Estrina: Thank you for the YTT <3
Hello Jessica and Alexis, Thank you for being such a dynamic duo! I enjoyed the entire YTT journey thoroughly. I love the energy in the Yoga Mandala. If I could sum it up perfectly, it would be Strong, Authenticity and no bullshit/excuses yet a ton of fun and laughter. Thank you for making graduation happen despite covid-19, that’s really the beauty of life, we learn to adapt in circumstances and make things happen. I entered the YTT excited to learn more about yoga and I’m graduating with more knowledge, and the same desire to learn more. I think my journey for yoga has truly began and I am excited to learn more! Please consider holding short workshops at Mandala! I am extremely thankful that my YTT mates are so amazing in their own way, and I am so lucky to get along well with all of them. Phew! This YTT may end, but I’m sure the friendships forged would take us through a longer journey ahead! Can’t wait to be back at the studio for physical adjustments and to take more photos! Hopefully by then, Jessica can serenade us with her flute playing 😀 Lots and lots of love, Estrina
Estrina: Making of a good yoga teacher
Hello Jessica and Alexis, I hope all’s well with the both of you! As the YTT journey is coming to an end, it is so wonderful to see how everyone in class is getting stronger! I enjoy observing how people are improving by leaps and bounds. Speciel shoutout to Rosetti who seems to be flying in all directions these days on IG (hehe!) and Xue Ting sounding so confident and clear in her practical classes! I know these improvements come with a lot of effort. After going through this YTT, it has reaffirmed my belief that being a great yoga teacher requires tremendous work- the voice, the sequence, memory, knowledge of yoga, and the genuine spirit to teach. It’s definitely not an easy job to have and on top of that, I believe a great yoga teacher is one that teaches you the values of yoga on and off the mat. Their off-the-mat persona is more important to me than that of one on the mat. After all, it’s just optics for that 1-2 hrs of class, and the weight of the remaining 22hours will matter more. Stay genuine, Estrina
Estrina: Does the universe really speak?
Wrote my previous post (“Time is not a given, but a privilege” post) yesterday and got news of my uncle passing away today. Does the universe truly speak? While visiting my uncle in the ward earlier today, looking at him in comatose state made us feel sad and uneasy, he’s usually the host of an event. He’s very hospitable and his presence barely went unnoticed. Yet, there was a calmness and peacefulness in the air too. I thought about the life he had led so far, he was always someone my mom looked up to. He led a righteous life, always willing to lend a hand, grounded and unshaken by wealth or poverty. He was kind to everyone. That reminded me of our theory class on yamas and niyamas. Do you think the way people lead their lives would affect the energy of their loved ones when they die? My uncle wasn’t an asana practitioner but I strongly believed he embodied the other aspects of yoga. I don’t know when and how, but in recent times, I’m starting to read a lot into every day happenings and finding meaning to them- wondering what lessons they bring. That being said, I’m wary of the self-reinforcement notion, the mind can find/make up reasons just to back-up the your actions retrospectively. The goal is really to be non-judgement yet discerning. Perhaps my uncle’s death can act as a timely evaluation on how I’m leading my life. That the way you’ve led your life, the energy you exude, will inadvertently affect the energy of your loved ones. I told this theory to my mom and somehow, it made her cry a little lesser. My aunt (Uncle’s wife) shared the same sentiments that the air was sombre but peaceful when he left. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Love, Estrina
Estrina: Time is not a given, but a privilege
What a strange time to be in isn’t it? Was scrolling through Instagram earlier in the afternoon and I saw an advertisement for virtual YTT intake at a yoga studio in HK, I thought to myself “ wow, is this the way life is going to be moving ahead?” What seemed like the norm 3 months ago, seemed so unattainable now. That got me thinking my friends and the last time we met. When we parted, it did not cross out minds that the next time we’d meet would be a while later. Some thoughts and feelings surfaced, “What was the last thing we said to each other?” “I wish I had spent more time with xxxx instead of rushing off” “ Why didn’t I hug xxxx before parting” Perhaps I could have been more present at the moment. Maybe we could all do things a little different if we knew how long it would be before the next meeting- a little less checking of messages, emails, talking about work, checking social media. I don’t foresee the global covid-19 situation ending anytime soon. If anything good that has come out of this viral outbreak, I am glad it is allowing contemplation. Recognising that time with our loved ones is not a given, it’s a privilege and a gift. To spend our time wisely and be present at the moment, to say things only when we mean them, and not to put things off thinking “we’d have next time”, because next time is not a given. I am glad we made use of the lunch breaks back then during the 1st few weeks of our YTT to practise, to bond and take photos. Here are some wonderful moments I had at the studio and with the YTT mates. Thank you for the journey and opening the studio up for us overtime we request for photo opportunities <3 Estrina Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Xueting: What’s Next
After this weekend, I will finally have full weekends!!! lol But I intend to keep this habit and start every morning by practicing yoga. I found my favorite spot on the terrace, with an ocean view. And I also end my day by doing 30 mins stretching, give the body a nice relaxation. Pull myself away from the work, clear the mind, back to my inner peace. Aside from practicing asana myself, think I will also need more teaching practice. Though I have no intention to work at any yoga studio, but I do want to be able to help out personal friends and families. So I will start a free 1-on-1 class with a friend of mine. Understand her needs, areas need improvement, and create a special sequence for her. Hope this will work out! This 3 months class went by in a blink. I’m very grateful for this journey. Feel deeply inspired by Jessica and the rest of the class, and I can’t wait to come back to the studio after the circuit break!! Xueting Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Xueting: Find Your True Self – Svadhyaya
