Must Love Yoga

What is yoga?

Yoga focuses on the balance between your mind, body and breath. This balance is created through: physical exercises and postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and relaxation meditation.
There are forms of yoga to suit any fitness level. It's safe to do in pregnancy, and with the right modifications, can help you to stay fit, strong and supple.

Most yoga classes begin with a warm-up session to stretch your back, arms and legs. After that, postures will help to boost your strength and endurance. Classes usually end with a relaxation or guided meditation session to help you to wind down and feel refreshed. Most yoga classes last for about 90 minutes.

What are the benefits of yoga?

If you do it regularly, yoga is an excellent way to improve your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. The postures may help you to:Improve your circulation, muscle tone and flexibility. Stay mentally agile through relaxation, breathing and meditation. Feel calm, and ease muscle tension.

I’ve never done yoga before. Can I start while I’m pregnant?

Pregnancy is an ideal time to start yoga. The postures for beginners are simpler than most people imagine, and you'll also meet other mums-to-be at your classes.

You’ll start gently and slowly. Your instructor will modify the postures so that they suit your stage of pregnancy. Listen to your instructor, and pay attention to what your body tells you. Yoga postures are generally designed to stretch, not strain. But if you feel any pain and discomfort, stop what you are doing.

Think about gently allowing your body to open or lengthen during a posture, rather than pushing to achieve it. Take it easy, and opt for a break if you feel tired during a class. Take a bottle of water with you to sip if you feel thirsty  Also, try to eat a light snack an hour or two before your yoga class.

Tell your doctor or midwife before starting yoga, or any form of exercise,  while you're pregnant, especially if it’s a type you haven’t done before. You can also talk to your yoga instructor about any concerns you may have.

When can I start doing yoga in pregnancy?

The best time to start yoga if you've never done it before is in the second trimester, after about 14 weeks. Yoga guidelines advise you not to try postures in the first trimester, if you're not used to them.

Sadly, the most common time for miscarriages to happen is during the first trimester. There's no evidence that doing yoga, or any other exercise, in the first trimester will harm your pregnancy. But, to be on the safe side, some yoga teachers will recommend that you don't practise yoga for the first three months.

In your second trimester, you are also less likely to feel tired and sick during a long class.

Some yoga teachers recommend that if your baby was conceived using IVF, you should wait until about 20 weeks before starting classes. This is because of all you will have been through to achieve your pregnancy. Also, if you have had IVF treatment, you are more likely to be pregnant with twins or more. Multiple pregnancies carry a higher risk of miscarriage, so it’s best to be cautious.

If you do decide to practise yoga in the first trimester, keep to relaxation and breathing exercises. If you did yoga before becoming pregnant, you may want to slow down and be aware of any changes in your body.

Are any yoga postures unsafe during pregnancy?

The following postures and positions are not recommended during pregnancy:
- Lying on your back after 16 weeks.
- Breathing exercises that involve holding your breath or taking short, forceful breaths.
- Strong stretches or difficult positions that put you under strain.
- Lying on your tummy (prone).
- Upside-down postures (inversions).Back bends.
- Strong twists.

It's Not A Bad Thing

Being pregnant is one hell of tough job. I was always being skeptical when people said that before, but now I know. And I am not a whining type of girl, normally. Seeing myself losing shape was the most frustrating part for me. Everyone has their own, I believe. But don’t worry; I’m not going to complain about my pregnancy here. In fact, I want to share my joy to all of you. How life became more interesting knowing that one life is growing inside you and how he/she depends on you badly. It was such a blessed.

As for your information, it is my 27^th week now and I feel so much stronger and full of joy every time my baby made its statement by kicking me. Seeing my belly moves gives me a warm feeling. And yes, I think it’s time for me to eventually admit that I am now in love. Not something that I thought I would ever felt in life. But yeah, it happened.

Becoming a mother was never a plan whatsoever for me. I mean, every time someone asked, I always said that I would probably never going to have kids on my own. Nothing really serious, but I just never pictured myself got pregnant and being responsible for someone for the first 9 months of their life. It freaked me out.

