Om Improvement : Steady, Comfy, Happy, Yoga.

Om Improvement gathers mOmentOm

2005-12-03T10:05:00.000+08:00

We are happy to be back! Your new yoga studio space is being fitted out right now. As we open the doors to our new yoga home in Bugis Village we will also be opening up to a new identity:
mOmentOm yOga.

Welcome to our new home: www.mOmentOmyOga.blogspot.com

Passage to India

2005-10-17T09:55:00.000+08:00

We are away in India from 18 Oct to mid Nov.

May all be well and happy.

Yoga Escapees! return from Loola, Bintan

2005-10-12T15:09:00.000+08:00

A BIG THANK YOU to all the participating yogis for a great yoga holiday in Bintan over the 7-9 Oct weekend! Your good spirits, great energy and humour has created a fantastic experience for all of us. We hope everyone has learnt more about the different practices of yoga and how yoga can be intergrated into our daily lives! May the experience encourage you onwards on your path to yoga --- your return to health and wholeness --- in body, mind and spirit!

We would like to share the following pictures with all -- click on the images for larger version. For the folks who could not come this time, we are hearing a resounding clamour from the present batch of yoga escapees to organise another Yoga Escape! ---- so make sure you sign up this time!!

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Peace in our every step. . . our beloved bungalow on the sea at Loola

2005-10-12T15:00:00.000+08:00

The sun came up after the storm when we got to Loola. . . and ah! What a sight!

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Beachcombing as the tide recedes at Loola. . . a quiet time and place for contemplation

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The view from our window at Loola

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Chee Kong & Angel preparing for Partner Yoga with some deep breathing

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Observing the breath in partnership

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Everyone enjoyed partner yoga as much as Fern Fern and Ling Khing!

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Anna giving a good stretch to Ben. . . and vice versa in double warrior. . . while Valerie looks on in amusement

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Fern Fern & Daphne in double warrior pose while I tried to sort out the collision between them. . .

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Double angle pose X 2

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A grand way to start the day. . . Sun Salutations at dawn

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That incredible feeling. . . yoga at dawn on an open platform on the sea

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Ben said "It's so easy to do Tree Pose here!"

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Yogis in Vrksasana or Tree Pose

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Angel working on enlightenment

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Relaxation with eye bags. . . oops, eye pillows. . .

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Anna's winning form on the archery range

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Ben attempting to climb up for fresh coconuts

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Yogis in open sea jacuzzi on a fishing net!

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Our "yoga platform" on the sea

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Yogis reaching for the sky

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Yogis in balance. . . practising Garudasana

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Daphne concentrating in Garudasana

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Determined yogi. . . Chee Kong in Warrior Pose

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Yogis "threading the needle"

2005-10-12T13:48:00.000+08:00

Playing dead. . . yogis in Shavasana or corpse pose at the end of a yoga session

2005-10-12T13:43:00.000+08:00

Happy Birthday, Tania! Loola staff helped to put together an impromptu birthday celebration at our BBQ with a tremendous bonfire. In return, Tania gave our yogis a fiery introduction to flamenco dance!

2005-10-12T13:35:00.000+08:00

Ben & Daphne sailing. . . see the floppy sail? the winds were so mild that Anna & I jumped into the sea to push our boat back to shore.

Yoga Class Schedule Update

2005-10-11T11:37:00.000+08:00

Hi folks, in view of the attendance last week, we have decided to cancel the Wednesday 7.15pm class at our temporary venue, Helio Asia. Sorry for the inconvenience. Try to attend today's classes (6-7pm. 7-8.30pm, 8.30-10pm). If you can't then I'll see you all in December when our new studio is open!

Yoga Class Schedule Update

2005-09-29T12:30:00.000+08:00

Gentle reminder that yoga class today, Thursday, 29 Sep at 8.30pm is cancelled.

There will be no yoga classes at Stamford House from today as we hand over the unit to the landlord tomorrow morning. For info on classes at the temporary venue next 2 weeks, please see earlier posts: click here.

Call Om

2005-09-29T11:30:00.000+08:00

Yogis who came last night for our last class at Stamford House helped to create a lasting atmosphere of peace for all who are around and those who will come to occupy our beloved space for yoga at #02-16.

How?

Well the peace chant we did at the end of the class helped to send our wish for peace: "Om Shantih, shantih, shantih. . . " vibrating and passing into the walls, ceiling and floor, into the space, into all the beings seen and unseen. . . by the time the last "shantih" faded, we would have diminished our ego substantially ( I hope!) and only be sound and matter or only be mind and body, or experience of the phenomenon and the phenomenon. Ultimately, this is what everything is, what we each truly are: mind and body/matter. But we mostly do not experience this in our day to day living. We make our way through life with a distracted mind and cannot see things without obscurations and let our ego tell us what to do and feel. Thus, we need to sit still and bring our attention within. We practice yoga for this purpose; so that we can live in a complete way, experiencing our true nature, free from illusions, all the time. This is the reason chants work: they provide an immediate experience of our true nature, one that is inseparable from all of existence, this is why this type of practice is considered divine.

"Om Shantih, shantih, shantih. . . . " is usually at the end of many chants (sometimes also in the beginning). A nice one we often encounter in yoga that we can practise in the future is:

Sarve bhavantu sukhinah,
sarve santu niramayaha;
Sarve bhadrani pashyantu,
ma kaschid dukhhabhag bhavet.
Om Shantih, shantih, shantih. . .

May all be happy.
May all be healthy.
May all be enlightened and cultured.
May all attain peace and perfection.
May no one be afflicted with unhappiness or sorrow.
Om peace, peace, peace. . .

I think it is important to leave a place better off than when we first came into it; be it the world or a small room in Stamford Road. Do you know that even without chants to remind us and make our intentions explicit, by simply practising yoga and meditation in the studio at Stamford House, we have blessed it many, many times over? ;-) How so? When you practice yoga, you create an intention, a mental imprint in your mind, to be a better person, to be calm, to understand and become one with your true nature, which is already enlightened, wise and full of peace. This mental imprint, especially when it is reinforced by your weekly practice, snowballs into an unstoppable avalanche of goodwill which emanates out of your very being to infect all those around you. So much so that whatever space you walk into and occupy, you spread this goodwill and peace. Imagine that we have people like you walking into our little studio on a DAILY basis with these good vibes!! Can the space be anything other than a abode of peace? I have had seasoned meditators, and on an occasion, a Catholic priest, tell me when they first stepped into our studio that they feel the peace and good vibrations we have created.

Thus it was time for us to do the noble thing last night: to SHARE the merits of our practice with others. May these blessings now pass onto all others so that they also find their way to yoga, that is, a reunion with their own divine nature. It is important to remember to dedicate our practice to the well-being of others because not all enjoy the blessing to experience yoga. Also our union with the divine is not possible if we continue to be disunited from the welfare of our fellow man.

Om Shantih, shantih, shantih. . . .

