That Yoga Psyche

What's the Point of it All?

2010-09-06T22:51:00.003+08:00

I got asked tonight what the goal of a yoga asana (pose) practice is. I'd say the goal is to meet yourself on the mat and get to know yourself well enough to know what you need right now. After that, it's about accepting what you need, what you can give yourself and what your body can do right now. Once you do that, the world seems to fall right into place.

APA Style is Hate -Love!

2010-04-25T11:20:00.002+08:00

I've got something in the works, and I'll tell you more about it when things solidify. In the meantime though, know that I am compiling related lit and summarizing the results in a document...wouldn't quite call it a review of related lit, because that would entail a bit more analysis. At the moment it really is more of a compilation. But still, it involves research and smart me decided to follow the American Psychological Association (APA) style or formatting citations.

If you have no idea what in the world that means, you're lucky. It's a way of formatting and citing references in research papers. It's VERY detail-oriented. It's bringing out my legendary OC-ness (Obsessive-Compulsiveness. No, it's not diagnosed.).

Oh well, I figure it'll ease me into all the papers I'll have to do once school starts in June. 2.5 years away from APA. This refresher is, I'm sure, a blessing in disguise. Oh well, hopefully I can use some of this research for my thesis.

A New Realization on the Jump-Through

2010-04-07T12:42:00.004+08:00

From down-dog I have always lifted my heels and bent my knees, stretching my bandha in preparation to spring forward and jump my feet through my arms to sitting. This works to get my feet through my arms, but it is a conscious effort once I get there to keep my hips in the air and extend one leg forward at a time.

I keep telling myself that I shouldn't aim to jump forward, I should jump diagonally upwards and forwards. This will keep my hips higher so I have more time to swing my legs through and extend them in one nice smooth motion.

During yesterday's practice, however, I was jumping to standing so I could fold my mat before shoulderstands. As I did so, I noticed that I had succeeded in not just bringing my feet between my hands so I could stand, but that I had actually brought them beyond my hands! I realized that if I actually did this each time, move to jump to standing first then move to sit once my feet and legs had come through my arms, I should be able to come through smoothly. Well, I should, in theory. I'll try it out and let you know what happens.

In case anyone's wondering what in the world I'm talking about, below is a video of well-known Ashtanga teacher, Lino Miele, teaching the jump-through.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Z5tr5VWVF0

Pitta Type

2010-04-03T16:47:00.000+08:00

Your Dosha is Pitta

You have a quick mind, a gift for persuasion, and a sharp sense of humor.

You have both the drive and people skills to be a very successful leader.

Argumentative and a bit stubborn, you have been known to be a little too set in your ways.

But while you may be biased toward your own point of view, you are always honest, fair, and ethical.

With friends: You are outgoing and open to anyone who might want to talk to you

In love: You are picky but passionate

To achieve more balance: Be less judgmental of those around you, and take cool walks in the moonlight.

What's Your Dosha?

Blogthings: Learn Something Surprising About Yourself

Evolution: From Point A to Point B

2010-04-03T15:24:00.006+08:00

In the beginning, going to a yoga class was just about being able to practice. Sure, there were teachers I preferred, but at the time, I would have taken a class with almost any teacher just to have the opportunity to practice.

I remember that it was such a struggle to start a home practice. I needed the external structure offered by yoga classes to make sure that I actually got out of bed and practiced. A yoga class starts at a set time and takes place at a set location. That meant that I had to get up off my behind, get dressed and actually get myself over to the shala (yoga school/studio) in time for class. Once I was there, there was no backing out after I had gone all that way. There was also no chance to be lazy and not do a complete practice, as I was under the watchful eye of my teacher and I had the energy of my classmates to keep me going.

Once I was able to get a home practice going, I noticed that I needed classes less and less. I've learned to enjoy the silence of practicing on my own and being alone with myself. I enjoy not having to worry about finishing full primary before the class ends. I enjoy knowing that I've learned enough to be able to rely on myself and to know what to do without a teacher present.

Now I love going to a class to share my energy with others and to feel the energy of the community shared with me. That shared energy changes practice. It is not just my practice anymore, it becomes our practice. I don't need class to force me to practice anymore, I WANT to practice now and I can do that on my own. But sharing of energy and a feeling of community I can't do by myself. I love my community. I like feeling I'm a part of something. I like the feeling of belonging. I like the new friends.

