Thank you for joining me on my Live Self Practice 10 Day Challenge (17-26 June 2020), in real time or through the recording post event. I am grateful to have this opportunity and capacity to offer this to you. 🙂

I myself am keeping well, managing the shifts and transitions, observing my learning and growth, adapting and staying ‘flexible’ in general.

In this letter, I would like to share a recorded Summary and Reflection of the spontaneous sequencing of each day’s practice, and how my practice is both my source of nourishment and also my refuge. My practice draws inspiration from various sources, and mostly through self inquiry. Commitment and joy, trust and willingness, honesty and kindness govern my practice in each moment. And more importantly to stay loyal to my higher allegiance and inner wisdom. There are many moments of PAUSE to observe and reflect throughout practice, therefore allowing and respecting responses at my own pace. Would love to hear from you if you have watched or practised with me here.

It is my sincere intention to continue support, share, inspire and challenge your commitment towards a dedicated self practice beyond these 10 days.

Time stamp for 10 Day Self Practice Summary
Day 1 - 06:21 (Crossed Belt Recalibration / Headstand)
Day 2 - 09:50 (Head to Tail Connectivity / Handstand)
Day 3 - 12:37 (Navel Radiation Practice and Connectivity)
Day 4 - 14:38 (Spinal Flossing & Posterior Chain Opening)
Day 5 - 17:05 (Peanut Tension Release / Hip Series and more)
Day 6 - 20:48 (Physiological Flexion Extension / Balancing Series - Wakeme and Walking Asana)
Day 7 - 23:50 (Flow Sequence / Navasana for Imbalances / Full Wheel)
Day 8 - 27:25 (Fluidity / Figure 8 / Surya Namaskar / Balancing with Vrksasana and Vira III)
Day 9 - 32:03 (Head Wrap Blindfold for #Interoception)
Day 10 - 35:45 (Shoulder & Upper Back Focus / Inversion Series with Chair)

If you have missed the Self Practice sessions... I have them uploaded on my YouTube Channel. They are for you, hopefully to invite conversation and to provide support / inspiration. You may subscribe for new video releases.

I hear, I see and I feel this moment... greater awareness and change is needed. There are some segregated demographics and social groups more than others who needed the world’s long due attention.
​
Some of us are responding through words and declarations, whilst some through actions, activism, offering support in varying ways as we see today... all in hope for change, peace and harmony.

It has always been my heart felt longing to offer community and donation based classes since the beginning of my yoga journey. I am grateful to have yoga in my life, and I am here to support through action in a way I know how, and am able to. This is one for now...

RESTorative Hour: Live Online
Friday 12 June at 6-7pm 
​A Charity event hosted by The Hope Foundation UK in support to raise awareness about, and funds for, street-connected children and vulnerable communities in Kolkata, India.
Charity: RESTorative Hour

Let’s heal the world, and grow together! 🙏🏼

How are you doing? It has been 2 months now.

My day has been a lot more self reflection, self care, self development, whilst equally offering, connecting, supporting others near and far. I have been offering weekly Live Conversations on Facebook and Instagram Live since staying at home. In honesty, these are offered with the intention equally to express myself, and to support and connect with you. 

In one of my conversations, I shared my experience practising and living with #scoliosis. Practising and living with scoliosis has shifted my self-regard and perspective towards life. An opportunity and renewed hope for life and living that I may now share with others. (Scroll down for YouTube video)
 
FREE Practice and Info Session: Scoliosis
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This PASSING #pandemic has offered many the opportunity to look within and around. I have been taking time to PAUSE, to re-evaluate within myself, my teaching, about life and living... just like many of you. 🧐

’Where am I right now, and what am I committing to each day?’
’What is within my Circle of Influence, and how is my relationship and connection with others?’

This PASSING pandemic calls for FLEXIBILITY and ADAPTABILITY. I observe FEAR and uncertainties. I needed and allowed space to grieve... to grieve what is passing and no longer present in my life. Whilst aware of not dwelling and wallowing here for too long. To be adaptable is an act of COURAGE and RESILIENCE. 🧘🏼‍♀️

’Have I given myself time and space for self empathy?’
’Am I ready to open up to unfamiliarity, and to welcome and adapt?’

