Showing posts with label UP Pep Squad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UP Pep Squad. Show all posts

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Winter is definitely here

Two days.  That's how long the snow stayed last week.  After 48 hours, it melted and it just rained days after.

Winter is late this year in Finland.  The Levi World Cup in Lapland was canceled because there was no snow.

As I ride my bike every day, I can't help but be grateful for this experience.  I am in an environment where my both academic and yogic growth are supported.  In the midst of this impending darkness (I have been told that at the peak of Finnish winter, the sun comes out for only 4 hours a day), the mind is clear and the future looks bright.

***

This weekend, Astanga Jyväskylä had Magnus Appelberg as visiting teacher.  He had a similar aura with Paul.  The energy was light and he was always smiling.  I also stayed after practice to listen to him explain some practice points.  Although he spoke mostly in Finnish, Susanna was very helpful that she explained everything to me in English.

***

Yesterday, two more animals were released, the crocodile and the horse.  Today, the gate was opened and Nandi appeared.  And then the sleeping thunderbolt was awakened to welcome the 7 kings.


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Went to our sunday meditation group and on my way back, the snow was 6 inches deep! I was ecstatic and began throwing snow balls at friends.  It was amazing.


Thank you Finland.


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Today must be a very special day.  I completed the intermediate series, the UP Pep Squad represented the country in the 6th Cheerleading World Championships in Hong Kong and they won the bronze in the cheer mixed category, a first for the Philippines in this competition, and, I experienced my first true winter.


 

This heart has nothing but gratitude.

OM

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Vegetable au gratin... and the UP Pep Squad

Vegetable au gratin is French style baked casserole.  This was served at Lozzi the previous week.  As I mentioned in the previous post, student meal is cheap at the University I have always eaten lunch on campus on weekdays.  They had a beautiful vegetable-filled pancakes and veggie patties last week but I didn't have the courage to take out my camera to take a photo of my food.  The cafeteria was full of people and I didn't want to look like an geek taking photos of his food.  Talk about self-presentation issues.

For 2.50 euros, I had two scoops of the vegetable au gratin and took as much salad as I wanted.  I also mentioned that bread is unlimited but I saw a sign in Lozzi that you can take only 3 slices of bread.  It didn't say how big a slice should be so it's rather relative.  Two slices are usually enough for me.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

The Cosmic Dancer

 
Stillness...
 
Surrender...

 
To Nataraja...

the Devas...

 
...

and Devis...

We prostrate...

***
And the yogi danced again...



***
Thanks to Christian Bautista, Miko Cuenca, Mapat Ferrer for the photos and Leydee09 for the video.
***
Om, Om, Om.

Friday, February 19, 2010

UP Vice Chancellor for Community Affairs shares tofu recipe

Tofu with Chinese Celery by VC Grace Gregorio.

INQUIRER.net VDO - Inquirer.net

 


 Watch the UP Pep Squad Concert: Elevate 10 on February 26, 2010. 3pm and 7pm.  Tickets @ 100php only.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Flow


Ebbing and flowing continually, the Game is like a great ocean. Like water, it can't be stopped or controlled or redirected or possessed by the human hand or mind. Its movement can't be dictated or changed: it is.

Be aware of your place in this movement, take part in and enjoy its subtle rhythms. Every point, every shot, every moment is part of a continuum, a stepping stone, a bridge.

Like ocean's waves, there's always a next one.

Compete from within, without expectations, accepting that whatever you do will have its effect on the whole in some way; the rest will take care of itself.

Step back, let events take their course.

Swim against the current and you'll drown.

Swim with it and it will carry you wherever you're going.

- Bob Mitchell, The Tao of Sports, #10, p12.

===

Congatulations to the UP Pep Squad for placing third in this afternoon's 2009 UAAP Cheerdance Competition.

Mabuhay ang ISKOLAR NG BAYAN!

Friday, July 31, 2009

Shameless plugging...


Photos by Bob Mata.

Model: Ehem...

===

I haven't read the article though. My friend Fritz mentioned that he was interviewed for this issue. He teaches regularly at South Studio in Davao.

Fritz was a member of the first batch of Team Yoga, a SEA Games medalist for Sport Aerobics, Les Mills certified instructor, and a certified UP Pep Squad alumnus. Trained by Bela Lipat in Ashtanga, taught in Yoga One in Cebu for several years, before deciding to come home to Davao.
Fritz completed his 200-hour yoga teacher training from Fitness First Asia.



More of Bob's photos here.

Monday, May 18, 2009

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!!!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

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.

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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!