I grew up reading short stories in magazines, and now I want to share that same love and inspiration with you through this blog. My hope is that you’ll find something here that speaks to your soul and helps you on your journey.
sorted from most recent
- “The Sewing Kit”
- “From Zoning Laws to Yoga Mats”
- “Brewing Wellness”
- “From Eagle to Excel”
- “Whiskers”
- “Learning to Listen”
“The Sewing Kit”
The Sewing Kit: A Tale of Two Women
Pa Toom had been cleaning the yoga studio for as long as anyone could remember. Her dedication to her job was unmatched, and she took great pride in ensuring that the studio was clean and welcoming for all who practiced there. She was known to everyone as Pa Toom, and she was outspoken and proud of her work.
One day, a wealthy heiress named Wan walked into the studio. She was dressed in expensive yoga clothes and carried herself with an air of superiority. She looked down at Pa Toom and demanded that she clean up a spot on the floor where she had spilled some water.
Pa Toom, who was never one to be bossed around, politely told Wan that she would get to it as soon as she finished sweeping the rest of the studio. Wan was not pleased, and she made her displeasure known every time she visited the studio.
One day, as Pa Toom was doing her rounds, she heard a distressed voice coming from one of the changing rooms. It was Wan, and she was in a panic because she had suffered a wardrobe malfunction and didn’t have an alternative outfit to change into. She was mortified at the thought of leaving the changing room in her current state.
Pa Toom, who had overheard everything, remembered that she had a sewing kit in her bag that she could use to fix Wan’s pants.
She knocked on the changing room door and offered to fix Wan’s pants, and Wan reluctantly agreed. As Pa Toom sewed up the tear in Wan’s pants, she shared stories about sewing clothes for her adventurous son who often came back with ripped shirt and jeans.
When Pa Toom was finished, Wan looked up at her with a newfound respect. She had never met anyone like Pa Toom before, someone who showed kindness and compassion even when she didn’t have to. She realized that she had been wrong to look down on Pa Toom and that she had a lot to learn from her.
From that day on, Wan’s attitude towards Pa Toom changed. She started to volunteer at the studio and got to know Pa Toom better. She learned about her life, her family, and her love for yoga. And she knew that she had Pa Toom to thank for teaching her the importance of kindness and respect.
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“From Zoning Laws to Yoga Mats“
From Zoning Laws to Yoga Mats: An Architect’s Story
Prapat was a talented urban architect from Thailand who had recently moved to Singapore for work. She had always been passionate about designing innovative buildings that seamlessly integrated into the urban environment, but the long hours spent researching zoning laws and building codes were taking a toll on her health.
Prapat found herself suffering from eye strain and repetitive strain injuries from constantly using a computer mouse. She was constantly putting eyedrops and wearing thick glasses to help her eyes, but it wasn’t enough. One day, while researching in the Tanjong Pagar district, she came across a small yoga studio.
Feeling curious and in need of a new approach to her health problems, Prapat decided to try the holistic approach of yoga. To her surprise, not only did it help alleviate her symptoms, but she also found a sense of community within the studio. She enjoyed bringing fruits to share with everyone after a practice, following in the footsteps of someone at the studio who always did the same.
Through her newfound community, Prapat learned the importance of supporting marginalized communities in Singapore. She began advocating for greater social justice and equality, using her skills as an architect to help design affordable housing and community spaces for those who needed it most.
Thanks to the small yoga studio she stumbled upon during her research, Prapat not only found a cure for her health problems, but also discovered a new passion and purpose in life.
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“Brewing Wellness”
Brewing Wellness: Kaew’s Yoga Story
Kaew had always been a hardworking and determined person. She loved running her own café in Chidlom and was committed to making it a success. However, her passion for coffee had taken a toll on her body. She had been experiencing pain and inflammation in her wrists, hands, arms, shoulders, and back. It was affecting her ability to work and enjoy her life outside of the café.
One day, a regular customer started a conversation with her about yoga. He had noticed her discomfort and suggested that yoga might help relieve her pain. Kaew was skeptical at first, but the customer insisted that she should at least give it a try.
It just so happened that a yoga teacher named Tonmai would stop by the café between teaching her classes at a nearby studio. Kaew mustered up the courage to talk to Tonmai about her pain and discomfort. Tonmai listened attentively and suggested that Kaew come to one of her beginner classes.
Kaew felt intimidated at first, but she was determined to try something new to alleviate her pain. She arrived at the studio and was immediately intimidated by the flexible and experienced students around her. However, being the hard-working person that she is, she pushed herself to try 150% of her best.
Despite her efforts, the class was too challenging, and she found herself in more pain afterward. She tried another class a few days later, but the result was the same. Kaew was ready to give up on yoga altogether.
Tonmai paid a visit to the café and inquired about Kaew’s yoga experience. Kaew hesitantly shared her discomfort and frustration. After listening carefully, Tonmai determined that Kaew had been overexerting herself and recommended that she try doing only 50% of her capacity in the next class. Tonmai reasoned that since Kaew was dealing with an injury, it would be unwise to push herself to her full potential.