Sangha. Community. Friends. Yoga Manila. Shared energy, shared practice. Yoga.

Next, I'll tell you about point C...

Wednesday and Friday Classes Discontinued

2010-03-13T19:07:00.001+08:00

I've got some changes in the works for my teaching schedule. We've decided to discontinue the Wednesday and Friday morning classes at Yoga Manila Ortigas. I'll still be teaching there on Tuesdays at 6:30PM and Thursdays at 6:30AM though. Still trying to work out my new schedule, but it looks like I may start teaching in Alabang and/or Makati. Yay! Let you know as soon as things are finalized. See ya!

Holiday Teaching Schedule

2009-12-13T21:42:00.001+08:00

Happy holidays!

The Yoga Manila studios will close for the Christmas break beginning December 13, 2009. The Makati and Ortigas shalas will reopen on January 9, 2010, while Alabang will resume operations on January 11, 2010.

Private classes will continue depending on any agreements between the student and teacher. Let me know if you'd like to book a private session!

Standing Up and Dropping Back

2009-11-18T11:50:00.004+08:00

... started working on them again, after not having done so for some time. I love the feeling of floating when I'm about to drop back and the rush as the world rights itself when I stand up. Can't wait to do these on my own, but I know it's going to take some time. Oh well, part of aparigraha (non-grasping or not clinging on to anything) is not grasping the future and being content with where you are now. Part of dharma (duty) is doing your duty because it is your duty and not because of what will come of it. i.e. Practice for the sake of practicing and not for any outcome of standing up.

"As for you, do the work that comes to you - but don't look for the results.

Don't be motivated by the fruits of your actions,

nor become attached to inaction."

- Bhagavad Gita II.47

...so I will enjoy being helped until I can do it on my own.

Speaking of backbends, check out this thing called the Stretch Gym:

Just as an interesting alternative to working the wall, sometimes maybe? The image below looks like it could even help one in Supta Kurmasana.

Maya and Reading To-do

2009-11-08T21:24:00.005+08:00

"We bear and are borne by a soul we do not know. When the riddle raises itself on two legs without being solved, it is our turn. When the dream picture pinches it's own arm without waking, it is us. For we are the riddle no one guesses. We are the fairy-tale trapped in its own image. We are what moves on and on without arriving at understanding..."

-Jostein Gaarder, Maya

I would love to spend a day with Jostein Gaarder, picking his mind. What is someone like that like in real life? Can you imagine conversation about life, consciousness and reality that would be?

It started with Sophie's World. An introduction to Philosophy, I heard it was, but taught within the context of a fantastical narrative. I loved it! I was mesmerized by The Solitaire Mystery too. Didn't like The Christmas Mystery too much. I still have to get my hands on Vita Brevis, but I've heard that's a good one.

*sigh* I've missed reading. So glad I'm getting to do it again. :)

To-do:

see if Joanne Harris has any new books out
get Brida by Paulo Coelho
get The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
wait for Anne Rice' new novel coming out this month
read Sleep, Pale Sister by Joanne Harris
find my copy of The Ringmaster's Daughter by Jostein Gaarder, buy a copy of Vita Brevis and see if he has any new books out

Time Out

2009-10-18T22:15:00.002+08:00

Sure, I'd gone on vacation for a week or two, but before this year I'd never taken a sabbatical. Never stopped to give me some real time for myself. Now that I've had time to think, to go and do things that I've wanted to do for the longest time, to just have time to find myself again, it makes a world of difference.

Stefan Sagmeister talks about the power of time off and how it refreshes his ability to see new things, come up with new ideas and just resets his mind as a whole. To a certain extent we need to take time for ourselves. We need to heal ourselves of the chronic stress and the focus on materialism and productivity. We need to realize that taking this time to find ourselves and become whole again is being productive, for we are only useful to society as complete and healthy citizens.

Stages of Grief

2009-10-06T00:07:00.005+08:00

Grey's Anatomy says that there are five stages of grief:

denial
anger
bargaining
depression
acceptance

These stages actually make up the Kübler-Ross model of grief when a person is terminally ill. When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the first three stages are slightly different:

disbelief
yearning
anger
depression
acceptance

photo by pareeerica and used under the Creative Commons license

While the majority of people do go through these stages, not everyone follows this model and not everyone goes from one stage to the next. Often the lines between each stage are blurred and it is possible to actually be experiencing more than one stage at once. Considering the diversity of human beings and how we deal with the situations we find ourselves in, some people skip stages or, as mentioned earlier, simply don't follow this model at all and instead behave entirely differently. Because of this, Psychology Today published an article by Russell Friedman of The Grief Recovery Institute about how there really is no set model for the stages of grief.

