Awesome Beginner at it!

My girlfriend whom has just been doing yoga for the 4th TIME with a "real teacher", is super flexible that she amazes all of us and even herself. I said real teacher as she too has her own "personal trainer", the one on TV with the DVD all these while (not sure for how long). Of course all excited & anxious, when she spoke to me this morning, as she wanted to show her other half, currently half the globe away from her, could only see her magnificent flexibility on my blog now. I have been trying but in vain to upload the pictures on facebook, which has been failing on me for the past week. It is taking too long to upload on the blog too, there are more pictures to upload, but just uploading one picture has taken me 30 mins & the other pictures just failed to upload again after the 4th attempt. But I got to do it, there are people waiting to see the pictures..... i wish i have the time to patiently wait for more pictures to upload, but I need my afternoon beauty nap in 10 mins. It was a frantic morning and midday for me, so, I need a nap now before I am non-functional, LOL.

Yippee, as I am waiting for the other picture to upload (failed for the 5th time now), the pictures uploaded on facebook! Can I pleaseeee take my nap now???? But then again, since she's my very "old" friend, I would just bring the laptop into the room and catch a wink or two while waiting for the uploads! Be warned : I might get cranky as I didn't sleep well last night and totally exhausted now.

This picture doesn't really justify her flexibility as she actually had her face to the floor (you know why the picture is not here). Matthew was just letting her feel how its like when you stretch out to the floor with your face, forehead or even your chin. sorry, pictures failed to upload again, but FB was successful, so, those on my FB list, go view the pictures. Nap time!!!

HeadStand

It has been a while since my last update, not that I have not been practising my yoga nor private classes has been cancelled. It's just that during the private classes with Matthew, I seldom get the chance to snap pictures as I am in deep concentration whilst holding the poses. He tends to make us hold the poses for at least 10-20 seconds (let me re-iterate, at least 10-20 seconds!). So you could imagine, I am certainly not in the position to reach out for the camera least alone trying to hold strong in my poses, with the sweat dripping down my face. A word of advise, do not apply moisturiser before class, as the cream is rather smarting when the sweat drips down your nose or the eyes, and you can't reach out for your face towel as you wouldn't want to interrupt the rhythm.

Yes, I said rhythm as I sometimes feel like I am dancing above ground. Try closing your eyes when you practise your yoga next. You may be able to feel rhythm of your breath, your muscles and you will certainly feel your movements deepens. e.g. when doing a twist, inhale and lengthen your spine, exhale and twist with your eyes closed, you will notice that you are able to twist further. This applies even when doing any other poses. When the sub conscious mind is in tune, we are not consciously prohibiting our body from stretching or going beyond our boundaries.

Having said that, I am working on my fear of being upside-down. Been working with Matthew on headstand, still have not really gotten the rhythm of it & decided to try it on my own without feeling fearful of falling over. However, I got a little over confident & tumbled to the side of the wall (how did I tumble sideways???), I tried controlling the fall so that I fall graciously and slowly but my knee hit the wall and left a bruise for a week. Thank goodness nobody was near me, LOL.

Please note the position of the arms whilst doing this headstand. According to her, it seems its easier than it looks (but not for me, I was just a spectator with the camera).

Bravo! she has a good alignment & I was just wishing I could do it too :(

This is another alternative with the arms, unlike the usual.

But please practise with care, unless you are ready & strong, then please have a friend or teacher by your side so that you don't get bruises like me.

JADE Harmony Mat is HERE!!!!

Colours from left to right,

Orchid, Purple, Olive Green, Sedona Red, Midnight Blue and Slate Blue.

Please contact me at email yinyang_yoga@yahoo.com. It is still available for sale (Nov 2011)

Motivation plzzzz

I have a confession to make, I have not been disciplined and been getting lazy to practise my yoga. It's now only once or 2 times a week (whenever there are classes) as compared to previously, at least 4 times up to 5 times a week, with self practice. Yesterday, I had a choice between taking a nap, swim or yoga and I kept playing it in my mind "yoga, yoga, yoga" & practically dragged myself to the poolside, ready with my yoga mat. But the sun was scorching and the heat was unbearable. Went back up and changed to my swimsuit (well, I was eager to try out my new Victoria Secret's swimsuit). Swam 20 laps, or was it 10 laps??

Since I cut down on my practice, I notice that my indigestion is creeping back, I feel easily stressed out & some bulges are quitely but surely building up.

I kept asking myself, where is my passion, determination, discipline for yoga, where has it gone? Why am I being lazy? Why? Why? Can someone share with me how to put myself back to track?


