Farewell 2008

I would like to express my appreciation to all those practitioners that has been coming to support the teachers at Menara Bukit Ceylon since YinYangYoga started in Sep 08.

I would also like to thank the teachers for sharing their love of yoga with all of us. It was breath-taking to be able to learn from Dr.Ameen, Keane, Felix, Azmi, Lila & also Indra. The classes were enjoyable, a good-workout, a good stretch of twisting & turning, and most of all I've improved over the months of private classes.

As most of you are aware, YinYangYoga came about after the crisis with YZone, where teachers didn't have a place to teach & practitioners didn't have a place to learn, and so, the birth of YinYangYoga.

Saying all that, some teachers has moved on to their permanent job, part-time job & practitioners has joined other studios, etc. But, there are still some that has been consistently practicing yoga at Bukit Ceylon.

Sunday (28/12) was the last class with Azmi. His own studio will be opening very soon & therefore he will not be teaching here at Bukit Ceylon.

However, Keane & Felix will still be teaching here from 2009 onwards with smaller classes.

Wishing all of you a better year for 2009, continue with your practice wherever you are & it was great knowing all of you.

Cheersssssss

Yoga with Azmi Samdjaga for Dec 08

Hello all,


I'll be out of yoga for sometime as I sprained my wrist, but thats not going to stop me from getting a good-workout. I will be going to the gym instead for some cardio sweat-out, something that I don't need the wrist for. But I don't really enjoy being on the thread-mill or bicycle, etc as its so boring.........you know what's coming for the next 60mins.... so predictable, ha!

However, classes as usual every Tues, Saturdays & Sundays with Azmi till end of December 08 (unless otherwise, will be duly notified).


1) Tuesday

Class : Gentle Flow (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 7.00-8.15pm

2) Saturday

Class : Hatha Vinyasa (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 10.00-11.15am

3) Sunday

Class : Flow Vinyasa (Intermediate/Advance)

Time : 10.00-11.30am


Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon


By the poolside Please bring your own mat/towel/water. Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

New Discovery with Indrawati

It was a pity that those that intended to come for Indra's class didn't make it, either due to traffic or the rain. However, I would like to share with you what I discovered with Indra. Indra recently went to S'pore to attend John Scott's Ashtangha workshop & she was enthusiastically sharing what she learned from John Scott's workshop. Of course I don't know who John Scott is at that time during class, but I thought that he is great as his ways of doing certain poses has answered my queries of certain asanas. For e.g.

1) When doing sun salutation, normally both hands would be above our head & behind our ears & look up into our palms. But I always felt like why? Coz I always feel a compression between my neck & shoulders, & my shoulder blades are all squeezed tightly together giving me such an uncomfortable feeling.

According to Indra-John Scott's way sun salutation:

(Ekam/One) Inhale: Hands up slightly infront your crown, palms together, head slightly back, lengthen your neck and look at thumb...all with 1 inhalation. Remember, hands go up 1st then your head.

(Dve/Two) Exhale: back is round...hands still up, head look down to the drishti, then you fall forward (catch your body with hands) weight on hands 70% and legs are 30%, so this will help to build arms strength. For ppl who needs to bend knees, its fine. look to the tip of your nose, chin close to chest.

(Trini/Three) Inhale; hands still flat on the floor,and you must look forward (drishti is 3rd eyes)

(Catvari/Four) exhale: still look ahead, jump to chaturranga dandasana

(Panca/Five) inhale: roll up to upward dog

(Sat/Six) exhale: down dog, end of last exhalation, round the back to be like a cat (suck the belly in)

(Sapta/Seven) inhale: jump to the front (feet behind your hands just like Dve)

(Astau/Eight) Exhale: Look down (like Trini)

(Nava/Nine) Inhale: back to standing (like Ekam) hands 1st then head

Perhaps I am not strong in my core that I really find it impossible to jump to plank/chaturangha from previous position, with palms lined up beside the feet hence I'd always place my palms shoulder width apart, slightly in front of my feet, then jump & this is what John Scott taught Indra. Hey, what do you know? I was doing ok all this while. Well, at least now I know my ways are endorsed by a guru. LOL.

Try it & let me know how you feel.

