Sunrise or Sunset?

Oklahoma, Dec 26 2010

Book List

Books I'll like to find time to read:

• Lord of the Flies
• The Catcher in the Rye
• The Old Man and the Sea

Books I love and would recommend:

• Einstein's Dreams
• The Five Love Languages
• The Five People You Meet in Heaven 
• As the Crow Flies
• Wild Swans (no these are not books about birds)

良马寻伯乐

有位马主买了四匹马。其他马房天天都在操练马匹，准备出赛可以赢得大奖。这位马主却命令驯马师天天带四匹马出来跑两圈。这四匹马都是优良品种，一带出来就往前直奔。但马主却要驯马师拉住它们，怕跑太快会出意外受伤。日复一日马主还是继续要驯马师带它们出来兜两圈。其他马主问道，难道不打算让骏马出赛吗？马主回答它们还没准备好。其实马主只不过是怕输，也从来没想过要让马参赛，只不过想挂个名当个马主，让别人羡慕。反正有的是钱，要买就得买最好的，难不成买几匹病马回来？就这样埋没了这些好马的实力，让它们终日受困。

现在只能在有限的空间里不停锻炼，希望总有一天会寻到有眼光，会欣赏我们的人，加以善用。情况不是最好，但也不算最差，只能当作一个过程，希望会过去。

Yoga with Chunky

I enjoy having enough space when I go to yoga sessions and it beats me why people like to lay their mats so close to me when there's plenty of space around. Especially when the guy next to me is a big guy. Having done this on and off for a number of years I have a good idea of the space required for the different poses. I suspect this big chunky gym guy didn't have a clue.

So I surreptitiously tried to adjust my mat to give us some space without looking like I'm trying to move away from him. I didn't want him to think that he smells funny or something. There was definitely going to be some arm slapping when we swan dive if we stay in that proximity.

Danger loomed from the beginning. We began the practice on our backs and extended our right legs in the air using a strap. As the instructor had us lower the leg to the left, I found myself staring at chunky's big foot, which was hanging about three feet from my face. I considered what would be the worst situation - if it landed on my face, throat or chest. Chunky started to grunt a little like he was benchpressing. You can do it! I encouraged silently and prayed that he hang on so I won't get a taste of his foot. We came out of the pose and I was safe for the moment.

A little more into the practice we must have moved into some kind of a lunge or extended side angle pose. I twisted to the right and horror struck once more as I caught a glimpse of Chunky's protruding veins. These were no ordinary veins. They must have been thicker than my fingers. I swear there must be aliens residing in those. If I'd continued gazing at them they'll pop right out and rear their bloodthirsty heads at me. I gather myself and turned my gaze elsewhere. Concentrate...concentrate.

The rest of the practice went by smoothly. This was my third practice of the week and the first time that I've actually practiced three times in a week, which was really effective for building stamina and resistance. For the first time I found myself able to lower from a plank position without collapsing, a great feat for my weak flabby arms.

Most importantly, for the first time in my life I started to embrace and enjoy fitness. Instead of lamenting exercise is a chore and complaining that I had to make time for it, I actually start to prioritze it. Because of the effort I put in, I think twice before I eat, and make more eat-this-not-that choices.

The One Thing I Don't Do in Yoga...

Warm ups. I don't do warm ups. While everyone around me look like they're gearing up for a marathon, I just sit in lotus and chill. I don't do it because I don't feel that warm ups are necessary. A good yoga teacher will take you through a flow that enables your body to warm up gradually. My teacher today did just that.

Before going to the class today I was a little apprehensive. I never had a male yoga instructor and I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy his class. But that class was really something. I think it might have changed my life. So far I've gone to sessions under three different instructors and they have different styles and strengths. Mark is a little more advanced than the other two, not just in terms of the poses but his class has a faster rhythm, better flow and style.

I saw some pretty gravity defying stuff today, some from Mark, some from the super fit students. At one point I glanced to my right and was like woah! Girl, tell me you didn't just levitate. Pretty amazing stuff going on there today. The entire practice was just exhilarating, it was something that I've never experienced and I ended my practice with a smile. It's no wonder they are not afraid to give promotions like $30 for 10 lessons. They know people will be back for more! I'm only halfway through my package and I feel like I'm hooked. It's probably the first time in my life that I truly enjoy doing something physical.

The Mindful Practice

When I went for my yoga practice today I thought it'll be no different from my usual practice. It turned out the class that I went to was level one, which focused on basic poses, had a lower level of difficulty and slower pace.

Though the practice was less intense it allowed me to focus on my downward facing dog. One can never have too much practice in downward facing dog. Though it's a basic pose, it takes some practice to straighten up those legs and loosen the hamstrings. Each stretch progressively helped me to work into the next downward dog better.

About 7 years ago I started my first yoga practice with Adeline from Yoga Spirit in Singapore and she's definitely one of the best instructors that I've had. Over the years I've taken up yoga at various yoga studios on and off, dropping out of classes mainly due to a busy schedule, and occasionally because I didn't like the classes. At the yoga studio that I'm currently practicing, I feel that I've finally found a place that I can practice for the long term. 

I've always felt that the first teacher we have in everything we learn is the most important. We learn values and habits from that first teacher. Other than being a wonderful instructor, what I really appreciate about Adeline's class is that she is not afraid to set ground rules. At every practice, she would ask of her students to enter the room quietly if they were late, and set up their mats without disturbing other students. 

If anyone wants to get my attention during a practice, all they have to do is to slam their mats. That's one of my biggest pet peeves. I have been to yoga practices where people make a grand entry when practice is already in session by slamming their mats on the floor. I've even been to a class where two girls regularly giggled through the entire session and at some point even started chatting. It wasn't a drop-in class so  I couldn't go to another slot. That instructor didn't stop or gently remind them to be mindful. That really bothered me and I eventually stopped going to that class. To me, a mindful practice starts from the moment I enter the studio. Respect the mat that supports you throughout the practice. Be aware that you are sharing the practice room with others and try not to cause disturbance. 

I really like this new studio that I'm going to. My regular instructor is great and the bonus is that she has great music. It may seem trivial but the music selection really affects my practice. It's really hard to focus when I Want to Hold Your Hand is blasting in the background. I've had a really great instructor who had terrible music, but because she's really nice I never protested about her music selection.  

Sizzle Sizzle

Ooooooh baby you had me at Zssssssssssss. You are so sizzling hot spicy sweet I have to dedicate a post to you. I feel so fortunate that we've crossed each other's path in this lifetime. If tomorrow was the end I haven't lived my life in vain. I think I have no more regrets than William Hung when he auditioned for American Idol and didn't make it. In fact if William Hung had tasted you I'm pretty sure he'll probably raise his arms and start doing his little She Bangs sequence, while he expertly holds your springy body between his chopsticks . I've made it my personal mission to tell every person I know about you. I'm so full but I still want more of you. Thank goodness for the takeout box, we'll be reunited tomorrow.