Christy Turlington yoga beauty plan

The article on Shape magazine about Christy Turlington and yoga start with: "The next time you see a woman with sculpted muscles, don't assume that she spends hours in the gym. She may have a yoga body from incorporating yoga positions in her workout routines."

So how does Christy Turlington maintain her catwalk-calibre body? She attends yoga three to four times a week. Besides conditioning her muscles, yoga helps her maintain focus and energy. In the article she also adds a touch of philosophy and spirituality.

Is that all Christy Turlington does to maintain her shape? Probably not. I'm sure she eats virtually next to nothing but no one should judge yoga by its simple postures. Yoga poses may look easy and boring but it's one of the most challenging forms of exercise.

The end of this article gives instructions on sun salutation but click on the second link to see the animated version which is much easier to follow.

Christy Turlington yoga beauty plan article from Shape magazine

Animated Sun Salutation pose

Firming your face and neck using yoga

Annelise Hagen, a yoga expert and author of The Yoga Face, shows us some exercises we can do to reduce sagging around the neck and jawline!

Annelise makes a good point about muscles sagging if not used. So, for all of you ladies and gents who fear sagging, check out this video!

Stop my sagging!

Christy Turlington - weight loss & yoga

I've had a few friends comment about their weight gain over the past couple of months. It could be the change of season (Australia is now approaching the 'dreaded' summer) which inspired my friends to do something before shedding the clothes for the upcoming hotter months.

During my research I found that yoga can help one lose weight. This is due to the person becoming "mindful" about what they consume. I believe that it's also because yoga (at least certain types of yoga such as Vinyasa) build muscles and therefore the body burns more calories when resting.
yoga for weight loss

Christy Turlington says she did yoga 3 times a week and pilates once a week while she was pregnant.
How Christy maintained her weight during pregnancy

Lady Gaga and meditation

I was quite blown away by the depth of Lady Gaga in her interview with Ellen. She tells the audience she does Bikram yoga and her teacher suggested that she spend 15 minutes per day meditating and thinking compassionate thoughts about herself. Lady Gaga admits to only meditating for five minutes because 15 minutes would drive her "mental" but what a wonderful way to start your day.

It's one thing thinking compassionate thoughts of others but if we cannot love and accept ourselves, then why would anyone else love and accept us?

Lady Gaga interview on Ellen

Babar does yoga too!

Just for some inspiration!

Essential steps for someone who wants to maintain—and even elevate—their emotional health during down times

As Jack Canfield, co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul series, says: 

"Turn off CNN (Constantly Negative News) and turn on your own inner movie of that which you want to create in your life. Live from your vision, not some externally created “reality” piped into your brain by the media. Look for the positive in your life and celebrate it."

In the interview he mentions four more things to keep in mind that will help you keep your emotional well-being in check no matter what’s going on:

1. Keep Dreaming Big

2. Believe in Yourself

3. Believe It Is Possible

4. Become an Inverse Paranoid (believe that the world is going to do you good instead of bad)

All of the above makes sense. If we're going to waste time thinking about things which really get us nowhere, we may as well think grandiose and be a little uplifted for the day!

I've been thinking of an Audi S5 for many months now and nothing has happened yet. But I sure as hell am uplifted whenever I think of it!

So how does this perennially happy man stay this way? He does yoga of course. Not to mention 20 minutes of meditation every day amongst other things. 

I could add some cynical views here but why pollute my thoughts with negativity. That's like dreaming of an Audi S5 but with the driver being my worst enemy. 

To read more about Jack Canfield's insights: Jack Canfield interview

 

The Two Most Damaging Emotions to Physical and Emotional Well-Being

I'm starting off the day by reading an article written by Dr.John Demartini.

He writes that the two emotions, fear and guilt, affect our physical and emotional well-being. But, he continues:

"We have the power to heal within our own minds and hearts. Just as imbalanced emotional feelings can result in fear and guilt and can lead us into illness, the balanced feelings of love and appreciation can bring about our return to wellness. Love and gratitude can fortify our immune systems and initiate physiological poise throughout our body."

For those of you going through an emotionally challenging time, I suggest meditation or gentle yoga. It may take some time to find the right instructor but with any relationship in life, it's important to have the connection. The meditation will leave you with a sense of acceptance and gratitude thus the healing of the heart begins.

