August 2014 Yoga Class Time Table

                      Yoga Class Time Table and Fees Guidelines

Time	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thur	Fri	Saturday
9 to 10.15am	Yoga  (gentle)	Yoga (average)	No Class	Yoga  (strong)	Yoga  Basics	10 to 11.15 am Yoga Asana/Flow
						11.20 am  to 12.00 Noon Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditation
6.15 to 7.30 pm	Yoga  (gentle)	Yoga  (average)	Yoga (average) 6.45  to 8 pm (***)	Yoga (strong)	Yoga  Basics
7.45 to 9.00 pm	Yoga (gentle)	Yoga (average)		Yoga (strong)	Yoga  Basics

Yoga Classes Guidedlines:

1.  All the Yoga (Gentle and Average) Classes are consisted with the standard sets of program: 

     Warm-up & Sun exercises and Yoga Asanas and Yoga Flows.

2.  Yoga (Strong) Classes are consisted with the non-standard sets of program: 

     Stronger yoga poses, Pilates, Weights & Yoga Fusion.

3.  Yoga (Basics) Classes are consisted with the foundational program:

Sun exercises, Yoga Breathings, and other basic yogic techniques.

4.  Yoga Nidra and Guided Meditation classes are for Relaxation and De-stress.

Fees Guidedlines:

RM 360 (unlimited for three months)

RM 270 (1 class per week for three months)

All the fees paid are Non-Refundable.

No Classes in Public Holidays and Sundays.

For further inquiry, please contact or leave message to: 

Beth Lim (012.2742.012), bethyoga@gmail.com, www.bethsyoga.com.my

Annoucement

Dear friends,

As some of you may know, I've taken a sudden one-month teaching break in July, and, this was the first time in 14 years teaching in Malaysia that I've taken this long break!

The main reasons for the break was, to clarify the directions that I want to take with Yoga teachings and most importantly, is to rejuvenate and recuperate myself from the tiredness that has been accumulated over the years.  I apologize for the sudden disappearance act.

Now....

I am back with a renewed energy and inspiration to teach, and this is why I am writing you a personal letter to tell you what I am offering.

I hope we can come together, to grow and support each other in our life's journey.  

I have come to a stage in my life, where I want to focus more on private teaching and coaching, while reducing my public teaching gradually with time.

The Yoga center in Purta Heights will resume the normal Yoga classes from the 1st of August, and the program structure and mood of the class will be slightly different. (please note the attached Time Table).

Besides the ongoing-general Yoga classes, 

1. There will be the Yoga basic classes, focusing more onto building stronger foundation, with basic asanas and various Yoga breathing techniques.

2. There will be the Yoga relaxation and guided group meditation class, that is open for all the current yoga students.

I urge you to come and visit me, feel free to do the usual trial and if you like it, I have a special deal for you!  Bring your friends along too, as your support is much appreciated.

For those of you that sign up in August, I'am offering a One-time 15% off the usual price, in celebration on my 15th year of Yoga teachingin Malaysia.

Continuing students, whose fees have not expired in August, will get the 15% off with their next renewal.

3.  There also will be the 5-days structured Healing Sound Meditation Courses, for those who want to learn how to meditate properly and formally; 

     to reduce stresses, to improve health, to improve creativity, to improve overall sense of well being and happiness, to enhance your spirituality.

    (The Meditation course schedules will announced later separately).

Above all,

The major direction that I want to take now, is, more towards private coaching/teachings.  I want to briefly mention these to you and if you feel any of these can benefit you, please get in touch to discuss the details.

a)  Astrological Guidance.  This is a major interest and special gift that I have been nourishing for more that 20 years.  It was Indian astrology that started my road to teach Yoga.  2 forms of consultations are available now -- Comprehensive Chart Reading and Annual Directional Reading.  The comprehensive reading gives you an overview of how destiny affects your life, and how by mastering true free-will, you can manage your life more effectively.  The annual reading guides you on the life direction for the year, which begins on your date of birth, not 1st January.  The readings are very specific to your life and what can be unveiled might surprise you.  True Indian astrology is more than just character understanding or vague fortune telling.

b)  One-Purpose Yoga.  This is private individual Yoga sessions for specific purpose like pregnancy, fertility enhancement, cancer care or serious depression.  The true essence of Yoga is both body and mind cultivation.  Stretching and breathing can be thought quite easily.  But there are many specific techniques in Yoga for specific cases that are difficult or impossible to teach in public group sessions.  If you have a specific issues that you sense or know that I can help, please get in touch.  

We are now living in a very much globalized world; fast, interconnected, and swamped with unlimited choices; life is different just 1 generation ago.  While this is inevitable and wonderful in many ways, it is very challenging for many.  This transition is difficult for the nervous system to adapt.  While we are more connected on a conventional way like the having access to the internet, on a deeper level, many are more isolated and confused.

