Yoga in Bacolod Part 1

My work has required me to visit Bacolod City in Negros Occidental every so often since 2004. I had seen it when the airport was still in Bacolod City, which is now in Silay, and explored its various surrounding municipalities. In those four years, moving there had not crossed my mind. I have always loved Davao City and Puerto Princesa but not Bacolod…until last February, when I realized that yes, it is a city where I can spend my retirement years. Davao City is like love at first sight; Bacolod is the kind of love that grows over time…or was it just an influence of Valentine month on me?

Last May 6 to 8, off I went to Bacolod again. While waiting at the Manila Domestic Airport, two things struck me. One was the number of flights that day going to Boracay (which turned me green!).

And the other was the number of bags occupying seats intended for the waiting passengers while a lot of people were standing up.

I tried taking pictures as discreetly as possible (unfortunately I could not take photos of the waiting passengers out of fear that doing so might unnecessarily alarm the security). How inconsiderate some people could be, I thought. But the good thing was, soon the airport authority made an announcement requesting the passengers to free up the seats for their co-passengers. Whether the passengers “with seated bags” heeded the request or not was another story.

Since it seems that I will be frequenting the city until next year, I started looking for a yoga center before I left Manila. Thanks to Jane, I was able to locate Shape Up Studio along Lacson Street where Gigi Tordesillas teaches. Apparently, Gigi’s is the only yoga class in the city, as the other studio already closed down.

I was able to catch her class on Wednesday evening. We were nine students then, occupying half of the pilates studio. Soft candlelight filled the dim room that matched the Gigi’s gentle voice. Her sequence was ashtanga-based but executed in a gentle and slow manner (but mind you, I had a good sweat!). Since I came a little bit late—the class was into breathing exercise already—I was not able to take pictures when everyone was still poised and pretty. Gigi promised that she’ll accommodate me in interview and photo shoot when I go back to Bacolod next month. So watch out for Yoga in Bacolod Part 2!