Yoga x Strala Singapore

Helloooo, weekend! It's been a long while since I last posted an entry on yoga. Looking back, my blog domain name came about because of it, and next month, this blog turns 2! Ever since I completed my monthly unlimited package at Homyoga earlier last year, I've been attending lesser classes. It's definitely not because my love for yoga has died off - I still enjoy doing but the packages are pretty costly to maintain & there will be days where I felt responsible to go because I've paid for it. Anyway, I've been yoga-hopping ever since. My class packages are here and there, all around - Yoga Movement, Bikram Yoga HB, Strala SG, etc. I personally felt that this was a better choice for me since it offers more flexibility. Depending on where I'll be for the day and what kind of classes I'd like to attend, I've various options to choose from. On days where I want to attend morning class, I'll go to YM @ TP since it's near my office, and either Orchard / Strala on weekends if I'm heading town!

Somedays, or on lazy days, I'll just YouTube at home! :) Few of my favorites videos are from Tara Stiles, Yoga with Adrienne, Yoga with Candace, etc. It goes with my mood & flow but I'll definitely need more discipline for home practice! :p

Anyway, Nicole & I signed for Strala's Get Twisty workshop last Saturday! I love twisting poses partly because I'm flexible but we focus pretty much on arms during the class and I have very weak arms strength! Had fun learning about proper breathing techniques, the right way to twist and compress our body and also getting into difficult poses with ease :) Arms were aching from Grasshopper for the next 2 days!

Can't wait for the next practice but for now, SHAPE run tomorrow!! T.T Back to my first race again after 2 years, no wonder I'm feelin' excited about it.

✈ Canada x Day 9 to 11 (Eastern Canada)

Day 9 - Toronto - Kingston - Ottawa - Montreal

Day 10 - Montreal - Quebec City

Day 11 - Quebec City - 1000 Islands - Toronto

Day 9 - Wednesday 22 April 2015 

After our short road trip over the first weekend to Niagara Falls and Grove, we rested for 2 days before spending the next 3 days at Eastern Canada with a travel group. Up at 415am, we traveled along the McDonald Cartier Freeway bound to Kingston where we drove by the Sir John A. McDonald house, City Hall, and more before we arrived at Ottawa in the noon. At Ottawa, we visited the beautiful Parliament Hill, Peace Tower, Centennial Flame, Confederation Square and of course, the Royal Candian Mint. It was freezing at 1-2 degrees and as much as we were hoping to enjoy ourselves, it was too cold for us! We were brought to many landmarks and I've gained a lot more historic knowledge on Canada :) Anyway, from Ottawa, we had another few hours ride before we arrived at our hotel at Montreal. Mom & I checked into our hotel, went down for a piping hot bowl of ramen before we decided to head back to our room to crash after a long day. 

Day 10 - Thursday 23 April 2015

Day 2 was another early morning. We toured around the city of Montreal, Quebec, visited Cartier Bridge, Chinatown, Old Montreal and took the Cable Car up to the Olympic Tower Observation deck, overseeing the Olympic Stadium. Can't remember everything but we sat on another few hours before arriving at Old Quebec City. The city is really beautiful but too cold for us to roam around much. We were lucky to spend our night at the most photographic hotel in the world, aka the Chateau Frontenac Hotel. Really beautiful hotel looking alike a castle! :) We had a lovely french fine dining experience with the group before calling it a day!

Day 11 - Friday 24 April 2015

Day 3 was spent mostly on the road as we leave Quebec City back to Mississauga. We visited the majestic Thousand Islands, which my mom has been anticipating for! It was an hour scenic cruise ride with many picturesque islands, cottages, etc. Very beautiful! We dropped by the Big Apple store, grabbed some dinner & apple pastries. We arrived late at 9pm, catch up with my Aunt before we packed up again for another 5d4n America tour! 

The USA tour was one of the highlights of my trip! But, till the next post :)

Coffee x 7 Kickstart

A random Saturdate with J at 7 Kickstart after my Energize class with Jaei! :) Sipping on Iced Latte & Iced Black whilst J shares about his trip to Japan. I think he is in love with the country and can't wait to be back. Can you see the picture of sushi(s) on his phone he was trying to share with me? Truly enjoy such simple weekends catching up on the week with my favourite people, lovely.

Anyway, it's mid-week & I'm happy! Because I'm going to Stralaaaaaaaasg and enjoy a class with Tara Stiles. So excited!

✈ Canada x Day 3 to 6

Day 3 - Great Mountain Center, Niagara on-the-lake, Niagara Falls

Vineyard tour

Niagara-on-the-lake

Cenotaph and clock tower

Taylor's Bakery and Ice-cream

The Great Canadian Midway

Day 4 - Niagara Falls - Drive to Grove City, USA

Breakfast with a view

Niagara Falls

Day 5 - Premier Outlet Shopping Grove City, USA

Hello USA

Day 6 - Grove City, USA - Mississauga 

Dinner x The Perfect Kitchen

After flying insanely round the world for the past 1.5 months - from Canada, to States, to HK, to Bangkok, it feels so good just to be back at my own crib. Being rested, catching up on shows and savouring on my favourite bowl of home cooked green bean barley dessert. Every trip serves a different purpose and learning experience but ultimately, home is where the heart is :)

Day 3 - Thursday 16 April 2015
Finally had some time to sort out pictures from Day 3 to 6. After breakfast at home on Thursday morning, we were ready for our road trip and boy I was excited! Our drive to Niagara wasn't that far and we stopped by the Great Mountain Center, Pillitteri Estate Winery & Niagara on the lake in between. My favourite has gotta be the last because it's such a quaint, lovely town, with many old charming streets and buildings. It was freezing but I went ahead to enjoy a fresh ice-cream cone at Taylor's ice cream and a cuppa hot coffee.

We arrived Embassy Suite shortly in the evening and was welcomed by the most amazing and beautiful Niagara Fallsview from our room. Dinner was at Grand Buffet in the Fallsview Casino, followed by a windy walk around The Great Canadian Midway. We ended the night with some jackpot games. It was truly a privilege to be able to dine and tour around there, and we love it.

Day 4 - Friday 17 April 2015
After our breakfast buffet, we checked out and headed to the Falls. Being so close is the real thing, it is simply speculator and stunning!! No words can describe how powerful and magnificent the water flow is, I can't stop wow-ing. Just thrilled to be there :) We left Niagara in the noon and continue our drive up to USA. It was already 7ish night when we arrived Grove City.

Day 5 - Saturday 18 April 2015
Premier outlet shopping was our plan for the day. After breakfast, we started our spree from 10am.. all the way to 10pm. Everywhere simply has some kind of extraordinary sales and we seriously didn't had time for all. There were 100 over stores and we combed less than 20!?! Anyway, happy to score some great buys like Tommy Hilfiger's wear, Fossil, Adidas, Banana Republic, Gap, Kate Spade, etc at really great prices.

Day 6 - Sunday 19 April 2015
I barely had any energy to continue on Sunday. lol. It's pretty tiring to shop whilst you're don in winter wear. We had 3 hours for a few more stores and drove back to Cad just in time for dinner, at The Perfect Kitchen. I love their complimentary soup, beef slices and egg fried rice.. Everything's so good we even went back on our last day for their crab. Excellent Chinese restaurant :)

Next up would be our 3 days visit to Eastern Canada!
Time for bed and back to work tomorrow.