#Bambikitty2017: The Gift of Giving Back

Before, I used to make wishlists for my birthday and Christmas. These wishlists are  like gift registry for people to refer to in case they want to give me something, hoping I get those. Usually, my list has something super wishful (like a designer bag or something) to something simple like a prepaid reload card. One time, as I was cleaning out my stuff, I thought, do I really need any more new things on my birthday? I have all the makeup I need in the world and my closet clearly is doing some de-stashing.

Last year, I spent my birthday in silence, having greetings only to those who really knew the dates. I liked the silence. This year, it was semi-silence. Obviously, everyone in the studio knew what day it was. What I did though, was instead of asking for gifts, I gave. For those who wanted to give me gifts, I asked them to give to animals in need - either feed a stray dog or cat, adopt from an animal shelter, or donate to animal welfare groups.

The eve of my birthday fell on a Wednesday and I had a class that day. I had a simple celebration after my class with the YogaHive staff and some of my students. I taught a relaxing yin class, since I told my students I'll be nice, particularly working on the digestive system since we would be eating that day (What is a Bambikitty birthday without awesome food, right?)

In place of cake, I ordered kitty-themed leopard print cupcakes from Shake and Bake, who did my lemon birthday cupcakes a few years back. The cupcakes were white vanilla cakes with rich dark chocolate filling. The leopard-print fondant design had a mild melon flavor, which complemented everything well. 

I didn't plan on cooking though since I thought I'd be busy. However, I awoke that Wednesday early so I made my favorite go-to truffle mushroom pasta and became generous with the truffle oil and parmesan cheese. I also ordered pizza.

It's my birthday so all diets are thrown away and I served my favorite chips - Doritos Taco and Cheetos Jalapeno (whoever heard of a birthday with boiled chicken breast and sweet potato? Ew). 

The cat food is a gift for me from my regular students, Princes and Gerwin for my kitties. We did not serve cat food that day. They did bring vegan salad though for everyone to share. 

There were also Wildflour assorted pastries from my student, Tita Bebette. We all had these to share and they were all so good! 

Also, I haven't realized that it's been already 6 months that I'm officially teaching yoga in a yoga studio, with my name in class schedules. I must say time does fly fast when you're doing something you love. It's so inspiring to see my students get stronger and better with their practice no matter what age or body type they have. Whenever they tell me how much they love my classes or how torturous but awesomely good the stretch feels, I still get that kilig feels. It also inspires me to grow even more, to be more dedicated to my practice and to become a better teacher, that's why I'm saving up for more workshops and immersions (yes, my dear students, more and more stretchies for you. Like a  TV shopping ad, "Oh but wait, there's more!")

I chose to give in my birthday this year - teaching class, feeding people, sharing food, and feeding stray animals. I gave my cats yummy food from Bow and Wow. This year, my wishlist was empty. No fancy branded makeup I would want to have. No designer sneakers. No big gift to self (my pasta maker was a 2016 birthday and 2016 Christmas gift to self) . I also chose to let go. Not just by doing detox diets (which I don't) but by emotionally detoxifying myself of what does not serve me and whatever holds me back, which has been themes of my classes. In fact I've noticed, I've bailed through countless pole and hoop moves solely because of fear. It's like pole drops - you just gotta do it. Despite an empty birthday wishlist, my heart stays full. As I learn to detach (starting from my hair) and let go, a chance for growth paves its way. 

The month has been good to me. Let's make the rest better. 

Snippets of the YogaHive Grand Launch

It was a busy month for us at the YogaHive studio since we were doing photoshoots for the teachers as well as prepping for the Grand Launch, which happened on March 15-19, 2017. It was so much fun because there were classes, activities, and it was a time that I really got to know the community. Sometimes as teachers, we're just there whenever we have classes. When we were shooting, it gave me the opportunity to take classes by other teachers since I was there practically the whole day, which really helped with my practice and my own classes because I sort of got to compliment my sequences to the themes of other classes, like if one class is working on something, then maybe my yin class can help achieve a balance or have some stretches or poses to help them make their way towards that. It also gave me a chance to know the students more, since I stay longer in the studio.

