We've teamed up with Rumi Yoga Wear to give Pásshen members great discounts! We looove Rumi's  eco-friendly shorts, capris and leggings are made 100% of recycled plastic bottles and are super stretchy. They even have a maternity range with an expandable waistband that can be folded down when baby is born!

Comfy and with excellent wicking, you'll remain cool and dry even after an hour's hot yoga session. We should know as we passed a couple over to Amanda Koh, a yoga instructor, and she used them during her pilates AND hot yoga sessions.

To get your hands on a lovely pair of leggings, head onto http://www.rumiyogawear.com/ and don't forget to use the promo code "PASSHEN" to get your 10% off!

Quite loving these colourful capris from Rumi Yoga wear... made from recycled plastic bottles! Meanwhile my cheapo ikea rug makes excellent padding for headstanding hahaha! @rumiyogawear @passhensg #rumilove #sgyoga #singaporeyogis #yogacapris #cny2016 #inversion #headstand #sirsasana #iloveyoga #yogaeverydamnday #practicepracticepractice

A photo posted by Amanda Koh (@amandakohkalariyoga) on Feb 8, 2016 at 5:25am PST

Entrance to StralaYoga's studio

Beauty Week ended on a high with 2 days of the 2 things that Pásshen loves - skincare and fitness!

Alex from HAACH presenting on best pre and post workout routines

We were very thankful to have HAACH speak about best pre and post workout routines to our attendees on both Fri and Sat. Most of us knew about removing make up before we worked out but did you know that if you were going for a swim, you should slap on moisturiser? The chlorine in the pool will severely dry out your skin so it's best to apply a layer of moisturiser before heading into the water.

HAACH brought along their fancy equipment to test the moisture levels of the skin. Thus, one would be able to know whether you're applying the right amount of moisturiser or the right type of moisturiser for your skin type!

Alex from HAACH also introduced their latest and best seller, the Phytopeautic Facial which uses stem cells from a rare type of Swiss apples to help rejuvenate skin cells and diminishing wrinkles as well as age spots which therefore, enables one to look more youthful. Pásshen members are able to book this award winning facial at a bargain for only $50 (usual price is $288)! Click here to book your slot today.

Attendees queuing up to get their skin tested

After learning more about their skin, we went into the yoga session that evening with StralaYoga's ENERGIZE session. Those unfamiliar with Strala were treated to their style of yoga - relaxing with modern music playing in the background.

Su from Strala leading the Fri yoga session

ENERGIZE was really aptly named as all of us broke into a sweat during the hour! For Sat's session, Jo (Director of Strala Singapore) included more advanced poses like handstands to really push and challenge the participants.

Jo supporting one of the students into a handstand

After the yoga session, all the participants were relaxed but also feeling really full of energy and ready to continue for the rest of the day. For those interested to attend yoga at Strala, you'll be glad to know that Pásshen is offering each class at $22! No packages and you only need to book each class one week in advance. To book your class and to see Strala's schedule, visit this page.

I'm quite excited to attend Bliss Out which is happening on Sat, 12 Dec! It's going to be Singapore's first mega event combining yoga and music at the wonderful venue of The Meadow, Gardens by The Bay!

I love listening to live performances and if you've been following me you know how yoga has impacted my life in a positive sense so although I'm not as crazy as some of my friends are, I really do enjoy yoga a lot! So...when I heard about Bliss Out and how it has both yoga and a mega concert...my reaction was "where do I sign up?".

The evening will kick off with 2 yoga sessions by renowned festival instructor Sianna Sherman and Official Yoga Studio-Space & Light Yoga. After the yoga sessions will be the PARTY!

It'll be interesting to watch this indie Kiwi electronic band, The Naked And Famous, perform live and of course, I'll be there to support local artiste INCH Chua!

I do know that the tickets seem rather pricey at first:
Yoga + Concert  S$110
Concert only  S$90

But here's the good news. You, my dear faithful readers, can get 10% discount by using my promo code BLISSOUTBLMELISSA! 