Dr.Demartini's article of two most damaging emotions

Christy Turlington & yoga

Is this really necessary? I understand sex sells and all but does the white tank need to be wet!?

Further to this, I'm told one should not attempt this asana if they have lower back problems. Clearly, she does not.

But here is an even more impressive picture of Christy Turlington! This asana is not an easy one as it requires a lot of focus, flexibility, balance and of course practice!

Good luck to all of you who want to try! Best to attempt this asana with blocks on the outside of your legs and pushing down with your hands to lift yourself up. I still have not mastered this pose as I don't have enough strength yet. Soon though!

DTE hits 55c! 5c above my prophecy!

Back in April 19, I blogged about a dream/prophecy (being dramatic here) I had. It was regarding a stock in my portfolio, Dart Energy (DTE), which fell to 50c (initially bought it at around 90c)! The reason why I even bothered blogging about it was because some of my dreams actually have come true in the past. And it started to happen when I began yoga on a regular basis. I've come to the conclusion that it is when one is meditating, they're in a different state and are much more in-tune to other "things".

So, imagine my surprise when I saw it break past the support level of 73c to see it trail down to its all-time low of 55c! It would seem that the 55c mark is now the new support line and has since recovered to of about 63c!

Maybe I'm reading too much into it considering the Australia sharemarket has performed very poorly but it seems much more exciting to think I can 'predict' a share price through my dreams!

Blind faith..

When second youngest NSW footy player in State Origin history, Will Hopoate,  chose a two-year Mormon mission rather than sign up with clubs offering big dollars, I was gobsmacked. At 19, how much brain washing must he have gone through to choose blind faith over something tangible. I'm not just talking about a big dollars but the loss of time in honing your skills as a player. Albeit his youth, he would no doubt be less of a skilled player after a two year absence!

I've never believed religion to be an important aspect in my life. And always wondered why so many religious believers behave in mass hysteria.

But as I read up on how to help a friend through a bereavement process, I wonder if choosing faith is such a bad idea after all. My dearest friend suddenly lost her father and I can't even begin to imagine what she is going through. Maybe it's true what they say. It's times like these when you assess priorities and think of your life in a different light. When things which once mattered fade into the background...

Food for energy after an illness

Yesterday was my first session back at yoga after a 2 week absence. It's been a crazy two weeks with the flu, emotional distress (see previous post: Tibetan Healing 2) and bathroom renovation (which meant no rest for most of the week).

I thought I was well enough to attend the basic flow class until I found myself feeling dizzy and ready to collapse at the first Utkasana (Chair pose: see below image). It's not a hard pose once you build up strength but two weeks without practice and no exercise, it's torture.

What was I to do? Take rests in between the poses and I didn't go down as low.
 
Back home, disappointed and tired, I searched for what I could eat to recover my strength asap!

If this website is anything to go by, we should be eating protein every day because our bodies don't have the ability to store it and "Our cells and immune systems rely on protein for maintenance and re-building."

Of course there is other important content such as how much/types of carbs to eat, why we should drink a lot of water etc, but I do all that stuff anyway. It's a good site and hope it helps the readers.
Eating for energy
 
Can't wait to jack up the protein, recover fully so I can start flexing my moves in class and be the envy of everyone in class. Oops I mean, recover fully and continue being my very best in yoga.

Sometimes I can't help but look at myself and admire my achievements in class. And at times, snub others who aren't as good as myself. It's vanity at its worst I know. I need something to bring me back down to earth! Perhaps the flu.. haha

Tibetan Healing 4

Ok, this really will be the last post about Tibetan healing as I'm sure people are sick of it.

I just need to mention a few things about it before I bury it in cyberspace.

Two weeks ago, I discovered something about my partner which I wasn't fully aware of. In short, it was a credit card debt that I didn't know about. Being a financially savvy person, it was pretty stupid of me to not know about this way before and not demand that I know of it before we became involved.

Anyway, it was way worse than I thought and being a results-orientated person that I am, we sat down to figure out a way to pay this all off. I thought I was handling the whole incident ok despite being in shock. But a couple of days after listening to the chanting cd, I became uncontrollably angry and upset. I also cried a lot which I rarely do and managed to have a deeper conversation with my partner after all this emotional roller-coaster ride.

