This is the first post of 2016 and I really didn't want it to be a rant. This is a rant.
A while ago, my gym served some finger food in conjunction with an event they were holding. I'd just come out of a Fitball class and the ladies (my "classmates") headed straight for the buffet table. I wasn't about to walk away from "free" food, even though I had dinner waiting for me at home. So, I took some fruits *ahem!* and a curry puff. (The curry puff was sooo good, but I refrained from having more than one, because, obviously, it makes no sense to undo the whole hour of crunching and lunging!)
A few of the ladies sat near me and started conversing. I don't know why it is a necessity to talk when one could just focus on eating. Anyway, they started talking, and casually remarked that it was "so nice" to be me. Yes, me. They don't know me by name, yet they were sure it was good to be me.
"She's thin... she can eat what she wants without ever gaining weight!"
If I wasn't enjoying my food so much, and could speak in Cantonese well enough for people to understand me, I would've rebuked them so hard they'd never talk with food in their mouth, ever again.
Firstly, although I am not fat, I am far from being thin. Thin is when one's BMI is equal or less than 18. Mine is a healthy 21.5. Secondly, how dare they! *Ahem* I strive to maintain a more or less constant weight by watching carefully what (and how much) I eat, and counting the number of hours I workout every week (hours are so much easier to count compared to calories). I worked hard to make this my lifestyle because I am not, and never had been, one of the lucky ones who can "eat without gaining weight". Anyway, it wasn't a big deal. I just wanted to tell the story.
Yesterday, in yoga class, we did a succession of inversion poses (with the support of the wall). One of the last ones was the Scorpion. Most of them were either too tired by then or too afraid to try. I, on the other hand, obstinately fighting fatigue and pain, swung my lower body up without a grunt.
"Of course she can do it," I heard a lady say to the one beside her, "she's so thin!"
Were I not half-inverted and fighting the increasingly excruciating cramp in my shoulders, back and butt, I would've told her off. It's the strength, not the thinness! Of course, in building or conditioning the muscles, one naturally loses some fat, but in the end, it is strength that gets one up there, not the lack of rolls. Speaking of rolls, I have quite ample. When I get into twisting poses, sometimes, they pinch each other so hard, it positively hurts.
Oh, well. I'm not really that bothered. Once again, I suppose I just wanted to write it out.
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga. Show all posts
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Inversion
My yoga teacher insists that inversion poses have youth-preserving and brain-enhancing powers. I can't say for sure, but logic dictates that they are very unlikely. If blood rushing to my head really does improve my cognitive abilities, I would have gained several IQ points by now, having been inverting myself into wall-supported handstands nearly every single night.
I don't remember the exact number of years I've been doing yoga - granted, never intensely - but it must be at least 6 or 7. I remember I never managed to go into a headstand away from the assuring protection of a wall for the first 4 years or so. Yoga was not a series of challenging poses to master; it was my weekly physical activity, amounting (almost) to exercise that I fondly hoped would help keep my weight in check (yikes!). I was too comfortable and complacent in the class that was just me and my friend, and never had the motivation to take that leap. It came in form of a reprimand-like observation by a rock-climbing yogi who I met when I first took up climbing. Long story short, he was rather aghast that after 4 years of yoga, I hadn't learned how to do the handstand.
It took a while, a lot of courage and several falls to stand on my head (and elbows) in the middle of the room. The tripod quickly followed. I found that once I figured the key to stabilizing my body while being upside down, everything just works.
Handstands, however, are still a long way off. While I've been able to hold myself in position against the wall for a some time (years, in fact), I haven't been able to grasp the mental and physical key configurations to break away. That is why I hop up against the wall every night. If anything would work, it would be ceaseless, relentless determination.
Yoga is no longer just another physical activity amounting to exercise. It is so much more to me now, although I'm not (yet) at the level where I take an interest in the philosophical and spiritual aspects. Conquering the handstand is my current goal. Next, perhaps the Scorpion.
I don't remember the exact number of years I've been doing yoga - granted, never intensely - but it must be at least 6 or 7. I remember I never managed to go into a headstand away from the assuring protection of a wall for the first 4 years or so. Yoga was not a series of challenging poses to master; it was my weekly physical activity, amounting (almost) to exercise that I fondly hoped would help keep my weight in check (yikes!). I was too comfortable and complacent in the class that was just me and my friend, and never had the motivation to take that leap. It came in form of a reprimand-like observation by a rock-climbing yogi who I met when I first took up climbing. Long story short, he was rather aghast that after 4 years of yoga, I hadn't learned how to do the handstand.
It took a while, a lot of courage and several falls to stand on my head (and elbows) in the middle of the room. The tripod quickly followed. I found that once I figured the key to stabilizing my body while being upside down, everything just works.
Handstands, however, are still a long way off. While I've been able to hold myself in position against the wall for a some time (years, in fact), I haven't been able to grasp the mental and physical key configurations to break away. That is why I hop up against the wall every night. If anything would work, it would be ceaseless, relentless determination.