Following this model or not, I've found that dealing with grief can apply not only to the passing of a loved one but also to the end of a relationship. Relationships too must be mourned before it is possible to move on.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kübler-Ross_model

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2007/02/24/five-stages-of-grief/

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/broken-hearts/200909/no-stages-grief

On Dehydration Headaches

2009-09-10T21:08:00.005+08:00

My head hurts. I'm thirsty. My mouth is dry. I know that had I not used my favorite cream-oil body wash, my skin would be dry too. *sigh* I'm dehydrated again.

photo by Pikku-Kettu

One thing about Ashtanga yoga is that it really makes you sweat. This is great when you're well-hydrated and you can flush all the toxins out. When you're like me and don't always drink enough water, well, you get the symptoms listed above.

When I can feel it starting, I try to drink a lot of water. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't and I notice that I just pee all the water away. I learned in Thailand that sometimes the body can't absorb all the water even if you're drinking enough because it's saline level is too low for the body.

Remember high school biology and osmosis? Water will move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, in an effort to balance the system. If you add a pinch of salt (best to stick with organic rock salt and not the iodized stuff) to the water, it helps the water molecules to be absorbed by the body.

Photo by CecillePL

It also helps to add a squeeze of lemon to the water. You would think that this would make the water acidic, but in fact it makes it alkaline (basic), and thus also easier for the body to absorb. I like the tartness of lemon, but one great thing about practicing yoga in Manila is that I can do this with calamansi! :) I love the flavor of calamansi.

So there you go, mix a pinch of salt + a squish of lemon/calamansi + water = helps you stay nicely hydrated and ready for that next class.

On Procrastination

2009-09-07T18:37:00.002+08:00

...I'm sure we can all relate with this guy:

Especially when it comes to starting a new habit or practice, we always think that we'll have time for it later or tomorrow.

I know I used to have 2 things working against me: procrastination and the fact that I can be very OC. I always wanted to have the perfect practice and I wanted to have the habit of practicing 6 days a week, as my teacher said I should. This meant that I needed to have an empty stomach, a quiet practice space, a full 1.5-2 hours of uninterrupted me time, the discipline to actually get onto my mat...and I needed to be able to do all this a full 6 days a week or it wouldn't be worth it.

Believe me, that is so not the case. I tried it and was completely overwhelmed. Yes, it would be great to do all the above, but unless you've got superhero powers of time and mind control, all that probably won't be happening anytime soon. Instead, take baby steps. Try 10 minutes of practice 3 times a week in addition to your weekly class. When You've gotten the hang of that, move it up to 4 then 5 then 6 times a week. After that, start adding onto the duration of your practice. Move it to 15, 20, then 30 minutes.

And about the procrastination? Doing yoga first thing in the morning actually gives you more energy throughout the day to get your "stuff" done. Plus the early hours are usually quieter and you'll have less chances of being disturbed. The dirty desk, squeaky chair and groceries can wait a while. There's really no shortcut to this one other than being aware of when you're procrastinating and telling yourself to buckle down and get going.

So in short, take it 1 step at a time. Remember, you have the rest of your life to develop your practice. Just start it today so you can be sure that you do have the time to develop it.

Let me know if this was helpful!

Can't Believe It's All Over

2009-07-28T20:14:00.001+08:00

I'm sitting in the Koh Samui airport, waiting for my flight to Bangkok. Once I get there, I have a 3-hour wait for my Cebu Pacific flight home.

I can't believe it's all over. The course was great and I met some fantastic people. In truth, I was starting to feel really tired by the time the last week rolled around. Neil said we were an unusual group in that everyone usually breaks down during the 2nd-3rd week. We, however, didn't start our breakdowns until the last week to the very tail end of the course.

I was just tired physically from the month of intensive practice and the long days of class, I guess. Once the course ended and I settled into holiday mode with some friends, it got really comfortable again. We'd do yoga in the morning then spend the day in town, lazing around the pool or just staring out to sea. It really was starting to feel like home, like we belonged there.