But when it did happen, everything just came into place without my knowing. God has His hand all over me, I believe. Everything was just perfect in its own way. My pray was answered and things are becoming beautiful. I just hope that everything will fall into place just like it did for the rest of my pregnancy period. And I cannot wait to have my baby in arms and see how he/she looks like. I think God loves me too much by giving me such a beautiful blessing like this. I was on the top of the world! Yay!

^_^ 

My Little Bundle of Joy

These past three months were the hardest part of my life. I have been hiding a secret that would change my life forever. It was started one morning of August when I had this funny feeling in my stomach. I couldn't find the right word to describe it, it was just an odd feeling. For a moment there I thought it was because of my stressful job that drove me to an unhealthy lifestyle that cause my stomach crammed. But when I didn't get my period on August, I knew it right away. So yeah, I went to a chemist to bought some test-pack and..voila! The result wasn't a shock for me at all. Of course, am pregnant! Yay!

Now, the next step was telling everyone in my circle about my pregnancy and for sure, it was not an easy thing. But first, to be sure of couse,  I went to saw a proper doctor to confirmed everything. Although deep inside my heart I knew for real that I was pregnant, but doctor confirmation was a necessary thingy. Then, of course, as I expected - the doctor confirmed the news. And for the first time I did the sonogram to saw my baby, I was amazed. I mean, like honestly, even though the screen show nothing but a small black dot but I was like speechless. From that moment I knew am going to keep this pregnancy no matter what. After all, this was my little bundle of joy.

As an Indonesian, even though am not into any superstitious thing, but it was a tradition to keep your pregnancy a secret until you passed the first trimester. So yeah, I kept it sealed and, boy oh boy..it was a hard thing to do. I mean, I was super excited but managed to stay calm. Am telling you guys, it was a tortured. Then yeah, when last week I passed my first trimester and my doctor said things are a OK, I can not hold it any longer. I need to shout it out loud and share my joy to the world! Yeah, am so pregnant! Yay!!

Having this little bundle of joy inside me was a major changing for me. I, who used to put myself first upon everything else, suddenly have a different way of thinking. I suddenly don't think of myself anymore. My baby is everything now. And even though I hate my body changing at first but for some reasons I now love my pregnancy shape. Well, I think it was kind of sexy seeing my tits are now transformed into boobs. Ha! Anyway, all that I can say now is I am a proud Momma and will try my everything to see this bundle of joy comes into this world and be in my arms. Six more month to go and am counting every second of them. My last sonogram showed the little one already has shaped like a human. And even though my dear man said it looks like an alien, but for me it is an angel. He or she will always be an angel in my heart, in my soul, and in my mind.

^_^

 

Tri Dhatu Philosophy

Seeing people wearing red, white, and black string on their wrist here in Bali was considered as something commons. What do the colors means by the Balinese People? Certainly the answer will variable, but in philosophy, in Bali the color becomes a necessity in symbolize the religion elements or ritual relations to God. If the color associated with the arts, the art of the Balinese is the breath of life. The whole life of the Balinese can’t be separated with the arts.

This unique philosophy and ritual is very rich with artwork and symbolism, which makes Hindu religion in Bali, is different from the Hinduism origin in India. In Bali the mixing of various philosophies (such as Taoism, Confuciusism, Buddhism, Tantric, Animism, Dynamism, etc) makes Balinese Hindu religion getting rich with the philosophy, implemented by a unique ritual manifestation. Associated with the use of color, The Balinese using colors as symbols in all religious ritual that held, this proves that the Balinese people reached high level of public awareness in art.

Many Balinese Hindu religious rituals or religious teaching is represented with an interesting implementation which using color as symbolism. So in Bali the color treats as a media/symbol to learning the philosophy of Balinese Hindu Religion.

So what is it with the three colors string on their wrist?

