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Location : Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines
Juggling Yoga
I'm doing yoga on many fronts. They all cover a span of time and by breaking it down into a journal, I can see my progress on different time lines.
Lessons from March
Hatha Yoga Pradipika - don't let this take a back seat. 1 chapter/day
Yoga by Gigit - with Marky here until April 9, I can add more to YBG beyond Nadi Shodhana and see if that can be included in Phase 1
Personal practice
Personal practice
I had to cancel my morning routine as me and Marky set out in Gabayan to feast on Marlon's catch. But we left at 10:30am before he could arrive on his boat.
5:30 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama + Meditation:
This was a mix altogether of 1-min asana (side plank, high plank), pranayama + kumbhaka + bandha, and finally, OM meditation
No morning practice as me and Marky headed out to Talingting for my talk at UCC.
Yoga by Gigit
Marky didn't show up for the video shoot in the a.m. We rescheduled for 5pm at the seawall. We video shoot Ujjayi from basic to So-Ham. We decided that regular shoots will be daily but only from 5pm to 6:15 (sunlight availability)
Personal practice
Intention:
Kris unexpectedly showed up to join my practice.
6 am / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Stretching, focused on shoulders and upper arms for the push ups. 1 min slow push-up, stretching, Wim Hof 1 min, then same routine but +1 more min with Wim Hof until on 4th round, it was 4 mins of WH.
Meditation:
15 mins OM chanting meditation
Yoga by Gigit
Finished Nadi Shodhana shoot with Marky
Personal practice
6 am / home (roofdeck)
Pranayama / Meditation:
OM chanting
Yoga by Gigit
Shot Kapalbhati pranayama with Marky at the seawall. This completes this section.
Personal practice
Intention:
Taking Asana back
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, Pistol squats
Pranayama:
Wim Hof, Bahya kumbhaka, Antara kumbhaka + bandha, 1-min, 2-mins,
Meditation:
15 mins, emptiness
Mantra:
Gayatri Mantra by Tina Malia - revisiting her songs and finding bearing.
Yoga by Gigit
None as I had to go to Bandilaan for the shaman festival
Personal practice
6 am / seawall
Intention:
I didn't really feel like getting up early. For the first time in nearly 3 months here in Lazi, I had a good night's sleep. I've moved to a new room where it's not as noisy and I installed a mosquito net in my new room to keep mosquitos from buzzing in my ear or going inside my nose. Nonetheless, I went to the seawall to listen to Tina Malia's Gayatri Mantra while having my hot coffee sikwate.
This morning was in preparation for my overnight at Bandilaan for the Shaman Festival.
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync - I attempted to listen to this guided meditation but the outside noise at the seawall was too loud for my phone speakers - I didn't bring my earphone.
Yoga by Gigit
Shot Nadi Shodhana with Marky by the seawall. We didn't finish.
Personal practice
Intention:
No afternoon yoga as we shot the YBG (Nadi Shodhana). At night, Marky, Kris and I went to see the Ghost Ship. Despite Good Friday, it was a no show from 11pm to 2am.
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, sideplank hold, high plank hold, slow push up
Pranayama:
Wim Hof, 3 rounds [1 min, 2 mins, 3 mins], interspersed with Push-up
Meditation:
Hemi-sync but no headphone
Yoga by Gigit
Marky and I did a video shoot of Nadi Shodhana Intermediate class (kumbhaka). Next is to shoot the advanced class (kumbhaka + bandha)
Personal practice
Intention:
No morning practice since we (Marky and Kris) stayed awake til 2am to catch the no-show Ghost Ship
Yoga by Gigit
Went to Monkey Beach with Marky to shoot the Nadi Shodhana Advanced class. No signal at the beach so I couldn't see my sequence. We moved to the seawall but didn't finish the shoot.
Personal practice
Intention:
No morning practice since it drizzled. No afternoon practice since we shot the video for YBG.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Finished Kevala kumbhaka
Yoga by Gigit
Shot video at Sabas Beachj(the coconut shaded section) then at seawall. Finished the Pranayama Advanced class. The rest is video editing and uploading. Opened up a Udemy account.
Personal practice
Intention:
No yoga in the morning as I slept late and woke up late - from yesterday's Monkey Beach trip. No yoga in the pm since Marky and I shot the last sequences of YBG
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Began Chapter 3, Mudra and Bandha. Finished up to Verse 04, covering Kundalini, Consciousness and Sushumna. It's good to be back in my HYP practice now that YBG is on recess.
