Paying tribute to our founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew

This morning I woke to news that I've dreaded to hear. Although one's passing is inevitable, for we are humans and we have to meet death one day.

I have had the privilege to live in a peaceful multi-racial, multi-religion country, in a clean and green state, received education, a city that has an efficient and robust infrastructure (healthcare, transport, finance, telecommunications) and being able to walk on the streets without having to worry about my safety. This last point is what I'd call freedom, free of fear and worry for our own safety.

Singapore was built very much on the backbone of the first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew - his vision and tenacity, and we have been sitting on this giant shoulders of his as long as he lived.

He was a man of courage - in standing up to lead a country, and with firmness that was necessary to gather his team and fellow citizens towards achieving the vision of making Singapore a successful first-world country. 

To our dear founding father of Singapore,
Thank you for setting the foundation and providing us with the Singapore we have today.  I grew up watching you on TV, when there were broadcasts of the rallies that took place in the earlier years and thereafter giving speeches. My family (grandparents and parents) had impressed upon me as a child on the contributions you've made, and I have enjoyed the fruits of your labour and that of your founding team's labour. Now, we'd have to do our part by taking it upon ourselves as Singaporeans to carry on your legacy in making Singapore a better place.

Why sitting is bad for you

TED-Ed has summarised and depicted in this video what happens to our body when we sit for prolonged periods of time. We are meant to move (more than sitting or standing for hours).

So, get on up right NOW, to walk, do some squats, stretch (side ways, rotate your chest, front and back of your body) :D

Marking my Fifth Year

It's been a long while since I penned something here personally.

So, this year, coincidentally it's my 5th year since I embarked on teaching Pilates my profession, I had the opportunity to join and be part of an amazing (pioneer) team in setting up Lululemon's very first store in Asia and in Singapore! I'm so grateful for this opportunity, where I met and got to know so many different like-minded people. Here's my journey in the seasonal term I had - during the festive holiday period.

First, the team (Lululemon Singapore) spirit is nothing but fantastic - Go Lululemon! Who would have thought unpacking/packing of apparel would be done with such high energy and fun - making work fun, have fun working!

The team - we simply love our workouts! We'd call it "sweat together". It's so encouraging and motivating to have people to work out with; plus, we have the freedom to try different types of workouts and go to all the different workout spaces/studios in Singapore!

Also, I got to meet and attend each Lululemon Singapore's ambassadors sweat sessions.

My firsts at these workouts with the ambassadors were:

I got to do Mysore (by Stanley Lim, Founder of Ashtanga Yoga Singapore), CrossFit (by Samuel Lim, Owner and Head Coach at CrossFit Fire City) and Capoeira by May Ooi, MMA Fighter.

I also attended quite a fair number of classes by Lynn & Sumei at Space & Light (R-evolution). Personally, I liked it because of how much they emphasise on alignment on cuing the poses. Having attended Yin Yoga by Jo Phee, I understood what Yin is for and about better; though my initial encounter at Yin some years back was it was a tat too slow for me.

Not forgetting, attending a class by Alicia Pan, Founder and Owner of Yoga Movement and attend the Pilates community class by Thicha, Instructor Trainer and Trainer at Breathe - The Movement Specialist.

Eventually, I must say experiencing various workouts is not only fun as I love working out, but I've found how it enables me to improve my teaching!

1. When I learnt the correct technique and alignment of some of the basic yoga poses, when I learnt the general principles of the yoga breath - i.e when to inhale and when to exhale in the various poses, I am in a better position to understand and explain to my clients the general differences.

2. Having done CrossFit, Crucycle (it's incorporating spinning and weights for arm workouts 

with music), Aerial Yoga,  I've discovered how I'm able to do them with relative control due to Pilates, a body conditioning regime. The improved body awareness, especially in alignment means no injury and engagement of the core muscles means working from the centre out and not put strain on my extremities (i.e joints on shoulders, wrists, knees and ankles).

3. Now, I have a better idea of how and what CrossFit is, what CruCycle and 7Cycle is, how Aerial Yoga is.

Plus I was reminded of the message(s)

"Trust Ourselves, learn to fall as more importantly, it's getting up and go at it again, and not to let Fear take over"

I've learnt so much from each and every one of the teachers/instructors and from the various classes. As this phrase a relief teacher gave us in my early teens:

"Every moment is lesson, Every person is a teacher. Grow!"

A heartfelt appreciation to everyone I've met and got to know - the ambassadors, the team, and guests at the store!

My Personality Type: The Independent Thinker

My Personality Type: The Independent Thinker

Now, I'm just deciding to share a little about myself - my personality as the results is quite spot-on and is described succinctly my innate desire for learning, improvement and growth, amongst other aspects:

"in the work place you are always striving for as much knowledge and expertise as possible. You are rarely or never satisfied with your accomplishments"

"considers controlling nature and his environment to be much more interesting - the main motivation for your continuous hunger for more information. Improving your capabilities and expanding the store of your knowledge and experience is your life’s main objective."

This is in part as a way to let everyone know/understand what really moves me (behind the cool/reserved face), marking the 5th year since I decided to make this profession my work, my life. 

Physical activity for cancer survivors, starting somewhere and feel safe

Pilates is a gentle, safe place to begin for those who has just undergone cancer surgery and treatment. A breast cancer survivor has listed the 12 Benefits of Pilates she experienced in this article:

Pilates for Breast Cancer Survivors

Enjoy the Challenge and the Proces

I enjoyed this article and it's so true that I just want to share it! I'd say apply this continuous strive in life too - be it your relationships at home and at work, apply to your attitude to the work you do (and that it's not just a job)...

Excerpts: Mr. Balanchine once said: “If you don’t feel challenged, it’s because you’re not doing enough. Ballet should never feel comfortable. Comfortable is lazy! If you’re comfortable when you dance, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough. 100% is not enough. You have to give 200%. One tendu takes years of hard work and will never be perfect. Everything in ballet is a challenge.”

...ballet is a process that takes many years and that professional dancers are still trying to perfect their technique.

As a teacher, I want to see my students succeed beyond their expectations, and even mine for that matter. I cannot make them work hard, that’s something they have to do for themselves. I can only give them all my knowledge, information and time and try to inspire them to do their best. What they do with all of it afterwards is totally up to them. One of the lessons I try my very best to teach them is that ballet is certainly not boring, especially if you’re doing it properly.

Ballet, sweat and tears

Young, aspiring ballet dancers, prima ballerinas and experienced ballet teachers all agree on one - this beautiful and extremely challenging art requires sacrifices to make it into a handful of dancers that will reach the top.