The Attack of Vata

Yesterday morning... panicked because I thought I lost my organizer including Monday's class fees. So instead of going straight to Makati for my 7:30am class, I took a cab to EDSA Shang and check if I left it there. Found it in the mat cabinet. So thank Ganesh, the obstacle was removed.

Today... lost my mobile phone. Must have slipped from my pocket. I was on my way to UP for the final processing of my medical clearance when I realized that the phone wasn't in my pocket nor in my bag. Thought I just left it at home so I went home and check. Nada!

Felt nothing really but thought "darn, now I have to get a new one." I had that N6230 for almost 8 years now and for me, it was a symbol of contentment. Before that, I'd change units almost every 3 months getting the latest and coolest mobile phone that was available. It travelled with me everywhere... Korea, Macau, Saudi, Singapore, Thailand, India. Now it's gone. Well, maybe the person who got it really needs it so I will let it be.

I'm feeling the vata really even before yesterday... forgetting things... feeling agitated over simple things... getting carried away by the pace of people running to get into the train... always moving... never settling.

Oh well... need to get sesame oil massage soon.

For more signs of vata imbalance, read here.

Ciao.

Raw Zucchini Pasta with Pesto

I finally have a spiralizer that works, so I made zucchini pasta.

Made a Pesto sauce with : Cashews - Basil - Cilantro - a bit of Olive Oil and a dash of Celtic Sea Salt.

For garnish just tossed some finely chopped cilantro on it and a squish of lemon.
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A friend I met in Mysore is into raw food diet and she sent me this recipe. I had to google "spiralizer".

It's a must for every raw food kitchen and it's used at raw-food restaurants around the world. This spiralizer (spiral slicer or saladacco) quickly and easily turns almost any firm vegetable (or fruit) into spaghetti-like strands, translucent long ribbons, thin slices, julienne strips, or tiny cubes. This also can be used as a garnishing machine or slicer.

Make the most incredible raw pasta by spiralizing zucchini and other squashes into thin strings -- angel hair pasta! Add a little raw pesto or marinara and you have the perfect meal.

Make delicious raw food snacks by spiralizing apples into thin uniform slices. Place in the dehydrator and you have awesome apple chips for you and your kids. (Ani's Kitchen Store)

I think we have it here in the Philippines but since I don't have my own kitchen yet, investing on kitchen tools at the moment isn't really a good idea. Having one though would surely make preparing healthy meals fun.

Cheers.

Yoga Retreat in Lake Sebu, Philippines

The Dining Area

The Yoga Hall

The Accommodation (cheapest option)

More comfy accommodation

Study cottages

The view from the resort.

Ok, that's my dream. To conduct yoga retreats in the different parts of the Philippines. Still a wishful thinking really but not impossible.

Do you like practicing yoga in an island by the beach? By a lake? Or in a mountain resort overlooking the Davao gulf? You can choose from over 7,100 islands. Do you want somewhere where there's still life after the morning practice? Or do you want an isolated place with no power at night? Name it, we have it.

Welcome to Yoga in the Philippines.

Our feature place for today is Lake Sebu.

Named as the Summer Capital of South Cotabato, Lake Sebu is home to the T'boli tribe. Sadly however, with the denudatation of the surrounding forests much of the beauty that Lake Sebu was 15 or so years ago when I first visited the place has vanished. Still there is something to offer for someone adventurous enough to venture into its remote areas. Situated almost 3000 feet above sea level, the climate is cool and the air is still fresh. Occassionally, one can still see T'boli women wearing their traditional attire. The traditional weaving of the t'nalak (fabric made of abaca fiber)is still around. But what makes people still go and visit Lake Sebu is the flavor of the fresh tilapia, caught from the lake to the grill, the taste is almost heavenly.

How to get there

With the concreting of the road leading up to Lake Sebu, it is now very easy to visit the place. Gone were those days when it took almost four hours over dirt roads and rivers that overflow during the rainy season, now it's less than 30 minutes.

From the capital city of Koronadal, one passes thru the towns of Banga and Surallah. Just a little farther from the poblacion of Surallah is a junction to the left going to the town of T'boli and a little farther is another junction to the left going to Lake Sebu.

Waypoint narrative by: madzie_ph 2002

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Ok, I'm still wide awake but the mind is already in dreamland. Time to go to bed. Maybe when I wake up tomorrow, all of these will come true.

