No Stress: Pricey Yoga Mats Sell Briskly in Recession

No Stress: Pricey Yoga Mats Sell Briskly in Recession

Facts About Vitamin B12

Sponsored by Dr. Weil's Vitamin Advisor.

What is vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12, also known as cyanocobalamin, is a water-soluble vitamin that is part of the B vitamin family. B vitamins help support adrenal function, help calm and maintain a healthy nervous system, and are necessary for key metabolic processes. Vitamin B12 is important to DNA synthesis and maintaining healthy nerve cells.

Read the rest of the article here.

Donation: Cheap Yoga?

Have modern attitudes turned the donation tradition into just a way to get cheap yoga? By: Yogacharya

Even in not so ancient times, the passing of yogic knowledge from teacher to student was a reverential affair. The guru watched over their students with paternal love, while the student venerated their guru, ever-grateful for the immeasurable gifts of greater understanding that they were being given.

In sharing this gift of knowledge, the guru did not seek fame or personal fortune. The student, according to his or her own means, paid what ever they could afford. Kings and nobles paid gold and jewels, while peasants gave pennies. The guru did not see one as more giving than the other.

This donation was referred to as Guru Dakshina, which means “giving out of respect,” a “love offering” of utmost appreciation by the student to their teacher. (Read the rest of the article here.)

Ang Pancit... Bow.

INGREDIENTS
Fresh noodles, 500g
A handful of chopped cabbage
1 small carrots, julienned (yes, that's the more appropriate term for "cut into long thin strips")
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small white onion, chopped finely
About 1/2 cup each of chopped oyster mushroom, sliced shitake mushroom, and button mushroom.
1 cup of bean sprouts
2 tbsp of vegetarian oyster mushroom sauce, add more if you like.
2 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 tbsp light soy sauce
1/2-1 tsp chili garlic oil
dash of sesame oil
salt and pepper to taste

Stir fry everything except the noodles. In the last 1-2 minutes of cooking, add the noodles and mix well. Serve with a slice of lemon (mahal/expensive!!!) or calamansi on the side.

***

Attended a dance movement therapy conference last weekend. Interesting stuff.

Yoga to the People

Yoga to the People is a unique yoga studio with the goal of recapturing what we consider to be the essence of yoga… simply put, yoga made available to everyone.

In a time where yoga as a business is getting a lot of attention, the fact that it is being priced out of many people’s reach is in direct conflict with what we consider to be the spirit of yoga itself. The question our studio seeks to answer is: Can a yoga studio maintain itself as a business while keeping the focus of its intention on providing yoga as a service first and foremost?

Exactly what does “yoga for everyone” mean?
We’ve heard from people all over the country that they simply can’t afford to do yoga on a regular basis. Yoga is an amazing form of exercise that helps strengthen, stretch and de-stress the body and focus and decompress the mind. We want to make it possible for everyone to do yoga regardless of economic limitations.
Yoga is meant to help strengthen and stretch your arms and legs, not cost you one!

What does “donation basis” mean and how does it work?
A donation is the sacred act of giving. There is a suggested donation of $10 a class. Suggested donation means that if you can put $10 in the box, please do. If you are not in a position to do so, contribute what you can. Nobody will be keeping track of individual donations. The $10 dollar donation is not meant as a bottom or a top limit… if you are in a position to donate more, it will be greatly appreciated.

Who does this yoga?
Everyone. Really! The beauty of this yoga is that it is challenging enough for all, yet not too extreme and therefore accessible to everyone. The ages of our students have ranged from 10 to 80. Yoga has many benefits:

~People do yoga because it helps them look and feel great.

~Yoga helps tone and sculpt muscles while gaining strength, flexibility and balance.

~In a world of stress, yoga helps people decompress and achieve a sense of inner peace, aiding in healing injury or disease.

***
Download one of their free 60-minute classes here.

More on Guruji

Thanks M.

Our teacher Paul's tribute to Guruji...

In loving memory of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, "Guruji"

July 16, 1915 - May 18, 2009

(This is a personal account of my connection with a great teacher. For a more detailed biography of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois please read Alex Medin's very well written article about him, his life and work. Also view Barry Silver's pictorial to music.)

By Paul Dallaghan

Read the article here.

***

I learned from fellow YM teachers that Paul and I were born on the same day, May 19, with Paul older by 6 years. Good sign.

***

A beautiful photo tribute to Guruji from Ashtanga Yoyogi.

The Birthday Cake

"May you always have all you need to keep you well in this lifetime"

Thank you for all the kind words.

***

Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu

Om Shanti. Shanti. Shanti.

A Moment of Silence

For Guruji

Stir Fried Noodles

Lunch today. Story later. :-p

***
Congratulations to the UP Pep - Team Philippines for placing 3rd in the recently concluded 3rd Cheerleading Asia International Open.


You can watch their 1st day performance here. More photos from Markikoy18 here.

Laban Pilipinas!!!