In Bali, there are Tri dhatu and Panca Dhatu. It is having same meaning, as something that makes (as elements) into the human body's structure or building will give power of life to human or a building. Tri dhatu is the force that consists of three elements they are utpatti or the creation of Brahma. Sthiti is symbol of Lord Vishnu and pralina, or destruction symbol of God Iswara. This power is manifested in the form of yarn or scratches on the building with red, white, and black. This yarn will wear around the wrist. Anyone who wear this bracelet after the ceremony, believed to be able to resist all kinds of dangers that will threat the soul. This bracelet is a symbol of disaster.
Using the tri dhatu bracelet on our wrist will feel secure our mind at ease, more confident. The three yarns consist of 3 parts of wool Woven the color is red, white and black and symbol of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. These three God are Trimurti, a symbol of birth (utpatti), growth (stithi) and return (chocolates), also symbolizes the power of fire, water, and wind. Birth-death-life which all are at the mercy of God. By wrapping yarn tri dhatu on the wrist would protect human life can also be installed in certain places as home d home and yard guard against evil or negative forces that want to disrupt peace prosperity, and happiness of the human population.

Tri Murthi is the God trinity concept of Balinese Hindu Religion. This concept was made by Danghyang Dwijendra at the Samuan Tiga Temple -Gianyar, when he unites all sects in Bali into Balinese Hinduism nowadays. Tri Murthi means ‘Tri’ = “three” and ‘Murthi’ = “realization of God”, so Tri Murthi means Three manifestations of God Almighty in accordance with his duties. Brahma as the Creator of life, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva as destroyer. In fact the whole (desa pekraman) village in Bali must have 3 temples are embracing the concept. Brahma worshiped at Bale Agung Temple, Vishnu at Puseh temple and Shiva at Dalem Temple.

Relation to Brahma, symbolized by red, Vishnu by black and Shiva with white color. A combination of three colors is called ‘Tri Datu’, is used in every religious ceremonies, buildings, and even used as a talisman for safety. Usually when used for amulets shaped bracelet made of yarn called ‘Benang Tri Datu’ yarn.

Tri Datu is not only attached to buildings or on religion ceremonies, but occasionally, the Balinese attach the threads to their bodies. Around the right wrist – a red thread, around the ankle – a black, and attached to the ear – the white. The use of the Tri Datu is to calm the mind so that it will not be influenced by negative thoughts. The threads can also be wound together around the right wrist or placed on the crown of the head. No matter how the Tri Datu is worn, the threads were placed or attached with prayers to endow the recipient with power, strength, and Longevity.

Those who still have full faith in the power of Tri Datu, use it to cure wounds. The colored threads being wrapped around the open wound directly on the skin as one would use a bandage. For the cremation ceremony (Ngaben), Tri Datu threads take on a new name when they become part of the ritual of ceremonial equipment, being then called (among other possible names) “long-lost” meaning long and lost, possibly because they are consumed in the fire.

Apart from the uses mentioned, on specific occasions Tri Datu is featured in the form of cloth and is worn as clothing by the original male inhabitants of a village. The black being worn as a shirt, the white as an under-skirt sarongs, and the red as an over-skirt. This dress is worn when a Villager is currently carrying out a ceremony at his own temple, or more generally, when the people celebrate “Hari Raya Nyepi” (a day when you must be quite, stay at home, not use any lights. Fires , machines, vehicles or electrical equipment.)

When the people wear dress Tri Datu, they are called “sambangan”. The word implies that they are awaiting a blessing or help from God. During the fifth and sixth months of the Balinese calendar, you are likely to see the Balinese Hindus wearing “Sikepan”.

This is just another form of Tri Datu, where the three colored threads are plaited tired and the ends together forming a necklace or bangle. Before it is worn it will have various items attached: old Chinese coins (the ones with the holes in the middle), small red onions, garlic cloves, ginger roots and other “Jangu” (medicinal plants and roots). Without the coins and “Jangu” mentioned, the plaited or entwined threads are not “Sikepan” and are, more often than not, merely intended as personal adornment. Sikepan is a symbolic marker of those asking God for a blessing and, more likely, protection from the bad spirits that infest the earth during the 5th and 6th months of the Balinese Calendar.