In essence, what we really need is open-hearted support of each other, something truly lacking in  this fast-paced world.  This required step is not easy for all of us, but, we got to start somewhere.  I know the Yoga center has been a refuge for many of you, some for only a short while.  But you should not give up looking for an oasis that can nourish your body, mind and spirit.  Let us come together to unfold life's wondrous journey.

I will do my best to support you.  Let's keep in touch.

With much love,

Beth Lim.

The Three-Year Hill

A long time ago in a village, there was a ridge called Three-Year Hill.  Legend had it that if someone fell from the hill he would live only three more years, so that's how the ridge got it's name.  Since nobody like the ideas of crossing the hill, they all took a detour.

One day, an old man who had visited a village on the other side of hill was coming back late at night.  With some reluctance, he decided to cross the ridge.  He walked cautiously, but because he was very nervous, he soon lost his footing and fell down the hill.  He sat there stunned for a long time before going home.

After that, he fell into a deep depression because he knew his life would be over in three years.  He lost his appetite and became weaker and weaker, until he was finally bed-ridden.  A very clever body who live next door heard the old man's story and visited him.

"Sir, don't worry.  I have a great idea."
"What do you mean?  I only have three more years to live.  What great idea could you possible have?"
"You should go back to the Three-Year Hill and fall down again."

The old man listened in disbelief.  Reaching to beat the boy with his wooden pillow, he yelled,
"What?  Are you kidding?  Do you want me to die tomorrow morning?  Get out of my house now!"

The boy tried very patiently to explain, "Listen, sir--"
"Stop this!  Get out!"
"Sir, listen.  If you fall down the hill, you will live only three years.  Am I right?"
"So what?" asked the old man.
"Then, if you fall there twice, you can live six more years.  If you fall three times, it totals nine years.  So if you fall down ten times, you can live 30 more years.  Doesn't that make sense to you?"

At last, the old man understood the wise words of the boy.  He sprang from his bed, ran up Three-Year Hill, and rolled down.  And he did it again and again.  After that, he lived a long, happy life.

Moral of the story:  What we believe becomes the truth.  The truth that was not tested but followed blindly becomes dogma of which will kill us sooner or later. How about you?  What is your truth in life?  Do you prefer to follow dogma blindly, the way of others doing things?  Or are truthful person who would like to follow the path that are not familiar but willing to explore with an open heart?

The path full of rules and dogma will deliver us fear, pain, anguish, and unhappiness that will curtail our well-being and happiness in life.

The path filled with healthy faith and truth, will relieve any sufferings that are imposed upon by others as well as us, thus leading us a life that will amplify our well-being and happiness and life span.

Wesak Day is around the corner.  The Shakhyamuni Buddha's life  was the shining example of someone who upheld the Truth beyond the three worlds. And elevated the mankind into different levels, from suffering to happiness, from ignorance to engligntenment by setting direct example with his own lif.

Though you might or might not be a buddhist, but I still like to you wish you all Truth and Enlightenment in the years to come.  

Happy Wesak Day!

 

Headstand (Shirshasana)--Sometimes we need a new perspective in life!

Last Sunday was the election day.  Of course, I can't cast my vote even if I wanted to.  Being an expatriate PR, I am not entitled to any political stance points, neither have I any interest to do so.  But, this election is held in 5 years since the last one in March 2008.  And personally, the election day brings me back a rather painful memory...So I was rather a bit nervous with all the hypes that were happening around it.

It was January 2008 that I opened the current Beth's Yoga center in Putra Heights.  At the time, I just uprooted my then-strong Yoga base in Bukit Jalil, and moved to the present location which was yet a remote new township.

In retrospect, it was a very bold move in many aspects. Because I simply packed and left the beautiful Bukit Jalil center, leaving the loyal hundreds Yoga students behind, to start a new center in where virtually not many human folks were yet-to-be-seen.  It was all quiet day and night in the new town.

I don't know what I saw...but, I simply fall in love with the new town when I first was.  Maybe it was the hill, palm trees, clear sky or simply the fresh air that are so rare in other parts of the KL city...But anyway, I felt special connection and promising future in this newly developing township, that I wish to root myself for the rest of life.  Being an expatriate living in a foreign land for ten over years then, I very much needed a place that I can finally settle and develop the sense of belonging...

I guess the abundant greenery and hilly atmosphere, with a bit isolated feeling from the rest of busy hustle-bustle city life...suited well with my inclination for solitary and quietude...