I didn't even get to say goodbye to the 2 wonderful ladies I spent most of my time with, especially these last few days. They are truly amazing women, really fitting into our lot of characters. Goodbye, Gyl and Ali! Goodbye Yoga Thailand! Goodbye to our wonderful group...hope to see you all somewhere someday.

***Didn't have time to post more about the course. I'll update when I get back home.

Practice Milestone: Backbends

2009-07-14T22:00:00.000+08:00

Yesterday I stood up from and dropped back into Urdhva Dhanurasana for the first time ever. Woohoo! It was so much fun, seriously, I loved it! I did it with help from Neil, of course, but right after that Paul came by to say that he wants to work on my standing up by myself. I've been looking forward to this for a while now, but I have to say that the work that goes into standing up and dropping back is just that: work. My back was starting to cramp today after the 3 regular Urdhva Dhanurasanas plus the work they gave me to do at the wall plus standing up and dropping back with assistance. Only a few more practice days left here...have to make the most of them.

Silence is Golden

2009-07-09T22:21:00.000+08:00

I've noticed that I've changed in the last year. Especially in the past 4 months or so I've become a lot calmer and quieter. I don't talk as much when I'm with others. I'm more content to just listen and observe, really only getting actively involved when something is of particular interest to me. I'm also more content to just stay home and enjoy the peace and quiet of relative solitude.

For the past month or so I've been a little worried about this quietness I've taken on. Mostly I've been concerned because I noticed that the silence isn't just my outward behavior, but my mind itself has become so much quieter. It's like there used to be 10 voices in there, conscious and subconscious alike, all talking at once. Now I feel like there's just one. Only me. I was worried that maybe I've repressed stuff and maybe I've now moved all the other voices into my unconscious, which would totally not be healthy.

I now wonder though if this quiet is from my yoga asana, pranayama and meditation practice. Maybe it's all managed to help still the torrent. Maybe I'm just adjusting to being alone in my head. Maybe it's a good thing.

You think?

Karma Yoga

2009-07-05T19:26:00.005+08:00

(Beautiful statue in its own little pagoda out front)

So we did Karma Yoga today. This is the yoga of action and we went to this forgotten temple on Samui and helped out. By "forgotten" they mean that tourists don't really know about it and hence don't go visit it. It is still used, however, and monks still live and worship there. We painted the walls and wooden supports of their outhouse and an little stage-like platform in the center.

(Working hard)

The temple itself is beautiful, so we were really lucky to get this chance to see it and be a teeny-tiny part of it. It was so much fun to be working with everyone and it was amazing how quickly we were able to get it all done with everyone pitching in. Makes me want to help out a Habitat for Humanity. Any takers?

(The temple exterior)

It's just too bad the temple was closed so we couldn't go inside.

I Can't Believe We Survived

2009-07-04T13:05:00.003+08:00

...our first week and a half of teacher training! We've been having led Ashtanga classes every morning. In each class we've been going through the most minute of details for every single pose. To do this, we've had to hold each pose for sooooo looong. The first day was the worst, as we only got to parivritta parsvakonasana. This would normally only take about 25 minutes to do, but with all the descriptions and points to consider, it took us 2 hours. Mind you, we were holding the poses for all of the 2 hours, so it was really really hard. While we continued to do this for the rest of poses over the rest of the week, I do have to say that the first day was the hardest. Tomorrow we start Mysore practice and continue with the Philosophy and Anatomy classes.

Just to show you how full our schedule is, I've been waking up at about 5:30-6:00am every day. I do my morning routine then head down for an hour of pranayama practice. After that it's 2 hours of asana practice, brunch, 3-4 classes, dinner and I'm in bed by 9:00-9:30pm. It's a full day every day. We have Saturdays off and half-day off on Sundays which we use for Karma Yoga. It's a lot, to be honest, but it's wonderful. I really think I made the best decision ever when I decided to come here.

I Went Swimming in a Waterfall!

2009-07-04T12:13:00.006+08:00

(Namuang Waterfall)

We have Saturdays off, so last week Jill, Ali, Josh and I went to visit Namuang waterfall. It was a 15 minute taxi ride then 35 minutes of trekking through a combination of the forest and hot concrete roads, all going steeply uphill. Well, it took us 45 minutes because we stopped for some nice chilled coconuts on the way. :)

(another view of the waterfall)

It was nice just to get out and go for a walk. The forest was amazing! We stood and just listened to the life in it for a while. When you really listen, the world is certainly not quiet. There's just so much going on!