Goodnight.

Gourmet Tofu Sandwich

Yes, sir! That's for dinner with arugula and mixed greens salad on the side. Was planning to make pancit habhab again but remembered that I still have foccacia bread in the fridge.

INGREDIENTS
1 6-inch foccacia bread
Fried tofu (bought the 25php tokwa from Landmark, sliced it crosswise and fried it)
Tomato slices
Cucumber slices
your favorite cheese
salt and pepper to taste
mayonnaise
dijon mustard

You don't really need an instruction on how to make the sandwich, do you? :-p

Salad: mix of arugula and romaine lettuce (green and red/violet), 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss and serve on the side.

Now the mind is still deliberating what to wash it down with... the choices are:

(a) coke zero
(b) lemon ginger ale
(c) alkaline water, or
(d) ice cold sanmig light

The Goku and the Ozaru inside are fighting.

Jaya Ganesha Jaya Ganesha

We chanted this twice a day during morning and evening satsang.

For some reasons, I also have this in my ipod.

I find myself playing it every morning while I prepare to go to Makati.

I feel like going back to the ashram.

Manila is too noisy.

Makes me think if I have lost my focus.

Maybe I just need to chant Jaya Ganesha everyday.

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jaya ganesha, jaya ganesha, jaya ganesha pahiman

sri ganesha, sri ganesha, sri ganesha rakshaman

Click here for the rest of the lyrics.

Ashtanga Minus the Hype: Real people do yoga

Om

The doctor in warrior.

Joji

...

My inorganic chemistry professor in headstand.

Om

*****

It's good to be back and reconnect with old friends. This is where I used to teach yoga before I moved to the Middle East. They were one of my motivations to get further education in yoga.

When I moved to Riyadh, I asked my friend Joji to take over the classes. Every time I'd come home for vacation, I'd always see to it that I teach a class or two. Slowly, I introduced them to ashtanga (I used to teach flow) and the mysore-style of practice. They were very receptive and it's wonderful to see how their practices have evolved.

Professors, academic personnel, and non-teaching staff from the different parts of the university come together every Monday and Thursday afternoon in a make-shift shala at the Palma Hall Annex in UP Diliman to practice together for wellness, peace, and friendship.

For Joji's schedule in QC, please visit www.flowyogaqc.co.nr.

Click here for more photos of the workshop.

SHOUT OUT TO Chona: Thanks for taking the photos.

The Yogin

A light and funny way to remind us that yoga isn't all about perfecting the asanas.

Thanks M.

David Swenson's Primary Series

I first learned the full primary series through David's primary series video courtesy of my teachers at the former Jagad Yoga Shala.

Although how he teaches some asanas in the video contradicts what I learned from Paul & Neil -- like straightening the legs and lifting the heels in kurmasana (although I think it helps in some way) -- watching his video again reminded me of the time when I was just starting this journey.

Hope you find inspiration in David like I did.

Happy Easter.

Summer Teaching Schedule

Yoga Manila Ortigas (Chi Spa, EDSA Shangri La)

Mon
3:00-4:15pm Ashtanga Lite for Teens (April 13-May 21 only)
6:30-8:30pm Led-ashtanga/Mysore

Tue
6:30-8:30pm Mysore

Wed
5:15-6:30pm Slow Flow
6:30-8:30pm Mysore

Thu
3:00-4:15pm Ashtanga Lite for Teens (April 13-May 21 only)

Sat
9:00-11:00am Led-ashtanga/Mysore

Yoga Manila Makati (Unit 506 Greenbelt Mansion, Perea St.)

Tue 7:30-9:30am Mysore
Thu 7:30-9:30am Mysore
Fri 7:30-9:30am Mysore

Drop-in
6-class card
10-class card

P500
P2200
P3500

Class cards are good for 3 months from date of purchase, valid at all locations, and non-transferable. Kids’ yoga class fees are the same as regular classes. Prices are subject to change without prior notice.

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Pranayama Workshop

Explore yogic breathing as you learn to regulate the breath in this workshop. See how it affects the body in more ways than the physical – as it calms the brain, reduces stress and improves concentration.

