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."

Yoga cross-training

I sometimes find myself so absorbed and concentrated on my practice, so much that the exhaustion I feel after class carries over to the next day. Other factors may contribute to the heavy feeling--such as having a bad day at work or having bad luck in business--whatever the reason, the practice of Ashtanga yoga is taken very seriously and can be both physically and mentally draining.

My friend Lyn and I have this long-running discussion over how to balance our "serious" Ashtanga practice with a fun yet still physical activity. We've deliberated cross-training with squash, capoiera (?!), wall climbing, or running a marathon (which I personally feel can be hard on the joints). We're also considering doing Iyengar Yoga to help us go deeper with some of the primary series poses. And when neither of our spouses were available for Yoga Manila's Partner Yoga class last weekend, Lyn and I were tempted to do the class together since we're evenly matched in terms of body types.

Here's what happens in Partner Yoga. This is taken from one of my favourite sites, http://www.partneryogacharleston.com



Doesn't it look like great fun? And you can do this with music too! Friends who attended the Partner Yoga class have said that they enjoyed it. I hope Yoga Manila can offer this as a regular class since yogis can practise inversions such as headstands, handstands, arm balancing and many other poses found in the primary and intermediate series in a less intense context. We're still Ashtangis at heart, we just need a little variety. Right, Lyn, Avril, Redge, Allen, Idol?

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.

I HEART Yoga Manila

Just posting a link to a recent Inquirer article, "Art of breathing, way of life", which explains Ashtanga Yoga and Yoga Manila's commitment to this particular yoga form.

New shala, new teacher, new lessons learned

It was somewhat heartbreaking to be moving my practice to Yoga Manila’s newest shala at the Edsa Shangrila Hotel. I had grown attached to my teachers in Makati and the people that I practise with.

But realising that I would cut my travel time by half an hour made the decision easier. I was also eager to see the Chi Spa after having viewed some images of the international spa chain online.

First impressions? It was too luxurious. Fully-carpeted floors, a strong scent of aromatherapy and essential oils, a choice of not just one but two changing rooms, centralised air conditioning, comfy lounge chairs to sink into, spectacular view of the Ortigas CBD and the hotel pool below. The plush environment was initially distracting and seemed to negatively impact my practice.

Add to that, classes at Ortigas were mostly Mysore classes thanks to Jon Cagas who is now teaching at both Yoga Manila Ortigas and Makati. My first Mysore experience of the year was full of senior moments: memory loss, achy joints and short endurance. I became frustrated by my practice still both Allen (Enrique) and I were glad to see Jon back from India. I was also happy to have finally met Connie Ponce and my fellow yoga blogger Avril who blogs at: http://www.tryingtowake.blogspot.com/.

I have learned Ashtanga Yoga mostly through the Led classes that I had been attending on the weekends. I’ve tried going to some Mysore classes during the week but always found myself running out of steam midway after driving through an hour's traffic. So I stopped doing Mysore classes in Makati altogether.

One thing became apparent. For practitioners like me who haven’t mastered the primary series, a Led class can be a place where one can make many, many mistakes. Usually a teacher would call out the postures for the practitioners to do so there is very little time for the teacher to approach every student for adjustments during the 90-minute class.

Although Peachie Kilayco and Maritoni Tordesillas have never failed to adjust and bind me every time we reach Marichy D, Supta Kurmasana and Urdhva Dhanurasana I have discovered how horrible I was at Bhujapidasana, Gharbapindasana and many more at Jon’s Mysore class! That’s why Yoga Manila has been adamant about having only experienced Ashtangis do Led classes and encourages beginners to learn Ashtanga Yoga through Mysore classes instead. I have been stubborn before and totally get it now.

On the upside: Jon Cagas has just returned from Pranayama training in India and has practised intensively in Mysore for two months. So if you're based in the north of Manila, you can come to YM Ortigas and learn traditional Mysore-style Ashtanga Yoga from him. As a teacher he very patiently sets up the pose and adjusts and binds in coordination with the breath and painlessly. Soon, I stopped complaining about the 5-star facilities, began to appreciate the effort Yoga Manila has made to make yoga more accessible to others, and finally found myself shifting my focus to the asanas. While I wasn’t as satisfied by my practice that day, I am looking forward to improving and refining it through Mysore classes.

First yoga of the year

I was very happy to see my teacher, Peachie Kilayko, at my first Led class of the year. I had missed about 4 classes in December to attend to deadlines and a yaya who fell ill and had been hospitalized.

