Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2022 > Nov
Activity > Yoga

Nov 23, 2022

Yoga with Jason

"We choose to make it hard because we can observe pain and adversity with a calm and equanimous mind." -- Gigit

Location : Cebu City, Philippines
Type of Class: Pranayama Mash-up
Pranayama-focused class with asana being a mash-up of traditional yoga, HIIT, calisthenics, adhitthana, isometrics, and core strengthening...more on other classes offered

Teaching a Teacher
Jason is one of the strongest yoga teachers in Cebu. We had been doing yoga together since 2013, having Veer as our teacher and doing our teaching rounds with Cebu's yoga studios. It is flattering and validating that he would pay me to conduct a yoga class for him. I now have to develop an extreme sequence commensurate to his level without killing me first.

An Extreme 90-Min Class
His aim was more on pranayama. But in order to maximize energy activation through pranayama, the asana must be intense enough to have an equitable carbon dioxide-oxygen exchange. I opted to design a mash-up (HIIT, ABS, calisthenics, Point-of-Failure, isometrics) of high-intensity sets interspersed with pranayama, kumbhaka, bandha, mudra and mental visualization. This is the kind of sequence I would do if I want to push my boundaries. I don't always push myself to my limits nowadays, but every once in a while, an occasion would call for it. This is one such.

I Class Introduction

12:36 - 12:41 = 5 mins

This 90-min class will consist of full-body stretching, sun salutations to warm-up, followed by interspersing sets of asana/pranayama.

The asana will borrow on calisthenics to develop strength, muscle mass and definition. It will also borrow on HIIT to develop cardiovascular strength and endurance. This will fortify our physical heart. We also focus on core because core is a load-bearing structure and nearly the fulcrum for most energy transfers. We also do adhitthana holds to develop a strong mind.

An array of pranayama follows (Wim Hof, Bhastrika, Kapalabhati, Nadi Shodan).

Vipassana meditation follows to sharpen our minds, keeping it awake, alert and vigilant.

We chant OM to close the class.

II Stretching

12:41 - 01:11 = 30 mins

Stretching

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Basic stretching to neck, shoulders, chest, back, side bends, pelvic roll, thigh stretch, knee roll, calf stretch

III Surya Namaskar Burpee

01:11 - 01:26 = 15 mins

Surya namaskar A & B

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3 rounds of Surya Namaskar A, 3 rounds of Surya Namaskar B

IV Movement / Pranayama 01:00 pm

01:26 - 02:20 = 54 mins

Shadow Boxing / 4-Cavity Breathing (HIIT: 1 min / 5 mins)
Lolasana w/ Bhastrika / Wim Hof (ABS: 1 min / 2 mins)
Push up / Ujjayi (calisthenics: 1 min / 2 mins)
Chair / Bhastrika (adhitthana: p.o.f / 1 min)
Namaste press / Wim Hof (isometrics: 1 min / 1 min)
Knee Taps / Kapalabhati (HIIT: 1 min / 1 min)
Russian Twist / Wim Hof (ABS: 1 min / 1 min)
Piston Squat / Ujjayi (calisthenics: 1 min / 2 mins)
High plank / Bhastrika (adhitthana: p.o.f / 1 min)
Namaste pulling / Wim Hof (isometrics: 1 min / 1 min)
Butt kicks / Kapalabhati (HIIT: 1 min / 1 min)
Leg raises / Wim Hof (ABS: 2 mins / 1 min)
Handstand decline / Ujjayi (calisthenics: 1 min / 2 mins)
Wall handstand / Bhastrika (adhitthana: p.o.f / 1 min)

V Pranayama / Kumbhaka / Bandha

02:20 - 02:25 = 5 mins

Ujjayi Anuloma with breath-hold, bandha and OM chanting - 5 mins
Sitkari - 3 mins
Shitali - 3 mins

VI Meditation

02:25 - 02:41 = 16 mins

Vipassana, gratitude

VII OM chanting

02:41 - 02:44 = 3 mins

Ending Thoughts
We were already going over 2-hours of hard-pushing. I had to skip some of the sets I've designed otherwise it would have taken us 3 hours. The power-surge from pranayama was such that I didn't even feel tired after the session. It was a good session where boundaries were pushed. I look forward to more such classes, but it's hard to find a student as strong and unwavering as Jason.

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

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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.