The Yogini from Manila

August 12, 2008
by Yogajane
2 Comments

Moves and New Sites

This is just a heads-up, folks. I opted to make a post of this since it may not be noticed if I just placed it inside the Studios page.

1. YOGA MANILA MOVES ACROSS THE STREET

This happened beginning August 1. Yoga Manila classes have gone across the street to GoodQiCircle at Unit 506 Greenbelt Mansion, Perea St., Makati City. Check yoga schedules HERE.

2. PULSE YOGA OPENS TWO (2) MAKATI SITES

So I don’t miss anything, let me just copy below the email they sent me since this info is not yet on their main website:

——————————————————————————

Dearest Yoga Friends,

See our new schedules for
Greenhills @ http://pulse-yoga.com/schedule.htm
Makati @ http://pulse-yoga.com/schedule_makati.htm

We have great new classes: Hot Yoga, Gentle Yoga and Gentle Flow. Come and drop by a class to experience what these classes are all about.

Our Pasong Tamo extension studio is operational + pulse @ The Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
Beginning today, we’re running a full schedule of classes at Pulse Makati. Beginning Wednesday, we are also offering pulse yoga classes in the central business district (schedule will be up online by tonight).
Please note that pulse @ Mandarin classes are all walk-in classes, 500p/session.

So wherever you are in Makati, on whichever side of Edsa, you’re only 10 minutes away from Pulse.
All the better to make yoga a habit. 🙂

‘Sharing the Practice’ –
THIS WEEKEND, our August guest teacher, Amy (see her complete bio @ http://amy-cheung.com/bio.htm), will be teaching two classes as part of a pulse event series called ‘Sharing the practice’.
We invite anyone who would like a thorough explanation of the poses we do in our Power, Ashtanga and Mysore classes to attend.
Amy will be doing a led classes that will explore how to properly execute poses: breath, alignment, gaze point and where to put hands and feet will be discussed.
Pulse Makati. Saturday and Sunday, August 16-17.
9:30 am – 12 noon. Pulse members free; non-members 750/day.

As mentioned before, we have much coming up this year. Here’s a preview. Don’t worry, we’ll send out more details as the dates come up.

August
11 Pasong Tamo new schedule takes effect
13 pulse @ Mandarin classes begin
16-17 Sharing the Practice w/ Amy
30-31 Yoga Discovery Weekend @ Pulse Makati
September
27-30 Pilates Allegro Certification Program I
October
15 – Kids Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance Registered Course)
30- 2 Pilates Allegro Certification Program II

As always, please e-mail if you have any questions or concerns!

peace + love + light,
Joelle Goudsmit
Yoga Director

www.pulse-yoga.com

August 8, 2008
by Yogajane
6 Comments

Yoga…in the Olympics????

Today — August 8, 2008 — marks the opening of the Olympics in Beijing, China.

As usual, I hope to follow my favorite event, gymnastics. For some reason, this event always mesmerizes me and holds me in awe. I hold my breath as the gymnasts leap in the air, somersault and land on their feet. The floor exercises of the girls keep me glued to the TV set. I always love to watch these dance routines combined with gymnastics.

But can you believe that there seems to be a serious move to include a new event in the 2012 or 2020 Olympics? In an article on The Wall Street Journal Asia, John Krich writes that India is planning to make a pitch for New Delhi to be the venue of this Olympics — and they want yoga to be included as an event!

In Ashtanga News, they reported that ashtanga yoga could be included as a demonstration sport in Beijing. I just came from the Beijing Olympics website however and could not find yoga anywhere in the events listed so it is just possible it was not included anymore for this year.

Chinese pictogram representing yoga

But let’s go back to India’s bid to make it a competitive sport in the Olympics.

There are obviously 2 opposing schools of thought here.

THOSE IN FAVOR

Those in favor of yoga becoming an Olympic competitive sport are mostly practitioners of Bikram Yoga. The Bikram founder’s wife, Rajashree Choudhury, brought the competitions to the U.S. from India and competitions are largely organized by those who practice Bikram yoga.