So I was raring to yoga more so because I knew I would see my yogini friend Lyn and other classmates again.

Peachie and I didn’t expect Hoze Arando to walk in. Today he was not teaching just practicing, said Hoze who handles the morning Mysore classes in Makati during the week.

One by one, the expats trickled in: Rica who is Japanese and a regular Yoga Manila practitioner on Saturdays; Silvina Gall from Argentina graciously hosted the YM Christmas party; Onanchi Chappett and her husband; and Bob, the newbie from Britain. With Margo Lao, Hoze, Lyn and I, there we were only nine practitioners in all. I guess I was buoyed by the company I found myself in because practice was wonderful! Hoze is a YM founder and has been "practicing yoga longer than anybody”; Margo Lao is YM’s instructor in Ortigas and who will teach at YM’s newest shala in Chi Spa located at the Shangrila Hotel by February; Rica, Silvina and Onanchi are all hardcore primary series practitioners; and Lyn and I still exchanged energies despite being at a distance from each other.

Margo Lao photo by Rheia Ramos - Yeo

I was anticipating being more sluggish than usual after having had my fill of holiday food. But I was charged right from the Suryas all through the finishing sequence. Though I admit I couldn’t roll around as smoothly after Garbha Pindasana and actually rolled back and forth about a dozen times before settling into Kukkutasana.

That morning yoga was almost like the first day I tried it. Unconsciously I must have heeded Hoze’s words when I shared with him my apprehension over being in pain the next day. He said to just let go and practice as if I was experiencing Ashtanga Yoga for the first time. And it was magic. I’m hooked more than ever. Om.

Bikram Yoga in the cold?

My sister-in-law Lya has been convincing me to try Bikram Yoga, or hot yoga. But I’ve always felt that enough heat is generated internally with Ashtanga Yoga. So doing the 26 Bikram Yoga postures out of town , minus the hot room and holding them for a full minute in the cold December weather was actually quite challenging. We were guided through the routine by no less than Bikram Choudhury himself via an audio CD which was recorded in his Hollywood studio. Bikram is known to speak in military, staccato fashion and I was glad he was not around to berate me when I couldn’t maintain Dandayamana Janushirasana or standing head to knee pose and dancer’s pose. But boy, stretching in Pada Hastasana, Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Paschimottanasana and Dandayamana Bibhaktapada Janushirasana was fantastic! Really glorious and I must say effective since it restored my flexibility almost immediately. I also enjoyed Utkatasana, Ganurasana, Tuladandasana, Supta Vajrasana and Ustrasana.

By day 3 Lya had all the females in the clan doing Bikram Yoga, including my mother-in-law aged 75, my niece Talia who is a budding ballerina and even my three-year old daughter and baby Ashtangi below in Baddha Konasana.Lya taught us like a pro, instructing us to lock our knees, keep both elbows straight and pulled back, and hips pushed forward—cornerstones of Bikram Yoga. The impromptu class ended after 90 minutes. Lya and I practiced some advanced Bikram poses which I’m already familiar with since they’re part of the primary series of Ashtanga Yoga.
Matsyasana. That's me in Shirsasana. Urdhva Mukha Pashcimottanasana Utplutih Modified Bakasana.

My attempt at Titibhasana, or the firefly. Now if only I could lift my legs higher and straighten them... My most serene Shavasana yet, thanks to this lovely view of clear skies above.
Time for some real hot yoga—out in the sun and at the beach! Lya displays excellent form in standing head to knee, dancer's pose and trikonasana.
Would I try Bikram Yoga again? Outdoors and in good company--definitely! As I watched the last sunset of the year I realized that yoga is also about flexibility of both mind and body. So here's to trying out more yoga forms in 2009. Namaste.

Yoga Sanctuary: Santiago, Ilocos Sur

Almost two months of no yoga due to the year-end work and Christmas rush have left me stressed, stiff and tight. So I’m really, really grateful to Lya, my sister-in-law, for giving me a 4-day Bikram Yoga “intensive” and a much-needed workout during the holiday spent at the family farm located in the Santiago Cove in Ilocos Sur. Here a variety of crops and fruit-bearing trees are grown and cultivated. It is also the resting place of “Lelong” who lovingly built this sanctuary for his wife, children and grandchildren in the mid '80s. Lelong and Lelang My son and the farm goats. We have cows and chickens too.
The exterior of the house. Two bululs welcome visitors.
My favorite pieces: the long dining table where many memorable Ilocano feasts have been served...
...chandelier from Artes Espanoles...
...a farmer’s plough and centrepiece...
...this bell...
...and of course the kids’ play set that keeps them happy for hours.
Driveway leading to the beachfront.
In keeping with the rustic backdrop, Lya and I used native woven mats for practice.It's 6:45 a.m., I'm all set for my Intro to Bikram Yoga!

