Sophie Dahl & I ... on Yoga

Sophie Dahl sums up something about Yoga that I have thought about for a long time but could not put down on words.

"I loved and continue to love yoga. I love the practicality of it; the awareness one has to have of both the breath and each and every muscle in the body. I hate trendy show-off yoga, where perfect coiffeured people who pretend to be peaceful are in mad hostile competition with each other over who can execute a brilliant cobra pose or wrap their ankles round their neck the quickest. I also don't get a certain kind of sweating yoga, where the room is heated to a zillion degrees and everyone's sweat pours on top of you as you contemplate the universe and the fact that you're in a human Petri dish of germs. A bit grim and unsanitary, I feel."

I am a big believe in yoga. It has changed my life for the better! Physically and mentally. I would advise anyone I know to give it a try. But like any good "religion" it's important to let people explore it for themselves. Some people don't get it, others would. I just hope you approach it in the right way.

I have tried a variety of different yoga classes. It's like searching for your favourite underwear. It takes time, trials and tribulation; and there is also a matter of accessibility and financial constraints. But if there is one advice I can give you, that is to start with the right place. A yoga teacher with credential is the best teacher to start your practice with; doing a beginners' yoga class is crucial. Of course not all teachers are the same but I highly recommend researching thoroughly who your teachers are and where they had their training. It is a big difference. True yogi teachers never force you to do more than you can and they are very aware about your safety, ability and injuries. They inspire you and do not forcefully push you to your limit (this approach is very athletic).

Please don't go to your gym to start off your practice. I find yoga classes at the gym not careful enough in the way they approach their teachings. Baring in mind that gym yoga classes are there to just help you keep fit, they lack the spiritual aspect of yoga that is also very important (but not necessary to all; You gotta be interested in that).

I am currently doing gym yoga classes. Only because I can't afford others.. The other day I was so scared for a guy who was doing the crane pose and was told by the teacher to move into a head stand. Without much assistance, he was doing a forehead stand, which was so so dangerous. He could have easily injured his neck. Gym has a very different approach to yoga -- just look at those ripped guys who go to the gym everyday; they look fit but they probably cannot touch their toes.

Don't get me wrong, I am still going to yoga classes at the gym regularly. My current teacher is fine, her sessions are good for me. But only because I have learnt the basics very well and I don't push myself more than I can. I have also been taught about the safety of the poses thoroughly by my first teacher, Katy Appleton. Her courses are fantastic if you want to start learning yoga in London. I wish my finances allowed me to continue her classes (which aren't that expensive, but having a gym membership already, they are a luxury to me). Visit http://www.appleyoga.com/

NAMASTE!

Ole!to you.Nonetheless

I was totally happy to come across this TED video today. Thanks to my little sis, @hoapham, for telling me that it was out there. I have read many Elizabeth Gilbert interviews but did not realize there was even a TED video of her.

Liz talked about genius and how we have somewhat ruined that energy. By the look of the comments, there are people who do not get what she's trying to say... But it totally makes sense to me. In fact it makes so much sense.

I have been trying to write about Ashile Gorky in my other blog http://camelwritesart.blogspot.com/
But I am experiencing writer's block. That period has a generation of all those genius and creative people who died, mostly by their own hands. I kept trying to find explanations through biographies (currently reading Rothko's) and thought about their times, the traumas in their lives? But it is only until today that I thought of: could it also be our approach to their genius that has partially led to their demise? The pressure to be somebody, to keep being somebody --- aren't we all are SOMEBODY already?

Of course I'm simplifying the reasons with these specific artists that I mentioned... It's just a theory but it is true that the more accomplished people become, the lonelier they are. Does it really have to be so lonely at the top?

Anyhow, I am constantly being "mesmerized" by this lady. She's so truthful, simple, inspiring and has a great sense of humour. A really no-nonsense type of person.