Competitive yoga can be found even in the ancient home of yoga — India — where it is a sport in some Indian schools today. Since 1989 there has been a Worldwide Yoga Championship where participants from about 20 countries show off their athletic, artistic and rhythmic yoga asanas. Mr. Gopal Ji, son of a famous yoga guru and Executive Director of World Yoga Council of International Yoga Federation, relates the case of taekwondo which began as a demonstration sport during the 1988 Seoul Olympics and became a full event 12 years later. At that time, taekwondo had far fewer participants, he contends. He strongly sees yoga becoming a full Olympic event down the road.

THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT

Those opposed to the idea give different reasons for it: yoga was never meant to be a competition but one’s journey with one’s self; questions about who can judge if one’s asana is more perfect than the other’s; what will then distinguish a yogi from a contortionist; that this is just focused on the outward asana pose and not on the stillness of mind of the competing yogi.

Yoga began as a Hindu discipline. Aside from the physical positions, it involves discipline of the mind as well as controlled breathing. Many yoga devotees, in India and in other countries, feel uncomfortable with the thought that yoga would become one where contestants would vie for honors — where there would be clear winners and losers.

MY PERSONAL THOUGHTS

When I was introduced to yoga, it was initially from the physical standpoint (the asanas). Taken per se, that would be the primary focus of competitive yoga if ever it becomes an Olympic event. How the organizers would qualify the athletes for this by separating real yogis from contortionists or simply flexible athletes is another thing to hurdle. I would not mind seeing it performed in the Olympics. It would be interesting to watch.

However, I would hesitate to attribute the title “yoga” to such an event because yoga itself encompasses more than just the asanas. It includes one’s mental state, the breathing, the lifestyle, and more. It advocates ahimsa (non-violence) to one’s body and accepting where you are at every moment. In my case, yoga is my own journey and each yogi’s journey is different from everyone else’s.

What are your thoughts on this? Would you like to see yoga in the Olympics? Why or why not?

July 30, 2008
by Yogajane
4 Comments

Sweet and Sweaty Yoga Class

It almost seemed like ages since I did yoga at my yoga center with my teacher, Pio Baquiran.

I had been caught up in so much work that did not allow me to leave the office in time to get to Ortigas. Many times, I ended up taking classes at Yoga Manila, which was not really a bad alternative as I could do either basic Ashtanga or Mysore. Yoga Manila was just behind my office building.

Last week, even this was not feasible due to my work load so I found myself doing self yoga at home. Today, I realized I was missing out on the energies of my yogini friends and tell the truth, I kind of missed my teacher’s instructions and adjustments.

So with time to spare today, I gave Chona a call and we agreed to meet up earlier, then do a 7pm class.

Tuesdays and Thursdays at Vinyasa Yoga Center are intermediate classes. People coming to this class should expect nothing less than a sweaty class filled with deepening poses.

Yes, true to its word, this was indeed a sweaty, deepening, gruelling class. But I was surprised that despite my long absence and not-so-tiring self yoga, I managed to pace myself in class today. Pio has already been introducing new and deeper poses. And tonight’s pace was FAST!

But what I liked about class today was the fact that he would come over to me frequently to adjust and deepen my asanas. Thank you, my dear teacher, for welcoming me back into the fold and assisting me with the poses which you still remember cause me great difficulty.

In our previous yoga event for bloggers, Francis told me in a video interview we did that he found the class sweet and sweaty. That is how I describe tonight’s class. SWEET and SWEATY!

Here are some pictures of the more difficult stuff we tried out today:

Salabhasana (Full Locust)

Matsyasana (Fish pose - deeper variation)

Parivritta Parsvakonasana (Revolved Side Angle)

Tittibhasana (Firefly, variation C)

Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana (Revolved Head-to-Knee)

Hanumanasana (Monkey Pose)

Urdvha Mukha Paschimottanasana (Upward Facing Seated Forward Bend)

Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (Revolved Lunge Twist)

July 24, 2008
by Yogajane
0 comments

Positive Affirmations for You

This was shared with me by a blogger buddy on a day when I was totally sapped of positive energy. Thanks for sharing, Manuel!

Now it is my turn to share this video with you. May it uplift you whenever you need it. But what is probably a great addition to all the affirmations here is this: God is always a part of, and in control of, my life!

