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Country > Philippines > Siquijor Island > Lazi
Date > 2023 > Feb
Activity > Yoga

Yoga
A Case of Inguinal Hernia? Feb 4, 2023

A Case of Inguinal Hernia?

Location Google Map: Lazi, Siquijor Island, Philippines

Abdominal Twist
Dec 12, 2022 in Cebu, while doing a new workout - twisting the torso left and right while lifting the knee towards the chest while hanging from a beam, my upper pubic area got swollen red and sensitive to the touch. I looked it up on Google, and it seems I had an inguinal hernia - a weak area in my abdominal wall gave way and allowed a small part of the small intestine to 'peek through'. There was no piercing pain so I didn't think I had a rupture - but had I pushed it harder, it could have led to one. Let's just say I came too close to having a rupture but for now, it was just a thinned-out abdominal wall that has been breached (okay, maybe that's a rupture and I'm just in denial). I had to completely rest for weeks until the feeling normalized - no meds, no tests, no doctors. I healed myself through pranayama, intention and meditation - as I always have.

Despite the Jock Strap
I was wearing jock-straps while this happened - so I must have really pushed it. It's dangerous when the mind becomes too strong it goes beyond the limits of the body...you get injured without even knowing it.

A Case of Inguinal Hernia?
bulging at the inguinal area

Almost 2 Months Later
After about 3 weeks, the symptoms subsided and everything felt normal again. I didn't go back to my abdominal routine - not yet. I was still feeling my abs through. Now, it's been almost 2 months so I began a light abdominal workout. The following day, the same symptoms appeared - tender to the touch and a slight discomfort. But no bulging and no redness - perhaps because I only did a light workout. But this is enough to call my attention and focus on this issue seriously.

Risks
Medical science says hernia will not heal on its own and only surgery is the option (this statement has already been proven false by Tom Maher). Science also says the rupture will grow over time until more of the gut goes through that ruptured abdominal wall. In short, when left untreated, it will only worsen - that I need to have surgery, the sooner the better. NOT for me.

Tom MaherTom USA
Tom Maher Tom Maher
Nauli by Tom
Yoga teacher, Muay Thai fighter, English teacher and a good friend, Tom, had successfully dealt with this without surgery - but through a yogic purification process called Nauli. Nauli is designed to cleanse the digestive system and optimize the digestive process - not really to cure inguinal hernia. But it entails abdominal muscle exercises that actually fortify the inguinal abdominal wall.

Through dedicated practice, he was able to cure himself without surgery. This gives me hope.

Yogic Therapy
I refuse to medicate and I refuse to see a doctor - that's an established protocol to me. Here's how I'm medicating myself, through yoga:

  1. Nauli - stomach churning. Even though I'd been doing nauli daily for years now, my approach this time is just prolonged duration
  2. Nadi Shodhana - in Siddhasana, I would do my alternate nostril breathing with a few unique touches - 1:4:2:3 breath-hold ratio at 5 seconds/count with specific tasks on every aspect of the breath.

    a) Inbreath (1) - visualizing all energies funneled into the inguinal area

    b) Inbreath-hold (4) - Maha bandha mudra (collective Mula bandha, Uddiyana bandha, Jalandhara bandha) while visualizing that the pressure I generate is thickening my abdominal wall at the inguinal area and that the internal organs are pushed back where they need to be

    c) Exhalation (2) - letting go in complete surrender to the greater intelligence at play

    d) Outbreath-hold (3) - while lungs are empty, complete relaxation as I focus all my attention/energy on the inguinal area, visualizing that all repairs are taking place
  3. Sirsasana - a headstand relieves all abdominal pressure. I held this for about 5 minutes but I suffered a neck sore for 3 days. Perhaps a 1-minute hold but done 5 times is better.

Ending Thoughts
Even when all things feel and look normal again, I still feel my vulnerability. I already know I can no longer do my abdominal workouts. ABS-training has long been a part of my life. I've conducted ABS Showdown events, conducted ABS-sculpting classes, ABS-yoga classes...and now I can't. I will also lose my ABS-physique. It's sad but I'll try not to be attached...I am not the body. On the positive side of things, this gives me opportunities to pursue other activities that have been eclipsed by my ABS training.

