CREATE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY NATION THROUGH YOGA

Two years ago, when one of our neighbours invited a yoga teacher to start an early morning class in the park, little did he know that it would be the dawn of a new way of life in the neighbourhood.

Today, we are a motley group, including young-at-heart senior citizens, naughty-atheart 40-somethings, happy-at-heart 20-somethings and teenagers, practising yoga together. We call ourselves the yoga family for we know the sacrifice behind rising at 4.30am every day to take a shower and reach the class at 5.30am, armed with our yoga mats in rain, shine and cold.

We start the one-and-a-half hour session with a prayer for peace before warming up and breathing deep. Surrounded with serenity, we feel invigorated as we push the boundaries to test our flexibility. We feel blessed because we haven’t fallen ill in close to two years. Breathing deep has improved our immunity and increased our lung capacity. It helps us stay calm and content.

We have learnt to observe our strengths and accept our limitations. We appreciate the good in others and ignore the rough edges. We have learnt to listen attentively. We are mindful of the present and have let go of the past. We clap away to glory and laugh away all our worries. We celebrate our joys and sorrows the way a family would. Our objective is to build a healthy and happy nation, one that accepts each of us as we are.