Parting shots

2005-09-27T12:16:00.000+08:00

The furniture's all been packed up and sent to storage. So those of you coming to class this week will find a much emptier studio!

Anyway, those who forgot their cameras last week, we are providing some shots here. Click on the images below for the bigger images.

Thanks for all the memories, Stamford House!

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Yoga Class Schedule Update

2005-09-26T13:58:00.001+08:00

Thursday 29 Sep 8.30-10pm class has been cancelled. Sorry for the inconvenience.
There will be no classes on Friday 30 Sep and Saturday 1 Oct.

Classes resume at Helio Asia spa #03-320 Marina Square from 4 Oct.
See earlier announcement for schedule.

Temporary venue for yoga classes

2005-09-12T17:03:00.000+08:00

We are very happy to announce that Helio Asia is generously opening up the doors of their spa to our yogis and will be a temporary home for our yoga classes after 29 Sep and before our new studio is ready in Dec.

Helio Asia's newest outlet is a beautiful spa providing both European and Asian spa therapies in a warm and friendly setting. I'm sure all our yogis would enjoy their time there. We are working with the spa to create spa and yoga packages when we re-open in Bugis Village . . . watch out for news on this!

Don't miss this!
Please come 15-20 minutes earlier on your first class for a free tour and introduction by our hosts at Helio Asia.

This is the timetable for the temporary classes for Oct 4 to Oct 14*:

Tues: 6-7pm, 7-8.30pm, 8.30-10pm
Wed: 7.15-8.45pm

As the space is limited, all yogis need to call Sau Fen to reserve their slots. Reservations is strictly on a first-come-first-served basis! Yogis need to bring their own mats.
*Depending on demand and instructor availability, we may amend the schedule for after Oct 15 to end of Nov. Please give your feedback on the your interest to attend the classes at the temporary venue.

The location:
Helio Asia is at #03-320 in Marina Square shopping mall.
See the location map: http://www.marinasquare.com.sg/aboutus/location.html
It is in the "Pan Pacific" section.

How to get there:
The easiest way from City Hall, at the MRT exit at St Andrew's Cathedral, take the free bus (maroon coloured) to Suntec and get off at the first stop at the convention centre bus stop. Enter the Suntec convention centre main lobby, take escalators on your left and cross the overhead bridge to Marina Square, once you are in the lobby, go up the escalator and you can see Helio Asia which is opposite Barang Barang furniture store.

"Goodbye, igloo!"

2005-09-12T16:22:00.000+08:00

"Goodbye, igloo!" was what one of our yogis said after his last class at the Stamford House studio -- in tribute to the uncontrollable temperature of the place and perhaps the patience this inconvenience has taught him. (I hope!?)

I think cultivating an attitude of gratitude creates a greater sense of appreciation of the blessings in our lives. It also makes us aware of how the good and bad things in life are both blessings. Good things in our possession are more cherished while they last, because we know they do not last forever. Unpleasant things teach us patience and we are comforted knowing that they too do not last forever. In the end, we float above all the ups and downs of life and live freely and happily because our state of mind is not entirely determined by external changes. We have no choice over what happens to us but we have a choice on how we want to feel about it.

Come and say your own goodbyes and cultivate gratitude.

Calling all yogis: come and join us on Saturday, 24 September 2005 at 1pm for a little get-together, some potluck food and to observe a moment of pure gratitude for the lovely space that has taken us some way in our yoga practice.

Please rsvp to omimprovement@gmail.com and let us know what you would like to bring to the party. We'll have an online update of the food offering soon so check back on this webpage for the list.

REGULAR YOGA CLASSES ARE ON AT STAMFORD HOUSE STUDIO UNTIL 29 SEPTEMBER 2005.

2005-08-23T13:43:00.000+08:00

Om Improvement will be at our present premises in Stamford House until 30 Sep 2005. We will be moving into Bugis Village in Dec 2005. For queries, please email omimprovement@gmail.com

Moving News

2005-08-23T13:00:00.000+08:00

Real spiritual growth comes only when we move with grace through the changes in life.
Every uncertainty becomes an opportunity
to let go and live freely.

Dear OmIm yoga fan,

Om Improvement is expanding into a new venue!

Thanks to the support of our devoted yogis and yoginis, Om Improvement has grown much since we opened at Stamford House in 2003. As we move towards our 2nd anniversary, we are happy to announce that Om Improvement will be moving to a new and better venue at the end of the year. The new studio will be located in the vibrant Bugis Village and its new address is 241B Victoria Street, Singapore 188030.

We welcome you to journey on with us on our yogic path and hope to have your patience and understanding if there is any inconvenience caused by these new changes. Do speak to us directly if you have any questions at all and we hope to be able to accommodate everyone’s wishes as far as possible.

Read on for details on the move, the new studio and arrangements for our yoga class packages:

Schedule for the BIG move:

24 Sep Sat: Farewell party at Stamford House studio
29 Sep Thu: Last day of yoga classes at Stamford House studio
7-9 Oct Fri/Sat/Sun: Yoga Escape! to Loola Adventure Resort
15 Oct – 15 Nov: Sau Fen away in India for training
1 Dec: Renovations begin in Bugis Village studio
Dec’05 - Jan’06: Yoga classes resume at Bugis Village studio
2 Jan Mon: Official Opening of Bugis Village studio

Convenient Location

The new studio is only 10 minutes away on foot from Stamford House. It is opposite Parco Bugis Junction shopping centre. Bugis MRT station is directly underground, the bus stop right downstairs and car parks are available aplenty nearby in Bugis Junction, Fu Lu Shou Complex, National Library and the various HDB public parking facilities in the area.

Yummy Location

Hungry yogis will have more eating options after class in Bugis Village which houses its own “food street” as well as numerous restaurants. There is a wet market and hawker centre at Queen Street for affordable food and fruits. Healthy vegetarian and even organic fare can be found in Waterloo Street near the Guan Yin Temple. More eating options abound in Bugis Junction of course. And on the opposite side of Bugis Junction, Liang Seah Street coffeeshops open late into the night.

Before yoga class, feed your mind by browsing through the books at the new National Library nearby or at the numerous bookstores at Bras Basah Complex. Or check out the latest art exhibitions at Sculpture Square or Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts at Middle Road. Just remember to get to your yoga class on time!

Bigger but just as intimate

While the new space is twice as large as the present studio in Stamford House, we assure our yogis that we will stay true to our Om Improvement dedication to small and personalised classes: the bigger space will be divided into 2 intimate studio spaces. This means you will continue to receive the same level of attention that you are enjoying now in our classes. It also means that our yogis can look forward to more options for yoga classes starting at different times on the new class schedule (which will be finalised in December).

The new venue is in a spacious conservation shophouse corner unit with windows surrounding the studios to bring in clear light and energy. Individual air-conditioning units allow for better control of room temperatures. There are also changing-room-cum-toilets within the studio itself. While waiting for your yoga class, broaden your perspective as you sit and meditate under the stars on the open rooftop.

