Namaste!
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I now have a new passion — yoga!
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It was really by chance that I got into yoga. Benjie, my brother, had long been egging me to get into it when the kids were a lot smaller. Back then, I used to tutor them and often found myself climbing walls.
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Last March 2006, the boys’ school opened up their HUGE sports center and offered various fitness programs including yoga. On a whim, I tried out the yoga class (primarily because the first class was FREE!). And I slept like a log that night! Next day, I resolved to enroll for a month, once a week!
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Soon after, when the body gets used to the muscles being worked, it craves for more. An opportune time, too, since Pio (our yogi teacher) and Minna opened up the Vinyasa Yoga Center at the Ortigas Center, not far from home. The once a week sked soon turned into twice a week and after bonding with a great set of yoga mates who turned out to be YOGA ADDICTS like me, we found ourselves getting into a 3rd class on many occasions.
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It feels great! And the bonus is all the new girl friends I have made. We are a support group unto ourselves. We text each other when we go to class, exchange books and websites on yoga, share our difficulties with some poses (asanas), celebrate improvements, encourage each other to press on, and on the less serious side, we are just a funny bunch of girls who enjoy each other’s company….
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We have earned the monicker “ADDICT CLASS” — a name given us by Atom who runs the Center together with Pio in the absence of his sister Minna (who has gone on extended vacation in Europe while searching out yoga retreats there).
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Yoga is not only slowly shaping our bodies. It is slowly shaping our lifestyles as well. I am more conscious of what I put into my mouth (as in….less meat, more fruits & veggies!!! To the delight of my Mom!). I sleep without pillows now and my normal breathing is mostly the yogic way. But I am still a L-O-N-G way from being truly fit. Years of taking in toxic food and generally unhealthy living has taken its toll. While the effects are reversible, they will take time to undo.
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But Pio teaches patience and acceptance of self — and we are eager to learn. My yoga mates are true treasures as we journey together to test our bodily and mental limits. But more than that is the real appreciation of the body given by the Lord which we need to take care of as we are going to be held accountable to Him for it.
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Namaste! (I bow to the Light of God in you)
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About Me
Yoga Girl from www.yogalifestyle.com
Namaste!
I’m Jane, a Filipina from Manila, Philippines. I practise hatha vinyasa yoga and continue to reap so many health and spiritual benefits from it.
Through this blog I hope to:
* chronicle my journey as a yogini-come-lately *
* include the different styles of yoga available in the Philippines
* provide the location of yoga studios *
* write about the local instructors *
* point you to yoga accessories and books locally available *
* talk with you about anything on yoga *
I will always be a work in progress but I hope that you will journey with me and share your own yoga experiences.
You can reach me at <yogajane@ymail.com>
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Asana of the Week
Krounchasana (Heron Pose)
Benefits:
* Stretches the hamstrings * Stimulates the abdominal organs and heart *
Caution:
Avoid if you have menstruation.
If you have any serious knee or ankle problems, avoid the bent leg position in this pose unless you have the assistance of an experienced instructor. Instead sit with the bent leg like the one in this picture:
(courtesy of Yoga Journal)-
Yo-Gab
Lisa on What Makes a Good Yoga Te… anna on Bela Lipat: A Yogini with a… Pearl on Yoga Bloggers Imee on Studios Armi on Studios Patricia on Yoga Bloggers healthandfitnessgeek… on The Right (and the Wrong) Yoga… Imee C. Endelman on Studios Imee C. Endelman on Studios hayim philippart on Sanskrit’s Link to … -
Hi, Jane!
I’m glad I came across your blog in google when I was searching under “yoga” and “recommended diet”. Your blog has now become my guidebook of sorts in entering the wonderful world of yoga.
Im Filipino and based in Singapore. I just started doing yoga last week, and I must say Im getting hooked on it. I read somewhere that it’s best to start off the routine by doing it everyday to make the body really understand how to properly do the postures. The extraordinary demands of work this week, however, has made the daily trip to the yoga studio an unrealistic target. And, as you said, “the spirit is strong, but the flesh is weak.”
