At the grand old age of 43, my yoga trainee teachers are sometimes closer in age to my children than to me, though I often have a large age spread in my groups. One evening, we gathered together to discuss yoga philosophy; there is more to yoga than jumping on the mat.
“You can’t find self-realisation, long lasting happiness and all those goodies from just jumping on the mat,” I often tell people. “There is another little piece of yoga that gives you that. And not many people know about that piece.”
That little piece is found in the 186 lines that the sage Sri Patanjali collated from the collective spiritual teachings of his day.
As an introduction to yoga philosophy, we dissected the main concepts of Sri Patanjali’s work. Central to Sri Patanjali’s writings is using to meditation to find our True Self. This is big deal, as the ‘Seer’ is often confused by what he perceives as True Self because of the distortion of his field of vision by the vortex of his mind. Even in the modern Western world, we talk about ‘finding ourselves’.
This is Patanjali 101: Put a coin in the bottom of a glass. Fill the glass with water. The water in the glass is our individual mind, called citta. Citta, the water in the glass, may be coloured by our perceptions and prejudices; often, this water is churning about in the glass because it is agitated by our mental monkeys. Colouration and swirling both have the effect of distorting the image of the coin, so that the Seer often mistakes the distorted image for the real coin. Hence the path of yoga is stilling the flux through practice and meditation so that the Seer can have a clear view of the True Self.
I urged my trainee teachers to find their True Self and to serve the True Self within (as in my princess-lawyer friend taking the brave path of being a yoga teacher), because that is our mission in life.
“What if being my True Self displeases my parents?” asked one. Three years ago, I was asked the same question by another.
I didn’t answer immediately, because the answer is brutal and I wanted to sleep over it before unleashing it. And here is the answer: you have to be true to your True Self, because it is who you really are. You cannot live your life pretending to be someone else, just to appease your parents. And if you hurt your parents by being your True Self, then it is their karma to be hurt for burdening you with their expectations. Your True Self will never hurt your parents’ True Selves, because their True Selves would not have expectations (unconditional love). It is the miscommunication of the Seer and Seen (going back to the coin in the glass analogy) that is causing the angst.
My eldest son is academically gifted. He has a law degree and a Masters in International Relations. Of course I secretly dream of him joining a humanitarian organisation as a human rights advocate (if anyone can win an unwinnable battle, it is he) and perhaps starting his own movement to address the injustices of this world. Maybe run Amnesty International one day, maybe even the United Nations.
But what is he? A shameless capitalist working for an investment bank, whose Key Target & Objective is to be a millionaire by the age of thirty (and he is right on target). And the second boy? He is a soldier with right-wing views, who is totally absorbed in climbing mountains, drinking and general hell-raising. What can I do but to love them, celebrate them and be proud of them, just the way they are?
And Georgina: “When I am the boss of Sun Yoga, I will sell burgers here.” (What to do lah.)
In time, when the mental monkeys have been silenced, their True Selves will emerge, whatever they may be.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Finding A True Self
Once upon a time, there was a little girl who always proud of herself believed that she was the happiest girl in the world. She has great supportive lovely parents who always think monies and social status are everything. She has what she wanted, she travelled frequently with her parents, she stayed in a beautiful house, the richest among her relatives and she loved the feeling of being top of the world. She listened to her parents and thought all pre-arrangements were the best for her. She always wanted to be no 1 for everything just to please her parents and herself, to proof to the world she can do it! However, thing doesn’t work well as she growing up even in her university life. Her circle of friends shrunk! None of her friends willing to talk or listen to her stories when she needed a pair of ears. No one willing to know neither her happiness nor sadness she has gone thru. Her inner world turned into darkness; she couldn’t find light shine on her, no more in her life! She became timid, fear, hesitant, lack of confidence and closed her heart to anyone including her parents. She was living in pain and lost her direction to find her own true self!
***
Yes, I was the little girl and now an “old” lady! (According to young Jasper’s theory! I might be same age as his beloved mum or dad! =.=”””””)
***
Yoga was first introduced by my buddy Paggie. I remembered there was once she brought her yoga mat to my apartment and started practising Surya Namaskara in my living room. I was laughing non-stop! At that time, I was thinking “What the heck are these poses about? Turning a human into animals?” Well, Paggie did an excellent job on brain-washing me about Yoga. Slowly, I changed my perception on Yoga.
