with our own food - or need of it, and that the earth is dying and we are all going to be doomed. Most of us have probably desensitized from these news. Soldiers dies every day and we have to be reminded every day, why there are these wars going on - probably so we don't forget... because we probably will. If only there were more good news. These guys have been doing their godly work for years. Well, i guess it is my fault for not looking for these news. There must be so many of these wonderful pockets of magic going on around the world - story that can inspire us to think that if each of us just treat each other with a little bit more humanity, then it would be really a nicer place to be in. At the moment, we are all just getting more & more suspicious with each other, a bit more touchy and a bit more stressed in our spaces. It's like we are on constant fight mode, hanging on to our survival!

Anyway..... while at Shiva Rea's workshop, I realized what an impact her words must make when she teaches in this way around the world. She did talk quite a bit and although i did not manage to absorb everything she said (i am sure, as with the others), some of it sieved thorough enough to make me want to go out & spread the word and loveee!! And if everyone in the room was inspired to add a little more love and kindness in their lives, then the rippling effect of such a shift in behavior could be phenomenal! So i don't think that action has to be massive as those demonstrated by the CNN Heroes nominees, one person CAN make a big difference...any person!

But anyway, back to Budi and the nominees.

To give so selflessly is truly inspiring and humbling.

Not so fun anymore!

2009-11-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

I went to bed last night certain that I will wake up good today and run my classes. However, I have had to cancel another class!!!! Stuff is just oozing out of me. I am taking that as a good sign?!! Unfortunately, it will not do for standing in a small space, spreading my love bugs.

When will this end???

All this also means that I have not had a practice since Friday. Well.... to be fair to myself, I was at my mother-in-laws from Friday till Sunday. I did get onto my mat yesterday to try some Shanti Sadhana but that didn't work either because I had to keep stopping to blow my nose and decided to lie in Shavasana instead but that did not work either because I then got all clogged up from lying prone.

hahahahaha

I guess some days, the yoga is to do nothing. Instead, I have caught up on some reading - more yoga stuff, TV- day time TV mind you! (but to be quite honest, it looses me after a few minutes) and blogging! yeaaa!! But this also means a whole lot of nothing bla bla bla, like this :-)

I'M SICK!!!

2009-11-24T08:59:00.000-08:00

This may sound a little silly but i am quite happy to be poorly! I have not been ill for a very long time. My body felt weak after my weekend with Shiva Rea in London. I had thought at the time that i must be getting older and my body is just not as strong anymore. Now i know that i had probably already caught this cold from my friend's 2 lovely kids that i had spent the weekend with. Phew! Also, i have not been ill for so long that I have started to take my good health for granted!

I think it is also important to put the body up for a fight every now & then. Maybe that is just something completely warped to say :-S Anyway, it feels that way. I feel that my body will only get stronger. It has been 6 days since this flared up and I guess, I am not a spring chicken anymore so if i choose not to take anything for it (which i have not) then it will take longer before I get better ;-)

However, i do feel bad that I have had to cancel classes yesterday & today. It is the first time I have done so & theoretically, I should not feel bad, but i do. I think there is almost an expectation for yoga teachers to be in tip top condition at all times ;-) Or.... maybe, that is again, MY perception LOL

In the meantime anyway.... i shall continue to enjoy my cold.......

Weekend In London

2009-11-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

I spent a long weekend in London on a workshop with the beautiful and lovely Shiva Rea. I also had the wonderful experience of participating in a kirtan with Dave Stringer & his friends. Today i have returned with a mixture of emotions and thoughts. I guess that makes it a very successful weekend!

Shiva was brilliant as ever. The workshop introduced us to a series of sadhana's (practices). We worked on 3 - Shanti, Vira and Bhakti. On Friday, we had a preview of all 3 practices - it was lovely. I arrived in London feeling a little bit tired but left feeling completely energized. Dave Stringer was at the practice providing the background music & ended the practice with kirtan. I was buzzing so much from the vibration that i had trouble sleeping that night. I wondered how i would do on Saturday when i woke up. Saturday morning was Vira Sadahna - energizing practice where we completed 108 sun salutations (12 chaturanga's in each round of 9 sun salutations actually) Here's the yoga - it is pretty amazing that I managed to sustain the practice. Collective room energy does wonders!!! After lunch, we embarked on a shanti sadhana. We had to lie on the floor and flow with whatever movement comes to the body. Sorry Shiva, but i just could not get into this with all the feet and arms, hands & fingers of my brothers & sisters in my face :-S Later we had to fold the blankets on the floor but before we did that, we each had to grab a side of the blanket and danced - it was all quite merry. I felt like a shaman in a ritual dance.

In the evening, I went to the Harrow Club, located close to the BBC - i've never seen the BBC - i never even thought about that. It looks better IRL than it does on TV. Anyway, i think it's a football club - but it has this lovely hall (i couldn't really see it since it was dark and lit by candles and i think most spaces look lovely when lit just by candles) It was a large space anyway, with a huge stained glass window. Dave Stringer & his friends (musicians) were raised slightly on a platform. There must have been at least 100 participants in the hall, if not more. I was so excited. It would have been a bit more fun if i had some company but when i sat down, i realized i was sat next to some girls who were also on the workshop - so it worked out alright after all. Sharon Gannon & David Life arrived but sat right at the back of the room so I didn't see much of them. Shiva Rea & Demitri came a little later & sat in front. A projector projected the words of the mantra onto the wall behind the stage - i think it was a brilliant idea, whether it felt like karaoke or not ;-)

It was amazing the moment it started!! The collective voice sounds amazing!! You feel like it's your voice. I guess.... it can only sound so amazing with all the different voices, good & bad. I could not hear a single bad voice anyway - i have to point out that i have a bad singing voice but when you are a part of the collective, you sound great!! hahaha!! I cannot even begin to describe the vibration in the room!! It was phenomenal!

What a weekend. Sunday practice started with Bhakti Sadhana. A lovely practice of balance and control. The weekend ended with a puja by Siva Kumar. He is just the most engaging pujari i have ever met. Lucky me! Twice in one year!!

A series of random thoughts - return to blogging

2009-11-05T06:09:00.000-08:00

brrrr! Who turned off the heat??

I've not blogged for some time. I've been busy some what - or it just feels it anyway.

I decided to come back to the blog today & found a half written blog & decided to publish it anyway & write a new one for today. I could finish off my Kili climb blog but for some unexplained reason, writing about the last day of my climb seems to be as big a task as it was climbing it! I'm sure i will get there.... soon....

I've also been busier because Steve has had to work late recently, which leaves me to schedule in Cooper's exercise. I can't complain though.... although this means a bit of hectic running around, I've enjoyed my walks with him. We've even started running. It's been good fun, even though my knees are not loving me for it!

I've chosen the above picture for this blog because, I was looking at it and laughing, thinking, this was so unnecessary. I am actually perched on the edge of a cliff. If i had lost my balance, it would have been curtains for me probably. The picture would have looked the same had i stood a little further forward. I just wanted to share that thought with you - that sometimes, keeping it safe and simple achieves the same result really.

So November is here and I have 5 weeks + 3 days to go before I head home to Malaysia. I have been busying myself with 2010 preparations before i leave. I never thought i would run another retreat, but it's done now! I am doing it!! To be honest with you, I don't even remember how i got there!! As far as i was concerned, a few weeks ago, that was still not going to happen. Perhaps it is just meant to be. It is pretty stressful though - the part before i know i have the numbers required. I do however, LOVE running the retreat. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to share a week of yoga with no rush & no limitations. This year, I was so inspired by all the participants! I am sure it will be the same next year.

Other than that, I also had a good look at my schedule and cleared some space for myself. It is amazing how a small shift can produce big results. Some times it seems difficult to let go of certain things and then when you do, you cannot imagine what the difficulty was! I am looking forward to the new spaces and new classes next year and all that lies ahead. The new people i will meet and those who will move on, for whatever reasons, normally exciting new journeys.

I am grateful for this life and every wonderful day and for all those that come each day to share their energy and inspiration.

All Things Beautiful

2009-09-24T05:04:00.001-07:00

Time is whoosing by! Two weeks have passed since returning from Kilimanjaro-Zanzibar. I am still enjoying all the positive energy that I had gained from the trip. Although i am always aware that i live a very privileged life, I do not think i have been this clear about it. I am not even sure why this is. Has the change in my yoga practice over the last year brought about a change in the way i reflect on my life? Maybe......

Or could it be that i am approaching 40 *hahahaha* possibly....