Chic Yogi: Maritoni Rufino Tordesillas

It was a welcome respite to see this incredible photograph of one of my YM teachers, Maritoni Rufino Tordesillas in today's Inquirer. Dressed in chic and casual clothes she posed in Utthita Hasta Padangusthasana. Maritoni was also photographed in heels and a Michael Kors top doing Hanumanasana--too bad the paper's online version didn't post it. Click here to read the full article by Rina Silayan-Go.

A principal dancer for Philippine Ballet Theatre, Maritoni was hailed by critics as a “versatile, wide range actress,” having “turns securely centered,” and “one of the finest dancers this country has ever produced.” She is memorable for her roles as Cio Cio San in "Madame Butterfly", Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet", Kitri in "Don Quixote", Odette in "Swan Lake" and Giselle.

Maritoni discovered Asthanga Yoga around the same time she retired from ballet and established her Danspace school in 2000. By 2006 she graduated from the Centered Yoga Institute in Koh Samui, Thailand under Paul Dallghan and became a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) with the Yoga Alliance. A mother of two, Maritoni is also one of the founders of Yoga Manila.

Santosha

As a treat before taking off for the holiday, my teacher worked with me on my drop backs. After weeks of practicing backbends, I felt I still wasn’t prepared to be dropped back, but Peachie Kilayco (above) is the type of teacher who rewards students who are diligent and practise hard. Of all my teachers, I think she knows me and my practise best. She has spotted my enemy poses and helped me overcome them while introducing me to new and challenging postures. I also love the nuggets of information she shares while calling out the poses during our Led classes as well as the neck massages she gives during Savasana.

After Peachie lifted me up from the Wheel I was struck by a rush of elation, almost euphoria. Peachie explained that the backbend is a “happy pose” which invigorates and releases endorphins into the bloodstream and along with inversions and such postures as the shoulder stand or headstand alters the flow of blood, lymphatic drainage and cranial sacral fluid. This increases the availability of oxygen and glucose in the brain required for the production of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin collectively known as the feel-good neurotransmitters.

But I was still silly-happy days after my practise. In fact, I’ve been feeling supremely serene lately. I came to realise that I may be experiencing contentment or santosha which is cultivated by finding happiness with what you have and who you are according to the eight limbs of Patanjali. Santosha is one of five niyamas in the eightfold path of yoga. Niyama is inner discipline and responsibility. The other niyamas are austerity, purity, study of the sacred text and living with an awareness of the Divine.

It’s nice to know that yoga has positively affected my life on both a physical and emotional level.

Yogi poetry

Lyn does it during Ladies' Holidays,
Sasheen, when she's feeling under the weather.
Allen, to clear her nasal passage ways,
Methinks doing it will make my bum knee better.
Ashtanga Yoga, this is not.
But gentle yoga in a room that's hot.

Clayton Horton Mysore workshops at Yoga Manila

It was intimidating to say the least. Towering over 6 feet, Clayton Horton himself let me into the Yoga Manila Makati shala. The director of the San Francisco-based Greenpath Yoga glanced at the clock, silently chiding me for my tardiness and seemed to worry about where to put me in the crowded studio of 17 practitioners.
Maritoni Tordesillas graciously made space for me at the far end of the room. There were four other YM instructors attending Clayton’s Mysore workshop: Hoze Arando, Peachie Kilayco, Cherry Du and Kitty Arambulo. I arrived only 30 minutes late so it made me panic to see a number of people already dropping back. In my trepidation, I somehow erased the primary series from memory. I must have skipped 10 poses and stopped at Navasana. Maritoni had to remind me every so often what asana came next which made me feel like a major pain for interrupting her practise.

Upside: getting that warm, fuzzy feeling from practising beside my teachers; finding inspiration from watching them doing 2nd series poses like Dwi Pada Sirsasana and Pincha Mayurasana; seeing my friend Allen Enrique grasp her shins for 5 breaths in Urdhva Dhanurasana (woo-hoo!); and best of all--Clayton Horton’s gentle and painless adjustments especially for my enemy poses Marichyasana D and Supta Kurmasana.

Downside: workshops are usually packed and run for a limited period, so try to learn as much as you can as not everyone may get adjustments. Most importantly, DON'T BE LATE.