I begin my Yoga journey when a tragedy happened many years ago. I told myself no more tears at night, get yourself off and start doing something that could change your life. The stiffness of my body became major barrier of practicing yoga. I was the only one in the class dragged by the instructor to use the wall to align my body! I felt uncontrollable shame, remorse and embarrassment each time I attended the class! But thanks God, I never give up due to my nature attitude strongly planted in my mind, I will get it RIGHT one day! The satisfactions in the latest stage slowly build up my confidence towards Yoga. From Yoga, I branched out to BodyBalance® and Pilates. The greatest surprise gift I get was I met new friends that share the same interest of mine. I met Mei, an inspired Yoga and Pilates instructor who shared a lot of her views not only on Yoga and Pilates but also on religion. Thru Mei, I met Ginny who is now my greatest big sister, an awesome Pilates Instructor Trainer and ex-Yoga instructor who always guided me move towards the correct pathway to be a better person. Her words touched my heart and changed my thoughts. She is the angel God sent helping me to enlighten my life. Since the day I met Sis Ginny, the lights again shine on my head under her supervisions with all the steps I move forward.
Thru Yoga and Pilates, I know my body better. Sad news was, orthopedic surgeon confirmed I have scoliosis after X-ray and assessment which actually limit me from doing certain asana. I discussed with Sis Ginny, how do I become a Yoga instructor where I had limitation in my body movements? I can’t even do headstand and I can’t even do a simple roll up. The answer was, none of the instructor in the world has all the perfect postures. One day, Sis Ginny words again strike my mind, “Kai Li, taking Yoga TTC is not about asana, alignment, how beautiful of your postures, Yoga also teaching you how to control your emotion and find your true self! Take these opportunities and learn as much as you can and see how much Yoga can change you!”
I am now joining Yoga TTC. Soon I hope I could be a qualified Yoga instructor. I always ask myself, what do I really want in the rest of my life? At time being, I am still doing things that please someone surrounding me, my beloved parents and family members who always support me! My mind always telling me, the purpose of my life is just to please people and making them happy! - (Is this a Virtti? How do I kill this virtti?) I asked Jacqueline yesterday, how do you find your true self when you always doing things that please someone? That is not a real you!
One thing for sure is I am joining Yoga TTC not to please anyone! I am doing it for my own self, to find a total brand new Kai Li that could smile truly from her inner heart all the times. J
All the best to the upcoming August 2011 SunYoga teacher trainees!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Hello my Newbies
New batch starts in August, but a few showed up for intro to Patanjali (summer reading assignment before theory classes begins in earnest).
"Waaah, so much to learn!" said Ken with a shake of his head. Actually not, because Patanjali is about the wisdom that is already in you. No need to learn more. It's just the roadmap to tap that internal fountain of knowledge. Unfortunately, the roadmap is in Sanskrit, and not very detailed either. So that's why we 'study' Patanjali (study is such a wrong word when it comes to Patanjali) - to figure out the cryptic clues that Patanjali put together for us all those years ago.
Is it worth it, all this studying, instead of spending time perfecting our postures?
Yes, definitely. My favourite analogy is if you want to be a priest, you must know the Bible. If you want to be an imam, you must know the Koran. If you want to be a yoga teacher, you must know Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. If not, how are you going to guide your students? Jumping on the mat on its own won't get them to the path of enlightenment.
Another of my favourite sayings: some of the most unhappy people are the thin, flexible, successful and rich ones. Just getting them jumping on the mat will not help them find bliss, which is supposed to be the original reason why people do yoga.
Young Afia asked, "Why are so many people so unawake?" (this is the mudah state of mind).
