Three Years and a Few Lessons After

I was inspired, er, reminded by my friends’ FB status which said “Exactly 10 years ago, I did this and did that….” Now, my turn.

Exactly three years ago, I attended my very first yoga class, vinyasa/flow yoga, under Pio Baquiran at the Vinyasa Yoga Center. Now I do ashtanga in Yoga Manila under Jon Cagas (most of the time) and over this period I had tried other yoga styles in different studios, including Pulse Yoga and Iyengar Yoga Center Manila. And over this period, too, I had learned some life  lessons:

Yoga starts the moment one steps out of the mat.

The root of chaos is one’s sense of entitlement, regardless whether it is rightful or not.

Respect space–physical and psychological, one’s own and others’.

Know your place.  

Some days you can, other days you can’t. And life goes on.

Life becomes so much fun when one stops trying and starts breathing instead.

Brands don’t matter; discipline and dedication do.   

Life is about relationships, not transactions.

Growth is a painful process. It hurts. So what?

Thank you all who have been part of my yoga life–my teachers and classmates–who taught me these lessons. And I welcome those who will be part of it as this journey continues.

And I pray for my teachers, and their teachers, and all those who come before them. I pray for their blessing of light, life, and love. I thank the Lord for the beauty and benefits of yoga and I pray for the grace to use them for the service, love, and glory of the Lord, and for the good of mankind. Om.

Beginners’ Yoga: Introduction to Ashtanga at Yoga Manila Ortigas

To those who missed this workshop, you may join YM’s offering next quarter. Please visit Yoga Manila’s website for details.

Honoring Sri K. Pattabhi Jois

Teachers and students of Yoga Manila (from North to South) gathered today to honor the late founder of Ashtanga Yoga, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, as his body was laid to rest in India.

Being among the Ashtangis, chanting and praying together, was an experience so beautiful that I decided to forego my being a (amateur) photographer to be in the present moment. So this is the only “community picture” I had:

Yoga Manila Photo Shoot

Thanks Yoga Manila, particularly the Ortigas team of Teacher Connie and Teacher Jon, for this opportunity to capture yogic moments in class. It was both fun and challenging (ay, biglang nag release ng pose…naku yung paa ni teacher nasa frame….). These are just some of my favorite. 

A Weekend of Fitness…and Fun!

Last Saturday April 12th, my yogini friend Jane and I dropped by Rockwell’s Summer Series: A Weekend of Fitness that featured various fitness groups in Manila, mostly yoga studios. Free classes were held at the covered garden right in front of the mall.

At the Entrance

The Participating Studios

The Demo Area

Bikram Yoga

Yoga Manila

Pulse Yoga

I was able to watch Yoga Manila’s Led Ashtanga and Pulse Yoga’s Yoga for Beginners.

Surprise! Surprise! I met Tesa Celdran who conducted Pulse Yoga’s demo class. I used to peek into her website occasionally, curious what has happened to her since she left our research unit 10 years ago. Yes, she’s right in saying she has “reincarnated”— researcher/writer turned yoga teacher, photographer, wife, and many more. Nice to see you again, Tesa! And looking forward to seeing you more often.

I did not join any of the demo class as I was saving my energy for our session with Teacher Pio that night. Now, that’s worth another blog.

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We also visited Aura Athletica, the event’s major sponsor, supposedly to window shop but I ended up buying a sports bag. Since I came back from my trip, I had wanted to get a decent bag for my yoga stuff but never succeeded in getting myself into mall. I’d rather sleep than shop. If I ever do, just give me 30 minutes and I’m done with everything I need to get—yes, in the normal curve of female species, I am an outlier, a deviant! Thanks to Jane who was so passionate about the pink sports bag she saw (and eventually bought)—her passion rekindled mine to get a yoga bag.

The bag I bought is designed actually for badminton enthusiasts, with a pocket that’s big enough to hold a racket…in my case, to hold my yoga mat! Not for Kermit though, he’s too heavy for it. The bag is quite roomy with lots of pockets inside to keep my things organized, a bottle holder, and water-repellent interior for my wet stuff and exterior perfect for rainy days! I also like its shape that’s atypical of a sports bag. And because it’s so spacious it will be very handy when I go to Divisoria. There are a lot of colors to choose from but I chose green because aside from it being my color for balance, it also doesn’t get dirty easily (at least the dirt doesn’t easily show so it gives me an illusion of spotlessness). Go check this out! Their helpful and friendly store personnel would be more than willing to assist you.

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Here are Jane’s pictures showing her in action, both as a blogger and a shopper.

Thanks, Jane, for a fun afternoon!

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The moon never fails to mesmerize me no matter what time of the day or what phase it chooses to reveal itself to me. Here it is at different times on April 12th.