Monday, November 20, 2006
sabbatical & new beginnings
Hi yoga fans!
A sabbatical is an extended period of time granted for professional development and spiritual renewal away from normal ministerial responsibilities and in a manner that is not possible during the busyness of a typical work year. Sabbaticals are not vacations, but carefully planned periods of time devoted to study, reflection, rest, and renewal. They frequently become a path to understanding one's vocation in new ways or as a vehicle for a transformed sense of pastoral identity. Some pastors travel, experience different cultures, learn new skills, or spend time reading during a sabbatical. It is also possible to think of even doing something like a semi-monastic retreat. This is a time to experience "being" in addition to "doing"; it should be a time of freedom and authenticity. One of the goals of a sabbatical is to return to the congregation renewed and refreshed. ( from Boston University School of Theology's website)
. . .
I think the word sabbatical appropriately describes what I am planning to do. In academic circles and in the Catholic church, sabbaticals are time granted to professors and spiritual workers to renew and refresh themselves through self-study and development. A fter more than 3 years in yoga teaching, I am ripe for further training and development. From this December, I will be taking a sabbatical from full-time yoga teaching to do further training and to rest and renew myself.
When I am teaching full-time, I prioritise my time, energy and wellbeing for the running of the classes so I am not able to do too much advanced training because I cannot risk sustaining injuries and fatigue that would affect the teaching of the day to day classes. Thus to grow as a yogi, I need to take a sabbatical so I would thus have more freedom to undertake this kind of training as well as longer term intensive meditation retreats since other instructors would be ensuring the continuity of the daily classes.
New beginnings
We are happy to announce that one of our regular teachers, Michele Thompson, will turn full-time from December to teach and run mOmentOm yOga and Dr Kajal will also take on more classes so our yogis will be guaranteed the enjoyment of the same the steady, comfy, happy yoga that we do at mOmentOm yOga. We are also talking to other yoga teachers on coming on board to enhance our studio's offering.
During my sabbatical, I would also be taking time to contribute spiritual work in the foundation of an important Buddhist temple and pilgrimage site housing the relics of the Buddha -- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The historic event will establish a permanent cultural and spiritual landmark in Singapore. There is an opportunity at this crucial stage of their inaugural year in 2007 to offer up my skills and efforts to help the people, to encourage more people to avoid evil, to do good and to cultivate their minds, thus finding happiness. If you feel you have benefited from what I have shared with you in mOmentOm, imagine being able to share the same beneficial transformations effectively with countless other lives on a global scale. It is a huge and important challenge that I have been called upon to take on, and in the spirit of yoga, I find it hard not to search within for the courage to rise up to the task when so much good can possibly be accomplished by it. As Mother Teresa said:
If we pray, we will believe
If we believe, we will love
If we love, we will serve.
With your patience and kindness, I am confident I will have your support and understanding in this endeavour to renew and grow myself and mOmentOm yOga. I feel that mOmentOm yOga has grown and has developed its identity beyond just being a "Sau Fen" place. My inner wisdom is telling me that I need to step aside a little and allow others to have the chance to take the lead and further develop what mOmentOm can offer. While my ideas may have set up the place, perhaps others' ideas can make the place really soar. And in this case, as Michele is taking the lead, I am excited about what mOmentOm can become, with her heart, creativity and her intelligence all in. Additionally, you can also look forward to more classes conducted by Dr Kajal including his popular workshop programmes.
Thank you to all for sharing your practice with me and for making mOmentOm yOga what it is today, a steady, comfy, happy home for all of us. Please continue to give us your support as we grow! And of course, you all will continue to see me at mOmentOm yOga. . . likely as a fellow yogi in class!
Look out for the December class schedule out soon on our website.
(See below for holiday announcement)
. . .
