November Class Update & John's Teacher Training Summary

[Shanti Fitness]

Message From Huiping

This is my first message using our new group mailing system.  Previously many of you were not receiving the emails as bulk sendings were often returned or filtered out of your main mailbox.  Since not everyone has joined the group yet, I will also send via regular email so you may get duplicate emails for the first couple of months.

The main purpose of this group is for me to disperse class information to our regular students.  If you reply to this email it will go to me only not to all members of the group.   I may from time to time post answers to your yoga and health questions and let you know what is happening in our industry both abroad and locally. 

The other main reason for this group is to establish an informal “membership” system.  Many of you in this group have been practicing yoga with me for a number of years or have made the commitment to seeking good health through yoga or other health and fitness related activities and practices.  Whenever, we have Karma Yoga events or activities (non profit classes, promotional classes, giveaways, etc.)  priority will be given to our group members before the public is invited.  You’ll hear about it first.         

Huiping

Hi Everyone,

Well, November is upon us and soon the fall of 2005 will be a distant memory.  I would like to thank all of you for your support and encouragement over the past few months.  It is great to see so many of you back practicing with us again.

Also many of you have been following John’s teacher training journal with interest.  He is doing great and he appreciates your support.  I will visit the States at the end of the month for a short holiday and will give you the exact dates soon. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone in the next few weeks, especially John who will return a certified Bikram in 2 and half weeks! 

Namas te,

Huiping

JOHN’S TEACHER TRAINING WEEK 4 SUMMARY

Dear All,

At the end of the fourth week of teacher training and now virtually at the half way stage. We have the same early starts and only get to bed very late at night, with 3 to 4 hours of yoga in between, lectures and posture clinic in between. There's very little free time for anyone.

The pressures on the body and the mind have led to some of the teacher trainees having emotional breakdowns/break throughs. I never thought I'd live to see the day when coming to the end of yoga class people starting to spontaneously break down in tears...... it's difficult to explain, but the intensity of the program here is such that some people just can't take it.

I'm holding out fortunately and just struggling with very sore muscles in my upper legs (they never were that strong to start! :)  ).

Every day after the first yoga class, we line up to present our teacher's dialogue in front of 150 to 200 people for a different posture every day. As you can imagine, this is a long process as we have over 200 people to get through for every posture. It's a nerve wracking experience as we are all critiqued individually after each presentation. 

We have a different teacher almost every day for yoga class, as there are lots of visiting teachers from across the US. All of them have a different style from each other and all of them have gems of information to pass on.  

We have here students from all over the world but I am the only one from China. It's fascinating hearing about what led people to Bikram yoga and how it has helped them...... from drug addicts, to people who have been rehabilitated through yoga after major car accidents and so on......

I bumped into our fellow class mate Julie the other day. She hopes to come back to Beijing in the near future and sends her best wishes too.

It's Saturday morning here now, and I have to get on with studying for the rest of the weekend. So until the next instalment, I wish you all well and fun with your yoga practice.

take good care

John

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JOHN’S TEACHER TRAINING WEEK 5 SUMMARY

Dear All,

Week 5 is now over and we're past the half way mark...... and I thought it was going to get easier after week 4. Well I was badly mistaken as this week has been the toughest yet physically. I feel like I'm constantly jet lagged with zero energy and on top of that my body is complaining with sore leg muscles and pain above my left knee..... a very tough shiatsu massage today has hopefully started to correct some of those problems and after an 11 hour sleep last night, I hope some repair work has already taken place.....

other than that, I'm really enjoying thye program. Good people all around and everyone joking about the bad organisation and problems they are each individually encountering. If you don't laugh you'll only end up crying!.... and some people are doing that too.

Somehow strangely, many of us think our practice is deteriorating as time goes on and our muscles get tighter. ..... but Bikram knows better and tells us that this is all part of the process and in the end our practices will be stronger and deeper after the training. I live in hope :)

We've had some pretty wacky teachers this last week from around the country assessing our teacher's dialogue presentations and also giving yoga class.....all really good fun.

Thursday night is a special night when we all head over the street to the Farmer's Market for some real hot food, rather than eating the same old boring salads and sandwiches we bring with us to eat each day...... a nice event each week to look forward to.

Tonight was good though as I found a great Sichuan Restaurant nearby to where we are living. I spent the evening there speaking in Chinese and eating great mapo dofu! Bliss and memories of home!

