The difference between Yoga and Pilates

Many people often ask me about the difference between Yoga and Pilates and I am always in difficulty telling them comprehensively the constrast between the two exercises. Here is one good explanation from the book, Stretching Anatomy.

Yoga and Pilates may improve the flexibility of individual body segments, their emphasis is not specially aimed at improving the range of motion of all of the major joints.

Yoga emphasizes balance in all areas, seek to strengthen all muscle groups equally, creates balance between the mental and physical, and encourages moderation in everything. It involves holding static poses while exploring breathing, physical feelings, and emotions. The increase in flexibility comes from holding the body in desired poses.

Pilates, on the other hand, is an exercise program that encourages the use of the mind to control the muscles. It emplasizes strengthening the postural muscles that help keep the body balanced and provide support for the spine. In constrast to traditional strength strengthening programs that involve mutliple sets and repetitions of a single exercise, a Pilates workout stresses few repetitions of each exercise and emphasizes doing these movements with precise control and form. The increases in flexibility are primarily accomplished from the ballistic movement used to increase strength.

An Introduction to Pilates.
Try some Pilates on your own! Have a mirror or a parthner by your side to take note of your posture during the movement. Precision is very important here.


Great Pilates videoes @
http://www.videojug.com/tag/pilates

And SPAIN won THE EURO CUP 2008 yesterday after soo many years! Staying up late to watch them was more of a joy! Well, sad to mention that my cold is not getting better, I gotta rest early today.

SPAIN ROX!

Torres!!! Cassillas!!!






A version of victory that has at last been served.

Out on the Hottest Day - Transportation Day

Out on the Hottest Day in Hong Kong! Roasted!!!!

A day with a taste of all Hong Kong's Transport system. :P

It was just yesterday. I woke up at around 6 sth.

1st Destination: 聖公會基福小學 at 長沙灣 (volunteer work)
Travelled on: KCR to Kowloon station- changed over to MTR
Duration:30mins
We were in-charge of setting up the equipments to perfrom health screening tests for the obese children. It ended so quick before we even realsed it was eleven.

2nd Destination:李兆基小學 at 天水圍
Travelled on:MTR to Tsuen Wai- changed over to Bus 276B
Duration:1.5 hours
Here, we were told to set up the basketball court for the kids to run. It was a really torturous time working under the blazing hot sun.

聖公會基福小學



The Keep Fit Program organised by Centre for Health Promotion, Faculty of Medicine, HKCU for obese primary school kids.
This is Amy, the physiotherapy, at work.

The obese children @ 香港青年協會李兆基小學.

Western side of Kowloon.
Beautiful.


3rd Destination:Cafeteria Beach
Travelled on:Light rail to Tuen Mun -change over to Bus K51
Duration:1+ hours

Cafeteria Beach @ Sunset
Simply love the scenes.



BBQ-ing @ Cafeteria Beach!

Karen,Mandy,Me & Grace.
Roasting Physio students BBQ-ing

My roasted "Cotton Ball" "D

Whole bunch of us


4th Destination:Polyu Hall of Residence
Travelled on:Mini-van (famous for speeding!!!) - change over to MTR @Jordan
Duration:1+ hours

It was fun BBQ-ing despite the heat.
It was enjoyable viewing the other side of HK despite the hard-rocking and bumpy ride.
Everything has its pro and cons, isn't it?
"D I love life this way.

More pics @
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42746&l=cda14&id=648946959

Others things in the week.
Had my swimming classes.
Had my pre-clinical classes and discovered that I am still insufficient in many aspects of my knowledge. Got to work hard soon!

Last few days in SG

My summer holidays in Singapore had finally came to an end; actually to be exact, it had been one week from the day I return to Hong Kong for studies. Time was never placed in the category called "sufficent" ever in my personal data. It just zoom past like that of a racing car no matter I am at home or at school. Yet, I had never tried to ask for more time because I know I will end up to no avial. I just try to enjoy every moment I had in life and it turned out to be ever awarding.