Yoga is no longer just another physical activity amounting to exercise. It is so much more to me now, although I'm not (yet) at the level where I take an interest in the philosophical and spiritual aspects. Conquering the handstand is my current goal. Next, perhaps the Scorpion.
Friday, October 11, 2013
Extreme Sport
We were lying flat on our backs, just roused from a deep relaxation that we started the session with. Following the teacher's verbal instructions, we raised one leg, folded it to the side, then pressed it back down onto the floor. Adjusting the hips to be properly aligned and as neutral as possible stretched the folded leg muscles to a point beyond comfort, naturally. We raised the other leg, then folded that on top of the one already in position.
I heard gasping to my left. Not being in the deep focus that I ought to be, I turned my head. She, a woman in her thirties, was looking at me with one of the most tortured expressions I'd witnessed in class.
"So painful!" she cried, her legs dangling awkwardly, in her futile attempt to get into the pose. I could but offer her a sympathetic smile.
Throughout the hour-long practice, she sighed and grunted, struggled and stumbled, and constantly fought fatigue and pain.
I was reminded of this photo I once came across:
So - relaxing pastime, spiritual path, or extreme sport? It definitely isn't, in practice, a spiritual path - not unless one purposely chooses to look at the activity as being spiritual. When I took up yoga, about 5 or 6 years ago, I'd meant to increase my flexibility, tone up my muscles, improve focus, and on the overall, achieve a more relaxed physical and mental state. Well, in a way, I do feel that I sleep a lot better on nights before which I had yoga sessions, but honestly, I can't say it's not because I'd usually be full of aches and tired out. A relaxing pastime? Maybe.
Take a look:
An extreme sport? Most definitely!
So this, plus martial arts and climbing, makes me an extreme sports girl! *Ahem!*
(confession: I can't do any of the poses in the photos I posted....... yet =P)
I heard gasping to my left. Not being in the deep focus that I ought to be, I turned my head. She, a woman in her thirties, was looking at me with one of the most tortured expressions I'd witnessed in class.
"So painful!" she cried, her legs dangling awkwardly, in her futile attempt to get into the pose. I could but offer her a sympathetic smile.
Throughout the hour-long practice, she sighed and grunted, struggled and stumbled, and constantly fought fatigue and pain.
I was reminded of this photo I once came across:
(Source: Pinterest)
So - relaxing pastime, spiritual path, or extreme sport? It definitely isn't, in practice, a spiritual path - not unless one purposely chooses to look at the activity as being spiritual. When I took up yoga, about 5 or 6 years ago, I'd meant to increase my flexibility, tone up my muscles, improve focus, and on the overall, achieve a more relaxed physical and mental state. Well, in a way, I do feel that I sleep a lot better on nights before which I had yoga sessions, but honestly, I can't say it's not because I'd usually be full of aches and tired out. A relaxing pastime? Maybe.
Take a look:
(Source: Eve Post Apple)
(Source: Pinterest)
(Source: Pinterest)
An extreme sport? Most definitely!
So this, plus martial arts and climbing, makes me an extreme sports girl! *Ahem!*
(confession: I can't do any of the poses in the photos I posted....... yet =P)
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
My Journey Home
After an hour of particularly satisfying yoga practice (in which I believe I achieved new depth in the standing forward bend... yes, it is a big deal!) I left the gym anticipating a blissful, relaxed night. It almost didn't happen.
My gym is approximately 15 minutes' drive from my home - under normal traffic conditions - so in a way, the distance is not that much. In that, however, I encountered:
1. At least 20 vehicles illegally parked and double-parked, resulting in horribly obstructed paths requiring complicated maneuvers to get through.
2. A huge "vintage" Mercedes going against rightful traffic on a one-way-street. With illegally parked cars on one side, the road meant to accommodate the width of a single vehicle now has to fit THREE. As it was happening, I thought to myself - if my car didn't get out unscratched, I'd totally confront the man driving the offending one with "Uncle, did you notice this sign which says "Jalan Sehala" (one-way-street)? That big arrow pointing that way means you can only drive in that direction..." I'm too polite, I know.
3. A horrible excuse of a human being doing this:
The thing with bad road users is, they're so common I've become very skilled at not getting mad encountering them. For all I know, little irritants like these contribute to functional dyspepsia and seriously, they're not worth it.
So, yea - in spite of everything, I got home and enjoyed my blissful, relaxed night, like I intended to.
My gym is approximately 15 minutes' drive from my home - under normal traffic conditions - so in a way, the distance is not that much. In that, however, I encountered:
1. At least 20 vehicles illegally parked and double-parked, resulting in horribly obstructed paths requiring complicated maneuvers to get through.
2. A huge "vintage" Mercedes going against rightful traffic on a one-way-street. With illegally parked cars on one side, the road meant to accommodate the width of a single vehicle now has to fit THREE. As it was happening, I thought to myself - if my car didn't get out unscratched, I'd totally confront the man driving the offending one with "Uncle, did you notice this sign which says "Jalan Sehala" (one-way-street)? That big arrow pointing that way means you can only drive in that direction..." I'm too polite, I know.