I had a wonderful time! The climb up Kilimanjaro was tough but amazing. (You can read about it on my blog about it if this interest you. I'm still working on it though) We were either very lucky with the company we hired or, it could be that all African's are lovely!

Yoga Journal Article

2009-09-23T00:47:00.000-07:00

http://www.yogajournal.com/practice/2570?utm_source=MyYogaJournal&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=myj_380

Leaving on another jet plane

2009-08-06T01:08:00.000-07:00

I have finally gotten round to buying my ticket for my annual pilgrimage home. For the first time since I've been here, i am actually going to embark on one of these super long 2 stop journeys, on a plane i have never every flown on. Unfortunately, in order for me to purchase a ticket a price mere mortals can afford, i have had to move my trip up a little. Which means, closing my classes early again this December :-(

Classes will close for "Christmas" or, Julee's Pilgrimage, Julee's family call.... call of my family duties...etc..... from 14th December 2009. First class will resume on Thursday 7th January 2010 at 7.30pm. Once again, i am truly sorry for having to "abandon" you for almost 4 weeks. My initial intention to leave a week later would have cost me an extra £200.

Having said all that, I am looking forward to my trip home, as always. This year, I will be taking my mum to Vietnam for a break. She has had a challenging year & deserves a special treat. I hope with all my heart that i will be able to provide that! You know what it's like.... after some prolonged proximity with family, you always feel like strangling them :-D

I thank you for your patience as always & apologize for this disruption.

Namaste

September Classes & Schedule

2009-07-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

I am really looking forward to my new schedule with new classes and some time off for family! Hope you will all also enjoy the changes. Here's what's on the table:

Monday
12:30pm - 01:30pm Lunch Vinyasa All Levels My Shala
06:00pm - 07.15pm Beginners Courses Beginners Various
07.30pm - 09.00pm Hatha Yoga All Levels Notre Dame School

Tuesday
10:00am - 11:15am 50+ Yoga Seniors My Shala
06:00pm - 07:30pm Vinyasa Flow Advanced My Shala
07:45pm - 09:00pm Sivananda Yoga All Levels My Shala

Thursday
09:45am - 11:00am 50+ Yoga Seniors My Shala
06:00pm - 07:15pm Ashtanga Led Int - All My Shala
07:30pm - 09:00pm Dynamic Hatha Int - All Innerspace

Friday
12:30pm - 01:30pm Vinyasa Flow Advanced My Shala

From September onwards, I am reintroducing Sivananda Yoga into my schedule. Sivananda Yoga is a therapeutic form of yoga practice. It follows a fixed sequence & allows for plenty on relaxation time between asana's to allow the body to receive all the energetic & physiological benefits from holding the pose. The practice is suitable for all levels.

There will also be a led Ashtanga class running through as much of the primary series as possible. Ashtanga is a very dynamic practice and also follows a fixed sequence of practice.

The form of Thursday's 7.30pm class will also change. It will no longer be a Vinyasa practice but follow a slower paced, but still dynamic Hatha practice. Each class will begin with a 15 minute led meditation, followed by asana practice, shavasana, pranayama & if we have time a short chanting session to share our voices to end our session.

I look forward to see you all back in September, fresh from holidays, high spirited & happy!!

Namaskar

2009 Yoga Retreat @ Hacienda, Montefrio

2009-07-21T05:10:00.001-07:00

L-R
katie, fiona, anna, caroline, ruth, janet, amy, helen, lance

not present
lea

This year has been especially special for me having had the privilege to meet & share space with so many wonderful beings. This retreat was amazing! It felt more like a holiday with a group of friends! The property was in the middle of no where! There were no caretakers on site. It was just to be us, a group of 11, completely isolated, in paradise! ;-)

The life stories & experiences shared during this time was..... inspiring, to say the least. I am very grateful to all those who so freely shared their stories. I was so inspired and learned so much from these exchanges! It just affirms that there is a warrior in each & everyone of us. For me, this, more than anything else, made this week so special. Trust is so precious! In return, I hope I had served everyone just as well.

I also felt privileged & lucky as i could not have wished to be in the company of a more diverse or beautiful group of people! Everyone got on so well!! I felt enveloped in peace & love ;-) Thank you everyone! For being open to each other & for being open with me. For giving me all the space & ease to share with you all that i wanted to.

I think the highlight of the trip was the HUGE lesson i was reminded of that when things don't seem to be going right, there may be a bigger purpose / reason behind it all!! This was when Lea's replacement car took a good 4 hours to get to us. The dear old man who delivered the car was truly our hero. If he hadn't had gotten so terribly lost, we would not have been there to put out the fire that started on the property! (It was not a big fire but it could have developed into a nasty one had it not been attended to)

To end our very relaxing week of yoga, food, sun, fun, cake, yoga, food, we spent a whole day waiting around in Granada in sweltering temperatures, a rather hilarious excursion to the San (i've even forgotten the name of the little village we visited) where we got very lost in the narrow lanes with our rented cars & could not find our way out ending finally with a delayed flight, probably caused by one of us ;-) Despite it all, everyone still seemed pretty chilled out & happy! Once again, THANK YOU all for such a beautiful & blissful time!!

And Lance, thank you for patiently following us round those narrow lanes, despite it having been quite stressful for you & then holding it all together to drive us home from the airport at that ungodly hour!

with all my love & gratitude
xx

for more pictures of the retreat, please go here

some feedback:

When I went on a yoga retreat this year, i really didnt know what to expect as i had only ever been to one yoga session before! There was a wide range of experience in the participants but I'm very pleased to report that myself and the other complete novice were able to participate in everything from start to finish. Julz managed to (somehow!) tailor each & every session to all abilities in the group whilst pushing the more experienced people and still letting us novices fell included. I'm now a yoga convert right down to the meditation which I still use. I can't wait for the next 'yoga with julz' retreat as I left the first one stronger and raring to go again!

Fiona J.- Cambridge

What do you get when you cross a Yoga boot camp with a luxurious retreat. A relaxed, fun and focused atmosphere to practice and improve your yoga

Anna B.- Melbourne

I'm so glad that You're planning another retreat, You sounded a bit unsure about it when we parted in Spain last summer, but I think the universe really needs You to do retreats (and all the other things You do!)

Dr. Lea N - Denmark

The retreat with Julee at the Hacienda is one of the best experiences of my life. We were in an absolutely stunning location which along with the yoga practice and mediation enabled me to completely detach from the hectic schedule and distractions of everyday life. The daily morning and evening sessions helped me to connect with my practice on a much deeper level than I have before and I went away at the end of the week feeling rejuvenated and contented in body, mind and soul. Julee's style of teaching makes each class accessable to people of all abilities. If you are weary of body, mind or both I would certainly recommend next years retreat - it is the best gift you will ever give yourself.

Ruth T. - Norwich

The Massive Come Down

2009-06-30T01:20:00.000-07:00

This is an example of where too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Life is all about balance and perhaps the Buddhist got it right. I am experiencing post-Stockholm-Shiva-doldrums - although.....this is not the right word as i am not depressed, just a little lack-of. So i'm sitting out this wave (or no wave).... yes, thats what it's like. Sitting in the sea on your surf board & there's no wave. It's not boring. It's just lacking.

Sometimes i think too much yoga IS bad for you! For example, you become soooo aware of your body that you notice every little tweak & every mm of change that occurs. I guess this is why yoga asana practice alone probably won't do you the good that a full yoga practice (body, mind & spirit) would do. Perhaps i've had a little too much asana the last 2 months & my mind & spirit had gone walkies & jumped onto a surf board themselves & gone riding on their own prana wave, leaving me feeling slightly disjointed. Some times, i loveeee feeling slightly spasmodic, but right this moment, i feel the need for structure.

Structure. I've been using this word a lot these past few weeks so i am guessing that that's what i need right now. Don't you just love a bit of discipline?? LOL A bit of boot camp! Well.... not quite. However.... it can be such a buzz when you pick up something new and are on that first wave where you are learning loads all at once. Then you get better (or not??) & the wave flattens out. Then you hit a peak where you become your own teacher & you learn in a different way. Then it takes a lot of heart to continue from there. If you ever become the best, then i think the only thing left to do is to erase it all & start again - readopt the beginner's mind. If not, i guess you'll just get bored of it & it all goes downhill from there.

