Mindfulness and Care

Just a very quick entry: a teacher says today that, for those who've been practising for a long time but have seen no/ v little improvement (in flexibility) (me), he recommends that we choose one pose and keeps practising it for a couple of weeks, that way, we will improve (hips more open and lower back less stiff) ... maybe I should give that a try; though in general my range of movement has improved significantly the past five years, I am still relatively inflexible, so much so that this masseur said to me the other day that she couldn't believe I practise yoga cos I was so ... like, rigid!

Yoga, Anytime, Anywhere

Was watching some YouTube videos on Nature (including a very disturbing one of the Asian Tsunami) and pondered about life. Earth is just so beautiful but most of us don't even realise that because we just spend most of our time working and working. Yoga has taught me to slow down and ... appreciate. Also, as I said in one of my tweets earlier, yoga can be practised on as well as off the mat and in many everyday life situations. Just stay (as) true to the self (as possible)... and there is nothing to fear or worry about ...

A Big Bottom Cat

Upon request, here is a photo of cat sitting on its bottom; funny, huh?

I'm actually a dog

Also good news re Siu Pak Pak!! He's getting better and has put on some weight, all thanks to a kind hearted animal lover who takes care of him every day... 

A Funny Little Video

Here it is ... came across this awhile ago and thought it quite an (internet) classic...

A Crave for a New Phone

Oh, it's been awhile since I made a phone purchase (I only sold a few the other month) ... and, though I think  my Blackberry Bold and Nexus S are pretty solid and functional, I am just, you know, a bit bored by them. So, have been checking out some Japanese phones online (visually, they are far more interesting than all those smartphones on the market right now)... and the Fujitsu F-02D looks totally yummy:

I dunno, I just love those lights!!! I think I will get the White version since the colours probably comes through better. 

And, I know, this is totally materialistic but I guess I'm human after all and I just wanna be entertained sometimes (life is too short, right?!) and mobile phones just SO press my buttons!!!

Delayed Entry

Just now I saw a very frail old man being lifted into a van, with tubes sticking into his nostrils ... life is all so fragile. What is the meaning of it all before we disappear from this world forever???

The Asia Yoga Conference came and went and I took four anatomy classes with Roger Cole, a yoga instructor/scientist from San Diego in the US. The class on yoga injuries was particularly interesting because, as I said in my previous posts, it's very easy to hurt yourself in yoga if you don't practise mindfully and carefully. I know. I have pulled my hamstrings quite a few times before! Cole identifies several areas where injuries are most likely to take place -- neck, lower back, knees, shoulders and, yes, hamstrings -- and we practised a few asanas to suss out our alignment ... which was very enlightening. Now I know my warrior 2 pose is not incorrect: to keep the knee straight and upright, the hips will naturally turn and will not be squared. And I'd always thought I had to square my hips (!!!) Cole also did a demo that shows how to relieve sacroiliac joints pain (left) ... apparently don't try that if you don't have any sacroiliac joint problems because it might have the reverse effect!