Personal practice
Intention:
No yoga in the morning...lazy. Just had coffee with Marky since he was leaving today.
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, calf raises, push-ups
Pranayama:
Wim Hof interspersed with calf raises and push ups
Meditation:
OM chanting
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Read, wrote Mudra 5-7 (channeling energy/ 10 major mudras)
Personal practice
Intention:
No yoga today. Morning, I went with Marlon to his shamans. PM, I forgot my mat and ended up talking with Kris
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Finished Verse 9 (Mudra must be secret), Chapter 3: Siddhis
Yoga by Gigit
To review all videos. Today will be an immersion on this. No, unable to.
Personal practice
Intention:
I took a dip in the water right after yoga - aura cleansing by seawater. I should have done this from Day 1!
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, headstand, forward bend/squat,
Pranayama:
Kapalbhati (with Mandukasana) interspersed with headstand, 1 min, 2 mins
Meditation:
I thought about meditating while seated on the water, but it didn't happen....the little waves were destabilizing me.
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, headstands
Pranayama:
Kapalbhati (with Mandukasana) interspersed with headstand, 1 min, 2 mins
Meditation:
OM / Bhramari chanting
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Finished Chapt 4, V 9-13, Maha Mudra
Personal practice
Intention:
It's Kris' last full day and he joined me for yoga.
5:30 am / seawall
Asana:
Asana-heavy day...slow push-up, Surya Namaskar in slow and repeated manner.
Pranayama:
Could not evade the trash burning...it was along the stretch of the seawall. We had to abort Pranayama.
6 pm / seawall
Intention:
To apply my current read on HYP: Maha Mudra
Asana:
Maha Mudra 3x3
Pranayama:
Kapalbhati + Mandukasana | headstand
Meditation:
Trataka, 30 mins, no tears
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Chapt 3, V 19-24, Maha Bandha
Personal practice
Intention:
Kris left today. This gives me free reign on how I want to take my practice.
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Isometrics (pecs)
Pranayama:
Siddhasana, Wim Hof + Bahya kumbhaka + full locks + Antara kumbhaka + 2 locks
Meditation:
Sambhavi mudra
Personal practice
Intention:
I had to meet Marlon at 10am at his fishing grounds for fresh fish so I couldn't do yoga too long.
6 am / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
1 min Cardio/HIIT interspersed with Pranayama + locks. This is the first time I've done HIIT in a very long time. I was challenged even with the 1-min duration. But it felt good to be back.
Meditation:
OM / Bhramari chanting
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Sore and stiff back muscles so no Asana
Pranayama:
Free-style pranayama, no metronome - Nadi shodhana inhale, Bhramari exhale, Bahya kumbhaka + full bandha | Kapalbhati, Bahya kumbhaka + full bandha, Antara kumbhaka - no bandha | Nadi shodhana/Kapalbhati, Bahya kumbhaka + full bandha, Ujjayi, Antara kumbhaka - no bandha | etc. Anything goes in succession, being very intuitive about the next sequence.
Meditation:
Bhramari chanting
Personal practice
Intention:
There were too many annoying very small 'flies?' that I had to cut short my practice. I don't know if they are from the seawall, or from the 2 mats I had been leaving outdoor, or from my clothing. Straight from yoga, I biked to Bolo Bolo and took a refreshing dip. After, I took my hammock and slept in the wooden area, but my hammock with its mosquito cover, remains too hot inside in the daytime.
6 am / seawall
Pranayama:
15 mins, Ujjayi, Bhramari, Bahya kumbhaka + bandha
6 pm / seawall
I went there, but I didn't really feel like doing yoga. I just ate my bibingka. Later, Marlon stopped by and talked.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Maha Vedha Mudra, v 25-31
Personal practice
Intention:
I was so off this morning, I simply stayed in bed...and forgot to turn off the faucet causing a little overflow. Embarrassing. I seem to be going through a yoga burnout. Instead, I continued my reading on HYP and now I'm pumped to try Maha Vedha Mudra especially the butt-bouncing part. This is ideal when I take a break every 10 mins from laptop viewing.
