May 26, 2017

Conducting Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation Classes in Cebu

Location: Cebu, Philippines
Yoga & Fitness Website: YOGA by Gigit

Evolving Yoga
Back in the day, Cebu meant a succession of up to 3 yoga classes a day, everyday - as a student and as a teacher. I was a yogi on a mission then. In this visit however, I'm happy just doing my own daily practice but open to teaching invites if and when they come. My practice has been evolving, picking-up a lot of insights along my travels.

Hi-Profil

Date: May 23, 2017
Location: MEPZ, Mactan
It's a private class in Mactan for the managers of a high-end costume-jewelry company. I used to conduct Body Combat classes here during my previous visit. Perhaps they were surprised to have me conduct a yoga class. Jeanne set this class up for me. It has been years since she joined my class, when my yoga then was very different - very strong and forceful. Now, with mindful asanas which are simple but intense, coupled with pranayama and meditation, she found it deeper and more meaningful. I take her counsel under advisement for added tweaks in further refining my teaching practice.

Center for Well Being

Date: May 24, 2017
Location: Talisay
This yoga/learning/wellness center newly opened up in Talisay - it was a long drive passing through SM Seaside and the many high-end resto/cafe clusters along the coastal route. The husband-and-wife owners are both seekers offering a center for learning and pursuit of a spiritual path - a timely and compelling addition to Talisay. En route back, Jeanne and I stopped by Parilla at Il Corso for a coldie.

Haus 108

Date: May 26, 2017
Location: Maria Luisa Subdivision, Cebu City
I had to ask Anne, the organizer, to simply label the event as Yoga instead of Therapeutic Yoga. There has been a trending practice to label some yoga sessions as healing yoga, or detox yoga or therapeutic yoga. Yoga, by its very nature is already therapeutic and healing. To add that to the label suggests that regular yoga is NOT.

It was an outdoor yoga by the driveway - fresh air, but little control over external noise and weather. The participants were a mix group of mat veterans, newbies and a first-timer. We started on time and went 14 minutes into overtime - the practice needed it.

Post-yoga was plant-based veggie dinner as prepared by Anne and her staff. Food was healthy and nourishing. Socials followed which allowed people to get acquainted. I met a few interesting people whose acquaintance look promising.

some pictures courtesy of Joy Ann Liman

people came on time and we started on time

hanging out at El Pueblo for some spirits

Ending Thoughts
It is not usual for studio offerings to include pranayama and meditation into a yoga asana class. But having benefited so much from my private practice where I integrate pranayama and meditation, I can only conduct a yoga class now with all three elements bundled together as a singularity. I find synergy in it. The personal transformation happens fast - it's almost like yoga on steroids.

In addition, my brand of yoga includes elements of Vipassana, Thich Nhat Hanh's Plum Village mindfulness practices, Burningman and everything else I stumble upon in my travels. It is a unique yoga practice because my experience is unique - being homeless and being a renunciate by choice, living a life of nomadic mobility with no destination in mind. When I conduct a class, I distill all of that into a manageable 1-hour session. So far, the feedback I get is positive. My yoga continues to evolve and so will my classes.

--- TheLoneRider

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

More Information about Cebu City

Cebu City to Camotes Island

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, Negros Oriental 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

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 / www.liteferries.com

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Suggested Destinations in Cebu

Camotes Islands - caves, beaches
Cebu City - rich in culture and history, 2nd largest city in the Philippines
Moalboal - amazing coral reef system, sardine bowl, deep drop-off for freediving
Oslob - Butanding (whale shark) watching
Bantayan Island - long stretch of fine white sand beach, Virgin Island for snorkeling
Malapascua Island - divers' paradise for seeing the rare Thresher Shark
Cantabaco Cave - Toledo
Barile Waterfalls - Barile
Whale Shark Tour - Oslob
Carcar - chicharon and lechon in public market