Is ''Sharing is Caring'' still exist?

Our last activity during my training in Rishikesh, India with our Teacher Sidharth.
Giving umbrellas to unfortunate people during monsoon season.

There are so many reasons why 'sharing' is a must to be used in a positive way. Sharing is a way of expressing love, compassion and gratefulness.



The busy street of Rishikesh

Receiving some-'thing' from someone is as good as giving. Sharing is not only about giving material thing, it is also about giving time.


When you share hope, you show compassion. Language is just one of the '5 love languages' that you can express to those people you care about. We all do have these love languages in our system but for sure there is one dominant act that you are good at to show love, hope and compassion. Know your strength and know what you want to receive the most from your loved ones.

When you share laughter, definitely you share happiness. Laughing can reduce of having a heart disease. It will decrease stress and it will improve breathing. There's no reason not to be happy and share laughter, it can make you feel and look good!

When you share knowledge, people who are receiving these information are not the only one who's learning, but also the one who's sharing it. Why keep all the knowledge that you know when others will benefit from it?

In today's modern world, true happiness can STILL be found in simple yet genuine gestures. Sharing is not only about giving material things it's about expressing the feelings. When you learn how to share you'll become a person full of smiles, forgiveness and love. Let us try to be the greatest that we can be every day. Always remember, you'll never go wrong with kindness.

Namaste'.

Cassey of France giving away an
umbrella to a homeless man.

Hannah (UK), Bibiana (Slovakia), Connie (Chile),
Isabela (USA), Derek (Canada) and Leyann (Lebanon)
with the magic umbrellas. :)

Common Questions About Yoga

These are the common questions that I get from those who are curious and those who wants to practice it. Let me remind everyone that, these questions are from different people that I encounter and my response to their questions are my personal answers.

1.) I AM NOT FLEXIBLE, can I still practice Yoga?
answer: Yoga is not for flexible, Yoga is for those who are willing to practice it. This is always my answer to those who always telling me that, they don't practice yoga because they are not flexible. There always adjustments for beginners to advance people. Don't worry.

2.) I HAVE A MONTHLY CYCLE, can I still practice?

answer: Yes! when women have monthly period, they can still practice, just avoid to much inversion asanas.

The Inspiring Amelia Kathryn
Follow her on Instagram @ameliakyoga










3.) HOW OLD CAN A PERSON PRACTICE YOGA?

answer: Any age can practice yoga. Some starts at ZERO years old. Some pregnant mums are attending Pre-Natal Yoga it means if the mummy is practicing the baby inside the tummy is also practicing.






The Amazing Tao Porchon-Lynch
Photo from: www.dailymail.co.uk

 

4.) I AM OLD, can I still practice?

answer: Definitely! Yoga does not choose age. Practice what you can and never force yourself.

5.) I HAVE INJURIES/PAINS, can I still practice?

answer: Of course! it depends how serious your injury or pain. Consult your yoga teacher about your body issues. Try Yoga Therapy if you are worried about your

   injuries/pains.

6.) WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I DON'T PRACTICE IN SOME DAYS?

answer: Do simple stretching so that when you practice again, your body will not feel too much tightness.



My Flexibility and strength progress in Firefly pose





7.) CAN I IMPROVE FLEXIBILITY / STRENGTH THROUGH YOGA?

answer: YES! YES! YES! Practice and all is coming. Practice is the key to improve one's ability. And always remember, FLEXIBILITY IS WORKABLE.

 

 

8.) IS YOGA FOR HINDUS ONLY?

answer: NO. Yoga is for everyone whether you are Hindu, Christian, Muslim or other religion. It depends how you inculcate yoga in your life. Yoga can be your physical practice or religious practice.

 

 

9.) I AM NOT VEGETARIAN, can I still practice?

answer: YES! Vegetarianism is a choice. Is a diet for people who have health issues, religious purposes or people who wants to have a healthier life. You can still practice yoga even though you are a meat eater.