Although it went against her nature to always strive for her best, Kaew decided to trust Tonmai’s advice The next time she tried yoga, she focused on doing only what she could manage without causing further pain or discomfort. To her surprise, she found the experience much more enjoyable and beneficial.
Over time, Kaew continued to practice yoga with Tonmai’s guidance. She found that it not only helped relieve her physical pain but also helped her sleep better. Her customers noticed the positive changes in her, and her café became even more successful as a result. Kaew was grateful to the regular customer who suggested yoga and to Tonmai for guiding her on her journey.
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“From Eagle to Excel”
From Eagle to Excel: How One Act of Kindness Changed a Manager’s Perspective
Ake, a busy manager at a company located in the bustling area of Pleonchit, had a habit of spending his lunch break alone, either eating out or at his desk. He avoided lunching with colleagues and interns because he found it frustrating when they constantly asked him to explain their tasks. However, his lunch breaks changed when he discovered a nearby yoga studio and became intrigued by the practice.
Ake decided to give it a try and found that yoga brought a sense of peace and happiness to his life. He enjoyed his lunchtime yoga sessions and found that they left him feeling rejuvenated and energized. He felt like he had more energy and focus to tackle his work after yoga.
One day, Ake was struggling with garudasana or the eagle pose during a class. The teacher of the class couldn’t see that Ake was having a difficult time with the pose. Joy, a regular student of the class, noticed that Ake was struggling and felt like she could help. Without saying a word, Joy showed Ake a gentler version of the pose. Instead of crossing his wrists, she showed him how to hold opposite shoulders, and instead of crossing his ankles, she showed him how to do a figure 4 leg by resting his ankle on top of his knee.
Ake was grateful for Joy’s help and when he went back to the office, he noticed that an intern was having a difficult time with Excel. Ake remembered how Joy patiently taught him garudasana and decided to do the same for the intern. He patiently showed the intern how to use Excel, and the intern was able to complete their task successfully.
From that day on, Ake continued to practice yoga during his lunch break, and he also began to incorporate mindfulness and patience in his work. He realized that the benefits of yoga extended beyond just the physical practice, and he was grateful to have discovered it thanks to Joy’s kindness and willingness to help.
“Whiskers”
Whiskers: A Story of Loss and Adaptation
Ms. Wilson had always been a creature of habit. She followed the same routine every day, without fail. She was an early riser, would have her cup of coffee, read the paper, and then spend the rest of the day doing her daily chores. She had never been one for trying new things or stepping out of her comfort zone. Ms. Wilson had always identified herself as an inflexible person.
That all changed the day her beloved pet cat, Whiskers, died. Ms. Wilson was devastated. She felt lost without her constant companion by her side. She found it hard to focus on anything else, and her daily routine felt meaningless.
One day, while out for a walk, Ms. Wilson came across a flyer for a yoga class. She had always thought yoga was for young people, but something about the peaceful image on the flyer caught her attention. She decided to give it a try.
Ms. Wilson was nervous on her first day of class. She had never done anything like this before, and she wasn’t sure what to expect. As she entered the studio, she was greeted by a warm and welcoming instructor who put her at ease.
The class started with some gentle stretching and breathing exercises. Ms. Wilson found it challenging at first, but the instructor encouraged her to go at her own pace and not to worry about doing everything perfectly. For the first time in a long time, Ms. Wilson felt relaxed and centered.
As the weeks went by, Ms. Wilson continued to attend the yoga class regularly. She found that it not only helped her physically but mentally as well. She felt more flexible, but she also felt more open to new experiences and less stuck in her ways.
Ms. Wilson had learned that it was never too late to try something new and that even the most inflexible of people could learn to bend and adapt. She knew that Whiskers would have been proud of her for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new.
“Learning to Listen”
Learning to Listen: How One Yoga Instructor Learned from a Frustrated Student
Lena had been practicing yoga for years, and she had finally decided to take the leap, sign up for a teacher training course, and become a yoga instructor. It was a few months after the teaching training now and she had started to build up a following.
One day, Lena’s regular students brought some friends to her class, and she noticed some unfamiliar faces in the room. One of them was a guy named Mike, who seemed to be having trouble keeping up with the class. Lena tried to give him some pointers, but he was hesitant to follow her instructions.
After the class, Mike approached Lena and expressed his frustration. He explained that he had been practicing yoga for a while, but his previous teacher had a specific routine he liked to follow. Lena listened and realized that Mike had specific expectations that weren’t being met in her class.
Her first instinct was to suggest that he adapt to her style of teaching since it was her class after all, but Lena decided to see this as an opportunity to learn. She asked him to share his routine with her so she could incorporate some of his preferred poses and sequences into her classes.
Mike who was initially upset, was humbled by Lena’s willingness to listen and learn from him. It inspired him to adapt and learn from her, too. Together, they developed a new routine that incorporated what Mike knew while stayed true to Lena’s style as a teacher. Mike started to attend Lena’s classes regularly, and he felt more comfortable in her class.
As Lena’s class continued to grow, she faced more challenges with students who had different needs and expectations. She remembered the lesson she had learned from Mike and continued to prioritize open communication. She started to offer variations and modifications in her classes for her students to choose from, and she encouraged her students to speak up about their preferences.