May your life always be beautiful, meaningful and full of love.

July 19, 2008
by Yogajane
3 Comments

My Life’s Dance

The whole experience began with a surprisingly delightful email from Teresa Herrera — known to most people as an international actress and model but in the small, burgeoning yoga community of Manila, she is better known as the yogini who got involved in Global Mala as well as being responsible for bringing yoga trance dance into the metro.

Teresa left a comment on my blog (she was just googling studios in Manila when she chanced on it) and was offering a complimentary pass to her yoga trance dance class. My thought bubble: Wow, it’s Teresa herself inviting me!

You see, I came across her last year when there was a Global Mala project in Manila. I was all set to go but due to certain personal circumstances, could not make it at the last minute. The next time I heard of her was in Pulse Yoga’s flyer for a yoga trance dance. Again, I could not make it but yogini friend Crissy did. And when Crissy found out I was being offered a free class, she all but told me: Go, Go, Go!!!

So last night, I found myself at Pulse Yoga, eagerly awaiting my first meet-up with Teresa. I was excited not only about meeting her but was looking forward to an experience I had long been wanting to have. My background as an accountant (and now as a consultant) puts me in a professional mode almost always. Most hours of my work days find me having to be formal, composed, logical, firm, assertive. But there has always been that creative, child-like part of me that was not as developed as the professional side but still cried out to be released. That was the side of me that was released during my years of ballet. That was the side that was released when I auditioned for, and became part of, the cast of my school’s musical production in the States. Tonight, that was the side I wanted to see — I wanted to be a free spirit for an evening.

It was also a full moon (trance dances are done during the new and full moon phases). Last night was auspiciously also the birthday of Sri Krishna Pattabhi Jois , fondly called Guruji, who was born on the full moon of July 1915 (Guru Purnima).

We had a few minutes prior to the class to chat a bit and take some pictures.

I had wanted to videotape parts of the trance dance class but Teresa was insistent that I experience it personally in its entirety without the distraction of videotaping so I agreed.

AND I ABSOLUTELY HAVE NO REGRETS THAT I DID SO!

We entered the shala which was dark except for a multitude of lit candles on the floor. Our mats were arranged so that we all formed a circle.

The class started very slowly. We lay on our backs, one hand on our belly, the other on our heart. This was the moment when we tuned in to our own heartbeat, our own personal rhythm.

Teresa then made us get on all fours, our eyes closed so we could tune out everyone else and just listen to our own bodies. We went through cat/cow poses very slowly, heart opening poses, upward/downward dogs, cobra and staff pose as well. The difference was that she encouraged us not to stop moving. Always, our bodies had to move to the rhythm we drew from our selves.

As we progressed, the percussion music grew faster and faster. Unlike other yoga classes where my hair was always pulled back into a bun, I decided that for this class, I would wear my hair loose and free. Teresa had done the same thing (she had worn her hair in a ponytail but now her hair hung loosely around her shoulders). I think it was a symbol of the total freedom that we were putting into the dance.

There were times when we moved like water; at other times, we were like the wind. I had my eyes closed most of the time and I just felt myself releasing into the moment. Part of me was feeling the increasing tempo of the music and automatically, my body moved along with it.

We moved around the room exploring the space with our bodies and limbs. No one paid any attention to the others. We just moved as we felt like it, round and round and round. The freedom of dancing (visions of my younger days in ballet) came rushing back and I just allowed myself to sway this way and that, left and right, arms swaying wherever it took me, head and body moving along in complete abandon to the moment. It was a wonderful, LIBERATING experience. I might add that it was totally, awesomely SENSUAL!!!

The crescendo/climax was aptly called “chaos” by Teresa. This was where we released all pent-up negative energy, letting go of things that held us back. We worked ourselves up into a frenzy of dance, arms flailing, legs kicking higher and higher up, bending down to pound the floor in a rhythmic, fast-paced manner. Total, complete release!

We ended in Savasana, followed by a moment of thanksgiving to all our past teachers (this was a night of thanking teachers including Guruji). At one point in our dancing, Teresa asked us “What is the dance of your life? Have you been dancing it? What has been stopping you all this time?”