Ease into the transition

To ease our way into the new studio, we have made the following arrangements for our yogis:

Yogis holding valid yoga class package cards on 30 September 2005 will have the expiry dates on their cards extended for 3 months.
20-class packages are available for purchase at $200 until 30 September 2005. These cards will be valid for 2006, that is, the date of the first class on the package must be in 2006 and the classes on the card are valid for 6 months from this first class.
New class packages (subject to change) after 30 September 2005:

Trial class (for first-timers): $15

Single class: $25

10-class package(classes valid for 3 months):

$200 = $20 per class

20-class package(classes valid for 6 months):

$300 = $15 per class

40-class package(classes valid for 7 months):

$400 = $10 per class

*Students 20-class package(classes valid for 6 months): $200 = $10 per class
[*Students of tertiary institutions holding student passes.]

Please talk to us if you have any questions on the validity of your existing class packages. We welcome any feedback you may have.

Generate some good karma

Running out of luck lately? It could be that you are not making blessings as fast as you are spending them! Here then is an opportunity to do some good. As we move to a bigger place, we need the help of caring yogis to assist with our move and to make a new home out of our new venue for us all. Consider offering your time and effort in service of your fellow yogis and discover the truth about happiness which has been the founding principle of Om Improvement: you can never be happy when you are serving only yourself, real happiness is found only when you are serving others and making others happy.

So be happy and consider selfless service or karma yoga as your practice, sign up for the following opportunities for selflessness:

Please email to omimprovement@gmail.com

Name of selfless being:

Contact number:

Selfless task -------- Date/time:(to be confirmed)

1. Help with farewell party -------- 24 Sep, Sat, 1-3pm

2. Dismantling of shelves and moving furniture to storage -------- 25 Sep, Sun, 1pm-5pm

3. Driving furniture to storage in Kembangan -------- 25 Sep, Sun, 4pm-5pm

4. Clean up Stamford House studio -------- 25 Sep, Sun, 3pm-5pm

5. Painting walls of new studio -------- 11 Dec, Sun, 11am-5pm

6. Cleaning new studio: windows, floor, yoga mats, rest rooms, furniture -------- 11 Dec, Sun, 11am-5pm

7. Moving in furniture -------- 11 Dec, Sun, 1-3pm

8. Help with opening party -------- 2 Jan, Mon(public holiday), 2-4pm

Many hands make light work. So join in with fellow yogis and have some fun while you serve. Thereafter, see your handiwork every time you pass through the door of the new studio and know you have played a part in contributing to the happiness of all others who share the space.

In gratitude

Thank you for your support and we hope you will continue to grow with us.

Namaste,

Chee Sau Fen
Om Improvement: Steady, Comfy, Happy, Yoga.
39 Stamford Road, #02-16 Stamford House, Singapore 178885 (until 30 Sep 2005)
241B Victoria Street, Singapore 188030 (from 1 Dec 2005)
Email: omimprovement@gmail.com
Tel: 63344100 (until 30 Sep 2005) or 97631374 (not available 15 Oct-15 Nov 2005)

Keep updated with the latest news & pictures on our move at this website.

Location map for our Bugis Village yoga studio

2005-08-23T12:39:00.000+08:00

Yoga Class Update

2005-08-03T13:24:00.000+08:00

There will be no yoga classes next Tuesday 9 August as it is National Day.

Tuesday yogis, please call, sms or email if you would like to attend class on the other days next week. Thank you.

Om Improvement presents: Yoga Escape!

2005-08-02T16:30:00.000+08:00

In celebration of Om Improvement’s 2nd Anniversary this October, come and sail away with us for a unique yoga holiday to Loola Adventure Resort, Bintan!

Here are some pictures of the Yoga Escape! venue. For more information on the retreat, scroll down and register today!

Headstand on bungalow verandah at Loola

2005-08-02T16:11:00.000+08:00

Over sea broadwalk leading to the bungalows at Loola

2005-08-02T16:08:00.000+08:00

Loola bungalow

2005-08-02T16:06:00.000+08:00

A view of the Loola bungalows from the private beach

2005-08-02T16:04:00.000+08:00

Yoga at dawn on Loola open platform

2005-08-02T16:03:00.000+08:00

Open air platform for outdoor yoga at Loola

2005-08-02T16:00:00.000+08:00

View of Dining Hut and hut for Yoga/Meditationat Loola

2005-08-02T15:33:00.000+08:00

Walk down from Loola bungalows into the low tide beach to visit offshore islands on foot!

2005-08-02T15:32:00.000+08:00

Rock climbing wall and flying fox tower

For more pictures, see Loola website: www.loola.net

Om Improvement presents: Yoga Escape!

2005-08-02T15:31:00.000+08:00

At last! Good news for all our yogis clamouring for a yoga retreat! Read on:

In celebration of Om Improvement’s 2nd Anniversary this October,
come and sail away with us for a unique yoga holiday to Loola Adventure Resort, Bintan!

3 Days/2 Nights *all inclusive Yoga Escape!
Friday 7 Oct to Sun 9 Oct 2005

Depart Singapore, Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal at 9:00am Friday 7 Oct
Return to Singapore at 7:00pm Sunday 9 Oct
Ferry times subject to change. But chope your leave from work first!

What’s the price of Escape!?
For Om Improvement yogis:
$273 + $40 round trip ferry tickets + $5 sea port tax = $318
For all other guests:
$320 + $40 round trip ferry tickets + $5 sea port tax = $365

Limited places!! Book early!:
We are having only 22 yogis maximum in our very own exclusive retreat village
on a private beach away from the usual Bintan holiday crowd (we’ll be on another part of the island!)

How to book?
Fill up your personal particulars on our Yoga Escape! registration form (email: omimprovement@gmail.com for the form) and make full payment to reserve your place. Payment by cash or cheque made payable to “Chee Sau Fen”.

The *ALL Inclusive Yoga Escape!
*Your $318 investment includes:

*ALL yoga sessions: learn how yoga practice integrates into a healthy way of living in our very own cool tropical retreat village with a total of about 8 hours of special interest yoga classes over a series of separate practice sessions. Yoga sessions are suitable for all levels of experience, including for those new to yoga.

*ALL adventure activities: Learn to sail, canoe, rock-climb, ride the flying-fox, perfect your archery skills! All instruction and equipment provided by our friendly and able hosts at Loola. And **ride on a fishing trawler’s net in the open sea in an unforgettable boating trip! (**if we have the required number of people)

*ALL meals: sumptuous and healthy buffets of local Indonesian cuisine. 3 lunches, 2 dinners, 2 breakfasts prepared with tender loving care by our resident Loola cook: including a yummy BBQ dinner on the last night by a blazing campfire on the beach! Must try: the killer sambal balachan (chilli sauce)! Provisions can be made for vegetarians or those on other special diets – please indicate your preference at least 2 weeks before departure

*ALL accommodations: 2 nights accommodation in a quad-sharing basis in your own charming rustic bungalow on the sea! (Sleepwalkers and folks who prefer accommodation on dry land can opt for the bungalow on the beach.) Each bungalow comes with its own shower/toilet. Gather three other friends to sign up and to share the place with you and have the whole bungalow to yourselves and have a great reunion!