Helping out with the photoshoot of the teachers and some students also enabled me to share my off-the-mat practice with them. It's funny because a few years back, people get surprised that I actually do fitness-related things. Now, I surprise people when I bring out my makeup or when they take a peek at my blog or even when they see me with makeup in the studio. It was really fun, seeing how the teachers put on makeup and see how their individual personalities come out in our shoots.

 I'll post more BTS soon, but this time, let's talk about our launch.

Me and Teacher Quino on the YogaHive tarp, for which our faces (and our abs) shall be immortalised forever. Here's to more #fitspiration goals.

Photos of my yoga classes (I taught 3!!!)

I gave my signature hip openers in every class, which is my own practice that I share to most of my classes. Hip openers are fun! In yoga, in pole, in dance, and in life.

I also attended my very first Broga classs (which definitely shall not be my last), which really challenged my core and arms. They were dying in a super good way. Since I was dead tired, no photos in my camera. I highly recommend this not just to guys, but for those who want to add more challenges and breaks to the usual yoga class. Aside from yoga flows, there are HIIT-derived workouts like burpees, planks, and pushups which will make you sweat buckets and prepare your abs for the summer. I still hate burpees, but I like Broga.

There were also activities such as a High Tea Class Demo by Barista and Coffee Academy of Asia.

Certified Calm also launched their new Manduka Prolite mats. Some mats are still on sale in the studio so just in case you want a yoga mat for yourself, do stop by.

Manduka mats are thicker than the usual yoga mats you see and the thing I like with these mats is that they really cushion your joints in your arm balances (in my case, #roadtoarmbalance), downward dogs, and even table tops and lunges, They're pretty sturdy that they will not rip apart too when you're anchoring with your poses. I like also that they come in solid colors (I find patterns distracting). Im eyeing the caramel color actually, It looks so pretty, it reminds me of dessert, like salted caramel ice cream or salted caramel sauce on top of apple waffles, yum!!!! Manduka mats also come with a lifetime warranty. Oh, and Certified Calm is giving Php1000 off for every purchase of a Manduka Prolite mat exclusive at YogaHive.

The grand launch got me also back on air not just on pole but also via aerial hoop. It feels great to take aerial hoop once again.

group photo with our teacher Lance, holding our goodies from Lather Goods and Vita Coco

doing a Delilah (it looks and feels like a twisted scorpio)

This trick is called faint, which tells me to yin it our and relax

The highlight of the event of course is our cocktail night, which had food, raffles, drinks, poetry reading, live music, and a chance for us to dress up in clothes that are not just yoga clothes.

healthy, organic, and delicious spread by The Wholesome Table

Teacher Paulo introducing the teachers to the community

I was also glad to see familiar faces drop by to take classes.

A couple of badcats, me and Romina for the Sunday class

Kate and I doing the usual photowall pose
You can check Kate's post here as well.

It was a successful launch and every hour of work and effort was definitely worth it. The studio looked amazing, the classes had so much good vibes and energy, and we see people coming back again and again. I'm glad to be part in this community - as a teacher, student, makeup artist, and practically resident tambay since I'm in the studio almost everyday. I like the good vibes it has and I wish to share it to every one of you. Take our classes, whether yoga, pole, aerial hoop, corewell, NT Sweat, or anything that you like. We would definitely love to see you there!

See you on the mat!

My Favorite Workout Channels

Lately, even going to the gym or getting out of the house alone is a chore in this heat. For those who need their workout fix without leaving home, check out these YouTube channels to keep you moving without even needing to step out of the house. I find this absolutely great since I'm such an introvert and sometimes there are times when I have this mood that I don't like to go out because I feel so stressed or overwhelmed with all these energies around me that I really like to retreat in my cave. But then, I get this itch to exercise (kind of funny though). These are some of my go-to channels when I need to work out at home and I want something to really follow rather than do things at the top of my head.

Because of online workout videos, #theresalwaystimeforfitness can actually happen

The Fitness Marshall

Their cardio hip-hop workouts are for those who hate cardio. Lead by Caleb Marshall, he takes you into a sweaty, sassy dance session to get your heart rate up and melt the baddies away. With fun tracks such as Justin Bieber's Sorry, Britney Spears' Toxic, Rihanna's S&M, and Pussycat Dolls' Buttons to name a few, you would be super inspired and stoked to dance you don't even know that it's cardio. He even recruits his sister and grandma to work out with him making this a workout for anyone. And who cares if you look funny? You're just at home.