3. A horrible excuse of a human being doing this:
(original image from here)
The thing with bad road users is, they're so common I've become very skilled at not getting mad encountering them. For all I know, little irritants like these contribute to functional dyspepsia and seriously, they're not worth it.
So, yea - in spite of everything, I got home and enjoyed my blissful, relaxed night, like I intended to.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Seventy Sets of Sun Salutation
She actually started by saying we'd attempt 100 sets, which would take about the entire hour. I stared at her wide-eyed. The guy beside me looked overwhelmed by incredulity and horror, and all but chickened out. I'm sure it crossed his mind, though. And the instructor must've thought the same, for she warned him, half in jest, "Don't you dare walk out of the studio!"
We started off good. Instead of letting my thoughts wander like I did when we did the forty sets, I tried my best to just focus on my breathing, the movement, and maintaining fluidity. I was rather surprised that I started feeling like clockwork after the 30th set. Sure, my breathing was becoming laboured, I was all flushed and perspiring profusely, my arms starting to feel pumped... but I wasn't struggling to go on, to say the least.
After the 60th set, she announced loudly, "Completed 50 sets!"
I balked in mid-forward-bend-to-plank... 50 only?! What - physical exertion actually inhibits my ability to keep count? *no comment*
15 more sets later, she announced we were down to the last 5, bringing the total to 70. I don't know what changed her mind... It could be that by then, half the class had given up and were flat on the floor, all soaked through either by sweat or tears... or both. Many took multiple breaks in-between the run. Only a handful were still pushing on, obviously fighting the fatigue, most probably due to stubbornness or ego, or well, both. Anyhow, I can't say I wasn't relief we didn't go all the way to 100.
I expect to have muscle aches for the next couple of days. No complaints though, for I'm pretty sure these 70 sets were handy in helping rid my body of calories I consumed from the scrumptious New Year's Day feast - my roomee hosted a superb, awesome, totally unsurpassable Burger Party and well.....
It'll probably take a lot more than a bunch of Sun Salutations to burn all that off, but it was a start. Ahhh, life! =D
*read about the burger party*
We started off good. Instead of letting my thoughts wander like I did when we did the forty sets, I tried my best to just focus on my breathing, the movement, and maintaining fluidity. I was rather surprised that I started feeling like clockwork after the 30th set. Sure, my breathing was becoming laboured, I was all flushed and perspiring profusely, my arms starting to feel pumped... but I wasn't struggling to go on, to say the least.
After the 60th set, she announced loudly, "Completed 50 sets!"
I balked in mid-forward-bend-to-plank... 50 only?! What - physical exertion actually inhibits my ability to keep count? *no comment*
15 more sets later, she announced we were down to the last 5, bringing the total to 70. I don't know what changed her mind... It could be that by then, half the class had given up and were flat on the floor, all soaked through either by sweat or tears... or both. Many took multiple breaks in-between the run. Only a handful were still pushing on, obviously fighting the fatigue, most probably due to stubbornness or ego, or well, both. Anyhow, I can't say I wasn't relief we didn't go all the way to 100.
I expect to have muscle aches for the next couple of days. No complaints though, for I'm pretty sure these 70 sets were handy in helping rid my body of calories I consumed from the scrumptious New Year's Day feast - my roomee hosted a superb, awesome, totally unsurpassable Burger Party and well.....
It'll probably take a lot more than a bunch of Sun Salutations to burn all that off, but it was a start. Ahhh, life! =D
*read about the burger party*
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Forty Sets of Sun Salutation
What's running in my mind -
At the beginning:
Right, here we go, I wonder how many we'll be doing...
Completed 5 sets:
Can it be six? Can it be eight? I wish... although, going at this pace, it really doesn't look like it's gonna be this few...
Completed 15 sets:
What? Did she just say "Keep going, do not stop"? Man, we are going for 20 sets aren't we? I'm tired, I'm bored, I'm tired, I'm bored...
Completed 20 sets:
OK, it's gotta be 25. My arms are killing me and I'm starting to go out of breath, but I can make it to 25. Keep going, keep going...
Completed 25 sets:
We are still keeping it going?! GOSH! She's going to make us do 50 sets! Fifty!!! *ARGHHH* I'm so exhausted! I can't make it to 50, I just can't! My arms are wobbly, my almost-completely-healed wrist is starting to hurt, I can't catch my breath, sweat is trickling down my forehead into my eyes and turning into tears.....
Completed 35 sets:
Hmmm, after this I really should get a hot chocolate. Maybe some noodles tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to have that bun I absentmindedly left in office. I hope no ants will get to it... oh, but I still have some gingerbread. So, maybe one of them for breakfast and the other for afternoon tea? And that email... I must remember to attend to it first thing in the morning.....