Oopss i've gone off tangent. So that's how it is right now. Coming down from my high ;-)

On another note.... i am so excited about this impending heat wave!!!
I am going to sit on my balcony (with my dog hopefully) & soak in all that energy!!! Enjoy!!

xx

Missing The Vibe

2009-06-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

After 5 glorious days of all day yoga, i am experiencing withdrawls! Withdrawl from being in a room full of yogi's of intense passion & energy & withdrawl from the yoga of course. Self practice is beautiful but being in a community is just magic! In the 5 days, i was so full of energy - i never felt like i needed food & yet i felt like i could go on & on forever. :-D
And of course, i miss being in Shiva's presence (without sounding too obsessive)

I am looking forward to be in class tonight. Although i thoroughly enjoy leading yoga classes, i have to say, i love being a student even more! We're always students. It's so important to keep learning. Blow yourself away with information.

My dog is bored & is looking at me......i shall go and serve him as he has been a good boy all day!! ;-)

Namaste

My Little Journey With Shiva Rea

2009-06-24T01:01:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a 4 day journey with Shiva Rea and am still buzzing from the electric energy i received! She is a truly beautiful person in every way. When she speaks, you know that she believes & lives every word she speaks. Her words were consistently, all the time, 100%, kind, considerate, nurturing, humble & full of love and truth. She prefers to be identified as a servant of Shakti (sacred force / energy), rather than a teacher, both of which she serves brilliantly! In a room of (we counted) 72, she connected with everyone. Not once did she look like she did not have enough energy or time for a question & she would take her time to speak to you even if there was a long que of eagerly awaiting students in line. She has truly inspired me and i am honored to have studied with her and look forward to sharing space with her again soon.

We were also blessed that the training fell on summer solstice, a time that is sacred to the workshippers of Shakti. As a gift, Shiva had invited Tantric-Vedic priest, Shiva Kumar onto location to create a beautiful mandala. On Solstice day, Shiva Kumar performed a beautiful puja ritual which we were participated in. The last puja i had participated in was for my father's funeral 4 years ago and so this stirred some heightened feelings inside me. For the puja, i brought all my family, friends and students "with me".

Of course the yoga asana part of the course was fantastic, but for me, receiving the Shiva's dharma was priceless. I am inspired to continue in this tradition and serve the lineage, & Shakti, as has been presented to me, as best i can.

Sri Pattabhi Jois

2009-06-13T10:21:00.001-07:00

Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois
26.07.1916 - 18.05.2009

I pay my deepest respect for the Guru, Sri Pattabhi Jois. He was not my teacher but all who practice yoga are inevitably connected with his teachings. Guruji, as he was known, was a student of Sri T. Krihnamacharya, the father of yoga that we know today.

Mountains........

2009-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

I cannot even begin to describe how i feel when i am surrounded by mountains. It exhilarates me! It is ironic that i live in Norwich - just about as flat as a place could be :-D

I grew up around mountains. My parents bought their first home in a hilly area. My family still lives there, although, it is not as hilly or scenic as it used to be. This is expected in developing countries - then, a third world nation, unconcerned about environmental issues. Anyway, point is, my family house sits on a hill. It was surrounded by mountains, rivers, lakes & rain forest. It was the best playground in the world!! I feel very privileged to have had all that. I have never had a Barbie doll, or any doll for that matter & had little toys when i was a child, as my folks put everything they had into this home, but i couldn't have asked for more!
Maybe that is why mountains excite me..... excite is perhaps mild..... i am somewhat obsessed with them. I cannot take my eyes off them & all i can think about is... i wonder if i could get up there :-D

The first big mountain i climbed was in my home country. Mt Tahan only stands at 2187m, but the route to it is tough. No camps - you carry food, clothes & tents with you. It was so hard & at the end of it, all we could talk about was how we were going to destroy our rucksacks at the end of the journey. The guide told me that the mountains are mysterious. They have a power that draws you back to them once you've stood on them. At the time, i took it as just another Asian waffle. (we do have loads of those, but some are true!!?) Anyway.... he was absolutely right! I have yearned for mountains since. All the time just wanting to be on them, higher, lower... any mountain....mostly higher ;-) Every time, during the arduous journey up & down the mountain, i swear i would never step foot on another, but it is impossible to stay away from them. It is truly madness, since i really REALLY do not enjoy being cold!!

I think what i enjoy most is not so much about standing ontop of a mountain, but walking / climbing up one. You learn so much about yourself & the human spirit. These discoveries are so exhilarating, words do them no justice. Some call it a strong, stubborn mind, but personally i think that when you are in touch with your human spirit & when you tap into this energy, possibilities are endless. Also during a difficult journey, you feel things within yourself that you do not feel doing anything else -- i am not sure, as i have not experienced everything there is in life. Ok perhaps child birth is more profound. I have jumped out of planes & climbing still beats it all. Last night i watched 3 veterans walking in the poles, crossing an ice lake. That made my heart jump too. I was wondering to myself, what possess me like this?? I came to the conclusion that, once you've been 'there', been in touch with that.... human spirit, call it God, your inner self, some special power??... you will keep seeking it, or it calls to you, whichever way you want to see it. You see it with surfers, climbers, marathon runners, yogi's, etc. If you take something far enough, you will find it.

Spring! & a series of random thoughts

2009-03-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

I have been watching 'Nature's Great Events' on BBC1. They have come up with some of the most amazing nature programs! And David Attenborough's commentary making it all that extra bit more special. I especially enjoyed the episode about the great flood in Okavango. Watching the Lechwe swamp deer happily prancing up & down - they looked like they were smiling!! (lions standing close by, unable to give chase in the flood) Since watching that episode, I have not been able to stop thinking about it, & when i do, it warms my heart & brings out a smile. It was all about water & grass. Hippos, elephants, lions, zebras, buffalos, cheetahs, birds, fish, dragon flies, lions, crocs, deer....they all travel here for some grass & water!! The simplicity & beauty of this is so profound! The transformation from a barren piece of land to this beautiful & abundant wetland! How the animals quicken their step as they smell the fresh grass. WOW!

So anyway, what a time to be watching this! Spring being just around the corner. Feels like spring has arrived anyway! This is a wonderful time. With the arrival of spring comes fresh & renewed energy. Prana is especially strong at this time with new growth all around us! If you have the opportunity to lie outside (on a nice day), do it! Grab your mat, a lush blanket & an eye pillow if you have one, & take a long deep shavasana. First allowing the overloading of external stimuli - birds tweeting, bees humming, flies... err....yes, even them! If you listen close enough, you might pick up on their excitement ;-) Then just disconnect & connect with the more subtle.... that energy in the air, the prana. Feel the vibration & allow it to radiate freely through your entire being. In fact, the next time you lie outside anywhere, even & especially on the beach, try shavasana while you're at it. It really is rejuvenating! Laying still everyday for 15 minutes or longer does wonders anyway. I think we just don't take enough time out in our hectic busy life (myself included)

Taking you back to the program (which you can watch on iPlayer) -wouldn't it be lovely if life were so simple? Some times, i look around me & think.... wow! I have so much! It's all just stuff. But the things that really make me happy are the intangible, yet i continue to accumulate. I am human after all. I just had a birthday & turned 37. It has been a good journey for me so far and at this junction, i feel good overall. I have been very fortunate to have lived many life's and been many persons, in my 37 years. Right now, i am happy to be where i am.

OMM

For Tam

2009-03-06T13:47:00.000-08:00

<--- Tam, back to camera in blue vest

2 years ago, Steve & I spent a week in Fuerteventura kiteboarding with a company that has now ceased it's operations. We have been struggling with this sport for some years & decided to spend some money & time to nail it. I guess before we had even left the country, we already sitting on very high expectations; of ourselves & of what this trip was going to give us. For us, our holidays are carefully chosen every year to maximize our time off. We also budget neurotically to achieve this. I suppose all this makes our holidays rather precious.

So we arrive in sunny Fuerteventura -- which turned out to be very windy. For what we were there to do, this is a good thing. We didn't expect it to be chilly though! That was fine. We were assigned 2 instructors for the week and there was only one other guy with us. We were pretty happy about this obviously. Our 2 charismatic instructors were Stav & Tam. Tam practically lived on FV. He had been on the island for many years & over the week we learnt that he was dying to get out of there & had not left for a long time.

Sigh..... lets see.... we hardly got into the water.... we did, twice. Mostly not enough wind. Crazy waves. The place was hardly ideal for beginners. Not where we were taken anyway. The company had told us of the many beaches we could go to on the island & that there was always wind there. We are never really lucky with weather but it was frustrating. I guess also because the company really sold it & we believe, oversold it. So anyway, we spent a lot of time sitting on the beach chatting. There were a whole lot more people there with the same company in other groups either surfing or windsurfing. There was a party every night. It was good fun & we probably needed that more than anything else. However, on 2 occasions Tam turned up late to get us & when he did he smelled of alcohol. Keeping in mind how we feel about time, this annoyed us a little, especially since we were not getting our time on the water anyway. We also felt that Tam was not very interested in teaching us - or anyone. He seemed troubled or bored. We were so focused on learning to kite that we were not really interested in anyone else's problems.

