Shape Yoga 2015, Brunch @ Lola's Cafe

After practicing Yoga for a year plus, I decided it's time to take the yoga practice to outdoor. It's not easy to cope with the awkwardness at first, but oh well after you start to concentrate and get in the mood, one will not be caring about all these mixed feelings but instead enjoy the process.

I roped my SIL to join me since there was a buddy sign up offer and the goodie bag was quite attractive. She just started her Yoga journey and I think such experience is beneficial :)

Due to the haze, the event was moved from The Lawn @ Marina Bay to inside Aperia Mall.

To be honest, I didn't know such a mall exist until I joined this event but it wasn't that difficult to locate. We reached there roughly 15 minutes earlier but there was not much space left. After some commotion, we managed to get a spot. The booths around the event start to relocate themselves so as to create more space for the participants.

#fromwhereidoyoga

A quick #welfie before the event starts. 

See I told you we weren't late, is just there's people who are even earlier than us haha! 

One of the almost ending poses

Even though we were very far off from the stage but by hearing the verbal instructions and the "monkey-see monkey-do" spirit, we managed to pull off the 1.5 hours of yoga session! 

It was roughly 9+am  when the whole event ended. We decide to have brunch together before heading home to rest our Sunday away. My stomach was growling away throughout the whole yoga session,

Since we both stay in the North East area, it's no doubt that we chose to have brunch at that area. I suggested Lola's cafe since my SIL did not went before and I had a good experience dining in there more than a year ago! Not forgetting there's no gst and service charge when dining in there :) 

The menu

My usual caffeine fix - I can't remember it's iced latte or iced cappuccino.

No trip to Lola's cafe is complete without their Truffles Fries - $12

We couldn't finish this big plate of truffle fries but it's indeed very shiok! 

I ordered the Avocado Eggs Benedict - $15 for my main. Very yummy and filling! I love Eggs Benedict these days :)

My SIL ordered the Breakfast Butter Crossiant - $14. I order this when I first dined in at Lola's Cafe and I do recommend this too.

#onthetable

And so we had a very hearty brunch at Lola's Cafe. I totally skipped my lunch and my next meal time is dinner time lol. 

I'll want to head back there for the dinner menu the next time round but it's a brunch place which I can never get sick of since it's so near to where I'm residing. 

Lola's Cafe

Address: 5 Simon Rd, S545893

#flatlay of what's in the goodie bag that was given to participant of Shape Yoga 2015

I don't blame the organizer for shifting the whole event indoor and at the very laste minute find a very make-shift area for this whole event. Oh well, at the very least they didn't cancelled it because I was looking forward to it since it's my first outdoor yoga event.

I can't comment much whether will I join it next year, maybe yes maybe no? We'll see then! 

Hello July and Hello Land of Smiles really soon!

Hello July!

The monthly countdown to the wedding seems to get scarier and yet exciting as time goes by. It's another 5 months to go! 

June has been a productive month as we checked off many items from the to-do list :) Still very much on track but I've always got feeling there's still important stuff not done yet. Hoping to tick off few more items by end of this month! *cross fingers*

Jetting off soon...

Enough of the wedding woes, I'll be jetting off to the land of smiles in less than 10 days. Pretty much excited even though the itinerary has not been finalized yet. It's my 3rd time heading there and I still refer back to my own BKK travelogue for directions to places which I will very much love to revisit everytime I go BKK. Memory is failing me as I gets older but thankfully I did blog them down which makes it easier  for me to refer to in the future. 

Slotting in a few cafes which we have not visit before for this coming trip and I think our limited stomach space will disappoint us. We'll probably stop cafe hopping after visiting 1 cafe and rather move on to walk around to digest the food. 

BKK's cafes are worth going for as compares to the local ones due to the price and quality of food. Do stay tune for my BKK 2015 updates okay? :) 

Happy 1 Year of Yoga! 

This July marks the 1 year 'anniversary' of me practicing yoga. I'll never forget how not flexible I was in the past (I can't even straighten my legs in extended triangle pose) and I'm glad I didn't give up yoga all this while. It not only serves as a cross train activity, and very often it heals my aches from all the running. 

Yay to a stronger self and what most important is that, Yoga have taught me lots about life :) It's a activity which I will like to keep it a life long journey same as running.

Some arco yoga pics (taken 2 weeks ago) from the last yoga session of yet another term...

We did many poses (most of which I've done before) and presenting to you #plankonplank 

A perfect plank is done by maintaining a really flat back.

Ending this reflection post with this favorite sentence from my yoga instructor..

Engage your core and breathe...

Review: Vivre Active Wear

I don't usually go into details of the apparels I bought and this is the first time I'm going to review sports apparel. This is because this online sports apparel shop sells affordable and quality clothes. 

After running for 1.5 years and also practicing yoga for almost half a year, I've come to realize the importance of good quality sports apparel. Not only does it makes you feel comfortable in it, the thickness and ability to absorb sweat is also a important factor when comes to choosing the right sports wear.