I don't know, but maybe it's because their light has been dimmed with the burden of everyday living. Going to work in a dead-end job, the burden of responsibilities and obligations, stress, looking after kids, trying to compete with neighbours, chasing material goods - Jeez, that's enough to put out any light. You see sleepwalkers everywhere. Even last evening. As I was going to my car, I spotted a dead cat lying on the pavement, not terribly injured but his body was already in rigor mortis (grotesquely twisted). Yet, no more than three feet away were a table of men, eating and drinking, totally oblivious that they were sitting so close to a dead animal. Maybe they just didn't care, but I found it quite perplexing that they were happily tucking into curried meat when there was dead meat just beside them on the road.
So how do we wake people up to start this spiritual revolution? Sun Yoga, of course :-) I shared with the Newbies some of the emails that I regularly received from former graduates telling me that they themselves are now in the position of awakening people. For me, that's justification of doing what I am doing.
Ot course, what I am doing felt a lot better at 9.15pm after class when Sanaz brought some amazing cakes she baked. Err, can't see how cakes fit into the Sutra yet, but bring 'em on, Sanaz!
"Waaah, so much to learn!" said Ken with a shake of his head. Actually not, because Patanjali is about the wisdom that is already in you. No need to learn more. It's just the roadmap to tap that internal fountain of knowledge. Unfortunately, the roadmap is in Sanskrit, and not very detailed either. So that's why we 'study' Patanjali (study is such a wrong word when it comes to Patanjali) - to figure out the cryptic clues that Patanjali put together for us all those years ago.
Is it worth it, all this studying, instead of spending time perfecting our postures?
Yes, definitely. My favourite analogy is if you want to be a priest, you must know the Bible. If you want to be an imam, you must know the Koran. If you want to be a yoga teacher, you must know Patanjali's Yoga Sutra. If not, how are you going to guide your students? Jumping on the mat on its own won't get them to the path of enlightenment.
Another of my favourite sayings: some of the most unhappy people are the thin, flexible, successful and rich ones. Just getting them jumping on the mat will not help them find bliss, which is supposed to be the original reason why people do yoga.
Young Afia asked, "Why are so many people so unawake?" (this is the mudah state of mind).
I don't know, but maybe it's because their light has been dimmed with the burden of everyday living. Going to work in a dead-end job, the burden of responsibilities and obligations, stress, looking after kids, trying to compete with neighbours, chasing material goods - Jeez, that's enough to put out any light. You see sleepwalkers everywhere. Even last evening. As I was going to my car, I spotted a dead cat lying on the pavement, not terribly injured but his body was already in rigor mortis (grotesquely twisted). Yet, no more than three feet away were a table of men, eating and drinking, totally oblivious that they were sitting so close to a dead animal. Maybe they just didn't care, but I found it quite perplexing that they were happily tucking into curried meat when there was dead meat just beside them on the road.
So how do we wake people up to start this spiritual revolution? Sun Yoga, of course :-) I shared with the Newbies some of the emails that I regularly received from former graduates telling me that they themselves are now in the position of awakening people. For me, that's justification of doing what I am doing.
Ot course, what I am doing felt a lot better at 9.15pm after class when Sanaz brought some amazing cakes she baked. Err, can't see how cakes fit into the Sutra yet, but bring 'em on, Sanaz!
New Teachers
Jasper Sim teaching karma yoga in the Park and Suesan Leong doing a class on arm balances.....way to go, yogis!
Friday, March 11, 2011
A little bit of me ....... Suesan (new trainee teacher march 2011)
My first encounter with Yoga was when I was nine. “eee…just some stretching class.. slow and boring. Like tortoise doing exercisezzz. Not interesting at all..” was my first thought. My love has always been dancing. Ballet in particular. I practise my ballet until my early twenties. Stopped when I had to concentrate on my fashion-designing course.
Without realizing, my affinity with Yoga, I presume, has always been in me. Strangely, it was also my ballet teacher who introduced yoga to me. She started with the asanas, and along with it, the principles of yoga. It was then that I started to fall in love with yoga.
Yoga taught me to look inward. After being too ambitious on certain poses, I suffered a bad injury on my knee. That has caused me to reflect inwards. It allows me to contemplate if it was my ego in trying to attempt every challenging pose that has resulted in my injury.
Unfortunately, other than my ego, the incident has also damaged my confidence. Though I have been practicing yoga for 7 years, my belief in my capability has never really bounced back.