Sangha: A Community Practice

No photos.

Just people.

Sunday practice.

Six bodies sweating.

Two usually practice every Sunday.

Four came to join this morning.

Two old friends from the Jagad-Soma days.

Two Ashtanga converts.

Bread, kaya and stories shared after.

Until the next one.

Om shanti, shanti, shanti.

***

Sangha (Pali: saṅgha; Sanskrit: संघ saṃgha; Wylie: 'dus sde) is a word in Pali or Sanskrit that can be translated roughly as "association" or "assembly," "company" or "community" with common goal, vision or purpose (Wikipedia).

Yoga in UP Diliman

For classes in UP Diliman, check out www.flowyogaqc.co.nr.

Photo by KQ.

Read about this photo at Marichu's blog.

Freeing the Dove

Riyadh 2007

Riyadh 2008

Manila 2009

The journey continues...

Tofu with 3 Mushroom Sauce

Tada!!! Dinner this evening. Perfect.

1 cup sliced fresh shitake mushrooms (1 pack from SM was 65php. It had 7 pieces and I only used 3)
1 cup sliced fresh oyster mushrooms (1 pack was 30php and I used half of it)
1 small can of button mushrooms (Less than 30php. I wanted to use fresh white mushrooms but it was expensive. There was portabello also but it was 200++ per pack. Maybe next time when I'm rich and famous)
3 cloves garlic, sliced into thin strips
1 small white onion, sliced thinly
1 tbsp fresh ginger, sliced into thin strips (about the same amount as the onion/garlic)
1 tbsp vegetarian oyster sauce
1 tbsp sweet soy sauce
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tsp brown sugar
Salt and pepper
Dash of dried chili flakes
1/2 tsp chili in oil
A handful of chopped fresh cilantro/coriander
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp water
4 small squares of hard tofu (tokwa here in the Philippines), sliced into strips, fried until golden brown and set aside.

Saute garlic, onion and ginger in some oil over high heat. Add the 3 mushrooms. Saute until they "sweat"... add the water and turn off the heat. Add the rest of the ingredients except the tofu. I didn't really just dump everything in... I added it one at a time and tasting to know what's missing.

So the actual method was, I added the vegetarian oyster sauce, dark soy sauce and sweet soy sauce. Tasted it. Still missing something.

Added salt and pepper. Still missing something.

Added the chili flakes. Still missing something.

Added sugar. Almost but not quite right.

Added chopped cilantro... almost... but still needs more... so I added more.

Thought it needed a little bit more chili so I added the chili in oil.

Now it's perfect.

In a plate, make a bed of steamed bokchoy then add the fried tofu strips on top and pour over the mushroom sauce. Serve with steamed red rice and enjoy with a glass of your favorite drink.

Cheers.

Tofu Stir Fry and Organic Red Rice

One thing that I actually love being home is that I can get organic rice and vegetables fairly easily. A bit pricey for an average Filipino but hey it's organic. Whatever that means. I'm not really that strict when it comes to my food. As long they don't breath through the nose and the gills, move and react to touch, I'm ok with it. :-p

The Lung Center Sunday market is only a jeepney away from where I live and if I try not to be lazy, it's actually a nice Sunday morning walk to the market.

I tried it once last January though it ever happened again as I've been sleeping late on Saturday nights and do my full practice Sunday morning.

This wasn't my lunch today. It's one of last month's meals. Now that I have a fridge, I should be cooking more often. The only problem now is that the kitchen is small and only one person can use it at a time. Anyway, we'll see.

I'm thinking of making tofu with 3 mushroom sauce for dinner later. If the tamas win, then it will be spaghetti and tomato sauce again. Very exciting, aye? At least I make fresh tomato sauce.

Now for tofu stir fry and steamed red rice.

2 small tofu squares (I get the one from SM or Landmark, 2 small squares for only 25php, about half a dollar), cut into strips and fry until golden brown. Set aside.

Mixed vegetables. A cup each of thinly-sliced cabbage, carrots, and bean sprouts.

A clove or 2 of garlic, minced.

1 medium white onion, about the size of a ping-pong ball or golf ball, sliced thinly.

Salt and pepper to taste.

3-4 tablespoons Stir fry Sauce (choose from vegetarian oyster sauce, dark/light soy sauce, sweet soy sauce, hoisin sauce, teriyaki sauce, mushroom sauce - or a combination. Be creative. Key is to add little by little until you get the taste that suits you.)

Some chili garlic sauce or kick.

===

Only had one class this morning in Makati. Gela apprentices in my Tuesday morning class and when only YM teachers come for practice, I usually ask her to just do her practice. But today, Maritoni, a co-YM teacher, suggested that I practice instead and let Gela teach the class so we could already give her an assessment.

Honestly, it was music to my ear... hehehe. Who wouldn't want to practice instead?

Thus, today was an easy day. Full practice but went light on the vinyasas because I had a tooth extraction last Saturday.

