Our Three Years Anniversary

25th April, 2012 at Pappas Bros Steakhouse

Our anniversary 

is a time to look back at the good times 

and 

a time to look ahead to live our dreams together.

Happy 3 years Anniversaries honey!

I love you then, I love you still, 

and I will always love you.

Love Always,

~ASA

Ashtanga Yoga

It's been seven months since I've practiced yoga and I do enjoy it very much. I took my first yoga class with my good friend, Andini, in Memorial Athletic Club (MAC). She is the one who asked me to try practice yoga. MAC offers a different kind of types of yoga; from the basic Hatha to the most challenging one called Energizing Yoga. I choose Hatha just like what Andini have told me to practice the very basic one and see if I enjoy it or not. And I do like it! After couple of months passed, I started to see changes in my body. I feel more flexible than ever, I'm able to lift one leg for the balancing poses and hold it for about 5 long breaths, I eat right because I'm stressed free. I just feel happier than ever. I continue practicing Hatha until I feel...I think I want to try something different.   

So I tried this class from MAC called Flow Yoga after 2 months of practicing Hatha. And mannn...that class was more challenging, phoeeyyy!!! I couldn't catch my breath...the postures is flowing from one to another...way more challenging than the regular Hatha class. Plus this class is for those people who are stronger than I am. Now I get it! That's why it is called Flow Yoga because the postures are non stop and it flows like a river. And that was it...I thought OK I'll go back to my regular Hatha and wait until I'm strong enough to try those kind of yoga.

Yoga has become a routine for me ever since. Few months later I still think I wanted to do something different on my practice of yoga. I want to feel stronger and toned up. I looked it up on the internet and I saw Ashtanga Yoga. Huurrmmm...what is this? And here it is:

"Ashtanga yoga is a system of yoga transmitted to the modern world by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois (1915-2009). This method of yoga involves synchronizing the breath with a progressive series of postures—a process producing intense internal heat and a profuse, purifying sweat that detoxifies muscles and organs. The result is improved circulation, a light and strong body, and a calm mind."

I started to look around on the internet became more curious about this type of yoga. And found the only Ashtanga Yoga studio taught in Houston, Texas where I live. It is called Tejas Yoga located in Kirby area. It is a little bit far from I live, but I wanted to give a try and see myself how is this yoga looks like. It looks like it is challenging but it is just what I'm looking for. So, I emailed the owner, Yannis, who also taught the class and he told me to come in for the introductory class to give a try. 

Finally, my introductory class...I couldn't wait!!! That Sunday was raining, but since I already made the schedule to be on that rainy Sunday, so I came. I met Yannis, he told me that this yoga is based on our discipline of practice, patience, and of course PRACTICE, PRACTICE, and PRACTICE!!! All those need to keep in mind towards perfection in Ashtanga. He also said that Ashtanga is usually taught in "Mysore" style class where the students are practice at their own pace with the help of the teacher; Mysore is where people all over the world come to practice Ashtanga from Sri K. Pathabi Jois. Another things to keep in mind in Ashtanga practice are breathing, dristhi (gazing point to focus on), and bandhas (lock or seal). 

The breathing technique of Ashtanga is called the ujjayi breathing. This ujjayi breathing or victorous breathing usually consists on long inhalation and one long exhalation with sounds. The breathing is use to keep our mind clear when we're practicing yoga. 

Dristhi or gazing point is also imporant in Ashtanga; it purifies and stabilizes the functioning of the mind. It will help you focusing on your balance as well as your mind. 

Bandhas are essential components of the ujjayi breathing technique. It means lock or seal and the purpose of bandhas are to unlock pranic energy and direct it into the 72,000 nadi [energy channels] of the subtle body (Scott 21). Mula bandha is the anal lock, and uddiyana bandha is the lower abdominal lock ("Ashtanga Yoga"). Both bandhas "seal in energy, give lightness, strength and health to the body, and help to build a strong internal fire" ("Ashtanga Yoga"). Mula bandha operates at the root of the body to seal in prana internally for uddiyana bandha to direct the prana upwards through the nadis (Scott 21). Jalandhara bandha is the "throat lock" (Jois 2002 23, n.27), which "occurs spontaneously in a subtle form in many asanas due to the dristi ("gaze point"), or head position" (Scott 23). "This lock prevents pranic energy [from] escaping and stops any build-up of pressure in the head when holding the breath" (Scott 23). Without bandha control, "breathing will not be correct, and the asanas will give no benefit" ("Ashtanga Yoga"). - 

Those are three important things in Ashtanga Yoga that I quoted (some of it) from www.ashtanga.com. Without those three, our practice will never meet perfections. 