I realized what my ballet teacher had taught was correct. Yoga isn’t about having ability to do challenging and compromising poses. That’s ego. Yoga is about flow and harmony. Ultimately, peace and bliss. And to be able to practise and share these is a gift from yoga. I hope to be able to learn to share this view and energy with everyone.
Namaste.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
satsang
SATSANG
Teacher training session begins in Sun Yoga. And as this Foundation of mine grows (in its 11th year now!), passing on the mantel becomes very important. In corporate terms, it is known as ‘succession planning’. With each new teacher that emerges from Sun Yoga, the light grows that little bit more. Sun Yoga is my legacy. One lifetime is not long enough for me to change the world into a better, happier, and more joyous and fair place; today, there are 550 Sun Yoga teachers worldwide sharing the same vision.
To train a Sun Yoga teacher, it begins with Satsang. Satsang means “in the company of the wise”. Like Upanishad (“sitting close at the feet of the teacher”), it is very much a part of the ancient tradition of yoga. However, not many yoga teachers are aware of satsang, let alone lead it.
Recently, I held a satsang at a Rainforest retreat. More than anything, it is to get me in the right frame of mind for inspiring my new teachers-to-be. The 19 participants had never experienced satsang before, though all have attended yoga classes. My satsang was a tribute to someone who had inspired me very much and who had shown me how to fly to my dreams.
Whatever our external façade there is fear (which can be a crippling emotion) in each and every one of us, that holds us back and stops us achieving our best. We make excuses rather than show others our fears; we make excuses rather than face up to our fears. Even in selecting the six for the final cut, I see several who let fear hold them back. I also see many who inspire me, and these are the six who made it to my list. Susanna from Finland who is travelling to this distant part of the world with her young son, Karina who strongly stuck to her path despite the many obstacles back in the UK and also Malaysia, Suesan who had waited for Sun Yoga, Sue who lost her husband and trying to make a new life, Nadia who is 33 weeks pregnant and Jasper (so young!) who refused to be frightened by me. I already see Sun Yoga in my six.
Like I saw Sun Yoga in Antonio Castellano when he attended his first ever yoga class with me: quiet, composed, fearless as he went through the strange postures calmly. And then later, by my side, as fellow students of yoga as we sweated on the mat at Bikram Yoga Jakarta. And then, unwittingly, I became his student, learning to be more inwardly focused and learn more about myself, the ever-changing landscapes in inner me.
I admire Antonio very much not because he is perfection but simply because he is always consciously working towards resolution of his fears and issues. He looks like a risk-adverse accountant, yet fear had never held him back from reaching for his dreams and going for what he believes in his heart (as far as I know).
This is a noble trait, because we are all born fearful, fearful of change (death of what we know, fear of death of identity), which is one of the main causes of suffering. This is something that even the wise are afflicted with:
Avidya asmita raga dvesah abhinivesah klesha [Yoga Sutra Pada 2, 3]
So really, we are all work in progress, born with so many fears. Some of us are courageous enough to be honest and admit to them, others make excuses opting for the coward’s way rather than growing spiritually by facing their fears head on. And in the words of Antonio, we grow from the suffering, therefore never be afraid to suffer! Make the best decision you can for the moment, and run towards your dreams full on! You can be a brave warrior without heroic deeds but by quietly facing off your fears every day.
Thus this man is a shining example of someone who is living in full awareness, rather than be oblivious, unawake, timid. This Sutra is embodied by him:
tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam [Yoga Sutra Pada I, 3]
tada = then, at that time
drashtuh = Seer
svarupe = one’s own nature
avasthanam = abides
Teacher training session begins in Sun Yoga. And as this Foundation of mine grows (in its 11th year now!), passing on the mantel becomes very important. In corporate terms, it is known as ‘succession planning’. With each new teacher that emerges from Sun Yoga, the light grows that little bit more. Sun Yoga is my legacy. One lifetime is not long enough for me to change the world into a better, happier, and more joyous and fair place; today, there are 550 Sun Yoga teachers worldwide sharing the same vision.
