happy gal 88

This blog is about all things that make me happy. Why happy gal? Because I strongly believe that life is short and we must treasure every second of it. Why brood and live life unhappily?! I hope every reader finds some happiness on this blog : ) See my Korean blog - Seoul Far Seoul Good - @ http://www.seoulfarseoulgood.blogspot.com/

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Yoga for Life


I used to think that yoga is about asanas -- the various postures such as cobra or tree pose. But I was wrong.

After the third lesson of my Yoga Instructor Course, I've learnt that yoga is about connecting the mind, body and soul that allows one to control the mind and free it from worldly distractions. In so doing, it balances one's state of mind so that the best is brought forth. Yoga is about being HAPPY and giving your BEST. It's about doing your best and forgetting the rest. These are principles I hold dear to my heart and I think, part of the reason that's why I'm a Happy Gal :)

Yoga is also about overcoming fear. Today, we tried 3 cleansing techniques -
1. Jala neti -- Using the neti pot, water is poured through one nostril such that it comes out in the other. It helps to prevent cold, blocked nose and sinus.
2. Sutra neti -- This involves inserting a catheta from one nostril and pulling it out from the throat.
3. Vaman dhouti - This is about cleansing the stomach by gulping down 4-6 glasses of warm salt water and vomiting them out, thus, flushing the stomach of access gas, acid and mucuous.

Most of us kindof freaked out when the guru briefed us about it last night. While I've heard my other instructor talk about jala neti, I never imagine I'll actually be doing it one day. But since yoga is about NOT worrying and letting things take care of itself, I tried all three cleansing methods. And I succeeded in jala neti and vaman dhouti! Nobody in the class succeeded in sutra neti, maybe someone will succeed next week.

Even though the course is quite intensive and tiring, I'm quite happy because I'm learning so much. And I'm also picking up a bit of sanskrit -- essential for yoga instructors. My classmates are generally helpful offering to give us lifts to and fro to the train station so that we don't have to walk 15 minutes to the school.

Having said that, I think I'll miss blogging (unless I write them on the way home in the train like this posting), learning my Korean and watching my VCDs. Priority will be attending classes (four times a week with full day classes on weekends are really tough), doing homework and writing reports.

Today, I would like to end off with our closing sanskrit prayer for my friends:

Sarve bhavantu Sukhinah, (May all be happy)
Sarve santu niramayah, (May all be free from diseases)
Sarve bhadrani pasantu, (May all see things auspicious)
Ma kascit Duhkha bhagbhavet (May none be subjected to misery)
Om Santih, Santih, Santihi (Om Peace, Peace, Peace)