To register, visit www.blissout.com.sg and again, don't forget to use my promo code before 12 Dec to get your discount!

Entrance of Strala Yoga and their smaller studio "easy"

I visited Strala to discuss about Pásshen's upcoming Beauty Week and Jo was nice enough to invite me down for her Core Strengthening yoga session! I like how bright and cheerful the front of shop feels and when I went upstairs to their "Nice" studio, I was glad to know that they've got an outdoor deck where they have outdoor yoga sessions! Too bad the haze forced them to cancel them for this month. :(

Jo from Strala Yoga at their outdoor deck

Strala Yoga started in New York in 2008 by Tara Stiles, a model who is now a renowned celebrity yoga guide, who has been named as the "Yoga Rebel" by New York Times, and has been voted as the "Coolest Yoga Instructor" by Vanity Fair and "Top 100 Most Influential People in Health and Fitness" by Greatest. I found out why during my session as Jo explained that at Strala, they don't do chanting, nor light incense (although they have essential oils purifying the room) and they play contemporary music throughout the whole session.

So while we were doing the yoga session (which was really intense btw) and I was struggling with some of the poses, we somehow talked about how yoga isn't about comparing oneself to the other person in the room (although there were none that day) but about self growth.

In my year of practicing yoga, I've seen so many instructors and they come in all shapes and sizes. A few of them even have muffin tops over their pants! However, all of them are strong, flexible and can out last a lot of cross-fit folks whom I see attempting yoga in my classes. Even for weak old me, I can hold certain poses longer than some people who go to my yoga classes although you'd clearly think that they're fitter than me when you see their well defined, muscular arms.

No judgement. Everyone is different and my take on it is that in modern society, we are caught up with what the ideal athlete should look like - lean and with as little fat as possible. Doesn't help that with social media, loads of photos with people doing incredibly difficult poses #yogaporn are popping up everywhere.

However, the aim of yoga is really about knowing your body better and just working towards making yourself stronger and healthier. You create your own objective and 'space' as seen in the photo above. That's also Strala's philosophy in yoga, where everyone is allowed to feel free, creative and inspired throughout the whole session. Jo kept telling me to feel free to sway from side to side, which was very different from all other yoga sessions that I've attended previously.

Happy that I survived the session!

Do what's comfortable to you and learn when to stop. As I was recovering from a bout of stomach flu, I got really dizzy at the end and had to lie down. Jo then helped massage me a little and even used some essential oils to help me recover. She said that in Strala, they are also trained in massage and that makes sense because asana (or poses) actually translates to "to sit" and yoga was formed to train students/warriors on how to comfortably sit for long periods of time. If you're at the limit, don't stress out and just admit that you've hit your limit and then work towards pushing it.

Constantly evolving. We also talked about how Strala Yoga has incorporated some Taiji movement into the poses. I think Master Sim from Wu Tu Nan would be quite glad to know that! Hence, Strala Yoga does throw in a bit more arm movement and 'swaying' from side to side whenever coming into certain positions. Fusion of 2 ancient exercises! That's something really exciting to discover and also goes to show that we too, must constantly evolve and learn.

Gratitude. Know how some right wing religious folks believe that one shouldn't practice yoga because of religion? Although we can argue with their ignorant view on the exercise, they'll probably be glad to know that Strala doesn't do any chanting. That said, I happen to know that 'shanti' means inner peace. So chanting it is just about bringing inner peace to one's self and to those around you. Many instructors also ask you to think about 'dedicating' or having an 'objective' for that particular practice. I'm usually just grateful to have survived each one, especially if it's hot yoga! Haha. Jokes aside, I'm always grateful that although it's not noticeable to many, I have grown stronger in the course of 1 year. I have managed to turn 1kg of fat into 1kg of muscle. I am feeling a lot better about my health AND when my muscles ache due to over-walking etc, I knew exactly how to stretch them out and ensuring faster recovery.