I'm very skeptical when it comes to buying sports apparel online. This is because of the uncertainty of size and also the quality of the sports apparel . Very often, you might end up getting the wrong size and you won't know what to do with it. It's not easy to resell it too. Hence, a shop which allow you to exchange is a plus point. I've read on their website that they do allow customers to return the apparel as long the tag is on. 

I had read many good reviews (from instagrams/bloggers) of Vivre Active Wear and to be honest, the price of their sports apparel is affordable. I've always find their sports apparel fashionable, up to date and the color and prints that they manufactured are all very pretty! Pretty sports apparel makes a person happy :) Very often, I find myself caught in between and do not know which color/prints to choose. 

Months ago, I bought the Frolic Sports Bra because it's in my favourite shade of pink! 

The back of it.

The material is very very soft. It feels like a second skin when I wear it for my run and the ability to absorb sweat is really good. For a price of $36, I think it's worth it. A branded sports bra out there can easily costs more than $50. It comes with padding and it's removable, so you can add in your own padding for your own comfort. 

This sports bra is still available here: http://vivreactivewear.com/home/frolic-sports-bra-carnation-pink/

Just last week, I received a new top from them. They were having Christmas promotion hence I'm tempted to get sports apparel from them again. One can never get enough sports apparel especially pretty ones! They have recently launched many pretty prints tops/bottoms/sports bra and I'm tempted to get all of them!

I eventually carted out the Exhale Tank Top in baby blue.

I'm always a pink person but I decide to go for a change. I've been hunting tops that comes with attached sports bra. It saves the hassle of washing a top and sports bra rather than just a top itself. And also, you'll just need to wear this one piece and off you go for your exercise session :) The material is also very soft and light!

I aim to wear them to my marathon next year. Love the color of this top because it's striking enough which makes it easier to spot myself in photos. :) 

Love the back of it so much that I can't help taking a photo with the namaste sign. My palms still can't really close yet though but it's much better than the first time I tried it lol. 

The top is still available here: http://vivreactivewear.com/home/exhale-tank-top-baby-blue/

I haven't really got a chance to wear it out for a run yet because I fell sick since last week. On the route to recovery and I wish to resume my exercise routine really soon.

I hope that Vivre Active Wear will continue producing more pretty and good quality sports apparel in 2015! Definitely looking forward to their new collection!

To see the full range of collection from them, you can visit their website at http://vivreactivewear.com/. 

My Humble Yoga Journey

I'm taking some time out to update my yoga progress. My first ever yoga blog entry was at the beginning of September. 

Unknowingly, I've already completed 12 lessons of yoga and started on a new term a week ago. Time really flies without one realizing! 

Yay to a new term and this would means I've survived 12 lessons. #achievenmentunlocked 

I'm glad I never give up and diligently attend every lesson though I skip one lesson because I was really sick then.  

The last few weeks of lessons were more intensive and we were required to do more than 10 sets of sun salutation poses. Some days, our instructor require us to do it fast and on the others, we have to hold each poses for few minutes. I bet I will never forget what's sun salutation is for the rest of my life.  

On the very last lesson of the term, she made us sweat a bucket before making us do Acro Yoga. It looks really scary when she demo it with another student. But all of us know we had to do it. No escaping! 

Daphne and I partner together to get it done. After so many weeks of having lessons together, I think we have the mutual trust in each other. :) We helped each other during warm up stretches before, so I guess us doing Acro Yoga together shouldn't have much of a problem even though she's really tall! 

"We fell, we laughed about it but we never give up. Eventually we succeeded :)"

This pose may seems really difficult but it's actually not that difficult! All it requires is arm strength and also leg stregth. We modified and do the easier way out which is to hold on to each other shoulders instead on palms to palms. When we first started doing, I was quite scare and Daphne was also scare. 

So we fail quite a few time before finally getting it. Need to some sort get into the momentum and eventually we succeeded.  

Daphne can straighten her legs but my arms are too short hence she cannot raise me higher lol. 

My turn to lift her up :) She's so slim so it's definitely not a problem for me hehe! 

My legs are almost straighten as compared to last time when I haven't even start doing yoga. 

Hamstrings are looser now but still quite tight. It takes time! 

Another Acro Yoga pose. 

It's more scary if you are the one on top haha! Daphne is very flexible by default hence asking her to do the backbend is as easy as abc. Btw, that's our instructor helping us out and correcting us.

The last lesson incorporated Acro Yoga into it. It's really fun and I came home asking Derp to do it too lol! 

Some other poses which I've attempted lately..

The crow pose which I mentioned in my first yoga blog entry, I've finally succeeded! Though it may be just that few seconds of lifting both legs up, it's a good start! 

I've still got lots to work on especially on my core muscles. No problems lifting my right legs up because my right arm is the strong on. It takes time for the left leg to be up on the left arm. 