Leaving home is never easy even if I looked fine on the surface. I think it goes the same for every one of us out there. Home might not be a place for you to soar high in your career, yet, it is a place where you can find true profound love. At least, I personally feel this way. Maybe, it's beacuse of my cosy little home, my adorable parents and wonderful friends that made home so wholeful and real.

This summer back at home allowed me to rest my soul, to complete my life and replenish my energy for my new endeavour in life.

Reciting the last 3 days of summer time in Singapore... ...

Friday Morning and afternoon
My very best buddy PuPu was back from Taiwan and it was a must that we met eachother before we part again! We went singing at K-box, dancing Para Para and playing basketball machines at arcade, bowling at Kallang Leisure Park and shopping at Sunteac PC fair.YN joined on our tour. It was fantastic. One could never get bored with old buddy at school. We spoke our hearts out.

Friday Night
After one great day, I met up with my physiotherapy clique at NYP just 1 year ago. We went dining at Shodoku at Raffles City with all interesting Japanese food that you could name it. We chatted about our "favourite manager" and they let out all their frustration they were having about every aspects of school.

HX held me and said that she missed my voice. It was so sweet. Indeed, I miss her too. In the 4 months of school, we shared many memories that were meant to be treasured. We got happy, sad, angry and disappointed, together. Basically, we shared some common behaviour and that might have made our emotion so similar.

Later, we moved on the top of Esplanade to talk our hearts out. Some things in life could never change - we enjoyed the presence of eachother. We could talk with no restrain. Looking at the beautiful Ferris Wheel and Singapore's night sky, we had one dream in mind -- to uphold the standard of SG's physiotherapy.

SG Physio Friends @ Esplanade Take 01.

SG Physio Friends @ Esplanade Take 02/03.




Saturday morning and afternoon
I met up with Timothy and Kevin @ 0900 @ Habourfront to reckee for our junior Amazing Race the week after. Timothy complaint of hunger on arrival and we ended up at Seah Im Market. The service was horrendous and the food was disgusting! I paid $2.50 for some sotong that was uncleaned and the Soya Bean Uncle refused to sell drinks to me due to the lack of coins. Wa...

We ended up filling ourselves at 7 eleven in Sentosa. We had fun hoping around Sentosa, joking and fooling about nonsensical things. Well, we did serious work joting down check points too!

Us @ Merlion, Sentosa.
Wanlin,Kevin,Me,Timothy

Peacock with her baby!
The baby was following the Mummy all the way - stopping and speeding across the road. It even knew how to take shelther below its Mummy's tail. Sooo cute!

Dragon's skeleton @ Nature trail walk. I luv for some "you-know what" reasons. "D

@ the Beach's sign


To view other pics (Sentosa), Click.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42136&l=21d57&id=648946959

Saturday night
My secondary school buddies came to my house as usual that night for dinner! My Daddy was really happy too as he hadn't seen my friends for quite some time. It was really cosy having friends, Daddy and Mummy gathered around for dinner at home.

We had great time catching up with each other's life and playing UNO and Bluff later that night! Jia Min was as crazy as ever! She ran around my house for getting nervous while playing a game. LOL. "D Here are the pics of us! Is there such things as forever friends? I hope so. What will we be 20 years later?
Secondary School Buddies

SS Buddies in KongFu pose? "D
More of the crazy us.



Saturday Mid-night
After that, Pupu and I travelled to BLock 85 to have supper with our primary school friends. It had been 1 year since I last saw them. There are really many changed and unchanged about us. These are the people with over 10 years of friendships. Primary school sounded so far way from now. Are we getting old? "D
PuPu, Herlina and me.

Desmond, me and Pupu.



Sunday
Happy Daddy's Day
It was last day of my summer in Singapore and most importantly, it was Father's Day. My present --- A full sunny day with him! "D We went dining at Crystal Jade at Changi Airport and took pictures before we left. I am really blessed with loving parents around me. Not only they had given me life, but an exuberant life with whole lots of care and concern.

We went swimming back home. My last swim in Singapore 2008. An enjoyable swim.

Dad, Mum and me @ Changi Airport.




Bernie returned me my book that very evening. A hi and a bye. Sometimes I just hope to be more comfortable with him.

To Henderson Wave... ...
A week ago.