At the end of the holiday we were required to fill out a feedback form. I never like these things anyway. I think if I had something i really wanted to say about the holiday then i would write something myself. Anyway, we were strongly persuaded to fill it there & then. We did the usual. The questions were satisfaction 1-10. When it came to satisfaction about our instructors.... well, we didn't give Tam a 10. Neither did we say he was awful. We just made a comment that he seemed bored & not very interested in his job. After all, Tam did say that he had been on the island for a long time without a break. Perhaps that was all he needed.

I am telling you this story because I just received news from Stav who told me that Tam took his life last June. Although i had only known the guy for a week, this really saddened both me & Steve. What a waste of life. He was actually a nice guy & I am sure he was good at his job as i did experience snippets of it. He was definitely good with people. He was young - my age (ok.. young-ish)

The point is....it made me think.....

all our comment seem so insignificant now. Why do it? I'm not saying that it was the cause of his suicide, although i do know that he got many comments like ours, some that were not quite so "kind". Imagine getting these remarks week after week! The build up of frustration probably sent him on a rebellion - a "i don't give a s*&%!" attitude when deep inside it eats at you. At the same time feeling trapped on an island because you've done this for so long & become somewhat institutionalized & afraid to break from it - unsure of what to do next or what else you can do. I dated someone in a similar situation so somewhat understood what he was saying.

So..... how much do we say? This has always been a bit problematic for me. I used to believe that people are free to say what they feel. Over the years, i have learnt that this is just wrong. We have to be responsible for what we say as you just cannot predict when some words have far reaching rippling effects. I guess it's all about balance again. I am still learning to balance my throat chakra & control these words ripping out of my mouth :-S I have always been a talkative child-teenager-adult. When i look back at the feedback form, i just think..... what was the point of that??! It's not like they did anything to change it. (Stav was my snowboarding instructor the year after that, so i heard more) I have decided that from now on, i will not make anymore judgements on people's work. I know this goes against speaking up for ourselves and all that but really.... if these comments are just made to satisfy my ego, or to voice my disagreement or dissatisfaction, i don't think it will make a difference to my life if i didn't do it. In the case of Tam, it really made no difference i got nothing out of it (not even satisfaction), he didn't get a holiday, nothing changed. Sometimes we just need to shift our focus and look at the bigger picture.

In memory of Tam.

rest in peace

Thank You

2009-02-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

A big THANK YOU to you all for the lovely time off I had, slipping & sliding down the mountains! It was rather snowy the whole week with one sunny day at the end of my trip but this also meant LOTS of snow to play in & hardly anyone on the slopes ;-)

On one of my runs down the mountain, I had a massive wipe out (fall), thankfully, on rather fluffy soft snow. Never-the-less, I winded myself quite badly & it took me a good minute or so to catch my breath. Basically, I had fallen on my head & because I was cascading rather quickly, my upper body had stopped while my lower body continued to twist in motion. I thought I had surely hurt myself. It was sore for the first hour and i felt a bit stiff at night but overall, I felt alright. I am certain that this is because of all the yoga in my life! Before i went to bed that night, I practiced a long, deep Shavasana, really focusing on letting go of my muscles completely. As always, this was difficult. When we spend the whole day holding ourselves up, letting go is no easy task. It had been a long time since I last practiced Shavasana in this way. It's such an amazing feeling! The result was fabulous! The next day, I hardly felt the ache or stiffness! It has also been a long time since I taught Shavasana in this way. I am going to make a commitment to teach this at least once a month now!

So I have safely returned with no broken bones or injury & all charged up & ready to go. I am also almost ready to make those changes I set out to make when I wrote my last blog. It looks like i am going to change the focus of my teaching & keep groups tiny tiny tiny! I am confident that everyone, including myself, my dog & husband, will enjoy this!

Much love!

Letting Go For The Better

2009-01-23T00:50:00.000-08:00

Namaste

Events in the past two weeks have really forced me take stock with myself. In doing so, I also came to realize that it had been awhile since i have done anything like that & perhaps have lost my way a little. I am certain now that this did not just happen in the last two weeks and is probably the result of some months of scattering around like a loose electron! I think it is so important take a time out each day to sit by ourselves and just have a quiet moment to meditate or contemplate our day.

I am saying all this as a response to feeling somewhat drained at the moment, having perhaps taken too much on. I know i say it all the time, but it is the truth - i am very fortunate as i have such lovely people coming to my classes. I cannot stress enough what a privilege it is to work under these circumstances! Heightened by this euphoria, i decided that i would love nothing more than to see more of you & plugged in more classes into my schedule. Unfortunately, there are only 5 working days in a week & finding a suitable venue has been such an issue that almost all of my classes are squeezed into 3 days. One might look at my timetable & think... "she only teaches about 3-4 classes a day, what is she on about??" I can only say, it does take it out of you...... & i think if this went on, i would probably burn out.

Last night really got me thinking that i have to let go of this madness as it has done nobody any good. I started the morning full of energy & ready to go! I was teaching at a new venue for the first time (this being at the Innerspace), with my favorite group, the over 50's. Despite the rubbish weather getting there & back, it was LOVELY!!!! Had my usual coffee with them after & dashed back to prepare for my lunch class, this being a class that i also enjoy teaching very much! Unfortunately, the students have not returned other than the faithful 2. This was fine. Squeezed in a small practice of my own, had a quick lunch, took the dog for a run round the park, showered & prepared some materials for the beginners at 6 - which means leaving the house at 5.15pm. Taught the 2 classes and got back at 9.30pm. Fixed a light meal, bed.

What bothered me last night was the quality of my work. I felt that by the time i came to teach the last class, i could no longer serve them well. I realized this as soon as the class started & dug deep to give all that i could but i still left feeling somewhat dissatisfied. This dissatisfaction probably drained me more anything else. I am not setting out to judge myself but as those who know me well will tell you, i am one of those all or nothing types.

In light of how i felt, i have decided that i will have to make some changes & let go of what no longer works for me. I also feel that i have allowed my own practice to slip and i cannot see how i can continue to serve my classes well if i cannot keep up with my own practice. I do feel bad that some, especially those who have come religiously, might loose out, but in this way, i feel i will be able to offer a way better service to everyone. I do apologize for all the recent scattiness!

Perhaps you can take a lesson from this. A reminder that sometimes, we are so focused on growing that we forget to live in the present & appreciate the things in front of us. In yoga philosophy, everything is maya, an illusion - & hence, so is achievement...... what this means is that if you have already achieved it, then it no longer exist & so the idea of achievement is an illusion. However, achieving something does not have to mean that it is done. Just like in yoga asana, once you have "achieved" a pose, you continue to grow with it. Hence, consistent with the philosophy of the truth being in the moment. And so, in application to my current situation, i thought that by giving my students more classes, it would help them & me grow, when actually, all i had to focus on was to continuously improve the quality of the classes.

I pledge to honor your commitment by sharing all i can with you & hope this new schedule will serve us all better.

Namaste.

May wisdom & strength shine in you always.

New Year New Challenges

2009-01-09T13:49:00.000-08:00

A very happy new year to everyone! If you have been riding on a fabulous wave, then i wish for you to continue on your lovely journey. If things have not been going well for you, then let the new year be one that will inspire & drive you towards change! Wherever you are in life, I wish you all good health, abundance of love, peace & prosperity in all your endeavors.

I moved into 2009 with the highest of spirit. Taking a break in December did my soul a world of good. We hear it so often. "Do something that scares you every day" Most of us know this, but forget. It is also easier to lead a life of routine or do things that are familiar to us, with people we feel safe with. Of course, a life such as this, if a happy one, is a content life & feeling content is bliss. So, nothing wrong with this! My break in December took me away from all this. It had been a long time since i had done something quite so like that. I think when you have lived a certain years & done a certain things, you begin to settle into a comfortable, steady life. I do not, for one day, take this privilege for granted. Going away on my own for 2 weeks to a place unfamiliar to me was liberating! It was not that i had embarked on a great big scary adventure. It was that i stepped out of my bubble. The last time i traveled on my own, i was barely 20. (not counting the times i travel back to Malaysia) I had completely forgotten what it was all about. Admittedly, i was hesitant before i left & was not looking forward to it but it only took me one day to realize how completely good i felt.