It only took a moment for me to think about this. And I knew what I was dancing for this night. I was dancing for self-discovery. And I am inspired by Teresa because when I told her I wanted to be a free spirit, she immediately told me: “You ARE a free spirit!”. Thank you so much, Teresa, for giving me this wonderful moment and sharing your energy. No doubt about it, I look forward to taking another class with you.

Teresa gives us some insight into trance dance in this video clip we shot before class:

July 8, 2008
by Yogajane
6 Comments

Lunch with Jon / Yoga in Davao with Jon

Today, Chona and I had a wonderful lunch at Italiannis Greenbelt with our yogi friend fresh from Riyadh, Jon Cagas. This was a MUST lunch because last December when we had lunch with Jon, my camera’s memory card was corrupted and I lost all the pictures including our Italiannis lunch.

Jon is back from a Riyadh stint. He is in town for just a few days, flying to Davao by Wednesday to visit his family, then from there will spend several months in India doing yoga.

As Jon is vegetarian, he ordered Caesar Salad and Penne Arrab while Chona and I went for the Sicilian Salad and Parmesan Crusted Fish Fillet. All were yummy! And yes, dessert was Tiramisu!

A wonderful gift that Chona & I received from Jon was a yoga book (and chocolates, to boot!). Sweet, sweet Jon! Of course, lunch turned into an autograph signing event too, hahaha!

the yoga book -- a gift from Jon

dedication time!!!!

One would think Jon’s trip to Davao would be just pure family time. Nope, this generous soul will be conducting 3 yoga classes for Davaoeños who will have a chance to experience yoga with this amazing Ashtanga yoga instructor (read all about his journey in my previous blog post HERE).

So for people in Davao who have been looking for decent yoga classes, Jon’s 3 classes promise to be more than just decent. They will be amazing!

Details are below:

July 13, Sunday 1:30-5pm Intro to Ashtanga class and demo

July 14, Monday 7:30-9pm Basic Ashtanga class

July 15, Tuesday 7:30-9pm Basic Ashtanga class

Venue: Smashville Fitness Center, Magsaysay Avenue, Davao City

Cost: P600 for the 3 classes

They will be providing exercise mats but if you have a yoga sticky mat, it is recommended you bring it along.

Contact persons: Jen (0919-320-6473); Lenlen Cruz, Smashville (0917-701-4195)

All proceeds will go to Rotary Shares Life, a program of the Rotaract Club of Munting Pag-asa Davao to assist the children with cancer admitted at the Davao Medical Center. This program consists of activities that address the psychological needs of the children, as well as the needs of the caregivers like the parents.

July 2, 2008
by Yogajane
1 Comment

Yoga Manila Moves Across the Street

Starting July 7, Yoga Manila will be moving across the street from Century Plaza.

The new venue will be at the GoodQiCircle Center, Unit 506, Greenbelt Mansion. GoodQiCircle is a foundation that aims to promote a holistic approach to life — something which is very much aligned with Yoga Manila’s commitment to spread yoga as a practice uniting mind, body and spirit.

GoodQiCircle also offers tai chi, qigong and meditation classes.

For their new class schedules, click HERE.

June 30, 2008
by Yogajane
7 Comments

Bloggers Do Yoga

It finally happened. An event unlike any other that bloggers have ever done.

Bloggers came together at the Vinyasa Yoga Center (where I practice) and did yoga for an hour and a half, followed by a vegetarian dinner cooked by my own yoga teacher, Pio Baquiran, who is not only a great yogi teacher but a fantastic chef as well.

PREPARATIONS IN FULL SWING

Chona and I were there early. Actually, Chona did yoga at noontime while I had to bring over to the center all the donated items from the sponsors. We ate a leisurely lunch at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, then went back to the center where we packed the media kits and the other donations together with 3 lovely ladies from the ad agency, Aspac/Law (Ria, Kathy and Mia).

