A Journey to Myself.
11.02.2019. The first day of me stepping back to school; The Yoga Mandala. A 32 year old woman that falls in love with yoga finally decided to take up this journey. Jessica, our trainer who looks like at her mid twenties came into the room to brief us on what to expect during this course. She has this bubbly and smiley character that could just light up the room and made the days shorter. Shortly after I found out that Jessica is at her mid thirties and all of us got shocked! Put these aside, the first thing that learned in this studio is Namaste. I never knew it has such a beautiful meaning. “Let the inner light in my soul bows and respect the inner light in your soul”. If I get it correctly. When she explained the meaning to us I just felt that I’m at the right place. Not only for the practical part but also the meaning behind every Sanskrit. To me, it is very important to know how to practice yoga safely and correctly. It is even more important to know why certain pose is named this way and history behind the name. I enjoy learning the stories behind and it is also a basic form of respect from all the practitioners. Something interesting that I discovered during this course is that I have a flat back instead of an arch back that I thought I have. So I have to practice certain poses in different variations.
My first week of YTT
What an exciting week! After thinking for 2 years, I’ve finally made up my mind to sign up for and embark on the 200 hour Yoga Teaching Training Course…. and I’m so glad that I did! I have to say I’ve never take any course so seriously in the past. In order to get to the yoga studio on time, I have to set my alarm at 5:30am and make sure that I will arrive at Telok Ayer around 7:30am and that will just allow me some time to grab a nice cup of coffee, and this coffee will help me get through the day with no “yawning.” I am so happy that I have not been punished with “chaturanga” in my first week because of “yawning” in class, haha! However, I didn’t know that even though I survived with no chaturanga punishments, my body is still sore everywhere after the intensive training everyday. I walked like a “dreaming crab” after day 1..and my aches and sores get more intense everyday. Now after a total relaxing weekend, I finally found my legs again, even though the big bruise on my upper inner arm cause by doing Bakasana (crow pose) is still there. However, I’m so happy that I will be seeing my fellow yogis again tomorrow and I can’t wait to learn more from our trainer Jessica. Jessica is not only an amazing teacher but also with great sense of humor that brings so much joy and laughter to our class. See you all tomorrow! Jade.
200HR YTT – First Lesson Thoughts – Shirleen (1/6)
11022019 The first day of class! Just in case I dont have enough time for the posts, I shall just start on the first day when my fire is on. Usually I would feel butterflies (Baddha Konasana, hurhur) in the stomach when doing something new but this round, I just feel eagerness. I went for the Q&A session few days ago and have met Jessica. The Q&A session made me discard the worries of time management at home and work and went ahead with doing something I have always been wanting to do. Jessica actually made me excited to study! The course started with familiar terms like Pranayama and Ujjayi breathing. These terms I’ve heard a lot but I have never remembered how they are spelt or what they actually mean. The class went on to knowing the sunskrit names of the poses that I have been doing since 4 years ago. Clearly not much progress happened these 4 years. I have never attended any lesson and was allowed to sit there to remember the terms for a good fifteen minutes. And this is the best thing ever. It made me feel like my memory isn’t that bad eh. I always thought Uttanasana was about stretching hamstring, palms able to reach the floor, stomach touching the thighs (I always thought like “huh? what stomach touching? i guess i’m touching.”) and the back will just bend normally. Mind blowing moment when Jessica adjusted my knees to bend, stomach really touching thighs now, and neck relaxed. TADAH! Imaginary six packs formed with a straighter back. This is probably the most common yet neglected pose done by people who does yoga. I have never been corrected for Uttanasana for the past 4 years and now, I feel renewed! Another realisation I had was the stepping from Ardha Uttanasana to Phlankasana. Usually the hip will open wide so I can step back. Now, the engagement is in the core and quads to tuck my leg in, up and back. All these while keeping the hip square still. Enlightened again! The whole sun salutation now feels different, so much more engagement and so much going on! These basic poses aren’t that basic anymore! Can’t wait for more enlightenment and my core awaken!