I'm not saying it was due to the chanting cd because I'm still skeptical about the whole thing but I must say it was pretty coincidental. Also, I've been listening to it whilst scanning through my charts but I haven't picked a stock that's given me a spectacular return as yet! I know I know, it isn't supposed to do that type of thing anyway...

My last advice to people: I know financial advisers tell you to know your partner's finances inside out before getting involved, and I can tell you, as unromantic as that is, you won't find better advice anywhere. It certainly will save you a lot of heartache and empower you in many ways!

Lastly, this is EXACTLY how I feel.

Tibetan Healing 3

Yesterday being the last day of the MBS festival, I made my way there again one last time. Turns out the venerable Lobsang Tendar was fully booked again!! Do that many people out there need tantric healing?!

Somewhat disappointed, I got the next best thing! A cd of Tibetan tantric chants, prayers and meditation by Tendar himself!

My Bose has been playing nothing but Armin van Buuren's "A state of trance" for the past few weeks. Going from that to now chantings by a Tibetan monk... The neighbours must think I'm a complete weirdo.

Anyway, I don't entirely know what I'm looking from this chanting CD but all proceeds from the sale of any of the items that are sold through their website or the festivals go to educating and providing healthcare for the Tibetan children. Good deed done for the week! Now where is my positive karmic energy?! (Just kidding of course)

For anyone interested in purchasing the CD, here is the website:
Tendar's Tibetan tantric chant

Ahimsa

At times after a session, we will all have our hands in prayer position and listen to our yoga instructor say "Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu" which translates to "May all beings everywhere be happy and free".

It always seemed a good way to end a class when we were all spaced out and "at another place".

But upon research, I found more to this mantra than just consideration of others who may be less fortunate than ourselves. 

The mantra speaks of Ahimsa (literal translation being non-violence), one of the ideals of Hinduism. It refers to respecting all living things and an acceptance that all living things are connected. Although one might think of non-violence as an act, it also refers to verbal and emotional non-violence. Because violence of any type bears its own karmic consequences.

Gandhi, the strongest proponent of ahimsa, said: "Ahimsa, non-violence, comes from strength, and the strength is from God, not man. Ahimsa always comes from within."

LOKAH SAMASTA SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May all beings everywhere be happy and free and may the thoughts, words and actions of my own life contribute to happiness and freedom for all.

Tibetan Healing 2

Curiosity got the better of me today!
Nursing a sore throat, fever and body ache I pulled myself out of bed to make my way to the Mind Body Spirit festival.


I knew that the venerable Tendar was scheduled to be on stage to chant at 10:30am. Assuming that everyone was as intrigued as I was, I got the front seat 15 minutes early just so I could get a good view and receive most of the energy he may send out! What I failed to realise was that today is a Friday and most people work! Anyway, so he came on and spoke about what we can expect after his chant. Calmness, serenity, centredness, peace and so on. He says if there is an imbalance within ourselves, we are always running here and there (maybe mentally) but not really anywhere in particular.

As he started chanting (sounding as deep as a didgeridoo) I stared at this person thinking how cold he must be in nothing but an orange robe and wondering what I was supposed to feel. After much deliberation I finally closed my eyes hoping to get maximum benefit from this chanting!
And here's what I started thinking:
1. Soy Cappuccino
2. Noise coming from the psychic reading area
3. Australian share market
4. Myself as a monk wearing an orange robe
5. Freaked out by the previous thought, replacing it with an Audi S5
6. Lunch
7. "Why aren't I feeling anything?"

The venerable Tendar paused and spoke of having peace within ourselves so that the calm energy we send out help those who have been struck by natural disasters such as Japan. Whether it works or not, I'm all for being compassionate and having positive thoughts of those who are less fortunate. As he continued chanting, I wondered what the benefits of chanting is and whether it would help me pick better stocks!!

After the chanting, I went looking for their stall. $50 for Tibetan tantric healing.. I was tempted until I asked one of the monks what Tibetan tantric healing actually is.
"It's healing" said she.
Err ok.. I should hope so since that's what it says it is... The female monk explained further that the method is only passed onto a chosen few and that she was not one of them. She said that he (venerable Tendar) would know what type of healing I would need. I was tempted but sessions were booked out until later in the afternoon. Maybe I'll be back on the weekend to get some tantric healing.

