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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.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
started reading Bhastrika
Personal practice
Intention:
Continuity on Chandra bhedan, but reverted back to Ujjayi
6:00 am / seawall
Asana:
Headstand, 1 min + 2 mins with head rolls
Pranayama:
Ujjayi, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3, no bandha, still taking it easy...hard to do Chandra bhedan with bandha
6:30 pm / seawall
Asana:
Headstand, 1 min + 2 mins with head rolls
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3, bandha + mudra
Kapalbhati, 5 rounds, 1:4:2:3, bandha + mudra
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Bhastrika - read, summarized and practiced but not finished yet
Personal practice
4 am / home
Intention:
Chandra bhedan program
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3 + bandha + mudra
Meditation:
Nada sound, 15 mins
2 pm / Bolo-Bolo Spring
Asana:
bike ride to Bolo-Bolo Spring and back
Purification:
bathing in the spring plunge-pool (aura cleansing by water)
7 pm / home
Intention:
pace with HYP, on Bhastrika
Pranayama:
Bhastrika, 20 mins, with Nadi Shodan approach, in-breath hold, throat lock
Meditation:
stillness, 5 mins
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Bhastrika is done - read, summarized, codified, analyzed and practiced
Yoga by Gigit
None. I realized that I cannot pace YBG with HYP because HYP is too broad and comprehensive. It will take forever to finish YBG. So, from tomorrow, I will skip HYP and focus on YBG since this has a deadline - Marky's arrival in late March to do all the shoots.
Personal practice
7 am / seawall
Intention:
pacing with HYP on Bhastrika
Asana:
Headstand, 3 rounds of 1 min/round
Pranayama:
Bhastrika, 18 mins, 3 rounds, Nadi Shodan style, 3rd round made it WH
Meditation:
OM chanting, 15 mins
Yoga by Gigit
completed the text script for Kapalbhati. Next, shoot the video
Personal practice
6 am / seawall
Intention:
I planned on doing Bhastrika in keeping with my HYP reading, but I wasn't feeling it. Instead, I just did a light Nadi Shodhana
Asana:
Sideplank, left and right, 1 min each, 2 rounds
Pranayama:
Nadi Shodhana, 15 mins, 1:1:1:1 ratio
Meditation:
Trataka, 15 mins, tears on right eye
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Headstand, 1 min + 2 mins with neck rolls
Pranayama:
Nadi Shodhana, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3 ratio, bandha + mudra
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
On hold until I finish Kapalbhati in YBG
Yoga by Gigit
Shot Kapalbhati video, uploaded and coded (description, meditation and gratitude). To follow is to shoot the actual Kapalbhati breathwork
Personal practice
2 am / home
Intention:
repair my weary eyes and because I cannot go back to sleep
Meditation:
Trataka, until tears 40 mins, but tears only flowed when I closed my eyes and lied down. It stabilized my mind that I would inhale fully then exhale until 'neutral' and hold my breath. The mind was more steady during the breath-hold.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
On hold until Kapalbhati is done on YBG
Yoga by Gigit
Today should be to finalize the text on the actual breathing of Kapalbhati, shoot video, upload and code
Personal practice
4 am / home
Intention:
Eye care so Trataka. This should be my meditation staple from here on
Meditation:
Trataka, not timed but maybe 40 mins, breath-holds on inhale and exhale, depends on what feels good. Tears when I closed my eyes and lied down.
6:30 am / seawall
Asana:
Headstand, 2 rounds (1 min + 2 mins)
High plank, 5 mins
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3, bandha, mudra
Meditation:
Sambhavi, 15 mins
6:30 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3, bandha, mudra
Meditation:
Sambhavi, 10 mins
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Bhramari - read, summarized, codified and practiced
Yoga by Gigit
Shot the breathing section of Kapalbhati, uploaded and coded in place. Kapalbhati section is now complete.
Next, read up on Paypal Phil and register
Personal practice
Intention:
Pace with HYP, so do Bhramari, continue with Chandra bhedan
7 am / seawall
Asana:
Pistol squat
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Tree pose with Trataka but could not balance
Headstand (1 min, 2 mins, 3 mins)
Pranayama:
Bhramari, 15 mins, 1:4:∞:1 since the point of Bhramari is to make the bee sound, the exhalation should be the longest. Any breath-hold will only shorten the exhalation. Ideally, the exhalation should be the only breath-hold
Chandra bhedan, 15 mins, 1:4:2:3, bandha + mudra
Meditation:
Trataka with Tree pose, but I couldn't balance so the Trataka was compromised. Shifted to Sambhavi/Nada meditation. Increasingly, the nada sound is becoming more distinct but not any louder
Yoga by Gigit
Started writing about Nadi Shodhana.