(glancing back from the base of the waterfall)

After walking all the way in the tropical heat, it was wonderful to just jump into the pool at the base of the waterfall. The water was so cold and refreshing! We could even swim right up to the waterfall itself and feel the power of the rushing water. Surrounded by the forest and in the splendor of the waterfall itself, this is defitnitely one experience I'll be thinking about for a long time!

(right before we jumped in)

My friends were smart, they brought rubber and hiking shoes. I had no idea I was going to be doing anything of this sort, so I was prepared for beach life in my new Ipanema sandals (mine are green). At least they had straps on the back. Anyway, I was really surprised when we got back and I inspected my sandals to find that there was barely a scuff mark on them. Good job, Ipanema!

Yoga Thailand

2009-06-29T12:20:00.008+08:00

(A view of the accommodations from my balcony)

Yoga Thailand is so pretty! The resort is very clean and well-planned. Since it was really designed to be a venue for yoga retreats and training, there is a dedicated yoga shala (practice room), the food is all vegetarian (fish and eggs are served a few times a week), there is an herbal steam room, a saltwater pool, a meditation garden, a lifestyle shop and a wellness center for all that's detox and bodywork-related. I expected it to be a little more spaced out from the website pictures. In truth, the buildings are a little clustered together, but it's fine. Within each building, you have all the space you need.

(My room at night)

My room is absolutely gorgeous! The theme for the entire resort is white and wood. As minimalistic as everything is, there is a feeling of coziness and luxury all around. There is a feeling of immense space when you look out the window to the garden, trees and sea. Even the lighting was nicely planned. No fluorescent lights here!

(and during the day)

Believe it or not, everything is also environmentally friendly. The keychain tells the system to shut off power to the room 2 minutes after you leave. The waste water is recycled for gardening. The garden light are on a photo-sensor so they're only on when they're needed. The path lights are on a timer so they go on and off when they're supposed to. Even the hot water is solar powered. This doesn't compromise quality at all as the air-conditioning is cool and the hot water is HOT...and believe me, I do like my A/C and hot water. :)

I have to say, even coming from the Philippines, known for the hospitality of it's people, the Thai people I have met so far as really warm and take really good care of us all. The staff is great, always smiling, always greeting you, always welcoming. :) I'm so loving it all!

You Know You're Smart When...

2009-06-25T00:08:00.003+08:00

...you leave behind the following:

the dark tanning lotion you bought specifically for this trip
the cable that connects your camera to your laptop for the easy transfer of files (your camera uses an SD card, which would be great if your laptop had an internal card reader, which it doesn't)

Hence, meet my new best friend:

This travel-sized card reader reads ANYTHING. SD, mini SD, micro SD, MMC, M2, Sony memory sticks, MS Pro, MS Pro duo...I'm not even sure what half the things are, but to put it simply, it reads all cards. It even comes with software for reading and editing information on a SIM card.

I was worried about being able to find a card reader on the island, so I looked for an electronics shop in the airport. (Note to self: at 4:30 in the morning, the airport shops are closed.) In the end, I found this baby for sale, of all places, on the plane. Oh well, now I can use my camera. Happy happy joy joy.

You Gotta Love the Airport

2009-06-24T23:36:00.004+08:00

(Koh Samui Airport baggage claim belt)

The Koh Samui airport is beautiful! I wasn't able to get pictures of the outside, but imagine a series of wooden huts against coconut trees and clear blue skies. You can smell the sand and the sea. When you disembark the plane, there is a little train of carts - like the kind you ride on a tour of Universal Studios - which takes you to the quaint baggage claim hut (see image above). It's all well-maintained and very nice, simple, well done and islandy.

Oh, and you HAVE to check out the bathroom:

It was all white, wood and mirrors. Cold airconditioning and REALLY clean!

Window into My Mind: How I Work Out Philosophical Dilemmas

2009-06-19T00:09:00.006+08:00

(Paul Dallaghan in Yoga Nidrasana, 2nd Series)

I was just looking at Govindakai's photostream on Flickr. He has sets of Paul Dallaghan of Centered Yoga practicing the second and third series of Ashtanga Yoga. *sigh* I just realized that I'm going to be in pain for the rest of my life as I learn these poses, if I'm even able to get that far. There are 6 series' of Ashtanga, but most people spend their lives practicing the Primary Series.