Good quote

For the life of me, I cannot recall where I read this quote but it struck a chord with me. Maybe because I grew tired of trying to help friends with their issues but seeing no real action on their part.
The thing I don't understand about most people is that they have issues that they think about, talk about, complain about, become angry and frustrated about but these same people don't action anything.
Is life really that long that one can ponder and be action-less for god-knows-how-long? Isn't time (and life) too precious to be wasted on non-events? If you're not happy, aren't you ultimately responsible for creating your own happiness?
Whether I just have a really strong character, I'm emotionless or I'm a go-getting fire sign, it's inconceivable for me when people don't take matters into their own hands.

Anyway, the quote is: "When you meet someone, show a little kindness. For they probably are going through their own struggles in life too". It's not verbatim but you get the idea!

PS: Still deciding whether I should check out this Tibetan healing business! MBS festival is until this coming Sunday....

Tibetan Healing

I don't know if anyone has heard of this but it's got me intrigued. My yoga instructor, Vicky, spoke about it excitedly after our session today. It is a part of the Mind, Body, Spirit festival held bi-annually in Sydney. This is where all things weird and wonderful are showcased in the exhibition centre.

We were told to visit this "Tibetan tent" if we go to the festival saying that last time she went, she was crying for 30 minutes after the chanting. Apparently, she is very intuitive (and maybe even psychic) and therefore there is a lot of energy on the crown chakra but that her heart chakra was blocked. After this tibetan healing, apparently it was all released.

Whether the instructor was exaggerating or telling fibs, only she knows that. But it got me thinking: "Is this stuff for real? And if people need healing, how do they know they need healing? Do you just know after you are spiritually enlightened that you require more healing elsewhere? Can one really feel a blocked energy? Is this stuff for real (yes, I am repeating myself)?"

So I looked up on trusty old google and found this! The only Tibetan healer who will be present at the MBS festival!
Venerable Lobsang Tendar

I wonder if I have to pay?! And if so, will I just get turned off that everything there just seems to be some scam! Are the ones who attend just people who need some fulfillment of a void within themselves?! If we are truly content and happy and at ease with our situation and environment, do we really need to search for enlightenment?

So many questions and not one solid answer. No wonder I get headaches! (It's actually caffeine withdrawal symptoms)

For those of you who are interested in attending MBS festival:
Mind Body Spirit Festival

Let us all have unblocked chakras! ohmm

Body sculpting yoga poses

Here is a site to inspire all those who want to sculpt their bods with yoga. There are only 7 slides with photos of fit ladies to inspire the laziest of people.

My body has certainly changed through regular practice. I have basically no fat on my back and is rock hard, my arms are leaner and toned etc etc..

I'd encourage anyone to try yoga if they want to see physical changes. But like any types of exercise, if you don't enjoy it, you won't keep up with it.

My advice? If physical changes are the only thing you're after but you don't like slow paced movements, look elsewhere.

Body sculpting yoga poses

Little me vs Big me

Val, our lovely Russian yoga instructor, took us through a tough beginner's session today. The reason why a beginner's session is tough is because she spends a lot of time re-aligning the students during this class. And as she should. Bad yoga postures can easily result in injury. So, as she walked around adjusting students' postures, I was left there holding onto the asanas. It is good to build strength this way but can be torturous for students like myself who prefer short bursts of energetic asanas.

After our recovery pose (savasana) we sat cross legged to re-enegize ourselves. This is usually the time where the instructors will share some insight or philosophies of yoga. With our hands in prayer infront of our hearts, Val spoke of two sides of each person. "A little me and a big me". The little me, she said, is the part of us who is angery, jealous, bitter and frustrated whereas the "big me" is happiness, calm, purity and light. As she so wisely put it: "Let us all achieve the big me every day".

two month hiatus

For those who have known me for a long time will know that I have been a lover of alcohol since I turned 18. Not to sound like a person who desperately needs an intervention or AA meetings but I think alcohol can be enormous help in many ways. Controlled consumption leads to stress reduction, decreased shyness, joy and the list goes on.

However, when one loses control all hell can break loose. When things in your life is stable, control is easy. When life isn't so stable, alcohol becomes an escape for many tortured souls. Perhaps the key in knowing how your life is going is understanding your emotional state.

