Sylvia: Oct 17-18 Weekend – Somewhere only we know
This weekend marks the 2 nd last weekend of our YTT course. This weekend was a bit or teaching, some observation and a whole lot of bonding. I have never felt closer to this beautiful group of ladies – their stories, their personalities, what they like, what they fear…it has all really started to come through. To all you girls who are reading this, I am sorry it took me so long to connect with you all, to let my guard down, to not be as much of a bitch as my RBF indicates. Your friendships, kind words and constant encouragement really touches me deep – and I just hope I have been able to do the same for you, in some way. As the end draws closer, I don’t want us to ever forget this process, this journey, this state of mind and place in time we are in now – somewhere only we know. I have learnt so much from every single one of you, and admire so many things about each and everyone of you – determination, honesty, wit, generosity, courage, kind- heartedness, and many more. Thank you for letting me get to know you. Sincere gratitude for Jessica and Alexis, for their time, their guidance, unending patience and encouragement. Jessica, I won’t ever forget your misty eyes when I managed to go down during that shoulder rotation drill. Thank you, truly, for always making us laugh and your care for us. Namaste. Sylvia RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Felicia: The Transcending Positivity from my YTT Experience
“Whilst a yoga practice can be a way of developing greater health and longevity, it also lends itself to transforming the many layers of ourselves, and tuning into our own type of magic.” I saw this statement and thought how apt it was to my experience so far. As much as yoga has been a lot about cultivating strength to go through the physical motions, I have definitely also experienced a nice little shift in my mental and emotional states. I would never have experienced this magic if not for the decision to embark on this YTT journey. Physically, YTT has taught me a lot about techniques – asanas that seemed difficult to do on the onset was ultimately achievable. For all the random commercial classes that I have taken sporadically over the years, these three months of YTT was beyond worth the investment. Now I just need to take what I have learned and apply them to my regular practice to become better. My batch mates – where do I even start! I never thought I would meet a bunch of lovely ladies born out of pure sunshine. Everyone is kind, extremely encouraging, generous and open about their lives. It’s hard to find people like that, or is it? It’s how you choose to view the world, darlings. Fel RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Felicia: Balance
I read this some time ago and thought it was quite apt to my practice – “The thinking patterns we each grow up with and carry through life are often repeated not just within relationships and careers, but on the yoga mat too. That’s the thing with a physical yoga practice; we’re able to see our habits, and we can choose to change them.” I am still trying to find my line of balance in an inversion. “Tuck in your ribs, tuck in your tailbone! Move to the left a little and towards the mirror!” I often hear all the instructions lovingly given to me while I am in a headstand – everyone helping me to find my balance. But of course, do I even have balance in my soul? It could be reflective of the imbalance in my life. At the back of my head there is a bunch of backlog versus a very present life that I would like to live fully. I feel myself transforming in these first few steps taken to achieve that balance. Slowly but surely I shall get there, as I listen to my breath and feel my body sway into its line. Fel RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Felicia: Trust yourself, says the Crow
The Bakasana pose has always been one of the most challenging poses for me. I am not afraid of falling on my face at all, as evidenced by the number of times I have fallen in class, but the times I did not manage to stay in Bakasana are also the times I am not believing in myself. And this is a problem that is as clear as day in my life. I have always wanted to do many things since I was a teenager, but I have not embarked on any of those ventures. I have always opted for the safe route, avoiding risks and reminding myself to be content with what I already have. But of all things, I know I doubt myself to make things work and I worry about the risks too much to even start. A handful of times in YTT, when my mind feels focused, and free from doubts and heaviness, I lift and I stay in Bakasana and it feels amazing. To be able to do the crow pose feels like a win, but to have that taste of freedom in the mind is something else. And I hope I can nurture this freedom in my mind and start living more. Fel RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Felicia: Just breathe
As a person who simply lives life as it is, I never understood how meditation works. I have friends who meditate and always urge me to try it even if just for a few minutes. But I would never get it – how does one shut off one’s mind from any thought even for a few minutes? How is that possible? Sitting still and doing nothing feels more like the perfect setting for a thousand thoughts to come rushing to mind. So I thought, I confirm cannot meditate ever…ever.
Felicia: Sorry, Scoliosis.