Well, tomorrow I'm going to take my dialogue down to the beach and try to learn 4 more postures in readiness for the week ahead.

I wish you all the best of health and happiness this week and enjoy your yoga classes with our guru Huiping!

namaste from LA

John

JOHN’S TEACHER TRAINING WEEK 6 SUMMARY

Dear All,

Week 6 is now over and this was the official "anger week", when irritation, frustrations and anger just got the better of some people. There were more tears and hugs and so on and we all came through unscathed this week. Bikram taught us 3 times and gave us lectures until the early hours of the morning about yoga and his philosophies of the mind and body...... I have never had such trouble keeping my eyes open as at midnight still sitting in Bikram's lecture!!

The normally warm sunny LA weather has been cool and grey these past two weeks, and yesterday for the first time the sun came out and I'm now looking forward to a weekend in the sunshine at the beach or by the pool. Soaking up those rays and studying more postures for next week's course of classes. :)

In Beijing perhaps many of you don't know that Bikram yoga is normally taught in a carpeted room....... this works quite well, however after 6 weeks of 230 teacher trainers sweating in a room heated so high, you can well imagine that this carpet here in LA has now become a bit of a sweat swamp and you take your life into your own hands if you get too close to the carpet...... the smell is truly horrendous! We are all now bringing small bottles of peppermint oils etc to evening lectures to keep the other smells at bay!

Anyway this is all part of the training to toughen us up ready for the rigours of being teachers in the future.

The sunshine is calling to me on this beautiful Saturday morning here in LA and I can't resist the call of Venice Beach any longer, so on this happy note, I wish you all a happy weekend and a good week of yoga ahead.

I'll be back in touch at the end of week 7.

Bye for now. namaste.

John 

 

 

Revised:  November 1,  2005

 

Pacific Century Club (6539-3434)

Attention Beginning Students: please inform the instructor that you are new and if you have any physical conditions, limitations or medical problems.

 

Featuring Bikram Yoga which is a series of 26 postures in a studio heated to 40C. If you are hypersensitive to heat you may not find this environment comfortable at first. If you have general questions contact the club directly. If you have technical questions, want professional yoga recommendations or have concerns if this type of yoga is suitable for you, contact the teacher directly (Huiping 136-8336-7438).
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Evenings:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 

18:45-- 20:15 

 

Mornings:  Mon, Wed, Fri & Saturday

10:00-- 11:30 

 

Early Morning Silent Class:  Tue, Thu

7:00-- 8:30 

There is no dialogue, students will  transition and move into each posture by following the teacher.  There is no teacher supervision so only experienced Bikram students may participate in this class.  To take part in this class students should have taken at least 10 regular Bikram class sessions and be familar with the posture sequence. 

 

All Classes:  Bikram Hot Yoga-- 90 minutes

(room temp: 40C)   All levels welcome
Bikram's famous 26 posture sequence that started the hot yoga craze in the states.  Features a series of postures designed to exercise the entire body. Each posture has been carefully sequenced to prepare your body for the next. Works all your muscles and stimulates all major body systems (circulatory, nervous, cardiovascular, organs). A great way to keep your body fine tuned both inside and out.

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Class Fees:

90 min

 

RMB90 Class Only*

*bring your own towel and adequate drinking water.

*towels are available for rent

*it will be more convenient if you are dressed ready to take class. 

 

RMB120 with shower including two towels.

*additional towels are extra

 

Yoga mats are available for use free of charge.

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Yoga Guidelines:

1. Come to class on an empty stomach.

 

2. Make sure you are adequately hydrated. You may want to bring a water bottle with you into class. Sealed bottles only please. Do not bring paper cups into the studio.

 

3. If at anytime you feel faint or lightheaded, lie down quickly.

 

4. Always stand or rise slowly and deliberately. If you are prone to low blood pressure, heart conditions or dehydration you may feel dizzy upon rising from a sitting or crouching postion. Please be careful.

 

5. Refrain from wearing perfumes, fragrances, or lotions.

 

6. Wear comfortable, clothing. Shoes are not necessary but clean feet are! It is normal to practice yoga with bare feet.  We encourage everyone to be aware of personal hygiene to ensure the well being of all. Socks could actually be hazardous because you may slip. Most serious yoga practitioners have a yoga ("sticky") mat.

