Baby Yoga

How was it that i forgot to blog about this? Anyway, I just remembered after stumbling on this pic. Just like her mommy, my little yogini baby at only 2 months old in relaxing pose after her baby yoga practice.

Yes mommies, a baby can start at this age. Or even as early as a newborn :)

Here's what baby yoga can do for you and your baby:
• baby yoga strengthens the bond between mom and baby.
• baby yoga helps you and your baby connect with other moms and their babies.
• baby yoga helps you develop confidence in holding your baby in many ways.
• baby yoga teaches yoga poses appropriate to baby's age.
• baby yoga teaches moms how to stretch and massage baby to improve circulation.
• baby yoga helps develop baby's hand-eye coordination.

The teacher Bunny Tamesis is awesome! She was my student when she was pregnant with her 3rd child, and now she is the teacher of my child. Energies like this are meant to cross paths. :)

Baby yoga is a great way to bond and know your baby even more. I highly recommend it! If interested you may reach my baby's guru at:
+63 918 923 5507

Location:Belmont Dr,Muntinlupa City,Philippines

A Week With Kino McGregor

Looking forward to a week with her!

Why I love Prenatal Yoga

I just had a beautiful prenatal yoga practice today with my good friend, colleague and great teacher Edwina. The lovely energy was also shared with a couple of beautiful preggies as well.

Here is my take on the importance and practice of Prenatal yoga.

Prenatal yoga, a humbling and quiet practice. No matter how advanced you are in your practice, joining a prenatal yoga class never fails to humble you down. Sometimes ego gets in the way of trying so hard to perfect a series of postures you forget the whole essence of why one does yoga. Practicing prenatal yoga is the perfect reminder to that. A reconnection of the mind and body through the breath. This teaches me to surrender, listen and to make space in my practice. Surrendering into the cosmic void; this is all you can do for now. Listening; this is all your body can take for now. And making space; creating room in your practice for your baby.

With this awareness of conscious resignation, you can take this humbling experience and bring it along with you post pregnancy as a gentle keepsake. A reminder of what you need to do when you once again begin the intensity of whatever style of yoga you are practicing.

To join a prenatal class check out and "Like" our Facebook page: Prenatal and Postnatal Yoga Metro Manila for more info or email us: sivanandayogaphilippines@gmail.com or tracylocsin.que@gmail.com

Om Gum Gurubhyo Namaha! I salute the teacher within! Shanti Om!

Photo credit: Yoga for moms

The Healer Within

OM NAMAH SIVAYAH!!
The Inner Dance Yoga retreat last weekend in the beautiful island of Puerto Princessa in Palawan was my very first attempt to touch base with the healer in me. It is through my inner energy shared with the support of an experienced healer and others around, raw foods, yoga, meditation, and also through the magical vibrations and frequency of sound are what makes this all possible.

I BOW TO CHANGE. I start with myself by eating a more plant-based diet and even going more raw. Not only will it make me feel well and healthy from the inside out, but will help a great deal in preserving the environment. And by practicing a more sustainable and eco-lifestyle will just as greatly help heal mama Earth. They are in baby steps but with every effort I make, I create a rippling effect. This act that I do is energy sent out and, I believe is felt by another person somewhere I know not of, and in a place I know not where of..

The way of the healer:


Bahay Kalipay-- The simplest and most sustainable retreat house I've ever been in.


Sinag Room- My humble space of slumber and meditation.


Our Shala-- A place of learning, yoga, bonding and healing sessions.


Raw foods are live foods-- Our Breakfast..


..Lunch..


..Dinner..


..Dessert..


Yoga and Meditation with my beautiful group.


Dyotay-- Our sound healer


Pi Villaraza and Sinag his ray of light-- Our Inner Healer

Om Namah Sivayah! I Embrace Transformation.. This is not easy, and even downright scary. But maybe someday that courage will find me..

Chakra Meditation

Chakras are the 7 centers of spiritual energy sitting horizontally on the Sushumna.

As I find my own meditation and cleansing from within, I sit comfortably and breathe life anew into my chakra points. And in my mind, I give out a chant for each one of them: lam..vam..ram..yam..ham..om..

YOGInspired

I am blessed to have crossed paths with Dr. Karen Kow. My good Yogini and Psychologist friend whom I've had the pleasure to be friends with in Prenatal training. I am proud and happy to say that she is on the finishing stages of publishing her very first book!

About YOGinspired: an honest, easy to read book with amazing photos! A quote from her: "It is a book written in the gentlest of spirits to encourage all of us to be more than who we already are." or you can check out her website at: www.yoginspired.com/about-the-book/

Here is a sample piece of how it looks like. Looking forward much to the rest of it!!



Only 17 days to go for her book launch. So I send out love, light and hugs and an advanced thank you for sending me a copy of your book all the way to my home! I'll be posting it soon! More power Kar! Here is friend's awesome website: Dr. Karen Kow

Shivaaya Namah Om!

