Ho Ho Ho, the advent of the 4th quarter 2008 year end has eventually arrived. Celebration, gathering, holidays and mega sales shopping are all in all inevitable while amid recession - indeed a good news for everyone! Before the arrival of Christmas Day, I spent a day practicing Yoga first time in an outdoor environment pluses a poolside view!
All the while, the practicality is done indoor at the California Fitness Center with only tons of mirrors surrounding the perimeter of the studio. Open air, cool breeze, children commotion of gayness, fine splashing of pool water were all audible and soothing for the soul at Boulevard Hotel, Mid Valley poolside. More than 70 Yogis under Edwin's umbrella, a Yoga instructor attended this auspicious event on 20th December 2008. The ceremony kicks off with Edwin giving off his speech, followed by basic Yoga practice, thereupon advanced Yoga poses done by 2 invited experts (Mr. Liew & Ms. Jenny) and lastly settled with a buffet.Pictures taken ensues:
You call view all the pictures in a slide-show manner. Click here.
Edwin's Christmas Yoga Extravaganza board.
Venue of Yoga extravaganza - Boulevard Hotel, Mid Valley.
The poolside where the guests or residence gleefully spending Saturday time with their family.
The tower of Garden Residence can be viewed limitlessly from the poolside.
The Boulevard Hotel Suites. Picture taken during "Twisted Warrior" pose where your head is facing upwards :p!
Edwin - The Yoga's instructor and an organizer of this event.
"Mountain" (Tadasana) pose by Edwin.
Yogis zealously awaiting for the event to commence. Each of them sits on their beloved brought Yoga mat.
The event commences with other instructor, Ms. Mandy starting off with "Accomplished" (Siddhasana) pose.
Participators following the instructor's instruction - the "Salutation" pose. Benefit: Stretches your lower back.
"Low Warrior 1" (Ardha Virabhadrasana I ) pose. Benefits: This pose tones the whole body, strengthens the wrists, and opens the shoulders and hips.
"King Dancer" (Natarajasana) pose.
Powerful "Chair" (Utkatasana) pose. Benefits: This pose increases strength, balance and stability. The Hamstrings, quadriceps, gluteals, and the erector muscles of the back are exercised and strengthened. These include the tibialis anterior, extensor halluscis longus, extensor digitorum longus, and peroneous tertius. This group of muscle primarily extends the toes and dorsiflexes the ankle and are used for balance and stability. Gosh! too technical :)!
"Downward Facing Dog" (Adho Mukha Svanasana) pose. Benefits: This pose increases the strength and flexibility of the shoulders. The hamstrings , calf muscles (gastrocnemius and the soleus), and Achilles tendons are all stretched. 
"Warrior I" (Virabhadrasana) pose. Benefits: This yoga posture strengthens the quadriceps (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, Vastus medialis and the vastus intermedius) on the leading leg and stretches them on the leg that is behind the body.
"Boat" (Paripurna Navasana) pose. Benefits: Boat pose tones and strengthens the abdominal muscles, improves balance and confidence, and stretches the backs of the legs.
"Crane" (Bakasana) pose. Benefits: This is a yoga posture that stretches the knees, hamstrings and lower back.
Not much pictures taken during the posing, as myself joining the troop as well. Now, time for the master Yogi to perform the advance poses. I have no idea most of the names of the poses :p!
The invited guest, a Yogi's guru, Jenny.
Fuh! Sturdy arms indeed!
Woh! She flips both her legs forward with cinch!
Very flexible indeed :)!
A variation of "Side Staff" (Parsva Dandasana) pose. Elastic indeed!
For sure my arms will collapse if I do so :p!
Mighty thumb and solid balancing!
Everyone is amazed with Jenny's performance! They watched attentively :).
"Lotus Scorpion" pose. Vigorous!
Another stalwart flips!
Lady in black, thrilled spectator with both hands clasped on her mouth :)!
Unimaginable "Eight Angle" (Astavakrasana) pose - named after an ancient sage cursed with crooked limbs. In details click here.
Another variation of "Scorpion" pose. Implausible :)!Performance done, buffet ensued:
Prestigious look of the dining hall.
The splendid buffet dining hall. Creative circular lamps suspend from the ceilings.
Trays of delectable foods to be taken later.
Yogis savoring their selected scrumptious foods and drinks.
Plentiful of Christmas gifts to be exchanged later.
Exchange gifts session: Hmmm....which is mine?
Hooray! I got an "Essence of Chicken". Look at me, totally exhausted, the gifts fits me perfectly :)!
Big sponsored hamper given out to lucky drawees.
Another lucky drawee from right most.
Lucky draw gifts of Yoga mat given out by Jenny.
Yogis with their "Mountain" pose ecstatically!
Group photographing - more than 70 Yogis attended this well-organized event.That's all folks. Thank you to our organizer, Edwin for holding this meaningful event for everyone to experience the outdoor, natural fresh air and non air-conditioner environment, simultaneously helping kind souls mingled with each other from different walks of life. "Celebrating Christmas with Yoga" - a creative event still a puzzle for me :). Rather than conventional celebration as in movie watching, clubbing or traveling, this is something very unique. Kudos for him!
Non-related but meaningful sentence.
Either I will find a way or I will make one - Sir Philip Sidney.
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2 comments:
Being a Tekken freak I am, those Scorpion & Cobra pose reminds me of Zafina LOL! Hmm... how long can you hold your breath as a Yoga lover?
Just checked on Youtube of Zafina's moves, almost similar to Voldo from Soul Calibur :). Funnily, many flying pigs & piglets on the background LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2erMvnUgo8
I practice Yoga just to have a balance workout. Body Combat, Body Pump, Steps, Pop Dance, RPM are all strenuous workout, you will need Yoga to realign back your body after all the above mentioned workouts. It becomes a necessity rather than interest :).
Moreover, Yoga in certain extends release stress, stress from muscles :).
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