Yoga – it’s so good for the body, mind, and soul.
I don’t get enough of it in my new life and I feel like something is missing.
There are no excuses in Bangkok as yoga is offered everywhere. Whilst yoga did not originate in Thailand, it was invented in India with its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism, which cover 95% of the Thai population. You don’t go far before someone is talking about karma and meditation.
As I travel around Thailand admiring the amazing history I am constantly reminded that whilst Buddhas all over the world sit there serenely in the cross-legged lotus position, this is increasingly more difficult for me…
Not surprising really. A life on the road, or should I say in a plane, a different city each week and a different bed every few days, and nights on planes with no bed, means I am becoming less and less the Zen Wren I strive to be. Lotus position how do my knees do that?
Not to worry I’ve become great friends with Ganesha, the elephant-headed Hindu god of beginnings, remover of obstacles and all round lovely tubby pot-bellied human body …
Don’t you think this pink Ganesha found at Wat Saman Ratthanaram Temple is wonderful? A kindred spirit perhaps?! Nice nails too.
This post is reminding me I need to get more yoga in my life. Have you heard of Fly Yoga? It was invented in Bangkok and is aerial yoga suspended in a soft hammock, it could be perfect for me, what do you think?
It could be up there with my yoga on the helipad. I couldn’t resist in sharing this previous post with you again…. Here it is, first published in 2015:
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| The Peninsula, Bangkok |
The Peninsula, Bangkok was an extraordinary place to stay and when I saw that they offered complimentary yoga on the helipad. Well, I’m there with a big fat Namaste!
We meet at the Fitness Centre, whooping 36 floors below a mixed ability group of those who look like they know what they are doing to destination yogics!
Destination on top of the world!
We sign a massive disclaimer. This probably says – does anyone actually read these forms –
that if we pop our clogs on the helipad it’s not their fault. Oh, but what a way to go.
Either that or don’t expect a complimentary air ambulance to rush you to the nearest hospital
So we are escorted by a lady dressed in black who all but mumbles into her walkie-talkie or cell phone, I forget, to a lift to the penthouse Paribatra room. We are already excited by what we are about to witness. This is how the other half live indeed!
We are shown a small lift, you’d have to know, but then I’m guessing if you arrive or depart by helicopter you probably always have a nice lady with a walkie-talkie to push your lift buttons!
The lift rises up through the final floors of the hotel till our feet are level with the ground, very James Bond-like. You can just see it in the background above with the stripey roof.
We emerge blinking in the daylight onto the rooftop to the wow of 360-degree views of Bangkok’s skyline. It was pretty amazing. You can’t help but notice the large H on the floor. H for help? I presume.
I needn’t have worried, the instructor was skillful with her mixed-ability group.
Anyway, you know what they say:
Yoga is not about touching your toes.
It’s about what you learn on the way down!
That was some awesome yoga class and a memorable Bangkok experience.
Next stop Fly Yoga!
Y is for Yoga in Bangkok and part of
Blogging from A to Z April (2018)Challenge.
4 comments
That whole post is full of things that are amazing to think about! I take Yoga classes at a studio when we’re in Oregon — hard to find a good teacher here in Florida and so every time we go back to Oregon I start all over again … a perennial beginner. But I learn a lot on the way down.
fun post as always 🙂 I do have a yoga book with some postures…half I can do, and the other half I can do half of ! 🙂
have always loved the sun salutation though 🙂
Oh, I just ordered a DVD called, ‘Easy Yoga’ ! I don’t think I could get myself into the lotus position, but I’m sure there are other moves I could manage – I hope! I can only dream of doing my yoga on the helipad, but maybe that is better, as I have terrible vertigo when I am up high. I think karma would be a fascinating topic of conversation……Your whole experience there must be quite a culture shock, but so fun to learn new things in life! x K
Good luck with your Yoga Karen, I could do with that DVD. Luckily the helipad was huge as like you, I’m not sure I could relax if it was small enough to feel as if I was on the edge of the world! Yes it is a big change moving to Bangkok, it produces its challenges, like the current weather with 95% humidity, but it also has it’s awesome experiences there are many opportunities to do things I have never done before!
Wren x