 

10.) DOES YOGA IMPROVE SEX LIFE?

answer: I don't know the answer but according to some articles, it helps a lot.

Ekhart Yoga is my favourite Vertual Yoga Teacher.

Ahem! Please do my watch my videos too! :)



11.) ARE THERE VIDEOS THAT I CAN FOLLOW?

answer: Internet is amazing. There are a lot of yoga teachers who are posting yoga videos online. Just search Yoga for Beginners or any thing that you want to know about yoga. For sure you'll get an answer.

My first yoga selfie with my new Liforme 'Yoga Travel Mat' .

12.) DO I NEED TO BUY AN EXPENSIVE YOGA MAT?

answer: It doesn't mean the Yoga Mat is expensive it is a good mat. Read reviews online regarding yoga mats so you can find a good one! I tried Manduka, Lululemon, Jade Yoga Mat and Liforme Mat, all I can say is that these mats were created for yogis.

Halasana / Plow Pose
With the 'First Version' of Liforme Mat.

Bonus Question: * Can you S}C% your own D/)K?

answer: I don't know and don't want to know.

Dear Readers, You are free to ask more questions and add information. Thank you and Namaste'.

Storytelling: Love You Forever

 

Telling story to young children allows their imagination to grow and explore.

 
I believe as Preschool teacher, story telling is one of the greatest form of art. You can tell story in different mediums, you can tell it by using only your action, using the emotions and dynamics of your voice, you can even use different kinds of props and of course you can use a storybook.
 
My blog will not just focus about Yoga and health. I also want to share to everyone especially to children, preschool teachers and parents some of the storybooks and other preschool stuffs that my students like the most. This blog will become a way for teachers and parents to discover a story book that they have not read yet. This will also be a review guide to everyone who wants to purchase a certain book. Feel free to suggest a story book that you want to hear, know or review.
 

My first audio story telling is Love You Forever, one of the best story books that I personally love.
 
 

 
 

 LOVE YOU FOREVER

A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him:

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be.

This is the story of how that little boy goes through the stages of childhood and become a man.

It is also about the enduring nature of parents; love and how it crosses generations.
Love You Forever is a book that both children and adults will enjoy - over and over again. (FIREFLY BOOKS)

Yoga as a Competition



Trust others like how you trust yourself.

More than 2 years ago, I started to practice yoga in a fitness centre. During those days, I observe all the other people and were rolling my eyes at them. I feel that inside the studio is a 'Battle ground'. I feel that everyone is ready to 'fight' to show off their out of this world skills. That's why I always put excessive effort so others won't think I'm a beginner. 

After 6 months of pure basic practice in the fitness centre I moved to a Yoga Studio. In the studio you will see different types of body. Some people are flexible but no strength, others are strong but no flexibility and of course you will see both flexible and strong yoga practitioners. During my first months in the studio, my asanas are progressing but not my inner self. I became more observant and trying hard to become the most flexible, the strongest and the best. It came to the point that I am hurting myself because I'm forcing and rushing to move into a pose, I'm hurting myself because I want to be the number 1, I'm forcing myself because I feel that Yoga is a competition.


At some point in time, I don't feel good about myself anymore, I feel that there are so many 'better' inside the room and I am the 'bitter' gourd. I was not contented. Because of too much effort, the practice became too tiring and it came to a certain extent that I'm not happy to practice.

Then I came into a realization. I looked into myself and realized all my weaknesses, all the things that I need to improve both physical and inner self. During those moments I slowly understand my own capabilities - both good and not so, Understanding myself made me understand other people's capabilities. I learned that one simple tightness in the body can affect to so much in so many asanas. I learned to become more open to others in the studio, share what I know and learn from others in return.

The consciousness of 'Better' and 'Bitter' suddenly deteriorated unless there are '$@#^' in the room. I started to laugh and feel the I 'belong' to a group of people who only came to the studio to practice. The practices became fun even though some of the classes are tough. I felt real happiness and always looking forward to attend a class. The 'Yoga Competition' is no more, it was replaced with a 'Laughing and Positive Yoga Practice'. Everything became light and beautiful. After all what you show to people, will reflect to you.