Each person seen wearing the “Sikepan” is also currently having a Cleans or Exorcism at his or her home to rid the area of bad spirits that cause problems. These exorcisms are called “Tilem” and will be held during the dangerous months.

^_^

My Salad and I (My Vegan Life Diary)

You are who you hang out with. 

I used to believe that am a meat eater and a junk food addict. I skeptically made fun of Vegetarian and Yoga people. And I blame my ex for that. Yeah, my was always skeptical about Yoga people. He said that it was wasting of time and since I was a loyal girlfriend, I followed. I mean, true that am a fanatic Sumatran girl who used to ate meat like no others, but still, he was the one who influence me the most. I used to adore him and thought that whatever he said was right. So yeah, blame no one but him for my so called unhealthy life style.

Then last month I have got an offer to managing a Raw Vegan Cafe in Bali and I took it in an extremist way. I went vegan and signed up for a Yoga class. Okay, so that is me. When I do something, I go for the most extreme way. Many people I knew were disbelieved. They were literally like, "So what the f**k do you eat now?" 

The answer to that question? Salad.

So yeah, this is a diary to my new vegan life. The love story between my salad and I. My boss encourage me and actually challenged me to try the raw food diet for at least a month but I proposed it for 22 days, following Jay-Z and Beyonce's pattern. Nothing in particular, just to motivated me on something. You know, I always love Jay-Z so decided to do what he did for his 44th birthday last year. Hey..am a big fan, remember? And for me, going vegan was not just following my idol, but also because I was touched by the idea of how you can save so many animals life by doing such thing. 

Your next question might be, "Why 22?"

Alright, this is Jay-Z's very own explanation. As explained on his  Life + Times blog before challenge no. 1 that "psychologists have said it takes 21 days to make or break a habit. On the 22nd day, you've found the way." So there you go. When you survive your 21st day, you break your habit. And I, on my 35th day now, think I found my way to a vegan life just by now. I also found there are many benefits to becoming vegan including saving the lives of many animals, greater health and having a much lighter eco-footprint. It really is the lifestyle choice to make. Honestly.

I know, who would think those words all came from me, the used to be proud and loud meat eater. I was surprised myself, like seriously. But working for Divine Earth Cafe, an Organic Vegan Cuisine in Bali did the whole part in creating the new me. I just followed the pattern. As an animal lover, I now feel so great about myself knowing that I stopped hurting any innocent animal in the name of filling my stomach. I do find that disgusting how we use our privilege as a human being to hurt other creatures. How embarrassing. 

Becoming a vegan is the right thing to do. If you see animals as something other than objects of our property, you then would totally understand what is trying to say here. So for those who care, why don't you guys start to eat like you really do care? And trust me, you will find yourself feeling so great about being a new you. You just do.

^_^

Vote or Die?

As we all knew already, the 2014 Indonesian legislative election will be held in today on 9 April 2014 to elect 132 members of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), 560 members of the People's Representative Council (DPR) and members of regional assemblies at the provincial and regency/municipality level. For eligible voters residing outside Indonesia, election had already been held on 5 or 6 April 2014 based on the decision of electoral commission of each different countries.

In theory, nearly 190m Indonesians out of a population of about 250m are eligible to go to the polls on today to elect a new parliament. The election commission has printed 775m ballot papers and shipped them to 550,000 polling stations scattered across the sprawling archipelago’s 900-odd settled islands.

Once the votes are counted, the General Elections Commission will eliminate any party that has failed to obtain a 3.5% share of the national vote. It will then allocate seats in the People's Representative Council via a two-stage process. First the number of votes to secure one DPR seat in each electoral district will be calculated by dividing the number of valid votes by the number of seats to be elected in each district. Each party's vote in each district will be divided by this amount to determine the number of seats won outright. Any party with less than this amount will win no seats in this first stage. The remaining votes will then be used to determine which party wins any seats so far unallocated by awarding these seats to the parties with the largest remainders until all seats are allocated.