...and the very fact that I'm bothered by the thought of that soreness shows how far I have yet to go in my practice of non-attachment. Two points come to my mind from my readings on yogic philosophy: that I should learn to not be attached to pleasurable times and that it is not me who will be in pain but my body.

(Paul in another 2nd series pose.

Does anyone know if this is still considered Scorpion or is it another pose?)

In the search for enlightenment, the yogi should not be attached to things and times that are pleasurable. Time, like everything, changes. As things change, they will undoubtably be less pleasurable at times. When this happens, this "loss of pleasure" will bring pain and disturbance for the yogi, who will be distracted from his search for bliss. If the yogi learns to not grasp for the good times, he will know that good times will come again and will be able to weather the not so good times undistracted.

I'm still pondering the second point. I understand the philosophy that I am not my body because my body is a creation of nature while my Self is a part of the Creator and but a witness to creation. I'm just thinking though that while it's good that I won't be in pain, I wonder if I shouldn't want to save my body from the discomfort as well?

(Paul in Durvasana, 3rd series)

Ok, I just remembered that there are 2 kinds of actions: those that don't cause pain and those that do cause pain. Eating too much at a great buffet is pleasurable, but it eventually brings suffering when you're so bloated that you can't walk and feel nauseated. That action causes pain. Studying and practicing asana as in the Ashtanga series' maybe painful initially but it eventually helps the body feel good after practice and helps the yogi on his way to enlightenment. By this analysis, this action wouldn't cause pain. So I guess my body has to go through it.

On a third point (this is no longer yogic philosophy but my own), I mentioned in yesterday's post how I sometimes look for the soreness when it's not there. Yes, I'm a masochist, I know. I still believe that masochism is caused by faulty wiring in the brain (did you know that the same part of the brain processes both pleasure and pain?). So there. Masochist me should enjoy the soreness of it all. So why am I not looking forward to feeling the soreness in Setu Bandhasana tomorrow?

"Practice, Practice, Practice"

2009-06-18T16:05:00.001+08:00

(photo of Guruji by DJ Mataji)

Samasthithi. Utkatasana. Uttanasana. Chaturangga Dandasana. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana. Ardho Mukha Svanasana. Uttanasana. Utkatasana. Samasthithi. Padangushtasana. Pada Hastasana. Utthita Trikonasana. Utthita Parsvakonasana. Prasarita Padottanasana. Parsvottanasana. Utthita Hasta Padangushtasana. Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana. Utkatasana. Virabhadrasana. Pachimatanasana. Purvottanasana. Ardha Baddha Padmo Paschimatanasana. Tiriangmukhaikapada Paschimatanasana. Janu Sirshasana. Marichyasana. Navasana. Bhujapidasana. Bakasana. Kurmasana. Supta Kurmasana. Bakasana. Garbha Pindasana. Kukutasana. Baddha Konasana. Upavishta Konasana. Supta Konasana. Supta Padangushtasana. Chakrasana. Ubhaya Padangushtasana. Urdhva Mukha Paschimatanasana. Setu Bandhasana. Chakrasana. Urdhva Dhanurasana. Chakrasana. Paschimatanasana. Sarvangasana. Halasana. Karnapidasana. Urdhva Padmasana. Pindasana. Matsyasana. Uttana Padasana. Chakrasana. Sirshasana. Baddha Padmasana. Yoga Mudra. Padmasana. Utplutihi. Savasana.

(Photo of Guruji and Sharath from the KPJAYI Flickr account)

"...and all is coming." - Guruji

Now, I just have to learn all that in English...

It Took 13 Months

2009-06-17T23:41:00.004+08:00

(image by katstan)

...but I've finally been given the last of the Primary Series asanas. Yes sir, as of today, the term "full practice" for me shall really mean a full practice of the entire Primary Series. Lo and behold, I think I can actually get it all done in 1.5-2 hours. Me with my slow practice, who knew?

Thanks so much to my wonderful teachers Jon and Connie for having so much patience with me. Now, I hope they'll continue to have such patience with me as we continue to work on perfecting each of the poses! :)

Another milestone today was that I somehow managed to come out of Supta Konasana without my heels thudding onto the wooden floor! I can't tell you how relieved I was when I heard myself land with a near-silent thump on my calf muscles...not to mention how much more comfortable it was to not have to deal with painful heels.

