Variations on Backbends and Headstands

This montage takes me back to the time when I was much, much, much younger (and much limber, much lighter) and when I was a "cheer leader" in school. Back then, cheering competitions were not really that competitive or as acrobatic as they are today. But our routines then did involve plenty of backbends, handstands, headstands, splits, cartwheels and other gymnastic movements. I guess that's what attracted me to yoga: the routine looked familiar and do-able but the discipline is certainly more demanding. Yoga requires mental strength to achieve physical dexterity. I'm not as flexible anymore but I'm working towards using my mind to be more agile in asanas like the backbend.

I miss my childhood when life was uncomplicated and my actions were spontaneous and not calculated. That's why one of my favourite poses now--and apparently as a kid was--is Chakrasana--I try not to worry too much about what could possibly happen and just roll over with abandon. No neck injuries so far, I can attest to that.

Did a Led Ashtanga class in UP Psych last Monday with Joji. It was nicely paced and it helped that she always devotes a few minutes at the start of the class to calming the mind and regulating the breath--even if it meant doing a shortened series. But that's ok. UP was the place where it all started for me and where I committed myself to yoga for life. Thanks Joji, will see you Elsa and Marichu Lambino again soon!

Is the song by Cat Stevens? I'm not sure...

JON CAGAS: On a mission to Mysore

En route to India, Jon Cagas is in town for a stopover. We yogins over at UP have been very fortunate and privileged to have him back even just briefly. For those who don’t know him yet, Jonathan Cagas implemented and taught the yoga program at the UP College of Human Kinetics some years ago which he relinquished in 2006 to teach at a private university in the Emirates. Last year, Jon enriched his training with a 200-hour intensive in the Centered Yoga Institute in Thailand under Paul Dallaghan and Neil Barker plus a 100-hour advanced course on hatha yoga and pranayama with Sri O.P. Tiwari. In August, he will begin practice at the pre-eminent Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) which was established by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois who has put Mysore on the world map. Tim Miller, David Swenson and John Scott are some of the high-profile products of AYRI. Before the end of the year Jon, along with Tesa Celdran of Pulse Yoga, will join the ranks of Bela Lipat who have trained directly under Pattabhi and will now most likely also learn from Sharath, grandson of Guruji and heir apparent.

While here, Jon has been refining and polishing our practice. In the Mysore tradition he began Day 2 (first day was Saturday, June 28th) with a chant then started counting and calling out the poses in Sanskrit. He emphasized the relevance and relation of proper breathing, root locks and gaze to executing the asanas. We must experience tristana, he says, or the union of ujayi, the bandhas and dristi. He also scrutinized for us Suryas A and B making adjustments in the way we performed every single vinyasa in both Sun Salutations. In the past two days under his guidance, I have already deepened my practice beyond what I thought I could achieve.

I fell in love with Ashtanga Yoga when I first tried it during the Summer. The nature of my job makes self-practice almost impossible. So I have been feeding my interest in Ashtanga with research. I may be familiar with the techniques in theory but in practice, I had been clueless about, for example, how to negotiate my arms past my back or knees to bind and maintain the twist for Maricyasana. Not anymore.

We all received individualised instruction from Jon who honed our skills and gently coaxed us, boosted our confidence and with smooth, swift adjustments eased us into the poses. This naturally extended our class past the requisite 90 minutes, much to our luck. What seemed daunting before now made perfect sense as he revealed the steps to get there. That, for me, separates a great teacher from a good one.

Jon also has much more to impart than many other instructors. Having obtained a Masters degree in sports education from UP, he is well-versed on human anatomy and the key muscles of yoga. He is also a professional trainer certified by the American Council of Exercise (ACE). In short, Jon brings to the table a combination of Eastern philosophies and Western science which basically makes him well-equipped for Mysore.

Back to class at UP. Jon helped one of the senior Psych professors execute Maricyasana B, and as for me, he got me past that all through Maricyasana D. Whew! For a newbie, that should qualify as a major milestone (right?). Not even an Indian yogi at a popular shala could assist me with that set of asanas. Maybe next time we don’t have to skip Bhujapidasana all the way to Supta Konasana hmmm?

Before I get ahead of myself...watching Jon Cagas demonstrate the full primary series including Pashasana, Eka Pada Sirsasana and other poses from the intermediate series truly inspires awe and respect. Looking back at the journey of this 31-year old Ashtangi, he has also made his mark as a member of the flagship Team Yoga Philippines which sought to bring the yoga boom beyond exclusive Makati to places like the UP gym. With its pared-down, no frills quality UP has attracted university professors, mountain climbers, former ballerinas and Elsa, my classmate, who is a monk. Should he come back to the country and to UP after AYRI, then hopefully we will see more aptly-trained Ashtangins north of the capital.

Jon ended our session with a chant which was offered in gratitude to both teacher and students to celebrate mutual learning. I went home with a sense of tranquility, suspending all apprehensions that tomorrow I would have achey, “Mysore” muscles.

Jon with his students in U.P. and current teacher Joji Balcita whom he trained.