Against the Stress
When I left school in Malaysia with my SPM (equivalent to GCSE in UK), I was restricted to teaching or nursing, since job reservations shut us out from mainstream opportunities. I resolved to take up nursing after my 21st birthday.
After three years of general nursing, and the obligatory diploma in midwifery, I yearned to work in operating theatres. My private life precipitated my move to India in 1980 as a consequence being sent by the Malaysian government to help out in India rural clinics. In India I faced language and cultural differences so my life took a u-turn. I found it hard to adapt as the rural area was really backward.
I was a City girl when I was in Malaysia. Fair enough that I am not born in a rich family, but I am well brought up. I must say that it was a real shocked for me when I was living in India.
Sorry for being honest, I did try my best to apply to our government so that I can be transferred home, but my application had always been refused!
Weeks went past; Month went past… I started to develop the “stress” patterns. I became so rude about my patient. I got irritated easily. Things got really out of hands when I was trying to speak my half-baked Hindi… The time when I really lost it was when they sent in a child aged about three, and he looked like a skeleton… I am not kidding. Till today, I can still remember the whole situation vividly… Flies were all over him… Due to a few nightshifts… suddenly I stormed out of the ward and ran into my room to lock myself inside crying and screaming.
I had a nervous breakdown. The working hours were too long. The living condition was poor. I was homesick. I finally cracked up!
The head nurse, Vippa, knew about my situation. She was sympathized towards me, and she introduced me to an exercise that I am forever grateful to her, i.e. Yoga!
I did not know what it was, and I was reluctant to go to the Yoga classes. I never heard of it when I was in my hometown in Malaysia. I am sure there were such classes in Malaysia then. Maybe I was just to naïve to know what that was.
Vippa tried her best to encourage me to go, but she never succeeded in persuading me as “going home“ was the only thing in my mind, until she finally dragged me along to one. Yes, I do mean that she dragged me along. No, I did not mean it in a literary sense, but it was close enough!
So here I was practicing with a group of strangers of all sizes, shapes and ages! I was really very uncomfortable in my first session. Some of the postures were hurting me like hell! However, as I was there, I stayed in the class until it ended!
Amazingly, although I feel knackered throughout, my mind was clear. I felt good as if my problem and my depression were all gone!
Wow, that was a fantastic feeling that I ever had for the past months! I know that was the turning point of my life.
Since then I fell in love with Yoga. It relieved my stress totally, and there I was with a positive and happy outlook, found the love in my life!
Thus, Yoga does not only help you relieve your stress, but help you focus your mind to get what you want in life!
