"The wound is also the place where the skin reencounters itself." - Ocean Vuong, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous I lean upon these words by to stay hopeful. It’s #InternationalDayofHappiness today, however I must acknowledge that joy can coexist with the devastation and overwhelm I've felt to be hearing stories across the globe where those who share my skin have been hurt. Those around them who are still hurting. Those whose lives, ambitions and dreams have been cut short by the actions of another. My thoughts have been with them this past week, feeling as much rage as an Asian as the guilt I feel as a man of privilege amidst the simple joys of a sunny weekend. I am hopeful that these 'wounds' will not be for nothing. That they serve as catalysts for how we reencounter ourselves as a human race, and how we redefine what peace, unity and equality means. I hope that we will reencounter complexities as something we look into and not shy away from. That real solutions will surface from greater solidarity and radical action. That we will reevaluate our participations as global citizens. That social justice and activism will no longer be buzzwords, but something deeply embodied in every single one of us. I hope that we will remember just how fiercely we can love. Let us be that change. Starting from the body. Classes this week will be free for all ESEA folx, with encouragement for non-ESEA folx to sponsor these places. Book Here. Resources How to navigate #StopAsianHate and keep the conversation going. Read : The Atlanta Shootings Fit into a Long Legacy of Anti-Asian Violence in America. (Time) Donate : their stories and directly give back to the families of the Atlanta shooting. (NBC News) Donate : #hateisavirus CommuNITY action fund. (HateIsAVirus) Read : Joint response to the Call for Evidence on Ethnic Disparities and Inequality in the UK. (JointReport) Participate : Help map, quantity and give your experience of hate crime in a national hate crime survey for East and Southeast Asians by CASVIC. (Hackney Chinese) Sign : Petition to stop depicting East and Southeast Asians in Coronavirus related media. (besea.n) Donate : Save the London Chinese Community Centre. (Just Giving) Soon the rainbow will follow. I know it. To my ESEA folx, my sxsters across the world, I love you. 💛 Image by @sh.vets

#StopAsianHate. “Keep your head down low so you’d stay out of trouble.” This is something my parents often say to me for as long as I can remember, but it landed differently over FaceTime the other day. They added, “Remember to hide your face if you have to head out. Don’t just wear a mask. Wear a hoodie, a pair of shades.” I simply nodded to spare them any more worry, when in truth I wondered why hide in fear when all I would do is smile through my eyes when I look up. How did we go from wishing to be acknowledged to wishing no one sees us? My parents already worry about me being so far away from home, about how I’m keeping healthy and staying financially afloat amidst the pandemic, whether my immigration status will be affected by Brexit in any way. Right from the start, my parents wished for daughters and they were blessed with four sons in the end. From time to time, they share in retrospect how they would have worried even more for us if we were girls. Why should this be the case? My sincere thoughts to the families and friends of the 8 Atlanta shooting victims, 6 of whom were Asian women. I extend my loving kindness and support to them and to all victims of racist violence, particularly in the past year. No parents should need to worry about their child getting assaulted or getting shot out in the open. No children should worry the same for their parents. No one should be worrying what comes with the freedom of being out and about, is the real possibility of ending up adding to the alarming tally of racist violence. So let us fight fear with courage. Let us stand in solidarity by taking collective action to end racism. We can ALL play a part. Not sure how you can actually help? Check out the few actionable resources I’ve personally found to be useful and concise here. I will continue to share more resources both here and on @kindredpacket. So please get involved and keep this conversation going. To all my Asian friends and family, I love you. Remember #itsanhonorjusttobeasian. Always a message away whenever you need. 💛