Classes for the week :-

1) Tuesday 14/07/09

Teacher : Felix

Class : Yoga Core

Time : 3.00pm - 4.15pm


2) Friday 17/07/09

Teacher : Matthew

Class : Gentle Flow

Time : 6.30pm - 7.45pm


At least I know I will be getting 2 yoga classes this week, no matter how lazy I feel :)

Pregger doing it!!

Be Inspired!!!

I copied this picture from a friend's photo album, taken during an Anusara workshop. There were many awesome pictures of dynamic poses that I can only view with my jaw dropping and going wahhhhh, wahhhh, ouch, wahhhh.

But of all pictures, I thought that this is most inspiring as she is 9 months pregnant and she still continued her yoga practice and able to do that!!! Its just incredible that when you put your mind, heart and focus, anyone can do it. It seems she did a hand-stand too.

Classes for the week of 06/07/09 :-

1) Monday -06/07/09

Class : Gentle Flow

Teacher : Lily

Time : 4.45pm - 6.00pm


2) Friday - 10/06/09

Class : Flow

Teacher : Keane

Time : 4.45pm- 6.00pm.

FAQ - JADE Mat

Please note that the mats I intend to fly in are the Jade HARMONY Professional mats which is 3/16" = 5mm, which is sufficiently thick. Unless otherwise requested, I could fly-in the TRAVEL mats 1/8"= 3.2mm or the FUSION 5/16" = 8mm.

Though the TRAVEL mats may seems too thin for some practitioners, my thoughts are that it is super-light weight and easy to carry around and if you find it too thin, you could always stack the Jade mat on top of the already provided yoga studio's mat. For those of you that may travel frequently due to work or even pleasure, you may find it convenient as it is light weight to bring it along during your trip (you could actually fold it instead of rolling and it doesn't take up much space in the suitcase or it fits nicely in a hand-luggage too). Can you imagine not doing yoga for days?

The FUSION mats would work out great for practitioners that practice as home (like myself) as its thicker therefore heavier to carry around but its a super cushioning for your back for those that does pilate or enjoy the extra thickness.

Here are some FAQs about JADE yoga mats for your reading pleasure :-

https://www.jadeyoga.com/store/product.php?productid=16134&cat=249&page=1


Classes for the week of 29th June 2009 :-

1) Tuesday (30/06/09)

Class : Yoga Core

Teacher : Felix

Time : 3.00pm- 4.15pm


2) Friday (03/07/09)

Class : Gentle Flow

Teacher : Matthew

Time : 6.30-7.45pm

The Phenomenal JADE Yoga Mats

In my previous posting, I did mention that I had a chance to place my palms on a JadeYoga Mat that my girlfriend has been raving about & now, I know why. The feel of the mat is quite unlike those I have felt before, e.g. Crescent, Manduka, Como Shambala (my current mat, its anti-slip, but it has jute, which can be quite rough on the elbows), Nike, & can I compare to Traxx?? which is such a popular mat amongst the practitioners (I hope its due to the reason that its about the only choice they can get in the market in Malaysia, Nike or Traxx). Btw, I did own a Nike & a Traxx, simply out of NO Choice!!.

I am not exaggerating when I say this "its was a similar satisfaction I get eating a Godiva's Dark Chocolate Cake", heavenly. (btw, chocolate cake lovers, please visit Godiva's cafe on 2nd Floor, Pavillion, opposite Celine).

It seems all these eco-friendly mats, anti-slip, bio-degradable are only available from shops in Singapore or you could courier in 1 mat directly from USA or UK, which probably cost USD100-USD120, may not even include the courier charges.

Therefore, I am shipping in JADEYOGA mats JADE HARMONY PROFESSIONAL 3/16" series directly from USA, yes by courier. The awesome thing is that for every mat you purchase, they plant a TREE!!!. How eco-friendly. If anyone is interested to get your hands on this phenomenal mat and make your practice better (as the mat is rubber/latex, hence the shock absorption is better when jumping & it holds you like glue). Read more about the mats at http://www.jadeyoga.com/store/home.php?cat=249

Place your order with me via my blog or my e-mail at yinyang_yoga@yahoo.com. & please select your colour of choice (I am taking the purple). I hope to get more orders, then the supplier can give me a better price which I would of course share the benefits with all you practitioners.


Keep the orders coming.