*ALL transport: round-trip ferry tickets to Bintan, two-way transport by land to Loola Adventure Resort from Bintan ferry terminal

*ALL natural holiday: experience being a responsible eco-tourist – there is no air-conditioning, no water heater in the shower, no TV, no karaoke pub – just plenty of fresh air, nature at your feet, an entire beach with offshore islands to explore, engaging activities for the body and mind and lots of good company!

*ALL the time in the world: spend time with the most important person of all – yourself. At last, find the space you have longed for to rest and for quiet contemplation. With our “Quiet Time” each day at the retreat, find yourself united with the moment, with the whole of existence. . . And return refreshed and ready to face new challenges!

Proposed Yoga Escape! Plan:
(subject to change)
Friday 7 Oct
9:00am Ferry departs from Singapore to Bintan
11:00am Arrive in Bintan and board transport to Loola
12:00noon Arrive in Loola for Lunch
1:00-2:00pm Welcome & orientation to Loola grounds
2:00-3:00pm Talk on the meaning of going for retreats and the importance of quietude
3:00-4:00pm *Quiet Time*
4:30-6:00pm Invigorating session of Partner/Group Yoga & Pranayama
6:00-6:30pm Yoga cleansing techniques: Trataka for healthy eyes and concentration
6:30-7:00pm Free time
7:00pm Dinner
9:00pm Meditation techniques & group practice
10:00pm Bedtime
Saturday 8 Oct
5:30am Rise & Shine!
6:00am Yoga cleansing techniques: Jala Neti for healthy nose and easy breathing
6:30-8:00am Pranayama & Sun Salutations as the sun rises over the horizon!
8:00am-8:30am *Quiet Time*
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am Boating trip! Ride in the fishing net and have a jacuzzi in the high seas!
11:30am Canoe back to Loola from boat
12:30pm Lunch & free time
1:30-4:30pm Activities: sailing/canoeing
4:30-6:30pm Restorative Yoga for rest &relaxation
7:00pm Om Improvement 2nd Birthday BBQ Dinner on the beach!
9:00pm Meditation techniques & group practice
10:00pm Bedtime
Sunday 9 Oct
5:30am Rise & Shine!
6:00am Meditation techniques: Walking meditation
6:30-8:00am Pranayama & Sun Salutations as the sun rises over the horizon!
8:00am-8:30am *Quiet Time*
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am-12:30pm Activities: rock-climbing/flying-fox/archery
12:30pm Lunch & free time
2:30pm Goodbye to Loola & depart for ferry terminal
7pm Arrive in Singapore

Note: There will be no holding of places, we can only confirm your place when full payment is made with the application form. As Loola can take 4 persons per bungalow, you can sign up either singly or with others. We will try to meet everyone’s rooming preferences as far as possible. We need a minimum number of 18 people in total for the retreat to be confirmed. Booking deadline 31 Aug’05, or when we reach full capacity, whichever’s first!

Where is Loola? For more information on Loola Adventure Resort, visit: http://www.loola.net/

Can I dispel the hate in my heart?

2005-07-08T11:22:00.000+08:00

In this world
Hate never yet dispelled hate.
Only love dispels hate.
This is the law,
Ancient and inexhaustible,
You too shall pass away.
Knowing this, how can you quarrel?

If you are stunned by the recent bombings in London, and feel angry and powerless in the face of such terror and cruelty. Then you need to do something. We need to dispel Hate. We tend to think that hate and terror exist out there, exist in others. We think: "How can we get them to stop?" My question to you is: how can we expect others to change their minds, to abandon hatred and live in peace when we would not spend any real time and effort to understand our own minds and to abandon hatred in our own hearts?

We want others to change. How easy it is to will it. Yet it is impossible to realise through force. Don't you think this is exactly what's causing the terror? The so-called terrorists are people who want you to change and accept things their way. We are all doing the same thing, "we" are no different from "them". We want the other person to change because it is harder to change ourselves.

If you have sat down to meditate before, you would have realised that it is not an easy task to even just passively watch our minds -- so full of random wandering thoughts, full of clinging passions, full of judgement, full of prejudices. Is it any wonder we live in confusion, we act in carelessness, we speak with thoughtlessness, end up in blows?

We are what we think.
All that we are arises with our thoughts.
With our thoughts we make the world.

If we want to see an end to hatred and terror in our world, we need to dedicate our lives to understanding and mastering our own minds. This is the purpose of Raja Yoga. This is not your personal wellness goal, it is your social responsibility. When we eradicate hatred in our own hearts: we affect ALL those around us. Have you ever been around a person who has cultivated his mind to such an extent that you simply cannot help but feel a sense of peace around him? I have encountered such people and simply meeting them and even just recalling their persons, you feel nothing but goodwill in your hearts and a desire to be a better person when you see that "being a better person" is a real achievable possibility. This, my friends, I feel is THE way we can change the world. When faced with aggression from others, we need only to examine our own minds, to scan our thoughts for the same strain of aggression -- and ask if we ourselves are free from hatred, to ask if we are the cause of terror for others around us. Only when you have freed yourselves entirely of hatred, greed and delusions can you have a real effect on the nature of things in the world now. This is our life's goal, our obligation to the world.

Give up the old ways --
Passion(greed), enmity(hatred), folly(delusion).
Know the truth and find peace.
Share the way.

(all quotes in italics from Dhammapada, based on the sayings of Buddha
as published by Shambhala Publications)

2005-07-07T14:00:00.000+08:00

Yoga class schedule update

Yoga Class Schedule Update

2005-06-28T12:40:00.000+08:00

Wednesday 7:00pm-8:30pm class is now (as of this Wednesday 29 June) at a new timeslot: 7:15pm-8:45pm.

Thanks to all the Wednesday yogis for your prompt feedback and to those who re-scheduled to accommodate the change. Most of you have opted for the later timeslot so do hope everyone can come to class on time now!

2 Recommended Meditation Courses in July

2005-06-28T11:41:00.000+08:00

Get enlightened now.

Sign up for these courses and find relaxation, improved health, better concentration, deepened understanding of yourself, insights into the nature of things, full realisation of your wisdom, liberation from the causes of suffering in the world. . . (do you really need more reasons?!)

