The Yogini from Manila

November 15, 2007
by Yogajane
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Theory: Can shorter hair help you gain weight?

My Mom used to tell me that the longer hair was, the more it took out of the food I ate. Myth or fact? I do not know.

For months now, I have been trying to gain weight but continue to fail miserably. A few days ago, I decided to put Mom’s theory to the test.

This is what I look like now after a trip to the salon.

 

Now my only problem is how to hold my hair in place during yoga classes as it used to be easy to put it up in a ponytail before. Let’s see if this drastic move gains me a few pounds down the road…..and proves a childhood theory. 🙂

November 9, 2007
by Yogajane
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“Absence Makes the H… G… F…”

“Absence makes the heart grow fonder”.

You’re thinking this, right?

Wrong!

It stands for “Absence makes the HIPS GO FREEZIN’!”

And that is exactly what happened with me. Two weeks, give or take a couple of days more, of absolutely zero yoga. Then, last Monday, I joined Chona in what we thought was still a basic 6PM class. I knew I could not go directly to the Tuesday-Thursday intermediate classes we used to do, coming from such a long absence. So we were setting outselves up for a less rigorous class that night.

Apparently, I have been out for a while because what was supposed to be a basic class turned out to be a semi-intermediate one. Pio made us do the pigeon pose, spinal twist variations with one leg in half lotus and with the other arm holding the toe from behind, forward bends with variations, etc.

Nope…we were given quite a workout for a basic class.

The good news was, I slept so well that night. The bad news, my muscles (used to the 3-times-a-week formal classes with self yoga in between) became used to NOT being used that they froze up. And that Monday class woke up all these muscles from their stupor and I ached like anything all over for the past 2 days.

Anticipating the week ahead with late evenings dedicated to training at the office, I struggled this morning to get out of bed to do a morning yoga class at the gym with Pio. I must have spent several minutes in that “Do I get up? Or roll back to sleep?” mode. Thankfully, I decided to get up and go. And thank goodness it was a much gentler class this time. My muscles still ached but I got to exercise them again. And while I still have some aches now in certain tight places, most of the parts that hurt after Monday do not bother me anymore.

It is a constant adjustment of schedules now but hopefully I can squeeze in more regular yoga hours, whether they be in the evenings (my preferred time) or early in the morning before going off to work. I can see now that completely stopping for several weeks can be a real setback for the muscles and getting them up and running in as good a condition as before will once again call on a lot of patience, perseverance and effort.

November 7, 2007
by Yogajane
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Flowyoga Retreat (Dec. 15-16, 2007)

In one of my blog hopping activities, I came across the blog of Jon Cagas. It was only in comments back and forth in our blogs and that of Chona’s that we realized just how small the world is.

* Jon was one of those who assisted during the partner yoga workshop of the 1st Mind-Body Conference which I had the chance of covering as a yoga blogger. I had taken videos of him during the workshop without knowing who he was then….

 

* He comes from Davao — a place that truly warms my heart as this is where I spent most of my childhood

* And of course, he teaches yoga (and was the one who began Flowyoga in Quezon City).

Well, Jon is coming back from Saudi Arabia in December and will be one of the yoga instructors at an upcoming December retreat in Tanay, Rizal. If you want to take time away from the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping and preparations, consider going to this retreat.

 

 

 

 

Here is the program of activities from the website of Flowyoga:

Namaste everyone!

Flowyogaqc is excited to announce its first yoga retreat.

When: Dec 15 – 16, 2007
Where: Tanay Private Sanctuary
Who: YOU ARE INVITED
Workshop fee: P2000.
Fee covers 3 yoga classes, 3 breathwork classes
Vegetarian meals
Overnight stay

Recreation (swimming pool, boating,mini-zoo)

Teachers/facilitators: Joji Balcita and Jon Cagas

Registration: Anytime now until Nov. 30

Please ask Joji for more details before or during our regular yoga classes. Or text her at 09108934240

Take this time to develop and deepen your practice and understanding of yoga.