The past 6 years or so of my life have been centered around my family & husband. Having moved to the UK once again, any holidays had now to include a trip back home (by choice) Holidays are precious and shared with my husband. I love my family and my husband & i love my friends & i love spending all my time with them. I would slot activities between seeing them -- yoga? kickboxing? ... my mum & friends back home will tell you how these have become a part of the family! For this reason, the 2 weeks felt liberating, without meaning to sound like i would rather do this than spend time with them.

It feels good to have nobody to take into consideration in your day to day life (note, i am saying this & have not got children so i cannot imagine what it must feel like in those circumstances!) Above this, was the connection i had made in the short time. On my second morning, i met a lovely couple. The husband was going to school with me & so began our daily walks to school together. In the evenings, the 3 of us would meet up & hung out every day for a week. There is about 20 years difference is age between us but this was of no significance, i felt i had made friends for life. Perhaps it was a heightened feeling from the overall experience. Again, this does not matter as it will always be remembered this way in my heart. They left to go onwards in their travels after the first week & when they left, of course, i missed them. Then i was alone again & so it was back to the situation of either being lazy, alone & miserable or making an effort to go out, do something, make some friends! And so i did. First, enrolling in some amazing swinging around the in rainforest high above the trees, then meeting 2 lovely boys in the evening. Again, there was almost 20 years difference in age between us but it did not matter... other than occasionally teasing each other, which was funny... & cheeky! Hanging out with them was fun as it brought back to attention things that no longer excited me, that were actually still quite exciting when witnessed through younger eyes. (this also made me realize what it must be like for parents) On top of all this, i was privileged to study with 6 other lovely people for the 2 weeks, all of diverse personalities & all whom have given me new perspective to carry home with me!

Connections that you make when you are on your own are different because, i think, you are completely free to be who you want to be. I do not believe that people are rigid characters. Perhaps core personality never changes but i think most of us are different in varying environments. When we have someone very close with us, we feel inclined to just be the person that we are to them. This is not a bad thing. It just creates different dynamics in a social situation. For example, when we say things, we consider how the other might feel about a certain opinion or statement we make that conflicts with our own so we choose not to say it (of course, i do not mean everyone is like that) I haven't got a point or a lesson to make here. Just an observation.

Apart from the lovely 2 weeks, I also had a wonderful time back home. I went to the cinema with my brother & watched the best movie i had seen for a long time & had a nice time connecting with him again. We have not done this for some time, my brother being someone i was very close to, spending almost every weekend together, jumping out of planes, clubbing the night away, gossiping about our folks! I also reconnected with someone who was very close to me, whom i had lost contact with for a couple of years. Spending time with his wife & family warmed my heart. I felt so rich with friends like these. (one of the the result of this time spent together is my beautiful new website -- still in progress)

To end the year, i spent it with some lovely friends back in the UK, who are as close to family as one can get. Grateful to have this time with them, in good spirits and good health; as one has just undergone his second major surgery. Just sitting back & watching it all, feeling ever so fortunate to be loved like this.

My first notes to myself:

1) don't get comfortable & lazy, make an effort! new experiences & connections do not just come from new places or from being on my own

2) focus on the beautiful life that surrounds me

3) do something scary every day

So in other words, i entered 2009 in the highest of spirits!

And for every yin there has to be a yang....

& so the challenge begins....

This bitterly cold spate has been really hard, having moved from a beautiful, hot, cozy yoga studio. The new studio where day time classes have been moved to has not worked! The school gymnasium is cold & sparse. Thankfully, i have a beautiful new studio in my home where i am able to accommodate some classes for the time being. So, applying my 3 lessons to my personal situation, i stride forward in search for utopia! In the meantime, thankful that there is a place to gather & continue to share our energy in practice.

My spirit remains high.

It was wonderful to see everyone again!

Nuad Phaen Boran / Traditional Thai Massage

2008-12-14T03:27:00.000-08:00

Traditonal (Northern) Thai Massage or Nuad Phaen Boran in Thai, was founded by the Indian Doctor Jivaka Kumar Bhaccha, a close friend of Buddha's & the physician of the Sangha (Buddhist monks & nuns) This healing art is believed to have been introuduced in Thailand by monks & nuns spreading Buddhism. The full history of the massage is not known. There may also be some influence of the Chinese concept of accupunture & accupreassure.

Summary of the concept
This massage works on energy lines known as 'sen' lines. These are similar to 'nadi's' in the yoga philosphy texts. Both have 72,000 lines running through the body. In Thai massage, 10 are most significant & are believed to have healing properties. It is believed that disturbances in the flow of energy result in insufficient prana to the body hence leading to sickness. Manipulating these lines stimulate energy flow, allowing a free flow of prana into the body & increased well being. A point of interest here, the 3 main sen lines are known as 'sumana', 'ittha' & 'pingkala', similar lines to yoga's shushumna, ida & pinggala.

The practice
If you are expecting a rub down massage, complete with oils, then i am really sorry to dissapoint :-)
This form of massage is closer to a mix between physiotheraphy, chiropractic & reflexology...? Many exercises are similar to yoga & is sometimes referred to as applied hatha yoga or thai body work. Energy points are pressed & massaged & a lot of stretching is involved. It is relaxing in a different way & like a yoga class, leaves you feeling energised & relaxed after a session.
A complete session will take between 2-21/2 hours. However not every exercise will be suitable for everyone & hence some will be ommitted. If you have the time to spare, do volunteer your time (let me know & we will fix it together) Just as with yoga, i would prefer if you do not eat solids an hour before the session & 2-3 hours if seeing me for the full 2 hours+ I look forward to working with you! I really enjoy it & look forward to offer you the same.

Shine through the love & light of infinite compassion, that which is within us all.
Namaste

1st week in chiang mai

2008-12-13T04:22:00.000-08:00

Loving it! The course i'm on is brilliant!! I am so glad i choose this school even though initially i thought i had to be a bit mad to choose a school run by a German -- why not a Thai right?? My teacher, Dot, she's Thai. She is lovely!!! The sweetest thing i've ever met...well...one of. She lived in a temple previously & still devotes her time there although she is a Catholic. One of the Thai charms! I'd say, & my new friend & classmate agrees, that she's practically a nun. I am thinking she'd probably be one if not for family obligations. She wears a white shirt & trouser every day & dots the loveliest smile all day. Her touch is amazing! Anyway, i feel very fortunate to be learning with her. I am also happy to report that i love the art & i am getting on with it very well, so far! The course has been pretty intense (not as intense as yoga teacher training but pretty intense never-the-less) but in just a week, i feel really to start on you guys!! hahahahaha

I've not had much time to explore Chiang Mai. I did so on my first day here. There are A LOT of wats (temples) here!!! I'd say like every 50 metres!! I was going to do that today but i seem to have come down with a cold :-( My grandmother was right - don't go to bed with a wet head! It gets pretty chilly here at night!!! Duvet chilly!! In the day time, it's lovely!!!! Nice & warm but not humid like in KL. It's a bit weird for me to have this hot weather in the day & for it to turn cold in the night just like that. Anyway, tmrw, i am going into the rainforest to swing around like a gibbon apparently. It's this trail, like a canopy walk -- up the trees....except that in some bits, there are no walkways so you have to hook on & swing over to the other side! weeeeee! can't wait!! I get lunch next to the waterfall too! Apparently it will be quite cold up there. Anyway, these walkways were apparently constructed for the scientist.... i'll know more tmrw i'm sure. I get picked up at 6.45am - fun & games!

Today i moved from my guest house which was located next to a river.... it was lovely but the rooms were a little dark & uninspiring... but the food was lovely & the people were great. I moved to a lush & amazing guest house today, swimming pool & all called immeco if you want to check it out. It's brilliant but i am not too sure about the atmosphere yet. There was something about the other one. Maybe it felt a bit more local...although....the host was a dutch speaking thai. I met the loveliest couple from California here & i was latched on to them the whole week :-D They were just wonderful!!! Greg was also my classmate. He happens to be a chiropractor & i believe his was the best adjustment i've ever had! Drue went to cooking school while we attended school & brought back some pretty amazing food!!!! We've been shopping together at the night bazaar & it's been mad fun!!!! I don't think shopping alone at the night bazaar is any fun by the way...although.... i walked around the sunday night market, which by the way, is endless!... but nobody harassed me as most thought i was thai. When Greg, Drue & i are together shopping, they address me in Thai & probably thought i was taking them round heehee but i am still paying 'farang' (foreigner) prices for sure! Anyway, my 2 friends have moved on in their travels to meet their kids & head to Laos so i am back to one.

