tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42981346143697737972016-01-03T00:40:29.279+08:00A yoga journey... On and off the matCnoreply@blogger.comBlogger278125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-1838853388669513202015-01-01T13:32:00.000+08:002015-02-24T15:46:24.186+08:00

Happy 2015! I don't usually make resolutions, but I made one today. Just one. It will be challenging, but I plan to stick to this resolution for as long as I can. Not just for the next 365 days. So here it goes... I resolve to go with the flow. :) Namaste. Y “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality.

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-44429085966373950862014-12-31T11:43:00.000+08:002015-02-24T18:43:18.040+08:00

The last 364 days have been filled with countless blessings. Blessings come in all forms and sometimes we receive them when we least expect it. Even today, I have been blessed with the opportunity to celebrate New Year's Eve with a free-flow feast of fresh tuna and drinks, thanks to a contest that I won. On top of that, I get to share this blessing with a friend! :) Besides the numerous

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-84364157346688167652014-02-25T22:41:00.000+08:002014-05-21T16:32:54.903+08:00

Collected RM 10,000 in realised pledges just 3 weeks after announcing my intention to raise funds for poor families with a kid fighting cancer. I'm super-thankful for all the support that I have received from my friends and their friends -- and it was all done through Facebook! THIS is a wonderful example of the power of social media used for a good cause. :D Hitting the target set by

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-69017305203236848082014-02-04T11:27:00.000+08:002014-05-21T14:58:49.196+08:00

Today (4th February) is World Cancer Day. As more and more people are diagnosed with cancer, many of us would probably know of (personally or through friends) someone who has been affected by this disease, either as a patient, loved one or friend. A friend's mum recently completed her sixth session of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. Some years ago, my granduncle lost a long-drawn battle

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-91495373909001877002014-01-20T19:15:00.001+08:002014-12-26T15:56:18.413+08:00

I posted this photo on Facebook today. It got a lot of likes from my friends, as well as a lot of questions on how I managed to achieve this. Well, I'm proud to say that I did it without lifting weights seven days a week, doing a thousand sit-ups or following any crazy eating plans. In fact, I don't go to the gym at all, and to me, macros are photographs taken with a magnifier lens. LOL! So

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-67519462162534306072013-08-28T18:36:00.000+08:002014-10-28T13:10:08.058+08:00

But I'm not listening. Some people get so caught up in themselves that they completely disregard those who are trying to communicate with them. The only thing that matters is what they want to talk about, what concerns them, and what they are interested in. For example, two people are having a conversation... A: I had a bad day. B: I know how you feel. I had a bad day too. A: Yeah. It was

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-50323427654340644682013-08-21T21:06:00.000+08:002014-10-28T13:09:41.764+08:00

The Japanese have been using eco-friendly wrappers made of fabric, called furoshiki, for centuries. The name furoshiki (風呂敷)  -- translated to mean "bath spread" -- came about during Japan's Edo period (1604-1868) because they were commonly used to bundle up one's clothes when at the public bath. Soon, merchants began using furoshiki to wrap their goods. People also used the pretty squares

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-76073658211910194502013-08-14T17:01:00.000+08:002014-10-27T17:29:10.953+08:00

My ex-boss introduced me to TED Talks some years back. The first talk I watched had musician, Bobby McFerrin, explaining the power of the pentatonic scale. I learned something new that day and that made me want to watch even more TED clips! Two Saturdays ago, I had the opportunity to attend my first TEDx event -- TEDxKL. The "x" means it's an independently-organised TED-style event. The

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-72833694205502715002013-08-06T21:06:00.000+08:002014-09-11T14:06:25.304+08:00

After several consultations with my dentist, we both decided that I should get braces. Not for aesthetic reasons, but to prevent me from losing my teeth when I get older. You see, I inherited my mother's DNA for overcrowded teeth. This overcrowding makes it harder to clean my teeth, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. There are many types of braces available nowadays.

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-90428960891436571822013-08-04T17:01:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:10:53.013+08:00

I make it a point to travel to at least one new place a year. Recently, I visited two islands for the first time -- Koh Samui and Koh Tao, both on the western side of the Gulf of Thailand. It also marked the first time that I travelled alone to places I had never been to before. My main destination was Koh Tao. To get there, I had to catch a high-speed catamaran from Koh Samui. Due to the

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-71564564501452496682013-07-28T18:09:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:10:17.260+08:00

The simplest definition of "empathy" is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes. It's being able to see things from the other person's perspective while maintaining your own point of view. Empathy is not sympathy. It's not about feeling sorry for the other person. It's about taking the time to understand what the other person is going through -- psychologically and emotionally.