This is my mum. I see so much joy, strength and confidence in this image and I wanted to share her energy with you all. My mum has this magical ability to somehow make me feel so close to her even when we're physically so far apart. In fact, she would actually be the first person I think of whenever I experience bouts of loneliness. It's in the way she checks in on me every other day, the way she remembers every single detail of what I shared with her, how she is on top of what I've been up to more so than I am, how she always asks if I've been eating enough, working out a soup recipe with me. All these iterations of expressing "I'm there for you". She really is the most 'There' person I know. Her unwavering presence meant I always feel accompanied by a readily empathetic witness along the journey I thread, through all its peaks and troughs. That there are no steps I take alone, with echoes of her in my mind cheering, "Go on, I'm right behind you". I can't quite pinpoint how this came to be yet. Maybe it's the quality of attention she offers, at times the frequency of attention or the timeliness of attention. Whatever it is, I am in awe by how powerfully she channels attention, something universally recognised as lacking amongst us in present time and what we have been trying to reclaim through practices of mindfulness. My mum may barely recognise contemporary mindfulness practices and the jargon that can come along with them. Yet I didn't think she needed it, because she is already embodying it, as a Mother of four very fortunate sons. The work I share will always be a way of honouring her. How I can be there for others in the same way she has held me. As a loving, anchoring presence of guidance and more so, encouragement. So here's a question for you in this spirit... What does being There mean to you? How can you be There for others? Resources In playing catchup with International Women's Day... I celebrate the many other inspiring womxn around me who actively #ChooseToChallenge existing structures of oppression through their unique lenses. Jonelle Lewis, Leila Sadeghee, Kallie Schutt, Stacie Graham offer a yoga teacher training centered in social justice and collective care. (RadicalDarshan) Jo Fong asks us to join the conversation, look gently to the future and acknowledge what and who we need to remember. (WhatWillPeopleNeed) Naomi Absalom launched a progressive space for meaningful work that gently shakes the spirit. (CollectiveEnergies) Mai-Anh Peterson, Viv Yau, Amy Phung, Karlie Wu, Isabelle, Charley Wong run a grassroots movement championing East and South East Asian voices. (besea.n) Maddy-Rose Robinson organises a one day yoga festival raising money to welcome refugees in the UK through Student Action for Refugees. (BetheChangeUK) Lara Muller started a micro-bakery as an opera singer in London. (Lara'sBakery) Nicola Peters established a non-profit to restore Mother Earth. (re:earth) Please support the amazing work they do. That is all from me today. Thank you always for your presence, trust and support. I appreciate you. David

...and we've done it! I spent this past week finalising our donation tally from the @KindRedPacket fundraiser and am so delighted to share that we have raised £6500 over the past fortnight! This means £500 each to 13 charities doing great work in supporting the unhomed, the elderly and especially the East/Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities currently navigating #StopAsianHate across the world. So thank you for the support. The amount we've raised may not be hugely significant, but one that symbolises the first step in redirecting our attention towards those truly in need of support and towards actively bridging the privilege gap widened over the global pandemic. Over the years, I keep getting asked by others... "How do I advance my yoga practice?" Well, I believe this is precisely where we go next. This kampaign is by no means a separate venture of mine, but a natural progression of practice when recognising the fact that "unless all are free, NONE are free". Where I go is always an open invitation for you to either come along or bravely consider a route of your own informed by the work we do in practice. So here's a question I hope we all ask... If I am well and free, who within my community is not? Resources Unless all are free, NONE are free. The incredible @radicaldarshan collective on the practice of Yoga. (Transforming Teaching into Action) Love our people like you love our food. Powerful image from 'End the violence towards Asians' protest & march. (@meldcole) #StopAsianHate resources. What's happening and how to help. (@britishchinesebiz) All Because of You. A short minimalistic animation addressing the surge of anti-Asian racism and the drastic effect it has on the Asian community. (@dearasianyouthlondon) If I had all this money, I'd be nice too. Award-winning Korean film capturing the harsh reality of privilege gaps. (Parasite) I See You I See Me. Free self-empowerment workshop for the LGBTQ+ community. (WeCreateSpace) Reach out...when you want to. Tips on Mental Health & Lockdown by 16 experts including myself. (@deja_life) I hope that the signs of spring we witness become an impetus for us to no longer settle with solidarity, and instead spring into solutions by moving, deeply beyond our physical bodies. That is all from me today. Thank you always for your presence, trust and support. I appreciate you. Always a message away, David