Some people find belonging only when they're on the mat, practicing yoga. Some have found their sense of community in this niche group. Others are just rocking the fashionable studio gear and others have grown businesses from yoga.

No matter what, we're all on this journey called life. Let's keep growing and doing more of what keeps us healthier and stronger!

That's my new company's logo and it's pronounced like 'passion'. Not pass-hen. Interesting feedback on the name though. 5 people (the parents included) mispronounced it while 1 friend was even more appalled than I was at people mispronouncing it!

Anyway, back to the story behind Pásshen. As you've probably guessed, it is a play on the word 'passion' and 'pash' is a short form as well as a slang for passion too.

Be The Best Of You

If you head onto www.passhen.com, you'll realise that it's an e-booking system for all your spa, beauty and wellness needs. That tagline represents what I hope to achieve and that's my real passion. After going through my 1 month no-pay leave and making serious changes in my life, I realise that I  want to give women who are tired, stressed and feeling plain ole crappy, an avenue to easily find ways to unwind and just relax.

Which is the same principle as to why my friend and I started WellnessYogi RESET. It was not easy when we first started this project but now that the schedule has fallen into place, I must say that I'm heckulluva proud of ourselves! I wanted the programme to be holistic. Not only focusing on yoga, although it was key, but also reaching out to people who need a day to themselves. So...the schedule is now like this:

8am        Sunrise Yoga
9.30am   Chill out with juice
10am      Learn how Yoga can be used to treat illnesses
12 noon  Picnic lunch with non-dairy ice cream
2pm        Make up workshop
2.45pm   Hair wellness workshop
5.30pm   Taiji intro workshop
8pm        Kalari Yoga

Some people need to feel good on the outside before it shows on the inside while others need to feel good on the inside before it shows on the outside. Therefore, our programme is for everyone!! Haha...

Anyway, because I feel so strongly about this, I've got GREAT news for all of you. If you sign up as a member of Pásshen (it's FREE btw), you'll get 20% off WellnessYogi RESET!

How does this work?

1. Go to www.passhen.com and sign up as a member
2. Book an 'appointment' for WellnessYogi RESET
3. An email with the discount code with the discount link will be sent to you

So...I'll see all of you on Sat, 11 Jul at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade!!

In my quest for more hair, as I've mentioned in another post, I've got a full on strategy on how to combat my hair loss problem and I figured that there's no harm in trying out another herbal remedy that's available.

TK Trichokare has been in Singapore since 2005 and unlike their competitors Yun Nam and Bee Choo (both of which I've gone to and still occasionally go to), Trichokare uses European herbs instead of Chinese herbs. Also, they have a group of Trichologists who work with them to train their staff as well as validate the efficacy of the chemicals and ingredients used in their treatments.

I was invited to try out their Puri-Scalp treatment (S$69.99 for 1st timers but my readers can get it at S$59 here) and you know that their business is booming when it was soo hard to fix a weekday night appointment with them. I finally managed to get a slot last Wed at their Orchard Gateway branch.

When you step in, you realise that it does not have any distinctive herbal smell. In fact, it smells too...normal? The decor definitely sets it apart from the very utilitarian set up of both Yun Nam and Bee Choo.

Was led into a consultation room with a computer and scanner. This is where I normally will have my guard up and be prepared to be hard sold on how hair follicles work and how unhealthy my scalp is yada yada yada....

My consultant and therapist, En En, was really nice and I was totally upfront with her about my recent trip to Bee Choo on Sunday to colour my grey hair as well as to help curb the hair loss. In fact, she was so cool about it and there wasn't any bitching about the competitors or the typical "what makes us different is ____" speech.

This is the result of my 1st scan. Top left scan showed that I do have some oil blocking up some hair follicles and some areas of my scalp was really greasy. Also, I was quite amazed at how the herbs from Bee Choo was still staining my scalp!

The consultant then told me that oily scalp and hair loss is quite common and for most clients, she recommends going for weekly scalp treatments (if you're already on a hair treatment programme) to first stablise the oil glands on the scalp before they go into the hair growth treatment. Rationale is this: if you don't get rid of the oil/dandruff, your follicles are not going to be able to absorb the treatment and hair loss will still continue.