Things were going fine in my life and having my friend and her son stay with me was fine too (or so I thought). It was not until I went over to a friend's house one night that I realised perhaps I wasn't as "at ease" as I thought. After downing about 6 apple martinis in less than 3 hours I woke up then next morning with the worst hangover of my life. I had a flight to catch at 7pm so the whole day was spent literally crawling to the toilet then crawling back to bed to shake off the nastiness. The poor godson was concerned and asked why I had a headache. How do you answer such things to a five year old without the explanation becoming constant 'why's'?

The disappointment in myself was utterly heartbreaking. I had made plans to spend the day with my godson before my flight to Hawaii to ensure he wasn't left feeling abandoned. The poor boy was already going through a hard time with the parents' separation. So, having let him down made me feel as though I, the godparent, was another passing phase in his life. That incident took place on the 16th of March and hence it is coming up to two months. It is the longest I have gone without alcohol and although I do miss it occasionally, I cannot bring myself to have alcohol without the resurgence of the disappointment and regret I feel within myself.

Why does this justify a blog entry?
After many yoga sessions, I still haven't mastered accepting things for what they are. And I have not felt any more healthier than when I was drinking.

Where is a miracle when you need one!

meaning of yoga

Came across Deepak Chopra's website when a friend sent me a youtube vid today.

I can't say I'm moved by the website (I still have doubts about whether all this new age stuff is mumbo jumbo) but I discovered the meaning of yoga!

"The Sanskrit word yoga means union - union of environment, the senses, body, mind, and soul. This union is described in an ancient text known as the Yoga Sutras, written by the sage Patanjali who explains that yoga is the progressive settling down of the mind in the field of pure silence, which is usually overshadowed by the activity of the mind."

Deepak Chopra's yoga page 

Whether we (you, me or anyone) believe in yoga or the benefits of regular practice, it's still pretty awesome to think that the environment, senses, body, mind and soul can unite. Oohhmm

I'll bid adieu here so I can go back to the real world to check on my portfolio and see what the Australian share market did today and down a cup of coffee before I go off to CutCopy concert tonight! Woohoo! I know... not very spiritual, is it??

Weekend away

Last weekend some friends and I went away for a quick getaway to the beautiful city of Melbourne.
As we only booked a budget flight (Virgin Blue) we could only take a carry-on luggage. Therefore, I couldn't take my trusty yoga mat.

"No matter. I'll just use a towel. It's only for three days anyway."
And matter, it did!! I was slipping as I posed warrior and tried to downward dog! So let this be a warning to all of you. Don't bother trying to yoga on a towel unless you're thinking of sitting to meditate only.

So three days without yoga, I'm stiff! Neck is stiff, back feels stiff, and I feel shorter!!

Yes, it's all in the mind probably but where the thoughts go, energy goes! I will be going to an afternoon basic flow class today and will be thinking of the beautiful shots I took whilst there..

Yoga injuries

After pushing myself really hard the other day in class I slept until 10am today and woke up with a stiff neck. These things resulted in a migraine all day and even a cup of long black didn't help.

It's not unusual for me to get a stiff neck after a yoga class. I must be doing something wrong but I still haven't been able to pinpoint the cause of it. So I got to doing some research on common yoga injuries and how to prevent them.

Some of the most common injuries are:
1. Pulled hamstring
2. Neck and lower back injuries
3. Inflammation of a tendon

So what should you do to prevent yourself from injury?
1. Warm up (do some milder version of an asana before plunging into an advanced asana. eg: Warrior 1 before doing a Cobra)
2. Check alignment
3. Keep the weight evenly distributed among the four corners of the feet
4. Avoid hyper-extension (downward dog is a strong pose if you are not used to it. Retreat to child's pose if you feel it is getting too much)
5. Use props

Remember: you are not competing with anybody but yourself! Listen to your body before you start getting competitive with others!

Below is a good website I found on preventing injuries:
Preventing yoga injuries

A day of reflection

For the past few days I have been reflecting on a certain part of my life. It has always been a delicate issue and whenever I think of it, my usual positive demeanor takes a step back and I become saddened. Saddened by what was, what is, what will be and what could have been..

So today I ditched my usual vinyasa yoga and attended a Mind & Body class instead. Unlike a vinyasa class (short, strong moves) Mind & Body clears your mind by focusing on deep stretchy movements, alignment and a lengthy meditation (15mins) at the end.