Completed 40 sets:
What? We're done? Did she just say we're done? Oh wow! I'm dizzy, my vision is blurry and I can't really stand anymore... but wow, forty sets! I just completed forty sets of Surya Namaskar! What a great feeling! I wonder how many calories I'd burned there. I'm so gonna blog about this! Yippeee!
Note:
When practicing yoga, one should, as much as possible, rid one's mind of all irrelevant thoughts and focus on the breathing and the poses alone.
Yea, I'm not there yet =P
At the beginning:
Right, here we go, I wonder how many we'll be doing...
Completed 5 sets:
Can it be six? Can it be eight? I wish... although, going at this pace, it really doesn't look like it's gonna be this few...
Completed 15 sets:
What? Did she just say "Keep going, do not stop"? Man, we are going for 20 sets aren't we? I'm tired, I'm bored, I'm tired, I'm bored...
Completed 20 sets:
OK, it's gotta be 25. My arms are killing me and I'm starting to go out of breath, but I can make it to 25. Keep going, keep going...
Completed 25 sets:
We are still keeping it going?! GOSH! She's going to make us do 50 sets! Fifty!!! *ARGHHH* I'm so exhausted! I can't make it to 50, I just can't! My arms are wobbly, my almost-completely-healed wrist is starting to hurt, I can't catch my breath, sweat is trickling down my forehead into my eyes and turning into tears.....
Completed 35 sets:
Hmmm, after this I really should get a hot chocolate. Maybe some noodles tonight. Tomorrow I'm going to have that bun I absentmindedly left in office. I hope no ants will get to it... oh, but I still have some gingerbread. So, maybe one of them for breakfast and the other for afternoon tea? And that email... I must remember to attend to it first thing in the morning.....
Completed 40 sets:
What? We're done? Did she just say we're done? Oh wow! I'm dizzy, my vision is blurry and I can't really stand anymore... but wow, forty sets! I just completed forty sets of Surya Namaskar! What a great feeling! I wonder how many calories I'd burned there. I'm so gonna blog about this! Yippeee!
Note:
When practicing yoga, one should, as much as possible, rid one's mind of all irrelevant thoughts and focus on the breathing and the poses alone.
Yea, I'm not there yet =P
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Variations
So, I injured my right wrist and it has to be completely rested for at least a couple of weeks, so heavy-lifting plus most the usual physical activities I do have to be halted. That means I get an irrational (really? irrational?!) fear of gaining weight within this period. I mentioned this to a friend at my dance class last weekend - yes, I still can dance, albeit with one arm stiff in a bandage - and she rolled her eyes.
"What's this talk about gaining weight? So you hurt your hand.... your LEGS are still working!"
Ah, so brutally honest... (but I like it!)
Except I don't run. What else are legs alone (without arms) good for other than cardio? Sigh.
So, I strolled on the treadmills and I danced. I bought a high-quality wrist brace, complete with a built-in metal splint and wore it as much of the time as possible. I let my incompetent left hand take over all the usual tasks that can be done single-handedly (literally!). The first time it made tea, it spilled the right-at-boiling-point liquid out of the mug and scalded 3 fingers. The first time it tried to use chopsticks, it couldn't, so had to thereafter switch to the sissier fork. The first time it had to stick a key into the keyhole, it took 3 times a long as it would take the right hand - it still does. Every day is a struggle, but the rewards are more than worth the troubles.
My right wrist is healing well - the pain has reduced rather significantly and although the swelling hasn't completely gone, I'd say I'm much better than when it first started to hurt. Today, I felt well enough to rejoin my yoga class.
Sure, I've decided without deliberation that I will not attempt arm balances - that's pure madness - nor will I persist in holding any poses if the injured area as much as hints discomfort. I thought I ought to have enough knowledge to make up feasible variations for poses I can't do. So I thought. I informed the teacher of my "delicate condition" before the class started. She said I musn't do the Plank or Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). That's right, I thought, and definitely not handstands, which are one of her favourites, right after headstands.
I must be in good fortune today, for we started off with a lot of poses targeting the core, in which arm strength was almost unnecessary. Then, we moved to Wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana). I stayed in Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) and sort of felt proud that I could actually do something in the place of the one I can't do!
Instead of Plank, I did elbow Plank. Still good. Instead of Downward Dog, I did Awkward Downward Dog on elbows. Yikes. I don't even want to describe how I elbowed a Cobra (Bhujangasana) To my great dismay, I realised the extent of my knowledge of pose variation is replacing hands with elbows when your hand hurts. Gah!
What's worse? During one of my elbowed Downward Dogs, the teacher addressed a newbie who happened to be right next to me.
"Don't follow what she's doing! Her hand is injured!"
I realised she was referring to me, and that the poor girl had actually been doing all the "variations" I'd been doing. Not only had I succeeded in showcasing weird, ugly "yoga", I'd inadvertently caused a first timer to pick up weird, ugly "yoga"...
I don't mean to be mean, but when I related this to my roomee, we both had a good laugh. New girl is so silly but adorably so! I hope she will continue her practice and if I have to resort to "variations" still next week, I hope she'll remember to ignore me!