Personal practice
Intention:
Pace with HYP: Moorchha
12:00 am / home
Pranayama:
Moorchha, in keeping with HYP. I didn't really get the 'void' effect. Or perhaps I get it more when I do long breath-holds with other pranayama. I don't really find Moorchha unique or effective because you get to do the same things when you do a breath-hold on any pranayama. The tilting of the head is unique, but that really doesn't do much for me.
Meditation:
Trataka, Surya pradarshini mudra, Siddhasana, tears at 20 mins
5:00 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan on inhale, Bhramari on slowest exhale, Bhaya kumbhaka (no bandha, just awareness that prana is on Sushumna), 20 mins. I find this very effective and I get the benefit of everything I intention - nothing is wasted.
6:00 pm / seawall
Because I ate bread before going, I didn't feel ok to do any kind of asana or pranayama. So I just relaxed on the seawall
Personal practice
Intention:
Chandra bhedan continuity
6 am / seawall
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan + Bhramari, 20 mins, 1:4:∞:1. By doing Bhramari, I don't have to use my right hand for a right nostril exhale - I can stay on Gyana mudra. Besides, I find Bhramari more powerful than a Pingala exhale. I make the bee sound as long as possible (no count, thus ∞)
11:30 am / ride to Lagaan Falls
Asana:
Ride to Lagaan Falls, 15 km uphill and hot
6:00 pm / seawall
My body didn't really want to do anything else after that gruelling ride. So I was just at the seawall, no pranayama, no meditation, but star gazing while lying down on my yoga mat + cushion rugs.
It's interesting what I see while star gazing...falling stars, flashing points of light that go off, and moving light at a fast speed.
Yoga by Gigit
None. I seem to be dragging my feet on this. Honestly, it doesn't motivate me. It's my head telling me I have to provide for my future needs and that this is passive income that'll take care of me.
Personal practice
Intention:
Still Chandra bhedan continuation, even though there are days I just can't do it
4:30 am / home
Meditation:
Trataka on red light, 27 mins, no tears
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Push-ups, stretching
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan inhale, hold no bandha, Bhramari exhale, hold no bandha, 15 mins
Meditation:
Trataka, tears on closing eyes, 30 mins
Personal practice
Intention:
Chandra bhedan continuation + eye therapy
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, headstand
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan (inhale), Antara kumbhaka + bandha, Bhramari (exhale), Bahya kumbhaka - bandha (none)
Meditation:
Vipassana, 15 mins
12 noon / 15 km bike ride
Asana:
Bike ride from home to Sabas, Kagusuan, Monkey, Nabutay and back (looping), 15 km total
Yoga by Gigit
None. I feel paralyzed by my non-motivation in continuing this.
Personal practice
Intention:
Chandra bhedan continuation
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, headstand
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, left/right nostril breathing, no kumbhaka/bandha, slow breathing
Meditation:
Sambhavi mudra
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, no hold, slow Bhramari, no hold. I wasn't feeling 100% so bandha and kumbhaka had to be skipped
Meditation:
Nada sound
Yoga by Gigit
I resumed writing on the video text and shot a video of the warm-up breathing. I wanted to finish today but somehow didn't.
Personal practice
Intention:
I'm feeling a burnout from all this yoga intensity. I feel like backing off. I already have a headache that doesn't go away. Instead, I'll just do what feels good, regardless of my established routine.
3:30 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, no breath-hold, slow Ujjayi exhale (so my hands are resting), no breath-hold, 20 mins
6:30 pm / wall
Pranayama / Meditation:
I couldn't seem to focus on anything, so I just did a mash-up of what felt doable...Chandra bhedan followed by Sambhavi, then Trataka, then Ujjayi, etc. There was no direction. Maybe the prospect of a fresh fish grilled dinner (just caught by my neighbor fisherman) was causing it.
Personal practice
Intention:
Chandra bhedan continuation + Trataka for vision care
2 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan (no antara) inhale/exhale, hold on empty lungs (bahya kumbhaka), 15 mins. This way, I only use my right hand once on 2 breaths. The rest of the time, my hands are on Gyana mudra. This also pushes the benefits of Chandra bhedan since both inhale and exhale are on the left nostril.