As we wrapped up the physical part of the class, we were then told to focus on the candle placed infront of each one of us. As we concentrated on the flickering light, we were told to imagine being on a cliff and then on a mountain top. Then told to let go of three things that is 'emotional baggage' to us. The stuff that serves no purpose anymore, the stuff that holds us back. I was thinking about my emotional baggage (luckily I don't have three!) and thought about how I could get rid of it.

That's when I realised I actually don't want to let it go because it was one of the few experiences in my life that made me feel so deeply. An emotional rollercoaster ride that I didn't want to let go because it defined (and still does) me. So however much it is baggage, I decided to just let it be.

Because our memories are what makes us..

Bakasana (the crow pose)

Many months ago, I 'mastered' bakasana (crow pose). It was a personal goal to have the strength, balance and the ability to prop my legs up while balancing on my hands. After many attempts and practice over the months, I struck the pose for a good 10 seconds or so. Although not entirely long I was impressed with myself and went on to looking for the next challenge.

To my surprise, when we were attempting bakasana in class, I couldn't do it. No amount of breathing, concentration and focus would allow me to lift up my feet off of the mat.

Disappointed and curious as to why I couldn't do it, I tried it again at home. Sure enough I lost balance and nearly fell on my face! Think I did some damage to the wrist too albeit nothing serious! And I haven't been able to since that day.

Just goes to show one must practice constantly and consistently to become a true yogi.

Back to square 1!

Another "prophecy" for Dart Energy (DTE)

Having had the prophecy of a crash in MGX's price, I wondered if Dart Energy would resolve to the same fate.

This small energy stock is currently in our portfolio and on Monday I woke up after a nightmare that it had fallen to 50c! Last trading price was 86c. Of course I don't have a timeline but I believe it took a couple of weeks for MGX to come crumbling down.

Of course I'm desperately hoping this won't happen to DTE (I have a stop loss in place anyway) but if it does, it could go to prove what Dr.Van Tharp said about the "very successful trader" who meditates and trades when she is in the "zone".

The wait is on...

What should be, what shouldn't be and what it is

It's been a pretty hectic seven weeks. I've had a friend and her child from overseas staying with me because of her crumbling marriage.

Although the people around her (including me) didn't know the full extent of what went on, it sure doesn't stop people from forming opinions and voicing out their thoughts, opinions and advice (whether good or bad).

After yoga and during our chanting session, my instructor Val put things into perspective:
"Too many of us are focused on what should be or what shouldn't be. Instead of putting our energy into this, we should accept what is. When we accept what IS, life becomes so much simpler and we just flow like the river"

Ohmmm to that!

Losing my mojo!

This past month has been trying times! I have a friend who is going through a tough time. She came back from the UK with her son and has been staying with me. It's been difficult juggling work, figuring out my MBA subject and looking for an investment property all at the same time.

So it shouldn't come as a surprise that I haven't been able to make any good trades. I feel as though my focus isn't all there and it's getting hard to find clarity in my emotional and mental state.
I've been going to yoga classes regularly trying to find my mojo back but to no avail.

Hopefully I haven't completely lost my magical trading touch and the mojo will be back and running when they move out this coming Saturday.

OOohhmmmmm

Spiritual Trading

I attended a session with Dr.Van Tharp last night. For those of you who don't know him, he is a trading coach/trainer. The session was small and intimate where he spoke about the importance of psychology in trading (shares, options etc).

He gave us an example of someone in India he had met who can meditate from 9pm to 6am and is a very successful trader. Van mentioned he thought this person was 'weird' but that the spiritual/mental state he  gets into gives him the edge to trade successfully. Apparently his 'higher self' also told him to clear all his positions and stop trading just before the GFC hit! hmmm...

So, I got to thinking about my dream that I had when I bought into MGX. I had been doing yoga for a couple of months and I dreamt that the stock crashed. Sure enough it did and hasn't moved up since. Taking a massive loss and kicking myself for it.

What is my next prediction? I need to do some yoga before I can answer this!

Correct way to go from dandasana (plank) to chaturanga dandasana (low push up) to Adho Mukha Svanasana (downward dog)

This is a very common yoga sequence and repeated frequently in the session that I do. I mentioned in my earlier post that I haven't noticed as much strength and toning on my abs. So, as I wondered why, I came across a video by Duncan Peak.