"What's this talk about gaining weight? So you hurt your hand.... your LEGS are still working!"
Ah, so brutally honest... (but I like it!)
Except I don't run. What else are legs alone (without arms) good for other than cardio? Sigh.
So, I strolled on the treadmills and I danced. I bought a high-quality wrist brace, complete with a built-in metal splint and wore it as much of the time as possible. I let my incompetent left hand take over all the usual tasks that can be done single-handedly (literally!). The first time it made tea, it spilled the right-at-boiling-point liquid out of the mug and scalded 3 fingers. The first time it tried to use chopsticks, it couldn't, so had to thereafter switch to the sissier fork. The first time it had to stick a key into the keyhole, it took 3 times a long as it would take the right hand - it still does. Every day is a struggle, but the rewards are more than worth the troubles.
My right wrist is healing well - the pain has reduced rather significantly and although the swelling hasn't completely gone, I'd say I'm much better than when it first started to hurt. Today, I felt well enough to rejoin my yoga class.
Sure, I've decided without deliberation that I will not attempt arm balances - that's pure madness - nor will I persist in holding any poses if the injured area as much as hints discomfort. I thought I ought to have enough knowledge to make up feasible variations for poses I can't do. So I thought. I informed the teacher of my "delicate condition" before the class started. She said I musn't do the Plank or Downward Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana). That's right, I thought, and definitely not handstands, which are one of her favourites, right after headstands.
I must be in good fortune today, for we started off with a lot of poses targeting the core, in which arm strength was almost unnecessary. Then, we moved to Wheel (Urdhva Dhanurasana). I stayed in Bridge (Setu Bandha Sarvangasana) and sort of felt proud that I could actually do something in the place of the one I can't do!
Instead of Plank, I did elbow Plank. Still good. Instead of Downward Dog, I did Awkward Downward Dog on elbows. Yikes. I don't even want to describe how I elbowed a Cobra (Bhujangasana) To my great dismay, I realised the extent of my knowledge of pose variation is replacing hands with elbows when your hand hurts. Gah!
What's worse? During one of my elbowed Downward Dogs, the teacher addressed a newbie who happened to be right next to me.
"Don't follow what she's doing! Her hand is injured!"
I realised she was referring to me, and that the poor girl had actually been doing all the "variations" I'd been doing. Not only had I succeeded in showcasing weird, ugly "yoga", I'd inadvertently caused a first timer to pick up weird, ugly "yoga"...
I don't mean to be mean, but when I related this to my roomee, we both had a good laugh. New girl is so silly but adorably so! I hope she will continue her practice and if I have to resort to "variations" still next week, I hope she'll remember to ignore me!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
BUSY
This is absolutely the first time, ever, that I use CAPS for a post title. Seriously. I've been in a daze for the most of the past three months or so - constantly occupied from morning till evening on weekdays and working through quite a few weekends and public holidays. I'm not a workaholic - far from it - I don't enjoy work any more than the average working person, but if I have something I must do, I must do. Like, I must prepare my own lecture slides, although I have "inherited" a set from lecturers who taught the subjects in the past, because those are... what's a better word for 'crap'? Oh, wait.
So, I've been busy. Extremely busy. I'm not about to make lists, so it suffices to say I've taken up way more than I ever had, since I started my current position.
However, I still found the time to write the occasional (although mostly short) posts. I found the time to indulge in little things I enjoy every now and then - a friend observed that while I whined about being so busy, I managed to complete my baby blanket project, bake gingerbread cookies (complete with royal icing decoration!) for family, friends and colleagues, and take half a day off my (very precious) weekend to meet and spend time with friends. I said those are precisely the reasons I've been so occupied that I didn't have a spare minute to sit back, relax and do "nothing". For, in addition to her list, I also allocated time to be with my family, do some yoga, climbing and guitar practice.
Granted, I had to give some activities a miss when work overwhelmed; I had to decline some invitations I would otherwise had accepted. Choir, for example. Every ex-choirmate I met and spoke to asked me to go back for their 2012 production - it's going to be a grand affair for it's also going to be their 10th anniversary concert. They're doing pop, jazz and musical pieces... and it's almost painful to think that I will not be a part of that. But I know I will not be able to cope with the demanding rehearsal schedule and everything else I've currently undertaken - I mean, it takes, literally, two persons to tell me that my hair has grown long and unruly for me to realize the last haircut I got was nearly 6 months ago. So, either way I decide, I know I will have regrets.
I don't know where this post is heading. Being so thoroughly exhausted does that to my brain - I spent almost 14 hours on campus today.
So, to conclude - in some weird way, it feels great to be busy. Simply busy - not stressed out, driven to the brink of insanity or anything along those lines. My BP is consistently low (though I'm not sure if that is because I'm anaemic). Right. Good night, Reader!
So, I've been busy. Extremely busy. I'm not about to make lists, so it suffices to say I've taken up way more than I ever had, since I started my current position.