-----------------------------------------------

Meditation Course
at Mangala Vihara (next to Eunos MRT station)
Every Friday on 1,8,15 and 22 July 2005

Dear dhamma brothers and sisters

Mangala Vihara temple is pleased to invite you, family members and friends who are keen to learn meditation to attend this course organised specially for beginners. Details are as follows:

No of lessons: 4 plus 1 practical session (weekend retreat)

Teacher: Ven Cittara from Myammar
Language: English

Date: Every Friday on 1,8,15 and 22 July 2005
Time: 7.30pm-9.30pm
(pls come in at 7.15pm as class will start punctually at 7.30pm)

Venue: Mangala Vihara Temple,Level 2, 30 Jalan Eunos
(at traffic light junction in front of Eunos MRT station)

Fee: Free

Registration: Pls register with Sam Ho at samhopru@yahoo.com.sg by 24June 2005 with your name and contact no.or call him at 98208050

Retreat: 22 to 24 July 2005

Regards,
Sam Ho

-------------------------------------------------------

Vipassana Meditation Course
At Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Every Friday 29 July to 30 Sept 05

Dear brothers and sisters,

Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa.
(Homage to Him, the Blessed One, the Exalted One, the Fully Enlightened One.)

Due to repeated request, Spiritual Event Management Ministry (SEMM) is pleased to organise a new

10-session Vipassana Meditation Course
commencing from 29/7/05 to 30/9/05,
every Friday from 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm
@3rd Floor, Ven Hong Choon Memorial Hall, Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

We are honoured to be able to invite Sayadaw U Rajinda, a Burmese Bhante who has lived in Singapore for the last 12 years teaching meditation, dharma and the adbidharma. A practioner of the Mahasi Method, his simple spoken English has benefited many with his personal insights.

Although Bhante has a busy schedule with many overseas assignments, we are fortunate to be able to squeeze out some precious time from him. Hence, to maximise his time with us, Chinese translations will be given for this course.

Registration starts on 21/06/05 & closes on 20/07/05.
Course offering is $12.

Offering can be done by Enets via our website www.kmspks.org. (For Enets, Please click on 'Donation' & mark 'VipassanaRaj' under remark column.)
Please send your application to apmc@awarenessplace.com with details of name, NRIC number & contact number together with enets payment reference.
No forms to fill for those who receive this circular from me and submit their application via emails.

For cheque offering, please send to "Awareness Place Well Being Centre, Blk 231, Bain Street, #03-39, S(180231)".
Or make your offering at our Reception office @Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Please mark "VipassanaRaj" on the reverse side of the cheque as well as name, NRIC number & contact number.

Looking forward to your participation in this course!

With love & prayers,
Andy Sim

Spiritual Event Management Ministry
Khong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery

Time to make tiny yogis

2005-06-21T12:11:00.000+08:00

Om Improvement is happy to be the venue for Faculty of Wonder's YogaKids programme starting this July. Pick up the flyer at our reception today and sign up your tiny tots for a rolling good time.

Here's more information provided by Faculty of Wonder:

What is YogaKids?
YogaKids (www.yogakids.com) is a Parent's Choice Award Winning Program from US. It is a unique approach to integrative learning using yoga as a pathway. Children learn to love and honour their individual learning process, develop strong and limber bodies, foster creative expression and imagination, improve focus, discover a sense of awareness and respect for themselves and others.

YogaKids classes are now available at: Om Improvement

Course fees: $180 (8 Sessions)
Minimum class size: 5
Class sizes are limited! Do register your child early for the class!

Day---Start Date---Time-------------Age Group-----Facilitator
Sat----16 Jul'05 ----9:30-10:30am---4-7 yr old ------Kai
Sat----16 Jul'05---- 4:40-5:40pm----5-10 yr old-----Beeling
Sun----17 Jul'05----10:00-11:00am---8-12 yr old----Kai

Please call the respective class facilitator for registration:
Beeling 98270032
Kai 96862541

New Tue 8:30pm class starting next week 28 June

2005-06-21T12:06:00.000+08:00

Good news for late night yogis!

Due to popular demand, we are starting a new class at 8:30pm-10pm on Tuesday nights starting next week 28 June. The existing Thursday 8:30pm class remains as scheduled.

Yoga Class Schedule Updates

2005-06-14T13:22:00.000+08:00

Yoga Class Schedule Updates

**Please note that Wednesday & Friday 3:30pm session has been suspended until 29 June.

New!
Yoga practice is not complete without meditation.

Drop in for 2 FREE meditation sessions
on Wednesdays 5:45-6:45pm and Friday 6:00-7:00pm.

No reservations for places are required. You are free to drop in any time within the above timeslots. So if you are early for your yoga class, just come in for these self-practice sessions and enjoy some moments of peace before your workout. Please maintain NOBLE SILENCE when you come into the studio.

Life as practice

2005-06-13T10:16:00.000+08:00

Went for the one day meditation workshop by Ven Pannyavaro on Saturday 11 June. Realising more and more that for meditation, you need to practise, practise, practise and not just attend classes once in a while. It really helps if there are places you can go to or people you can find to practise together. But a lot of effort comes from yourself, from personal dedication to keep at this practice. It took me sooo long to practise enough to be able to just sit steadily and comfortably.

For me, it takes an amazing effort to use less effort. Straining to practice well does not work for meditation, it does not work for yoga. It is only through active practice that I saw I was trying too hard. After practising awareness during my recent retreat and practising on my own and in the Saturday workshop, in a sitting yesterday morning, I finally was able to consciously reduce this "trying to hard" thing and was able to sit steady and comfortable through a good duration of time and with awareness of the times I slide into straining again. Ah!

Straining to live well does not work in general. I remember my ex-classmate at college who is now an olympian talking about his sport, sailing: you need to sail lightly to sail well. Straining, forcing, with high expectations, intolerant of failure, with a lack of patience -- means a bad race -- because ultimately not all things are in your control. You need to sail lightly, sail in acceptance, in tune with the elements, without clinging to results. Not just sailing or meditation needs to be done this way. All of life is our practice. Our practice is for life, to enable us to live well AND our practice is on life itself -- not to be able to sit well in meditation retreats -- but to able to sit well through our daily lives. If viewed this way, it is hard to say: we do not have time for practice. Every moment is our practice. Every moment, we put into practice awarenss, openness, loving-kindness, compassion, appreciative joy, gratitude, equanimity -- and we attain happiness in the moment.

May you be well and happy and may you grow in your practice.

----

Some of you asked when the next retreat or workshop conducted by the Venerable will be. Well, he's returning to Australia where he's continuing to establish and build a new monastery & retreat centre: Bodhi Tree Forest Monastery & Retreat Centre. I'll certainly update you all if there's any news of upcoming teaching programme by him in Singapore.

In the meantime, there are 2 short metta (loving-kindness) meditation retreats in Singapore coming up. I've put the info on my noticeboard in Om Improvement. You can find out more from the organisers:

Dates: 2-4 July 2005
Organiser: Vipassana Meditation Centre
Teacher : Sayadaw U Pannathami or Sayadaw U Pannananda
Venue : Vipassana Meditation Centre, 251 Lavender Street Singapore 338789
For information: vmckm@singnet.com.sg Tel : 64453984.
Web: http://vmc128.8m.com/

Dates: 14(7pm) -17 July, 2005
Organiser: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Teachers: Ven. Mahinda & Sister Sumitra
Venue: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery (Bright Hill in Bishan)
For information: apmc@awarenessplace.com Tel: 6336 5067
Web: http://kmspks.org/events/evt_metta.htm

Why meditate? Why practice yoga?