(Mia, Kathy and Ria of Aspac/Law)

Some bloggers came in early so we had a chance to chat and get to know those whose names were familiar to me but who I had never met yet, like Francis, Melanie, Janine, and Carl. I was particularly interested in chatting with Francis, who, it turns out, already practises yoga at Fitness First (my thought bubble: this is the perfect endorser for yoga for men!!!). Melanie, too, it turns out, has been doing yoga for some time now and in fact, took yoga lessons that same morning with Chona’s and my good yogi friend fresh from Riyadh, Jon Cagas! What a small world indeed!

Later, a whole bunch of bloggers came in: Poyt, Fritz, Arpee, Noreen and my mommy bloggers Chats, Cookie and Dine.

Juned of Blog and Soul came by a little later from another “shoot” and became the event’s volunteer photographer.

Yogini mates Minna (also the VYC directress), her sister Therese and Trin Custodio dropped by to support the event and practice together with Chona and I. All in all, the shala was filled and energies were strong!

THE CLASS — ENERGY TO THE MAX

Pio informed us that he had designed a special sequence just for bloggers. Now that caught everyone’s interest. He began with a short meditation, taught the bloggers the proper way to breathe, then followed it up with eye exercises, rotation of the hands, fingers and shoulders, and shorter variations of the sun salutations.

Pio also made us go through simple forward bends, side bends and wide angle bends to stretch the spine (good for sedentary bloggers, right?). We also did leg raises for the abs as well as the Bridge and Fish poses.

Class ended with everyone sweaty but feeling good. We had a class picture and naturally with everyone being bloggers, we had a whole slew of cameras and smiling to get through before we could call it a night!

THE HEALTHY DINNER!

Pio’s dinner consisted of pasta, burgers (using vegetarian patties) and his eggless leche flan. Arpee had the time of his life trying to guess the ingredients of this one!

vegetarian pasta

burger with vegepatties

***realization*** – I just realized I forgot to take a pic of the eggless leche flan! Chona, help!

Each blogger came away from the event fully worked out, fed with healthy vegetarian food, armed with a bag of items from sponsors like Coke, RFM, Nestle and VYC. And also special thanks to a yogini mate, Lomen, for the iced tea donations (yes, we chilled them and drank them during dinner!!!).

NEXT: THE CONTEST!

Blog and Soul has also announced a contest where bloggers who did yoga could compose a blog, photo gallery, vlog or any other form of post about the event. Prizes up for grabs consist of a 1 liter aluminum bottle from Swiss company, SIGG. In addition, there are 3 yoga outfits (jacket and pants) for girls from Aura Athletica Rockwell. Judging will be done by Blog and Soul together with VYC and the winners will be announced soon. For mechanics of the contest, go to Blog and Soul’s website.

POST-YOGA BLOGGER THOUGHTS

I did a random, ambush interview of some bloggers (including Francis who did a fantastic spiel on yoga for men — yey!).

And as I find blog entries on the event, I will post these below.

1. Juned: Yoga-Blog&Soul (photos)

2. Chona: Bloggers @VYC: An Evening of Fitness, Food and Fun!

3. Janine: 10 Things I Know About Yoga

4. Poyt: Yoga at VYC (photos)

5. Melanie: Yoga for Bloggers at Vinyasa Yoga Center

6: Dine: Yoga for Fitness, Good Health and Relaxation

7. Arpee: Yoga goes the foodie

8. Cookie: Bloggers + Yoga = Blogginis?

9. Chats: My First Yoga Class

10. Poyt: Going Back to Yoga

11. Fritz: The Vinyasa Yoga Center Experience

June 18, 2008
by Yogajane
9 Comments

Yoga for Bloggers Event (June 28, 2008)

I had long been wanting to organize a yoga blogger event. Maybe it began with my love for yoga followed by a desire to get more people interested in their own healthy lifestyle. The idea had been brewing for over a year now but I did not even know where to begin.

Enter The Blog and Soul Movement with Jayvee and Juned, two buddy bloggers I first met at iblog summit two years ago. When I spoke with Juned about it recently, he immediately offered Blog and Soul as a venue for gathering the bloggers. This was followed by a lunch meeting with both Jayvee and Juned to seal the deal. We were off to organizing the first ever Fat Blog series of Blog and Soul (the first of several planned series to get bloggers who often lead sedentary lives off their butts and into a healthier lifestyle). And of course, my yogini mate-cum-blogger herself, Chona, is helping out with the logistics.