Duncan Peak is the founder of Power Living Australia and although I've not attended any of their classes (I hear they are tough!) this guy inspires me with his views on yogic living, the discipline he seems to apply to himself, his flexibility and his strength (note: fantastic body).

It's always good to check out yourself in the mirror at times to see if your alignment is right. I try to make sure I get a spot right next to a mirror so I can ensure my postures are correct (and part vanity).
As I studied Duncan's moves in this video, I realised I don't push my shoulders back enough and my elbows start to splay out a little when I'm moving from dandasana (plank) to chaturanga dandasana (low push up). At times I also start sagging the hips when I'm tired because I don't have the strength. This is easily fixed though by doing a variation with your knees on the mat.

Also, from Chaturanga dandasana (low push up) to Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (upward facing dog), I tend to hold tension on my shoulders and forget to push them back away from the neck. This could be the reason why I feel tight there after a yoga session.

Must remember to pull the shoulders back and tighten the stomach muscles to protect the lower back! Not to mention tight abs!

Duncan Peak's plank to upward dog

This has nothing to do with yoga but...

My thoughts and prayers go out to those in Libya and Christchurch...

Supta Baddha Konasana (Goddess pose)

For those who were frightened at the hip opening poses, here is an easy one that we regularly do in class. It helps to open the groin and is not as uncomfortable as the others poses.

You lie down on your back, bend your knees out and put the soles of your feet together. As easy as that! Stay there for a few minutes and let your thoughts wander if you so wish! I usually think about all sorts of useless crap when I'm in this pose because it's quite easy and doesn't require too much concentration.

Does this pose release any emotions as mentioned in the previous posts? Nope! No emotional release but feels a hell of a lot more flexible.

Supta Baddha Konasana (Goddess pose)

yoga poses for headache

Consumption of alcohol is a regular part of my social life. I don't often overdo it but sometimes, I go with the flow and discover that I've had more than I should have. Of course there is no point in realising this a little too late.

But recently, I found myself wanting to do some type of inversion poses when I have a hangover (Inversion poses are where your head is at the bottom: handstand, headstand, plow pose etc). Before regular yoga, I never thought about doing an inversion during a hangover so I can only put it down to an instinct.

There are many types of inversions and you can find the images here: http://www.yogajournal.com/poses/finder/browse_categories/inversions

With a gurgling stomach and the thought of spewing, the last thing I wanted to do was be upside down! So, I did my own variation of lying on the bed(on my back) with my head hanging from the edge of the bed. I stayed like that for a few minutes until I thought I felt better. But a few hours later the headache came back again and so I repeated my variation of the inversion.

Did it cure my hangover? No! This is a case of prevention is better than cure!

But I did come across a site about poses for headache: http://how2doyoga.com/?p=57

Be careful with Halasana (plow pose) not to strain the neck. The shoulders should support the weight of the body so the neck is relaxed. Anyone who masters this, please let me know how!

Protecting the knees during Mandukasana (frog pose)

A few people commented about their knees during the frog pose. No doubt, this exercise is hard for most people because their hips aren't flexible so a lot of aspiring yogis actually put strain on their knees.

A good tip is to fold the yoga mat three times (lengthwise) and place the folded mat below your knees. This should help cushion the knees a little bit. And no, it doesn't mean the pose is any easier!

Keep frogging, yogis!

Emotions released whilst posing the frog

We did a very challenging pose the other day called the Frog pose (Mandukasana).

You may recall, I spoke about people holding emotions in their hips and hence the stiffness we all feel around there. Before we got started, the instructor warned us that we may become quite emotional after this pose. Being the impatient person that I am, I ignored his comment and went about doing this pose.

The youtube link here shows how you can perform this pose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTPYjQSJlAQ

For those who aren't yogis, don't expect to go past 2:00 on this video. There are a lot of tightness and hence you should hold the position at where you feel most comfortable.

We held this position for what felt like a good few minutes and it was hard to get out of the pose too, so get out of it slowly, one leg at a time.

All I could think of as I got out of it was "God, that hurt!" but to my surprise a couple of ladies were sniffling! And no, it was not because it was painful but perhaps they released some of their pent-up emotions. Or not......

