RECENT GLOBAL YOGA MALA 2012 ROCKWELL GROVE
Watch the Video:
LINK: Global Mala 2012., (Opening Video)
SCHEDULE
- CLASS SCHEDULE
If you’re lucky enough to find what you love, you must have the courage to live it.
The first time I did yoga was back in 2010 through Al Galang of Bikram Greenhills. He gave me free passes. Since then my love affair with yoga has been on and off with me constantly wondering if I’ll be happier with Pilates, Crossfit, Zumba, Running and Swimming, I still do all of the aforementioned activities but it is with Yoga that I have felt most at home.
The search is over.
Now that Im back in it thanks to my latest commitment in Bliss Studio at Jupiter Makati, I plan to pursue my practice until I can do all the invertions. I will even teach, eventually. For now though, I am just an eager student.
Which is why when I was invited to join the Global Yoga Mala by my Bliss classmate and good friend JM, I jumped at the chance.
Fellow yogi Dexter Tan was also with us (JM). He’s one of the most disciplined and committed yogi’s I’ve met (and have the pleasure to call friend). He’s now a certified teacher too. Proud of this guy, he’s come a long way in his practice and it really shows not just physically, but in his entirety.
Coffee for quick spike before the traditional 102 NAMASKARS: A two hour worth of 102 Sun salutations that took a toll on my wrists
Dexter’s signature headtstand. A true Ashtanger!
w/soul sister JM as we prep up for the 102 Namaskars (Sun salutations)
JM is one of my first friends in Bliss Yoga. She’s a herbalist and Ive learned a lot of neat tricks from her, including natural breast enhancement (that is a discussion for another post). Also a longtime friend of Dexter, we make an interesting trio. A baby (ME) a seeker (JM) and a strict practitioner (Dexter).
102 Surya Namaskars: 2 hours of Sun salutations. Hurts damn good
This was the first class. Sun salutations are simple enough but when repeated 1o2 times and without pause it becomes a serious challenge. It took a toll on my wrist which forced me to use my knuckles on my succeeding classes to mitigate the pressure placed upon them.
Vinyasa Class: The staple style of the event
Anyone who has the willingness to participate can do Vinyasa. This is what Im immersing in now. The next stage is Ashtanga which focuses more on invertions and independent flow. Thats what Dexter practices.
Modeling break in between classes. I had to leave for final casting
I had to leave after the 102 Surya Namaskar to attend a final casting. Girl needs to work to fund her passion y’know. I came back for the Drumming workshop which was held at the same time with Yoga and Chocolates, a sponsored Vinyasa class by VanHouten Chocolates.
Drumming workshop: Later on at the Trance dance class my hand literally swelled. Drummed for a good 30 minutes or so. This is serious music.
It was also taught at the same venue as the Poi workshop.
Poi workshop: Reminded me of my majorette days back when I was 10.
They ran out of drums for me and I didn’t really feel like doing Poi so I just dragged my lovely teacher at Golds Gym and Bliss yoga, Donna Nufuente to try out our signature Tofullete at Cocogreen and Co (www.cocogreen.ph) at the tent to catch-up.
Came back to bring Donna, my favorite and prettiest teacher in Bliss Yoga our signature Tofulette at Cococgreen and Co (Cocogreen.ph)
You’ll never believe this girl’s 30. She looks younger than me for crying out loud. Hey then again, you won’t see a yogi that isn’t youthful. When you’re constantly practicing and integrating zen in your life, it just emanates…
Manduka brand: Luxury yoga (Such an oxymoron)
Yoga in Manila is a lifestyle, and when I say that I don’t mean way of life as it should be, I mean it as a status. Which is sad because in India where it was founded, it’s for everyone. Here though only a few can afford it, precisely because of the way it is marketed. Im looking forward to the day that Yoga in the Philippines would be available to the majority, not just the “can affords”
Roughly 2000 Php for a cotton sports bra
Around 7000 Php for a Manduka bag
The first time I was exposed to yoga, I was modeling for the first ever Global Yoga Mala back in 2010 at Fully Booked, the Fort. It was there that I met one of the teachers, he was indian and shame on me for forgetting his name but I asked him why Yoga was so expensive when it teaches humility and simplicity. It was then that he told me that only in Manila was Yoga considered a luxury, because only a few had access to it and these limited individuals happen to be a a part of the higher class of the socialphere. He advised me to take limited classes and try to practice on my own to save on cost but as Im sure a lot of you can relate with, yoga practice alone when you’re a beginner is boring. You’d probably end up sleeping after the third pose, (I did).