Module 1 April 18 Sat 8-9am
April 20 Mon 5:30-6:30pm
April 25 Sat 8-9am

April 27 Mon 5:30-6:30pm

Module 2 May 11 Mon 5:30-6:30pm
May 16 Sat 8-9am
May 18 Mon 5:30-6:30pm
May 23 Sat 8-9am

Php 2000 per module

* If you want to take the asana class after, simply add P350 or use your class cards *

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Beginner's Yoga: An Introduction to Ashtanga Yoga
(Ortigas, to be taught by Connie Ponce)

Beginners or those wanting to revisit the basics are invited to attend the "Beginners’ Yoga: Introduction to Ashtanga" series of classes.

These modules of 8 classes held over 4 weeks, will guide the student through the fundamentals of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga.

A step-by-step approach will be taken, with each class building upon the poses and topics previously covered. This will prepare the student to confidently join any of the scheduled Mysore or Led Ashtanga classes.

Classes will be on Tuesdays at 630pm and Saturdays at 9am on the following dates:

April 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, May 2, 5, 9

Php 4,000 per module

Space is limited so it would be best for interested students to sign up soonest.

For other details, please visit www.yogamanila.com

From Asana to Action

Just my little way of influencing social change. Fellow YM teacher Berta forwarded this to me and thought it would be good to post in here since this blog has been about yoga, vegetarianism and the Philippines.

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"Yoga is about creating community, relationship, and connections, and service is inevitably about that, too. We have the responsibility to create an environment where all people can be abundant, happy, and free." - Sean Corn

"Yoga is social activism. What affects one of us affects all of us." - Ashley Turner

Read Sara Avant Stover's YJ Article on Social Activism here.

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SAVE BOAYAN!

Dear Friends, Friends of friends, and all those who visited Boayan, were touched by the beauty and simplicity of the place, who were attracted by our efforts to live in harmony with nature, our efforts to protect the forest and the sea, to protect the creatures who live and reproduce in and around Boayan: the vulnerable Tabon Bird the endangered sea turtles, the highly endangered Philippine cockatoo the palawan hornbills, parrots and eagles the squirrels and bayawaks the monkeys and many more. we may need your help to be allowed to continue protecting, preserving this natural haven. to be allowed to continue our small quiet projects with the community.

Please look at the link http://www.boayan.org/

WE OBJECT TO THE DESTRUCTION OF BOAYAN ISLAND AT THE HANDS OF BIG DEVELOPERS!

WE SUPPORT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MARINE AND FOREST RESERVE IN DAPLAC COVE, BOAYAN ISLAND!

WE SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMUNITY BASED SUSTAINABLE ECO TOURISM OWNED AND RUN BY THE COMMUNITIES NOT BY BIG TIME DEVELOPERS!

WE OBJECT TO THE FENCING IN AND PRIVATISATION OF ALL ISLANDS, LEAVE SOME FREE SPACE FOR NATURE TO TAKE CENTER STAGE!

Send in by email or postcards to: the DENR, addressed to the secretary, Jose L. Atienza Jr. osec@denr.gov.ph hea@denr.gov.ph usecnccc@denr.gov.ph

to the PCSD addressed to the Executive Director, Romeo B. Dorado oed@pcsd.ph

to the Governor of Palawan and chairman of the PCSD, Gov. Joel T. Reyes palawan@palawan.gov.ph

to WWF Philippines kkp@wwf.org.ph

Thanks so much for your time and support!

Ditchay
Ma. Mercedes E. Roxas

YM Teachers go Surfing

The journey begins

The gods send their blessings.

Vakratunda mahakaya
kotisurya samaprava
nirvighnam kurume deva
sarvakaryesu sarvada

Yoga before surfing.

Hoze takes his board.

Watching the Baler boys do their stuffs.

Maritoni talking to Chris, one of the Baler boys.

and the sun sets.

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To know more about Baler, Aurora, click here.

Thanks to Alex A. for inviting us. Until our next ride.

For surf + yoga + poi, visit the Philippine SPY Academy website. (Don't know them really... just came across their multiply site.)

Intro to Pranayama

April 18 to 27 (module 1) & May 11 to 23 (module 2)
Mondays 530 to 630p & Saturdays 8 to 9am at the Ortigas Studio

Explore yogic breathing as you learn to regulate the breath in this workshop. See how it affects the body in more ways than the physical – as it calms the brain, reduces stress and improves concentration.

Php 2000 per module

* If you want to take the asana class after, simply add P350 or use your class cards *

Visit the Yoga Manila website for regular class schedule and other upcoming workshops.