Anyway, I just want to ask about something which you raised in your first blog entry – that yoga slowly changes one’s body shape. I’ve noticed that those who are doing quite frequent yoga sessions develop toned/defined, lithe bodies with a streamlined appearance. If one does yoga at least 5 times a week, eat sensibly (less meat, more fruits and veggies), how long would it take to achieve that yoga body?
Thanks and great work on your blog. I look forward to your next entry!
Jane: Cha, kamusta over there in Singapore! How nice to hear from a Pinay yogini-in-the-making!
Yoga body??? Uhhhmmmm. Is there one?
Seriously, I would not dare to give you a timetable as to when you will achieve what you call “toned/defined, lithe bodies”. I guess each body is different and responds differently. What is important now is getting to know your own body and accept its present limitations. The only thing I can assure you is that — IT GETS BETTER FROM HERE.
You may want to try benchmarking yourself now. What you can do, what you can’t. And just be patient during class. As my teacher says, do not compare yourself with others. Just focus on your own body. And you will be surprised that in the next few months, you will find yourself able to push your current bodily limits BEYOND what you thought was the boundary. Read forward to some of my more current blog posts and you will see my struggles, sweet victories, backsliding, and progress.
The ideal is indeed a daily practice but just to assure you — I am not even there yet. Work does get in the way of this desire. But for as long as you keep that determination to go back even if you have been absent for a LONG time, yoga will always bring its wonderful benefits to you. Keep it up, stay in touch, and do share with us your journey.
Namaste!
Hi, Jane! Many thanks for your reply and words of encouragement. Deeply appreciated.
Naks ha – IT GETS BETTER FROM HERE. You can’t get any better line than that! You got me all excited so instead of joining my friends for our usual Friday night out, I went home after work and read all your blog entries. I’m taking to heart what you said about pushing oneself only to the point of positive discomfort and not pain. In one of the seated asanas – janu sirsasana – I’ve been feeling some burning sensation at the back of my knees ( I hope I’m not pinching some nerve!). I usually adjust my position and just push myself, not minding the discomfort/pain. But now I’ll be more mindful about my body’s limits.
So again, thanks for inspiring me. Now I’m mentally prepared and have a deeper sense of purpose to motivate me in doing my yoga routine. Of course, it also helps that I just bought these really nice new yoga apparel. Haha.
Have a great weekend, Jane!
Namaste.
Jane:
Cha, yes the yoga apparel helps, hahaha. As I sometimes say to myself, I may not be doing the asana the way I would want to…but at least the yoga wear makes me feel good.
It warms me a lot when I find out that my blog posts bring people to do yoga. I feel even more inspired by your kind words to continue blogging about my own journey. People are sure to relate more to my struggles rather than to the successes.
Janu sirsasana is not an easy pose. When I first tried this pose, I could reach my toes..barely…and forget the forehead-to-knee!
When I eventually got that forehead to the knee I was delighted! Only to find out my teacher asked us to deepen the pose further by going beyond the knee and touch forehead to the calves so that your entire torso is FLAT against your thigh. That was several weeks in progress. Then, when I finally did, he again challenged us: this time to reach one hand beyond the sole and grasp it by the wrist with the other hand. I bet you if I did that deeper pose regularly, he will find some deeper pose again to challenge us. This progression has taught me that in life, we have mental boundaries and think we can only operate within those boundaries…..that is, until someone else comes along and makes us challenge those boundaries and we discover that we can go beyond them and continue doing so as we conquer one boundary after another.
It could take months and months and loads of patience but take it from me, Cha, it is possible. For now, take it easy on yourself. If you have to, use a strap to wrap around the sole. Grasp the strap with both hands and use it to ease yourself forward as far as is comfortable.
Keep in touch! You definitely have the mental attitude and fortitude for yoga. Feel and experience its benefits…..Namaste!
Salamba Sarvangasana (Supported Shoulderstand)
its not good for females. hi. m from india and have been doin yoga since long and this is wha my instuctor has told me. she has been practising yoga since 20 yrs.
Jane: Hi. I am no expert but I have not come across any article on the internet or heard from my teacher or other instructors that Supported Shoulderstand is not good for females. Females just have to avoid doing this during menstruation. If you have any readings that specifically say so, I would appreciate your giving me the URL. Thank you.