At Vinyasa Yoga Center, Ortigas

1.  Yoga is pretty spiritual in nature.  There are different types of yoga, but all were rooted on the desire to please the Hindu god Vishnu.  That was how it started anyway.  The one in the center is called Hatha Vinsaya.  Being a first-timer in any form of yoga, I have no idea how this is different from the others.

2.  Breathing right is very important.  And keeping a straight back.

3.  Yoga might be spiritual in nature, but it still makes rationale sense.  Like how the teacher was saying that breathing through the nose is important coz it warms the air, and you need to keep heat in the center (or somthing to that effect).  I also tell my pulmo patients the same thing.  How they should breath through their nose, not through their mouths coz it promots better air movement in your lungs: deeper ventilation.

4.  You don't have to be all bendy when doing yoga.  You bend only until you can, otherwise, it totally ruins your breathing, and posture.  I have really tight hamstrings.  It doesn't show when I'm doing stuff with the knees bent coz the other muscles aren't tight, but there's almost no bendy movement with knees straight!

5.  Yoga is not just about stretching.  There's a strengthening component involved too!  I noticed my abs going all jiggly when doing the leg raises.  Yikes!  I have pretty good gluts strength though, yey me!

photo courtesy of juned

6.  Maybe it's the vegetarian diet plus the yoga thing, but the 40-year old teacher does not look he's even 30!

7.  The teacher's a lacto-vegetarian, so he east dairy products but not eggs; which is why he made this yummy leche flan without eggs thing that tasted as good as the usual leche flans.  Don't ask me how, I'm a kitchen idiot.  I had no idea there's such things even.  I pretty much eat anything that looks good, and does not have blood, raw or half-cooked. 

Ok so technically, the last two aren't about yoga anymore, but I still learned about it during the yoga thing so it counts.

8.  I've been told that I prolly wouldn't be into yoga, seeing I'm not exactly the type who exudes calm and serenity, but it really does make you feel peaceful.  The last part actually left me half asleep.  The whole hour actually is a little calming.  It's like you can just ignore your issues and just be in the moment.

9.  The events people gave us some freebies, which includes 3 vitwater, a vegetarian cooking book, and best of all

gift certificate for 3 free sessions

10. If you're interested in getting into the yoga thing, check the Vinyasa Yoga Center.

the participants.  the one in grey is the teacher, Mr. Pio Baquiran

(photo courtesy of juned.  mine was all hazy.)