Despite of much obstacles and hiccups that accompanied initially...however...by the grace of God and help from many of my Yoga friends...the new center opening was rather smooth and it could receive warm welcoming from the not-yet many PH residents...But it was a short sweet dream that lasted barely a few month...

Then, it came the March 2008 election shock...that shook the whole country...and it affected many large and small business men...including this new Yoga center of mine...

The FATWA interference on Yoga, putting the ban on all the Muslim from it, and the Yoga Zone bankruptcy who put a very bad name on Yoga as the result...So suddenly more than half of the enrollment disappeared from my yoga center as well, with not much new students for many, many months thereafter...It was a very tough time then...with huge capital was already invested for the renovation, moving and advertising...

That was 5 years ago already.  And I somehow managed to stand in the same place, with the same enthusiasm and all the more vibrant yoga students in the center of buzzing township of Putra Heights...up until now... 

What I first saw years ago...faint impression of the beautiful and tranquil place, that I can invite the stressed city-folks to breathe and stretch...So that, they can release stress, recharge tired body, mind and souls, and get a new perspective in life regularly for the better life aspirations...

I feel only now start to materializing...PH is ever changing and all the more vibrant, and so are the in-out surroundings in the Beth's Yoga center...I guess I was right after all.  I am very glad that I am still here.  How about you?  Are you still there...?  In where you were and where you want to in your life?  If not, I guess it's time that you need a new look in your life. 

This is one of my favorite yoga asanas to unleash my stress and a bull's eye yoga pose in refreshing our stuck mind...It was most helpful too, at the time when I was dealing with the aftermath shock of the last election...the headstand pose...

Headstand(Shirshasana) is considered the king of all the asanas and, as such, one of the most important asanas in yoga.  This supported version of Shirshasana puts the least amount of stres on the head and neck because the forearms and shoulders support the majority of the body weight.  The crown of the head is cradled between the hands, and the back of the head rests against the fingers.  There are numerous variations of headstand; however, this version is best for building the strenth and stamina for all others.

The benefits of Shrshasana is; it increases stamina and strength in the shoulders, neck, abdominals, and upper spine and helps prevent bone degeneration in these areas; it creates good posture; it improves circulation; it massages the lungs and builds resistance to illness; increases energy and body heat; increases concentration and balance as it stimulates the pressure points at the crown chakra.

So let me know if you want to learn it too...

Chicken or Eagle

There was a farmer who had chicken in his backyard.  And then, there was a chicken that was a little odd looking, but he was a chicken.  It behaved like a chicken.  It was pecking away like other chickens.  It didn't know that there was a blue sky overhead and a glorious sunshine.

One day a learned man was passing by the farm.  He saw the odd looking chicken.  
Then he said to the farmer, "Hey, that's no chicken.  That's an eagle."  But, the farmer said, "Um, um, no, no, no man.  That's a chicken; it behaves like a chicken."

And the man said no; give it to me please.  And he gave it this knowledgeable man.  And this man took this strange looking chicken and climbed the mountain and waited until sunrise.  And then he turned this strange looking chicken towards the sun and said, 

"Eagle, fly, eagle."  And the strange looking chicken shook itself, spread out its pinions, and lifted off and and soared and soared and flew away, away into the distance.  

God says to all of us, you are no chicken; you are an eagle.  Fly, eagle, fly.  And God wants us to shake ourselves, spread our pinions, and then lift off and soar and rise, and rise toward the confident and the good and the beautiful.  Rise towards the compassionate and the gentle and the caring.  Rise to become what God intends us to be--eagle, not chickens.

(Desmond Tutu, cleric, activist, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate)

One of my favorite yoga poses is "Garudasana--eagle pose". 

Garuda is a divine bird, the Lord Vishnu's carrier, with the head, wings, talons and beak of an eagle and the body and limbs of a man, which why the pose is commonly referred to as eagle pose.

As you stay balanced with one leg wrapped over the other, and both arms tightly interwind each other in front of you...it's pretty much challenging, not to sway hither-thither, not to mention about the fast beating heart and rapid breaths.  In no time, you are drenched with sweats dripping all over your face, body and the floor.  And yet, when you undo the tanglings of the limbs...there is a certain sense of satisfaction and relief boosting your confidence levels...

That's why, if you can master this pose after the initial awkard hesitations and fallings...Garudasana not only, strengthens and stretches the ankles and calves and improving balance, but also, opens up your heart to soar toward the sky!  You realize that, you are no timid chicken who keeps looking down, but instead, an eagle, with gigantic wings and sharp gaze to be able to fly far and wide into the vast sky.  What a freedom to break free of all the limitations of chicken that was imposed by others as well as ourselves....!!!

Let's remind ourselves one more time...our God given identity...we are no chicken, but an eagle!!!