Cushion With OM

Upgrading in progress!
MSc. Yoga
5 am to 9 pm - 2 week residential program at SVYASA, Bangalore
Going beyond Asanas & reaching the psyche of the individual to manipulate positive change !
OM!

Happy International Yoga Day !
Allow the calmness of the practice to heal you and make you stronger.

Cushion With Om is back to Singapore and now open for classes in East Coast
New classes including Meditation,Trataka, Yoga Nidra & Kundalini Meditation

Message for more details on 9029 4085

Happy International Day of Yoga!
What does Yoga mean to you? For me it has been life changing. It has helped me deal with my Hashimotos & adrenal fatigue with grace and energy. Pranayama showed its full efficacy during my 12 day journey to Everest Base Camp at high altitudes of even 5300 mts when the Oxy meter was an average of 88% to 95 % throughout.
Yoga is Life! Hope your practice brings you as much joy as it does for me

Breathe On, Stay Strong! OM!

Happy International Yoga Day!
7.20 am practice with some lovely ladies in Central Singapore. Miss the others who have been with me for the last 5 yrs, hope you had a good day!

Yoga Master Gopala Krishna Pillai is 78 yrs ! If he didn't reveal his age , one would thinking he isn't a day over 60 . It's been enriching watching him teach, demonstrate asanas and share lost pearls of yogic wisdom.
He has been practicing yoga for 30 yrs now and makes every pose seem effortless. He is a teacher at in Cochin .
Below performing Nauli, Anjaneyasana,Mayurasana & Bhunamanasana in quick 7 mins .

Truly inspirational. OM !

Covid Recovery - Strengthening the Mind , Body and Lungs

Today is day 12 since I was affected by Covid. The symptoms I felt were very mild the first few days and once recovered I can feel a lingering cough, heaviness while breathing, sporadic migraines and some fatigue. It could have been worse but I know for a fact that practicing Pranayama has made my recovery much more smoother and quicker

Sharing some tips for regaining and optimising your health

From Day 7
1. Start 5 mins of double nostril inhalation and exhalation. Ratio 1:2
( eg . 4 secs inhale, 8 sec exhale )

2. 5 mins of meditation and chanting positive resolutions for good health.
' Dear Body, thank you for the strength, I WILL get better, healthier and stronger'

3. Brahmari- 2 mins x 3 times daily
humming / bumble bee breathing . Inhale, raise tongue to the roof of the mouth and exhale to a humming sound through the nose& cover your ears to retain the vibration in yoru head. This will reduce anxiety, alleviate headaches and promote good sleep .

Day 14 - 28
1. Nadi Shodhan - 5 mins alternate nostril breathing , ratio inhale : exhale , 1:2 .
Avoid Bandhas or breath retention

2. Brahmari- 3 mins x 3 times daily

3. Simhasana - description below in other post . Expels phlegm, strengthens lungs and facial muscles.

4. Light stretches for the spine and hamstrings. 5 to 10 mins

5. Meditation - include Om chanting .

Day 28 onwards

Continue the above protocol and increase stretches for the spine , add more heart opening poses like Bhujangasana ( cobra pose ) , Dhanurasana ( bow pose ) and forward bending counter poses to improve lung capacity and keep the spine in good health .

Recovery will take time , don't rush it .
Be kind and grateful to your body .

OM !

Happy International Day of Yoga

Yoga Asanas & Pranayama are a vital key to wellness. It sustains good health & gets more effective with more practice.
Yoga's unique contribution is that it helps you get stronger and healthier as you get older.

Let's work to destress, balance & revive ourselves through this ancient practice.

Om !

Note on Khumbaka or Breath Retention

General rule

Many of you practitioners who have been doing Pranayama with me for 5 years and continue on a daily basis, please note :

Depending on ones state of mind do note :

Antar Khumbaka or Breath Retention after inhalation is not suitable for High BP & Heart Patients .
It is advised for people with Low BP and/ or suffering from fatigue, diffidence and the likes of depression. This spurs the nervous system into optimum functioning , increases motivation & removes fatigue. Its like a booster shot for the body to face challenges with a positive mindset.

Bahaya Kumbhaka or breath retention after exhalation is not advisable for those with low BP , depression or if one is feeling down .
It's suitable for anyone suffering from High BP , anxiety and nervousness that causes hyper active behaviour

Why are Bandhas necessary?

Bandha or Lock is to hold/ lock the energy center of that particular part of our body .
We perform Jalandhara Bandha ( Throat lock ), Uddiyana Bandha ( stomach / navel lock ) , Mula Bandha ( root or Muladhara lock ) & Jihva Bandha / Kechari Mudra ( tongue lock ) & combine all in certain practices called Maha Bandha

Jaladhara Bandha is to slow down the flow of Jalam / Amritam from our center of our head / pineal gland down to the body where it will exinguish the Jatahara Agni ( digestive fire ).

The longer we keep the Amtitam flowing, the longer our life span .

The Jalandhara knot also acts to activate the web of nadis in our throat to distribute the Jalam to various parts of the body .

Bandhas activate the Prana to go up the Sushumna Nadi & help in awakening the Kundalini slowly.