I grew up with you and gradually you stood out so much I didn’t like you anymore. So, sorry Scoliosis, I would like you to take your time to assimilate into the body I want. Whenever a picture was taken of myself, I was usually caught in a weird tilted posture. My right hip would stick out so much, especially when I wear skirts or body-hugging clothes. When I go into a completely relaxed posture, my upper body is literally tilted to one side, and it had obviously gotten worse through the years. Cue sad face. Inspired by Jessica’s Scoliosis journey through yoga, I decided to learn more about yoga and how it can help me to improve the state of my Scoliosis. I could have gone to a chiropractor or other more clinical solutions but I have always been very drawn to yoga! I am still on the journey of learning more but most importantly, I have become more mindful physically and mentally. I understand the challenges of my body and I accept these challenges. It’s on, Fel! Fel RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Felicia: Fast Forward, Forward Fold
Almost three months ago, I was a pale, stick-thin skinny girl with very weak arms (I need two hands to pull up a hand brake kind of weak); and not to mention, I could not touch my toes to save my mother’s life. On the first day of YTT, Jessica asked each of us what we would like to accomplish from the course. Most of my classmates mentioned achieving an inversion or some elaborate pose names that I didn’t even know what they were – yes I was a complete noob! I only knew very basic ones like CHILD’S POSE, butterfly pose and downward dog. Of course who doesn’t know what a plank is. You get the gist. Anyway I said I wanted to be able to do a Chaturanga so I could do a decent Vinyasa. I was always stumped whenever I joined a commercial class and the instructor would say “Okay Vinyasa.” I would look around and be like “K what. How. Uh,” and I would drop my chest and bring myself into a downward dog (basically imitating everyone else!). I knew I was weak and needed to build my strength – and all I did was attend each class religiously and pushed myself with every Sun Salutation. It took all the weekends of the first 1.5 months and when it happened – out of nowhere I magically did a Chaturanga. That moment was everything to me. I felt like anything was possible and every feat was the fruit of my super encouraging YTT mates and teacher. It was during my second community class (third-last YTT class) when I demonstrated a Sun Salutation to my friends/students. “From here, fold forwards from your hips and try to touch your stomach to your thighs. If you can’t, bend your knees, and bring your bum high…” And it happened. I just did a Forward Fold without having to bend my knees – I can finally do an Uttanasana to save my mother’s life. Fel RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Tina: 6/6
Day 14 of ytt marks my very first headstand ever in 4 years’ yoga practice. The first time with the help of Jessica and the wall – it was super scary. But after a few attempts, I can do it on my own and of course, with the wall as well. It was a mixed feeling – horrified but excited. In the past, whenever there was an inversion or arm balance pose, I was too scared to even try so I normally just sat there and watched others. Even since the first headstand, I have fallen in love with the feeling of upside down. It is still scary sometimes but I feel more and more excited especially when I realized that I can remove my feet away from the wall and stay still. Tina RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Sylvia: Oct 10-11 Weekend – Space
A notion that is dominant in yoga is this idea of creating space – space between your bones, between your limbs… all this space for you to move. It’s also space in the mind, or what we might call an open mind – this is space for you to think, to create, to know. There is also space in the heart – this is room for you to feel, to love, and for compassion. Space transcends every aspect of our lives, every dimension, because for space created, there is space lost. All this new space I have in my mind craves for more learnings and knowledge about yoga – I lose fear and negativity, a. The space in my heart extends to new and beautiful friendships – I lose hate and indifference. The space in my body wants more movement, fluidity and to overcome challenges – I lose rigidity and idleness. But is space always good? Should we be giving others our space? Is there such thing as too much space? Come in boundaries. Boundaries are the parameters of our space – and we should know where to place them to protect us from those who might want to take advantage of our space. It is often a long and hard journey through trial and error that we learn what is the optimal balance between space and where too extension could be to our own detriment. This journey, or discover, is also yet another extension of space, but perhaps another in another dimension – space in terms of time. For all this space, strive let in something beautiful. When that can no longer be the case, there are always boundaries. Sylvia RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
Sylvia: Oct 3-4 Weekend – …and I liked it
Trying something new. We should all endeavour to try something new each day – to keep our minds challenged, our perspectives on life fresh. I tried teaching Yoga for the first time today – and I liked it *key Katy Perry's I Kissed a Girl*. I don’t know whether it’s the adrenaline or the butterflies that makes me feel like I should feel refreshed, or whether its because I truly enjoy imparting what knowledge I have learnt with others – a combination, perhaps? The nerves still make me fumble, mix up my left and right, and occasionally go a bit blur, but as with all things, practice and all is coming. Maybe one day, I can more effectively bring across what yoga is to me, what it can be for others and all the tremendous benefits it brings. If you’re a foodie, you will know when you find a glorious bowl of BCM, plate of hokkien mee or a humble serving of tau suan, you go around spreading the word to your friends and insist they must try it. That’s how I feel about yoga. It has done so much for me, brought me out from a bad place, and shown me possibilities beyond what I knew. I want to equip others with the knowledge to allow them to experience yoga in their own way. It is through awareness and feeling that these new things captivate us, inspire us, and I am so grateful for these opportunities of new during my YTT. Sylvia RYT200 Aug’20 Weekend