I might go to UP later to watch the UP Pep Team Philippines practice their routine for the Asian Championships this weekend if I'm not mistaken. They'll be leaving for Japan on Thursday and today will be my last chance to see their routine before the competition.

I teach yoga to the UP Pep Squad regularly and man, some of them can do crazy stuffs with their body. I was originally planning on teaching them "Mysore" but with 60 cheerleaders attending the once-a-week class, I thought it would be best to just do led.

Always, I remind them that yoga is not gymnastics. Sure they can do headstand and handstand easily but is the breath calm? The mind quiet and focused? More than anything else, I wanted them to learn that yoga is about being present. In sports psychology, it's about being able to achieve the state of flow.

Oneness in the breath, body and mind.

Here's a photo of the team doing asanas on their dual-purpose puzzle mats.

2 mats attached together = yoga mat.

Several mats attached together in a line = tumbling mat

4 mats attached to form a square = stunting mats

All the mats attached forming a rectangle = safety mat

Good luck UP Pep! Eat more veggies and make us proud!

Happy Mother's Day

Saraswathi was born in 1941 and practiced steadily under the guidance of her father Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from the age of 10-22. She was the first girl ever to be permitted admission to the Sanskrit College in Mysore where she studied the basic Sanskrit works and learnt yoga from her father. For many years she assisted her father, but since 1975 she has been teaching her own classes. In 1986 she created a little Yoga revolution here in Mysore by being the first woman ever to teach men and women together. Saraswathi welcomes all yoga students who come to Mysore. She is the steady link in the Jois family that looks after her father as well as her son, keeps them in line and makes sure they behave properly.

For Saraswathi Yoga has always been the major influence of her life. Playfully she begun exploring various Yoga postures from an early age, but took up a consistent practice from the age of ten. At the age of twenty-two her mother fell really sick and got admitted to hospital. Saraswati naturally took on all household responsibilities and cared for her mother as well as her younger brothers. Her asana practice suffered a little, but she grew strong in other areas of Yoga. (Read more about Saraswathi here.)

The mother of modern day Ashtanga Yoga.

Here's a youtube tribute to the Divine Mother.

Mother and Child
(Mama and Johann)

To all mothers who may come across this entry... HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Pancit Habhab

This famous street food from Lucban, Quezon, is not really vegetarian friendly. Like most dishes here in the Philippines, it is mixed with pork and shrimp bits and the noodles is cooked in pork broth. A hair-raising experience for vegetarians really.

With a little imagination and the help of Knorr mushroom stock cube from Thailand, I was able to make a vegetarian version of pancit habhab.

I can't exactly remember the quantity of the ingredients that I used so here's a rough list of what you'll need.

Carrots, sliced thinly
bean sprouts
cabbage, chopped
garlic
onion
salt and pepper to taste
some fried tofu
mushroom stock cube (just use any vegetable stock cube that you can find -- eerrr that's good luck to us who are in the Philippines, although Knorr ginisa mix is now meat-free. I checked the label. It has MSG though. I'd say make your own stock but we live in the Big City so why bother? We'll all die anyway - ok it's the full moon.)
6 tablespoons soy sauce
Calamansi to taste

450g pancit habhab cooked in 4 cups of water with 1 mushroom stock cube. Drained.

Stir fry the vegetables, add another stock cube, soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste. Either serve over the noodles or mix it together. Serve with calamansi and extra soy sauce on the side. For a true habhab experience, drizzle it with spiced vinegar.

Enjoy.

*** For a meaty experience, add slices of shitake mushroom and if you buy the dried ones, the water where you soak the dried mushroom can be used as your stock.

Ok I'm out of here. Still have a dentist appoinment at 2pm. Ciao.

Guruji

Dedicated this morning's practice to Guruji. According to the KPJAYI website, he has been admitted to the ICU.

Love... peace... and light.

Om.

Upcoming Workshops

An Introduction to the Practice of Pranayama
Yoga Manila Ortigas (Chi Spa, EDSA Shangri La)
May 11, 16, 18, 23 (Mondays @ 5:30pm & Saturdays @ 8:00am)
Click here for more details.

Beginner's Yoga: An Introduction to Ashtanga
Yoga Manila Ortigas (Chi Spa, EDSA Shangri La)
July 21, 25, 28, August 1, 4, 7, 11, 15 (Tuesdays @ 6:30pm & Saturdays @ 9:00am)
Click here for more details.

I bow to the lotus feet of the guru
who awakens insight into the happiness of pure Being,
who is the final refuge, like the jungle physician,
who eliminates the delusion caused by the poisonous
herb of samsara [conditioned existence].

I prostrate before the sage Patanjali
who has thousands of radiant, white heads
[in his form as the divine serpent, Ananta]
and who has, as far as his arms,
assumed the form of a man holding a conch shell [divine sound],
a wheel [discus of light, representing infinite time]
and a sword [discrimination].

om