Meditation:
Trataka on red light. Tears flowed when I lied down and closed my eyes. I no longer use my reading glass which means I need to double-down on eye therapy for me to see without the glasses
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
I couldn't focus so I mashed-up everything - Chandra bhedan, Wim Hof, Nadi Shodhana, etc. At least I was still doing my practice
Asana:
Just movement...slow squats, half forward bend, with spinal mobility
Yoga by Gigit
Shot the video of Breathing Warm Up but didn't get to upload fully.
Personal practice
Intention:
I couldn't do anything this morning as I was deeply disturbed by my blunder with Bitcoin and almost losing the chance to buy a motorbike. Plus, after updating my GCash app, it wouldn't launch anymore! I just decided to go to Bolo-Bolo to take a dip and get some water.
12 noon
Asana:
Biked to Bolo-Bolo, took a dip in the water with dive mask, took water home.
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Just another mash-up of different Pranayama. Doing devoted Chandra bhedan with full kumbhaka and bandha seems different. Also, doing a Wim Hof is feeling alien...like it feels aggressive.
Yoga by Gigit
Uploaded Breathing Warm Up video and coded in place. This segment is complete. Next, Basic Nadi Shodhana pranayama.
Personal practice
Intention:
Just to get back on track
12 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, no bandha, 1:1:1:1, 15 mins
Meditation:
Ujjayi breathing visualizing youth on the inhale, manifesting on the exhale, 30 mins
5:30 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan, 1:4:2:3 + kumbhaka + bandha, 15 mins
Seetkari, Bhramari, Bahya Kumbhaka
Kapalbhati, 1 min, Mandukasana, Antara, Bhramari, Bahya
Ujjayi, 1 min, Mandukasana, Antara, Bhramari, Bahya
Nadi Shodhana, 1 min, Mandukasana, Antara, Bhramari, Bahya
Meditation:
Feeling the void, 10 mins
Personal practice
Intention:
My mind is still racing over the prospect of the motorbike purchase so it's hard to concentrate on anything else. A new development of finding a 2014 Honda Wave but at the Siquijor proper branch - old but brand new and only P35k. But no GCash option? New challenges pre-occupy my mind.
5:00 am / home
Pranayama:
Wim Hof (more like fast Ujjayi), not timing, just feeling when it's time to stop
Chandra bhedan (feeling the introverting of the mind), antara kumbhaka + bandha (filling, not rushing for a bandha, stabilizing, then bandha...it's more deliberate), bhramari (visualizing that the reverberation is crumbling and decalcifying the pineal gland to activate it): not timing, just feeling and visualizing everything
Yoga by Gigit
Added content on Nadi Shodhana script. Shot the Basic video.
Personal practice
Intention:
Kris is here so I will try to include him in the practice.
7 am / home
Asana:
Handstand on a wall, 1 min, 2 mins.
Yoga by Gigit
Completed Nadi Shodhana Basic
Personal practice
Intention:
Kris wanted to join me for yoga so I did the
Basic Nadi Shodhana class with him, exactly as how I would teach it on my online yoga class.
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, pistol squats, spinal mobility, sustained chair, seated poses
Pranayama:
Nadi Shodhana Basic - breathing warmup (5 mins), left nostril breathing (3 mins), right nostril breathing (3 mins), left-right breathing (3 mins), right-left breathing (3 mins), Nadi Shodhana / 1:1 / (15 mins)
Meditation:
Gratitude for being alive
6 pm / seawall
Asana:
Tree Pose, 1 min/side, 10 mins
Hand-to-BigToe, 1 min/side, 5 mins
Pranayama:
Nadi Shodhana, 1:2:2, 10 mins
Meditation:
Trataka, 20 mins, no tears
Yoga by Gigit
Nadi Shodhana Intermediate, 1:1, 1:2, 1:2:2, 1:4:2, 1:4:2:3
Personal practice
Intention:
Doing the 1:1, 1:2, 1:2:2, 1:4:2, 1:4:2:3 ratio on Nadi Shodhana with Kris
4:30 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan-Antara-Bhramari-Bahya + Bandha, 15 mins
Meditation:
Trataka, using app, 10 mins, no tears
Nada sounds, 10 mins
Yoga by Gigit
Writing on Nadi Shodhana Intermediate
Personal practice
Intention:
To practice with Kris doing my Nadi Shodhana online class
6 am / seawall
Asana:
push ups, headstand, groin stretches
2 pm / bike ride
Asana:
bike ride to Bolo-Bolo and back
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Nadi Shodhana 1:1, 10 mins
Chandra bhedan, Antara, Bhramari, Bahya, 1:1:∞:1, 10 mins
Meditation:
Trataka, 20 mins
Personal practice
Intention:
Yoga with Kris using various Pranayama
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, spinal mobility, headstand
Pranayama:
Kapalbhati + Mandukasana, Bhastrika, Wim Hof, Nadi Shodhana 1:1:1:1, Seetkari
Meditation:
Forgiveness
Yoga by Gigit
Completed the 3 chapters on Nadi Shodhana from Basic to Intermediate (Kumbhaka) to Advanced (Kumbhaka + Bandha). Only the videos need to be added. With Marky's arrival tonight, the video shoot can be done in the next few days.