Cheers

Video on Deep Yoga Nauli Kirya

Dear All,


This is a fantastic step by step and detailed audio visual guide from teacher Deepak. Viewer's discretion is advised.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ZW_0Jacs8


I hope that all of you will find this video useful. He also advised us to practice Prayanama to strengthen your immunity system during the outbreak of H1N1. Specially those pranayama that has effect on your manipur chakra, a chakra just below the navel,because,manipur chakra or navel chakra is related to your immune system and it will boost your immunity system and practice especially agnisara,kapalabhati,ujjayi and stomach lock.

Enjoy the video & I will be posting more videos of teacher Deepak's sharing with us his profound knowledge of Yoga.

If you find the audio visual guide helpful & would like to see more, please leave your comments/enquiries if any.

Please watch this video-18TG

Last Friday's class with Matthew was invigorating. He said "lets just do Sarvasana for 1 hr!!!, or we could do a Flow class, just simply flow to the left and then flow to the right" we all broke out laughing. However, we did Gentle Flow, it was gently slow but the effect of it is more powerful than of an Ashtangha. I get a chance to breathe in and out of the asanas, feel the tremendous stretch of the hamstring, the side stretch of my body, the shoulder blades had a good workout too with Anusara (btw, i still feel the effect of the stretch today, a mild ache).

I love the fact that he reminds us not to reach out to touch/grab your toes and compromise your alignment (you know what I mean right?) while doing Revolved Head to Knee Pose/Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/2496. But we did it quite differently, we had the opposite hand holding on to the bending knee, so its tougher to actually have your hand touching the toes, & there is where the stretchhhhhh is. I usually could grab my toes, but with the other hand on the knee, hmmmm, I need more practice :).

I filmed Renee doing a cart-wheel, very impressive. But somehow the file is not compatible when I blue-toothed to my laptop. But anyway, please watch the video below, be patient & watch for at least 30 secs, that's when your jaw will drop. As the heading recommends-18TG. (do not do this at home without Teacher's Guidance"

http://thefunnypage.com/potato-sisters/

Classes for the week :-

1) Monday 22/06/09

Class : Flow

Teacher : Lily

Time : 4.45pm -6.00pm

2) Tuesday 23/06/09

Class : Yoga Core

Teacher : Felix

Time : 3.00pm - 4.15pm

3) Friday 26/06/09

Class : Gentle Flow

Teacher : Keane

Time : 4.45pm-6.15pm

New Arrival - Skidless Yogitoes

Great news!! The new stock of Skidless Yogitoes Towel Mat has just arrived. Variety of colours from soft blue, earthy & vivid bright colours. There is only 1 piece from each colour.

Purple with Butterfly

Lavender - Rape Awareness

Moss & Stone - Stability, strength, solidity

Maroon - Lakshmi

Light Golden Brown - Vishnu (like mine, nice soft earthy tone)

Blue - Water Element

Blue - Ganesha

Orange - Fire Element

Maroonish Brown - Krishna

Please go directly to the website at http://www.yogitoes.com/index3.php?l=shop to have a clearer look at the colours.

Size of Mat - 24" x 68"

I recently used mine, & according to the instructions I need to wash it 2x before use. But I was too excited to use it, I just soaked the towel in water for 5 minutes, hang it to dry, which took about 2 hours (with the ultra hot day, & gosh, as I write, I have the windows & sliding doors close tightly, hoping I don't need to inhale the haze! that reminds me to switch on the Hepaire) & repeated the procedure. I am not sure if my towel bleed as i only soaked it for 5 mins, but according to some users & also the manufacturer, it should bleed. Therefore, please don't throw it in the washer with your whites. Since we paid so much for it, I would advice that we take the effort to hand-wash it so that it would last you a lifetime?????

In my opinion, I find that the towel would be a great lining between the studio mats and you, as it provides a dry & more hygienic practise. I know that some of us perspire a lot, and I have experienced lying down on a drenched mat in a studio (before I got my own personal mat) and it becomes somewhat an unpleasant feeling. For those that does Bikram/Hot Yoga, this is definitely a towel mat to get!!!! It absorbs your perspire and it still gives you an anti-slip when doing down-ward dog (how do you not slip when doing down-ward dog in a HOT class with all the sweat dripping on a normal polyutarene mat the studios provide??) And it's so much lighter and convenient to carry a towel mat than a yoga mat.

Speaking of yoga mats. My first yoga mat was a Nike mat, the thinnest one so that its not heavy to carry, I do love the fact that it has a line in the centre, great for alignment esp. in warrior poses. But after some time (probably 1 yr) the mat started to loose its grip due to the mat thinning and the pressure from my palms has exhausted its thread. Since then I have been looking around for a good, environmentally friendly, guaranteed anti slip mats which can only be bought either from Singapore or you could import it directly from US or UK.