Blogilates

I wrote about her and as you can see, I'm a fan of this lady and she has so many fans around the world. It's practically a community. Blogilates not only features a series of workouts that you can do everyday with a theme each month but also easy recipes for healthy eating to keep the pounds and muffin top off. There are also words of wisdom and inspiration to live by so this fitness thing will not just be a one time thing but a lifestyle change. With her bubbly personality, it's as if  you're working out with your friend.

Fightmaster Yoga

Missed the yoga studio because of traffic and you just want to get home but still want to get the body moving somehow? Or are you travelling and want your yoga fix but couldn't find a yoga studio near your area? Fightmaster Yoga is lead by yoga teacher Lesley Fightmaster and she has a variety of free online classes depending on your practice. Basic yoga stretches, yoga flow, power yoga, ashtanga yoga, or yin yoga, there are so many classes to choose from. I do this class when I can't go to the yoga studio and I definitely need a yoga fix for the day. Try her 50-minute ashtanga yoga if you want something strong or chill with her yin class at the end of a hard day's work. No time at all? Do the Yoga Quickie workouts.

TaraStiles

Model-turned-yoga teacher Tara Stiles is like one of my life pegs. She's fun, she's gorgeous, she's got both strength and flexibility balanced. and she makes yoga fun and less intimidating. I was doing her classes way before becoming a yoga teacher and even way before developing my own yoga practice. Oh and that body is such a fitspiration. The best thing about her channel is that she makes yoga fun and less intimidating. I like how some of her videos are titled. My teaching style is somehow inspired by her because I also want yoga to be fun and less intimidating. Most of her videos are quick, and she has a routine from the moment you get up and also when you're about to go to bed. Also, she has recipes in her channel .

As you can see, I vary my workouts a lot so my body doesn't get bored and plateaus. I sometimes mix and match, like I would do cardio hip hop, then do some pole training and cool down with yoga or something to that extend. What matters is that there are ways I can get things moving too. Also, if you're travelling and where you're staying has free WIFI, put it to good use and get your daily dose of fitness. Have fun and stay fit and fab!

Photo credits:
fitness photo by Dix Perez

When Yoga Saved The Day

I was feeling quite down last week. As some of my friends know, the car got into an accident while it was parked when I taught a class QC. The damage was just small, and I'm lucky to have it still up and running very normally. I got ticked off a lot though because the driver who did the damage didn't owe up to his or her responsibility and just took off and left. There was no CCTV available so we weren't able to trace the culprit except for a few clues that it was a white car about the same height as mine or probably lower, like a sedan or something, from the paint and the location of the damage. The guards weren't even helpful though, and seemed to wash their hands off the whole thing and would rather have a lazy shift Sunday twiddling thumbs.  Ugh!

Anyway,  while letting insurance taking care of everything, I had to get back to real life so I maximized last Wednesday going to the insurance to have them estimate the damage. While it took only minutes, I was able to find decent parking too since I had some work in the morning (nope, not doing street parking this time, I was able to get a decent parking at a parking lot) and then stopped by for tea at a nearby tea place since I was way too early for my call time (30 minutes) and the studio was closed. 

Thanks for the message, Sip. I missed your real brewed teas (I had the sweetness adjusted and lowered to 30%) and your chicken chops are superb. Work finished relatively early so I transferred the car to Greenbelt then and waited for my next appointment there, anyway.

I looked forward for this next appointment though because it was the press preview of the Global Mala Project happening this September 26 at WhiteSpace Manila.

This is the largest unified worldwide yoga event in line with the United Nation's Day of Peace and the Fall Equinox.

This event is designed to promote peace and positive change through yoga as well as raise social consciousness and funds for noteworthy causes. This year's benefit happens to be Children's International.

Friends and yogis have been going to this event, which is like a yoga buffet with various classes ranging from ashtanga to power yoga as well as quiet and restorative yin yoga classes. There are also talks and demos as well as master classes, for yogis who would want to go deeper into their practices. 

