Life is beautiful

I like movies and dramas that are inspirational. There was a movie that I watched years ago which still makes me ponder over it time to time.  Its title is “life is beautiful (1997)”.  By the title alone, you will think it must be happy-go-merry kinds of story. But it’s not.  It is an Italian tragicomedy drama film, depicting a Jewish Italian book keeper, who must employ his fertile imagination to shield his son from the horrors of internment in a Nazi concentration camp. I am not usually a big fan of any wars, tragedy or doomsday movies, more so if it’s about the holocaust.  They ring gloomy darkness in our human spirit. However that movie was one of the most touching movies I’ve ever seen.

Apparently I was not the only one.  The film was a critical and financial success globally, winning the leading actor Benigni the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 71st Academy Awards as well as the Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score and the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The background of the movie is in 1930’ and 1940’.

Guido (a poor Italian book keeper) fell in love with and marries Dora (a Germany from a well-off family) despite her mother’s fierce objection.  In the first half, the audience can laugh the loudest and delight at the immense comedy talent of Guido (played by Benigni). But in the second segment, various incidents related to the rise of anti-semitism and fascism in Italy show that there are sinister forces at work.  Guido and Dora move on from Tuscany in 1939 to the last year of the war in a concentration camp. In this period they have had their son Giosue.  Guido attempts to keep from the boy the horrors of what is going on, and this eventually manifests itself as a game where the aim is to score 100 points, with the winner winning a real tank (which, of course appeals to the young boy). Comic moments are still present, that involving Guido's translation of the rules of the camp is particularly notable, but it becomes somewhat more difficult to laugh when we consider the gravity of what is going on. At the end of the film, Guido is sacrificed and Dora is reunited with Giosue, who still oblivious of what went on, excitedly tell mom how he won the game played with daddy.

And the movie ends with the narration voice of grown-up Giosue that, not only appeal Guido to the audience due to his comedy and sheer pleasantness, but also in the way that he loves his family and the measures that he will go to protect them.  The emphasis begins shifts, and we realize that this is a film about human spirit above all else.

We are living in the era of fear invoking socio-cultural genre.  We are living in the era of laughter-scarce socio-fanatical genre.  I am quite tired of reading and listening all those negative headlines and gravely exaggerated news from the media.  It seems their only agenda is to scare people out of their life.

Life is not so bad as it seems from the surface.  Of course there is regular ups and downs, sometimes small, sometime big challenges keep coming out seemingly from nowhere.  But still, life is as how we paint it.  From challenges, we can learn to stretch extra. Then in the process of overcoming it, we can realize life is all about making progress, not about being perfect.  Beautiful or ugly…they are all in the eyes of beholders. As I peep over those sweating yoginis with challenging yoga poses during the classes, I regularly get goose bump myself because, Life is beautiful when we can paint it with more discipline, faith and open mindset…

Stay Young with Strong Legs...

Joseph Pilates, the founder of Pilates fitness method, said we are “young” if our body is supple and strong even at the age of sixty.  On the other hand, you are told “old” if the body is stiff and out of shape even if twenty or thirty something only.

I think he was very correct.  I see all the time many “young” people in old body, many “old” people in young body.  But then, before and after Yoga, I consistently notice how fast people are changing in their overall appearances, getting younger and brighter by day, regardless of ages. 

Many people define “age” with “chronicle number of years” they have lived.  But I define otherwise.  “Age” is about how comfortable you are with your body, how strong you are in your legs.

Usually first half of our Yoga sessions are standings poses; the latter half are sitting and floor poses.  It is quite common scenes with beginners; they can barely stand 10 or 20 minutes of standing poses with wobbling jelly like legs.  Many drop to floor to catch their breath, before can stand up again to continue.  Those non-beginners…they can last, last, last…no problem.  They even feel much more energy after yoga classes.  That’s the difference between young and old, the level of stamina and energy, not the age.

Our two legs are meant for walking, not for sitting.  When you let your leg hang idle, leg strength decline over time and you will set in motion a cascade of events that could lead to disability or even premature death.  With weakened legs, you’ll first avoid activities that require exertion, like long walks or biking. Then, getting out of a chair or ascending a flight of stairs becomes a challenge.  As muscle further deteriorates, you may need a cane or a walker to safely get around.  Muscles weakened from age and disuse is also important risk factors for hip fractures.

Overall body strength is vital for maintaining independence, particularly for the lower limbs.  Strong legs, studies show, are your insurance policy for an active and enjoyable life in your later years.  Fit leg muscles also protect knee joints.  With age, thigh muscles weaken from lack of exercise, and more of the mechanical stress of walking, running, and standing transfers to the knee joints.  Strong leg muscles help absorb that stress, and prevent the breakdown of cartilage and the onset of osteoarthritis. 

And the Eagle Pose (Garudasana) is one of the best Yoga pose to strengthen not only the legs but also shoulders and arms while improving balance and focus.  Its pose will help you stay forever-young.

The Star Track

I have a confession to make.

Not many people know that I am a serious astrologer, not just an amateur, but rather a serious one who virtually breaths and lives with the stars.  Basically I am living in the star track, not the movie, but the real star track of the heavenly bodies, like the Sun, Moon…Neptune, etc.  They are always roaming around in my head as well as in my soul. 

In my head there are always the planets going around; I constantly keep track of their location, movements and changing energy patterns...  In Sanskrit term, the stars or planets are called “graha”, which means to “to grasp, to take hold of”.  I got hold of by them ever since 1992 and they never left my awareness thereafter. 

I always wonder whether knowing astrology was a curse or blessing in my life. 