Yoga is 1% theory and 99% practice. Like when I first saw the Primary Series postures on Youtube, I thought " How the heck am I going to able to do this or that...???" but eventually after coming to Tejas Yoga and practice with my teacher (who has been teaching Ashtanga for more than 10 yrs) I starting to see some improvement on my practice. And I starting to see and feel my muscle on my arms, thigh, and legs, whoaaaa...!! And I think I am addicted to it. Even though I always feel soreness on my muscle the next day after practice, but I always think of it as something is about to paid off :).

Now, I'm still practicing the Primary Series of Ashtanga. When I'm through with it, I will be able to do a demo of the Primary Series. I cannot wait, but I just have to have patience, all will get there with more and more practice :).

One pose of advanced Ashtanga Yoga

                       

Above is the Primary Series chart for practice

                                         

Almost Three Years Ago

Ehhh...tak disangka- sangka...umur pernikahan kami berdua sudah hampir tiga tahun! Ya! TIGA TAHUN!!! Tepatnya 3 tahun lalu kami sedang pusing memikirkan berbagai macam persiapan pernikahan seperti makanan untuk tamu, bunga, tukang foto, tukang video haiyaaahhh cukup stress kami dibuatnya. Namun tak sia-sia, akhirnya semua berjalan dengan lancar, hikmah, dan sukses :))) yaaa akhirnya kami menikah juga haha!

Minggu depan tepatnya 25 April adalah ulang tahun pernikahan kami, haduhhhh saya belum memikirkan apa-apa untuk hari spesial kami berdua itu. Tahun lalu, suami saya memberikan suatu kejutan jalan-jalan ke Bahamas dimana kami bisa sekalian berlibur. Ahhh saat ini saya ingin sekali ke pantai...ingiiiiinnnn sekali! Sebuah pantai bisa disebut pantai menurut saya apabila pasirnya putih, halus dan airnya biruu...rasanya surga dunia sekali melihat semua itu. Tahun ini kami sempat memikirkan untuk jalan-jalan ke pantai lagi, tetapi minggu depan suami saya akan pindah kantor, jadi ini salah satu alasan kami mengurungkan sementara niat untuk berlibur. Tapi tahun ini pasti akan ada pantai indah...

Hidup Bukan Hanya Tentang Kita.

Alangkah indahnya hidup ini apabila kita bisa selalu berbagi cerita bersama keluarga dan teman baik kita. Mendengarkan orang lain bercerita tentu sangat menyenangkan apalagi kalau topik yang diceritakan adalah sesuatu yang membuat mereka bahagia. Tentu kita juga akan bahagia mendengarnya! Kebetulan saya adalah seorang yang mudah tersentuh hatinya apabila mendengarkan cerita orang lain, baik itu cerita sedih atau pun bahagia. Berbagi cerita adalah hal yang indah...apalagi untuk kita yang punya teman atau saudara yang tinggal berjauhan dengan kita alias jarang ketemu. Wuaahhh bisa berjam-jam kita pasti berbagi cerita!

Tapi apa yang terjadi kalau teman kita ini keasyikan cerita sehingga tidak memberikan kita kesempatan untuk bercerita tentang pengalaman hidup kita? Hmmmm....bisa bosan juga kita dibuatnya. Kita harus ingat dengan etika berteman, teman! Ada saatnya orang akan berempati dan bersimpati untuk kita atas cerita yang kita sampaikan, tapi ada saatnya pula kalian yang harus bersikap demikian :). Bertanya-lah apa kabar apalagi kalau sudah lama tidak ketemu, bertanya kabar bukan lagi hal yang baru! Bertanyalah tentang keluarganya, atau liburan apabila kita tahu teman kita baru pulang liburan, atau apapun yang kira-kira kita tahu kalau teman akan senang jikalau ditanya. Apabila kita adalah orang yang ditanya well, you know what to do! Kita ceritakan lah semua dengan senang hati, tentang liburan, keluarga dan semua kabar-kabar tentang kita. Tapi jangan pernah lupa untuk bertanya kembali...ini yang kadang-kadang kita lupa, karena keasyikan cerita dan membuat orang lain jadi malas mendengarkan!! Hidup bukan hanya tentang kita teman! Kita hidup di dunia ini untuk berbagi dengan orang lain, termasuk berbagi cerita, maka berilah kesempatan untuk orang lain berbagi pula. I guarantee...you will have tons of friends that will always miss you when you're not around!!!