I have attended 2 yoga classes so far -- not as hot as in KL so not sweating! Classes were fab!! The studio is lovely!! & the owner Rose, even lovelier! If you ever come this way, you have to pay it a visit. It's a teak house with so much charactor!!

Right i am off to retire & prepare myself for my hike, swing, trek, climb adventure tmrw!! I will write about the stlye of massage i have been learning as soon as i get the chance to sit again.

with love, namaste

Day 4 K.L

2008-12-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

So, am back from this morning's yoga class. It was an interesting experience. There were more ppl in this class & i stood at the back so was not distracted by the mirror. The teacher played upbeat dance music which made me quite energetic. I enjoyed the class a lot (there was a lot more sweating again), it was smooth & the sequence flowed into each other nicely. 2 interesting things i noted (this one more for the teachers)... there was no teacher-student connection. I wasn't sure how to feel about that. On one hand it was quite nice. There were no distractions, you did not feel like there was one or more favourites in class & you could really just focus on the instructions & be completely tuned in with your practice. But on the other hand, it felt a bit blank, not terribly though & if i got use to this, i probably would not even have noticed it. I'm questioning now which i prefer. I guess... not everyone prefers the same thing. The teacher stood infront of the class throughout the class & she had her back to the class (but remember we are facing the mirrior) She went through the whole class herself - which i think is rather impressive!!! :-O So no adjustments, no touching, no other words other than to instruct the asana & alignment. Perhaps as someone with some experience in yoga, this is fine & this was an intermediate class. I did see a lot of limp hands & no energy in the pose & on some occassion was about to step up to them & say "fingers" -- i shouldn't be looking at other people!!! but i am telling you this mirrior is distracting!!! (we're talking proper dance studio mirriors here by the way)

Second interesting observation today -- i just put 2 in so i'd remember to tell you about the other --
there were specially made radiators in this studio!! (it wasn't on at this time) They were huge!! I felt hot just looking at them!!! So they DO use radiators!!!!!!! WOW.... perhaps i've just gotta experience it!!! Better remember my water though -- how will i stay on my mat if i sweat anymore than i already am?!! We'll see.... wish i could whip out my camera for some photo's!!!

More yoga this evening & perhaps more stories?
:-)

namaste

Day 3 K.L

2008-12-04T06:39:00.000-08:00

Ah....finally!! Some private computer time to myself to update my blog & let you know what's been going on. Thank you all for your lovely messages but i think there may have been some confusion. I'm only heading out to Thailand this Sunday, 7th Dec. Lucky me.... looks like i will be alright... but i believe there will be an election while i'm there so i hope that goes well... otherwise i might just hitch a ride into Laos (i make it sound so easy!!!?)

Anyway, i arrived on Tuesday & i lost the day completely. As usual, i barely slept on the plane & caught up with the many many movies i've missed this year!! Was quite fun! So when i arrived in KL i was properly tired. Had dinner & fell asleep at 9pm or earlier? & woke up the next morning at 11:30 or so...... hehehehehe... jet lag! jet lag! As usual, (priorities!) i visited the indian lady to thread my eyebrows.... divine..! i've been saving them for her!!! *heeheehee* Got my haircut -- only because it felt just too heavy in this climate... & gave my belly a good "cleansing" x-p sorryyyy

Today i had my first yoga class despite being severly jet lagged still.... i found myself wide awake last night at 4:30am (didn't help that i kept myself entertained watching 'World Trade Center') & woke up at 8am to take my mum to her very alternative 'Mahikari' center. I then made my way to a yoga class.The studio i normally go to is now shut so i am visitng new places this time. I really enjoyed it.... nice & easy & SWEATY!!!! I guess it's a hot class here no matter what class you go to.... although, as far as i understand, hot yoga started to simulate practicing conditions in india so if that is true, turning up the heat here is woahhhh-mad! I've not tried a hot class & judging by the way i was sweating, i don't think i would survive one! So at 6pm i went for another class :-)))))
I feel really happy today-- just being in a class as a student, & no one knows otherwise!!! I feel completely energized already. My skin feels nice & moist, my hair is soft having just been 3 days away from hard water & i am not weather-induced-lazy <----- ok this might just be plain lame.
BUT
having said all that, i could not disengage completely from teacher mode.... i did think on many occassions... "hmm...i think they will enjoy this" ...so am already being inspired for some new or not so new but different, things to bring to class -- you are all never far from mind....& i really mean ALL......even you teachers.. i find myself thinking....i think she will like this :-) Abs, i could hear you laughing about about the sweating at the back of my mind!!!
can't help it! i should be a little more focused. I will try behave tomorrow!!

Anyway... on the other hand, it felt slightly blank not to have that connection with the teacher, something which i am of course, unable to build this time. It's not bad, it's just diffirent.

I have also found a traditionally rooted yoga school near my mum's!! They practice Ananda Marga which means path of peace. Yoga here is less about asana & more about spiritual connection. Classes are 2 hours with meditation. If i am lucky to catch it, they will find me my mantra. I would really like that. Apparently they believe that everyone has a mantra that vibrates within us. Oh i am excited...i don't want to be pushy but i wonder if i will be able to help it... "give me my mantra! give me my mantra...now!...pleaseeeeeeeeeee?" Fredrik, i think this is so up your street!

So am looking forward to more yoga tmrw! Morning & evening -- maybe at Anada Marga ;-)
& then some waterskiing with my lovely lovely sistair (ok she is not but i would love her to be) for an alternative spiritual connection!

So.....
i have to admit, i am feeling happy -- not that i am not in Norwich. It is nice to be on holiday - & so i state the obvious!!! I am only saying this because prior to leaving, i felt like staying & now that i am here, i remember why i love it so much....despite it's shortcomings. I guess it's like all things close to your heart -- eg... your partner, family, dog?? -- there is always something not to like but you love them anyway. In any case, it is always so much easier to see the bad stuff when the good stuff so much exceeds the bad!

I look forward now to tell you more about this short journey i am taking & as always am grateful that you take your time to read it (& humbled... am wondering if this is the right word i am looking for)

my sincerest well wishes & love to you all...
xx

Being Present

2008-11-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

I feel that these days, it's slightly crazy how much we depend on others or gadgets to make our lives easier. Of course, i am not saying that we should completely go back to basics. I just think that we need to regain some control over ourselves. I know for a fact that many believe that health & safety has become somewhat of a joke. However, we laugh at this but how much do we actually depend on these steps taken to keep us safe? So much so that we do not even realize that someone has perhaps taken these steps? I think that if we stop thinking about these things.... or if we stop thinking, in our own way how to make our lives safer or easier.... & continue to depend on others, then creativity will surely be a thing of the past & we will no longer be bothered to think for ourselves all together.

Much unhappiness also comes from this. Just simple matters in our day to day life.... how often do we get frustrated when something does not happen as expected. Most of the time, we are dissapointed because we had expected it to be easy. Instead of feeling this way, perhaps we should stop to find our own solution - to make it happen for ourselves. And as we change these small minor inconveniences, perhaps then we will begin to take responsibility for the bigger things in our lives that seem to make us unhappy & realize that it is no good depending on someone else to make things happen for us or make us happy. It should start with ourselves. Make a mantra for this change of attitude. Small steps daily lead to big changes.

The practice of yoga aims to increase our awareness of our true selves so that we do not live our lives with closed eyes & with a closed heart. When our eyes & hearts are closed, we only stand to miss out on the best things in life. In fact, we are just on auto cruise & not actually living our life as we desire. This leads to much unhappiness. The feeling of something being missing in life, the feelings of dissatisfaction. Often, when we feel this way, we find something to blame, because, it is easier this way. When we blame something (or even someone else) we relieve ourselves of our responsibility to find a solution. Yoga encourages us to be completely present, with an open heart & mind. It teaches us to develop awareness of oneself. In this way then, we can begin to be responsible for our life....for how we feel, for what we do, for what we say & the thoughts we think. In this way, we will be able to remain true to ourselves. If you begin to take responsibility for your thoughts, your action & your words, you will notice the difference immediately.