Personal practice
Intention:
Revisiting Wim Hof
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, slow push-up, headstand
Pranayama:
Wim Hof + Mandukasana
Meditation:
Scanning, emptiness
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan + OM chanting, standing up. This seems to give a feeling of calm and a refreshing deviation from my usual Bhramari
Yoga by Gigit
Finalized rewriting for Marky's arrival and initial meeting
Personal practice
4 am / home
Pranayama:
Wim Hof lying down. This position allows me to extend the breathing to 10 mins non-stop, 2X. I only opted of the full exhale then hold before the full inhale. There was no high. I thought it would knock me out to sleep but no. I stayed awake.
The rest of the day was spent going around the island of Siquijor with Marky.
Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Plavini pranayama...read, written, but not keen to practice. I don't see any need for 'floating on water' or ingesting air in my stomach...I don't even know if the gulped air really goes into my stomach or still redirected to my lungs. It just didn't resonate.
Personal practice
4 am / home
Pranayama:
Wim Hof, two 10-mins, lying down
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretches, little injury on the front split
Pranayama:
Kapalbhati + Mandukasana
6 pm / seawall
Pranayama:
Mash-up, cannot seem to focus the mind so I kept changing the breath, looking for something that might work
Personal practice
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Headstand, 5-min high plank, bicycle, stretching
Pranayama:
Asana + Wim Hof (on Vajrasana) + Mandukasana, Antara kumbhaka (visualizing on levitation through Muladhara chakra [Mula bandha] and Vishuddhi chakra [Jalandhara bandha]) + OM chanting
Chandra bhedan + Antara kumbhaka + OM chanting
6 pm / seawall
Meditation/Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan + OM chanting
Personal practice
4:30 am / home
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan + short Antara (bandha), OM chanting (air is saved for OM and not on Antara), Bahya (no bandha, but awareness that prana is in Sushumna), 30 mins
Asana:
Riding bike to Bolo Bolo and back
Yoga by Gigit
Video shoot with Marky
Introduction - Bolo Bolo
Free breathing class, Ujjayi description - Cambugahay Falls
Personal practice
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Stretching, headstand, lolasana, shoulder stand, plow, pistol squat
Pranayama:
Chandra bhedan + OM
Meditation:
OM
Yoga by Gigit
Went to Sabas Beach with Marky to shoot Surya Namaskar A/B
Personal practice
Intention:
Going back to Isometrics. Kris just showed up
6 am / seawall
Asana:
Isometrics for 1 min - shoulders, pecs, arms, back
Pranayama:
Wim Hof standard, 2 mins, 3 mins, 4 mins
Meditation:
OM chanting, but I was falling asleep and it's precarious since I could fall off the seawall
Ending Thoughts
--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit
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Next story:
March Snapshots
(Mar 1-31, 2023) Angkor Wat? You'll never guess it. If you look into the nook and cranny of any community, there's always an Easter Egg awaiting to amaze the beholder...more »»
My April Yoga Practice: a Journal
(Apr 1-30, 2023) I'm doing yoga on many fronts - reading/summarizing/codifying Hatha Yoga Pradipika, developing my online yoga classes and actually doing my practice. They all cover a span of time and by breaking it down into a journal, I can look back and see my progress...more »»
Exploring Siquijor with Marky
(Mar 25 - Apr 11, 2023) I had been preparing my end of the 'Yoga by Gigit' project in time for Marky's arrival to shoot the videos. More than that, we'd be exploring Siquijor together on my motorbike...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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