2005-06-09T12:24:00.000+08:00

A human being is part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. They experience themselves, their thoughts, and feelings as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of their consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of love and compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.

--- Albert Einstein

And how do we go about "freeing ourselves form this prison"?
We already have the tools: yoga, meditation. Practice is not important just to satisfy ourselves. We practice to realise a better world for all.

It is imporant to remember to share the merits of whatever good that you do today with all those who need it. There is too much darkness in the world today. We need to add some light into the world. . . live your life well, bring some relief to those who are suffering.

---- Ven Tenzin Palmo, in Singapore on 5 June 2005

Free meditation workshop this Saturday 11 June

2005-06-08T11:46:00.000+08:00

Ven. Pannyavaro, my retreat teacher, is also doing a free one-day meditation workshop this Saturday at Tai Pei Centre at No. 2 Lavender St.

TIME: 8.45AM TO 5PM

Free vegetarian lunch provided (yes! there is such a thing as a free lunch!)

Try to make it if you have the chance and learn from this good teacher.

To register, please call 9618 3882 (David Teo) or email: davidtsp@singnet.com.sg

---------------------

Ven. Pannyavaro is the founder of BuddhaNet which is the premiere Buddhist website established in the year 1992. Current user statistics for the website are 830,000 files(6.1 gigabytes) served per day which equates to approximately six million individuals viewing the website per year.
He is an Australian Theravada Buddhist monk who has devoted his life to the meditational aspects of the Buddha’s teachings. During his monastic training, he practiced under several meditation masters, including the Ven. Sayadaw Ujanaka of Chanmyay Yeiktha, Burma, who is the foremost disciple of the renowned Burmese meditation master, the late Ven. Mahasi Sayadaw.
During more than 25 years of training, he has studied and practiced meditation in all the major Theravada Buddhist countries, including long periods of intensive practice of the Satipatthana-Vipassana meditation at the Mahasi Sayadaw centre in Burma.

------------------------

Vipassana or insight meditation, is above all, an experiential practice, based on the systematic and balanced development of a precise and focused awareness. By developing this awareness we gain greater insight into the nature of life and its experiences and thus resulting in achieving greater wisdom.

Free public talk by my retreat teacher this Friday

2005-06-06T12:22:00.000+08:00

The teacher who guided us in our retreat is doing a public talk this Friday 10 June.
So if you want to find out what we were practising during the retreat, this is a good introduction.

Do not miss this insightful teacher. Good teachers are hard to come by.

For more information on the talk click here: http://kmspks.org/events/evt_panny.htm

Presence

2005-06-06T12:12:00.000+08:00

Hi, I am back from the retreat. We were fortunate to have a teacher, Venerable Pannyavaro, who is very deep in his practice. Let me put it this way, he happened to have been seriously practising this method of meditation, Vipassana or Insight Meditation, for as many as I have been alive, since 1974. There is a no-nonsense attitude in his explanations and a deep clarity in his instructions. Before this retreat, I’ve only understood the methods intellectually. However, thanks to yoga practice (which the Ven. agreed had a positive effect on growing your meditation practice), I had developed better awareness skills and so when I practiced the methods on my own, I was able to make some observations on my own. Still, that is nothing compared to how clearly I understand the practice now after the retreat. It is in this short 5-day retreat, I felt like I’ve finally experienced first-hand the essence of the practice and also how to progress from here. This, guys, really points to the importance of having a good teacher!

In fact, that’s just it. Direct Experience. The retreat teacher said that the whole practice can be summed up in one world: presence. We need to be present in everything that we do. We were told from the onset of the retreat that it is in all the times in between our formal sitting and walking meditation sessions that holds the most promise for practice. Our teacher wanted us to pay close attention to our every action. How we got up from the floor, how we stand, how we walk up and down the stairs, how we lie down to sleep, how eat, open the door, etc. Usually we do all this on auto-pilot mode, literally absent-minded, rather than present, and we let our minds wander as they will when we are doing our daily chores. In the end the mind, becomes scattered and cluttered with all kinds of junk inconsequential thoughts that become serious obstacles to being able to live freely and perceive things as they really are. And we become unhappy when things do not go as we wish.

Moment-to-moment awareness is key to gaining insight. So from the moment we wake in the morning, we are aware of ourselves lying on the floor AND we maintain our stream of awareness through the day till we lie down again in the night. This is the reason we don’t talk, we don’t read, write, listen to music, or daydream during the retreat as these disrupt your attention. Tough practice. Try doing it just for a day! It is exhausting for the beginner.

Why do we need to practice moment-to-moment awareness? I mean, what’s the point? Just to challenge ourselves? No. This is so that we do not let the mind wander on its own accord – focusing only AND fully on the task at hand. What I experienced is a mind that’s become so sharp and clear. So much so that when you sit down in formal meditation practice, you observe so closely your meditation object be it the rising and falling of the breath or the rising and falling of your thoughts . . .

Then it gets very very interesting indeed . . .

What are the insights from insight meditation? I can tell you here but insight is not something explained to you by another person, it needs to be experienced for yourself:

You experience the body as body.
You experience feelings as feelings.
You experience consciousness as consciousness.
You experience mental objects as mental objects.

There are practices for realising each one. But all the practices stem from the same basic skill: all pervasive moment-to-moment attentiveness. What’s the point of realising insights? You see for yourself that the same qualities are present in all the objects of meditation, whether they of body, feelings, consciousness or mental objects: all phenomena are ever-changeful, they are of no substantial quality and thus they are all, in essence, unsatisfactory. All disturbances in the mind and unhappiness in our lives stem from not comprehending or accepting this. What’s the point of realising this? You clear your mind from obstacles to clear seeing and experience all things in the world directly, experience things just as they are --- changeful, unstable, imperfect -- you accept that this is the normal state of all things. . . . and you become free. Free from ignorance, delusion, craving and live in a state of graceful equipoise. Simply put, in a state of sustainable peace. There is a deep quiet joy in this state which again, has to be experienced to be understood! This practice of vipassana gives us a taste of freedom and whets an appetite for our utter liberation in nibbana.

Practise. Be aware. Realise. Be happy.

For more information:
on the meditation method, click here: Insight Meditation
on Ven. Pannyavaro and his internet resources click: Buddhanet
you can also read more about going for retreats on his site.

Retreat tonight

2005-05-30T06:20:00.000+08:00

I'm off to retreat tonight. See all of you next week when I return to class from 7 June.
I will not be contactable during the retreat. If you have any messages for me, please do not leave a voicemail on my phone. Email me instead: omimprovement@gmail.com and I will revert when I get back.

I'm happy to report that I've successfully woken up just now at 4.30am. ;-)
Thank you for all your well wishes.