Good news is that my follicles are generally healthy. Only issue was the greasy scalp plus the baby hair growing is getting thinner and thinner because of the oil clogs. So...it is important for me to have a clean scalp!

I then went on about my Hair Max and cold laser (yes...I am so honest...just to catch people off guard) and I was pleasantly surprised when En En said that Trichokare used to use it but stopped for reasons unbeknownst to her. She then told me to use it immediately after I've applied my hair tonic (yes, she knew that it was from Bee Choo) to encourage further absorption of the tonic.

I also asked what's the usual "package" (oops...kinda bordering on being a trick question) where she said that it depends on individual clients' needs as well as response to the treatment. Most important was to first regulate the scalp before working on strengthening the hair and then increase density.

With that, it was onto the treatment area!

Looks like a typical hairdresser salon, no? But what struck me was this: no herbal smell! My therapist told me that it's probably because instead of boiling down the herbs and fermenting it, Trichokare products are made from the extraction of the herbal essences. In other words, they extract what actually helps with the hair growth and prevents hair loss from the herbs instead of using it lock, stock and barrel.

My therapist soon came along to slather my scalp with the scalp purifying solution with what looks strangely like a paint brush. The solution had a very light floral herbal scent from the European botanicals. Think more Ricola as opposed to Hock___ Herbal Medical Hall. After which, I was given a very relaxing head massage before I was left to my own devices for the next 10 min.

When bored, take selfie with horrible hair. Haha...anyway, I felt a slight itch on my scalp after a couple of minutes. According to the therapist, it is normal and some clients even described it as tingly or stinging. Why? Apparently, this scalp purifying treatment is working on the oil on my scalp as well as the oil globules coming out from the glands under the skin.

Soon, it was off to the washing area to shampoo this all off and that's where the pampering began. My hair was shampooed twice and each round came with a head massage. 3 massages within a short span of time! Can't complain. My therapist also took a lot of time to use her fingers to separate my hair before conditioning it. It was not rushed and she really took her time when she encountered any knots.

Back at my seat, the pampering continued by a warm herbal 'pillow' (with a few drops of essential oil) that wrapped around my shoulders and my therapist gave me a shoulder massage while waiting for the towel to absorb more moisture from my hair. Those pillows are imported from overseas and you can purchase one from the shop for S$129 and enjoy some warm relief on the shoulders at home.

She thoroughly dried my hair before adding tonic as she mentioned that you should ensure that you apply tonic to a dry scalp so that it's not diluted and fully absorbed by your hair follicles. When she felt how dry my hair tips were, she even added serum!

While this was all going on, she told me how many of her colleagues were former hair stylists before moving to learn more about hair wellness. Thus, if you find out that your therapist is one of these former hair stylists, you definitely can ask them for tips on cutting certain hair styles to better cover up those bald spots while looking sassy, ;)

My therapist definitely learnt quite a bit from her colleagues because her blow dry techniques were very professional. Quite a contrast to the random drying I keep experiencing at Bee Choo and had experienced at Yun Nam (don't talk to me about how some of the YN therapists messed up my hairstyle).

After making my hair perfectly straight and bouncy, I was wrapped by the octopus of anti-bacterialism. Ok, that's not a proper word. I just coined it. This contraption is to kill off any germs and bacteria because we all know how much they love water and how they're evil to hair follicles. 'Nuff said.

It's back to the consultation room after the treatment for another scan. The top 2 images are the before while the bottom 2 are the after pictures. As you can see, their puri-scalp treatment got rid of the oil and brown stain from my scalp, something that my shampoo could not do for the past 3 days! Unfortunately, some stubborn oil blobs are still on my scalp but that's why it takes about a month or so for the scalp to be perfectly clean and balanced before further treatments can take place.

Besides the pampering and relaxation, the best thing about my trip to Trichokare was that there was NO hard sell. They let you know your options and that they scan your scalp at every session so as to track your scalp progress and customise your treatments.

