Place: South Island School, G/F, Drama studio 2
Time: Wednesday 3:30~4:30
CAS Type: Action
2011.01.19
I’ve always used to have great interest in yoga, but never had the chance to try it out. Luckily, this term, I was able to join the yoga activity (:
When we first went into the Drama studio, Mrs. Sharma (our teacher who was running the activity) told us to arrange the yoga mats out. While we were doing this, she opened the curtains for natural light, and lit some candles. This brought up a very subtle atmosphere, and the music was also turned on, allowing us to relax. Mrs. Sharma explained how we were going to be starting with the basics, and in the end of the term, build up the level of hardness throughout the term.
Then, we started doing a few poses, and Mrs. Sharma emphasized on the importance of breathing in yoga. We inhaled though our nose, and exhaled though the mouth, and this had to be done slowly to calm ourselves. The most frequent pose which we did was the dog-stand position, where we had to make ourselves into a triangular position. Moreover, we tried out collaborative positions where we needed to balance a position with another person. This helped us develop our balance, as well as our strength of our muscles. By doing yoga, we were going to be developing these skills, as well as a stronger back bone, which was a great advantage to me, as these were my weaknesses.
During carrying out the different types of position, Mrs. Sharma also pointed out the names of the poses, so that we were aware of it. At the end of the class, the curtains were closed, and we lied down on the mat and closed our eyes. Mrs. Sharma told us to relax our bodies and enjoy our last journey. This was a very relaxing session, allowing us to relieve our stress and meditate our bodies. Then, when the journey ended, we thanked our bodies for working, and this was how ended our first class in yoga.
I hope by carrying on yoga, my body will be able to strengthen mentally, and physically. I feel that yoga will also help me relieve my stress and relax and meditate for a more refreshed mind.
2011.02.23
In today’s session, we started with the breathing exercise again, as this was the most important part in yoga. The breathing helps with our nervous system, and lets the oxygen to be distributed, allowing us to think more clearly. With this exercise, I was able to apply it whenever I felt nervous (for example, during the DECA conference). After the breathing exercise, we did a few poses and made them flow from one another. We also practiced a new position called the bird stand and the shoulder stand. When doing the exercises, I felt a lot more flexible and aware of what I was doing with my body, building upon my confidence. In addition, as a class, we were more fluent in going into positions as we practiced them many times. Again, after carrying out many steps, we ended the class with the journey where we relaxed our body, closed our eyes, and listened to a soothing song. Every yogo class, I always looked forward for this journey, as it was a way of refreshing my mind and clearing out the “stress” which I received. (:
2011.03.23
For our last lesson, we were going to do a yoga sleep. This involved lying down for 45 minutes and listening to our yoga teacher. Firstly, we arranged the yoga mats in a circle, making our heads face to the center. Then, we each had a blanket to keep us warm as the yoga sleep would involve our body temperature to drop. We had candles around us in a dark room, which created a peaceful atmosphere. After lying down and positioning ourselves comfortably, our yoga teacher gave us instructions. She first told us to think about our left side of the body and then the specifics: our arm, risk, finger, leg, ankle, feet. This was repeated with our right side. Then, she told us to listen to the sounds around us.
She also told us to think about a wish. One wish which we really wanted.
Then, she told us to imagine things such as two mountains a sun, and a garden with flowers and more. This continued on until some people were even snoring! This did make my concentration fall but I still carried on listening to her instructions. When all of this finished she became silent and we started to sit down facing her. Some people fell into a deep sleep and didn't wake up :P. It was a very pleasurable experience. She also explained to us the purpose of some of the things she was talking through. When she told us to think about our right side and left side, this was making us relax a certain part of our brain. In addition, she told us that we remember things more better subconsciously. This was why she told us to think about the wish, as we would subconsciously be aware of it, making it come true.
If this activity continues on to next term, I really wish to do it again!
REFLECTION
L2: As I have never tried yoga before, taking this activity was undertaking a new challenge.
L3: This activity was planned to be carried out every Wednesday at 3:30~4:30.
L4: When doing certain poses, we needed help from other people, and some even required two people to undertake the pose together. Thus, we needed to work collaboratively with each other to make sure no one would get injured, and also to create the pose together.
L5: I attended to all the sessions except 1 (which was due to International Evening) and whenever there was a new challenge in the posture, I gave it a go even though it seemed very difficult.
L8: Yoga has definitely helped me develop new skills such as the specific postures, as well as controlling my breathe which affected the nervous system. In addition, I was able to learn how to control my mind and relieve my stress at times.
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