Now, the question is; do you vote?

Well, to be honest with you, I don’t. I really am not a big fan of any election thingy. But the euphoria caught my attention like no others, but not in a good meaning. Am sorry, I have to admit that I found this political drama was a little bit dumb. Seeing all of those supporters support their parties and or candidates forcing me to laugh in bitter way. And when one of once dominated party claimed their candidate for Presidential was the Indonesian ‘Obama’, I was like, “What the…” - I mean, seriously, what were they thinking? Firstly, why Obama? Not that is against him, but I definitely not a big fan either. I know, I know…I might be the only one who thought that Obama wasn’t ready yet when he got elected and I was right, aren’t I?

No, we are not going to talk about Obama here. That was so 2008, I was so two thousands and late. Hah. But yeah, you can say that am amongst those who named themselves as ‘White Bracket’ or popular as ‘Golput’ – abbreviation for Golongan Putih, people who either does not vote or void their ballots -- refuse to take part in the country's elections.

So what exactly is Golput, and to what extent can Golput be credited with impacting voter turnout and election results in Indonesia?

Golput first emerged as a form of protest vote in the early 1970s during Indonesia’s New Order — at a time when rigged elections ensured victory for the ruling Golkar party. The word Golput, an intentional skewer of Golkar, is an abbreviation of Golongan Putih, or white group/party — referring to protest marking or non-marking of the ballot, rendering that ballot invalid. At that time and under those political conditions, Golput was a powerful symbol of protest.

But times have changed. In 1999, during the first post-Suharto elections, 48 political parties registered to compete. While this number has declined over time to 12 at present, plus three local parties in Aceh, voters do have some degree of choice. Freedom of expression has improved notably since 1999 — as has transparency and accountability of election administration (and subsequent public scrutiny of elections). And during the past few years, there has been an explosion of media through which citizens can express their political dissatisfaction.

Within this changing political landscape, the definition of Golput has been stretched in different directions and to suit different arguments. Some define Golput as the non-exercising of one’s right to vote. Others maintain the “protest primacy” of Golput but include within it informed and intentional abstention. Often, it is used as a grab-bag for all non-votes, from voters who do not vote, to those who cast invalid ballots. Each of these interpretations of Golput runs counter to its roots. In Indonesia’s reform era, Golput has all but lost relevance. What who was once a proud statement of defiance is now a banner headline for declining voter turnout?

Alright, I think it is time for us to cut off all the bullsh*ts. I, myself, chose to become a Golput simply because I have no interest whatsoever in politics. I found it full of dramas and it was kind of a joke in my opinion. But I supported it when the government decided the D day to become a National Holiday though, hah! I mean, like seriously, today I watched something phenomenal in my apartment compound. Everyone, mostly Indonesian, gather in the restaurant, turned the place into a karaoke club, singing along, drinking together, and partying like it was nothing important happened. No one even bother to use their vote. I guess the slogan ‘Vote or Die’ means nothing here. It is more like, ‘No Vote and Stay Alive’. Ha!

Wrecking Ball

Oh well, this might came to an embarrassing thing for me to say, but yeah..one of the reasons why I chopped my hair last time was because of Miley Cyrus. She has been rocking some exceptionally unusual looks these days and am obsessed. To be honest with you guys, I actually had none knowledge whatsoever about her music and or films, but her bold fashion statement caught my attention once she turned herself into a sexy diva from a country girl. Just like the lyric of her song 'Party in the USA' the only song of hers I knew. I mean, come on..let just admit it. She is an icon for a rebel pop fashion street for the youngster. And even though am not that young anymore, but I totally adore her transformation. As a fashion forward she definitely has some balls. 

