A Wandering Yoga Girl

I've been MIA for way too long. Well, I had a pretty awesome post birthday holiday trip and still experiencing a holiday hangover. I hopped on a tour to God's Own Country - Kerala. I spent 10 beautiful days in this magical place. It was a renewing experience and it taught me a lot about myself. Once I got back, I was inspired with new ideas and my creativity was sparked. I discovered that I love adventure, I love to explore a new place and I knew for sure that I want to travel more often to see the rest of the world. Ever since returning to Malaysia, I feel a new shot of energy and an indescribable sense of calmness. I feel new and alive. Here's a sneak peak of my journey around Kerala. Chinese Fishing Nets at Fort Kochi A random lake in Munnar On the way from Munnar to Thekkady Staying in a house boat in Allepey Elephant ride in Thekkady After a tiring hike to the top of Munnar, some forest stunts! Mettupatty Dam in Munnar  An ...

Image courtesy of wikia Remember the days when Mom used to say 'Time for bed!'. I personally feel the older we grow, the less we are bound to little instructions like this. No rules and definitely, no bed time. During my teens, I can recollect the many times I felt exhilarated because I could sleep whenever I want to without being watched over. Today, I have changed my opinion completely. I am convinced that sleep is the medicine to all wounds(physical, mental or emotional). Probably, the effect of intense yoga practices and teaching. I am nobody to tell you what is the right or wrong number of hours to sleep and I'm definitely not here to instruct you on how/when/where to sleep or to impose a bed time. Everyone has a different lifestyle, working hours and health conditions. I'm also aware some people have a FOMO (fear of missing out) and have an urge to be glued to their phones. Suit yourself and go to bed whenever you fancy a beauty sleep. The bottom line is, no o...

Bliss with Yoga turns ONE today! It wouldn't be a birthday without some chocolatey goodness and sprinkles. 365 days ago, I remember posting my very first blog post titled 'A Fresh Start' and no turning back ever since. This journey has taught me many lessons, blessed me with exciting opportunities and allowed me to connect with people in real life and from the Internet. I started out with only 5 followers(who were all friends) and today, it has reached 250 followers and I don't even have that many friends in real life. Of course, I had my share of ups and downs but everything happens for a reason, right? Before I pour my heart out further, take a look at the photo below if you would like to try this super quick eggless brownies recipe. Time to spill the tea. Maintaining a blog, creating contents and sticking to a schedule while trying to make a living, pursuing yoga and living a yogic lifestyle is super challenging. As this day was approa...

Moon salutation is a reflection of sun salutation and the only significant change is the addition of ardha chandrasana. The moon energy which flows in this sequence is associated with cooling, relaxing, creativity and consciousness. Mastering the steps in sun salutation will be helpful to adapt with moon salutation. Time of practice : Evening/night, especially when the full moon is visible. Practice with empty stomach. Duration : Repeat 3 to 7 rounds. Steps Technique Stand upright with your feet together. Place the palms together in front on your chest in namaskar mudra. Normal breathing. As you INHALE , raise both arms, focusing on extending your torso and gently curve your back. Palms can be placed together in salutation. EXHALE as you bend forward. Try to keep the legs straight and reach to hold any part of your leg.  Ideally, you can try to interlock your big toes with your thumb, index ...

The word bandha means 'to hold', 'tighten' or 'lock' a specific part on the physical body. These are very important group of yogic practices. They have profound effects on the physical, pranic and mental levels.  Organs, muscles, nerves and various processes in the body are massaged and stimulated while the contraction/lock also affects the flow of prana within the body. Surprisingly, performing the bandhas contributes to the removal of mental blocks which hinder an individual from evolving. Bandha Technique Benefits Jalandhara Bandha   Contraindications:   Not recommended for those suffering from high blood pressure and heart ailments.   Sit in a comfortable position with knees in contact with the floor   Place your palms on your knees   Exhale deeply, and hold the breath.   Bring the chin in contact with your chest, and straighten your arms. Stay in this position for as long as you can com...

Can you imagine the feel of drinking a cold, sweet drink filled with ice cubes up to the rim of a glass. Imagine the cold sensation down your throat. We have all been there and done that. Sounds refreshing, doesn't it? Well, have you ever thought of what happens inside your body after gulping a liquid which is that cold. Ideally, the human body is supposed to be maintained at 37⁰C. Let's say your iced drink is at about 10⁰C, can you picture how hard your system has to work to maintain the temperature of all your internal organs at 37⁰C. If you have some knowledge of heat transfer or even basic science, you would have probably heard of latent heat and that theory applies to the human body as well. Enough said. I agree it's easier said than done. Especially, when the summer heat waves really gets on your last nerves. All I have to say is, we can't change the environment, but we can surely makes better choices. Opting for fruits and practicing the breathing technique tha...

Supta Baddha Konasana Do's Rest as much as you can.  Gentle surya namaskar/sun salutations. Practice gentle and restorative asanas (See here ). Better still, take a break from physical exercises and asanas for a day or two.  Sleep early. Shavasana and yoga nidra will be a perfect company. Mild meditation and Brahmari pranayama will give a soothing effect to your minds and helps your body to relax. Eat light and make better choices.  A tablespoon of fenugreek seeds can help relieve menstrual cramps.  Listen to your body's need. Turn your attention within and be kind to yourself. Maybe, take a break from going to class. You won't be compelled to perform asanas thought in the class. Moreover, no one needs to know you're on your monthly cycle.  Don'ts Inversions are a no-no! Including Khandarasana and Chakrasana. We don't want to reverse the flow of our menses and create complications in our system.  Avoid asa...