ABS
goodbye ABS

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

p.s. - 2 days after the symptoms showed up, with consistent daily therapy, the symptoms subsided. Things feel normal now. But I know I can no longer push my abdominals. What's also noteworthy is the kind of mental focus I was putting into the affected area during my pranayama and meditation. To a large extent, I would attribute my recovery to my yogic approaches to any kind of illness or injury.


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More on Lazi:

Lazi Info
  1. Resorts - Lazi has some beach resorts on its west coast but the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
  2. Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Even though Lazi has a port, it's not used for passengers. Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
  3. The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun sets, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset

More on Siquijor Island:

Siquijor Island Local Info

Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.

  1. Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
  2. Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
  3. Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
  4. Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)

Food - these were suggested by a local to me

  1. Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
  2. Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
  3. Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
  4. Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
  5. Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion
Siquijor Island Map
Siquijor
Siquijor - Dumaguete Boat Trips (as of Jan 2023)
  1. Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm/7:30? or 9:00? pm
  2. Ocean Jet - 40 mins,at Siquijor Port, 0919.066.5964, www.oceanjet.net, marketing@ocenajet.net, 6:00am/6:00pm, P350/pax (tourist/open air), P580/pax (business class)

    Ocean Jet
  3. Atlantis Yohan Express - Siquijor Port or Larena Port?

    Atlantis Yohan Express

    Atlantis Yohan Express
  4. Aleson Shipping Lines - Siquijor Port, P200/reg, P250/a-c, 6:00 am daily, 1:30 pm & 6:30pm M-Sat

    Aleson Shipping Lines

    Aleson Shipping Lines

    Aleson Shipping Lines


Siquijor - Tagbilaran - Cebu City Boat Trips (as of Jan 2023)

En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.

  1. Ocean Jet - 2 hours, 8:20am, at Siquijor Port
    To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, P1200/business class
    To Cebu: ?
  2. Lite Ferries - at Larena Port,
    To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, P475/standard, 7pm, 3 hours, PHP?
    To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 7pm, 7 hours, PHP 650

Siquijor - Plaridel Boat Trips (as of Jan 2023)
  1. Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?

Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip (as of Jan 2023)

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.


Sugbo Urban

Sugbo Urban

Suggested Destinations After Siquijor Island

These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat

  1. Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
  2. Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
  3. Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
  4. Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes
  5. Plaridel (Misamis Occidental, Mindanao) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.

Blogs

Siquijor Blogs
Siquijor Island
  1. Mar Snapshots Mar 28, 2023
  2. My Mar Yoga Practice: a Journal Mar 21-28, 2023
  3. The Thief, the Shaman, the Elves and the Police Mar 20-, 2023
  4. Finally Acquiring the Motorbike Mar 18, 2023
  5. Bitcoin Blunder Mar 15, 2023
  6. Maria's Unsung Beaches Mar 11, 2023
  7. Lagaan Falls Mar 9, 2023
  8. Tibhong Spring Water Source Mar 8, 2023
  9. Bolo-Bolo Natural Spring Mar 2, 2023
  10. Feb Snapshots Feb 28, 2023
  11. My Feb Yoga Practice: a Journal Feb 21-28, 2023
  12. Camagung-Ong Natural Spring Feb 28, 2023
  13. Heeeere's Johnnie! Feb 26, 2023
  14. Manifesting a Motorbike from Thin Air? Feb 18, 2023
  15. The 'Bad Guy' of Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
  16. Amazement from Drivers License Renewal in Siquijor Feb 15, 2023
  17. Locong Falls Feb 9, 2023
  18. A Case of Inguinal Hernia? Feb 4, 2023
  19. Jan Snapshots Dec 31, 2022
  20. In Search of Tubod Cold Spring Jan 27, 2023
  21. 1:4:2:3 Nadi Shodana Jan 26, 2023
  22. Lazi's Boulevard Jan 22, 2023
  23. Lazi: A Monthly Stay Jan 21, 2023
  24. 7 Days in Maria, Siquijor Jan 14-21, 2023
  25. Capilay Spring Jan 17, 2023
  26. Siquijor: In Search of Resonance Jan 9-14, 2023
  27. Riding Around Siquijor's 86km Coastal Road Apr 3, 2012
  28. Exploring the Cantabon Cave of Siquijor Feb 23, 2012
  29. Jovee and Missy's Excellent Adventure Nov 6-7, 2010
  30. Freediving in Siquijor's Marine Sancturaries Apr 23-24, 2010
  31. Island Tour of Siquijor Apr 22, 2010
  32. Kram's Siquijor Wedding Apr 21, 2010

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