Schedule of Activities:
Day 1
7am Leaving QC
9am Meditation and Intro to Breathwork
10am Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga
12:30 Lunch
1:30-4:30 Free time
4:30pm Asana Study
5:30pm Breathwork and Restorative Yoga
6:30pm Dinner
8:30pm Group Meditation
9:00pm Quiet time/Lights Off

Day 2
8:00am Meditation and Breathwork
9:00am Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga
10:30am Breakfast and Bye

See you there.

November 1, 2007
by Yogajane
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Top 10 Reasons to Try Yoga

Friends and officemates I talk to are often wary of yoga. They are not flexible, they are too lazy, they would rather indulge in contact sports, and so on.

Those of us who take yoga already need not be convinced about its benefits. We experience the benefits, we are aware of that heightened connection between our minds and our bodies, we feel so much better, we are more focused on the present.

But….the hardest thing is to bring people to even try yoga. They have a long list of excuses why they should not. Well, I came across this site that lists 10 reasons why people should at least give yoga a try. See if you can use one or a combination of these to bring some of your family and friends to try. I will definitely try these myself.

1. YOGA FOR … STRESS RELIEF: Yoga reduces the physical effects of stress on the body. By encouraging relaxation, yoga helps to lower the levels of the stress hormone cortisol. Related benefits include lowering blood pressure and heart rate, improving digestion and boosting the immune system as well as easing symptoms of conditions such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, asthma and insomnia.

2. YOGA FOR … PAIN RELIEF: Yoga can ease pain. Studies have demonstrated that practicing yoga asanas (postures), meditation or a combination of the two, reduced pain for people with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, auto-immune diseases and hypertension as well as arthritis, back and neck pain and other chronic conditions. Some practitioners report that even emotional pain can be eased through the practice of yoga.

3. YOGA FOR … BETTER BREATHING: Yoga teaches people to take slower, deeper breaths. This helps to improve lung function, trigger the body’s relaxation response and increase the amount of oxygen available to the body.

4. YOGA FOR … FLEXIBILITY: Yoga helps to improve flexibility and mobility, increasing range of movement and reducing aches and pains. Many people can’t touch their toes during their first yoga class. Gradually they begin to use the correct muscles. Over time, the ligaments, tendons and muscles lengthen, increasing elasticity, making more poses possible. Yoga also helps to improve body alignment resulting in better posture and helping to relieve back, neck, joint and muscle problems.

Continue Reading →

November 1, 2007
by Yogajane
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Dizzy Spells Postpone Yoga

I have always been slightly anemic. It is nothing new. At every blood test I undergo, results always show me just below the normal range.

The past couple of weeks, I have been experiencing dizzy spells. I suddenly feel the room spinning. I feel like I am about to fall and have to steady myself on a desk while bending down till the dizziness blows over. It’s very discomforting, to say the least, and it has made me opt not to do yoga in a class. Instead, I find time to hie over to the gym to do slow yoga whenever I am not dizzy.

It is better these days. Not too frequent, not too intense. But I have taken some steps to address it. First, more sleep (when I resumed working, my sleeping hours were shortened even more). Next, Iberet 500. Yes, this is the savior of anemic people like me. Am also planning another comprehensive blood test to see if there are any findings there I need to address.

Yoga is good for those with high blood pressure. Now I need to find out which poses are good for low blood pressure. Any suggestions out there?

October 31, 2007
by Yogajane
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Bela Lipat: A Yogini with a Purpose

The name Bela Lipat is well known in the yoga community. I wanted to meet her at the last Mind-Body Conference at Richmonde Hotel but I was then preoccupied with setting up a table to display yoga accessories, I failed to cover Bela’s session which was one of the first that morning.

Just tonight, I saw this link in Jon Cagas’ blog to Bela Lipat’s. It is interesting that her focus now is on putting up her nature sanctuary in Calicoan, Samar where yoga practitioners can go for yoga retreats.

For those who wish to take private classes under Bela, you may contact her through her site.

