MEDITATE and witness its magic

In February 2013, I went for a meditation course.

This interest was triggered by a course I attended a year before on the Law of Attraction. In the course I was told that meditation is very powerful tool in practising the law of attraction.

Coincidently, my yoga teacher informed us that she was starting a short course on Meditation made Simple. Being new to meditation, I thought it is fantastic for a newbie like me.

I wanted something I can grasp and understand.

It was a 4 day course on Saturdays in the afternoon for 3 hours each.

The course can be seen in 2 stages:

1) First stage, how to use meditation for Gratitude and contentment.

2) Meditation as a way to achieve what you need, using a mantra(the thing that you want more in your life eg love, focus, wealth, happiness etc

Its seem simple enough.

We practiced the methods taught and after each practice, I do feel its impact.

For eg for stage one, if you are angry at somebody or feel uneasiness, close your eyes for just 30 seconds and feel and visualize how this person had made you happy. After practicing a few times a day, your mind and emotions will live that moment and see how your present emotions will revisit that moment. You will then work within yourself to reachieve that happy moment. The change starts with you and when you meet the person, you are a better centred person and that is infectious.

I find the second stage mind blowing, by practicing it, my life has changed so much.

Before the course I was aimless about what I wanted to centre on. I felt that after being a full time mother and coming back home to Singapore, I was slowly losing the centred me. Sometimes it upsets me. I realise I must do something about it.

There are a few things that I wished I had  more of. I wanted to be able to focus, I wanted yoga buddies. I used to go to the studio, practiced and come home. It felt lonely.  Nobody among my friends has a strong interest  in yoga. And I wish I could improve my practice.

Before attending this course, I told the teacher that I had attended a course on Law of Attraction.She told me this Meditation course, is much bigger than that. Then, I did not understand what she meant. Now I do.

Whatever I wished for in my heart is answered since then. When I pray, I use my meditation to communicate with God and I am so greatful that all my prayers are answered.

What the teacher said is true.

Since completing the Meditation made Simple course, I have attended and completed a 200hr YOGA teacher training course which is recognised by YOGA ALLIANCE, USA. I am now attending my advance 500 hr Yoga teacher training course. I have many yoga buddies whom I can bounce ideas about asanas, progress or just life.

They say your friends at each stage of your life is a reflection of what you are at that time. I am at my YOGA stage now. I am 46 years old. I feel so blessed to be able to delve into my yoga with the support of people I love, particularly my husband.

Below is my graduation photo for MEDITATION MADE Easy course.

Tripod headstand from Bakasana

It took me several falls and tumbles before I could do a headstand. And the day when my legs were directly above my head, my heart soared!

I have achieved the impossible!...at least for me. I have classmates who could do it at the first try. It was not perfect but hey you just want to see your legs up there. 

Initially like everybody else, i used the wall. It may have helped when you were just trying to get your legs up but it did not help me to balance.

So I decided to go to the middle of the mat, bring legs up at first just at the hips. That was not easy too. There was once I tried for 1 hour without success.

But that did not deter me. I was determine more than ever.

I have had sore backs from falling, painful knuckles from locking my fingers too hard and not able to unlock when I fall. There was a time, when I thought it might just be impossible for me.

Then one day when I was about to bring my legs around my hips, I decided to challenge myself a little by little and slowly I realised that I could do it. Initially it was a count of 3 then 5 then 10 and now I realise I can do to the count of 50.

What I have learnt here is that practice is everything and never give up.

So now I am trying the tripod stand.

Initially it was impossible to bring my legs up as the centre of balance is different from the basic headstand.

Miraculously after reading Light of Yoga yesterday, I suddenly find my legs above, in the tripod headstand. I shall practice till I can do it confidently. Then I will proceed to other inversions.

I am so excited!

Watch below my favourite Yogini and teacher, Kino Mcgregor, showing how tripod headstand from bakasana should be done...

http://youtu.be/MO_9yRrhaUQ

Of coccygeous and levitari ani.

Last Friday drew the end of the pre and post natal yoga module.

It was an interesting course. Apart from Rose whom I completed my  200hr TTC course with, I knew nobody.

Though we all started as strangers, I made some good yoga buddies here.

There was Jasmine who completed her 200 hr in India. She is now teaching. She has created her own company and she's just born to do some poses like King Pigeon. 

There was Ruba who completed her 500 hr  last Friday and also has a Hot Yoga teacher's certificate.

This group of ladies are truly amazing. I got so much energy when I go for these classes and I am just so inspired by them.

Even the teacher who is plus size has so much energy and dedication. She is from New York and is residing here. Having managed bi- polar, she has s gift of kindness to all the students.

On the last day, for beng such attentive and good students, she gave each of us a fertility bracelet. How apt.

So one module down for the 500 hr TTC and 4 more to go.

The next one will be in March. Am looking forward to that one.

I just love to learn and discover!

Pre-natal day 4

Today was rather slow and not exciting as yesterday.

We learned about post partum, depression and all that.

I felt it was rather dark.

But I take whatever I can from this module.

But I do learn a lot of how to make the yoga experience a wonderful one for pre and post natal mothers.

Pre-natal day 3

Today we did the whole pre-natal sequence, teaching.

It was fun but the most exciting part was when Paalu joined and lectured on
the cycle of life.

We learned the Upanishad's explanation of how life was created.

I was baffled, because its very similar to the Islamic explanation of how life is created.

It was a hugh point to have Paalu teaching us the philosophy part of it.

Day2 pre- natal Yoga

Today we went deeper into understanding our cervical bone abd the deep 6 muscles. How this very important hip bone prepares our body for final performance of birthing and delivery.

Its female body is just so amazing and strong.

We had to teach warming up. My partner was Rose. We decided that I start the sequence standing up:

1) activate from the base cakra to release  energy for the expectant mum and baby

2) i started wirh Tadasana to find the balance which is so important for pregnant woman.

This was the sequence

-Tadasana- for balance

-Ankle rotation- to strengthen the stretching ligaments so it becomes strong with weight gain

- knee Rotation- to keep the knees and ligaments strong

- shoulder rotation to release stress

- bring shoulder up to the face, inhsle and release exhale with the 'Ha'. A breathing technic for birthing

- rose continued with seated poses. 

- neck rotation with hand on left ear and stretch neck to the right snd reversed on the other si

- neck exercise looking up, down to the chest and the sides

- ended with variation on cat cow pose with a 'Ha'

Ok tomorrow teaching full sequence..

Pre-Natal yoga

On Monday, my pre-natal specialised advance 500hr TTC started.

Pre-natal is so slow compared to my normal Astanga practice. Its like heaven and earth.

But that is pre-natal for expectant mother. Where relaxed, gentle movement and preparation towards delivery is the aim.

I learned a few things:

1) No hand binding poses
2) No inversions
3) No scorpions.

As balance is very important for expenctant mothers, all asanas have to take this into consideration.

Using of props is also essential.

This YOga module is different but it was informative.