To train a Sun Yoga teacher, it begins with Satsang. Satsang means “in the company of the wise”. Like Upanishad (“sitting close at the feet of the teacher”), it is very much a part of the ancient tradition of yoga. However, not many yoga teachers are aware of satsang, let alone lead it.
Recently, I held a satsang at a Rainforest retreat. More than anything, it is to get me in the right frame of mind for inspiring my new teachers-to-be. The 19 participants had never experienced satsang before, though all have attended yoga classes. My satsang was a tribute to someone who had inspired me very much and who had shown me how to fly to my dreams.
“For one hour, one month, the eternity, may I have the strength to take the risks when those magic moments occur, enjoying the happiness and growing from the suffering that go with them.”
- Antonio Castellano
- Antonio Castellano
Whatever our external façade there is fear (which can be a crippling emotion) in each and every one of us, that holds us back and stops us achieving our best. We make excuses rather than show others our fears; we make excuses rather than face up to our fears. Even in selecting the six for the final cut, I see several who let fear hold them back. I also see many who inspire me, and these are the six who made it to my list. Susanna from Finland who is travelling to this distant part of the world with her young son, Karina who strongly stuck to her path despite the many obstacles back in the UK and also Malaysia, Suesan who had waited for Sun Yoga, Sue who lost her husband and trying to make a new life, Nadia who is 33 weeks pregnant and Jasper (so young!) who refused to be frightened by me. I already see Sun Yoga in my six.
Like I saw Sun Yoga in Antonio Castellano when he attended his first ever yoga class with me: quiet, composed, fearless as he went through the strange postures calmly. And then later, by my side, as fellow students of yoga as we sweated on the mat at Bikram Yoga Jakarta. And then, unwittingly, I became his student, learning to be more inwardly focused and learn more about myself, the ever-changing landscapes in inner me.
I admire Antonio very much not because he is perfection but simply because he is always consciously working towards resolution of his fears and issues. He looks like a risk-adverse accountant, yet fear had never held him back from reaching for his dreams and going for what he believes in his heart (as far as I know).
This is a noble trait, because we are all born fearful, fearful of change (death of what we know, fear of death of identity), which is one of the main causes of suffering. This is something that even the wise are afflicted with:
Avidya asmita raga dvesah abhinivesah klesha [Yoga Sutra Pada 2, 3]
So really, we are all work in progress, born with so many fears. Some of us are courageous enough to be honest and admit to them, others make excuses opting for the coward’s way rather than growing spiritually by facing their fears head on. And in the words of Antonio, we grow from the suffering, therefore never be afraid to suffer! Make the best decision you can for the moment, and run towards your dreams full on! You can be a brave warrior without heroic deeds but by quietly facing off your fears every day.
Thus this man is a shining example of someone who is living in full awareness, rather than be oblivious, unawake, timid. This Sutra is embodied by him:
tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam [Yoga Sutra Pada I, 3]
tada = then, at that time
drashtuh = Seer
svarupe = one’s own nature
avasthanam = abides
New Trainee Teachers March 2011
KARINA COX
Karina graduated from UCL (London) and has lived in London most of her life, teaching English as a foreign language to Japanese, Korean and Chinese people. She has always been fascinated by holistic therapies and natural methods of healing and so studied for a Diploma in Holistic Clinical Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Massage & Oriental Medicine Diagnosis in 2005 and now professionally practises a variety of therapies, including aromatherapy, maternity massage, reiki healing and facial rejuvenation. She has been practising yoga for about 15 years and was introduced to Iyengar yoga by a wonderful Greek teacher. She later discovered Hatha yoga, along with pranayama and meditation and has attended numerous workshops and retreats in Greece, France, Spain and the UK. She now hopes to bring all her passions together, by training as a yoga teacher at Sunyoga and being able to offer a variety of classes, workshops and retreats focussing on a holistic and more spiritual way of life, incorporating yoga, holistic therapies, meditation and relaxation.
___________________________________________________________________
NADIA ZUL
"In search of my own true self, I find seclusion every time on the yoga mat. Every 60 minutes I spent in class, I find peace that I longed for. I am one with myself. I have much to understand to what really this experience has done for me, but it has been life changing. Yoga is a gift in my life, and in this journey, I now have all to be grateful for."