This journey help me realized so many things. Not only to let go of the ego but also knowing own strengths to know what other people had gone through to become strong. Know your own weaknesses so you know others pain. And most importantly not to think how to become somebody else, instead think how to become a better version of 'You'.





The Mighty Hanuman

Once my teacher told me that I am as 'Strong as a monkey and as flexible as a snake'. At first I didn't know that was a compliment, until when Hanuman, the Mighty Monkey came across my mind.

Hanuman is a Hindu god and a follower of Rama. He was mentioned several times in Hindu scriptures such as Ramayana, Mahabarata, Puranas and Jain texts.  

Because of my teacher and because of Hanuman-asana (monkey pose), I decided to check the story of Hanuman. There different variations about his life story, Some people say that he is the son of the King and Queen of the Monkeys. For others, he is a son of Kesari and a woman named Anjana, who was cursed and was turned into a monkey. If you are interested to read the most important events in the life of Hanuman, visit The Life of Hanuman and Hanuman.

Hanuman is a very popular Hindu Mythology. And because of that there are so many things that are dedicated to him such as...



Hanumanasana - Monkey Pose

Movie for children and adult



Hanuman Chalisa 

Mantra for Courage and Strength

Hanuman is not your ordinary Hindu Mythological god! What can you dedicate to the powerful  and mighty Monkey?

The song 'Sri Ram Jai Ram Jai Jai Ram Om' is our dedication for Hanuman. My Meditation Teacher and my classmates in Shiva Yoga Peeth in Rishikesh, India recorded this during one of our Meditation classes. Hanuman loves to sing this song for Rama.

The Power of Breathing

Ujjayi. Only Ujjayi Can Save You.

 –Yogi Sidharth

 I miss doing this class every 7 am in the morning!

Breath is our source of energy. Breath is the fountain of life.

Breathing is very important in yoga practice. It is easy to move when you breath normally and properly. But sometimes in some poses especially advance poses, our breathing is changing, it's becoming shallow and if the body is not producing enough oxygen, the body becomes uncomfortable.

There are  yoga teachers who are consistent in reminding their students to breathe during practice.  If you have that teacher, you are blessed to have him/her! Breathing is so important that it can relaxes and calms your body and mind.  It is very powerful that it can move you even further than your usual capabilities. Breathing properly gives you focus, it can make you move forward and when you breathe properly your teacher can adjust you! Breath is your golden ticket to progress! When you inhale you absorb strength from the earth and when you exhale you let go all the tightness from your body.

Below are some captured moments with Yogi Sidharth, he is our Ashtanga Teacher in Rishikesh who always remind us to breathe. These are the moments that I will treasure forever.

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures are from Facebook accounts of Didier Abner and Amiee Constantopoulos.

 

Celebrating SG 50 / My Top 50 Favourites about Singapura!

Garden City

Little Red Dot

Lion City

SINGAPURA

It’s Jubilee year of the Lion City! This is my way to thank the country who’s became my home away from home for 4 years now. Let me share to everyone my Top 50 favourites about Singapore.



1. Singapore is C-L-E-A-N
Truck maintaining the trees and Uncles on bicycles cleaning the streets!



2.       CCTV’s are everywhere.
Indeed one of the safest countries!



3. Public Transportations are very Comfortable
I'm inside the Purple Line MRT (Free and Easy)



4. The Skyline is beautiful!






5.       Botanical Gardens are for Free
The Epic and Huge Botanical Garden (Most of the facilities are FREE! FREE! FREE!)





