Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2014 > May
Activity > Yoga

May 9, 2014

Teaching Yoga

Location : Cebu City, Philippines

Back to Teaching
With all the new things I'd been learning from my yoga teacher, Veer, from the readings and pick-your-brains with friends, from candid yoga talks with Jeanne, I deepen my practice. Although I stopped teaching yoga to further my practice, it makes sense to teach yoga again if only to translate into a teaching format, everything I'm learning. By going back into teaching, I feel like a messenger with a new message to convey.

New Weekly Sequence
I prepare a new sequence every week, incorporating whatever I've learned, continuously refining what I want to get across. Without putting effort into a new yoga sequence, it's easy to fall into a yoga teaching rut. Invariably, my yoga evolves into something different from the usual studio offerings. Somehow, I ended up teaching 2 classes a week - Holiday Gym and a private class. The gym setting is more of a Russian Roulette - you don't know who's going to show up. In the private class, I see the same faces, so I can more or less establish a relationship and monitor their practice.

Lesson for the Day
A new addition to my sequence is to add a Lesson for the Day which they can use outside the mat, in their day to day lives. I make the effort to explain. It adds time to the practice so it's hard in a studio setting with only an hour to spare. Example: Why do we keep a calm awareness as we ride the breath while sustaining a difficult pose? Is it just aesthetics? I then have to explain the body's flight or fight response (sympathetic nervous system) and the body's ability to re-engage in relax mode to resume the involuntary processes - recovery, healing, digestion (parasympathetic nervous system). Outside the mat, they should be able to catch themselves in a stressful situation (a pressing deadline, stop-and-go traffic when you're in a rush, etc.), take refuge in their breath and regain control - not to be eaten up by the situation. In today's society where people are immersed in stress 24/7, the body is always on the 'fight or flight' mode - constantly wound with no reprieve. Regaining control is paramount.

Pranayama and Kumbhaka
Pranayama is the practice of regulating the breath to maximize the energetic nutrition (prana) we get from the air we breathe. Kumbhaka is an advanced form of pranayama where you do breath retention. These two things are deceptively simple, but very potent and powerful. I am not an advanced practitioner of these, so I make sure I administer them in small doses. This is a area I read more about and try to practice almost on a daily basis. Why are these important? Just from my own experience, I find them powerful - almost tapping into an unseen reservoir of unfathomable energy. Where is this power coming from? from the food I eat? from the air I breathe? from the goodness of my benevolent universe? I don't know. But it's there for the taking and it works.

Element-Based Sequences
Of course one complete sequence has to have everything - stretches, warm-up, seated poses, standing poses, inversions, arm balances, etc. But realistically, not all poses can fit into 60 minutes. I choose a particular focus. It could be 'backbends'. In an Element-Based sequence consisting of Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Ether, backbends would be my Fire. All the other elements will now be in compliance to it - warming sequence to activate all muscle groups affecting the backbend such as the full anterior front (quads, hips, abdominals, chest, shoulders). The Elements is a new introduction to my learning. I still don't have a clear demarcation line where one element ends and the next one begins. But I continue to read up.

Rite of Passage
I usually push the boundaries, enabling my students to reach their edge - only then can they decide if they want to stay on status quo or level up. But I make sure I give the exercisable option. If I ask them to slowly go down into their chaturanga while keeping their core engaged, it's not for sadistic purpose. I explain to them that they are activating the same exact muscles needed to allow them to do a full push up. And with strong shoulders, they can level up to arm balances and inversions. That way, they don't see chaturanga as a difficult pose, but a rite of passage to a portal of infinite possibilities.

Ending Thoughts
Perhaps I'm getting carried away. Perhaps I'm injecting too much in my students what I expect from my own practice. But I'm wired with yoga.

The more I read up, the more I practice with Veer, the more I realize there is more to know. If I just consider Ashtanga Yoga, it would be a lot easier - the 8 limbs are already defined, the sequence is already set and the progression from Primary to advanced already has a blueprint. There is no scarcity in the documentation on Ashtanga.

But if I want to learn more about different types of yoga from different castes (Ashtanga is a Brahmin yoga...warriors have their own type, etc.), different yoga from different regions (Tibetan yoga is far different from Indian yoga), different yoga philosophies (Patanjali has 8 limbs, Sadhang Yoga has 6 limbs, etc.), then I'm just beginning to see a glimpse of the bigger yoga. And I still cannot see how the smaller pieces fit into the bigger picture. It's a journey with no end. But then again, it's all about the journey...not the destination.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Thank You Cebu, til the Next Time

(Oct 21, 2013 - May 15, 2014) My unplanned 7 months in Cebu has come to a close...but what a wonderful 7 months!..more »»

Next Yoga story:

[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

Cebu City to Camotes Island

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City

Cebu City to Dumaguete

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor by Boat, via Tagbilaran

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)

(as of Jan 2023)

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.