It really was something to virtually gather as a community again last weekend. These gatherings are already always so special, yet I couldn't quite settle on a name that could aptly describe the magic we get up to every single time. But I guess if I could describe it in words, there's really no need for movement then don't you think? I can always try however, and here's my attempt to articulate in words what we do on Sundays, especially for those of us who are new to this community... You have wild permission. To remember, rediscover our lived wisdom with great wonder. To move, make, mend or listen in a brave space held so tender. To become and belong as you are upon this shared breath we enter. You have wild permission. What do you think? Onwards, our Sunday sessions will be named Wild Permission. Is it an idea you can allow yourself to action unapologetically? Come join this growing community : V I R T U A L P R A C T I C E Sundays 10-11.30a GMT Book Here Mixed movement practices, between which we contemplate in writing, in drawing, in conversation, whichever and whenever you fancy. Make sure you bring along some pen and paper. Please book ahead of time and if for any reason you'd like to come to class but cannot afford to offer monetary investment, please get in touch by 5pm GMT Saturday night. Also if you do want to be sent reminders for my virtual classes, please send me back a 'KeepKam'. Otherwise, I will save you the unnecessary spam! Love, David

If you have been joining me in class virtually, you'd know that a part of the signup process involves a simple question... What are you grateful for? Over the months of reading your shares, I've witnessed how gratitude comes... ...in the simple things. Feeling open hearted. The variety of choices available to me. Not being afraid. Early morning training. Live music. Real live music. That my foot healed after 3 weeks of not doing any sport. That it's Sunday! You have no idea how happy I am to get all my paperwork in order. For my strength. Wallace and Gromit. Croissants with my coffee. The wonderful things right here around me : my family, crap tv, soft blanket, full belly... Chain grease for my bike. To have a large enough space for yoga and dancing in quarantine. Hot chocolate that my flatmate made. A day for rest and space. Coffee served in bed. A hammer. An old chair leg and 300 allium bulbs. Peaceful moments in nature. That I don't have any plans! Manulife dark roast peanut butter on cholla bread. ...in the beauty of connection. Waking up snuggled next to the one I love. Finally making time for your class. Coffee, cats, my mum. Delivery services in the UK. My breath, your wisdom and life. The smile of people I get to help somehow. My lovely, amazing friends. Jokes with my little sister. Time with my family. Sharing this class for the first time with my sister. The glow of showcasing others. Marie Kondo. Biden's win. Long chats with friends. Time for myself. My home. Love and support from the people that matter. Affordable international shipping. The power you give me. Being here to share this practice with you. Thank you for your beautiful NHS yoga sessions! A return to giving. Being a part of joy. ...in seasonal changes. Sunshine on my back. Blue skies. The start of a new season. Rain, cold, leaves. Autumn rituals. Trees in autumn. A clear morning sky and trees from my window. Woodlands and fresh air. The sun is back after very dark days. Gloves. The snow and my hometown in the mountains with my friends. ...shifts. Reaping the benefits of making bold decisions. Ripple effects. Opening doors and starting new conversations. The start of new learning opportunities. Onwards. To be alive. An opportunity to reset. Freedom found in focus. For having space to inquire about myself. Ideas. Possibility. Projects. Widening the spotlight. There's no question this year has been an unforgettable one, for better or worse. Let us celebrate our power of gratitude. The way we always manage to find wins whatever life throws us. The same way our ancestors share with us stories of joy over periods of war and hardship. Love, David

Spotted this beautiful reminder in Shoreditch. I spent much of this week working on a personal project. I have been compiling images from life so far, moments that touch me deeply to this day. Sorting through thousands and thousands of images is somehow as therapeutic as it is arduous. And so very fascinating to (re)discover what I do remember, what I greatly cherished but have forgotten, and moments which felt a lot more significant than they seem in retrospect. I intended to get these printed as photo books in time for Christmas as a gift to myself. Although I'm nowhere near done, this process has already led me to acknowledge that I've lived a great life so far. This is a fact. But one that can be very tricky to remember when my vision is tunnelled towards the person I have yet become. I really appreciated this rabbit hole down memory lane. If there's one thing I learnt in this process, it is to let life figure itself out. No need for the worries of what could be, what should be but simply what is. Fret less, smile more often. :) Leaving you with a quote from one of my favourite music artist : You are overwhelmed and haven’t learned to be your own friend through this yet. You will. Your fear of jumping without a net is so valid, and the trick that you haven’t learned yet is that that’s life, always and everywhere. There are no nets. Life is a big, long free fall, and the sooner you can embrace what is beautiful about that, the sooner you will start to enjoy the ride.” ― Sara Bareilles, Sounds Like Me: My Life (So Far) in Song Image by @hngstrm Love, David