Vinyasa With Smiles

Came across this video on You Tube - two very cute kids doing amazing things effortlessly.

Empty Nest

Had a bit of a taste of what an empty nest felt like this weekend. Kids were spending the weekend at the in-law’s, whilst the better half is overseas on a work trip. Got restless with the house being so quiet and decided on Thai massage at this place near my home.

Was glad that there were pyjamas like clothes to change into for the massage, for it felt cold with the air cond blasting. Session started with me lying on my back with an eye bag placed over my eyes. While my masseuse went out to get further supplies, it was like being in Savasana. I was just reflecting on my response to the girl at the reception when she asked whether I wanted a hard or soft massage. Medium, my reply came out. The girl then translated my response to my masseuse. Medium .. How wishy washy could I be? I could have said hard, seeing the masseuse was quite petite.

Then, the massage started. O.M.G., is she strong! She was working on my legs with the elbow. Though I could not did not make any sound, tears were coming to my eyes. Boy, was the eye bag a heaven sent. Even the room did not feel cold anymore. In fact, I was even sweating a bit. If this is medium, I shudder to think what hard could be. And I did not have the girl at the reception around to translate my desired change of intensity.

Actually, at the end of it, I felt really relieved good. Parts of it was like having yoga adjustments. I will definitely be back for more. Next time, I’ll try medium soft.

Practice has been good. The studio that offers morning mysore classes now has four morning mysore classes a week, Mondays to Thursdays. This is really good for me. I’m now working on walking my hands in during Urdhva Dhanurasana. I find it easier to walk my feet in. Why is that? Anyway, have started walking my feet in to get a deeper bend. With my last UD, I'll start working on walking my hands in. Still a struggle, but at least it’s feeling looking more possible. Practice, practice.

Pulau Redang

Had a yoga free week last week. Partly due to watching the World Cup, but mostly because I took the family to Pulau Redang for a short holiday. I must add Berjaya does a great holiday package to its resort in Redang. First, Berjaya Air leaves from Subang airport, which is great because of its proximity to our house - took us 20 minutes to the airport. Flight leaves at 8am. After a 10 minute check in, we have choices of places for breakfast at this fabulously renovated Subang airport.










Flight to Redang took slightly less than an hour on this plane.



And then a short 10 minute bus ride to the resort. We were literally in our room by 9.45am. And we have the whole day to do as we please. No waiting - just wake up, left the house at 6.40am, and unpacked at the resort before 10am.

On the last day, flight time is 3.30pm. Bus leaves resort at 2.30pm, so we still have the whole morning to swim or snorkel before checking out. We were home just after 5pm. Logistically, it worked out so well.

The beach at the Resort has white sands and clear water. There are some corals near the beach with a floating pontoon nearby. We had a great time snorkelling to the pontoon. Equipped with a bottle of fish food, it was simply magic to see so many fishes up close. It would have been great to have an underwater camera.










Caught sight of a huge turtle at Turtle Bay. When it raise its head from the sea water, it really has the look of a Loch Ness Monster. I was hesitant to snorkel to where it was. Oh, and the sound your own breath while snorkelling is so similar to ujjayi breathing.

Whilst the holiday has work out so well for us, alas the World Cup has not work out as well for England. This picture sums out the status of the England team.

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!