I am passionate about YOGA !

Yes ! I am passionate about yoga. It is now an important part of my life. I did not know the benefits of yoga until I started doing it a year and half ago. It gives you the fitness – the mental, physical and spiritual. That’s how I felt. I learnt patience amongst many others. When I started yoga, all I did was some simple asanas (postures), breathing techniques and gradually to some difficult ones but then again, I am no expert. It will take awhile to be one. Yoga is actually like life. It can be hard initially but with practice and perseverance it becomes much easier. And, there’s more to yoga besides asanas. The breathing exercise known as pranayama is important. Here, you will learn everything about breathing...how to control your breath through various breathing exercises. There are also the various poses in suryanamaskar (sun salutation) - again, in the beginning I was kinda stunned how inflexible I was and the stretching had me in pain the following days : - ) But, over time, I became flexible and the pain decreased. Now, I really look forward to have some good stretches. One thing about doing all the asanas is never ever force doing 'em. You may end up in injuries. So let the poses come naturally. You will be stiff initially but with practise, the flexiblity will tune in and you'll get the poses right ! It's not at all like "no pain no gain" in yoga. Never ever go beyond body limits, I was told. Never unnecessarily strain your body. If you can't do a certain posture, you just gotta stop. That's all you've got to remember when you do the poses.

My next favourite is Yoga Nidra - a meditation class which I enjoy every Sundays in the studio but I do that till today on a regular basis, sometimes every night - in the comfort of my home..my bed ! Yoga Nidra means yogic sleep - a state of conscious deep sleep for extreme relaxation and subtler exploration. You wouldn't believe it if I said that during my first class I almost slept off ! I did.... Later, however, I was able to get through but not so tuned in yet to explore further. I guess it will take some years if I truly get into it seriously...:-)

So, having said the above, my classes will begin next week after almost a month of absence from yoga. Yeah, I have missed so much :-( And, I do hope that when I get back to doing yoga, I will swing in and get deeper into the poses! It’s truly a challenge as to my fitness for strength, balance and flexibility are concerned and even more than that is for a peaceful mind and a good night’s sleep - that's guaranteed in yoga ! Although am a little unbalanced and a little bummed up right now - (thanks to all my mum's good food and the recent trip to India, where I was pigging out like crazy...haha) ...but in no time that will be history ..umm....no, not the food...:-) I mean getting back my balance ....! :-)

Well, that's all about my passion. I do hope one day I could translate all that I've been taught and to be taught - as a yoga teacher, just like my yoga master, the awesome Mr Ayappan who hails from Kerala, India. Thank you so much, sir !