This PASSING pandemic will PASS. I have been preserving and persevering for a while now. I shall leave behind that which no longer serve me. I am free and ready, I shall move forward to the life I ASPIRE and ENVISION. ✏️

’What is my heart felt aspiration for this life time?’
’What are my priorities right now?’

 
May our yoga continue to nourish self and others.
🙏🏼

Firstly, I wanted to express my gratitude for the participation and responses over this past month on my weekly online classes, and Tuesday Conversations on FaceBook and Instagram LIVE. It warms my heart to be able to continue connect with some of you from home. How are you doing? I would like to hear from you directly. [Please write / reply here.]
 
Few weeks ago, I was apprehensive about how well Live online yoga would work for me to facilitate teaching, practising and connecting across screens and devices. Although it does not replace sharing the space with you in person, which is energetically powerful, I reflected and recognised that there is indeed a special place for these online conversations and community practices and I am thankful for technology which has offered many of us to continue connecting in response to our current situation.

I am enjoying and embracing teaching with the support of these technologies more than I thought, and hope you feel the same. I foresee that this may potentially offer an additional channel for exchange, whilst taking into consideration our personal schedule and life’s commitments moving forward. It has definitely encouraged me to explore options in sharing yoga and life with you. 😃

With more online yoga offerings from various sources and channels, I thought it is an appropriate time to discuss about How To Teach / Practice Safely Online. I shared this conversation on FaceBook Live this week. We talked about setting an Intention, and staying true with it from a teaching and practising view point. Let me know what you think.

It is my intention to continue exploring opportunities to connect and share yoga with you, to support your home practice, in person and through distance learning online. Right now, I would like to offer my Savasana Bundle videos (worth £100) to you as part of the Magic of SAVASANA online course (starting 27 April). A three-part online course on defining, understanding, practising 7 variations of SAVASANA for therapeutic applications.
 
If you are interested in some in-depth practice and learning of Somatic Movement and Restorative yoga at a cellular level, I have also carefully designed a three-part online course, on Cellular Restoration (starting 15 May). This is a key section on the Advanced Relax and Restore (Level 2 Intensive) I offer. Read more...
 
I hope this reaches you in ways to continue inspire your dedicated home practice. Know that I am here practising at home with you. Meanwhile, please join me next Tuesday 21 April (2:30pm BST), where we will have another Live conversation on How What Why Which When... Savasana, and more excitingly a collective Savasana moment in community. 🎉😌 Please invite friends and family along!


Please connect with me via these channels for varying inspiration and communication.
FaceBook - Like or Follow Yoga with Adelene Cheong
Instagram - Follow @adeleneyoga
Newsletter - Via emails for Yoga Inspiration and Support

It is a disconserting time around us at present. Without mentioning the word here, the situation has escalated in many cities and countries, affecting lives of our community and the world at large. As much as we are taking careful precautions and hygiene, I believe that it is of utmost importance to care for personal health and maintain strong immunity. To drink lots of fluids, sleep well, have more Vit. C fruits and REST well. Mental health and positivity is just as important. To take perspective and TRUST that we are all doing the best we can and know to manage within this trying situation.

When I noticed the presence of increased tension physically and mentally, I am consciously choosing empathy, love and care to self and others. I am taking refuge in my yoga. This is a practice that connects us within, to establish harmony and health for our physical, emotional and mental well being. I trust you agree that we need our practice now more than ever.

I want to support our community, I want to support and encourage you to continue your practice at home. I have observed a significant reduced attendance at yoga studios since, and appreciate that some of us are choosing to work from home, or stay home mostly to protect ourselves and others. I want to encourage you to continue your practice from home, to prioritise your Restorative and Rest practice for emotional and mental balance as much as physical and physiological health. It is when we are well rested, well nourished that we maintain our immunity for optimal functioning, and this includes emotional and mental resilience towards adversity. This is a responsibility to ourselves, and to others around us.

Therefore I am offering this FREE Practice: Settling audio guide (6 mins extract from one of my recent class recording) with the intention to inspire settling into your practice. Start today, start now! I would also like to extend a 50% discount (Code: Restnow) valid till 15 April, on all my online Relax and Restore Series to support your health and REST from home.

It is time to PAUSE. Keep calm and REST WELL!

​🙏 Adelene.

Happy New Year!