Practice yoga. Be happy.
May we quickly gain enlightenment so that we can help others to also be free from suffering.

Namaste.

My retreat programme next week

2005-05-27T10:15:00.000+08:00

Many of you have been curious about what happens during a full meditation retreat. And some of you are plain shocked that we have to wake up at 4.30am each day. These rules exist not to torture us or to pose a challenge to our system. There is a good reason behind each of the rules. For example, waking up at 4.30am means you get to practice meditation in the cool crisp morning before the buzz and heat of the day sets in: It is easy to be still. The rules help our full-time practice by making the mind free from distractions and sloth. It is a true vacation from your usual mental habits: worry, stress, wandering thoughts, fantasy, judgement, prejudice, vanity, fear, envy, anger, etc. You need to try this if you have a chance -- it's a break like no other and you return full of energy, clarity and serenity: ready to face life with a better sense of balance.

Retreat does not mean escape -- the point of retreats is to teach us how to live in the world, seeing through to the true nature of things.
;-)

Here's the programme which has just been sent to us:

MANGALA VIHARA
VIPASSANA MEDITATION RETREAT WITH VEN PANNYAVARO
30th May to 4th June 2005

Daily Time-table (31st May to 3rd June 2005)

4.30am Wake up
5.00am Meditation
6.15am Breakfast
7.00am Daily Chores
8 –11am Meditation
11.30am Lunch, rest
12.00pm Daily Chores, Rest
1-5pm Meditation, Interview
5pm Rest
6pm Meditation
7.30pm Dharma Talk
8.30pm Meditation
9.30pm Lights Off

As you can see, we wake early but we also sleep early. There are also ample rest periods inbetween. So it's quite humane and all. Constant concentration is tiring mentally and physically. We need to keep ourselves relaxed and practice without straining. It's the same as yoga practice: steady and comfortable. In fact, the physical aspects of Raja Yoga, which is what we have been practising in class, is good preparation for meditation retreat.

We are also to observe these rules:

1. Yogis are to observe the following Eight Precepts :

1.1 No killing
1.2 No stealing
1.3 No sexual activities
1.4 No lying
1.5 No intoxicant
1.6 No solid food after noon
1.7 No ornaments and entertainment
1.8 No high luxurious bed and seats

2. Yogis are to observe NOBLE SILENCE at all time.

3. Yogis are encouraged to wear white T-shirt and long loose trousers or sarong. Short skirts, short pants, sleeveless shirts, leotards and skintight clothing are not allowed.

4. Casual talking and discussion on meditation and experiences are forbidden. Retreat is not a time for reading and making friends.

5. Use of mobile phones are not permitted.

6. Yogis are to carry out their daily activities mindfully, so as to maintain their practice and also to minimize disturbance to fellow yogis.

7. Yogis shall help to keep the retreat premises clean and tidy.

To talk less and not be distracted by entertainment is obvious in their effects on lessening the disturbances in the mind. But how come we must wear white? I wondered about this before. Then I made my own discovery: when I went for retreat, I noticed that sometimes when I open my eyes after a session of meditation, I get distracted by the words or patterns on the t-shirt of the person seating in front of me. I would be staring for a while and thoughts start to form regarding the patterns or the words, before I catch myself. Alamak! Wandering thoughts again!However, when I opened my eyes or when I'm trying to settle down to sit for meditation, if I'm surrounded by people all in the same white, they seem to be invisible in a way and I tend to concentrate better. Stripes, in particular seem to have a highly stimulating effect on the eyes. . . .

What's the purpose of it all?

The point of retreats is not just to go and follow rules. There a many benefits to attending a strict retreat:

1. You are free from distractions of your daily lives, making a living, taking care of others, preparing meals, beating the clock, . . . so you can easily sit and gain good concentration.

2. meditation is good for health. Scientific studies of late seem to be obsessed with the health benefits of meditation for the body: you get better immunity, less prone to stress related illnesses, etc.

3. the real purpose of meditation for the yogis in the past, is to allow us to understand ourselves: how our mind is the forerunner of all things. while daily practice at home or in yoga class help us build our meditation skills. I feel in a retreat environment, you have very good opportunity to seriously practise this and observe the effects. You can view things very clearly from prolonged practice and this helps you to note the mental processes that colour the very fabric of your daily life.

4. there is much to be said for group retreats. Just like we can feel the bad vibrations of an angry person who enters the room, we can feel the good and calm vibrations of seasoned meditators in the same room. Imagine sitting for up to 10 hours a day in a room full of people in deep peace, working to be better persons. Even if you are not meditating, you will be enveloped in peace. The kind of serenity and happiness is to be experienced to be understood.

5. NOBODY can develop your mind for you. Only you can be the cause for your own well-being and happinesss. Retreats encourage us to take full responsibility for our mental states and our personal development. Volunteers help to make your retreat run smoothly and free you from our daily obligations so that you can dedicate time to serious self-study. You can only gain wisdom from self-realisation.

May you have the chance to experience the same joy in your practice.
May you grow in your own practice.

What if every moment

2005-05-26T09:38:00.000+08:00

As I leave for meditation retreat, I leave you with these thoughts on what I'm doing:

Haven't been updating this blog for eons. I can't really say why. Blogger's bloc? In a way I can say why: I only wanted to say the truth in things and the blog was meant for my students. When the way is not clear, what do I really have to say? I resolved to only speak when I can see the real nature of things. There is too much noise around to mislead and confuse us as it is. This is what I am trying to do now. To discover the true nature of things for myself, for the sake of all. It's such a journey. Like travelling in a country with no maps, not speaking the language. It is hard to explain but it preoccupies my waking (and frequently even sleeping moments. . . ) moments. I know I will continue to search many lifetimes if I do not resolve it in this one. It is not a pleasant nor unpleasant task: it is just necessary, like breathing is for life.

With help from others further on this path, I have an inkling on how to do this. You cannot understand it all by thinking. (What a relief! It was giving me a phenomenal headache!) You need to do a lot of letting go -- it becomes so clear. Let go of wants, of prejudices, beliefs, ideology, ideals, perception, -- all you have is bare awareness and truth is realised/actualised, rather than thought out.

No deep thoughts, just widened, continually expanding awareness. . . . Sometimes, in moments, when I am meditating or teaching yoga or not letting myself interrupt myself, everything seems completed and perfect and understood and OKAY.

What if EVERY MOMENT can be like this?

May the great mystery make sunrise in your heart.

Class Schedule Updates

2005-05-20T14:32:00.000+08:00

Everyone's in a holiday mood! There are no classes by Sau Fen, Siew Yong or Min Chao this weekend 21-22 May, 2005. We are closed for the duration and closed as usual on Mondays. See everyone next week!

Try not to miss your practice this coming week after the Vesak holiday as I'll be away for a Vipassana Meditation Retreat on the following week from 31 May to 4 June. My classes on these dates are cancelled. --- Hope you'll continue to practice at home. Classes resume as normal thereafter.

