I had my first brush at yoga in 2006 during the culmination of a corporate-wide wellness day event. I wanted to try it foremost because: (1) it’s free and who would say no to free yoga (right?!); (2) I can’t reach my toes (couldn’t do it since I was little) so I was thinking hoping that maybe yoga can make my muscles remember how to be flexible; (3) I have the penchant to try new things recreational; and (4) I like it when my entire body aches the day after a strenuous activity because I was led to believe that it means I’m developing muscles (either that or I did not stretch because I’m too stupid to remember to stretch).

That time, our instructor was Hoze Arando (instructor and director at Yoga Manila). We only spent a full hour with him doing the basics of Raja Yoga (if I’m not mistaken), the postures which he would name as we went along, and the process of breathing that made us all sound like Darth Vader (literally). The morning-after pain I felt was excruciating! Never in my full year of wall climbing did I feel such intense sensation that even the sides of the soles of my feet were hurting. Even the sides of my palms felt like they got some good pounding. I was sore everywhere and I loved it.

I looked forward to the day when I can again do yoga and, about two years later, it happened. Jane, in coordination with The Blog and Soul Movement, organized the first ever Yoga event for bloggers. I got all excited because it had been months since I first heard the plan from Jane and Juned and at last it came through. The venue was the gym where Jane regularly practices, the Vinyasa Yoga Center, directed by Minna Estrada (who we can’t thank enough for having us over).

Again, if I’m not mistaken, our instructor Pio Baquiran made us do Hatha Yoga. It’s something similar but different in a way to the yoga I’ve already done (which explains why we did not breathe like Darth Vader this time). Pio made a program especially designed to relieve the tired muscles of bloggers from the endeavor we most regularly do: writing/typing away while seated. We were taught exercises to keep our posture in check, flexing the limbs, stretching the core, straightening the legs, and aligning the spine all while the body is relaxed and conditioned to perform the discipline. As expected, the flexibility of my body was again stressed to the brink of going beyond its stretchable limits. Not that I’m complaining because, as I’ve already said, I go by the mantra: LET THE FARKIN’ PAIN REMAIN!

Quite surprisingly, I did not feel pain the day after which must mean we’ve be taught and guided well to not strain ourselves with the activity. I’d also recommend the program to those spending long hours seated down for work just like those who do blogging full time. As all other forms of exercise, a healthy lifestyle should be maintained for total wellness which means staying away from sinful food (or getting them in moderation) and getting enough sleep everyday must be observed for it to do you good.

On another note, YES, my physical exam results came out and I’m normal (read, not even close to the maximum limits) in all aspects. A clean bill of health! HORRAY! Also, I got negative results for Hepatitis B and Tuberculosis (did you know that about 80% of the PH population, meaning 8 out of 10, would text positive with TB?).

Here are the rest of the posts related to this first ever Yoga Blogger’s event:

1. Juned: Yoga-Blog&Soul (photos)
2. Chona: Bloggers @VYC: An Evening of Fitness, Food and Fun!
3. Janine: 10 Things I Know About Yoga
4. Poyt: Yoga at VYC (photos)
5. Melanie: Yoga for Bloggers at Vinyasa Yoga Center
6: Dine: Yoga for Fitness, Good Health and Relaxation
7. Arpee: Yoga goes the foodie
8. Cookie: Bloggers + Yoga = Blogginis?
9. Chats: My First Yoga Class
10. Poyt: Going Back to Yoga
11. Fritz: The Vinyasa Yoga Center Experience

Photo credits: (1) collage of individial photos taken by Jane U. (2) The Participants, photo from Poyt (3) Juned and Fritz with Jane in the background, photo by Poyt

Thanks to Jane for being in the forefront of organizing the event and to Blog and Soul for making this possible. Thanks to Pio and Minna for teachng and having us over. And to the sponsors, you rock!