January came and went so quickly. Yoga studios and classes are often busy during this time of the year, as are our yoga teachers’ schedules. Perhaps some of us can relate to juggling life responsibilities, work commitments, a demanding schedule, time for family, time for self care etc.

In reviewing and putting in place my schedule and Rest Plan, I thought of you. This is how it has worked for me in recent years and I wanted to share my process with you. As always, I welcome your input, suggestions, and comments.

My list 📝:

✔️ Self care and nourishment ‘REST’
✔️ Time with family and friends
✔️ Personal development / trainings / study
✔️ Teaching commitments
✔️ Creative work and content writing
✔️ Time with my teacher - apprenticeship / assisting
✔️ Connecting with my sangha / peers
✔️ Engage in a new activity / adventure each year
✔️ Embark on a new project annually
✔️ Time with my BFF
✔️ Experiment new cooking recipes
✔️ Anything that reconnects me with JOY 🙂
✔️ ... (list goes on)...


Whether deciding between engaging in another new project or spending time with family, taking on another teaching event or going on a hiking trip away in nature, I ask myself one simple question- ‘Does what I am about to do / say / commit to bring me JOY?’
JOY may not necessarily mean that the task is easy, in fact some tasks may sometimes be tedious or hard work. More specifically, it is important that when engaging in this task that there is an instantaneous heartfelt JOY arising from within that makes the task a worthwhile endeavour. This assures me that I am moving and living in alignment with my dharma. This has to be supported with REST. As I have come to realise that when there is a lack or absence of REST, stress becomes a default response in varying situations, and can often prevent me from seeing clearly, disconnecting me from my heartfelt aspirations.
Therefore, based on priorities and as much as advanced planning affords me (outside of last minute, ad hoc obligations) I need to build REST, self care and self nourishment into my list in order to live a healthy, balanced, and fulfilled life. REST is non-negotiable. As I connect with my deepest heartfelt longing, a declaration of my life’s purpose, I attempt to structure what is possible and achievable to support my life’s aspiration. I know I have 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so does everyone else. I choose consciously and conscientiously where energy and resources are apportioned.

So yes, we all have a rather long to do list, schedule and commitments in the coming months. Would you consider including a conscious choice for REST in your calendar? Not when you have a moment in between tasks, but a scheduled committed REST. Consider something achievable on a day to day or weekly basis. Or perhaps, plan a day of REST every month, and take yourself to a personal retreat once a year. A plan that is achievable and that you commit to keeping.

I am with you.

​🙏 Adelene.

‘Confusion is an essential and invaluable mental movement within the process for change and growth.' - Adelene Cheong

Confusion arises when there is a mismatch between beliefs or past experiences and the perceived present occurrence.

For years, I often pushed away and regarded ‘confusion’ as a lack in focus, lack in mental fortitude or lack in mental resilience. It became apparent when I began to challenge my practice whilst drowning in confusion in the attempt to control scoliosis. Yes, it has been confusing to dissect the reason for chronic and acute fluctuations of sensations, whilst attempting to make sense of the anatomy, and simultaneously trying to figure out cognitively which part of my body requires isolating, strengthening, stretching or releasing. The issue is not in being confused, but the aversion towards the state of confusion.

Confusion often arises when one is faced with a conflicting and unfamiliar situation. This may be accompanied by the feeling of discomfort because of the unknown or fear of an undesirable outcome. Based on past experiences, memories, beliefs and learned behaviours, we may each have varying responses to deal with this unstable emotion.

Over the years, I have observed and noticed that this state of confusion is not random, that there is a pattern to its occurrence. I observed that every time I allowed myself to sit with the state of confusion, I noticed empathy...self-empathy. Following that, potential resolutions and possibilities arise. It took courage to acknowledged that it is okay and safe to welcome and entertain a new idea varying from my experience or belief. I soon recognised that the state of confusion is an impermanent movement for the arrival of potential for possibilities. When there is space for confusion to percolate, empathy and clarity arise.

May I invite you to explore and welcome confusion as a necessary process for growth (I promise that it is impermanent). To entertain the possibility that confusion may be an essential transition for change and birth of a new idea or possibility for healing and growth. To recognise and be present with the state of confusion 🤯.

Yoga for Scoliosis Fundamentals: A 30 hour Intensive 9-12 March 2020, London
This is an intensive which inquires into the infinite potential and expression within practising with an imbalance.

Namaste 🙏