10:30 am / home
Asana + Pranayama:
Maha vedha mudra with butt-bouncing (Tadan kriya), 1 min/round when the 10-min alarm sounds
6 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Combination of Maha mudra, Maha bandha and Maha vedha. These 3 are intense pranic practices to awaken Kundalini and redirect it into Sushumna nadi.
Personal practice
Intention:
I feel that I'm slowly losing motivation on my yoga practice. I need something new to excite me again.
6 am / seawall
Pranayama:
Maha mudra (L&R, 1 min each), Maha bandha (5 mins) and Maha vedha (1 min).
11 pm / home
Pranayama:
Unusual schedule, but I decided to do Nadi shodhana 1:1:1:1 (no bandha). I wanted to keep doing it until sunrise, but I felt the need to stop after 30 mins.
Personal practice
Intention:
keep the Big3 (Maha mudra, Maha bandha and Maha Vedha) as they seem to be a powerful combination in Kundalni awakening.
7 am / home
Asana + Pranayama:
Maha mudra (1 min each), Maha bandha (5 mins, Nadi shodhana, Bahya kumbhaka + bandha) and Maha Vedha (1 min)
Pranayama:
Wim Hof + full Kumbhaka + Bandha(2 mins)
Meditation:
Sambhavi mudra (15 mins)
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Finished Khechari Mudra and got fascinated by Amrita.
Gateway Process / Hemi-Sync
After viewing the CIA de-classified docs on Gateway Process by Col. Wayne McDonnell, I got stoked on Hemi-Sync.
Personal practice
Intention:
I find new excitement in Maha vedha mudra. On my 1-min break from laptop viewing, I do Maha vedha instead of just blinking.
I've lost my interest in going to the seawall in the morning to practice my yoga. I lose so much time doing that...sikwate time, bread time, etc. Instead, I try to accomplish my personal practice, HYP reading, Cebuano in the morning at home until about 11:15 before I have my lunch. I get to accomplish many things this way.
7:30 - 11:15 am / home
Asana + Pranayama:
During my 1-min break from laptop viewing, I do Maha vedha (Padmasana, Antara kumbhaka, Jalandhara banda + pelvic pumping)
Meditation:
Today, I got stoked on Hemi-Sync and even blogged it. I listened to the video in meditation. It's difficult because there is no object of concentration...just binaural beats playing in the background.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Began Uddiyana bandha
Personal practice
7 am / home
Asana + Pranayama:
Maha mudra (1 min each), Maha bandha (5 mins, Nadi shodhana, Bahya kumbhaka + bandha) and Maha Vedha (1 min)
6 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Stretches, Big3 (Maha mudra + Maha bandha + Maha Vedha, 1 round or 9 mins, Bahya kumbhaka), Maha bandha mudra (15 mins, Chandra bhedan, Antara kumbhaka, OM chanting)
Meditation:
15 mins, Sambhavi + Nabho mudra
Personal practice
Intention:
Do Hemi-Sync, Trataka, Big3M, Sambhavi + Nabho, but none happened. No yoga today.
There was no electricity so I went to Cambugahay Falls instead, then hungout for sweet at the bakery. I went to the seawall at 6pm but no yoga. I just stayed there, watched Why Files and ate the cassava leftover. I guess I needed a break.
Yoga by Gigit
Marky uploaded all the video files.
Personal practice
Intention:
Cardio. My waistline is getting wide.
6:30 am / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
I started at 6:30 so the sun was already up. Cardio interspersed with Wim Hof (2 mins, Bahya with all bandhas, Antara w/o bandha but Nabho and Sambhavi mudra, OM chant on the exhale)
1:00 pm / Bolo Bolo
Asana:
Isometric holds/Dynamic tension
6:00 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Big3M
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync + Nabho + Sambhavi +Gyana mudra
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
I began reading up on Mula bandha. No new knowledge in this department.
Personal practice
Intention:
I would have continued my yoga but a group of elder women (4) wanted to meet with me about their yoga practice. We met at Arbees Bakeshop. I declined to teach but gave them pointers on how they can go on with their practice - the dos and don'ts. I promised to conduct a meditation class on one of their classes.
I did a new Wim Hof approach, adding Bahya kumbhaka and Maha vedha. This is perhaps the most powerful combination of any Wim Hof protocol. The Hemi-Sync combo of Sambhavi and Nabho, at least conceptually, is also quite powerful. But so far, despite pushing boundaries while applying new knowledge and tweaking the practice, I don't notice anything I can call 'improvement'.