However, I still found the time to write the occasional (although mostly short) posts. I found the time to indulge in little things I enjoy every now and then - a friend observed that while I whined about being so busy, I managed to complete my baby blanket project, bake gingerbread cookies (complete with royal icing decoration!) for family, friends and colleagues, and take half a day off my (very precious) weekend to meet and spend time with friends. I said those are precisely the reasons I've been so occupied that I didn't have a spare minute to sit back, relax and do "nothing". For, in addition to her list, I also allocated time to be with my family, do some yoga, climbing and guitar practice.
Granted, I had to give some activities a miss when work overwhelmed; I had to decline some invitations I would otherwise had accepted. Choir, for example. Every ex-choirmate I met and spoke to asked me to go back for their 2012 production - it's going to be a grand affair for it's also going to be their 10th anniversary concert. They're doing pop, jazz and musical pieces... and it's almost painful to think that I will not be a part of that. But I know I will not be able to cope with the demanding rehearsal schedule and everything else I've currently undertaken - I mean, it takes, literally, two persons to tell me that my hair has grown long and unruly for me to realize the last haircut I got was nearly 6 months ago. So, either way I decide, I know I will have regrets.
I don't know where this post is heading. Being so thoroughly exhausted does that to my brain - I spent almost 14 hours on campus today.
So, to conclude - in some weird way, it feels great to be busy. Simply busy - not stressed out, driven to the brink of insanity or anything along those lines. My BP is consistently low (though I'm not sure if that is because I'm anaemic). Right. Good night, Reader!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Partner Yoga
One of the lesser reasons I enjoy yoga is the fact that it can be done totally on my own. Of course, that doesn't mean that I don't love and appreciate my (former) yoga buddy of 4 years - but she was a luxury, not a necessity. A partner in any kind of activity is a bothersome requirement, as compatibility in competency and level of commitment and/or passion in the activity is very important to me. On top of that, most physical activities are best done with partners of about the same size, and I don't find people my size very often, if at all. Therefore, when I stepped into class the other day and saw the setting made for practice in pairs, I was slightly irritated.
The mats were placed two together, and at a glance, all were already occupied by, well, couples. I was about to drag my own mat from the pile at the end of the room when I heard someone calling me. I had no idea how I figured it was me she was calling out to, for she didn't know my name, so she didn't say it. It was just "Hey, hey! Come here!" while gesturing to the vacant mat beside hers.
The irritation I felt just moments earlier vanished as suddenly as it came. She was a regular in the class, always friendly with everyone and totally fun-loving. She's also about the same height as I am. So yea, if I must have a partner, I would much rather have her than anyone else in the class.
We started with some basic stretches, pulling each other by the arms into sitting forward bends. Then, we moved on to standing balancing poses, each supporting his/her partner by holding hands, arms, elbows et cetera*. Reader, you must have noted the inclusion of the masculine possessive pronoun in the previous statement. There were two pairs of men in class that day. One was right in front of me.
Don't get me wrong - I have absolutely nothing against men not minding holding each others hands with fingers interlaced et cetera* - but those being such uncommon sights simply made me giggle. I know my behaviour was probably inexcusably distasteful. We moved on to poses involving more arm-to-arm, back-to-back, butt-to-butt... and a crazy back bend which required a partner to hug, I mean, support, the waist of the other while he/she bent backwards. I felt a wee bit awkward doing that with my female partner, so I was quite amazed at the men, really. Oh well, maybe I'm just awkward. Ha!
We always ended the class with an inverted pose - shoulder-, head- or hand-stand - and that day, we did head-stand. I've always felt it precarious to do head-stands with a partner, specifically for the partner supporting the inverted one. Obviously. Fortunately, both my partner and I could manage on our own without support, so that was easy for us. *Phew*
I guess partner yoga isn't so bad when you have a good partner. But then, I suppose partner anything isn't bad when you have a good partner. The getting a good partner bit is the tricky one.
*A couple of days ago, I told my roomee that there is a kitten called Etcetera in the musical Cats, and she developed such a sudden liking to that word she wouldn't stop using it in our conversation. It made me laugh every time =)
The mats were placed two together, and at a glance, all were already occupied by, well, couples. I was about to drag my own mat from the pile at the end of the room when I heard someone calling me. I had no idea how I figured it was me she was calling out to, for she didn't know my name, so she didn't say it. It was just "Hey, hey! Come here!" while gesturing to the vacant mat beside hers.
The irritation I felt just moments earlier vanished as suddenly as it came. She was a regular in the class, always friendly with everyone and totally fun-loving. She's also about the same height as I am. So yea, if I must have a partner, I would much rather have her than anyone else in the class.
We started with some basic stretches, pulling each other by the arms into sitting forward bends. Then, we moved on to standing balancing poses, each supporting his/her partner by holding hands, arms, elbows et cetera*. Reader, you must have noted the inclusion of the masculine possessive pronoun in the previous statement. There were two pairs of men in class that day. One was right in front of me.