Many a time it felt more like a curse.  Because, in life, you are better off by not knowing too much.  I don’t have all the answers in life, but, I feel pressured to know all the solutions to the endless problems, challenges our life present. Even if I know it, it’s also not straightforward mathematical kinds of answer, like A becomes B, becomes C and D...  it is rather fuzzy…

You see, life is the sum total of accrued causes and effects, governed by karmic rules. You can never know from where it started and how and when it ends.  But it sure will come to pass in whatever way is written in the blueprints.  However, most of what I see…I generally keep it to myself.  Or else it can easily cause unnecessary anguish to the listeners.  So it becomes torment to know, or not to know… a curse that I live with…  

But then, if I didn’t know astrology, I don’t think I could ever found ways of how to keep cool, stay collected and centered in the diverse facets of up and down life’s affairs.  I don’t think I could understand people and life as much as I do right now.  I don’t think I could live with this kind of positive, surrendering modes to the Force that is much larger than all the stars, all the people, events, emotions, things throughout the entire universe… So certainly it is more of blessing to know astrology, I think… 

Lately another major life challenge struck me…but, I am able to see it just as it is….rather than getting lost in it…I am waiting for the answers to arise…I know the planets, the Forces will guide me to it…

Will you, too, give me supports, your collective kind intentions?  So that I can sail through it safely??? 

Yoga Story 10. Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana)

There are few closing yoga poses we do at the end of each Yoga classes.  They are all very sweet and delicious yoga routines to use toward the end.  They have much settling and nourishing effects to the all worked-up nervous system.  One of them is “Cow Face Pose (Gomukhasana).” 

You will sit with one bent knee placed over the other, forming the cow’s lip.  One arm goes laterally behind the back and the fingers grasp the fingers of the other arm, which is bent over the corresponding shoulder (forming cow’s ear).  This asana tones and strengthens the ankles, hips, thighs and shoulders.

The cow is one of the holiest animals.  You look at the cow’s face.  They are so cool!  The way they roam around in the fields, cross the highway super slow and steady, whether you honk or not, they just don’t care a thing in the world!  The cow is considered to be the giver of plenty. 

In Korea, the agricultural society originally, cows are considered the most valuable treasures for the farmers.  Day and night, they plow, carry and transport while alive and give their meat and skin when die.  So the farmers have to guard it with zeal as they are easy targets for burglary in old times.  We even have an old saying “fixing the cowshed door after the cow is stolen.”  That is, we often regret after already things are happened.   

In India, all of the cow’s products are used; its strength helps farmers plow the field; its urine is a strong antiseptic; its dung makes excellent fuel for stoves and its milk yields butter and ghee.  So they worships cows like Holy Mothers. 

In China, the cow is the vehicle of Guan Yin, the Merciful Buddha.  Thus Chinese Buddhists generally refrain from eating beefs.

Different cultures, different reasons, but generally cows are considered with special regards in all over the world.

The cow is also the embodiment of different yogic qualities. They are ever so calm, peaceful and down-to-earth.  They are also generous and motherly and are in fact considered to be one of the universal mothers.  When the mother cow sees her calf, her milk flows freely and abundantly.  The relationship between the cow and her calf is therefore the perfect symbol for the relationship between the earth and its inhabitants.  Like a calf, we can give the earth our love while using her gifts in a sustainable and wholesome way.  

“Holy Cow!!!”  

You often exclaim like this when you are surprised.

“Holy Simmo!!!”

My cheeky hubby exclaims like this when he tries to be cheesy. 

As for me, who can’t enjoy any of the cow’s products due to serious lactose allergy or beefs due to upbringing, I substitute the enjoyments by just doing “ Gomukhasana.”…

Each day as a prayer, each day as an offering, and each day as a blessing...

I have just finished doing 108 times sun salutation.  It’s like as though I came back home after long, long journey…very sweaty and sticky, and whole body muscles are pulsating like fine ripples in a quite lake.  The heartbeat is surprisingly settled, the mind is lucid clear, and the emotion quietly surging upward with indescribable feelings of lightness, happiness and joy.

Then I remember our old yoga buddies in the Bukit Jalil center with whom we used to enjoy doing 108 times of sun salutation.  They were all in their 50s and 60s.  At first, they would get frightened (?) whenever I say “how many times of sun salutation should we do today?”  I would assure them that it’s okay to stop anytime whenever they need to.  Then as we go along, no one will stop but manage to finish till the end.  Then we would flat out in Savasana for 10 minutes or so, all sweaty and sticky, but, beaming with pride and healthy smile… 

That was heaven on earth.  That was one of those precious moments in life where we could be so satisfied, so content and so complete with just the way we are, just the way our life is. 

Then, life has to move on.  Nothing last forever and nothing can stay the same.  I moved to Putra Heights, and all those good and old Yoga buddies who felt so connected with each other, every time after sweating tons…I am not sure where they all have gone, while I am here, how they are over there…but I am sure they are doing fine and living each day as busy as they were before.

As for me, over the course of continuing this yogic path as a teacher at the same time as a student of Tao, I too go through fluctuation of good and bad days; good and fragile health, up and down mood of emotional swing, positive or negative spirals of inspiration.  While we are in the motion of riding those perpetual waves of changes, challenges, tasks that our life present, it’s so easy to forget the Big Picture feeling most miserable and constrained in the situations, caught up in the small minds.

But, like today, if I happen to remember after good dose of sweating and breathings, then, I realize the heaven is not far away.  It is always right at the tip of our nose, up and down…breathing in, breathing out…but we forget so often…

However as long as I am continuing the journey in this path, I have a place to come back home, the sanctuary in my heart, that I can count each day as a prayer, each day an offering, and each day as a blessing…

How about you?  Would you like to join me in the routine of 108 sun salutation?  You too will be able to find your heaven on earth…