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-13368038274206855862013-07-10T23:04:00.000+08:002014-06-12T15:51:26.061+08:00

Got all dressed up in a yukata last Saturday to attend my first 盆踊り (Bon Odori) celebration. Here in Malaysia, the event is held annually at the Matsushita Stadium in Shah Alam, Selangor. After hearing about it over the years, I'm glad I finally got the chance to experience it. とても楽しかったです! It was so much fun! The Bon Odori in Shah Alam is supposed to draw huge crowds, but there were fewer

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-50217479453024360242013-07-04T08:01:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:09:38.973+08:00

I came across this story while having breakfast today. It is an uncanny reminder of the situation I faced yesterday, especially in the way it echoes the advice that I received. One evening a Cherokee elder sat with his grandson to tell him about the battle that goes on within people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all. One is evil. This wolf speaks with anger

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-12248898318595237442013-06-29T00:09:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:09:29.817+08:00

Recently, I went to Pulau Tioman for the OKU Marine Discovery trip. It was put together to give OKU a chance to experience snorkeling and scuba diving. OKU stands for "Orang Kurang Upaya", a term in Bahasa Malaysia that means "lesser-abled person". I prefer the term "Orang Kelainan Upaya", or "differently-abled person". It certainly a better way to describe the participants for this trip as

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-85689240508977086362013-06-15T16:02:00.000+08:002014-06-11T17:59:57.684+08:00

I begin every class with a centering practice. It involves sitting or lying down with the eyes closed. I've noticed that in every class, there will be at least one person whose eyes remain open. Even after giving additional non-verbal cues to keep the eyes closed, I will still catch the occasional squinter in the act. Why this reluctance? Perhaps it's the fear of missing out on something

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-15742051219624813992013-06-09T22:14:00.000+08:002014-01-24T17:35:45.500+08:00

"Do one thing every day that scares you." ~ Eleanor Roosevelt When I heard that there was a Powerfan free-fall simulator at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, I knew I had to try it, even though (like most people) heights make my stomach do flip-flops. I said to myself, "If you can bungy jump, you can free-fall." So, I dropped by last Sunday, paid RM 15 and got into the queue. It was full of kids

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-36226715797692794962013-05-19T20:43:00.000+08:002014-06-06T15:52:03.142+08:00

Bought a voucher for a month's worth of belly dancing lessons. Went for the first lesson yesterday. It was a fun and challenging hour-long cardio plus flexibility workout! We had to learn a choreography to Shakira's Ojos Asi (Eyes Like Those). The song has a very exotic feel and a fast beat -- perfectly suited for belly dancing as well as working up a sweat. It's also very catchy. Still

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-44114082227401343192013-05-12T11:52:00.000+08:002014-06-06T15:23:03.835+08:00

I love handicraft! I adore the idea of making something from scratch with my own hands. Recently, I attended a two-hour introductory workshop to learn how to make a figurine from polymer clay. I was asked to choose a design from the ones on display in a glass case, so I picked this cute little bunny (love the detail, right down to the belly button!). Lucky me, I got a one-to-one class as

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-29302824581982919162013-05-08T21:33:00.000+08:002013-12-31T17:37:40.987+08:00

Just a few weeks before the elections, I came across a friend's post on Facebook, asking for volunteers to help out during the upcoming General Elections. Apparently, there was a huge shortage of Polling Agents (PA), Counting Agents (CA) and Barung Agents (BA), especially to help the opposition candidates to ensure that everything is done by the books. I'm sure there are many others like me

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-55485316354420752302013-04-28T23:13:00.000+08:002013-10-01T19:41:05.796+08:00

Dinner with the family! This time around, my brother picked the restaurant and we found ourselves at Burgertory in SS15 Subang Jaya. Being one of the first few customers for the evening was an advantage as we did not have to queue or wait for a table. Our orders also arrived relatively quickly. I say this after having to wait for an hour for a gourmet burger once. Unfortunately, the burger

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-55619928988084150172013-04-15T22:41:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:11:19.491+08:00

My target for yesterday's Kuala Lumpur Roadrace 2013 was to run 10 kilometres in 75 minutes. I surprised myself by finishing in 70 minutes. Yay, me! :D It was challenging route as I am not a fan of inclines, but I kept going one step at a time, in sync with the hypnotic ticking of the metronome on my mobile phone. This app was a Godsend. Not only did it help me maintain my cadence, focusing

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-65656326901498817142013-04-08T22:23:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:08:41.851+08:00

Watashi wa nihongo o benkyou shite imasu! I'm studying Japanese! Going for my first Japanese class tomorrow. I signed up for a ten-week introductory level course at Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur (JFKL). Those are my textbooks and workbooks. Am super-excited and really looking forward to it. Why Japanese? Why not? (^-^) The Japanese language is both interesting and challenging to learn.

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-8565246155935983522013-03-30T15:12:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:06:51.677+08:00

Such a blessed birthday month! Colleagues celebrated the day with me by buying me lunch and a slice of cake. Had a belated birthday lunch with my family. Used a birthday discount to have some delicious Japanese food. Enjoyed simple meals on an island getaway. Got a brownie slice from the climbing gym. And just before the month ended, a friend treated me to a lovely fish, mussels and chips

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-91341686866124411902013-03-14T09:18:00.000+08:002013-11-15T16:06:39.648+08:00

There are many who insist on attending yoga classes (or exercising) even when nursing an injury. Some start wincing even before the class begins, struggling to sit comfortably in Sukhasana (Easy Pose) because they are in pain. Despite being advised to rest and recover, they choose to remain on their mats and attempt asanas that are deemed risky for them, all the while insisting that they

Cnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4298134614369773797.post-61355516484306835952013-03-12T23:22:00.000+08:002013-06-05T18:07:20.652+08:00

The first time I visited Pulau Perhentian Kecil (also known as Small Island) was two years ago. I was on a dive trip, so I didn't get to explore the island much. Most of the day was taken up with diving, and the evenings were spent just hanging out and chatting. This time around, my travelling companion and I were on the Small Island purely to get away from it all. We stayed at cluster of

Cnoreply@blogger.com0