Good thing Al gave me those free passes at Bikram yoga Greenhills. Then, I could not afford to splurge on the hot yoga’s 5500php unli-class a month as I was just starting out on my career and most of my income came from my not so stable modeling work. Since then as Ive mentioned, Ive tried a lot of sports and fitness regimens but in the end, I found myself back in yoga. At Bliss studio to be exact under Roland Dela Cruz, who is by far, the loveliest person I have ever met.
If you’re lucky enough to know him, you’ll know what I mean. Very few people can make you feel special without even trying. For Roland, love is just so natural that he has no problem extending it to anyone. He’s pursuing his journey right now to raise funds for breast cancer, please support him by visiting his blog at www. globalmandala.com
Now that I can afford it, I definitely cannot imagine a week without yoga.
It keeps my anxiety issues at bay and slows down my thoughts. I needed that grounding…
Here are the merchants in the venue:
Messy Bessy Sponsors: Natural home cleaners:
I met the people behind Messy Bessy when I was still in Miss Philippines Earth back in 2010. This is an organization that supports education among less fortunate children by providing them free schooling. In return they help make the Messy Bessy line. It’s an all natural set of cleaners. It’s good stuff for an even greater cause. I would know.
Natural snacks and additives available in the event. I bought Chia seeds for 1,700 Php (Splurge!) and they gave me a free stevia sweetened dark chocolate (treat!)
I had to buy Chia seeds because I need it to build muscle mass. (Im beginning to feel to feel like a skinny boy) It’s perfect for raw juices, you may see our concoctions at www.cocogreen.ph as we do use them. It’s a superfood and it’s high in protein and fiber. I know it’s expensive but if you spend 3000Php on whey and all that artificial adrenaline boosters to enhance your performance, I don’t see why you’d scrimp on natural additives that provides you similar benefits without the side effects.
More affordable yoga ensembles by Urban Ashram
Their prices ranges from 750-3000 Php depending on the design. I am convince that Cocogreen must bring in a yoga line that provides option for those who wants a variety in their yoga gear but doesn’t want to splurge. JM agrees, time to hit Bangkok once more where all the good garments come cheap.
Edgy veggie in the house: Their vegetarian lasagna is to die for
I had Edgy veggie for lunch and dinner. I love the food, love the people behind them and given the chance Id definitely bite into their menu again.
Most generous sponsor, they taste like Cadbury
Van Houten is responsible for the Yoga and Chocolates class. They also kept me alive during my energy lows during the yogathon.
Hello endorphins on a partee!
I participated in the Yoga for Athletes after the 102 Surya Namaskars. It was a gentle class as most athletes who don’t regularly do yoga tend to have tight muscles and would not be able to keep up with a thorough power class. It also warmed me up enough for Roland’s Bhakti Urban flow without draining me of my strength.
Roland adjusting one of the students in the Bhakti session
The Bhakti Class is a more spiritual type of Vinyasa hosted by my own studio, Bliss yoga. It was my favorite event of the day and probably one of the toughest too. This is accompanied by soothing meditative music, probably to cushion the intensity of each pose.
Last would be the Trance Dance by Global Mala proponent Teresa Herera who we are blessed to have in Manila as she popularized yoga enough for it to gain mass scale attention. If it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have this event.
Trance Yoga by Teresa Herera, the mind behind the Global yoga male project
The trance dance, one of the most awaited classes in the event begins as a form of gentle meditation not far from Bhakti but builds up energy until it comes into what we can only call as Yoga disco.
Or Bohemian jazz…
Even gypsy zumba…
As you can see, I was really feeling the rythymn and the collective energy in this dance. No pretense,nevermind the steps, just me and the music in my soul.
Just remembering it makes me want to do it all over again.
All of the Global Mala’s proceeds goes to charity .