Since there were only 2 of us, I requested Indra to guide me to Tripod headstand, (those that has been following my blog would know that I can't tripod). Drum roll please....... yes, I did it! & it was not that tough once you know the right way. Ok, some may think it's a piece of cake, but I had fear before & I hope that I've countered my fear. Can't wait to show-off.......to myself lah.

Indra told me to trust her & this is my first attempt

My second attempt, but I noticed that my back isn't that straight, something to work-on.

According to the practitioner, it's called the Crab (or perhaps the Crap?) in UK. She also managed to tripod headstand & we were both really thrilled.

John Scott is a world-renowned practitioner of Ashtanga Yoga and presents both National and International Workshops. John has produced a best-selling book, "Ashtanga Yoga", and a DVD. He was certified to teach by Shri K Pattabhi Jois in 1994, having studied with him in Mysore, India, since 1989. John & Lucy's teaching is very precise and follows traditional teaching methods "Self Practice" and "Vinyasa Counting".
For more information about John, please visit his webpage at http://www.stillpointyoga.co.nz/

Classes for the week of 8/12/08

Hi Beautiful People,



Please be informed that the following classes will be held on the week of 08/12/08.



1) Tuesday (9/12)

Class : Gentle Flow (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 7.00-8.15pm

Instructor : Azmi



2) Thursday (11/12)

Class : Flow Vinyasa (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 7.00-8.15pm

Instructor :Indrawati Widjanarko

(for more information on Indra, please visit her studio's webpage at http://www.sunyogakl.com/ourteachers.htm


3) Saturday (13/12)

Class : Flow (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 10.30am-12.00 noon

Instructor : Azmi



Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon

By the poolside



Please bring your own mat/towel/water. Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

Plank with Ease with Azmi

Sunday's class

Contrary to many advices that you shouldn't yoga during "that time of the month", I decided against it. I had to yoga cause there are new practitioners & since I am the hostess, I had to be around. My Irish friend, also a practitioner told me before the class that some exercise during "that time of the month" is good as long as you know what not to do. I thought I would be really tired during/after class, but heck, NO! I feel really refreshed & not sluggish & it really made me feel good all over coz I think I burnt those extra calories, ha ha. A friend once told me that during "that time of the month" you actually burn more calories & I would actually take the chance to eat more chocolates & ice-cream during that week. Well, I wonder how true is that.

Here are some of the poses not to do during "that time of the month" (applies only to ladies).

This is funky.

She did a beautiful Urdhva Dharunasa/Wheel Pose

Wow, you could see her abs with that white t-shirt.


Tripod headstand

Saturday's class

I've not been updating pics in my blog as the connection has been slow & I've been lazy. But this morning, I did take some pics of shoulder stand. I took shots of the headstand progressively to share with others the "style" Azmi always get us into.

that mat without anyone on it, is mine, I guess I need to clean it soon

halasana/plow pose

karna pidasana - releases the spinal muscles and relaxes tension in the legs. Increases the circulation of blood through the abdominal area. Induces a deep sense of security and relaxation

Matsyasana/Fish pose as a counter-pose.

It's kinda scary when you look at them with their eyes wide open.

This morning I am especially glad as I managed to side plank with ease as now I know the technique. I've always lined up my shoulder directly above my wrist & this always put a strain on my wrist & my shoulders tend to carry almost my entire body weight & it trembles after 5 counts. But today, Azmi explained that we should not align the shoulders above the wrist, the shoulders should be at an slight angle away from the wrist & this would ease the weight off your arms,, hence distributing the body weight thru-out the body. and YES! I did it without hesitation & YAY, I did it without trembling.....

Azmi's tends to stick to the same variations & some may say that why is it always the same, class after class, rather than some other new poses. In my opinion, practise makes perfect. If you can't perfect an asana, why learn something else & still not perfect the asanas?

Classes for the week of 1/12/08

Hi Beautiful People,

Please be informed that the following classes will be held on the week of 01/12/08.

