Certified Hit

The Ortigas CBD is a bustling yoga zone. It is home to at least two major yoga shalas including Yoga Manila Ortigas located on the 5th floor of the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel. There are also authentic Indian restaurants and other establishments that serve vegetarian cuisine in the vicinity. And on the 3rd level of the Shangri-La Mall is Certified Calm, perhaps only the second boutique in the city that caters to the yoga community and is more spacious and carries a more diverse product line than the shop in Rockwell. According to "D", manager of Upward Ideas Apparel Corporation, whom I met and spoke to about the store’s merchandise, the concept behind Certified Calm is “to bring good, alternative brands that are not in the market now; to bring in products that will enhance one's practice. It also aims to be responsible with the environment; hence, it incorporates eco-friendly products.”
Manduka yoga mats

Get Om with Life: You have a product mix that defines you from competitors, what was behind the brand selection?

“Compared to a yoga studio, we're definitely more frivolous. First, we look into the styles and varied products which have to all pass our standards. Next we take into consideration the mantra and background of the companies we partner with. If they all jive with what we believe in, then it's meant to be!”

Get OM with Life: Describe your customer profile?

“Our target market is any health practitioner who is in search of beautiful, high quality products which are reasonably priced. The yogis understand us most though.”

Get OM with Life: Share some of your experiences as a practitioner that inspired you to establish Certified Calm?

“I've always loved yoga. I've been introduced to it informally since 2001 or 2002. The sessions were always good. The feeling after is pretty amazing. You're always languid and calmer afterwards. I've never been flexible but I definitely see the benefits. I used to injure easily. Yoga has lessened that. Even my chiropractor said I'm more properly aligned.

Loving the practice drove me to another level. I became quite addicted with getting all the proper gear. With the proper gear, personally, they enhance my practice. I'm even more motivated, plus, you refuse to downgrade anymore, ha ha!

I've always had a crazy sense of humor. When I feel inferior to fabulous practitioners around me, I simply console myself that "Never mind, my gear is so nice anyhow! When I fall down, oops, what a beautiful mat!" Ha ha! *wink* Yoga apparel from Prana, Green Vogue (Easyoga), be present, Zobha and Shakti

Get OM with Life: Elaborate on the importance and value of investing in high-quality yoga apparel/products?

“These apparel/products are fashionable, and yet they're not supposed to be trendy nor fashion per se. They're supposed to last you for some years which are why you pay that kind of money. Their wear and tear last longer. You save up in the end. You don't mind wearing them again and again because they're supposed to be your favorite thing to wear and they're very comfortable and versatile.

Some types of fabric cannot withstand the poses that yoga demands. They will crack and tear. The seams and the types of cloths matter.

The way the clothing absorbs moisture matter a great deal too. You don't want to be weighed down when you're sweating profusely, nor do you want to smell. The right type of fabric prevents that.

Yogitoes and Easyoga mat towels

The correct type of mats matter also. The way they just stay put, the thickness...they all matter. Certified Calm understands all these and more, and we're trying hard to address all these."


Get OM with Life: What are your thoughts on the commercialization of yoga?

"If everybody can get into it and channel their energies in that positive way, I believe with all my heart that the world will be more beautiful and peaceful. What a wonderful world then! Namaste."

Shitali Pranayama

This video was posted by Berta Feliciano on the Yoga Manila Facebook site. If you want to hear what a roomful of Ashtangis practising sounds like, watch this clip from Greenpeace titled "Breathe in, breathe out". It can also be very useful to remember the images and soundtrack during practice.

I've been practising quite regularly already and have been attending Mysore classes thrice a week. As a result, I've finally memorized the primary series (hooray!). One side effect though is that I've developed a man-size appetite, especially after yoga.

One of my yoga teachers suggests doing Shitali Pranayama to curb my appetite. Shitali means cooling. It is a pranayama which cools the whole body so it is best done in hot weather or at the end of a vigorous yoga session.

1. Sit in a comfortable cross-legged position in a well ventilated room free from any distractions. Keep the waist, back, neck and spine straight.

2. Take two or three deep inhales and exhales through the nose to prepare.

3. Open your mouth slightly, in such a way that the tip of your tongue should be closer to both lines of the teeth. Now roll the tongue, curling the sides in towards the center to form a tube. Stick the end of the tongue out between your pursed lips. If you can't roll your tongue, just purse the lips making a small `o` shape with the mouth.

4. Inhale through the tube of the tongue.

5. Exhale through the nose.

6. Repeat 5-10 times as you feel the cooling effect.

Benefits of Shitali Pranayama

1. It has great energizing, soothing, relaxing and cooling effects on all the nerve channels and on the whole body.

2. It has a pacifying and relieving effect for various troubles such as headache and fever.

3. The Pranayama purifies the blood expelling the toxins.

4. Shitali pranayama is also highly recommended as an immediate remedy for nervousness.

5. Diseases like tumor, jaundice, skin diseases, fever are cured and it also corrects indigestion and constipation.

6. It quenches the thirst. Hence if one feels thirsty and hungry at a place where water and food are not available, this pranayama could be tried.

7. It activates the liver and improves digestion.

Caution

This Pranayam should not be practiced in case of heavy cough or cold, asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis and low blood pressure.

Will explore this pranayama technique more and see how effective it is. Big thanks to Maritoni Tordesillas for sharing this tip and giving new insights into Janu A, B and C.