The Dalai Lama's Instruction for Life

2008-11-10T06:13:00.000-08:00

Take into account that great love & great achievements involve great risk
When you loose, do not loose the lesson
Follow the three 'R's'

Respect for self

Respect for others &
Responsibility for all your actions

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly
Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it
Spend some time alone every day
Open your arms to change but don't let go of your values
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older & think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life
In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality
Be gentle with the earth
Once a year go someplace you've never been before
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it
Approach love & cooking with reckless abandonment

The Ego & The Toys

2008-10-23T00:19:00.000-07:00

One of the challenges of being a yoga teacher is keeping the 'I' in check. As a fellow teacher put it, "....nobody ever questions what you say (even when they don't believe it) & ever so often (unless you're really rubbish) you're being told how wonderful your classes are or what a lovely job you're doing"

I really dislike arrogance, ego, self praise.... anything along these lines. NOT when I see other people that way though as i actually find it quite refreshing & honest! However, i really cringe when i myself step into that area. Sometimes, i feel a bit confused about all this. I try to fight this because i feel this is all part of my insecurity. It doesn't seem to be about practicing humility, but more a case of feeling like i have no right to think myself any good. This is a way of self harm & goes against the yoga practice of "Ahimsa" (non violence against yourself & everyone) Taming the ego is truly a challenge.... too much ego & you will probably end up harming someone in some way.... too little ego & you end up harming yourself! Ah.... it's back to being in balance! The Buddha way....walking the middle line (although this in itself presents issues about sitting on the fence a bit too much, but that is another topic all together!)

Which brings me to TOYS!!!!!
I enjoy this term.... i hope those being called a toy in class do not take it as an insult ;-)
Frances was the first to actually mention this in class, but in such a nice way - wihout jealousy & with affection (not even knowing perhaps, that she herself is a toy). Being a toy i guess is like being teacher's pet... except that, these are not my favorite students but those i am able to "play" with (favorites? i have no favorites!!!!... hang on, yes i do.... the seniors are my favorites!!!!! sorrrrrryyy i am only human)

Toys..... toys are great!!! They ground me, humble me & balance me. They have an incredible sense of their body, they have few limitations & they move in a divine way. If i could teach a whole class of toys, i probably would, but might end up feeling a bit inedequate -- unbalanced yet again! :-) To all the "toys", Namaste.

And then, there are the less obvious toys. The one's who have come with bigger challenges. Challenges in their lives, in their mind or with their bodies. These are the toys i am unable to play with (yet) but so enjoy being around. These toys bring about such a sense of divinity around them. I feel that watching them grow & change has been a true priviledge. Sometimes, i feel like a proud parent, but i realize it is not my doing but their very own by committing to themselves & committing to change. It is also the success of all those around them who come together to share their own divine energy & without knowing, help all those around them by doing so.

You are a toy. Not my toy. You are your own toy.
A basket full of different toys is perfect!

?? hmmmm..... this blog has not gone the way i intended it to.... lol
go with the flow

Vinyasa Sequence 1

2008-10-14T05:43:00.000-07:00

Vinyasa Sequence (intermediate)

This sequence should take about 60mins or more depending on how long you choose to hold each pose.
I will write this in a flowing sequence, ie: assuming that the pose is not held. You can choose to hold each pose & drop into the next pose with the appropriate breath.
Have fun!!

Begin with 3-5 sets of Surya Namaskara
From Adho Mukha Svanasana
inhale extend right leg back into Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
exhale step right foot to the outside of right hand, stay on left toes & deepen the lunge, drop onto elbows
inhale rise & take right foot back
exhale lower foot
vinyasa to Adho Mukha Svanasana
inhale extend left leg back into Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
exhale step left foot to the outside of left hand, stay on right toes & deepen the lunge, drop onto elbows
inhale rise & take left foot back to Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
exhale lower foot
vinyasa to Adho Mukha Svanasana
inhale jump forward look half way up
exhale fold
inhale rise
exhale samasthii

Surya Namaskara A to downward dog
inhale right leg extends
exhale step forward stay on left toes
inhale rise to Alanasana (high lunge)
stay here or interlace fingers behind your back
inhale lift chest (or into gentle back bend)
exhale head to knee lift arms ---------- 3 cycles
inhale rise to center & release bind
exhale release hands down
take a small step forward with left foot
inhale lenghten & look half way up
exhale to parsvotanasana
inhale lift chest
jump back to plank exhale chaturanga, updog & downdog
otherside

Warrior Sequence
Surya Namaskara A / Sun Salutation A
• Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Step right foot forward, ground left foot down
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Interlace hands behind back
• Inhale Draw hands down, arch back & look up
• Exhale Humble warrior
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Inhale Open right palm & reach forward
• Exhale Urdhva Virabhadrasana 2 / Reverse Warrior
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Exhale Bring hands down to either side of feet
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Swan dive Chaturanga
• Inhale Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Dog
• Exhale Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Repeat left side

Step out into a wide straddle stance
inhale hands out to the side
exhale hands to waist
inhale lengthen out front of chest
exhale forward bend bring hands between feet, shoulders width apart Prasarita Padotanasana 5 breaths
inhale look half way up
exhale hands to waist
inhale rise
exhale step forward to the front of your mat

Triangle Sequence
Surya Namaskara A / Sun Salutation A
• Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Step right foot forward, ground left foot down
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Inhale Straighten right leg & reach forward
• Exhale Trikonasana / Triangle
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Parivrtta Trikonanasa / Revolving Triangle
• Inhale Alanasana (or Anjaneyasana 2) / High Lunge
• Exhale Baddha Parivrtta Parsvakonasana / Bound Revolving Side Stretch
(take left elbow outside right knee & either bind hands behind back or hands in namaste)
• Inhale hold
• Exhale release bind
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale hands down
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Swan Dive Chaturanga
• Inhale Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
• Exhale Adho Mukha Svanasana
• Repeat left side

Step out into a wide straddle stance
inhale hands out to the side
exhale hands to waist
inhale lengthen out front of chest
exhale forward bend, grab your big toes with your first 2 fingers Prasarita Padotanasana 5 breaths
inhale look half way up
exhale hands to waist
inhale rise
exhale step forward to the front of your mat

garudasana 5 breaths
inhale rise, release leg & hand bind, take right foot behind back into & grab ankle with right hands
natarajasana / dancers pose balance for 5 breaths
change sides

Surya Namaskara A / Sun Salutation A
• Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• come down onto belly
inhale Bhujangasana / Cobra
exhale release rest on 1 cheek
interlace fingers behind back, inhale rise to Salambhasana / Locust
exhale release rest on other cheek
inhale Balasana /Childs Pose
rise up & sit in Virasana / Hero's Pose
stay here or drop back into Supta Virasana
inhale rise
exhale Downwards Dog
inhale extend right leg back Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
exhale step forward & lower left knee
inhale rise into Ardha Chadrasana / Half Moon Pose
exhale brings hands down
inhale back to Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
exhale step forward lower knee either
(1) stay on left toes, come onto right heel & slightly sit back into 1/2 splits or
(2) full splits / Hanumanasana
inhale back to Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana
vinyasa & do the same for the left side
from downward dog, jump forward to sit then lie down on your back
rise up for Urdhva Dhanurasana / Wheel (or crab as some of you call it!)
twice for 5 breaths each

Seated postures (you can do a vinyasa between each asana if you like)
Jump forward to sit
Paschimottasana / Seated forward bend
Bend right knee to the side -- Janu Sirsasana
inhale rise, crosee right foot over left knee & twist to the right Marichyasana
release, bring soles of the feet together for hip opener Baddha Konasana
change sides
sit with legs out wide
right elbow to the inside of right thigh, extend left hand over head towards toes
left elbow to left thigh, extend right arm over head
either bring both hands down infront of you or hang on to your big toe for wide angle seated forward bend
bring feet together & shake out
bend your knees for Taraasana/ star pose & rest here

Lie down & finish with a shoulder stand sequence or shavasana
;-)

Asana Index

2008-09-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

Sanskrit Name English Name

Adho ----------------Downward
Urdhva------------- Upward
Baddha ------------Bound
Ardha-------------- Half
Parsva------------- Side
Parivrtta----------- Revolving
Prasarita---------- Wide Legged
Salamba----------- Supported
Supta--------------- Lying down
Utthita-------------- Extended

