Make Your Car A No Phone Zone

The Oprah Show. I, for one, would change to another channel should her show be on. It’s not that I dislike her show. I just feel she gets really personal to the point of intrusive. And then, all done in a concerned sounding tone.

But this time, the in law’s were watching the Oprah Show in their house. As I’m the outlaw out numbered, I sat through the show. This time it was on texting while driving. Much as I hate to admit it, Oprah did manage to get the point across in a very compelling manner. Texting is definitely not the thing to do when driving. She came up with stories of families lost in texting related accidents, focused on victims’ families and on the culprits themselves. Aiyo, even I was drawn to the stories. Partly, I must add, out of guilt. I too am guilty of texting and talking on the phone while driving. Just that very day, I was texting during my drive to my in law’s.





If we have managed to cope without mobile phones before, we should be able to cope with completing our journey without the use of mobile phone. One way, I guess, is to put the mobile on silent mode beforehand. Take the temptation away. The other is to only pick up the phone when the car is stationary.

I’m still prone to picking up the phone during driving; but this is something I must really change. And I hope those reading will also not text the next time they drive.

Morning Mysore with M

It was one of those practice, when you are still sweating as you are lying down in Savasana. The studio was packed and it has an international feel to it. Portuguese teacher, a couple of Caucasians, a couple of Latin looking students and, of course, Malaysians. Even the gender is quite mix - 40% male, 60% female (of course 60% female, some would say, but you got to add a category for shemales).

I was one of the later students; so the studio had already generated a lot of heat when I lay my mat down. To give an indication of how hot, I’ve already noticed beads of sweat on my forearms when I raised my arms up during my second sun salutation A.

My normal Mysore practice normally ends either after Marichyasana D or after Bhujapidasana. However today M asked me to do until Upavishtha Konasana. I went to my furthest today during Supta Kurmasana. M managed to bind my hands and even sat on me while he was adjusting my legs. I naturally felt some fear. But somehow, although things felt strange and intense, it did not feel uncomfortable.




All in all, a great practice. So I was glad when I heard that M is extending his stay by another week. So his last class will be on June 19. Last Saturday, he conducted a led class. His counts were very even (minus the times he adjusted someone, during which counts do not exist - counts only resumed after adjustments!).




Well, world cup begins this Friday. Have to see if this will affect my practice. I’m partial towards England - well, the English Premier League is popular in Malaysia so we can all identify with the players. But I’m having serious doubts of how far they can go because Rio Ferdinand is out due to injury. Already, the defence is not at their strongest when Wayne Bridge refused to play because of the idiot John Terry. (Why pick on your team mate’s girl?)

One MONTH of football to look forward to!

And, last but not least, congratulations to G and I on their marriage!

Class This Morning

As I entered the studio at 7.15am this morning, the five students that were there were already at seated poses, some were almost finishing. How early did they start?

It’s rare good to have the option of going to Mysore-styled classes every morning, although M (see previous post) is only here for two weeks.

With a new teacher, or rather one whom I am going to for the first time, I normally hold back go easy with my practice. The studio though, is generating a lot of heat from the energies of the other students’ practices; and with adjustments from M, I found my practice going deeper than expected.

Had a great adjustment in Prasarita Padottanasana C. I had also had help in Utthita Hasta Padangushthasana and Utthita Parshvasahita, which I’m grateful for, as lately I’ve been having dance sessions when I reach this stage.

Have to highlight that M gave me great adjustments in Marichyasana C. On top of giving a nice twist, he also managed to get my shoulders extra width and got my chest to open up at the same time. Very nice!

My fingers found each other in the first side of Marichiyasana D. M came over and got me to find even more of my fingers. Yay! He also got me to bind in the second side of Marichyasana D. Interesting to note that his Marichyasana D adjustments are very similar to those of Saraswathi.

And, for my personal log, I was told to use more of my legs in Urdhva Dhanurasana. I’ve always found it extremely hard to lift my hands off the mat, let alone walk my hands in – maybe I haven't been using my legs properly. He adjusted by pushing my thighs towards each other slightly. Got to remember that feeling in my next practice.

On a totally irrelevant different note, I haven’t seen the naked guy for quite some time. Not that I’m missing him or anything; but just wondering.

It Finally Happened

My first successful Marichyasana D bind on my own this morning. Albeit on the right side only, but I am so so thrilled. Teacher was busy assisting someone at the other end of the room at that time. Did my usual attempt by getting my left arm past my right knee and slipped the left hand under the right foot. That normally constitutes my bind when I’m practicing on my own. Somehow today the left shoulder gave more movement towards the right knee and I thought, “what if I go for it”. Before I know it, the left elbow could hook around the right knee and then, through some frantic breathing, the fingers found each other, and I was BINDING!

If I were not in a class, I would have done a celebratory fist pump after the five breaths were up (they were very quick breaths). I even managed to do Baddha Padmasana, which lately has been more misses than hits.

Practice, practice and all is coming!

More Updates

Received news that an authorised Ashtanga teacher is visiting Kuala Lumpur, and who will be teaching Mysore styled classes at the Westin hotel from 31 May to 12 June. This is so timely. Practice has been interrupted lately by relatives visiting from abroad. The good news was the excuse to indulge in what can only be described as feast of local cuisine for dinners – this included lots of kuih (Malay cakes – really delicious), satay (a must try for visitors to Malaysia), Hokkien noodles (have to be non-halal as the pork cracklings are really something), Cantonese yee mee, durians (one either love them or hate them – I love them!), lots of roti canai, thosai (dosas for those who has been to India) and heaps of curry puffs and pisang goreng (bananas fried in batter). I should have taken photos of the food. But greed has overlooked opportunities to document the food and the excess that we eat.

I have digressed. So, the news included a picture of the teacher and also a picture of his authorisation certificate from KPJAYI (I’m thrilled to see the certificate as I have never seen one before).









And here is the text from the flyer :

AshtangaYogaKL
Visiting Teacher
We welcome a new authorised teacher from Portugal, Manuel Ferreira
from Monday, 31 May – Saturday, 12 June 2010

Daily Mysore Classes : 6:00 – 9:30 a.m.
Course Fees:
12 day package – RM400
6 day package – RM225
Drop-ins – RM60
Where: The Westin Hotel, Poolside Studio, Level 4, Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Ashtanga Updates In Kuala Lumpur

Some updates on Ashtanga scenes in KL. The teacher that was teaching Mysore style classes at the Westin is now back from Mysore and is teaching at this studio in Bangsar. The schedule can be found here. Beginners absolutely welcomed.

Manasa Yoga is commemorating the first year death anniversary of Shri K Pattabhi Jois, which is on May 18, by conducting Ashtanga classes the whole of next week. Click here for details.

A Post Worth Visiting Again And Again

Like to share this post from a blog I came across because the video gives such a beautiful insight of Shri K Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) and of what it is like being one of his students. Please click on the link to access the post.