I am lucky to have my very own yoga teacher, Pio Baquiran, from Vinyasa Yoga Center (VYC) doing the FREE yoga class.

This is to be followed by a short Q&A on health and yoga and capped by a vegetarian dinner.

We also have some sponsors so as is usual in a blogger event, there will be items to give away.

Some details are as follows:

Date: June 28, 2008

Time: 5pm onwards

Place: Vinyasa Yoga Center, 17/F Strata 100 Bldg., Emerald Ave., Ortigas Complex, Pasig City

Space is limited at the shala so Blog and Soul is only taking in ten (10) bloggers. Several things though to keep in mind. One, you MUST BE A BLOGGER. Two, this is for non-VYC students as this is an event to make more people aware of yoga.

Head on over now to Blog and Soul. Those who make the cut-off will get confirmation emails from Blog and Soul. More details will be provided later. Visit this blog regularly for updates.

June 8, 2008
by Yogajane
7 Comments

Tesa Celdran of Pulse Yoga

(I think my first encounter with Tesa was when she left a comment after I posted about Pulse Yoga on this blog. Eventually, I discovered she was a blogger as well and I would regularly visit to see what was up with her over at her blog (and of course, admire her yoga pictures).

Our first meet-up happened at the Rockwell Weekend of Fitness and everything snowballed from there. A group of us took privates with her and I covered Pulse Yoga’s official opening a few weeks after. She is a wonderful person to get to know and I am indeed privileged that she agreed to be interviewed for my blog. Her husband Carlos is no other than THE Carlos Celdran who takes us on these breathtaking and exciting personal tours of historic Manila.

Come learn more about Tesa — an amazing yoga teacher; an even more beautiful person inside and out. This is her story, in her very own words!)

How did you get into yoga?

My journey began about 6 years ago when I took my first class with Hoze Arando. I was going to have a breakfast meeting with a client (was working part-time as a Public Relations consultant) and she suggested we attend her yoga class before then. I knew Hoze as a friend of my husband, and also knew his wife, then, Sandy Carmona. They ran a shala in Pasay but I never took a class.

In my first class, I thoroughly enjoyed the breathing and could follow the asanas, not too well, but comfortably with the breath. I liked the way I felt after. After class, Hoze came and talked to me and said that I must continue to practice as he said, “You have a natural capacity for yoga, it is something you should pursue.”

I took a few classes with Sandy and Hoze now and then but was never really serious. I’d yoga “binge” then not practice for weeks. Until I put on weight. Wanting to shed the pounds and more importantly, to get healthy, I began to practice again but this time I was also going to the gym, and running. Yoga was just a physical fitness regimen.

Until I injured my ankle. Medical advice was to stop all high impact activity (by this time I was running 6 miles in the morning and taking a yoga class in the afternoon). I was devastated because running was top of mind. I loved it and the yoga was just to stretch out the muscles.

Feeling humbled, I took to yoga, as it was low impact exercise. And slowly, my practice began to grow under Sandy Carmona. I learned an Ashtanga inspired practice mixed in with Hatha. But after a while, I was searching for more. I wanted to practice more.

Until I met a friend who practiced Ashtanga. We would practice together and she would teach me the poses. She brought me to Bela Lipat, from whom I learned the Ashtanga system and fell in love with it. I had found the practice I knew I wanted to grow into for the rest of my life.

Simultaneously, I took Ashtanga workshops with teachers Yoga Manila would invite, practiced with Sandy and started my personal practice. Until one day, Sandy mentioned she was leaving town and asked me to sub for her classes.

I was terrified, but as it is said in yoga, when students come, one must teach. This is how my teaching path began. Until I underwent teacher training with Alex Medin and work with Pulse today.

What was your life like prior to yoga?

Well, if we’re speaking professionally, I’ve been a teacher all my life. Yes, I even have the Professional License to prove it (yes, took the exam with all the teachers of the Philippines, it was a whole day thing, went to Cuneta Astrodome to get sworn in and all that).

