Yoga at heart

A couple of days ago, I did my destressing monthly routine at Shiatzen Spa for the Swedish/Shiatsu combination massage, felt very relaxed afterwards as usual. I always felt calm in Shiatzen Spa, I felt the good energies in the waiting area and in the massage room. The crystals all around the waiting area and the plants carefully placed around strategic areas to bring good energies and Feng Shui in the spa. The spa offers a Chakra Balancing and Cleansing Crystals therapy treatment to cleanse and re-harmonise your body, mind and spirit which I have yet to try.

The spa is moving out into another place, near Dunes cafe and Zen Spa. I’m very much ecstatic about this, the treatments will still be the same but the interiors would all be new and fresh, I’m hoping that the interiors would rival Zen Spa especially now that it is situated near Zen Spa in Kiulap. I am told that in the mean time, the spa will be based at some house in Jerudong before the renovations in the new site are completed. I do not have the address yet, but will let you know as soon as it is made available to me.

Anyway, the masseuse Bing gave me a yoga leaflet for yoga lessons conducted by Jac of Seraphina Yoga:

Feeling out of shape? Tired? Stressed? Would you like to look fit and healthy? Why wait? Hurry and join us for some wholesome fun at D’Music Motion & Fitness Studio.

Yoga will help improve suppleness and help tone body muscles. It’s the best form of exercise to feel relax and rejuvenated. Delve into this ancient practice and find the peaceful oasis within you.

See you soon.

Yoga Schedule

Monday

8.30 am Beginners Yoga

5.30 pm Beginners Yoga

Tuesday

8.30 am Hatha 2

5.30 pm Hatha 2

Wednesday

10 am Gentle Aqua

5.30 pm Hatha 1

Thursday

8.30 am Hatha 2

5.30 pm Hatha 2

Saturday

10 am Restorative Yoga

4 pm Hatha 1

5.30 pm Hatha 2

Prices

8 LESSONS $60

12 LESSONS $80

WALK IN $10

For more information, please check the website http://www.seraphinayoga.blogspot.com

Yoga

Article courtesy of ABC of Yoga

Why practice Yoga?

Achieve a state of rejuvenation

In the midst of our modern world characterized by daily stress, fatigue, and pollution, more and more people are seeking that elusive sense of relaxation and inward awareness. Hailing from an ancient tradition originated in India, Yoga has long since provided people with a refuge away from the everyday confusion and entropy, and has transported an increasing number of people to a peaceful oasis within. Though the practice of Yoga is closely associated to ancient texts, beliefs, and values, it also yields benefits useful for people’s practical daily lives. Here are some reasons why more and more people are practicing Yoga:

* Yoga relaxes the body and the mind. Even in the midst of stressful environments, Yoga helps control breathing and clears the mind of cluttered thoughts, leaving only deep physical and mental refreshment.

* Yoga can help normalize body weight. For people who are either overweight or underweight, Yoga Exercises can help achieve the desired weight. The principles of balance and moderation in physical activity and diet under Yoga can also lead to a healthier lifestyle.

* Yoga improves your resistance to disease. The postures and movements in Yoga massage the internal organs, enhancing blood circulation and functionality, thus, lessening the risk of illness.

* Yoga increases your energy level and productivity. For as quick as 20 minutes, Yoga can replenish the mind and body with precious energy needed to respond to daily tasks and challenges.

* Yoga leads to genuine inner contentment and self-actualization. Meditation -one of the aspects of Yoga- focuses the mind, taking it away from the distractions of the highly-materialistic world and leading it to genuine happiness.

The lotus

Yoga may seem like the fabled elixir of life – a cure-all solution to man’s daily problems and concerns such as illness. But actually, the benefits that Yogis or Yoga practitioners have been experiencing for thousands of years are only being gradually proven by medical science now. Ready to seek an oasis from the chaotic desert of a day at work or in school?

Yoga classes offered in Brunei:

Seraphina Yoga Health and Fitness Center D’Music Motion Fitness Studio in Kiarong Complex – $65 for 8 classes (seraphinayoga.blogspot.com)

Zunic Wellness Plaza Athirah – $80 per month for unlimited Yoga and Pilates

Fitness Zone, Kiulap – please enquire for classes

A fine Sunday

Sunday morning, The Arch, Gadong

After introducing my athletic and exercise addict cousin Rafie to Zunic Wellness Plaza Athirah, his motivations in getting his desired body image and my increasing liking for yoga with 2 hour yoga sessions, both of us has set off a part inside of ourselves: Determination. This feeling is strong and can lead to great rewards and results. We remain undeterred with challenges and muscle fatigueness. This does not stop us from refraining more exercise.

2 hours of yoga, at night I slept like a baby. It was such a good sleep, where your brain is just too tired or relax? that you do not dream.  Around 7am or so, I was awaken by a shrug on my shoulder, it was Rafie, get your butt off the bed. Remember Bukit Shahbandar?

The night before, we were getting excited with our morning jog/hike and rewarding ourselves with the fantastic views of the lush rainforests of Brunei and the fresh air – oxygen therapy. And getting fit at the same time. Excellent.

The hundreds of steps towards bliss: Oxygen Therapie

So off we went.

Expectations: Well after 2 weeks of Ashtanga Yoga training and pranayama techniques should make hiking hundreds of steps towards pure bliss easy.

Reality: Wrong! The whole climbing and hiking activities test on your cardio fitness instead!

Yes, I was huffing and puffing in no time. Tried using pranayama breathing techniques to optimise the oxygen intake of the lungs to 30 percent – still huffing and puffing. Gasping for air and the aching of my knee caps, makes the morning hike challenging!

Top of the world: Fresh winds

At last! Found the resting point. The fresh winds blowing off the awful heat from the body leaving a cool and blissful sensation. The air is so fresh especially in the morning, from the top I see the cool morning mists shrouding parts of the tropical rain forests.

After, a destress silent moment. Off we went back down the steps. Then off we hiked the same steps again. Yes. We went up twice.  My empty stomach growling and muscles trembling using up the stored sugars as energy source.

So where off next?

In a typical Bruneian fashion:

Good morning Taurean Cafe, The Arch

Just in time before 11am (by which the Good morning promotion ends) is one of the best “credit-crunch” friendly breakfast ever to be found in Brunei. Taurean Cafe at The Arch, Gadong.

For the price of $2.50, you get to pick 2 from the list below:

Kolo Mee and Hash Brown please

Or if you add another $1 you can choose 2 from the Heart Heart Set:

Yes for $3.50 you can choose 2 from the list

We went with sweaty tee shirts and trainers to Taurean Cafe, The Arch Gadong. Thinking I would look out of place with my worned-out and sporty attire, to my surprise, people wearing trainers and sweaty tees are here! I see. This is where people replenish their energies.

For a healthy and yoga friendly option: Mixed Fruits and Omelette although you probably could just get Nasi Lemak and Chicken Fried Noodles instead! If you don’t mind having love handles that is.

The Good Morning breakfast meal is available at Taurean Cafe, The Arch Gadong every morning until 11am.