Adho Mukha Svanasana -------------------------Downward-Facing Dog
Adho Mukha Vrksasana -------------------------- Handstand
Agnistambhasana ----------------------------------Double Pigeon
Alanasana ------------------------------------------- High Lunge
Anantasana ------------------------------------------Side-Reclining Leg Lift
Anjali Mudra ------------------------------------------Namaste (hands to heart in prayer)
Anjaneyasana --------------------------------------- Low Lunge
Ardha Chandrasana --------------------------------Half Moon
Ardha Matsyendrasana ----------------------------Seated half twist
Astavakrasana---------------------------------------- Eight-Angle Pose (Side arm balance with bound feet)
Baddha Konasana ---------------------------------- Bound Angle Pose / Hip Opener
Bakasana --------------------------------------------- Crow
Balasana ---------------------------------------------- Child's Pose
Bharadvajasana I ------------------------------------Bharadvaja's Twist / Easy Twist
Bhujangasana ---------------------------------------- Cobra Pose
Bhujapidasana---------------------------------------- Shoulder-Pressing Pose
Bitilasana -----------------------------------------------Cow Pose
Chaturanga Dandasana ----------------------------Four-Limbed Staff Pose
Dandasana -------------------------------------------- Staff Pose
Dhanurasana ----------------------------------------- Bow
Garudasana ------------------------------------------ Eagle
Gomukhasana ----------------------------------------Cow Face
Halasana ---------------------------------------------- Plow Pose
Hanumanasana -------------------------------------- Monkey Pose (front splits)
Janu Sirsasana -------------------------------------- One Knee bent Head-to-Knee Forward Bend
Kapotasana ------------------------------------------- King Pigeon
Krounchasana ----------------------------------------Heron Pose
Malasana -----------------------------------------------Garland Pose
Marichyasana I ----------------------------------------Pose Dedicated to the Sage Marichi, I
Marichyasana III --------------------------------------Marichi's Pose
Marjaryasana ------------------------------------------Cat Pose
Matsyasana --------------------------------------------Fish Pose
Mayurasana --------------------------------------------Peacock Pose
Natarajasana -------------------------------------------Dancers pose
Padangusthasana ------------------------------------ Big Toe Pose
Padmasana ---------------------------------------------Lotus Pose
Parighasana --------------------------------------------Gate Pose
Paripurna Navasana --------------------------------- Full Boat
Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana ---------------------------- Revolved Head-to-Knee
Parivrtta Parsvakonasana ---------------------------Revolved Side Angle
Parivrtta Trikonasana ---------------------------------Revolved Triangle
Parsva Bakasana --------------------------------------Side Crane Pose
Parsvottanasana ---------------------------------------Intense Side Stretch
Pasasana ------------------------------------------------Noose Pose
Paschimottanasana ---------------------------------- Seated Forward Bend
Pincha Mayurasana -----------------------------------Feathered Peacock
Prasarita Padottanasana --------------------------- Wide-Legged Forward Bend
Purvottanasana ----------------------------------------Upward Plank
Salamba Sarvangasana -----------------------------Supported Shoulderstand
Salamba Sirsasana ---------------------------------- Supported Headstand
Salambhasana -----------------------------------------Locust
Savasana -----------------------------------------------Corpse Pose
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana -----------------------Bridge
Simhasana ----------------------------------------------Lion Pose
Sukhasana ----------------------------------------------Easy Seated Pose
Supta Baddha Konasana ----------------------------Reclining Bound Angle
Supta Padangusthasana -----------------------------Reclining Big Toe
Supta Virasana----------------------------------------- Reclining Hero
Tadasana ------------------------------------------------Mountain Pose
Tittibhasana ---------------------------------------------Firefly Pose
Tolasana -------------------------------------------------Scale Pose
Upavistha Konasana ---------------------------------Wide-Angle Seated Forward Bend
Urdhva Dhanurasana --------------------------------Upward Bow or Wheel
Urdhva Hastasana ------------------------------------Upward Salute
Urdhva Mukha Svanasana --------------------------Upward-Facing Dog
Urdhva Prasarita Eka Padasana -------------------Standing Split
Ustrasana ------------------------------------------------Camel Pose
Utkatasana -----------------------------------------------Chair Pose
Uttana Shishosana -------------------------------------Extended Puppy
Uttanasana -----------------------------------------------Standing Forward Bend
Utthita Hasta Padangustasana --------------------- Extended Hand-To-Big-Toe
Utthita Parsvakonasana ------------------------------ Extended Side Angle
Utthita Trikonasana -------------------------------------Extended Triangle
Vasisthasana ---------------------------------------------Side Plank
Viparita Karani -------------------------------------------Legs-Up-the-Wall
Virabhadrasana I ----------------------------------------Warrior I
Virabhadrasana II ---------------------------------------Warrior II
Virabhadrasana III ------------------------------------- Warrior III
Virasana ---------------------------------------------------Hero Pose
Vrksasana -------------------------------------------------Tree Pose

Vinyasa Triangle Sequence

2008-09-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

• Begin with Surya Namaskara A / Sun Salutation A
• Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Step right foot forward, ground left foot down
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Inhale Straighten right leg & reach forward
• Exhale Trikonasana / Triangle
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Parivrtta Trikonanasa / Revolving Triangle
• Inhale Alanasana (or Anjaneyasana 2) / High Lunge
• Exhale Baddha Parivrtta Parsvakonasana / Bound Revolving Side Stretch
(take left elbow outside right knee & either bind hands behind back or hands in namaste)
• Inhale hold
• Exhale release bind
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale hands down
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Swan Dive Chaturanga
• Inhale Urdhva Mukha Svanasana
• Exhale Adho Mukha Svanasana
• Repeat left side

Vinyasa Warrior Sequence

2008-09-26T11:46:00.000-07:00

• Begin with Surya Namaskara A / Sun Salutation A
• Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Step right foot forward, ground left foot down
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Interlace hands behind back
• Inhale Draw hands down, arch back & look up
• Exhale Humble warrior
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 1 / Warrior 1
• Exhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Inhale Open right palm & reach forward
• Exhale Urdhva Virabhadrasana 2 / Reverse Warrior
• Inhale Virabhadrasana 2 / Warrior 2
• Exhale Bring hands down to either side of feet
• Inhale Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana / One Legged Dog
• Exhale Swan dive Chaturanga
• Inhale Urdhva Mukha Svanasana / Upward Dog
• Exhale Adho Muka Svanasana / Downward Dog
• Repeat left side

Hold pose for a few breaths for a Hatha Flow practice

My Yoga Journey

2008-09-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

I was always an expressive child, with the gift of the gap, a passion for life & a desire to explore anything & everything. From the time I began school at 5, I danced at every annual l concert, play or panto I could possibly wrangle my way into. However a shift in my life occurred at the age of 11 that left me with a love-hate relationship with my body. At that time (where i was), there was no system to deal with these sorts of issue & the matter was not discussed. This was no one’s fault. That was just how it was. Although i continued to dance, the ability to express freely was lost & it was no longer the same. In this time, i found a new way to express myself through sports.

At 13, I was introduced to gymnastics. I thought it was the best thing in life ever :-) It was a sport that allowed me to express through the movement of my body. Through gymnastics, I also discovered the powerful relationship between body, mind & breath. Although I would not say I regained all of my confidence in my body, I’d say it was definitely a step in the right direction. Like most recovery, time is the only medicine, all the rest being supplements.

In 1999, after a long absence of any form of expression, other than dancing the night/day away at clubs & festivals, I discovered yoga. I remember that day clearly. I had no expectations, except, as always, to try something new. I fell in love with it as soon as it began. I think i performed rather awkwardly but I loved it never-the-less. I would normally be very judgmental of myself but felt none of that, perhaps because I had a great teacher. At the end of it, I felt happy & energized & calm & have maintained a consistent practice since. I will not say that yoga is the only thing that has moved me away from the "darkness" of my life but it has definitely played a big part in it. It has definitely taught me to live in the present & enjoy the journey, whatever it may be. Yoga has also brought into my life the many teachers & students who come in & out of my life, all whom bring me immense joy as well as lessons small & great!

Like most people, I started practicing yoga as a form of exercise that made me feel good, & as a way of privately expressing myself. Over the years, this has changed, like it will for everyone with prolonged practice. For me, I love the strength, the energy & the balance it gives me. I love that you can be so strong & yet so soft. I love how your practice flows into your life & into the life’s of those around you, without you even realizing it. I love that the more you practice, the more you connect with yourself & best of all, love every new discovery about yourself. Learning to be completely present is learning to be completely aware of being alive. It is difficult to describe the whole experience in words, especially since my experience continues to evolve every day. I hope , no, I know, that you will understand this in time. Just keep making time for yourselves. You do not need to come to class regularly. You just need to make a commitment of time for yourself. Remember, yoga is breath. If you just commit to sit with yourself for a few moments a day to breath, you are practicing some yoga. Develop your own yoga practice. It is the most satisfying thing you can do for yourself. I can only teach you from my own personal experience & studies, & although I am committed to sharing with you everything I can, you will always be the best teacher for yourself.

Thank you for taking time to read this very personal account of my life that has taken me some serious consideration in sharing, but which I have found a profound sense of liberation in doing so. And thank you, always, for giving me your time in class.

Namaste – the divine in me bows to the divine in you.