His Story:

My body told me I could do better than that. So I started looking out for professional yoga centres. But it end up very ironic, I chose Dickson Yoga in the first place for a totally irrelevant reason – it’s the only centre with a sauna facility in its male changing room.

But still my impression of the trial yoga class is OK. I found it “a bit difficult”, so that’s it then – Dickson Yoga. One month passed, my body started to experience more noticeable changes, chest back to 38 inches, physical fitness comparable to when I was 20 years old participating in public combat competition. And then came a most pleasant surprise, my slightly hunched back inherited from family gradually straightened up after 3 months’ practice. At first, some of friends have doubts with this shop. Is it safe? Why not pay by month? Now I tell them, my much improved back is already worth the investment, it’s definitely a positive return.

Another 2 months passed, a lady wearing an apron greeted me and recommended me the detox menu from the Vegetarian Bar. My yoga instructor also suggested that I tried maybe 5 detox meals. OK then, I’ll try just to make them happy. My first impression – “totally tasteless”. But it’s really strange, I took 5 more after the first 5 and then more…, until one day when I dined at the M shop, I found myself ordering a Garden Salad and NOT a double beef burger. I made my count, oh, I have taken almost 100 detox meals. What are the benefits? Shorter sleeping time but much improved sleeping quality. I take less liquor now and I shudder at the thought of having to drink half a bottle of vodka every night in the past. And of course, a much more flexible body. When I turn the pages of Iyengar’s “Light of yoga”, there’s not many poses which I cannot do now. This is my second conversation with my body.

Anymore deep talk? Yes. 4 month later, I joined the Teacher Training Program. It’s not cheap, the money is enough for a 3 days 2 night treat at Maldive. I bit my teeth, ok it’s an investment, and “chark”, there swiped my credit card.

I glanced through the Teacher Training Program and can’t help laughing. The poses are so simple, oh save it, I am now practicing “King of the dance” pose. But after a couple of sessions, I knew I got it all wrong. Apart from gaining a very in-depth understanding of each of these “simple” pose, I learnt a most important concept – Knowing how to do a pose does not imply knowing how to teach it. You do a pose beautifully – this makes you a good yogi or perhaps an outstanding performer, but it does not necessarily make you a good teacher.

I think that to be a good yoga instructor, it’s important to listen to the voices of your students, just like you need to get inside the character when you are doing drama. Failing that, you are just performing in front of a mirror. It’s a very deep experience which can be applied to other aspects of life. Whenever I encounter difficulties, I take a deep breath now and try again this RPG game.

It’s providence that I get to meet Dickson. (Dickson said so too, he told me it’s him who insisted installing a sauna). Today, after nine months at Dickson Yoga, the feeling is even stronger. Especially after trying yoga at different centres, I know for sure now I have made the right investment. I treasure this feeling of total rejuvenation each time I step out from its wooden stairs onto Nathan Road. Now I have half completed my Intermediate Teacher Training Program and I look forward to my next in depth conversation with my body.