Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2017 > Jul
Activity > Meditation

ANNOUNCEMENT !!!!
(July 8, 2017) Judith placed #1 and is now the new champion of the Philippine Open Dance Festival held at the Manila Marriott Hotel

Jul 5, 2017

Life Coaching for a Competition Dancer

Location : S Hotel, Cebu City, Philippines
Google Map: 10°19'00.4"N 123°53'17.1"E
Yoga & Fitness Website: YOGA by Gigit

Finding Stillness
A competition dancer in Cebu asked around the yoga community who could help her meditate to develop stillness of the mind to gain competitive advantage in the upcoming major dance contest in Manila. Given my background in meditation and the meditation classes I conducted in Cebu, my name popped-up 3 times from different sources. I received a message from her when I was in Bohol asking me to come to Cebu to hold that space for her. I cut my Bohol adventure short and said yes. Her name is Judith.

Alpha Type
Judith is your typical alpha-type personality. She is strong, determined and has a single-minded focus about winning. She is objective-driven and will utilize all avenues to get that competitive edge. Mediocrity and compromise do not exist in her vocabulary.

For this event, she flew-in to Davao to sharpen her skills in a dance camp. In Cebu, she does a one-on-one yoga class a minimum of 3x/week. On the dance floor, she spends countless hours perfecting her routine. She's pouring-in money, time and effort to make this event happen for her. I admire such single-minded focus and dedication.

Her one stumbling block was her mind. Even though she is focused on winning, her mind is constantly racing, often getting ahead of herself. This is typical of alpha-types who are obsessed with winning. This is where I come in.

S Hotel and Residences
Within (city) limits, I couldn't have gotten a better place at S Hotel. We held the workshop in one of their spacious function rooms. It was clean, well vented for cross wind and lots of natural light. It was big enough for a business conference, but Judith and I had all that space for ourselves.

Meditation
The best way to calm the mind and regain perspective is through meditation. But it wasn't enough for me to simply conduct a meditation session with Judith. What's more important was for me to lay down the ground work for a conceptual cornerstone. I talked about taking refuge in the breath, mindfulness about body sensation, and about catching herself and observing thought processes without generating any reaction. My point-of-failure yoga applied all these concepts to sustain mental equanimity in the face of an increasingly difficult asana. The pranayama provided balance between the sympathetic and para-sympathetic nervous system. I employed a holistic approach.

Life Coaching
I've done life coaching many times in the past amongst friends in informal conversations, but this is the first time I've done it as an integral part of a session. It is one thing to talk about concepts and do asanas to apply the concept, and another thing to add a flesh-and-blood dimension to all these concepts through life coaching. My insight is unique because my nomadic life is unique. I've stumbled upon many life morsels on the open road that remain unknown to people who live traditional lives. I see life along the lines of black-and-white with very little gray area. I enjoy that clarity and share that insight.

The life coaching extended well beyond our breakfast. We started at 7am and finished close to 12 noon. It took nearly 5 hours but no one was in a rush. I dedicated my entire morning for the session (which resembled more a workshop).

Ending Thoughts
To a lesser extent, I already integrate life coaching when I conduct even a 1-hour class. Life coaching weaves life experience into the fabric of yoga/pranayama/meditation for a seamless singularity that adds depth and perception in how we see ourselves and the role we play in this social fabric. It presents a navigable blueprint to what could be a confusing maze.

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

Karma Yoga at S Hotel, Cebu

(Jul 5-7, 2017) During my 5-night stay at S Hotel, I offered Karma Yoga to its helpful staff and to friends as well. Meeting on the mat is just as good as a coffee conversation without the caffeine...more »»

Next Meditation:

Satipatthana Sutta Vipassana

(Mar 16-25, 2018) Satipatthana Sutta is a more advanced 10-day silent meditation course in Vipassana with increased focus on 'awareness'. To qualify for the course practically meant living a semi-monk life. I came away from the course knowing there was a missing link that changes everything about staying on the path...more »»

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.