Of course there is the Cadillac of mats, "Manduka", amongst the other available brands, e.g. Crescent Moon, Jade Yoga, Ecoyoga by Como Shambala, etc.

I recently upgraded (LOL) to Ecoyoga mat by Como Shambala, its 100% eco-friendly and I LOVE IT. Its sooooo anti-slip, feels spongy too from its latex & jute. And my girlfriend is looking for a Jadeyoga mat. Should I import in, Hmmmmm???? Anyone interested in getting any imported mats??

Classes for the week of 15th June 2009

Classes lined for the week as follows :-

1) Monday - (15/06/09)

Time : 4.45pm-6.15pm

Class : Flow

Teacher : Lily


2) Friday - (19/06/09)

Time : 6.30pm-7.30pm

Class : Anusara Yoga

Teacher : Matthew

ANUSARA Yoga

Anusara yoga is becoming increasingly popular in Malaysia & many teachers are adapting their ways to this Anusara yoga. Matthew shared with us during friday's class which then I realized that Felix has been teaching us this Anusara Yoga during the past months, but failed to mentioned that it was Anusara yoga. When I mentioned this to Matthew, he commented that some students (Felix's regulars) managed to understand the concept (that's because we had some head-up with previous lessons, but when I mentioned that to one of the practitioner, she said, "huh??? what Anusara? I don't know from Hatha, Flow, Ashtangha, I just come to class and learn yoga", LOL).

I must say its not easy if its your first time, I remembered the time when Felix was teaching us, we had to keep rolling the shoulders up, then back to squeeze the shoulders blades tightly together, & at the same time tucking in the core as tight as possible. He would come around every student and poke us at the core and tell us that its not tight enough, sometimes I think this must be what labour pain is all about and at times, I felt as if my heart is gonna stop as it was pumping so hard and fast.

While at plank, downward dog, chaturangha, upward dog, cobra, etc we had to remember to roll the shoulders up and back and squeeze and keep the mid lower back slightly rounded (due to core tucked in). It was like the chinese says it "loh meang". And the after effects the following day??? Shoulder ache, shoulder blade ache too, core ache, buttock ache, LOL. But then I would say I love this Anusara yoga, why??? because it not only makes my shoulders stronger and more defined, the best part is that it is really uplifting for the breast (very important!!), now, I walk confidently.

If I am not mistaken, some teachers at Energy Yoga is adopting this Anusara yoga. Do enquire at the reception which teacher is teaching Anusara.

Some write up I copied from the web :-

Anusara-founded in 1997 by American yogi John Friend, Anusara (which means "flowing with grace") is becoming increasingly popular.

Anusara Yoga is a modern school of Yoga grounded in a Tantric philosophy of intrinsic goodness [1], that was started by John Friend in 1997. Friend continues to take an active role leading the expansion of the school and training (and certifying) teachers.
The emphasis of the school is on a set of "Universal Principles of Alignment" which underlie all postures, "heart opening" postures and the spiritual/meditative benefits of hatha yoga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anusara_Yoga

http://www.iyogalife.com/anusara/

Classes for the week of 8th June 2009

Classes for the week :-

1) Monday, 09/06

Class : Yin (definitely need a Yin after Friday's anusara, will write something about it after my weekend break)

Teacher : Lily

Time : 4.45pm - 6.00pm


2) Friday, 12/06/09

Class : Vinyasa Flow

Teacher : Keane

Time : 4.45pm - 6.15pm

Cheers and see you in class :)

Yogitoes skidless towel mat for sale

Sorry people, all stock sold out. Since there were so many enquiries, I would be glad to ship in again. Please feel free to drop me a line to enquire and I can put you on the listing. The best thing is you can go to the website & select the colour you like & let me know k?

e-mail me at yinyang_yoga@yahoo.com

A friend of mine got this in recently, if you are interested to purchase them, pls drop me a note. Only 2 left in WOOD colour, from the chinese element collection. Please visit official website for more details http://www.yogitoes.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=yogitoes&Product_Code=SYS-TWLE

Class for the week of 01/06/09

Classes lined for the week as follows :-


1) Monday - (01/06/09)

Time : 4.45pm-6.15pm

Class : Yin

Teacher : Lily


2) Friday - (05/06/09)

Time : 6.30pm-7.30pm

Class : Ashtangha

Teacher : Matthew