The event is actually a private Vinyasa class followed by a quiet meditation class (like an extended Savasanna), a yang to yin type of class, something that I look forward to. I miss practicing in a class and this might be just what I needed.

Thanks to Manduka for all these mats we used to practice. Cushy for my wrists because we did an arm balance.

Leading the Vinyasa class is Nikki Torres of Beyond Yoga. Nikki is my yoga teacher and the class made me miss her classes a lot, even the DOMs I feel after. She teaches Vinyasa Yoga and Yin Yoga as well as Zumba and maintains a fitness blog - Pretty Darn Fit.

Nikki talks about connections, which eventually became important during the practice. Yoga is all about connection, and we also connect our poses to the breath. Most especially, the principle of connection became important during our peak pose, Bakasana or crow pose. I'm still not comfy with my own bakasana though but at least I was able to do a jump back.

Probably my favorite and most stable inversion ever, the shoulder stand.

Held this a bit longer than expected. Felt the effects on my tired legs.

A long savasanna was held after her very yang class and a meditation practice was done by Francois Flaviano of Bliss Yoga, leaving us refreshed and relaxed and a perfect way to end the day. My legs are happy with a slight burn.

Water to rehydrate after a class. Thanks Certified Calm for providing these! Love the steel glasses too I wanted to take the one I used home with me.

Glad to see these yoginis again. Hi Bri, Jane, and Nikki!

Yoga always leaves me hungry after a class and actually after this, instead of craving a big slice of cake or a greasy burger, I went to a Vietnamese restaurant and ordered a bowl of vegetarian pho, rewarding my body (and soul!) something good for it. I think I needed that flow and get in touch with myself (just as Nikki said about connection) and shake off the downy-dump vibe. 

Happy Hips at Home

My classes lately have been leaning towards hip openers and a lot of back decompression and forward folds. As I was planning my sequences for my yoga class, I would go, "Okay, so I'll use this sequence also for my classes in QC and Libis, as I taught it in BHS already." When I road-test my sequence with my self-practice, I do make a bit of modification coming into mind the different crowds of the studios, and their needs. Of course, during the class itself, the sequence also changes. But the formula is always the same, hip openers and forward folds. Lately, my regular students request a lot of hip openers, #punitsingit if you may.

Hip openers are my personal favorite. It was through me working through my split that I got into yoga in the first place, as a safer way to my "lola" body (lola in dance world, as there are dancers that started moving way before they reach first grade). I discovered that the hips carry our burdens or emotions, and being the largest part of the body, you can just imagine how many kinks have gotten inside those crevices. That's why some people cry during hip openers, because we tend to release a lot of emotions.

In yin yoga we focus a lot on grounding the pelvis, because it is what provides stability and space to our physical support. As we ground our sitting bones, we get to sit so much straighter, creating space in our body, looking taller and improving our posture to be straighter instead of slumped to  slouch.

Hip openers also help a lot with our back pain, and standing up at work most of the time, I get to have a lot of tightness on my lower back and hips. On an added benefit, hip openers create space in the body, and will help those with a lot of menstrual issues. In our Yin Yoga for Women's Health workshop, our sequence had a lot of hip openers.

Forward folds aid a lot in back decompression, as bad posture and standing for prolonged periods of time tend to compress the spine. Also, if you tend to wear heels a lot (yes, pole dance world and our sky-high heels, it includes us), you notice that arch your lower back makes. Well yes, it does create a sexy shape in photos and performances but this can create a lot of bone compression in time. Aside from decompressing the back, forward folds direct your energy to you, and rid you from distractions allowing you to focus more on yourself rather than the distractions that surround us. I personally find forward folds humbling, as the pose is so inward and also, hard for yoga selfies (*wink*)

I'm sharing some of my favorite poses and a short which you could do at home, and modified it for those with a tiny space in their homes like me, Start with a 5-minute meditation either lying down in pentacle or a comfortable seated position. In this meditation, quiet down and clear your mind and direct energy towards yourself. keep the body soft, heavy on the pelvis and spine straight and tall. Hold each pose for 3 minutes (eventually graduating to 5 if you wish) and then end with a 5-minute rest in pentacle or savasanna. I also give options for those who are still working on their flexibility. Special thanks too to my pole buddy Kelay who took some of these photos for me after pole class.