That marks the end of my home stay.
See you, my homeland.

Ubin's photo
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42144&l=7dee3&id=648946959

WingYan and Gabriel's wedding Photo
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=42148&l=de466&id=648946959

In SG 04

My room mate never liked any celebration or maybe, she prefer to avoid celebration because it generates memory that might be of absurd saddness. Yet, I always tried to celebrate every special occassion with her, be it her birthday or Mid-Autumn Festival. Although it would add on to the saddness while we part, it created valuable memory and added sparks in our lives. I just hope that I could control the vulnerable heart of mine, to control the unspeakable feeling at times when we start to miss something that had happened in my life.

Unknowingly, I am pacing into the 20th years of my dear life. When I am with Mummy and Daddy, I still feel like the young child I used to be when I am small. When I am with my friends, I doesn't seem to have matured a bit. Yet, I know I am different. Maybe, not so much of the looks but on my thinking, my perspective and view about the world out there. Staying away from home and into a land that is so unfamiliar provided me with a different perspective of things. Singapore might be a land of peace but it might not be a land of gold. Singapore is a place filled with old friends but new friends just await in a land not far away. On one hand, I am missing home and on the other, I might be missing school. My heart is teared apart.

I really have had enjoyed my 2 weeks back home. I enjoyed slacking in front of my big plasma TV, sleeping in my pinky and cosy room, hugging Daddy, lying on Mummy's tummy, chatting with old friends, going wild with juniors and seniors, going on shopping... ...

Saturday: Went to Pulau Ubin with Jr. and Sr. Like 5 months ago, it started to pour once I reached Changi Terminal. We ate and ate and ate tilled the rain turned down.
Anyway, we still got drenched half way through the ride. Yet, I really had great fun with you all around! :D Ended my day at Mummy's 80th years old friend birthday party. :)

Me, Pei Pei, Timothy. :D

Us at the well-known Basketball court. :D

Drenched. Taking myself in the toilet of Ubin.


Sunday: Went to Henderson Waves with Daddy and Mummy!

Monday: Went cycling with Daddy and stopped by Carl's Junior for lunch. All but love.


Others stuffs I have been doing.
PILATES.
Dancing aerobics.
Gyming.
Swimming.
Met up with friends. (jasmine, alvin, liting, herlina on wed and fri)
Chatted almost till midnight.

I wanna have
Stronger triceps, serratus anterior, abs, quads. pectoralis major.
Leaner legs.
Thicker hair.
Lighter weight.
Better skin.
A prince charming in my life.
A max. GPA of 4.0!

I have achieved
Stronger biceps, deltoids.
A GPA of 3.98. Aww. (Big cash comes with a maximum GPA of 4.0!)

方力申,傅穎 - 自欺欺人

My brain was spinning while I listened to this nice song my friend used to sing at Karaokay. Yet, this time, it is not just a song, but a song with meaning. A meaning that might have meant something in my life.

Thoughts 1 week later.
It meant nothing, it may just be something not worth thinking of, seriously. People around me gave me the sign. A sign from God? haa. That is something worth thinking about. Oh well. Bible was written by God or man? Does it really matter?

Yesterday

Yesterday, at Jas and Harriet's place. 0930pm.

We caught up with eachother's life, talked craps, talked about guys ... ...
Basically girls' stuffs.:D
We proceeded on playing MONKEY and GAMES OF LIFE. I emerged the winner in the end being an athelete with 2 millionaires on hand, a house, plus 3 kids and a husband. :) How I wish I had a life like that.



Jas broke her 4th and 5th metatarsals few days ago for stepping onto someone's leg during a theatre show. I still haven't figure out the biomechanics behind the injury. She went visiting a doctor with the thought that she was only suffering from some bruising but ended up in a short leg POP and axillary crutches. What a joke! Hope you get well soon!

Before travelling to Jurong, we stopped by Raffles City for lunch and saw this interesting giraffes! They were walking around, trying to scare pretty girls off. L claimed that it was in celebration of the theme " ARTS ON THE MOVE". :) So, these giraffes had no choice but to move around. :P We just stood there and stared at it for some time before searching for food.