October 17, 2007
by Yogajane
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More on “Awakenings” at Bora (Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2007)

If you had been following my posts on “Awakenings” at the 1st Philippine Mind-Body Camp happening at Boracay Tropics Resort Hotel this coming Nov. 30-Dec. 2, 2007, here are some more information I gathered from its organizer, Nap Quesada of ProFit Consultants Inc.

1. Registration forms are available at ProFit Consultants Inc.’s website. If you need a faxed registration form or an addressed invitation, you may text them at (0922) 859-3567 or email fitwerks2003@yahoo.com with details.

2. Promo packages are available as follows (contact Nap for details):

a. Have 5 other paying registrants room-in with you and you get 50% off your registration fee (not just the camp fee but off the WHOLE THING)

b. Bring along 10 full-paying friends, family, students or clients and you get into the camp for FREE.

October 12, 2007
by Yogajane
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Meet Hillary – new yogini friend, great inspiration!

I met Hillary (Rubin) virtually through Elsie’s blog links. She and Elsie are both yoga instructors and podcasters. Elsie is based in California; Hillary is in Philadelphia. Philadelphia happens to be close to my heart as I lived there for 2 years while taking graduate studies.

Hillary, in particular, is a personal inspiration to many of us with ailments. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis a few years back. While this would have spelled the end for many people, Hillary, a former gymnast, took control of her life and decided to take up yoga. Her testimony in this video should set an example for many of us.

The many health and psychological benefits of yoga are still unfolding but for those of you who may know someone or actually be one of those searching for alternative therapy for a disease or ailment, Hillary’s testimony is one brownie point up for YOGA!

Hillary can be found at the following sites:

Hillary’s Website

Hillary’s Podcast Practice: Free Online Yoga Classes

Mudra Moments (with Elsie)

October 10, 2007
by Yogajane
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“Awakenings” At Bora — MOVED!

I blogged earlier about “Awakenings” at Boracay, the 1st Philippine Mind-Body Camp at the Boracay Tropics.

Nap Quesada, its organizer, texted me earlier that the event has been moved to coincide with the Bonifacio Day celebration on November 30-Dec. 2. This was in consideration of those visiting their loved ones on All Souls’ Day.

Deadline for registering has been moved to Friday, October 26, at 5pm.

For more details, please visit their website at ProFit Consultants Inc. or text/call Nap at +63922 859 3567.

October 6, 2007
by Yogajane
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Techno Yoga Mats – Too Much of a Good Thing?

Now don’t get excited yet! This is just a prototype and is not expected out in the commercial market any time soon.

I came across this article in the Yoga Journal and it seems to be making the rounds of yoga blogs as I have seen other bloggers with similar posts.

Let’s see what this gadget (designed by Hui-Zong Chen) with real tech candy has to offer:

* a metal tube, with stereo speakers at both ends, that can take in memory cards or play content from MP3 players (so you can listen to your favorite meditation music)

* mat made of an electronic paper screen (this allows you to play streaming video of yoga classes and “conference” with other yogi friends while doing a class with an instructor– all in virtual mode

Who knows? 2 decades from now, this may be an ordinary sight but now, in 2007, it sort of blows one’s mind that you can actually travel anywhere in the world and still stay in touch with your favorite yoga teacher and not miss any of your classes.

However, it makes me wonder where such types of technology will take the practice of yoga. The early yogis like Krisnamacharya, Pattabhi Jois and B.K.S. Iyengar lived simply and practised yoga without all sorts of fancy gadgets. At most, all they had was a simple cotton rug.

Isn’t that the primary essence of yoga? To clear one’s mind and life of clutter and live simply? So why the need for high tech gadgets? I am a techy momma and am comfortable around technology and gadgets but yoga is supposed to balance out this part of my life, not bring more technology into yoga!

Only time will tell what is to become of this prototype. Meanwhile, all I want to know is —

IS IT STICKY FOR DOWNWARD DOGS???? 🙂

What do you think?