Butterfly

Sit with your sitting bones rooted on the mat and form a big diamond shape with your legs, keeping the feet away from the groin. keeping the pelvis rooted, inhale and lengthen the spine, creating space in the body. Then, slowly walk your hands forward until you feel the stretch. Once you do, keeep the belly soft and exhale lowering down feeling the back muscles open. To get out of the pose, place your hands in line with your shoulders and while keeping the back soft and the pelvis rooted, push yourself back up with your arms, head coming up last.

Modification: If your knees come up higher than your hips, sit on a block, bolster, or cushion. You may also use blocks or pillows to support your knees or head. Remember, the key is not so much to reach your head to foot that your hips lift up. Focus on keeping them grounded.


Swan
(works on hips, hip flexors, stretches the front body)

Come into cat or tabletop, hips in line with knees and shoulders in line with the wrist. Step your right foot in between your hands and walk your right foot towards the left hand and drop the right knee to meet your right hand. Your front leg is now at a right angle. Sit on that right hip as you walk the left leg back grounding on your left big toe and remembering to keep the left hip turned in. Walk your hands forward so the back is straight and relaxed and the buttocks soft. There is a tendency here to put most of the weight in the hands so sink your hips down. As your body loosens and softens, see if you can walk your hands closer to your hips remembering to keep the spine lengthened instead of crunching on your vertebrae. Feel the stretch on the right hip and left hip flexors and quads. I also feel this on my belly. To come out of the pose, tuck the back toe in, push yourself up and rest in child's pose. Remember to do the other side.

Modification: You may sit on a block if your hip doesn't touch the ground. 

Gecko


Gecko is my absolute favorite. It's a very deep opener, so I don't expect beginners to come to this pose with no props. It also stretches the muscles in the belly, hip flexors, and front side. This is not necessarily a fully yin pose. In face, there's a bit of yang involved since the arms would be acting as a support

Start by coming into cat. Step the right foot to meet the OUTSIDE of the right hand. Turn the right knee and right foot out at a 45-degree angle. Ground on that right heel and walk the left foot back and ground on that left big toe. The left foot may be scooted outwards for stability but remember to keep the left leg turned in. As we ground on the right heel and left big toe, sit the right hip down and look up giving the front side body a yummy stretch.  Tuck back toes in and slowly rest in child's pose. Remember the other side!

Modification: If the right heel comes up, step on a block. You may also prop your arms on a block if you can't reach the ground. 

Cradle

We need to close the hip in from all those hip openers. Cradle is like a lying-down child, a yummy forward fold that decompresses the spine and massages the belly. All you need to do is bring your knees in towards you and give them a hug, letting the hands act as weights rather than forcing them down. Keep the sacrum down or for an added stretch, lift the sacrum at the last minute

Modification: You may use a strap or scarf to help you

Twisted Roots

Twists give the side body a nice stretch, massage the digestive system, and detoxify the body (like wringing out a wet towel). For those with limited spaces in their homes to practice yoga, I recommend twisted roots as this pose doesn't take much space. Start lying down. Bend your knees and cross the right leg over the left and drop your knees towards the left side, feeling the side body lengthen and an opening on the right shoulder and chest. You may anchor the knees to further open the upper body or anchor the right shoulder giving the lower body and IT band a nice stretch. To come out of the pose, bring legs back to center, uncross the legs and give them a hug to recalibrate. Then do the other side.

Modification: You can raise the right arm up overhead for an added arm stretch.

This is actually a short sequence that you can do at home if you don't have time to practice in a yoga studio but need your yin fix. You may use the timer feature in your phones or download the Chakra Chime app (available both in Apple and Android) for self-practice, Remember to honor your body and go where your body takes you to avoid any injury and it's perfectly fine to take a  step back if you feel pain or stinging discomfort. Also, please remember to breathe and let the breath guide you to go deeper into your pose, sending the breath to where it is tight. Have fun!

For my classes with Yoga for Life, you may check out the Yoga For Life Facebook Page as well as announcements of their events.