"The Roll Back" or Chakrasana

It is only this year I gained the confidence to do "drop backs" on my own in back bending with the help of one teacher-- Govinda Kai. And now, Chakrasana or "The roll back." A pose I would normally ask for help (in a Mysore class) to link me to my Chaturanga usually in the finishing sequence. I am able to do now with some degree of boldness. Thanks to the guidance of another one of my teachers named James Figueira here at the Yoga Shala in Singapore. It's still a little unpolished with the many attempts I take before finding that determination to finally flip over. I'll take this as a stepping stone for my body to remember and eventually refine.


The process taught to me is coming into Halasana pose with hands beside your ears (as if doing a backbend), with the legs and feet wide apart like Upavishta Konasana, and then bringing the chin towards the chest (whilst keeping the gaze there and not looking up) to round the back. And then it's all about finding the "momentum" to lift the hips up, pressing shoulders down and lifting the body with the arms and hands to bring the heels of the feet down all in one motion and without hesitation.

The reason for the "wide legs" school of thought is a basis on how compact your forward bend is. Unlike my body which is not exactly that "pressed together" yet, the "legs apart" theory in preparing to do the pose makes a lot of sense to me.. When the pose becomes more and more comfortable, you can start bringing the feet closer together.



I forgot to mention too that my Marichyasana A, and B are getting so much better in terms of binding. C, and D are still a bit of a challenge, but there is so much improvement now compared to before especially with the help of the only three people who are able to bind me even for just a breath. Thank you Hoze Arando, Jessica Blanchard and James Figueira. At least now I know how it feels like.


As always, I am excited about my new found discoveries and I look forward to where my next practice and next teacher will take me.. It just feels like my body is slowly unraveling on it's own.

Thank you patience.. :)

When in Singapore and you need a yoga space with knowledgeable and well trained teachers for an Ashtanga Mysore practice, visit the Yoga Shala. Located at 11 Yan Kit road (off Craig Road) or check out their website at www.theyogashala.com.sg

I highly recommend it!

A Healthy Holiday Treat

This week has not only been an advanced teacher training for me, (on a different aspect this time called prenatal yoga), this has also become a healthy retreat for both Angel and I. While here, we love the fact that we awake to the view of the beach everyday, we love that by walking it only takes 15 seconds to get to the retreat center and the beach. And best of all, we look forward to waking up to a delicious and sattvic buffet for brunch, dinner and even dessert!


Having to take this "add-on" course, just made me relive my Greenpath yoga teacher training experience all over again. With the same outline, it was so easy to get comfortable right away.


So, for a week, my day starts out at 7am everyday for meditation and pranayama. Then from 8 to 10am, a mysore class with other fellow ashtangis (who are here for other reasons), follow. Then I eat, swim in a salt water pool or the beach, and get to chill with hubby for 3 lovely hours. Then, starting from 2 until 4pm, my classmates and I start our prenatal lecture with Sonja. Then, from 4 to 6pm, our course practical. And 6pm onwards, swim, eat and chill all over again. This has been our schedule for the whole week. How good is that? :)


While my darling Angel lets me be in my quest to learn, he too has been maximizing his stay. To regenerate himself and wash away all the negative build-up, he has taken on relaxing his mind through long walks on the beach. And on his own, practices some deep breathing and meditation. Not only that, I am so proud he gave the effort to join yoga restorative classes, and even prouder for avoiding meat for the whole duration of his stay! I know that things will go back to normal once we leave this place, but at least he was able to detox in some way and breathe in new life once again before the 2nd half of his golfing season starts.
Go hubby! :)

Ahh, the bliss of it all here in Yoga Thailand. I am so grateful and thankful for this amazing opportunity. Not only do I feel blessed to be taught by Sonja Rzepski, our wonderful guru, she has also become our friend and mentor. Meeting new, and international friends is also another boon to be thankful for. And because there is only 7 of us in the class, there is much more of a personal connection involved.

How one week just flies. Our training has now come to an end. To finish with a bang, we designed our blueprint for a class, followed by a written exam (which we all aced) and a mini graduation on the beach! :)



Learning and at the same time restoring. This certainly was a holistic treat for the both of us. Healing from the inside out gave us a renewed sense of inspiration to keep on improving on our physical, emotional, and spiritual well being. This yoga retreat has somehow also restored our impaired view of many things, and has given us some sort of inner clarity with ourselves. In a way, we are reminded all over again on our journey towards self-awareness, love and acceptance. And most of all, this has recharged our batteries to take on once again the challenges of the chaotic world.

For Angel and I who have somehow turned into health conscious travelers, we will try our best to always make it a point in our lives to continue with our wellness adventure. This has taught us that it really is best to take some time out, and breathe, and make life anew.


I am grateful for all things around me and most of all I am forever thankful to my beloved husband and his eternal support of me in all the things I do. This blog is for you. I love you! Your patience and kindness never cease to overwhelm me.

My Practice In Paris

After much focus on my dearest husband's golfing week, I was able to finally find my "me" time even for just two days by getting some yoga practice done. I found two shalas which was close to our hotel. Even if it were cold inside the studio, it was still a treat to have shared energies with fellow Parisians on the mat. Ashtanga, no matter where you are, no matter how it is relayed, it is the same sequence everywhere you go.



Day 1: First shala: Samasthiti Studio. My teacher: Caroline Boulinguez.