Don't get me wrong - I have absolutely nothing against men not minding holding each others hands with fingers interlaced et cetera* - but those being such uncommon sights simply made me giggle. I know my behaviour was probably inexcusably distasteful. We moved on to poses involving more arm-to-arm, back-to-back, butt-to-butt... and a crazy back bend which required a partner to hug, I mean, support, the waist of the other while he/she bent backwards. I felt a wee bit awkward doing that with my female partner, so I was quite amazed at the men, really. Oh well, maybe I'm just awkward. Ha!
We always ended the class with an inverted pose - shoulder-, head- or hand-stand - and that day, we did head-stand. I've always felt it precarious to do head-stands with a partner, specifically for the partner supporting the inverted one. Obviously. Fortunately, both my partner and I could manage on our own without support, so that was easy for us. *Phew*
I guess partner yoga isn't so bad when you have a good partner. But then, I suppose partner anything isn't bad when you have a good partner. The getting a good partner bit is the tricky one.
*A couple of days ago, I told my roomee that there is a kitten called Etcetera in the musical Cats, and she developed such a sudden liking to that word she wouldn't stop using it in our conversation. It made me laugh every time =)
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Tummy "Exercise"
At the end of the yoga class I went for earlier, our very sexy (yea, I just have to include this description!) instructor made us do some abdominal crunches. Now, abs workout being a part of a yoga class is very normal, for core strength is indeed important for a lot of poses, especially the balance ones (along with back strength, arms strength, legs strength, etc., but let's leave that for a different post). Therefore, I didn't think much of it. After the crunches though, she told us to lie flat on our backs, and massage the tummy area. Although my thoughts instantly flew to the conversation I had with my roomee about slimming, I still had the notion that all that rubbing was just to relax the recently-cramped abdominal muscles.
Then she said, "Now, pinch your tummy!"
I just had to laugh because I thought of my tummy now being the piece of char siew to be treated without respect! Anyway, being an obedient student, I proceeded to pinch my fats lovingly...
"Pinch harder, until it hurts! Otherwise, the fats won't go away!"
I stopped short - pinch until it hurts? What, do I look dumb? I'm not going to hurt myself!
"This is what they do when you go for slimming massages... so you might as well do it yourself - for free..."
Gah! No way I'm going to pinch my fatty tummy until it hurts!
"Now, slap hard the area around your tummy..."
And I heard ferocious slappings *piak piak piak* all around the studio. These people really were abusing their fat-filled middles with a lot of enthusiasm. I respect their determination! Meanwhile, my tummy got some endearing pats from me.
I guess slimming centers exist for the likes of me, who find it impossible to inflict pain upon themselves, therefore needing a therapist to do it instead. Now, I can understand what my roomee went through. Crazy! If this is what it takes to have a totally flat tummy, I'd rather be content to live with *some* flab!
Then she said, "Now, pinch your tummy!"
I just had to laugh because I thought of my tummy now being the piece of char siew to be treated without respect! Anyway, being an obedient student, I proceeded to pinch my fats lovingly...
"Pinch harder, until it hurts! Otherwise, the fats won't go away!"
I stopped short - pinch until it hurts? What, do I look dumb? I'm not going to hurt myself!
"This is what they do when you go for slimming massages... so you might as well do it yourself - for free..."
Gah! No way I'm going to pinch my fatty tummy until it hurts!
"Now, slap hard the area around your tummy..."
And I heard ferocious slappings *piak piak piak* all around the studio. These people really were abusing their fat-filled middles with a lot of enthusiasm. I respect their determination! Meanwhile, my tummy got some endearing pats from me.
I guess slimming centers exist for the likes of me, who find it impossible to inflict pain upon themselves, therefore needing a therapist to do it instead. Now, I can understand what my roomee went through. Crazy! If this is what it takes to have a totally flat tummy, I'd rather be content to live with *some* flab!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tragedy and Comedy
For the past several weeks I had been extremely occupied - as should be evident by the few short posts that scream "she's too busy to really write something, yet she still wants to!" I had been so occupied that I couldn't rush back in time for yoga classes several times, and had to ask for a month's break from my teacher.
That's fine, she said, but I must practice at home. I was reluctant to promise that I would, knowing I would most likely break it should I make it, but she was insistent. She said it was important that I do at least several sets of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), if nothing more. I said I will.
I didn't of course - until last night. It was fortunate I didn't say I would do it daily, or even weekly, for that would have meant I'd not kept my word. Lame as it is, I figured if I'd done it once, I'd done it as I said I would.
So, I started with 8 sets of the Sun Salutation. He sat facing his laptop, and smirked at me when he thought I wasn't looking. I moved on to the Trikonasana.
"This the L-Shape pose?"
I can't be certain if I was more amused or annoyed. "No," I said, "it's the Triangle Pose."
I moved on to more poses.
"What is this?"
"Warrior I."
A minute later -
"What is this?"
"Warrior II."
It is not customary to talk during yoga, and I should have told him so when I had the chance. I guess I was a little full of myself, and wanted to show off some. Not a wise inclination, as I was soon to find out.
"This is Warrior III."
"Ah, OK."