____________________________________________________________________
SUE PARMAR
Fondly known as Sue. Sue has 30 years of experience in the aviation industry in various disciplines of management ranging from Planning and Budgeting, Human Resource Management , Corporate Governance, and Public Relations.
She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing/UK, Masters in Business Administration in Strategic Marketing & Management from the University of Hull/UK, Executive Masters in Business Administration in International Marketing from University of Berne/Switzerland and Masters in Logistics & Transport/UK.
Sue is a qualified Trainer who specializes in Grooming, Deportment & Protocol programs and workshops. She is also the Exclusive Distributor of anti-aging products.
Maritial status : widow. Has 3 adult children – 1 daughter and 2 sons – residing in Australia.
Favorite past times : brisk walking/ reading & traveling
_____________________________________________________________________
SUSANNA SIERLA-PETERS
Originally from Finland, Susanna lived in the UK for 5 years before moving to Abu Dhabi where she lives with her husband and 17-month-old son, Taavi. A qualified Finnish lawyer, Susanna undertook a career change to study psychology and then to pursue her passion of many years, dancing. Her dance styles include jazz, hip hop/jazz funk and Cuban dances. Susanna first started yoga to facilitate her dancing by increasing flexibility. However, she soon found out that yoga has many more benefits. In her yoga practice, Susanna draws from her dance technique and adds exercises and stretches used in dance classes to complement the yoga postures. She pays great attention to understanding the benefits of postures and to achieving the right alignment and avoiding injuries. Having already completed Sun Yoga Prenatal and Kids Yoga teacher training, she now looks forward to learning more about yoga, improving her own practice, sharing her own knowledge and ideas as well as meeting many new yogis as part of her 200 hour Sun Yoga Teacher Training programme in Kuala Lumpur.
____________________________________________________________________
SUESAN LEONG
___________________________________________________________________
JASPER SIM
Karina graduated from UCL (London) and has lived in London most of her life, teaching English as a foreign language to Japanese, Korean and Chinese people. She has always been fascinated by holistic therapies and natural methods of healing and so studied for a Diploma in Holistic Clinical Aromatherapy, Therapeutic Massage & Oriental Medicine Diagnosis in 2005 and now professionally practises a variety of therapies, including aromatherapy, maternity massage, reiki healing and facial rejuvenation. She has been practising yoga for about 15 years and was introduced to Iyengar yoga by a wonderful Greek teacher. She later discovered Hatha yoga, along with pranayama and meditation and has attended numerous workshops and retreats in Greece, France, Spain and the UK. She now hopes to bring all her passions together, by training as a yoga teacher at Sunyoga and being able to offer a variety of classes, workshops and retreats focussing on a holistic and more spiritual way of life, incorporating yoga, holistic therapies, meditation and relaxation.
___________________________________________________________________
NADIA ZUL
"In search of my own true self, I find seclusion every time on the yoga mat. Every 60 minutes I spent in class, I find peace that I longed for. I am one with myself. I have much to understand to what really this experience has done for me, but it has been life changing. Yoga is a gift in my life, and in this journey, I now have all to be grateful for."
____________________________________________________________________
SUE PARMAR
Fondly known as Sue. Sue has 30 years of experience in the aviation industry in various disciplines of management ranging from Planning and Budgeting, Human Resource Management , Corporate Governance, and Public Relations.
She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing/UK, Masters in Business Administration in Strategic Marketing & Management from the University of Hull/UK, Executive Masters in Business Administration in International Marketing from University of Berne/Switzerland and Masters in Logistics & Transport/UK.
Sue is a qualified Trainer who specializes in Grooming, Deportment & Protocol programs and workshops. She is also the Exclusive Distributor of anti-aging products.
Maritial status : widow. Has 3 adult children – 1 daughter and 2 sons – residing in Australia.