高级呼吸与冥想2
第二周的呼吸冥想课进入了大家自己排课，讲课的阶段。 每次安排这个内容真的对我们很实在。 因为有机会让我们演练上课，可以发现自己的问题，在之后的教学中改正、进步。 我自己其实是有很认真准备的，什么体式什么唱诵的音乐。 不过上的时候，大家都挤在一个小教室，对着我，我自己还是紧张。 一紧张表情僵硬，上完都说我脸太死，让人不舒服。这点需要改正。 另外有同学反映，课没什么记忆点，就跟其他人的一样。 这点也接受，可能因为都学的一样的东西，又没积累什么经验，暂时没上出有个人特色的课。 这个嘛需要继续努力，我还是挺喜欢冥想课的，上完如果大家反映是舒服的解压的，就很满意了。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
高级呼吸与冥想1
上完Ashtanga的上午，下午开始上高级呼吸与冥想，感觉很容易进入安静的状态。 最喜欢就是Savasana，分分钟就感觉睡着了，都不想起来。 冥想课当然也是理论跟实践结合，大家一起对照着书讨论。 原来冥想不只是一个姿势坐那边闭着眼睛就完了的。 还要结合呼吸、手印、唱诵、体式等等。 整堂课下来还是很丰富有趣的，跟没学前想象的很不一样。 一堂看起来简单的呼吸冥想课也是很讲究的，不懂的人可能不知道你上的什么，但是上完会感觉到舒不舒服。 所以看着简单，其实也不简单。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
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果然Ashtanga开始练身体有慢慢被打开，两周后练到后期结果身体反而越来越紧。 但是体力、力量、平衡各方面都会有所提高。这种强度对应的收获也是等同的。 所以当自己发现慢慢有进步，还是会很开心这些收获。 而身体如果紧了、累了，也不要强迫自己，瑜伽聆听自己的身体永远是最重要的。 而分两段练习也是有必要的，第一段我们只学了序列1，还都算不是很难的体式。 离下一节Ashtanga的练习相隔4个月，这个时间是需要自己不断练习的，不然根本无法学下个序列。 方法老师都教了，剩下的是需要自己保持练习，这也是提醒练习的人需要很强的自律。 而高级的瑜伽老师一定是有很好的自我管理能力的。 同学们纷纷表示一定要练习，不能四个月后毫无进步。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
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上孕产时，气氛有点慵懒，然后开始练Ashtanga，画风全变了。 原来在外面瑜伽馆报名上普通会员课时，曾上过一次，唯一一次Ashtanga。 因为不知道是什么，就好奇去上了，一个半小时下来，就感觉是瑜伽界的体操班，再没去过了。 如今上RYT300，系统的了解Ashtanga的每一个体式，正位。才明白他的目的。 改善人体循环系统，调理身心，获得力量与柔韧直接的平衡。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
Mummy&Baby2
刚开始学的时候，大家都觉得教孕妇瑜伽会比较难。因为总会忍不住担心孕妇是否能吃得消，或者会不会动一动出什么问题。 学了才知道，其实孕妇没那么脆弱，愿意练习瑜伽的孕妇也不会像块豆腐。上着上着才发现，原来最难教的是妈咪宝贝瑜伽。 1岁以内的宝贝都可以跟着妈咪一起做瑜伽，只是想象很美好，现实却不一致。 开始设计好的动作，课程，遇到真的宝贝吗，就发现各种很难完成。 因为宝宝是永远不会受你控制的，不可能永远都是6个月之前小宝宝的状态，躺着不动，配合妈妈。 所以难的不是课程如何设计，而是瑜伽老师如何能随机应变，淡定自若。 这个真的太需要修炼了，目前做得还不够，只能以后有机会在实践中积累经验了。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
孕产妇瑜伽1
开始报名学RYT200部分原因是因为对孕产妇瑜伽感兴趣，自己怀孕之前一直有练孕产瑜伽到孕期37周，觉得很有效。 所以学完RYT200就报名RYT300了。事实证明系统的学习是很有必要的。 很多理论的知识让我对孕产这一块了解更全面。当然也不仅仅是理论，理论之余大家也身体力行去体验。 哪些瑜伽动作是适合孕妇做的，哪些是不适合的。哪些瑜伽动作是可以和老公一起做的，不仅有运动到，还能增进夫妻感情。 对孕妇的身体跟心情都有帮助。循序渐进的运动不仅利于生产，孕后对体重的恢复也很有帮助。 雨函 2019年1月RYT300