A day after the treatment, my scalp was visibly less oily throughout the whole day! I was warned that the opposite may happen because the herbal solution sometimes is very effective at extracting oil from the oil glands, encouraging expulsion so that it can be washed away through shampoo. My scalp was less itchy and I saw fewer strands of hair in the shower! Needless to say, I am very happy with this trial session and I might have to visit them again. Especially when I can get another session for $39 and the following one at a $90 discount. Details below:

Trichokare is a Gold Sponsor at WellnessYogi RESET on 11 July where they will talk more about Hair Care and wellness at their 2.45pm workshop. In addition, they have a few special treats for attendees:

1. Early birds will get a complimentary Puri-Scalp Treatment AND the chance to win $500 worth of Capitaland Vouchers when they fill in the lucky draw form on the day itself!
2. Full Day Pass holders will get a $90 discount voucher for the Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy (U.P. S$388) and a free home care kit with an anti-static hair brush

If you're not going for the workshop, join us at the Wellness Bazaar that is open to the public as Trichokare will also have special prices JUST for the day! Instead of the usual S$69.99 as mentioned earlier (as well as on their website), you can get a trial session of Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy for only S$39!

For my readers who can't make it down to the event, fret not. You'll get a discount too. You can also get a trial session of the Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy for S$59 when you click this LINK.

Go on...challenge the science behind hair growth and start your own hair and scalp care regime.

Profile photo taken from Bali Spirit Festival

That's Amanda, the yogi from Real Yoga who has introduced Kalari Yoga to Singapore, and it is also the highlight of WellnessYogi RESET on 11 July! So, being good event organisers, we naturally have to attend a session of Kalari Yoga before declaring it our "highlight event".

What is Kalari yoga, you may ask? According to the description that Real Yoga gave me, it read:

Kalari Yoga is a rhythmic yoga flow that pulsates with the energy of the sacred circle.
It is as gentle as it is strong, calming as it is energising, and as uplifting as it is grounding.
Kalari is the journey of learning, being wholly present, finding groundedness in flight and tranquility in flow.

If your reaction was "Huh?", you're not alone. When we asked Amanda though, her reply was that Kalari Yoga is going back to the more organic form of Vinyasa Flow yoga. Don't fret if you have more question marks above your head. We too had them. But first, let's explain something - there are as many schools of teaching and beliefs in yoga as there are denominations in the Christian church...no need to fret over the different types. Just go with the (no pun intended) flow and what feels comfortable to you.

Kalari yoga isn't new. It has been practiced in Kerala, India and was part of the training of the warriors in the ancient martial arts. Amanda did tell us that Kalari yoga is gaining popularity in the world now because a lot of practitioners are looking for something that is more organic.

There's the word 'organic' again. Just what did Amanda mean? Didn't know until we actually hit the mats in Real Yoga's studio.

I don't like to bang out yoga poses abruptly, or snap forwards and backwards... i like vinyasa that is fluid, transient and graceful. My vinyasa is an affirmation of my strength. My vinyasa is an expression of my grace. My yoga is physical meditation and our practice is a celebration of our yoking, as a community, one in breath and spirit. World Yoga Day is this Sunday! See you on the mat!

A video posted by Amanda Koh (@amandakohkalariyoga) on Jun 17, 2015 at 8:13am PDT

Just like the caption in the above video, Kalari Yoga felt very natural. The meaning behind 'organic' hit us throughout the whole 1 hour. The transition from one pose to the next was really fluid and I was amazed at how effortless it felt to move from a half bend, into a crouch and then into a 3-legged dog before going into wild thing. I was even more impressed that I did the 3-legged dog perfectly without feeling any strain because most of us are so used to this sequence: 1. plank 2. downward dog 3. 3 legged dog.

Trust me. It had nothing to do with me getting stronger because I had just recovered from 1 week of flu and another week of hives (ie. no yoga for 2 weeks).