"What other poses would you like to see?"
He thought for a moment. "The Corpse Pose!" and he grinned. I scowled.
I showed him the Garudasana. "This is the Eagle Pose."
"No claws? Shouldn't the Eagle Pose come with legs extended like claws ready to strike?" and he laughed.
I scowled again.
"This is the Tree Pose," I lifted a leg into the Vrksasana. I wobbled a little; I wobbled a little more; I fell out of balance and landed back on both feet.
"The tree just got chopped down!" he laughed again, very heartily. "Timber!"
My tragedy is his comedy. Isn't this how it's always been? Oh, well...
That's fine, she said, but I must practice at home. I was reluctant to promise that I would, knowing I would most likely break it should I make it, but she was insistent. She said it was important that I do at least several sets of the Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation), if nothing more. I said I will.
I didn't of course - until last night. It was fortunate I didn't say I would do it daily, or even weekly, for that would have meant I'd not kept my word. Lame as it is, I figured if I'd done it once, I'd done it as I said I would.
So, I started with 8 sets of the Sun Salutation. He sat facing his laptop, and smirked at me when he thought I wasn't looking. I moved on to the Trikonasana.
"This the L-Shape pose?"
I can't be certain if I was more amused or annoyed. "No," I said, "it's the Triangle Pose."
I moved on to more poses.
"What is this?"
"Warrior I."
A minute later -
"What is this?"
"Warrior II."
It is not customary to talk during yoga, and I should have told him so when I had the chance. I guess I was a little full of myself, and wanted to show off some. Not a wise inclination, as I was soon to find out.
"This is Warrior III."
"Ah, OK."
"What other poses would you like to see?"
He thought for a moment. "The Corpse Pose!" and he grinned. I scowled.
I showed him the Garudasana. "This is the Eagle Pose."
"No claws? Shouldn't the Eagle Pose come with legs extended like claws ready to strike?" and he laughed.
I scowled again.
"This is the Tree Pose," I lifted a leg into the Vrksasana. I wobbled a little; I wobbled a little more; I fell out of balance and landed back on both feet.
"The tree just got chopped down!" he laughed again, very heartily. "Timber!"
My tragedy is his comedy. Isn't this how it's always been? Oh, well...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Favourite Pastime
In the darkened room, on the floor, my legs folded upon each other, I close my eyes. I bring my attention and focus onto my breathing. In. Out. In. Out.
"Inhale... 1, 2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause."
The teacher's voice is quiet and steady, and I let it guide my breathing. The soothing music playing in the background is soft and lulling. I focus on the breathing and the teacher's voice.
"Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause. Inhale... 1, 2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2... *zzzzz* ...2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause. Inhale... *zzzzz* ... to your normal breathing..."
Oh dear. We're done with the breathing exercise. I open my eyes. We get to our feet, and start the Sun Salutation sequence of poses. We do our Warriors and a handful of other upright poses.
"Now, lie down on your mats. Fold your right leg..."
I am on my mat, I follow closely the verbal instructions of my teacher, and move into the pose. I feel tolerably comfortable, though folded and twisted like a pretzel.
"Stay, and take a few long and deep breaths..."
*zzzzz*
"... to your right, push yourselves up with both hands..."
Wait, what about folding the left leg? Gosh, they've done it already?
I sit up with the rest of the classes, and proceed to half a dozen more poses.
"Lie down to your Savasana. Relax your whole body, drop your feet......"
*zzzzz*
"Hey, wake up!"
I hear Big Eye's voice, and feel her nudge my shoulder. I open my eyes, and look around. I see all my classmates sitting upright, in Lotus.
People say Yoga is great for relaxation. I agree whole-heartedly.
"Inhale... 1, 2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause."
The teacher's voice is quiet and steady, and I let it guide my breathing. The soothing music playing in the background is soft and lulling. I focus on the breathing and the teacher's voice.
"Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause. Inhale... 1, 2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2... *zzzzz* ...2, 3, pause. Exhale... 3, 2, 1, pause. Inhale... *zzzzz* ... to your normal breathing..."
Oh dear. We're done with the breathing exercise. I open my eyes. We get to our feet, and start the Sun Salutation sequence of poses. We do our Warriors and a handful of other upright poses.
"Now, lie down on your mats. Fold your right leg..."
I am on my mat, I follow closely the verbal instructions of my teacher, and move into the pose. I feel tolerably comfortable, though folded and twisted like a pretzel.
"Stay, and take a few long and deep breaths..."
*zzzzz*
"... to your right, push yourselves up with both hands..."
Wait, what about folding the left leg? Gosh, they've done it already?
I sit up with the rest of the classes, and proceed to half a dozen more poses.
"Lie down to your Savasana. Relax your whole body, drop your feet......"
*zzzzz*
"Hey, wake up!"
I hear Big Eye's voice, and feel her nudge my shoulder. I open my eyes, and look around. I see all my classmates sitting upright, in Lotus.
People say Yoga is great for relaxation. I agree whole-heartedly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)