Bending, Folding and Twisting

My abs feel weird. From Pilates. My legs feel numb. From a Dance Stretch class (yes, apparently you CAN do stretch dances!) Anyways. It's about time I went for a class/classes at mYoga. So I did two classes there today. It's brand new yoga centre (no, they won't let you call it a gym); environment's quiet and serene. Fully equipped and teachers are friendly. Of course there are still glitches here and there that I think can be rectified easily (like no hooks in the shower stalls; hence you have to drape your towels over the door).

Basic Pilates was good. Not too tough, not too simple either. Considering I do feel something in my abs, means I really worked it today.

Dance Stretch wasn't too bad either. Although the warm-up was a little too cardio-ish! I mean, if I wanna do split jumps, I would be at California Fitness. I was pondering whether to talk to the instructor about it.

I was getting a little frustrated when the cardio warm-ups came about, because it threw me off balance - too much energy scattered about. I mean, I just got my energy centered at my core during Pilates. So cardio warm-ups weren't so great - they became quite a shock to the system. I would definitely say something during the next class; and I am so going to skip the whole cardio thing.

But after the warm-ups, it was pretty cool. Dance Stretch is a combination of yoga postures, Indian-style dance (with hand gestures and twists) and basic stretching exercises. When the instructor started the class with "Om" chantings, I was like...okayyy this is more like it. The moves were choreographed according to different song tracks. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard a track from Deva Premal...now that's the way I like it! If only the entire album was played.. Then I would have dance moves for my favourite Deva tracks. Shante Prashante is rather sexy, and I can see some moves fitting in with the tune...

Why so intensively into yoga now? Cos my body says so. My body isn't taking very well to highly active cardio exercises anymore. I was actually a member at Fitness First for three years. It was all good during the first two years. But my consistency (and stamina) dropped drastically this year. I realized I was pushing too hard to work out. The environment was also getting too chaotic for me. There were a few times that I caught on the flu after workout sessions at the gym - serious! Yeah, it wasn't working for me anymore. So I figured it's time to listen to what my body wants. Perhaps yoga is the answer. After all I do need some form of exercise - most of all to ground the building energies in me.

Based on my own experiences, I realize when I do intensive meditation and energywork, I generate a more active kind of chi inside. At times I feel like a pressure cooker with energies bubbling in me, looking for somewhere to flow to. I'd get restless, antsy, edgy and simply weighed down. I feel as if my physical body cannot withstand or keep up with the stronger inner energies. Dizziness happens, hot and cold flushes come about. Sometimes, I find I have to stop energywork until my body stabilizes.

I am still exploring how to balance my inner energies - how to align with the flow. I am also exploring the different kinds of inner energies. Of course they all come from the same source, but they can appear in different forms. I have discovered my creative energy that can be channeled consciously into my writing work, or any creative work. There's also the very pure form which comes straight from the heart chakra - you can transmit it directly to people (it feels extremely good!), or transform it into creative energy or life energy (one that energizes you). And there are the lower vibrating ones that emerge from negative emotions like guilt, jealousy, etc - they can be released or transformed too. And, the breath holds life energy as well. Breathe in deeply and use the third eye to guide the light from the breath to the entire body. That energizes too. And, oh, you can ask for energizing energy from nature as well. Yes, it is that simple: Dear Tree, please energize me. They are really generous with their chi - serious!

So, I think yoga would help. I'd see what my body says. Pilates is energizing because it uses the breath to work the abs - that's centering energy to the core. And because you have to breathe in all the way into the stomach, and then squeeze them all out until your stomach is like a deflated balloon, that's actually an exercise to allow the chi from breath to travel through the body.