Activating Prana to go up the Spine & open up the Ida & Pingala Nadi is not only allowing us to go towards higher consciousness but also strengthens the immune system, allows for deeper meditative practice & overall optimal performance of the mind, breath & body in cohesion.

The ultimate aim of Pranayama is including Breath Retention/ Khumbaka & using Bandhas.

Disclaimer
Bandhas & Khumbaka must be practiced after minimum 6 months of regular Pranayama & if there are no other health issues. Please consult a Yoga Practitioner

Reference Image : Great Mahavatar Babaji from Wikipedia

Completed the Soul Realignment Practitioner Program. Delving into the Akashic Records not only for self progress but also help others become more aware of their life & spiritual goals in a very unintrusive manner.
Opening doors of realisation of one's true goal, skill & understanding oneself better. Its self improvement & progression on a whole new level .

First class of the New Year was a power packed Pranayama punch of 5 Pranayama techniques followed by a invigorating Asana Stretch.We are ready for a brighter & stronger transformation.
Welcome 2021!
OM!

Outdoor classes
Monday 7.30 am
Wednesday 8.30 am

Underbridge at Tanjong Rhu Cross

Happy New Year & looking forward to a wonderful 2021 that is bright with hope & wellness for all. OM!

Online Certification Course on Hatha Yoga Pradipika discourse on significance of Asanas held by KYM ,India. OM!

Simhasana
Lion Pose / The mighty roar of a Lion

Hatha Yoga Pradipika ( by Svatarama, 15th Century ) states Simhasana as a very sacred & among the 4 important Posture to be practiced to relieive the body of diseases. (Ch.1 Asanas v.50 - 52)
Simhasana automatically engages the 3 Bandhas of Mula, Uddiyana & Jalandara.

Benefits
- firming of the facial & neck muscle;youthful looking face
- expands the lungs and good for preventing or alleviating asthma
- beneficial for toning the vocal chords & good for vocalists
- increases immunity against respiratory issues
- stimulates the eye muscles
- benefit to relieve stress and increase confidence
- treats bad breath & expels toxins from the respiratory tract
- increases the emotion and quality of courage to be a lion heart.
- increases oxygen supply to face & thoracic region, so along with the glow u feel lighter in your breathing

Contraindications
-First few times may cause irritation to the throat, light-headedness or headaches but this should subside with practice.
- those with knee issue must adopt a different sitting posture

Note
- Practice Under a teachers guidance until one is confident of self practice.
- Dhristi/Gaze of the eyes, leg position according to the ancient text ,variations of seated posture, timing of breath, exhalation & repetition are very important.

*2 week challenge* for the students to practice .
Please take a selfie to compare the face,skin elasticity-before and after

Picture of Guru B.K.S Iyengar in Simhasana (no source as its posted online from his book)
Here his dhristi is Brumadhya ( Eyebrow Center ) for advanced practitioners.

HYP
Asana 14

gulphau ca vṛṣaṇasyādhaḥ sīvanyāḥ pārśvayoḥ kṣipet।
dakṣiṇe savyagulphaṃ tu dakṣagulphaṃ tu savyake॥50॥

hastau tu jānvoḥ saṃsthāpya svāṅulīḥ samprasārya ca ।
vyāttavaktre nirīkṣeta nāsāgraṃ susamāhitaḥ॥51॥

siṃhāsanaṃ bhavedetat pūjitaṃ yogipuṅgavaiḥ।
bandhatritayasandhānaṃ kurute cāsanottamam॥52॥

OM!

Monday morning Hatha Yoga lessons at
7.30 am & 9 am classes at the underbridge between Costa Rhu condo & Gardens by the Bay East . Gorgeous weather & beautiful scenery.

Slots available for 60 mins YOGA session on Mondays
7.30 am -8.30 am
9.00 am - 10.00 am

Contact : 90294085
OM !

Its been 4 yrs since I started my journey as a Yoga Teacher & I have yet to document my journey for my students.

Below are the building blocks of my experience and background in the field of Pranayama & Asanas.

1. 250 YTC from Kalari Yoga & Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute & Research Center ( 2016 )

2. Two weeks Intensive YogaProgram
(chanting, pranayam & asana) Parmarth Niketan Ashram , Rishikesh ( 2016)

3. Two weeks Yoga Programme on Pranayama , Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram , Chennai ( 2018)

4. Samkya Philosophy online course by Dr.Ganesh Rao - Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute & Research Center( 2019)

5. 100 hrs Online Ayurveda Certificate for Yoga Teachers ( 2020) - Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute & Research Center

6. Secret Techniques to Raja Yoga by Dr. Rajeshwar Mukherjee, Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute & Research Center (2020)

P.s : A few more are in the pipeline.

OM !

Classes are now back on schedule & are fully subscribed as given below. Thank .
Other slots available, feel free contact on 90294085
OM !

Mon
7.30 am - Outdoors Gardens by The Bay
5.30 pm - Waterside Condo

Tues
9.30 am - Waterside Cotton

Wednesday
7.30 am - Online Class ( OPEN for availability)
9.00 am - Waterside Condo
10.30 am - Costa Rhu

Thursday
9.30 am - Private class

Friday
8.15 am - Private Class
9.30 am - Waterside Condo