One of my favourite poses after a run each time: Eka Pada Supta Virasana / One Leg Reclining Hero Pose 

My instructor told us this is one of the best pose for stretching your thighs after a run. I've been doing that after every run since then. When I first attempted this pose, I can't lie flat on my back at all and I will use my elbow to support then. Now I can lie all the way back :) But I've yet to try this pose when both legs are curl in. 

Baddha Ardha Matsyendrasana / Bound Half Lord of the Fish Pose

This pose stretches out the spine and shoulders. It  reduce fatigue and increase energy. It was my first attempt that day and I manage to go into a bind. 

Ustrasana / Camel Pose

The 'arc' is very important in this pose, and often people aim to touch their foot and forgot to keep the arc. It's normal if one can't touches their feet at first. This pose strengthen the back muscles and I'm pretty bad at back bend, so there's much to improve on!

The yoga journey for me has just started and I can't wait to fill up this space with more of such photos. I've never regret taking yoga because it gives me a new sense of satisfaction and I can feel it helps in improving my running :) I strongly believe when your muscles are stretch, you perform better.

That's all for now, till then!

#HelloSeptember

It's another 3 more months till we bid goodbye to 2014. Where has all the time goes? 

My tutor once told me time files after you turned 21. I can't really seems to comprehend at that point of time (I was 16 then) and I take that sentence like a pinch of salt.

Ever since I entered the work force, I start to understand why she said so. Every year passes by faster than the previous year, I wonder will we have this feeling when we are in our retirement years.

It seems like by then we may not be as busy as compared to now, perhaps I will have another set of thinking then.

September seems to be yet another long month! I have so many things lining up for me for example organizing my first housewarming :) Hopefully everything will turns out smoothly and everyone will enjoy the food.

Few weddings to attend, and also finalizing our banquet venue. At the very least, the first most important thing is being checked off from the long list of things to be done for the actual day wedding.

After I moved in to the new place, I signed up for my first ever yoga lesson which was held at the SRC just opposite my new place. Till date, I've completed my 7th lessons and have not missed any lesson yet. #achievementunlocked

It was my first time attending such 'slow music' type of lesson at SRC. For the past 2.5-3 years, I only took up cardio type of lessons (with loud fast music) which requiresr to jump everywhere in during lesson time. I can easily sweat a bucket after 1 hour of lesson and felt really tired after that.

Taking up yoga was a major change for me but at the same time, I've been wanting to try out yoga for the longest possible time. Reason being: I can totally feel my muscles being really tight due to running and also having to stay in a position for long from 8am-5pm which results in me having stiff shoulders. I also have stiff legs and basically a stiff body.

Derp send me there for my first lesson and pick me up :) He was against the idea of me taking up yoga because he's afraid I will sprained/injured myself. But he knows he can't stop me. I'm grateful that he's been supportive of me all this while and I even help him stretch his legs after his run haha! His flexibility is pretty bad too. 

My dear instructor was really patient with me. She also mentioned my muscles are really tight when she came to adjust my posture dirkng lesson time. Sigh. But I'm thinking I only run 8-10km a week, it shouldn't be that bad right?

My legs and shoulder muscles cramp alot on the first day of lesson because they were too tight. It start to get better as the weeks go by.

For the first 4 weeks, I couldn't do a shoulder stand at all. I felt really demoralized and I kept trying at home, be it on the bed/carpet. Anywhere in the house have became a yoga place for me :) Whenever I feel like practising, I will just do it. And one fine day, I manage to did my shoulder stand. #likefinally I finally lifted my fat ass up. 

That's almost a shoulder stand but that day I was trying to let my toes touch the floor. If not, the legs should be straight up in a normal shoulder stand and we are to stay in that position for as long as possible. 

My first ever yoga photo on my instagram. I'm on my way to trying to let my feet touch the ground and then proceed to a back flip. I probably need a lot more practice and I'm so not flexible! 

Next pose is the bird of paradise.

When I first tried it in my first few lesson, I couldn't even bind my hands together. 

Till date, I managed to see some small achievement and finally bind my hands together and balance myself in that position. It's pretty unglam to get into this pose though lol. Now I'm left with lifting the foot up straight. 

Another pose which I've been trying hard is the crow pose. It requires lots of arm strength. I can hold it for only few seconds and that's it. There's once I fall flat on my face, thank god I put a cushion infront of me if not it's gonna be so painful. 

I've read online that yogis will bound to fall many times due to lose balance when they practice this pose. Shall take a photo when I finally succeeded! 

Last but not least, the Pigeon Crescent pose which I just learned it on my 7th lesson :) 

Still got much to improve and that would means my left legs should be all the way touching the floor, it shouldn't be 'flying' up that much. hehe. And also I should be grabbing the wrists of each hand, not just the fingers :) 

There's still the head stand which I have not tried yet and I'm still finding the courage to do it. One have to get used to having that much pressure on your head first. 

You need to beat out all the fear/negative thoughts in your mind and just do it when practising yoga! Never give up and one day you will get there. I'm looking forward to challenge myself to more yoga poses in the near future. 

Stay calm and practice yoga! Hello September once again, please be good like any other months :)