Started teaching at De La Salle University (where I finished my graduate and undergraduate degrees) with both the History and Literature Department. Also taught High School at St. Scholastica’s College, part time, also my Alma Mater.

Then I was recruited to work at AIM to help improve their case writing. Then I met Carlos and decided to stop working full time for a while. Here is where I did odd jobs of article writing, modeling, public relations, marketing, even advertising, would you believe?

After we were married in 2000, I guess I realized that I really was/am a teacher at the end of the day, I decided to try teaching again but this time, tried for international schools. It was Brent International, all the way in Mamplasan, Laguna, that liked my work. I taught Special Needs middle schoolers there for 5 years, until May 2007.

Shortly after Carlos and I were married was when my yoga journey began, but my teaching path was, officially certified, only in the last year.

Who would you consider your yoga mentors and what kind of classes/training have you undergone?

Sandy Carmona and Hoze Arando were my first mentors. My friend who I practiced with is also one of my teachers, Bela Lipat.

Workshops I took were with Clayton Horton, Paul Dallaghan, Sarem Atef, Ryan Redman, and Richard Freeman in the Ashtanga system.

My teacher training was under Alex Medin, I am certified to teach the basics of Ashtanga.

Just recently, I also joined Cle Souren’s Iyengar workshop.

Do you prefer a particular style of yoga?

Absolutely! My personal practice is the traditional yoga system of Ashtanga. Why? I fell in love with it the moment it was taught to me. I like this style of yoga because it focuses on viṅyāsa. It links movement to the breath, or rather, it is the breath that moves the body therefore it is never static. Also, I am able to track my journey as the system is a fixed series of poses that begins with the Primary, Intermediate, and then the Advanced series.

Another reason is that it is a VERY physically demanding practice that mirrors the demands I also make on myself. We yogistas always say that who we are off the mat mirrors who we are on the mat no?

I won’t go into the whole Ashtanga bit as there are websites for that.

But that’s my personal practice. Teaching wise, I teach Power Yoga (Ashtanga based), Hatha Yoga (Sivananda based), and Hot Flow (Vinyasa Flow in a hot room) for Pulse, as well as LED Ashtanga and Mysore practices.

How did you get into Pulse Yoga? What classes do you teach at Pulse?

I met Joelle (who owns Pulse) at a book launch of Sandy Carmona. We hit it off completely and talked yoga all afternoon. I guess then, early last year, 2007, she was planning to put up a teacher training in Manila. She pitched the idea to me (by this time I was already leaving Brent, serendipitous) and without batting an eyelash, I told her I would be enrollee #1.

Sure enough, it pushed through. Joelle’s teacher, Alex Medin flew in and I was certified under him in September 2007. By October Joelle was planning Pulse, we were discussing the idea. By November we were constructing, and by January 2, 2008 we opened. Voila! I didn’t even have time to breathe.

Things started slow, we are still building a yoga community. BUT, we are the ONLY Yoga Alliance certified studio in the country so that’s our edge. We are non-denominational, meaning if there is a kind of yoga out there that you want or need, we will try our best to offer it. Aside from the classes I teach (Power Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Hot Flow, LED Ashtanga, Mysore), we also offer Pilates, Nia, and even have workshops now and then on kinds of yoga we don’t have (as our opening weekend). We’re a very nurturing environment and are very open to beginners.

What can you give as advice to people wondering whether yoga is for them?

I’ve made it my role to bust the myth of yoga being only for fit and flexible people. That’s so NOT TRUE. Yoga is a journey and all one has to do is take the first step by taking a class. I tell you now, it will be the worst class so better to do it and get it over with. You will feel out of shape and disoriented as everybody else in class seems to know what to do and they WILL do it better than you.

BUT, believe me, no one is judging you but yourself. This is where the journey begins. Everybody in that 1st class has also taken their 1st class and probably felt like you do, inflexible, stiff, fat, stupid, etc. What one should think about is the next class, as it only gets better from there. That’s why it is called a practice, it is never perfect. Just when you think you’ve got something right, then it is time to take it further. It never ends, it will always be a journey and how wonderful the things you discover about yourself along the way.