Some of the poses were challenging - I still can't do a full crow (only able to lift 1 foot up) and no way are my abs ready to do a shoulder stand immediately from a laid down position nor can I do a proper plough pose without using momentum. However, the sequences of the poses felt like how a novel reads, where there's a calm introduction (breathing exercises) before a build up to a climax and then going back down into a savasana (full relaxation).

Post Kalari Yoga - we survived!

We really liked how Amanda's calming voice added to the chilled out experience, which isn't something we expected considering how boisterous and fun she is to talk to outside of the yoga session.

Now, imagine how it would be during WellnessYogi RESET itself:
Fireworks go off at 7.30pm as part of the NDP rehearsals. As it dies down, the dome tent is dimly lit with mood lighting and Shamanic Music is playing in the background. Facing the view of the Marina Bay Waterfront, we will go through Kalari Yoga together as a group.

I'm getting excited thinking about the whole thing! Of course, we do hope that you stay with us after the Kalari Yoga session as we go into a chillax after party mode! :) Good news for Amanda's followers/students as well as members of Real Yoga! You guys get special discounted tickets to our event! Do bug Amanda and check your mailbox for the promo code.

See you all there on the 11th July!!

Our main event will be a special night yoga named "Kalari Yoga" and this session will take place from 8-9pm!

What is Kalari Yoga? It is a rhythmic yoga flow that pulsates with the energy of the sacred circle. It is as gentle as it is strong, as calming as it is energizing, and as uplifting as it is grounding.

Kalari is the journey of learning, being wholly present, finding groundlessness in flight and tranquility in flow. This special workshop will be accompanied by Shamanic music from the Desert Dwellers so it will be an audio treat as well as visual treat as you'll be looking at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade while holding your poses. Furthermore, we've gotten word that there will be fireworks coming from the Marina Barrage on that day too!

Come and join us during our WellnessYogi RESET to experience this new yoga flow and understand yourself better!

Kalari Yoga & After Party sessions only     $20
Full Day Passes      start from $35

Note: Full Day Pass attendees will receive a goodie bag worth $60! Details on the goodie bag will be out later...

Kalari Yoga is brought to you by:

As part of WellnessYogi RESET, we are having a Wellness Bazaar where we hope to fill it with stalls full of interesting, healthy and wellness products!

Each standard booth comes with a 1.5m long table and 2 chairs. It'll be under a tent so no need to worry about the rain. This bazaar will be open to the public, with an estimated foot traffic of 2,000 pax.
 

This is the view that you're gonna get as you set up shop and sell your products!

If you have such a business or you just want to sell off your blogshop items, please email me at melissa@passhen.com!

For details about the event itself, feel free to click the image below:

Hi everyone! Pas/shen and WellnessYogi are having a Mothers' Day promotion where individual workshops and individual Full Day passes will get a 10% discount with the promo code MOTHER10OFF.

This promotion is valid through 17 May 2015 and I think it's a great idea because instead of stuffing our faces silly at the buffet line, we're treating our mums to something that's healthy! Bond with your mother (or daughter) through yoga and other workshops during the RESET event on 11 July! After all, a family that exercises together is sure to stay together longer. Don't know about you but my mum is going! Yup, got her a ticket.

You can get more details about the event and purchase your tickets below.

Event Registration Online for WellnessYogi RESET powered by Eventbrite

It's the 2nd week of our giveaway and we're so excited about this one! One lucky winner will win a free makeover by our make up artist, Mia Yeh, who will also be giving a workshop during WellnessYogi RESET entitled "Reset Your Youth". The winner will also win a pair of Day Passes to the event on 11 July!

How to participate in this contest? Head onto either Passhen or WellnessYogi's Facebook page and follow the steps there!

Do note that the winner has to agree to give us permission to take photos/videos of the make over and use his/her images as part of our publicity and marketing of WellnessYogi RESET. This giveaway ends on 25 Apr at 2359 hrs (SG Time) and the winner will be announced on 26 Apr.