Enjoy your holidays. Let's not forget what Vesak celebrates: the inspirational example of what happiness and freedom an ordinary person can achieve through self-cultivation and actual excercising of compassion and love for all.

Practice peace. Embody love. Be free.

Class Schedule Updates

2005-04-29T23:47:00.000+08:00

There will be no yoga class on 30 Apr, Saturday.
Enjoy your Labour Day weekend!

Noble Truths

2005-03-26T12:05:00.000+08:00

Although the world is full of suffering,
it is full also of the overcoming of it.

----Helen Keller (helenkeller.org)

Good Friday

2005-03-17T01:27:00.000+08:00

There will be no yoga classes on 25 March 2005, Good Friday. Have a good holiday!

Yoga Class Schedule Updates

2005-03-08T11:48:00.000+08:00

Hi all, please take note of the following updates on class schedule:

No classes on Wednesday lunchtime slots for this week and next, 9 & 16 March.
25 March is Good Friday so there are no yoga classes on this public holiday.
My fellow instructor, Siew Yong's Sunday morning 11am class has been permanently shifted to 4pm-5:30pm on Saturdays . For more details on these new series of classes, please make your query at Om Improvement.

Festive break

2005-01-26T11:35:00.000+08:00

Om Improvement will be closed from 7 Feb (Monday) to 12 Feb (Saturday) for the Chinese New Year holidays. There will be no yoga classes on these days*.

Happy New Year to all!

*Corporate class for Mitsubishi Electric on 7 Feb is not affected and will take place as scheduled.

2005-01-26T11:28:00.000+08:00

Latest Yoga Class Schedule

Yoga Class Schedule Updates

2005-01-25T23:57:00.000+08:00

Good news for those yogis whose family and friends prefer yoga classes conducted in Mandarin! We've added a Mandarin yoga class on Wednesdays at 3:30pm-5pm. Also, the current Saturday 6pm-7:30pm class is now bilingual (English/Mandarin simultaneous instructions and explanations). Prices are the same as for regular yoga classes. Current yogis on 10 or 20 yoga class packages can freely use the same class cards for these classes.

Lunchtime classes are now on Wednesdays and Fridays rather than Tuesdays and Thursdays. Same time 12:30pm-1:30pm. Evening yogis, please do call to let me know if you want to come down for the afternoon classes.

Class on Monday to replace Hari Raya Friday's

2005-01-15T01:05:00.000+08:00

Next Friday, 21 Jan, is Hari Raya Haji, a public holiday.
There will be no yoga class on this day.

To make up for this, there will be an extra yoga class on
next Monday, 17 Jan, 7:00-8:30pm.

Depending on the response to this timeslot, we may have a permanent Monday evening class if there's a demand for it.

Happy Holidays.

Carpark fees at Raffles City

2005-01-11T11:12:00.000+08:00

One of my friends who attends class at Om Improvement was kind to forward the following information for all of us:

"Got this from the Singapore office abt the carpark at Raffles City:

Charges during weekends. Please take note if you are parking there for Yoga Class.
Please be informed that RCT carpark charges for Saturdays (after 1pm), Sundays and Public Holidays will be revised as below with effect from 15Jan05. Parking charges for other duration remains unchanged. Saturdays (after 1pm), Sunday and Public> Holidays - $2.00 for the first 4hrs and $0.50 for every subsequent half hour. Carpark charges are subjected to prevailing GST."

Seasonal Announcements

2004-12-20T13:41:00.000+08:00

Season's greetings to all!

Some announcements are in line:

[1] Yoga classes during the festive season on 24, 25, 31 Dec & 1 Jan are cancelled. It's been our experience that there will be very low or no attendance on these days every year. So do come on the other days of the week to keep up with your regular yoga practice and your festive feasting! ;-)

[2] Yogis who come to class in these last 2 weeks of 2004 can pick up limited back copies of Yoga Journal and other yoga magazines FREE. Please practice the yama of Aparigraha or non-grasping and cultivate a sense of abundance by not taking more than you need. Do share your magazines.

[3] The 1st Asia Pacific Yoga Conference will be held in Singapore next May. No need to go far abroad to seek your yoga gurus next year. The gurus are coming to you! This conference is defintely something you want to experience if you are interested in learning more about yoga from the source -- from the masters themselves. The programme features practical asana workshops (these are general classes, i.e. yogis at all levels of practice can attend) and indepth sharing of the masters' experience in talks and opportunities for personal exhange.
You can sign up for this conference directly at Om Improvement. Register early the enjoy the Early Bird rates!!
Read more at http://omimprovement.blogspot.com/2004/12/1st-asia-pacific-yoga-conf_110186917027945659.html
or head for the webpage http://www.yogainasia.com/

[4] There are some who have said that "Knitting is the next yoga". Yoga of Knitting is on at Om Improvement every Sunday 4pm-7pm (from 9 Jan). Any activity which unites our actions with our inner self is yoga. For those of you looking to practice yoga while in the MRT train. This is it. Knitting is a therapeutic and meditative activity that builds patience, humility, creativity -- inner attributes that help us along the path to gaining self knowledge and being able to make a mean sweater in the process! We have started a group going but are taking a break during the festive period -- the sessions will resume on 9 Jan. All levels of skills are welcome. No experience required. Warm and friendly advice from veterans will be available to guide newbies. Bring your own yarn, a pair of knitting needles, (you can get these from Spotlight at Plaza Singapura) loads of enthusiasm and some snacks and good jokes to share. Open to guys (yogis) and gals (yoginis). Attendance is FREE.

Enjoy your holidays! Enjoy your life!

2004-12-09T10:05:00.000+08:00

Dec 2004 Yoga Class Schedule

Yoga Class Schedule Updates

2004-12-01T13:33:00.000+08:00

We're trying out a NEW yoga class timeslot at 6pm-7pm on Tuesdays in Dec'04 starting 7 Dec. This is a one-hour class offering gentle yoga and is open to all green class card holders (i.e. those of you on 10/20 class packages)

So if you have an early day off from work and would like to ease your way into the evening, you can drop by for the class and be home in time for more quiet time to yourself!

Do call before you come to confirm space availability.

Please refer to the above table for the latest Yoga Class Schedule at OmIm.

1st Asia Pacific Yoga Conference in Singapore

2004-12-01T10:42:00.002+08:00

Just got wind of this conference to be held in Singapore 27-29 May 2005. See their website for more information: www.yogainasia.com

Details coming soon on signing up for the conference at Om Improvement. Check back at this website.

"This is the first Asia Pacific Yoga Conference where a few most highly acclaimed teachers, TKV Desikachar, his son Kausthub Desikar, Kali Ray of TriYoga, Ganga White of White Lotus Foundation and Barbara Brian of Agama Yoga Centre will be teaching. The conference involves the best teachers from the East and West, which provides a great opportunity for yoga teachers and yoga enthusiasts in Asia to experience a greater depth and deeper dimension of yoga in their practice. "