What if Money Didn't Matter

What If Money Didn't Matter

I saw this video on youtube today. So I want to share it with all of you.

"What would you like to do if money were no object?
How would you really enjoy spending your life?"

I spent lots of time in my early 20s thinking about this question.

I wanted to be happy and free,
I wanted to see the world,
I wanted to meet lots of different people and see how they live their lives.

Though I think totally ignoring the importance of money is unrealistic. We still need to fulfill our needs for food and shelter before we can reach out to pursue our true interests and passions. But this question is worth pondering, so that we don't get lost in the pursue of materialism and forget about things that really matter to us.

Now at times when I feel insecure I remind myself that I'm on the right track and I'm doing the things I love. I hope that in the near future, when I don't have to worry about money, I can still be doing the same thing, traveling to places, learning, teaching yoga, and spending time with the people I love.

A Few Thoughts on the Flyers

I opened my email mailbox, another mail from a stranger, asking about info regarding gallery yoga classes. She saw my flyer and wants to give it a try.

How wonderful, I thought. That these papers with messages are really working, to bring people to yoga, to connect strangers together through a common interest.

These flyers were designed by Sadao. A man who makes a living by designing business cards, packages, posters, etc. And a man who I'm honoured to have built a relationship with in the past two years.

After we received these flyers delivered to our place, at night we were out on the bicycles to distribute them. I still remember how my mind struggled before walking into each cafe and residential building. "Would they understand my Japanese? How would they react to my request? There must be security cameras at the gate! The security guard would come out and stop me from inserting them into mailboxes..."

Up until now, we have given out about 1500 copies of flyers. Some were left in the corners at cafes. Some got buried down by new posters. Some got thrown away into the trash. Only 1% of them, carried the efforts and creativity of the designer, caught people's attention and initiated the connection.

I must say I still don't like going from door to door to give out flyers. But I really want to thank them, for making me a more humble person, for giving me more chances to meet and share yoga with amazing people and yogis out there.

Is it destiny?

Kids Yoga at SOWA

I finished my kids yoga training two months ago, finally I had the chance to teach them for the first time on Dec 8th at SOWA.

The class was so much fun with three teachers and 6 parents and 6 kids. We did a lot of games, songs, and of course yoga!

Many people might have this question, why do we teach kids yoga? Well, there are a few reasons for that. First of all, yoga has many physical benefits just like other sports. But the difference between yoga and other sports or dance is that, sports and dance are competitive or they are meant to be performance. And their performance is judged by others most of the time. However in yoga, we teach the kids to feel their body, and to move based on how their body feels. From that kids development a sense of body-awareness and mindfulness. 

From doing partner poses, yoga also teach kids to be more open and friendly towards their parents and classmates, and they learn how to work with others and they become more confident and more caring.

Of course! We teach them English during the lesson! Through moving and poses many kids said it was fun to learn English! Pricelss!

Looking forward to more kids yoga lessons in the near future!

Living Your Yoga Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life

A book I've just finished reading recently, Living Your Yoga Finding the Spiritual in Everyday Life by Judith Lasater.
The author Judith wrote about how to integrate yoga philosophy into everyday life. Philosophy about perspective, courage, compassion, fear, patience service, connection, truth, love and more. Judith also gives practice suggestions on each topic. Put it on your reading list! This book might give you a different perspective on the way you look at life.

干し柿作ってみました！

This is my first time drying persimmons from the fresh fruits, how long do I have to wait? People said a month or two. I can't wait to taste them!

Autumn 2012

November is one of the most (if not the most) beautiful months in Kyoto. The trees are turning red. Adding more colours and elements to the scenery.

This month I started to teach yoga at Tamisa, a well-known yoga studio in the heart of Kyoto. I see this as a step forward in my yoga teaching career. I chose to work there because of the warm atmosphere the teachers and staff created there. I'm really grateful for the opportunity they have given me to teach there in English, so that not only Japanese, foreigners can also enjoy and understand yoga in a deeper level.

I taught at Tamisa for only twice, but the students there are really welcoming. The yoga space is so magical that I really enjoy each class.

Life will continue to challenge us. In my new career of teaching yoga, I have more time to read. I want to be a messenger, reading books about the wisdom of yoga and Buddhism, and from there I can go out and share it with others.