This make over is proudly brought to you by Mia Yeh who is a MOTIVE cosmetics ambassador.

Last year in November, my friend suddenly said to me, "Mel, shall we do something meaningful next year?" I replied, in an almost knee-jerk manner, "Like what?" She then said, "How about organising a yoga event and inviting our friends?"

That gave birth to the idea of WellnessYogi RESET. We came up with the name RESET precisely because we both are working in jobs that require us to work late and in very high stress environment. We both needed to reset our lives and regain our balance. We also understand that we're not alone. Many women feel the same way.

Yes, we're bold and crazy but sometimes, we just want to GO BIG if not we'll go home!! We want to infect the world to spur everyone to change for the better and reach their personal goals, whatever they may be. The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.

WellnessYogi RESET is our dream and we've started it. We've booked the venue (Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade), booked the licence (still many more to go...), booked our instructors and are pressing on to get more sponsors onboard so that we will not suffer financial woes because of this project. It's our project of love and pride that we're sharing with you and we hope that you'll help us finish it!

We understand that yoga isn't for everyone, which is why there are other workshops (make up anyone?) and even a picnic lunch session where we can all chillax together. Heard that there will be fireworks on the 11 July so the night yoga and after party will prove to be super fun!

Tickets are selling at $40 (early bird) and if you bring a friend, it'll only be $35/pax! We're also very excited that we're going to have a Wellness Bazaar so if you'd like a booth, please message me at melissa@passhen.com!

Tickets and bazaar booths can both be purchased at: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/wellnessyogi-reset-tickets-16369626995?aff=melfann

As mentioned previously, I started my gym membership in November 2014 as part of my 'Get Fit' plan. Decided to join the same gym as my friend because it's near to my office (1 MRT stop away) and with her going to regular yoga classes, it kinda forced me to turn up for classes too.

It was definitely not easy in the beginning. However, ever since I started regular yoga classes, I can feel slight changes in my health. I'm definitely feeling a lot stronger and although I'm very stressed out at work, the classes have been my coping mechanism. This is extremely beneficial to my coping with depression too. I've been trying to go pill-free for the past 3 years and I've been successful so far thanks to keeping myself calm and active. Sure, there are those down days but when I'm in class, I'm focusing on holding the poses, stretching and my breathing that I have no way to dwell and spiral down.


When I wrote that I felt stronger, it is not psychological but physical. I've managed to convert 1 kg of fat into 1 kg of muscle! Below are the print outs from the Fat Analyzer machine at the gym. By the way...don't try to add up the Soft Lean Mass and Fat Free Mass because 'Soft lean mass' is part of 'Fat Free Mass'. Haha...I scrubbed out my total weight :P

  

The above 2 analysis reports were taken on 24 Nov, the day where I was introduced to the Fat Analyzer machine but I had already been going for at least 1 yoga class per week starting from 1 Nov.

 

 

As you can see, in less than a month, I managed to convert 1 kg of fat into 1 kg of muscle. This is why some people say "Oh you've lost weight" when the scales aren't changing but you do feel slimmer. You want to put on muscle to help burn fat.

Fast forward to something a little more recent. The good news is that I'm maintaining my lean muscle despite the occasional laziness (ie. skipping classes) and sheer exhaustion where I either went home to rest or went to sleep in my gym's salt recovery room.

I'm still overweight and I still have to work 3 times harder than others to burn off my fats. I am still not as flexible as 90% of the others in the class but I do get a sense of personal satisfaction when I find certain poses easier to hold and I'm able to last the whole hour.

Found this infographic (click to expand) on Huffington Post and I think it's a great summary about all the benefits you'll get...even from the 1st yoga class!

If you're still cynical and/or hesitant about this rise in popularity of yoga which seems to be common amongst juicing vegans and other new age folks, why not ease yourself into it through something that is non-committal and is only for 1 day? WellnessYogi RESET is meant more for destressing as well as be a day of fun activities to help you cope with stress and unhealthy lifestyles. We all need a break. So see you and your friends there on 11 July!