6.       Museums are modern
I personally love the National Museum and The Art Museum



7.       Food court and hawkers are everywhere!
Ice Kachang! Fruit Shakes!






8.       Futuristic Buildings
with Patty and Ham (Marina Bay Sands Building and Art Science Museum)



9.       Big and long rows of Shopping Malls
Orchard Road, The Shopping Road!






10.   DAISO! DAISO! DAISO
Big help for Teachers like me. :)










11.   Clean Water
Water

12.   Clean Toilets



13.   Fruits in the Market are fresh



14.   There are many Enrichment classes!
A row of Enrichment Classes!





15.   Singaporeans truly value education (Infants are already trained to go to school
I'm with Nursery 1 students!



16.   Play Grounds are clean and safe.
I do play sometimes. hahaha!

17.   People follow traffic lights
It's a shame to jaywalk in Singapore. ummmm...

18.   Experience Chinese Culture
Chinese New Year Celebration with my Co-Teachers Andrea and Ruth




19.   Experience Muslim Malay Culture
Wedding of my Dearest Friend, Maiyah



20.   Experience Indian Culture
with Ferna from Indonesia

21.   There lots of Fitness / Sports Events
Some events that I already witnessed are Judo, Wrestling, Mountain  Climbing, Mass Yoga and Fun Run

22.   Different Types of food
Restaurants Everywhere. People here love to eat! They even queue (long queue) just to try the food.

23.   Most of Singaporeans value their health
My Co-Teachers' exercising after school hours!

24.   Lots of Fitness Centre and Yoga Studios
You can choose from Gym to Yoga Studio and Calisthenics Centres 

25.   From Mall, Taxi, Salon, Food Court…name it! You can pay anything though your debit card.
No cash? it's Okay! use your card.

 26.   There are 24 hours Grocery Stores, Fitness Centre and Restaurants.
My favourite 24 ours Vegetarian Restaurant beside The Amazing 24 hours 'Mustafa Centre'.

27.   You can find bus stops  and MRT near your destinations (They are still expanding)

28.   Boys in Singapore can perform too!
Picture from Jimmy Tan

29.   Mother Tongue is very important for Singaporeans.
Chinese, Malay, Tamil 

30.   Techy people will love this country.
They have lots of deals for any electronic gadgets. Catch the 'IT Fair' too!

31.   Internet is every where. Free WIFI!
and yeah... the internet is fast.

32.   Airport is amaziiinnnggg!
Clean, HUGE and they change the decorations every event or festival.

33. Celebrating 'Freedom to Love' - Pink Dot
Well the picture is not about love...lol! But I was in the event promoting
Singapore's Men's Chorus (photo from SMC's FB account)



34.   Sale! Sale! Sale!
Anywhere!

35.   The country have incredible Housing System
With facilities that everyone can use!

36.   Trees Everywhere.

37.   Health Centres / Clinic are around the block.
Oh well this one is a private Dental and Health Centre.

38.   People are from far and distant lands.
From locals, foreign workers and tourist.

39.   GOTHERE.SG is available
Good help for tourists



40.   Childcare centres that operates year round.



41.   Cinemas are almost in every mall.

42.   ATMs and Self-service kiosks are everywhere too,
Where you can pay your bills.

43.   They have huge, HighTech and EXPENSIVE stadium.

44.   Bridges are cool!
My favourite bridge 'Helix Bridge'

45.   Food stalls / courts / restaurants are graded according to their cleanliness
This Dessert Food Stall have Grade A for Cleanliness of the Stall and the food. Good Job!

46.   They have lots of Libraries!
They have Sports Library and Music Library :)
I was a volunteer Story teller for 2 years!

47.   Community Centres with affordable fees  (some have swimming pools, gym, sports hall)

48.  R U L E S are being followed (most of the time

49.   Lots of tourist spots, tourist centres and tour services in the island!
Everyone should visit 'Singapore Zoo'!

50.   You can definitely #stopDROPandYOGA anywhere!
Inside 'Gardens by the Bay'

To all my Singaporean friends, appreciate everything that you have in your country because not all are experiencing the comfortable life that you have. When you are stressed and tired always remember that some people are dreaming to have the life that you have now. God bless you all! Namaste.

 P.S. This is my own opinion. Thank you!