One of the great blessings on my path in yoga is to have met Michele. Her quest for truth, her kind heart and openness have been a constant reminder to me to be real, big-hearted and to be present. I remember her generosity in Nepal when in a moment, she gave without hesitation her share of what little money we had to buy more books and pens for the children of the villages. I was very moved by that beautifully spontaneous and real action. I see her trekking steadily ahead of me in the same mountains in Nepal and I admire the inner strength that carries her on in what she sets herself out to do. I always make it a point to sound out to her first on new ideas and developments for mOmentOm yOga because I know that her comments are always fair and wise and based on a lot of love. It is not an exaggeration to say that mOmentOm yOa as it is today would not have been possible without her help. She is as much a part of mOmentOm as I am, though she has till now stayed humbly out of the limelight. Her passion for yoga and her will to help others find their happiness will guide mOmentOm yOga through to heights comparable to that of the Himalayas!
Thank you, Michele, for your companionship on the path.
May your wish to teach yoga bring you happiness and peace!
A message from Michele:
"Dear fellow yogis,
Some of you have attended my classes and others I have met on my yogic journey... The journey has been a very enlightening one. With the support and encouragement of Saufen, I started teaching yoga to deepen my practice. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to share and be part of your journey.
Indeed, we are sad that Saufen will no longer be a regular "fixture" at the studio. She has touched many of us with her patience, guidance, wisdom and open heart. She will continue to come by and teach whenever she can. Let us wish her happiness in her ongoing journey!"
. . .
Holidays
Some yogis have been asking for a break in December due to the holidays. There are a number of public holidays on Monday 25 Dec, Monday 1 Jan and Tuesday, 2 Jan 2007 (as Hari Raya Haji is on 31 Dec 2006 falling on a Sunday).
Dr Kajal will also be back in India visiting his family from 17 Dec to first week of Jan and Michele visiting hers in Malaysia over Christmas.
So mOmentOm yOga & yOgis will take a rest from 24 Dec and reopen on 3 Jan 2007.
Yogis' class package validity period will be extended accordingly.
mOmentOm yOga wishes all yogis and their families health & happiness in the holidays, new year and beyond!
. . .
Health & happiness,
Sau Fen
mOmentOm yOga. . . steady, cOmfy, happy, yOga.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A sabbatical is an extended period of time granted for professional development and spiritual renewal away from normal ministerial responsibilities and in a manner that is not possible during the busyness of a typical work year. Sabbaticals are not vacations, but carefully planned periods of time devoted to study, reflection, rest, and renewal. They frequently become a path to understanding one's vocation in new ways or as a vehicle for a transformed sense of pastoral identity. Some pastors travel, experience different cultures, learn new skills, or spend time reading during a sabbatical. It is also possible to think of even doing something like a semi-monastic retreat. This is a time to experience "being" in addition to "doing"; it should be a time of freedom and authenticity. One of the goals of a sabbatical is to return to the congregation renewed and refreshed. ( from Boston University School of Theology's website)
. . .
I think the word sabbatical appropriately describes what I am planning to do. In academic circles and in the Catholic church, sabbaticals are time granted to professors and spiritual workers to renew and refresh themselves through self-study and development. A fter more than 3 years in yoga teaching, I am ripe for further training and development. From this December, I will be taking a sabbatical from full-time yoga teaching to do further training and to rest and renew myself.
When I am teaching full-time, I prioritise my time, energy and wellbeing for the running of the classes so I am not able to do too much advanced training because I cannot risk sustaining injuries and fatigue that would affect the teaching of the day to day classes. Thus to grow as a yogi, I need to take a sabbatical so I would thus have more freedom to undertake this kind of training as well as longer term intensive meditation retreats since other instructors would be ensuring the continuity of the daily classes.
New beginnings
We are happy to announce that one of our regular teachers, Michele Thompson, will turn full-time from December to teach and run mOmentOm yOga and Dr Kajal will also take on more classes so our yogis will be guaranteed the enjoyment of the same the steady, comfy, happy yoga that we do at mOmentOm yOga. We are also talking to other yoga teachers on coming on board to enhance our studio's offering.