 

7. Our yoga classes are for adults. For their safety and the well-being of other students please do not bring young children into the studio or into the club.

 

There is a children's playroom available but the club charges an entrance fee of RMB20.

 

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Location:  Pacific Century Club located in the Pacific Century Place Complex/Pacific Department Store near San Li Tun.

 

Pacific Century Club is in the back of the complex.  Take the elevator to the 5th floor.

 

There are two entrances into the complex.  One is on worker's stadium road the other is on the third ring road.  As Worker's Stadium Road can be quite congested during rush hour, it may be better to enter from the Third Ring Road entrance.

 

 

 

East entrance on the third ring rd.  Make a right where the guard is standing.  Just past the Zhaolong Hotel.

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Parking:  There is ample parking in the parking structure.  The first two hours are free and RMB5 for each additional hour.  You will need a validation so do not forget to give your ticket to the receptionist when you arrive.  If you forget to validate your ticket the rate is RMB5 per hour.    

 

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why Is The Studio Kept Warm?
The heat enhances the experience. The warmth permeates the body, relaxing muscles and making it easier to stretch.

 

Is Your Teacher Qualified?
Yes. Nothing escapes the watchful eye of our chief instructor, Huiping Mo. She is especially sensitive to the needs of beginning students. All classes are in English.

 

Good teachers give information, great teachers motivate, Huiping inspires.  Her teaching method has been honed by years of professional dance practice, fitness instructing and by some of the world's most distinguished yoga teachers and scholars. Her teaching certifications are from the USA based Bikram's Yoga College Of India, a 500 hour 2 month intensive program and the Yoga Research Education Center, a 700 hour two year program.

A tireless yoga advocate, Huiping has given numerous seminars, demonstrations, stage performances, has been featured in magazines and newspapers and has appeared on radio and television programs.  She is the current women's world yoga champion. 

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New! Tuesday & Thursday Earlybird "Silent" Classes 

7:00-8:30

Special Promotion:

RMB80  with shower (one option only)

Tuesday and Thursday Earlybird "Silent" Class

No Dialogue Follow The Teacher

Requirements: 10 classes or be familar with 26 Postures 

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周二及周四早间课程  7:00-8:30

特价宣传:

80元含淋浴

*周二及周四舒缓课程

*没有语言交流服从老师训练

*要求：具有10课时课程基础或了解26个姿势

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亲爱的学员朋友们,

根据上次的邮件，瑜伽课程即将于:

 八月一日，星期一 (10:00) 盈科会所开课

询问详情，请致电6539-3434。

与会所协商沟通后，在这里向大家传达以下信息：

 1.  费用：

费用

只限课程 = RMB90*

 *可以使用指定更衣柜存放衣物

*自带毛巾

*请事先换好课程所需衣着

提供淋浴及两条毛巾 = RMB120*

*包括使用更衣室设施（桑拿，蒸汽浴不包括在内）

备注：对于只参加课程的我们几乎要取消，由于我们不能够找到合适的空间存放更衣柜和换衣服。但我们现在把更衣柜设在了四层，需要从楼梯才能到达，所以除客用更衣室以外我们并没有找到理想的更衣地点。

如果取消只参加课程一项，对那些只参加课程的学员不太公平，所以如果你选择只参加课程，请尽可能的为上课做

好一切准备，包括衣着。夏季来讲比较简单，天气较冷时我们会尽量为您解决更衣柜问题。在您选择只参加课程后

希望您能尽量克服，避免使用更衣柜。

如果在试运行中只上课程为您带来诸多不便且影响到会所的正常运营,我们将取消此项。请注意盈科会所是以健身为宗旨的运营单位，瑜伽课程不应在任何程度上影响到会所的正常运营及客户。例如三全俱乐部，我相信我们的瑜伽学员都能遵守俱乐部的各项规程。作为我本人不希望任何问题，矛盾出现。

好消息：包括淋浴的课程费用已降至120元！

2.   停车费：请参照一下细节。前两小时免费，之后每小时收费五元。

 

抱歉占用您的宝贵时间去阅读此通知。瑜伽本身要相对简单的多！

大多数学员对课程收费及停车费有些疑问，我希望这些信息能有所帮助。

对于新课程的开始我感到非常兴奋，希望能尽快见到大家！

Namas te,

莫慧萍