Favorite past times : brisk walking/ reading & traveling
_____________________________________________________________________
SUSANNA SIERLA-PETERS
Originally from Finland, Susanna lived in the UK for 5 years before moving to Abu Dhabi where she lives with her husband and 17-month-old son, Taavi. A qualified Finnish lawyer, Susanna undertook a career change to study psychology and then to pursue her passion of many years, dancing. Her dance styles include jazz, hip hop/jazz funk and Cuban dances. Susanna first started yoga to facilitate her dancing by increasing flexibility. However, she soon found out that yoga has many more benefits. In her yoga practice, Susanna draws from her dance technique and adds exercises and stretches used in dance classes to complement the yoga postures. She pays great attention to understanding the benefits of postures and to achieving the right alignment and avoiding injuries. Having already completed Sun Yoga Prenatal and Kids Yoga teacher training, she now looks forward to learning more about yoga, improving her own practice, sharing her own knowledge and ideas as well as meeting many new yogis as part of her 200 hour Sun Yoga Teacher Training programme in Kuala Lumpur.
____________________________________________________________________
SUESAN LEONG
___________________________________________________________________
JASPER SIM
Monday, February 21, 2011
Teacher training 2011 - KUALA LUMPUR
Coming back to KL to teach!
Welcome onboard, the six new brave souls!
It's going to be a rough road ahead for you all, and as with all parts of life, preparation makes the journey easier! Therefore, I would like you to start on the following before you step into the Lioness' Den on 14th of March:
Sutra
I want you to start your Sutra studies immediately (this is often considered the most difficult part of the course). Read Live Patanjali from cover to cover, highlight all the aphorisms. You are required to know Pada 1 and Pada 2 in its entirety, but you are only required to have a working knowledge of Pada 3 and Pada 4.
Philosophy
Philosophy
For PEL, I would like you to study with the Brahma Kumari in KL (because to be honest with you, we are not ‘hardcore’ when it comes to spirituality). The Brahma Kumari course takes up 5 evenings, a couple of hours each evening (I think you can change the days around by arrangement with your teacher). This course is free, and is in Bangsar. Perhaps you can internet-search Brahma Kumari Kuala Lumpur and liaise with each other when you’d like to start (2nd week of your arrival, I should think). There is also a Vedanta study group going on in KL which is run by my friend – you are more than welcome to join, it’s a By-Donation class.
Philosophy 2
Can you please google J Krishnamoorthy and Geshe Michael Roche. Have a rough idea whose teachings resonate with you because you need to lead a satsang on either one of these two with a partner. I just lead a satsang last weekend, and will download the summary on YouTube when i get around to doing it.
Teaching Methodology
Philosophy 2
Can you please google J Krishnamoorthy and Geshe Michael Roche. Have a rough idea whose teachings resonate with you because you need to lead a satsang on either one of these two with a partner. I just lead a satsang last weekend, and will download the summary on YouTube when i get around to doing it.
Teaching Methodology
When you arrive, our 30 Day Challenge will be in full-swing in Sun Yoga (it starts on the 28th). This is a wonderful place to start assisting because the same sequence is taught everyday for 30 days. So I would like you to start assisting straight away to build up your Practicum Hours. Attend a couple first as students to get a feel of it – and to kick start your fitness programme!
Techniques
Techniques
You have to attend 10 classes at Sun Yoga for your Techniques. These classes are good for you J. Go to http://www.sunyogakl.com/ and check out the timetable for class schedule. You also have to write a Critique for 3 classes that you attend (refer to the big white teaching textbook that you both have).
Practicum
Practicum
You have to recruit students (from the Sun Yoga regulars) and teach at least 2 classes that you design from scratch. So you might want to start thinking about your biography to go into a simple handout. I would also like to put up your profile in the shala – Sun Yoga KL is like a family home, the regulars would like to know who’s in their ‘home’. So email me a write-up introducing yourself and a photo too.
I need a photocopy of your passport emailed to me because you will be going to the Medical School at Universiti Malaya to do part of your Anatomy & Physiology. Please keep this blog lively - it would be a good way for your loved ones to keep in touch with what you are up to, since you will be disappearing from their lives for three weeks!
I need a photocopy of your passport emailed to me because you will be going to the Medical School at Universiti Malaya to do part of your Anatomy & Physiology. Please keep this blog lively - it would be a good way for your loved ones to keep in touch with what you are up to, since you will be disappearing from their lives for three weeks!
see you all at the shala, 9am on the 14th.
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