Meet Lisa Low, a fit grandma and a teacher-come-healer for the elderly and rehab patients, with a deep seeded passion for yoga and pilates.
INTERVIEW
What kind of training do you provide and to who?
My classes are mostly anatomy focused. I am continuously learning under the direct tutelage of Tiffany Cruikshank, the founder of Yoga Medicine. I typically work with the special population and the elderly in a one-on-one setting—a large percentage of them are undergoing post-surgery rehabilitation. I apply therapeutic yoga poses, pilates (on the mat or on a reformer) and also myofascial release techniques. My sessions include pranayama and meditation. I have personally witnessed my clients coming off antidepressants and insomnia after prolonged sessions. I have also seen improved posture, especially in the elderly. I work closely with healthcare practitioners in rehab programs, and often get clients referred by physiotherapists and traditional chinese medicine (TCM) doctors, as well as orthopaedics.
How has a combination of Pilates and Yoga helped you with your fitness?
I have been practicing yoga for over 24 years. I chanced upon Pilates while living in Shanghai, at a point when I was starting to feel that my daily yoga practice had hit a plateau. A yogi friend invited me to a reformer Pilates class, and I remember thinking during the hour-long class that ‘this is my next level!’ I had thought I had good strength control, but Pilates showed me otherwise. Pilates gradually began to change and mould the way I practiced yoga. I love how in yoga, one is constantly encouraged to ‘open’ the body, whereas in Pilates, one has to focus on the ‘inner body core.’ I maintain an equal dose of yoga and Pilates daily as my practice. In the last of years, during my yoga teachings, I have included cues that I picked up during my Pilates training to my yoga classes.
How do you bring mindfulness into your rehab sessions?
I am a big fan and firm believer of pranayama. The breath is our life force, and without it, everything comes to a standstill. Even if I have only have 5 minutes to spare, I urge my students to quieten their minds and meditate: it can be as simple as observing your breath, its quality, the length and depth of each inhalation and exhalation. I love to teach visualization meditation technique as well, and if time permits, at least one my ofascial release (MFR) technique that is easy to follow and replicate at home.
What do you think of the yoga scene in Singapore?
Yogis in Singapore are spoilt for choice in selecting their yoga practice either in the comfort of their homes or attending classes in boutique studios or big chain studios. The yoga scene has become very competitive as various styles of yoga catch on here very quickly. Personally, I would love a space where Reiki, meditation, yoga and Pilates are available under one roof.
This interview was first published in 2017 under ‘Teacher Spotlight’ in the print edition of Yoga Journal Singapore, which is now Yogahood Online. Find out more about Lisa here.
