I fell in love with Putra Heights when I first saw its surroundings with abundant green, vastly open and clear sky, cooling breeze and fresh air. It was a very rare sight to come by for housing in the crowded city like KL or Subang Jaya. The floor plan for the Laman Putra was even more attractive with the beautiful garden, long jogging track, gazebos and the fully guarded fences. So we immediately booked for a house with a shop lot for the new location of Beth’s Yoga.
It has been 2 years since we moved in, and the living experiences have been truly peaceful and enjoyable so far, especially taking slow walks in pre-dawn early morning along the well carved jogging path is one of my favorite activities of the day. The entire neighborhood is still in deep sleep; crickets and frogs are still cricking, croaking away. It is an enlivening and luxurious experience to be able to enjoy a slow stroll alone in nature without having to worry about safety. As I walked around the protected and conducive environment, I feel tall, as if reaching toward the heaven above while staying firmly connected with the earth below. How precious and soothing is each moment are beyond words.
Lately, I started to notice an increasing number of residents that appeared outdoor out in the compound for various recreational activities. The numbers of morning joggers or walking folks have also been steadily increased too. I am happy because it shows that people are more health-conscious but more importantly, there’s a growing sense of community. This sense of supportive neighborhood is an integral part of well-being. But then, being a kepoh (Hokkien for busy-body I learnt) yoga teacher myself, I can’t help but to notice the poor postures and inefficient ways of walking, jogging or trying to exercise, especially among the men and the senior citizens. Chests are collapsed with hunched backs, hips and knees are wobbling or swaying out of shape with feet keep turning outward and arms dangling aimlessly at the side. Breathing becomes inconsistent because many are chatting away while walking.
This kind of walk is ineffective way to exercise efficiently, more like trying to dig a well with a teaspoon. The proper way of walking for better health and posture, even if done 30 minutes at a time, is to walk slowly and steadily with a straight spine while maintaining natural alignment of shoulders, hips, knees and feet. Arms should be gently swinging front and back, pressing heels to toes in each step, and most importantly, being mindful of natural breath that flows evenly. By walking this way, it not only speeds up your good health, produces ideal posture, firm up the body but also to help you to lose weight naturally, all without trying too hard with vigorous exercise regimen. I call this the Yoga Walk, very similar to the Tiger Walk that has been used for martial arts training found in Chinese culture.
Do you want to learn more about how to walk more efficiently to improve your health and posture? Please come for a walk to remember, to reconnect with your body, mind and spirit. This free workshop on Yoga Walk will be held on 17th January (Sunday) 2010, 11am at the Beth’s Yoga Center. Anyone who can walk are welcome, especially the stressful career men and women, busy homemakers who don’t have enough time to exercise and senior citizens who want to rejuvenate their health.
It will be my pleasure to share this gift freely to you, all for better health and a livelier community spirit. So see you all there!
Beth’s Yoga
From Body to Somebody
| Announcement: 1. A Free-Workshop on Yoga Walk for Better Health and Posture. 17th January (Sunday) 11am—1pm. 2. Kids Yoga for Fun and Play (intake starts from 23th January 2010) 3. Morning Yoga classes/Yoga rejuvenation and relaxation class (intake start from 7th January 2010). |
For more detailed Yoga class times,
visit www.bethsyoga.com.my or call Beth 012.274.2012.