1) Tuesday (2/12)

Class : Gentle Flow (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 6.30-7.30pm

Instructor : Felix


2) Saturday (6/12)

Class : Hatha Vinyasa (Beginner/Intermediate)

Time : 10.00-11.15am

Instructor : Azmi


3) Sunday (7/12)

Class : Flow Vinyasa (Intermediate/Advance)

Time : 10.00-11.30am

Instructor : Azmi


Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon
By the poolside

Please bring your own mat/towel/water. Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

Yogalates with Lila-Sun 30/11

November is/was a month of surprising events. Of course the hottest news was the ban of Yoga for muslim, phew, are we glad that the ban has been lifted, and everyone including non-muslim (well, I did feel the wave, I actually went out to buy every english papers available & followed closely on the net).

However, we will be ending the month with a bang! Yogalates with Lila.

Last week was my first time ever & I did enjoy her gentle & mild approach to the class. Wish she could speak a little louder as the birds were chirping away & the sound of music from the pool was in the background. I am certainly looking forward to it again & in fact, someone who came to MBC several times before but stopped coming since the opening of Cheras Plaza was thrilled to know that Lila is teaching this Sunday and is coming for the class!

We have already 7 pax confirmed coming, therefore, perhaps can only take another 1 or 2 max.

Classes for the week of 24th Nov 08

Hope all of you had a fabulous weekend.

The traffic was really bad last week ain't it?? Some took 1hr from KLCC/Jln Sultan Ismail to get to Bukit Ceylon. The best part of having a private class? The class started 15 mins later, so that those that were caught in the traffic could still come & join us, & not miss it, & you don't get funny stares but smiles, sweet..... Thank you for your patience & determination to get here for your practice.

Due to the heavy traffic & commitment to work, I am changing the time from 6.30pm to 7.00pm. However, please do not hesitate to feedback if the time is not suitable for you as I'd try my best to cater/suit to majority's preference.



Classes for the week of 24/11/08.

1) Tuesday (25/11)


Class : Hatha (Beginner/Intermediate)


Time : 7.00pm -8.00pm


Instructor : Keane


2) Thursday (27/11)


Class : Gentle Flow (Beginner/Intermediate)


Time : 7.00-8.15pm


Instructor : Azmi



3) Saturday (29/11)


Class : Hatha Vinyasa (Intermediate/probably Advance)

Time : 10.00am - 11.15am

Instructor : Azmi


4) Sunday (30/11)

Class : Yogalates (Beginner)

Time : 10.00am - 11.30am

Instructor : Lila


Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon - By the poolside

I've listed the classes as beginner/intermediate/advance as a guide only. Please do not be intimidated by intermediate or advance level, everyone can try even if you are a beginner, just listen to your body. e.g. I've a tough time with side plank, whereas to others, it's a breeze, & I find that half-moon is really easy for me, but not to others than can side plank without a blink, so to speak! Do whatever you can & don't feel stressed just because the person next to you can do the pose. We are all special individuals with our own strength & weakness.

Please bring your own mat/towel/water. Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

Yogalates with Lila-Sun 23/11/08

stretch the hamstring & open up those hips!


then try lifting both legs up with your core strength


the sundeck chairs came in handy, now I know there is another use for the chair rather than just getting my tan while reading a book. It was a fantastic feeling on the lower back, it also opens up your shoulders and stretches your upper back. Try this at home with steady chair.

we watch the clouds float by as we lay down on our mats.

I myself have not attended her classes before, but I heard from many practitioners, including some teachers that Lila is a very good teacher who is always friendly, cheerful & passionate about her teaching. I am looking forward to her class this sunday.

If you can't decide what to do this Sunday, please come and join us for a pool-side yogalates with Lila. Come-on ladies, workout those core for a flatter, sexier abs!! I definitely would want that!!!

Hope to see more of you.

Cheers

Classes for the week of 17th Nov 08

Hi Beautiful People,

Please be informed that the following classes will be held on the week of 17/11/08.


1) Tuesday (18/11)

Class : Hatha

Time : 6.30-7.30pm

Instructor : Keane


2) Thursday (20/11)

Class : Gentle Flow

Time : 7.00-8.15pm

Instructor : Azmi


Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon
By the poolside

Please bring your own mat/towel/water. Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

I took the easy way out

As my arms are not strong enough to continuously Chaturangha, therefore, I didn't want to push myself to the limit as I am cautious of injuries. Previously, my shoulder took 3 months to recover from Chaturangha injury & I shouldn't push myself. Hence, I only Chaturangha maybe about 5 sets, then it was straight to downward dog from plank-and I truly enjoyed the class as my body & mind was at peace & not worried about injuries.

