(I met Jon quite by accident. I was blog hopping and came across his blog, became intrigued by his self portraits in various yoga poses, and began communicating with him across the miles. Some time after that I realized that he was actually at a yoga event several months before which I covered as a blogger and had taken videos of him without knowing who he was then. Last December 2007, Jon came home for a vacation and 3 of us (Trin, Chona and I) had lunch with him. It was Chona’s and my first time to meet him. As for Trin, it was amazing that she and Jon were already friends, having finished a 200-hour intensive, teacher training course in Bangkok together. Yes, the world is indeed small! Following is a virtual interview I did with Jon. He blogs at Mitahara.)

 

What got you into yoga?

Spirituality has always played a big role in my life. Growing up in a small town in the Southern part of the Philippines , my mother would frequently bring me to our local manghihilot to remove some knots or blockage in one of my shoulders. My mother would also tell me that I have actually healing hands because I was born upside down. It’s a local belief that people born this way have natural gifts in healing or bodywork.

My interest in yoga started a couple of years before I even took a formal class. I was doing an undergraduate study in sports science back in UP and naturally was into movement. I came across hatha yoga books at the college library and thought, “hmmm… this seems interesting.” Back then, it was somehow expected that CHK ( College of Human Kinetics ) students should be involved in at least one group, be it sports, martial arts or dance group.

I had wanted to be in a martial arts group because I watched a lot of shaolin and Jet Li movies when I was young. I was fascinated with the strength and flexibility of a martial artist. However, I found it too violent and aggressive. Then a new dance group was being formed and the next thing I knew, I was already performing on stage.

In one of our trainings, the teacher said that we’d be doing yoga instead. We did simple seated postures. I talked to her after and asked where I can take classes. She said she’s attending classes with Bela [Lipat] in Makati . There was no MRT back then so I thought, “hmmm… no way. Makati is too far for me.” I was already teaching PE then and still in the transition stage from being a college student to a college instructor.

Then in 2001, I saw a red-haired lady being interviewed in a morning show and they were doing yoga in the park. It was Sandy [Carmona], promoting the Yoga Foundation of the Philippines’ Team Yoga project. Posters of the project were also posted at CHK so I, together with 2 other friends, decided to join the free Sunday classes in Cubao.

 

What became of your life after you began yoga?

One class led to another and a few months after, we were already members of Team Yoga 2002. Team Yoga was a flagship project of the Yoga Foundation of the Philippines which aimed to bring free yoga instruction to the underprivileged Filipino youth as well as to create public awareness and interest through public demonstration and touring productions. As Team Yoga members, we attended classes at the former Jagad Yoga Shala in Makati for free; in exchange, we’d do demos during various functions… foundation day celebration, mall exhibits, corporate programs, etc., etc.

During this time, I was already teaching physical education at UP Diliman and working as the assistant coach of a university varsity team and I started teaching them yoga as part of their cross-training program. It helped the members develop not only muscular endurance and flexibility, but more importantly, focus and determination. Opportunity to teach at the University Community program also came when the former instructor left. I took over the program and eventually found myself teaching yoga 7x a week outside my regular working hours.

After months of doing that, interests and focus of some of my team mates changed and they stopped going. After a while, I stopped as well due to increasing demands at work and other responsibilities – teaching full load, training the UP Pep Squad (I was the assistant coach that time), trying to finish my masters, and doing extra teaching jobs as well to augment my meager UP income. I also tried to be in the national sports aerobics team but eventually dropped out because of the training schedule.

A year after the hiatus, I decided to go back to Jagad and that was the time Sandy started asking me to sub whenever she was out of the country to attend further training abroad. A few months after, she closed the center but opened a new one in Pasong Tamo extension, the Soma Yoga Center Manila. I taught weekend classes at Soma until I left for Riyadh .

As the number of students grew, I felt the need to deepen my knowledge and understanding of this path. “Go to India “, my teacher told me. I didn’t have the means to do so though. However, the Universe has its own unique way of bringing us to where we should go… to learn… experience… and to realize a calling.

In March 2006, I packed my bags and traveled to the Middle East to teach at a private university in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

 

Where did you take advanced classes and with whom?

With my dance, fitness and sports background, the asanas came naturally. I was fully aware though that yoga is more than just the asanas as Sandy was deep into its philosophy.

I tried to attend as many workshops [as I could] to educate myself. As a Team Yoga member, I was primarily trained by Sandy Carmona. Baptiste Marceau came to teach at Jagad for a week and I was able to attend a couple of classes. Hoze (Arando) was also my teacher back at Jagad.

I have attended a Kriya Yoga seminar at the Moro Lorenzo Fitness Center in Katipunan, Iyengar Yoga workshops by Annemiek Post and Cle Souren, Yoga Fundamentals with Laurence Biscontini, Ashtanga workshops/classes with Bela Lipat and Paul Dallaghan.

In August 2007, I completed the 200-hour training intensive at the Centered Yoga Institute in Yoga Thailand as well as a 100-hour advanced course in hatha yoga and philosophy. At Yoga Thailand , I studied with Paul Dallaghan, Neil Barker, and Sri O.P. Tiwari, head of the Kaivalyadham Yoga Institute in Lonavla , India and one of the very few living masters in traditional pranayama.

 

Where have you taught yoga?

I’ve taught at the UP CHK Community Recreation Yoga Program since 2003, NEDA in Pasig , Power UP Climbing and Fitness Centers in Pasig and Tandang Sora, Center for Movement and Music in Tandang Sora, and the former Soma Yoga Center Manila.

What made you become a vegetarian and how long have you been one?

We were encouraged to adopt a vegetarian diet as members of Team Yoga and that basically started everything. [I have been vegetarian] since 2002…. So almost 6 years now.

What got you interested in cooking?

I was into cooking even before I became a vegetarian… so there was just a transition from meat to vegetarian dishes.

 

What insights have you derived from yoga?

Yoga is an ancient discipline for self-transformation. And like the prana that moves within a body that is well prepared, the Cosmic Wind blows the soul of the one who is ready to accept his calling to where he should be at. I believe I was brought here for a reason. Whatever it is, it is more important to stay present in the moment and simply experience each day as it unfolds. The journey begins today.