(Supta Konasana image by Andre S)

So a proud and painful day for me, as my back is now all sore. It's a good soreness though. (Read a previous post on my old blog about how you look for the soreness when it's absent)

Light practice for me tomorrow, then all systems go on Friday again. TTFN!

Went to Corner Street Cafe

2009-06-17T02:34:00.006+08:00

...for lunch with yogini friends last Saturday. It was their soft opening so we pretty much had the place to ourselves. Very nice and simple interiors, everything was white and of wood. All the food is vegetarian, but it's all interesting stuff. Check out Jon's blog for the menu. I had a hard time deciding what to order!

We decided to all share the Corner Tree Starter Plate. 180 Pesos will get you warm bread, sliced cucumber, carrot and turnip, Dukka (an Egyptian mix of seeds and spices) and hummus. I'm a total hummus fan, but the Dukka was just luscious!

Corner Tree Starter Plate

I chose the Baked Tofu Walnut Burger as a dinner plate for my main course. It was good, especially with the crispy onions on top, but I have to say that I was distracted by the salad dressing which was really good.

Baked Tofu Walnut Burger

Unfortunately, or not - for us, the dessert was gone before we could get a picture of it. We had this decadent thing made out of Toblerone (forgot the name) and a cream cheese-fudge brownie. The Toblerone thing was excellent, but my sweet tooth is easily overwhelmed so I prefered the brownie. The cream cheese center balanced the sweetness out nicely. I would have preferred it more moist though, but no complaints on flavor.

We stayed for about four and a half hours just relaxing and chatting. SO nice to just be with friends who feel so light! Speaking of my yogini friends, I stole all the images above from Mel. Check out her blog at Get OM with Life. Thanks, Mel!!!!

***Corner Tree Cafe is at 150 Jupiter Street, Bel-Air, Makati and can be contacted at 0917-8481004

Excited...No, Scared...No, Excited...No, Overwhelmed...Ok, Excited

2009-06-17T01:30:00.006+08:00

Excited. But also a little nervous and scared. Definitely overwhelmed. But soooo looking forward to the training nontheless.

(photo courtesy of Doc Tony Photography)

I leave in exactly 1 week for Bangkok. From there, I'm flying to Koh Samui where I'll be spending 5 weeks living by the beach. I'll be practicing everyday, 6 days a week, for 5 weeks, not to mention the lectures and practical classes. There's been quite a bit of pre-course reading to do too. I've been reading Philosophy, Anatomy, and asana (yoga pose) texts. Not to mention the Autobiography of a Yogi. You can see why I'm a little nervous and a little overwhelmed.

I know this will be a life-changing experience. I know it will be fantastic. Oh well, it won't be the first time that yoga has forced a lifestyle change for me, (Check out a previous post on my old blog about that) but anything big is always overwhelming. Plus the perfectionist in me would have liked to memorize every detail in each of the assigned readings if it could - which obviously I can't do. I don't think anyone can ever be completely ready for their lives to change. I am as prepared as I am and from here on in, I'll let the excitement reign.

MATirang MATibay

2009-06-17T00:28:00.004+08:00

...in English, that title would be something to the effect of, "He who is left is the most resilient/durable," but hey, this is about a yoga mat. :)

I posted on my previous blog about how in love I was with my Jade Yoga mat (the olive colored one).

Lately though I've been worried because wear has really been starting to show on it. I'd had the mat for a little less than a year when it had just begun to flake. That was a month ago and I'm currently using, shall we say, side B. I just noticed that wear has started to show on this side too. I guess eco mats, while having great grip, just can't take the punishment of a regular Ashtanga Yoga practice.

Don't get me wrong, I still love this mat. It's the best in it's price range, which is slightly higher-end. If you don't do a full practice practically everyday, then this yoga mat should be enough. If do practice that much and are willing to spend more (or just not willing to replace your mat every few months, like moi), then I guess we're in the same boat and have to go for a Manduka.

Good thing I ordered mine last week. It won't get here until the end of July though, so I won't see it until after my Yoga Teacher training. I hope this Jade mat holds up throughout the course... I'll let you know when I get the Manduka. ;-)

Just Moved In

2009-06-17T00:14:00.002+08:00

...from Trying to Wake. Hope you like it over here. I'll be incorporating my psych experiences as well as my yoga experiences into this blog. It's all going to be about what goes on in That Yoga Psyche. After all, yoga is a mindset - is a new beginning everyday - is a lifestyle.

See you!