

Location : Cebu City, Philippines
MWF Evening Class
Veer (Vaibhav Rana) holds an MWF yoga class at CitiGym consisting of programs for strength, mobility, endurance, power and flexibility. It's a mix of theory, workshop, techniques, kriyas (completed repetitive movement), kramas (full exploration of a base asana) and led-classes (rarely). He teaches other classes, but these are the ones I attend. He introduces whole new concepts in yoga I've never encountered before - e.g. "no thought" yoga where you spontaneously do a kriya without making room for thought (this way, instinct takes over). I am amazed how he can weave together stand-alone disciplines - body anatomy, asana, mudra, bandha and pranayama into a seamless singularity.
YogiVeers
I've been with the class for nearly 3 months now and I see the same faces showing up regularly. This is a different set of practitioners - not like the ones I've seen with the many yoga classes I've attended (over 10 years and counting). These guys are highly motivated (showing up as early as an hour before class to warm-up), have a strong resolve (pushing themselves to their limits) and focused with their goals (often perfecting an asana or specific skill set - eg. arm balances). I've seen them fall and then come back up again, fall and unrelentingly come back again. I myself would fall several times, and with my head still on the floor, I'll look at them and they're still banging at it. I feel privileged to be in their company. The collective energy in the class is infectious and supportive. And like them, we are all big fans of our teacher, Veer - we fondly call ourselves YogiVeers.
Can't Get Enough
Personally, I can't get enough of the practice. Even when I was injured and couldn't participate (awkward landing on a handstand), I'd still show up for class even if only to take down notes. Lately, I'd setup my digicam to video the entire class - my archive is growing. I'd read-up, watch YouTube videos and refine some vinyasa flow. I'm completely stoked.
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You guys are lucky you have me. If I want the same level of performance for MY practice, who do I have? -- Veer (Vaibhav Rana) *** talking to his MWF class YogiVeers |
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Back to Teaching
At home, I would review the video and develop my own sequence and later on, use them on a class I'm teaching. Teaching gives me an opportunity to apply what I've learned. I only teach once a week (whoever wants me to sub for them), no more, as I want to use my time to further my own practice.
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This is the only class where if you come on time, you're already late. -- Veer (Vaibhav Rana) *** referring to his MWF Master Class where students usually come an hour early to start warming up |
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Performance
From a performance perspective, when I attend other 'led' yoga classes (not by Veer), particularly Ashtanga classes where the sequence is set (and therefore serves as an excellent benchmark), I begin to appreciate my gains. I am surprised at my newfound strength, endurance and flexibility. These gains motivate me to even push my practice harder.
Injuries
As I write this, I am nursing a few injuries. Injury is something people don't usually talk about, as if it's taboo. Let me put 'injuries' in perspective here. To me, injury is simply part of the landscape if you push yourself at this level. With leveling-up, you start doing things you've never done before - and nobody does it perfect the first time, right? It's not because the teacher is clueless, it's not because yoga is injurious. If I practice yoga on 'safe mode' (instead of leveling-up), I can get away with no injury (as I've done so for many years). It's not just yoga, but in any sport or activity. If you push your limits to the next level, injuries are inevitable. It happens in mountain biking, free-diving, roller blading, etc.
Managing Injuries
The extent of the injuries can be manageble though. Example: I'm willing to risk a moderate crash on a mountain bike to traverse a technical trail - worst case, I might get a sprain. But I've met Simon (a downhill rider) who has become very good at riding bikes at breakneck speed, but at the expense of two broken collar bones, broken ribs, fractured arms, etc. - I'm not willing to take those risks in order for me to be as good as him. That's where I draw the line. The challenge is, knowing where your limits are, to calculate how much risk you're taking. Then, finding the restraint to let the body heal, if you do get an injury.
Ending Thoughts
Veer's days in Cebu are numbered, but he left us a reassuring message - that before he leaves, he will see to it that he gives us enough on our plate to pursue our practice in his absence. Yes, I find that reassuring. Combined with the videos I've taken of the yoga classes, I feel confident I can carry on. Moreover, the YogiVeers will be there to keep the fire burning.
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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Donation Bank
Yes, Veer, we are indeed lucky to have you here as our teacher! Many many thanks!
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More on Cebu City:
Cebu City to Camotes Islands
Camotes Islands to Cebu City
Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat
Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)
Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol
Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran
Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
More on Cebu Province:
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