Yoga_Journal_Singapore_FebruaryMarch_2017

8

february / march 2017

yogajournal.com.sg

itr lttr

Dear Readers,

Greetings and a very warm welcome to our first edition of 2017, the year of

the Rooster. I am told many yoga studios will be teaching the Rooster pose

(Kukkutasana) this year, a very advanced and meditative pose that should be

attempted only if you are comfortable with the Lotus pose. For the record,

I cannot do the Kukkutasana either, and hope to learn it this year. But, as

Patanjali has emphasized in his Yoga Sutras, each body has its limitations: what

is important is to always keep your mind steady. So, no pressure!

Keeping your “mind steady” also translates into being in a meditative state.

As our mindfulness expert Vikas Malkani advises, meditation should be the

biggest investment we make this year. Read about his seven strategies in

this magazine (page 42)—while they seem easy, I have a funny feeling they

may be just as challenging as attempting the Rooster pose. I have decided to

include all seven in my list of new year resolutions.

Speaking of resolutions, I have made another one that I’d like to share with

you. I plan on giving myself more “me time” this year. This means taking a

break, at least once a quarter, to any place—far or near—where I can pause,

reflect, practice and do some soul searching. For starters, I am heading to

Bali in March for the Bali Spirit Festival, and then immersing myself in a yoga

retreat that our cover model Laura Burkhart is hosting there.

Whatever your resolutions are for this year, I hope there is one that focuses

on your health and wellness—be it mindful eating, meditation, yoga, pilates

or any form of exercise. May we all also adhere to acts of kindness (read more

about the Yamas, one of the eight limbs of Ashtanga (page 75), by embracing

and respecting diversity, religion and peace around the world.

Enjoy the magazine!

Regards,

Kavita Chandran

Editor in Chief

[email protected]

Thank you to Brandon Chong of ‘Yoga Instiinct’, and his fellow

teachers, Derris and Eleonora, for striking the Rooster Pose for

Yoga Journal Singapore!

2017

YEAR

OF THE

ROOSTER

PHOTO : GARGI MAZUMDAR, DESIGN : ANUJA BAGADE, ILLUSTRATION : DESIGNED BY FREEPIK