Partner Yoga Weekend

I've been teaching with Yoga For Life since December and it has been a very wonderful experience sharing what I have learned and experienced in yoga. I've been practicing yoga with them for quite some time now, making it a Sunday morning habit. For those who do not know what Yoga For Life is, Yoga For Life is a non-government organization that supports and empowers those living with HIV and AIDS through the healing practice of yoga. We do this by the donation-based community classes where we all practice together as one community regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, HIV status, social status, or spiritual belief. And also, we remove discrimination and stigma.  Teaching has been a wonderful experience for me, and it has been really great to see all my students after classes appreciating my classes and leave with new and relaxed bodies and calmer minds.

Last weekend, since it was a Valentine's weekend, we practiced partner yoga. Partner yoga has two teachers, and I co-taught the two partner yin classes with my favorite doctor Kit. Partner yin yoga is not entirely yin, because we direct our energy not just to ourselves but to our partner. In solo yin yoga we have props that help us get deeper into the pose. Here, our partners sometimes act as props. The photos shown here are from our Sunday class at Beyond Yoga Libis.

In partner yin yoga, we do not just think of ourselves. We think also of our partners. Are we helping our partners go deep into the pose or are we obstructing them from going deeper. Or as we go deeper into the pose, are we hurting our partner as a consequence? It's a give-and-take thing, and we meet halfway. We have to think of our partner. Isn't it awesome how yoga mimics life as well?

Communication by sharing energies. How do we communicate without words while in the pose?

"Partner Yin Yoga, like what we did at Yoga For Life community class today, is even more intimate: a subtle practice of the self, a gentle exploration of the other, and a gradual discovery of the self through the partner. Trust, vulnerability, openness, honesty, and connection are just some of the gifts in our practice today."

--Kit Navarro

In biology class, we learn about symbiotic relationships, how organisms in the world interact with one another, There is a relationship called parasitism where one just gives and the other just takes at the expense of the other. Commensalism is when the other benefits and the other is just deadma, or unaffected. Partner yoga has to be mutualism, where both species benefit from the relationship.

Full class! Thank you everyone for sharing your energies this Valentine's weekend and thank you Kit for sharing your knowledge!

Life's lessons can be learned also in our practice. An Ashtanga yoga teacher once told me that I should use yoga not just to help me with my body on the physical level but also help me in order to be a better person. Taking spirituality aside, yoga may help me be in harmony with my surroundings, and as I begun teaching, this makes sense now.

And the thought of teaching, I'll be teaching this Sunday at Beyond Yoga BHS, and I'll be doing one my signature Happy Hips sequences. This will be our last community class at Beyond Yoga BHS because Beyond Yoga BHS will soon be moving to Beyond Yoga Serendra.

This is It! Yin Yoga Teacher Training in September!

( I was inspired by my fellow yogi, Jane, who posted her announcement that I shall post mine too)

Before yoga became popular mainstream, I was following online yoga gurus like Tara Stiles in YouTube and doing quick yoga exercises from what I read in magazines. It was more of a 10-15 minute workout really then,  just to get my body started.

My real  first formal yoga class taught me a different style of yoga from what I experienced in the online videos - which is Yin Yoga. Unlike the yoga we all know from what we seem this type of yoga is a passive, quiet, and relaxing yoga. The flow of asanasgoes deeper than muscle and strength and target connective tissues and fascia. Energy channels and meridians are also targeted to recharge and detox the body. After that class,  I can say that I got hooked. I even memorized the sequence even to do at home and followed the asanas in the presskit given to me. After that class, I bought my first yoga mat thinking that if I can't go to the studio, might as well do some sequences at home.

One of my favorite hip-openers, the swan. I attended my first yin yoga class in this studio. 

Yin yoga was a great compliment in my pole fitness regimen it helped me get my splits and backbends safer. It was through yin yoga that I learned that I need to elongate before I do my backbend instead of crunching in order to protect my spine. In a deeper sense, yin yoga brings balance to an otherwise active fitness routine and daily grind to quiet the mind and let the body rest and recover. Even the monthly cycle has been calmed through yin yoga. With that too, my body became ready to practice more active styles of yoga like Vinyasa and Hatha yoga. Yoga for me was the alternative for my cross-training in pole because it is a safe way to develop my strength and flexibility.