6 am / home
Asana:
Surya Namaskar
6 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Big 3M, Wim Hof + Bahya kumbhaka (instead of passive exhale hold) + Maha vedha (instead of passive inhale hold)
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync + Sambhavi mudra + Nabho mudra
Gateway Process / Hemi-Sync
I watched interview of Robert Monroe and got stoked on his meeting non-physical entities from an OBE. I will embark on the Gateway Process. This includes using Hemi-Sync to trigger an OBE.
Yoga by Gigit
Downloaded Intro video, 1.4G but it took nearly 20 minutes even though I was the only one using the wifi at the cafe
Personal practice
Intention:
Staying on course on this sequence: Big3M + Wim Hof (w/ Bahya kumbhaka and Maha vedha) + Hemi-Sync (w/ Sambhavi and Nabho). But none of that happened today.
Gateway Process
Reading, summarizing and practicing Hemi-Sync
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
On hold as I will research on the Gateway Process.
Personal practice
Intention:
Cannot do any yoga today since my vertigo resumed. Maybe I can still do some meditation.
Gateway Process
Just reading, summarizing and practicing Hemi-Sync
Yoga by Gigit
Marky tells me that he now has the Rocket SIM for unlimited internet. This allows me to immerse myself to Udemy and upload videos
Personal practice
Intention:
Pure immersion into the Gateway Process / Hemi-Sync. All meditation has the component of Hemi-Sync at different times of the day...at home or at the seawall.
Gateway Process
Whole day immersion reviewing everything from start to #22. SPECIAL STATUS, OUT-OF-BODY EXPERIENCE. Gaining this background conceptual knowledge is invaluable. I don't think subscribers to the Hemi-Sync program are given this much information. Of course, this has to be put in practice - and nearly all my meditation has Hemi-Sync in the background.
Yoga by Gigit
I uploaded the Introduction video to Youtube (not realizing it was on my data load and not on 24cafe wifi)
Personal practice
Intention:
My vertigo is still sporadically acting up and it takes my motivation to physically workout. I default to lots of Hemi-Sync meditation.
6 am / home
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync
6 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Just one round of Big3M + Wim Hof (all bandhas)
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync
Gateway Process
Continued reading, summarizing and practicing...almost obsessively. Reached up to 30. Advanced Techniques: Problem solving.
Yoga by Gigit
Marky said he got a Rocket SIM for me. This should help me with my wifi needs.
Personal practice
Intention:
Given my immersion into the Gateway Process, I'm combining everything into my practice.
6 am / home
Asana + Pranayama + Shatkriya:
The main practice this morning is Trataka. In Siddhasana, on Gyana mudra. listening to Hemi-Sync audio on headphone, staring at a small hole, Ujjayi inhale on Mula bandha while visualizing Kundalini rising, when full, brief Maha bandha mudra, Bhramari on exhale, Bahya kumbhaka but no bandha. 42 mins, no tears
6 pm / seawall
Asana + Pranayama:
Big3M, Wim Hof (full bandha)
Meditation:
Hemi-Sync, Wave 2, Focus 10
Ending Thoughts
April is gone and it's been another month of yoga progression. I have been constantly pushing boundaries to my practice. I wonder at one point will it end? What realization do I come away with? Is it getting deep for the sake of it?
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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Next story:
April Snapshots
(April 1-30, 2023) For April, the spotlight is on Lazi with the opening of its port. This opens up doors to commerce, trade, tourism and easier access. Optimism is in the air....more »»
Aging: Vultures Gathering
(May 17, 2023) With the onslaught of the aging process, diseases are like vultures encircling the skies. When fitness is no longer there, the hapless prey spends a ton of money for healthcare and maintenance. But there's a way to keep diseases at bay. How?..more »»
My May Yoga Practice: a Journal
(May 1-31, 2023) I've added the Gateway Process in my yoga routine. I plan on pursuing this until I exhaust the materials I can get on this. This means my other yoga pursuits will have to take a back seat - Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Yoga by Gigit. My personal practice will continue to evolve with the addition of Hemi-Sync (the core of the Gateway Process)....more »»
More on Lazi:
More on Siquijor Island:
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
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. Larena Port 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 (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
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