This was a delightful practice for a led class. And for the first time I was able to touch base with the second series. It wasn't all of the asanas but instead bits and pieces of them taken out of primary and the secondary. It was just great! I loved how she put the poses together! I know that I haven't mastered the full primary yet, but for once I didn't feel stuck. I was able to venture out into some of the poses of secondary which I know I can do. It was a great practice. I felt light in spirit and inspired coming out of the class. Another great discovery that I will surely take with me home to practice in a future Mysore class, and perhaps even teach in a led class.

Thank you Caroline!




Day 2: Second shala: Ashtanga Yoga in Paris. My teacher: Linda Munro

Sadly, this just felt too rigid and serious for my taste. I felt more constricted rather than free flowing despite a Mysore class. I thought the beauty of a Mysore class was to learn more from a teacher's focus and adjustments on a student, and that you are free to ask for help getting into a pose. Apparently, I didn't feel that energy whatsoever. What I felt instead, was the teacher's fear and extreme caution. Like she was afraid of too many things for me. So instead of an invigorating practice, I honestly felt cut back and discouraged. We also sort of clashed on our theories on back bending. Thanks to her, I fell hard on my back on the drop backs.
Aside from her fearing for me, it was also judgmental of her to tell me what I can or cannot do. I was taken aback by her opinion of me. Was giving me modified options or steps on getting into a pose too much to ask? I'm sorry to say that her instincts of me as her first time student felt negative.

Nevertheless, I always try to see the good in everything else. Hence, I was still able to learn a new technique despite an unfulfilling practice on my part. Seeing that the flow of my practice was disrupted, my only consolation after much hinting with her, was that she finally was able to teach me very helpful steps on easing into kourmasana (even if she felt I wasn't ready for it). I know that every yoga advice in Ashtanga is different when you attend classes with different teachers. But my motto is, you'll never know until you've tried it, right? At least share the steps on how to get there is what I think. Anyway, all I can do then is take whatever I can that applies to me. And what she taught me, was very helpful in my practice of the tortoise pose. I thank her for that.

In conclusion, after my short practice here in Paris, new knowledge was gained. I look forward to sharing this when I head home. OM!

An Unending Journey

After having gone through a yoga teacher training last 2009 that took place in the beautiful island of Boracay, I am finally able to put my education into something that is constructive and gratifying.

I was just recently given the opportunity to join a yoga association of teachers and students who share one thing in common: their love for practice! But this time, I have been asked to become a part of their "teachers' pool" now. Don't get me wrong, I will forever be a student of yoga. I just feel honored to have been given the opportunity to help spread yoga and its awakening to those who seek to try it. And, I am only happy to travel this new path together with my fellow teachers and students.

As an apprentice for now, I started observing and assisting just last Monday. I have to say that it wasn't as easy as I thought it would be. As a student, I am being adjusted by my teacher during a mysore class and during a led class, we follow the teacher. How hard could it be, right? All I needed to do was to remember how the teachers "fixed" me in Mysore, and in a Led class, to just say what they usually say. Wrong! Even if it were just watching, it was an entirely different experience! Before, I had never really noticed much the person beside me. That's what yoga does. It helps heighten your focus and turns your senses inward. But being on the other shoe, going around and observing everyone was quite a refreshing change. I was also learning as I was watching my fellow yogis in action. It amazed me to see how unique each and every one of my classmates were on a pose and in their practice. The structure and sequence in an Ashtanga class are all the same but how it was performed by every one in the room was entirely different. In mysore, having had to adjust their different bodies and to be able to be on that same "wave length" with them at the same time was the biggest challenge of all! All I could say is, kudos to all the yoga teachers around the world! Now I know that it is not that easy to surrender to this kind of demand. Phew! This calling sure does take a lot out of you!

As a new yoga teacher, little by little I am finding myself becoming more aware now of every students body type and their needs. To meet them halfway, I guess you just have to open yourself up more to their needs and accept that you can only do so much to assist them in their journey...

As a seasoned practitioner myself, I find that another major thing considered in a teacher is gaining a students' trust. I know that this does not come easy and is developed in time. But I know that one day, with the help of my great teachers, I will overcome all these obstacles of shyness and self-consciousness (when you tentatively adjust a student in their pose) and finally have that sureness in myself. Lastly, aside from finding that confidence and intuition for each student and where they are in their practice, as a teacher, it is also my responsibility to bring in an active and positive energy into the room. And from that energy, it helps a great deal to put it out there -- an approachable vibe to the class. Not only does this make the students enthusiastic to learn, it continuously keeps them inspired and coming back for more.

I'm actually excited! I know that this will all be great! I look forward to welcoming the teaching challenges of everyday and charging it all to experience. And I know that one day I am certain that I will get the hang of it and be good at what I am most passionate about-- yoga, and being an instructor of it.

The knowledge I gained from my teacher training exposure is certainly a beautiful blessing. I lovingly thank my mentors and all my tt classmates for making this experience the start of my unending journey. As a student, I hope to never cease to learn, and as a teacher, I offer my services to those willing to learn.

OM
Gate, gate paragate, parasamgate, bodhisvaha!!