Yoga is the journey of the Self, through the Self, to the Self. – The Bhagavad Gita Admit it, we hear this kind of advice all the time, Follow your heart, listen to your own voice, instead of following other people’s standards. Even Disney started to encourage young kids to find their true selves by creating Elsa in Frozen. It’s a simple sentence but requires a lot of wisdom and firmness in real life. Whether it’s back in school or now at work, even from everyone’s families, we are easily distracted and impacted by what other people is doing or the way they think. We tend to do a lot things that “look cool” but don’t really know why we do it or if we really enjoy doing it. The Internet brings all kinds of information and ways of living to us, sometimes it’s just hard to tell what exactly is our own voice. Are we learning something new and actively apply it to our life or are we just go with the flow without thinking too much about it. I guess practicing yoga gives you that time to force you to clear your mind and live in the moment. Force you to focus on your breath and body, recognize the stretch and pain from your thighs, from your torso, and arms. Self-awareness, and self-reflection, through our body, to our mind. Xueting Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Xueting: 2 Website + 1 App I used the most during YTT
The first one is called PocketYoga. They do have an App, but if you just want to browse the different poses, you can simply visit their website as well. They have a full library of poses, each pose have English name, Sanskrit name, image, detail instructions, and even the previous pose and variations. It literally covers everything you need. It comes very handy especially when I’m designing sequence. Second tool I used is my own yoga template in Google sheet. Covers the image of each pose, regression, progression, English name, Sanskrit name, breath, gazing point, muscle, and instructions. (but then I got lazy and skipped muscles cause it’s so hard to remember, haha) I use this format to fill in what we learned from YTT, and also to create my own sequence. The last app I wanna recommend is Calm, a meditation App. They cover different themes and durations to serve different purposes. Such as focus training, anxiety, stress relief, or deep sleep. The host has an amazingly soothing voice and can calm you down at any time. They even partnered with some celebrities and recorded some bedtime stories. Get used to Matthew McConaughey gently saying good night to your ear! Xueting Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Xueting: Be aware that it’s a Progress
I’ve always been a get-things-done type of person. Well, now I know in Yoga I’m half Pitta, half Vata. So when I started this YTT, I treated more like a personal side project. Wanna check this box off the list. 200 YTT, done. Something like that. Hopefully, I will know what’s the correct way to practice each pose, won’t hurt myself and even miraculously cure my bulging disc. But as I go through the training. I realize that the class itself is really only the beginning. 100 hours of practicing in the studio are really only the beginning. It gave you a chance to observe your own body and others. It gave you a test of your physical limit for 3 hours of practice. But that’s far away to make you become a Yoga master, flying into advance poses like the falling angel or handstand. Both your mind and body still have a long way to go. And there’s no shortcut, the only way to get myself there is keep practicing, day in and day out, morning and before bed. Do it 100 times, do it 1000 times. And slowing we will see the progress. Xueting Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Xueting: Savasana during Circuit Break
Today is the 1st of May. We are halfway through the 2-month circuit break. From 7 Apr to 3 Jun. I would like to share some personal feelings to the team, so I wrote this short sawasava script, hope you can find some comfort as I did. Here it goes: Lie down in a comfortable position, resting your arms by your sides, when you’re ready, close your eyes. Take a deep inhale through the nose, and exhale through the mouth, one more time, deep inhale, and exhale through the mouth. Bring your attention inward, allowing your body to relax. Take a few more breaths in and out, long deep breath, letting go of any stress or tension With each breath you take, allow yourself to sink deeper to the mat, now gently shift our focus to our body, thank your body for all its hard work today. It’s been a long week, trust your body will get fully charged and start an energetic Monday tmr. Thank your families for being loving and supportive during this pandemic. Whether it’s your husband, boyfriend who’s probably fighting the working space with you during the day time, but always holding you close into the sleep. Or maybe your parents who’s been doing lots of cooking and baking recently, feed you all the time, or probably call you 5 times a week just to check-in Or maybe your lovely dog and cat who’s always been by your side, just gaze at you with their big naive eyes. Thank your friends, classmates, and teachers from this YTT. We’ve learned so much from each other, and we’ve discovered a whole new self. Utilize all these stay at home time, to clear your mind, to bond with your loved ones, to read a good book, to form a new healthy habit. Let’s all stay strong, stay positive in this special chapter of history. Xueting Feb’20 Weekend YTT
Christine: Where do I go from here…
It’s interesting to think, what am I actually going to use with my YTT certificate. How am I going to spend my time now that I don’t have yoga every weekend? I’m so grateful that I’ve had YTT during these unprecedented times. With coronavirus, lockdown, etc it has been a whirlwind of emotions and changes. But the one thing that’s stayed constant is YTT which has really kept me sane and happy! I’m a bit nervous to see what May is going to be like – to actually have all of Saturday and Sunday to myself. No more practice teaching, no more yoga HW, no more commitments to be at my mat at 8AM. But regardless of YTT being in session or not I want to make sure I am absolutely committed to my practice. I want to guide my friends and family through yoga at least once or twice a week. I want to continue practicing yoga whether its through an online class like Alo Moves or Pure Yoga. Yoga has become such an important part of my life and I am making a promise to myself to continue staying grounded and devoted to the practice. One day I hope to teach students in person and in a studio, but until then… will enjoy the Zoom life! Christine Feb’20 Weekend YTT