During my earlier months practicing yoga, some of the people I meet ask me, "Do you teach yoga?" I was like, "No, I just practice." And then, the follow-up question, "Why don't you start teaching? You're really flexible and strong. Extra money pa" There's more to being a teacher than just being very skilled, strong, and flexible. There's also the proper intention, and not just solely to make extra money. And the proper time.

Earlier this year, I was contemplating on taking up yin yoga teacher training. I wanted to share how the practice affected me physically. Besides, with today's active lifestyle and Facebook feeds underestimating the value of sleep and rest (I have seen too many "coffee-powered with 2 hours of sleep" statuses  turn to "on antibioitcs and fluids" ), it would be great to share yin to others. For people who want to get started doing yoga, yin yoga is a good practice before going to a more dynamic practice.  For example, if I started with a very strong, active practice, I would be  too overwhelmed to come back to the mat.

Yin yoga has helped me not just in my dynamic fitness activities but also in my overall help. I decided to level up and take a formal teacher training program to share this experience with others. 

Yin Yoga teacher training would usually be abroad, and a yoga teacher training program is very expensive. Aside from the module, you would need to spend for your flight, accommodations, meals, etc. The schedule would also be in December.  Since December is usually peak season for makeup artists.  I thought that yin yoga teacher training would just remain to be a dream. There however, was something in me that says that, it will happen. I just didn't know how. Maybe all my bookings would move to the months prior and after, making the teacher training dates magically be free for me to fly to Singapore. Maybe my cat is actually a magical cat that can teleport me to Singapore and back and poops money as an added bonus.

Or maybe teacher training would come to Manila. And that happened

Months back, it was announced that there would be another Yin Yoga teacher training to be conducted here in Manila in September of this year. It would be a 50-hour basic teacher training given by Victor Chng (I attended a couple of his workshops before when he was here in Manila). I was like, "This could be a sign!" . Also, it's going to be here in Manila, so no need to fly out or continue wishing my cat is magical. Also, it would occur on weekdays at an off-peak month. I immediately attended the orientation and expressed my intention to attend the teacher training to Dona (who was my first yin yoga teacher). Just this week,  the reservation has been sealed and confirmed.  No turning back kitty, no turning back. Maybe the stars are saying, this is your time kitty.

Leading to September, I am deepening my yin practice by attending the workshops and classes I could attend. I also attended a teacher's top up class on my birthday in order to further prepare myself by learning from present yin yoga teachers. Self-practice also helps, and I do my own sequences at home and try to practice them or list down the sequence I learn in class or shared by my mentors and practice them at home.

A surprise too, my regular practice and knowledge gained from workshops and asking my mentors was put to test when I taught my first yin yoga class with Yoga For Life. How did it feel? I admit I was nervous in the first few asanas, and I really have to learn how to make that bell chime. It felt more at home as the class progressed, just like easing myself into a yoga pose.

 My makeup career will still continue, and this will even be a good compliment that I can share with my colleagues. It's an exciting experience and I'm looking forward to this new career opportunity while going deeper in my practice. In the future, I look forward to sharing with others my knowledge and yin experience. I look forward to learning from my teachers Dona, Victor, Kit, and Lek and my fellow classmates who have different stories why they decided to take the teacher training too.

I remember a photo posted by my pole teacher Natasha Wang in her Instagram;

I guess it called out to me in one way to not let this opportunity pass, to take a teacher training program here locally.  Otherwise, I would still be in that sea of "what if's?"


This is it!!! Looking forward to September.

Going Yin For Women's Health

Warning: I will be talking about period issues. To the men who read my blog, you have been warned. On second thought, please continue reading. I suggest you do. Really.

Girls, when you were like 11 or 12 and your classmates had their periods did you ever wish that you prayed that you'd finally get yours already? And then years after getting your first flow ever, you curse that you were ever made a woman and wish that you never got it at all? Well, what did you know, I did too. I got my period late in my life.  As some girls my age had their menarche at 10 or 11, I had it at 12 years old.         Summer of 1995 while vacationing in San Francisco with my family and I had it for like 3 weeks, I cursed the world and my own wishes for getting my period ever and cursed genetics for giving me an extra X chromosome instead of a Y.