So when the Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan slammed Miley by branding her a ‘f***ing nightmare of the 21st century, I was like 'wtf'? I mean, of course I do understand everybody's concern about her suddenly changes herself into a semi porn star in her latest music video, but hey..that was the industry. The music industry is to blame for the 21-year-old singer’s rise to chart dominance by allowing her to trade her sexuality for money. And nope, am not about to defense her music here, but her fashion..yeah. Maybe she was a nightmare, after all she did make some controversies in life and people might knew her from things she did that shocked others rather than her achievements.

‘We (the music industry) created Miley Cyrus, man, that’s our fault. She’s just a f***ing accumulation of internet porn, f***ing hip-hop, f***ing Disney World. She’s just a f***ing nightmare of the 21st century,’ that how the Kasabian guy went, in an tirade against the Wrecking Ball singer. I was like, huh? Really? I mean, does everyone really feel that way about a young girl like Miley? Do you guys really annoy that bad? Wow. 

Okay, let me tell you one thing. Do not take things seriously and never think that everything you seen on telly was exactly like what it is. In my opinion, she might have been a wrecking ball herself but Miley was just playing around with other people feeling while she was enjoying her fame. And please, guys..must admit that when it comes to fashion, she is a diva. No argue about that whatsoever. She turned to became one of the celebrities people love to hate and I didn't see anything wrong about that. The industry made her who she is today and she was just a girl playing her part. Amen to that.

I hopped off the plane at L.A.X. with a dream and my cardigan
Welcome to the land of fame, excess, whoa! am I gonna fit in?
Jumped in the cab, here I am for the first time
Look to my right, and I see the Hollywood sign

This is all so crazy, everybody seems so famous
My tummy's turnin' and I'm feelin' kinda homesick
Too much pressure and I'm nervous
That's when the taxi man turned on the radio

And the Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on
And the Jay-Z song was on

^_^

For Myuran and Andrew

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Late Post, NYE 2014

Welcoming 2014

Whoa! It’s 2014 already and I’ve been away for approximately six months. Not something that I normally do as you guys knew how obsessed I was with writing. But yea, now am back and the first thing that I want to write here is about my new life. So here we go…

After the death of someone I loved in Bali, I decided to relocate to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where I resided for almost nine months before I got a job in Sumatra Island of Indonesia, where I originally came from. So yea, since September last year I became a Sumatran. Alright!

Living in the island where Muslims are the majority of the people after fourteen years in Bali was not something that I could call an easy adjustment. I have several things to manage, started with my fashion statement. I am an island girl who loves island lifestyle and fashion. So to see many people, women in particular, covered up in hijab were something that I never used to. And for a fashionable reason, I was kind of shocked. Honestly, I felt so uncomfortable at first.

I am a very active girl and have a thing for sports in general. So one morning, I went for a run at a running track around a mosque called Masjid Agung. I have no idea whatsoever that in that place, there are rules about dressing up and so I went with my usual sport gears such as, legging and t-shirt. I aware about the location was close to a mosque so I dressed as polite as I could be. I am not a fool girl who didn’t understand manner and that what in my mind was at that time. But guess what?

Yup, while I was enjoying my run, an old guy approached me and told me that I was not supposed to go there in my legging and t-shirt which according to him were invited. And he said that loud enough for people around to heard and looked at me like I was an alien. Oh wow! I was like, huh? I was covered up enough according to my standard but obviously that was not enough to the city. What an embarrassing morning. I then decided to cut my run short and went home. It was enough for my embarrassment. Like a dog lost in a fight, I went home with tail between my legs.  

Funny, that was my opinion to this incident. But that doesn’t make me give up to this town. I mean, come on. Am a fighter and I don’t take no as an answer. Never. What happened at that mosque challenge me even more to defeat this town. Not that I am about to surrender to this place and follow its rules, no way. But seriously, I determine to change the people here to realize and see that you are not what wear, but more like what inside you. You can cover up from head to toe but if you are a bad person, than you are bad person. So yea, wish me luck guys. I think I need all the luck that I can get to change this town and make it more acceptable to my lifestyle. Ha!

Please check my tumblr

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When We Bored

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I Don't Like Monday

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So Long, Farewell, I Have To Say Goodbye..

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