Well, just before the end of class, Azmi said "ok, lets do headstand". Cathry & myself were sort of looking at each other then turn to Azmi & I said "I've not done headstand before". "Oh well, just get to the wall then". It has been some time now since I last did a hand or headstand (by the wall, of course!). The 1st attempt was fearful for me as everything was upside down & the fear of falling, of course Azmi was there to support me. Oh well, it was a baby headstand for me as my legs were at the wall with the knees bent.

However, the brain just lost co-ordination as when Azmi said knee to your chest, I really don't know where my knees and chest was!!! It was hilarious, I actually repeated out loud so that I could hear myself. The second attempt was much better & my brains were working upside down better. Would love to try again the next class & hopefully I am brave enough to straighthen my legs and eventually without the wall.

Just to share with you some photos of Azmi doing the headstand, progressively. Important to remember to tuck your chin to the neck-this would lengthen the back of your neck therefore the neck and spine is aligned. If not, you'd be compressing the back of your neck & cause injury.

Back to Basics

Some were tired and some wanted a beginners' class, so it was back to Element. It was a nice change from the strong class over the weekend. My shoulders were stiff and aches that I struggled with knee, chest, & chin down, therefore, Keane gave us an option from plank to downward dog instead. I guess he got the hint when I practically dived down to the floor from plank pose.

We were lined-up against the wall for Warrior 2 for a proper alignment. It makes a whole lot of difference when doing it against the wall as you would need to press your pelvic bone against the wall.

Surprisingly, muscles felt better after the class- less stiff & less tired!!

Classes for the week of 10th Nov 08

Hi Beautiful People,

Please be informed that the following classes will be held on the week of 10/11/08. Note that the time has changed for Thursday class - 7.00pm-8.15pm

1) Tuesday (11/11)

Class : Hatha

Time : 6.30-7.30pm

Instructor : Keane


2) Thursday (13/11)

Class : Gentle Flow

Time : 7.00-8.15pm

Instructor : Azmi

Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon
By the poolside



Please bring your own mat/towel/water.


Kindly rsvp a day before scheduled class should you be interested in attending class as its on first come first serve basis limited to 10 pax. You could either text me if you have my mobile no. or e-mail me :D See you then.

Awakening with Azmi

Camel pose/Ustrasana

Variations of Side Plank/Vasisthasana

Pose Dedicated to the Sage Koundinya II/Eka Pada Koundiyanasana II

Sat -My upper arms are aching as I type, in fact with all the chaturanga, I couldn't feel my arms before the end of the class. It has been such a long time since I had chaturanga, lately it has been knee, chest & chin down, which now I know that my upper arms has been resting for too long. Of course it wasn't a problem with Azmi's regulars, but poor me was suffering. It was an Awakening for me!!

Sun -Just an update- my arms are recovered within the next 1 hr- according to Azmi, that means I have lots of minerals & zinc in body, therefore, muscles recovers better & at a faster rate. I managed to take lots of pics/video & observe the practice. It was a good experience as I know now how important it is to have a good alignment for a beautiful asana. Some ppl were strong in their asanas however the alignment were simply not there. Well, my personal challenge is that I try my best to have better alignment for now, rather than being able to execute strong asanas, which I eventually hope I can. I hope the pics help the practioners notice their execution-no hard feelings eh?

Note the practitioner on the right did not tuck her tail bone under & has her lower back curved? When at chair pose/utkatasana, the tailbone must be tucked-in and torso to be tight so that your lower back will not be over-arched.

Bridge pose/Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

Weekend Class for November with Azmi

For the month of November, there will be weekend classes with Azmi.

Saturdays (8th/15th and 29th)

Class : Gentle Flow - Beginner/Intermediate

Time : 10.00am - 11.15am


Sundays (9th and 16th)

Class : Vinyasa Flow - Intermediate/Advance

Time : 10.00am - 11.30am

Venue : Level 5, Menara Bukit Ceylon
Jalan Ceylon

As space is limited to 10 pax only, kindly revert directly to Azmi or myself early.

Hope to see you!