During my sabbatical, I would also be taking time to contribute spiritual work in the foundation of an important Buddhist temple and pilgrimage site housing the relics of the Buddha -- Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. The historic event will establish a permanent cultural and spiritual landmark in Singapore. There is an opportunity at this crucial stage of their inaugural year in 2007 to offer up my skills and efforts to help the people, to encourage more people to avoid evil, to do good and to cultivate their minds, thus finding happiness. If you feel you have benefited from what I have shared with you in mOmentOm, imagine being able to share the same beneficial transformations effectively with countless other lives on a global scale. It is a huge and important challenge that I have been called upon to take on, and in the spirit of yoga, I find it hard not to search within for the courage to rise up to the task when so much good can possibly be accomplished by it. As Mother Teresa said:
If we pray, we will believe
If we believe, we will love
If we love, we will serve.
With your patience and kindness, I am confident I will have your support and understanding in this endeavour to renew and grow myself and mOmentOm yOga. I feel that mOmentOm yOga has grown and has developed its identity beyond just being a "Sau Fen" place. My inner wisdom is telling me that I need to step aside a little and allow others to have the chance to take the lead and further develop what mOmentOm can offer. While my ideas may have set up the place, perhaps others' ideas can make the place really soar. And in this case, as Michele is taking the lead, I am excited about what mOmentOm can become, with her heart, creativity and her intelligence all in. Additionally, you can also look forward to more classes conducted by Dr Kajal including his popular workshop programmes.
Thank you to all for sharing your practice with me and for making mOmentOm yOga what it is today, a steady, comfy, happy home for all of us. Please continue to give us your support as we grow! And of course, you all will continue to see me at mOmentOm yOga. . . likely as a fellow yogi in class!
Look out for the December class schedule out soon on our website.
(See below for holiday announcement)
. . .
One of the great blessings on my path in yoga is to have met Michele. Her quest for truth, her kind heart and openness have been a constant reminder to me to be real, big-hearted and to be present. I remember her generosity in Nepal when in a moment, she gave without hesitation her share of what little money we had to buy more books and pens for the children of the villages. I was very moved by that beautifully spontaneous and real action. I see her trekking steadily ahead of me in the same mountains in Nepal and I admire the inner strength that carries her on in what she sets herself out to do. I always make it a point to sound out to her first on new ideas and developments for mOmentOm yOga because I know that her comments are always fair and wise and based on a lot of love. It is not an exaggeration to say that mOmentOm yOa as it is today would not have been possible without her help. She is as much a part of mOmentOm as I am, though she has till now stayed humbly out of the limelight. Her passion for yoga and her will to help others find their happiness will guide mOmentOm yOga through to heights comparable to that of the Himalayas!
Thank you, Michele, for your companionship on the path.
May your wish to teach yoga bring you happiness and peace!
A message from Michele:
"Dear fellow yogis,
Some of you have attended my classes and others I have met on my yogic journey... The journey has been a very enlightening one. With the support and encouragement of Saufen, I started teaching yoga to deepen my practice. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to share and be part of your journey.
Indeed, we are sad that Saufen will no longer be a regular "fixture" at the studio. She has touched many of us with her patience, guidance, wisdom and open heart. She will continue to come by and teach whenever she can. Let us wish her happiness in her ongoing journey!"
. . .
Holidays
Some yogis have been asking for a break in December due to the holidays. There are a number of public holidays on Monday 25 Dec, Monday 1 Jan and Tuesday, 2 Jan 2007 (as Hari Raya Haji is on 31 Dec 2006 falling on a Sunday).
Dr Kajal will also be back in India visiting his family from 17 Dec to first week of Jan and Michele visiting hers in Malaysia over Christmas.
So mOmentOm yOga & yOgis will take a rest from 24 Dec and reopen on 3 Jan 2007.
Yogis' class package validity period will be extended accordingly.
mOmentOm yOga wishes all yogis and their families health & happiness in the holidays, new year and beyond!
. . .
Health & happiness,
Sau Fen
mOmentOm yOga. . . steady, cOmfy, happy, yOga.