Eighteen years later, I've had my share of bad days and so-so days. I've experienced every cursed symptom a woman experiences -the bloating, the mood swings, the tenderness, the cramps, and the horrible rage issues and cravings before that. Unfortunately, our culture sometimes has others dismissing our PMS or cramps as "kaartehan lang" or "wala yan, OA lang!". Sure, medicines and pain killers can work to a certain extent but if there was a natural way to make these symptoms lesser, then why not?

When I attended the Yin Yoga workshop for bloggers, our teacher, Dona, mentioned how yoga changed her monthly cycle to make it just like any ordinary day. I got interested into getting into that stage in life. Turns out, that the cramping, the mood swings, pains, and tenderness aren't supposed to be there. Those are actually signs of imbalances in the body, and with yoga and a few lifestyle changes, we can have a regular period day. Thankfully, my good friend, Tiger brother, and doctor Kit invited me to attend a Yin Yoga workshop for women's health (meaning reproductive health issues ) to be conducted by Dona. I love Dona's classes since I first stepped into that Yin Yoga workshop for bloggers. It was really stressful last week due to work so I thought that I could use one Sunday morning just for me and my health. I do want to give a hug to Kit next time I see him because it was just an awesome morning.

The workshop was held at Templa Wellness. I find yoga studios so amazing as although some are located in the busiest buildings of a business district, they exude a certain peace and calmness. We all gathered in a circle first before coming into the practice and for one minute, each participant shared their period experiences.

In this conversation, each girl had a chance to share her own experiences. Some were lucky to have very normal experiences, some had horrible experiences, like practically being paralysed due to excruciating pain. Interestingly, there were those as well who hid it from their families for about a year or so, for the fear of shame or what not, probably something attached to our culture already. I was reminded of an article I read a few years back, of a group who would isolate girls with their periods in a room since they were considered "unclean".

My own experience was quite lucky. My periods were regular ever since. I had the pain and tenderness and all that jazz. It was the pre-period PMS, cravings, and horrible rage issues that I had to curb. And of course, if I could still make the state of my body better and why not? Since I practiced a healthier lifestyle, eliminated meat, and did more sports, I've noticed the slight improvement already with less pains and bloating but the horrible stuff.

After that sharing, Dona shared with us a sequence especially designed to normalize the system during that time of the month. Some of the poses such as the butterfly, dragonfly, swan, and twisted root, I've already done in previous yoga classes but it was just as enlightening that aside from loosening up the body in places where it's tight, it targets also certain meridians in the body. I found out that these salty (potato chips, fries, cheese, etc) or sweet (chocolates, candies, milk tea) cravings are a result of imbalance of the spleen and kidney and certain poses are made to create and achieve a balance, as well as changing the way we eat or look at life.

This butterfly variation is super relaxing. It opens up tight hips and I could actually fall asleep in it.

The dragonfly is a pose I'm familiar with. It helps with my straddle splits and my period.

We also learned variations of the swan and other poses. The whole practice lasts for about 1.5 - 2 hours depending on the length of staying into the poses. The whole practice left me feeling relaxed and less tight, with that usual zen feeling after a yoga session.

It was an enlightening morning to know that our monthly visitor is actually a blessing, a natural detoxifying process of the body. The cramps actually and all the uncomfortable rage, mood swings, bloating, sensitivity, and all that can actually be diminished and our period days can actually be as ordinary as our good days. It was also liberating to know that I am not alone in experiencing its horrors too, and I'm glad to have met women who could relate to the same experience and not judge you for taking sick leaves at work or spending an entire day crying out your cramps.

Thank you very much Dona (she's the lovely girl in black beside me) for sharing your knowledge with us, Ivy (the girl in the orange tank beside me) for organizing this and my beloved brother in my pole family, doctor, and friend, Kit (the sole male in the group, who also assisted Dona in this session) for telling me to attend the workshop.

For those who are interested, I would be glad to share this poster, which means there shall be a part 2 of this workshop! Slots are limited so please sign up fast!

Take care girls, and have a great week ahead!