Regular yoga practice saves you money!

Ok, not my words exactly...
This was the subject of the newsletter I get from my yoga studio.

So how does regular yoga practice actually save you money!??!

Apparently, when you practice yoga on a regular basis (3 times a week or more), you breathe more deepily and discover a heightened sense of inner awareness and you discover a slight energetic pulse throughout the body which in turn grows into intuitive understanding of diverse elements that determine your physical and mental states.

As your body becomes lighter, your mind is calmer and clearer. You have a clearer understanding and respect for your body. As you start to appreciate your body more, you will not want to drag it down with heavy foods or alcohol (?!) and intuitively want to nourish your body with healthier foods.
You will naturally develop a sense of proportion and moderation, therefore less likely to gorge yourself on food like that man on "Man Vs. Food" show!

Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. All I can say is I have not seen a fat yogi (but this could also work vice versa. If you're fat, you can't do most of the moves anyway) and as you may recall from my previous post, I found myself (unconsciously) eating healthier and less of the food! And I certainly have no interest in consuming lots of alcohol but I still enjoy a drink or two.

Hmmm...

Yoga anyone?! 

Eating habits

Yesterday I had lunch with an old buddy (Mr.O) I had not seen for about 3 years. MR.O's expression was that of amazement when he saw me and the first thing he asked was: "Have you lost weight??"
In fact, I had lost weight since the last time he saw me. Mr.O continued with a: "I think you lost about 10 kilos, didn't you?"
I laughed because I only lost about 4 kilos. When I mentioned that to him, he said "No no, you must have lost more!"
So then I went onto explain that I was about 59 kilos when we used to work together and now I am 55. All throughout our lunch, Mr.O continued with his surprised and confused expression and perhaps thought I was slightly bending the truth.

The fact is, I have not lost that much weight and 4 kilos is about all I lost. But I do recall another friend saying that I had lot "so much weight" a few months back too. So I wondered if it is because I lost a lot of fat but built muscle. After all, muscles weigh more than fat.

Plus, as bizarre as it sounds, I don't eat as much junk anymore. It just doesn't interest me. When the yoga studio was closed for about two weeks and I didn't get my fix, I was starting to go back to my old eating habits. Chips at night, chocolate during the mid afternoon, fried stuff etc etc. But after attending yesterday's first yoga class for the year, I am slowly reverting back to the yoga eating habits. Not that I am doing this consciously. It is just something I notice because I'm very in tune with my body.

Anyway, in saying all this, I'm still craving some Bollinger champagne. I made a very successful trade with a rare earths company on the last week of the year and decided to celebrate my success (and to usher in the New Year) with a good bottle of Champagne. First time trying Bollinger and although I've had Veuve & Moet before, Bollinger was much better for the same price.

Hoping to end 2011 with a bottle of Dom!

Happy New Decade to everyone!

Stress & yoga

My yoga studio has been closed for about a 2 weeks and hence I hadn't done since then. I suppose even the instructors get a little stressed running the classes and need a well deserved break during the festive season!

When the studio opened for three days, I eagerly looked through the timetable to see what classes were available. Alas, it did not say what type of classes they were going to teach so I picked the most convenient class for me. The class turned out to be a slower paced Hatha (I usually do basic flow classes). I'm not usually a fan of hatha, which is a slow stretchy style of yoga. It requires stamina and patience to hold the poses whereas a flow class is vinyasa style and requires more strength and focus.

Out of desperation I decided to give it my all because I was absent for a couple of weeks and my body started feeling different; stiff and less energetic (and no, it was not because of overeating and binge drinking during the festive season!)

As I was pulling a pose where you lie down on your back, bend your knees and put the bottom of your feet together to open up the hips, I realised how much it had stiffened. It felt uncomfortable to lie down like that. It requires a lot of time to get the hips to open up and I felt rather shitty with the fact that all the months of practice was reverting backwards because of the absence in the practice.

Then I remembered how one instructor who said that we store stress in the hips and therefore we need to get rid of the stressful thoughts as we practice these moves. The only thing is, I haven't been stressed at all. Who gets stressed during the festive season?!

So I'm thinking that all that talk of storing stress there is a whole lot of tosh! Unless I was stressed out without even realising it! I suppose it can be quite stressful deciding what to eat and drink during the holiday period!