Of course there is joy, and there is fear. Just like any others. We may fear illness, loneliness and poverty. But as we continue to observe our fears and choose to bring awareness back to the present moment, we can live more fully and thus have less time to be afraid.

There are many people who support me and help me along the way. I want to express my whole-hearted gratitude to them. (^^)

Here you can check out my schedule:
http://www.yogaforest-japan.com/

After my first lesson with some students at Tamisa

Tamisa Webiste: http://www.tamisa-yoga.com/

A New Chapter!

Gallery Yoga had started on October 6th!

It was nice to see old & new faces in my class! Teaching vinyasa, hatha, and yin yoga, I hope that yogis can choose their favourite style and get the full benefits from yoga.

It's a new chapter for me, but I'm so grateful for my partner, Sadao for his unconditional help in this project. My interpreter, Ayumi for her trust in me. My yoga teacher training classmate, Yoko Heya for the support and sincere comments. And all the students who come back even the price is higher now. 

I truly feel like this is the passion I want to pursue. Even though I still worry if I can survive financially. I'm working and learning a lot these days and I feel so excited for all the projects I'm working on right now.

One thing about the change of price. It might be a bit high for some people especially students. I truly want to keep yoga at a reasonable rate so that this practice can be accessible to more people. But considering the costly trainings and efforts and time yoga teachers put into their profession, I find this rate the lowest I can offer to my students. Many yoga teachers are working hard to keep yoga at a high standard, we hope that our students can understand and appreciate our efforts.

Yoga Aid World Challenge is Coming Up!

On September 9th every year, yogis around the globe gather and organize charity events to raise funds for local charities. The events are starting from Sydney Australia where the sunrise is early and follow the sun as it journeys across the planet through more than 20 countries finishing in Los Angeles at sunset.

Participation in these yoga classes is free. Donations are welcome. 100% of donations go directly to charity.

In Japan, funds will go to the Japan Platform which provides emergency relief in natural disasters. This is your chance to help people in the Tohoku region after the earthquake.

In Canada, funds go to imagine1day, CARE, and Africa Yoga Project.

To join a yoga class in your community, check out the local events,

Canada: http://www.yogaaid.com/canada/venues

Japan: http://www.yogaaid.com/japan/venues

If you do join one of those classes, feel free to share your experience with me, I will be in Toronto celebrating my mother's birthday. ^^

To find out more: http://www.yogaaid.com/LandingPage.aspx

Transition

9 days passed since I came back to Vancouver from Japan for a vacation. I noticed how my energy shifted from the yang lifestyle in Japan to the yin pace in Vancouver. But the transition seemed to be so natural, and happened so fast just like flipping a coin.

“Yin and yang, one is not better than the other. They complement each other”, my yin yoga teacher Bernie Clark said. In the past 7 days I was taking a yin yoga teacher training intensive course at sempeviva yoga studio on Granville island. I've learned so much in the seven days. We started out early and practice yin yoga from 7am for two hours everyday, then followed by lectures of eastern philosophy and anatomy in the afternoon. Now things I learned in four years of university education in science and kinesiology started to come back and make sense to me. (I used to wonder do I ever have a chance to use the knowledge I learned at school) I was amazed by our individual differences anatomically and how that affect our asana practice. Bernie is such an old wise man, with his great sense of humour and vast knowledge in science and philosophy, while leading us through yin asanas, whispering to us words of wisdom. Only in his class, I find myself often laugh (with many others) and once dropped tears during asana practice.

I quit my well-paid job last month and start out fresh new as a yoga teacher. “It takes at least 3-4 years to become a full-time yoga teacher”, many experienced teachers say. I can foresee in the next two or three years I will be so poor. But I feel so blessed that I've found the profession I love.

Many people are surprised that we, yoga teachers continue to take one training after another. “Didn't you finish the 200 hour training already?” Only the yogis know that consistent practice and study is so essential, as yoga is not merely a physical exercise. Its depth extends to eastern philosophy, western science, Indian ayurvedic medicine, etc. My classmate of the course, Maki said, “I wish in the future I could teach yoga for half of a year and go study for half of a year.” As yoga teachers we know that we are always a student first, a teacher second.