Post Partum: Day 1 of Yoga Practice

5:55 AM. Week 8 post partum. Baby is asleep.

I lay my mat on the floor and started in swastikasana. With my palms in prayer, thoughts run through my mind non-stop. "Should I take a bath now before Lucas awakes? Should I wash Lucas's clothes now so that they will dry in time for our dinner out? Should I express milk now as Lucas sleeps?"

Then I decide to do my best to let go of the thoughts. First DEEP breath... let go of the future... second deep breath... let go of things to do... Another deep breath and another and another to quiet my mind... which, really didn't totally happen. This is harder than I thought. I settled in enough, though, to be able to relax my shoulders, my face, and have deep steady breaths.

I release my palms on my mat and proceed to a downward facing hero. I begin to feel all the stiff hip, gluteus maximus, and back muscles from being so stagnant the past year. Breathe... release. I stay, releasing more of the lingering thoughts.

It's time... I curl my toes and raise my bent knees from the floor and my butt up, way up to the sky. AWWWW!!!! My hamstrings are frozen like ice! Inhale... Exhale... let go and pretend it's easy.  IT'S NOT EASY! It hurt like a first yoga session! Inhale... Exhale... I walk my dog slowly one leg at a time until it didn't hurt that much (until my eyebrows were relaxed). Then I release both ankles to the floor. Well, I tried to... which, again didn't happen. It's the effort that counts, right? It begin to feel better. I felt more oxygen flowing through my weak arms and fresh blood through my brain. I then go down to child's pose.

On all fours, my body demanded a gentle back exercise. I arch my back into a cow's pose then curve it into cat's. Several reps... ooohhh.. this feels really nice.

What was supposed to be my warm up turned into my entire practice when my arms felt tired and wobbly. Well, a few minutes of yoga is better than no yoga at all. 'Til tomorrow then.

The Ultimate Habit

It all started with one invitation. Now, I'm hooked.

Ultimate or Frisbee, as most of us know it, is a sport played by throwing and catching a flying disc from one point to another. For the people who are not so familiar with the sport, they often say... "Ha? Mapapagod ka ba sa Frisbee?" (Is playing Frisbee even tiring?). The best answer is silence... for they will never understand unless they try to play the sport themselves.

Smart Ultimate, the team which I play for, was formed last April to compete in the MVP Olympics, a sports event which was joined by  the different companies of Manuel V. Pangilinan. Invitations to try out for the team were sent last February. When I first saw the invitation, I was interested to join right away but I was also apprehensive since I had zero-knowledge of the sport. But a friend and an office mate told me that almost everybody in the team was a newbie. So I went... made it to the lineup... and the team won the bronze medal... But the team looked and felt like it won the GOLD! :)

Smart's zone defense. Photo credit: Paolo Panganiban Photography

One of the rare occasions that the disc is in my hands. :) Photo credit: Paolo Panganiban Photography

"It will all end after the MVPO," I thought. But to my surprise, it has been 2 months after the MVPO and the team has joined two more competitions so far -- the Greenfields Invitational and the Kalo Kalayaan Hat Tournament. The bond between the team members has grown a lot stronger since then.

Smart Ultimate winning the Championship of the Greenfields Invitational - Pool D

In terms of fitness... I lost about 5 pounds in the 2 months of training. I can eat whatever I want and not worry about the flabs forming. :) Some lost 10 pounds... some 3... almost all of the team members shed a bit of weight due to the intensive training. Nakakapagod ba ang frisbee? Silence... :)

More than the physical aspect of this sport, what amazes me most is the "spirit of the game" that is being practiced by most if not all of the players. Fairness and respect is important since this is a self-officiated game (no referees). Whatever harm inflicted upon you by another player should not be considered as an intentional act. If you win, you should remain humble. If you lose, you should cheer the winners whole-heartedly. That is respect. That is Ultimate.

My Bridal March Experience

Instead of a bridal car, I opted to ride a van together with my entourage, the girls closest to my heart. There were stories told, advices given and, of course, boisterous laughters shared. But as one by one my girls went out of the van to line up in church, I realized that that had to be the most real surreal thing that will ever happen in my single life.

Inside the van with Miking, one of my Matrons of Honor, and the rest of my entourage

The van door opened. I took my first step outside. The camera man followed my every step. When I reached the chapel doors, I stopped… took one peek inside… I saw my family and friends… took another peek… they were all waiting for me. I smiled. It was time.

As I entered the chapel doors, I was so overcome with happiness my heart wanted to burst in celebration.  Then I started to shiver. No, I wasn’t even nervous and I wasn’t crying. I just felt like a force so powerful has overcome my entire being. It was strange but it was GOOD strange.  It was spiritually uplifting.  The shivering stopped when I reached the altar after my mom and brother gave me away.

While walking down the aisle (photo taken by Jaycee Legaspi)

The church and reception ceremonies went by… then I realized… It was him. He held my hand to give me away.  It was Papa.

I’m not a fan of the supernatural world nor of superstitious beliefs. But I have always believed that Papa has always been my angel. And that day, he just proved me right. J

The Honest Sport: Ultimate

I haven't blogged for the longest time. But this is worth a repost. This is my Ultimate team mate's blog entry about what we have been up to for the past 3 months. Learning all about the sport of Ultimate (Frisbee as most of you know it).

7 on the Line

It's not just Derek Ramsey's sport after all. It's a lot more than that.

Yoga Studios: First Impressions

Looking for yoga studios near the Fort?

I had the chance to take a look at the more popular yoga studios around the area and here's my take on them.

1st stop... Yoga +.
The studio is located at the 11th floor of The Fort Legend Tower. The receptionist was very friendly and the studio itself is well designed -- minimalist, as expected. The practice area has a nice view of the surrounding buildings of global city with sufficiently cushioned floors and softly colored interiors. Yoga + offers both Hot classes and non-hot Flow classes which are held at schedules convenient for typical day-job employees. Early classes start as early as 630am and the latest class starts at 8pm. Don't know anything about yoga? No worries. Orientations are given to 1st timers so you will know what to expect when you attend your first yoga session. I have attended 2 classes so far in this studio and I'm starting to feel my everyday grogginess go away. Hurray to yoga! :)

 

http://yogaplus.ph/

2nd stop... Urban Ashram.
I got to the studio at noon on a Sunday and the it was unfortunately closed. I just managed to take a peek at the reception area and it's currently unpainted showing the concrete walls in their original color. a few seats are available for students who will be waiting for the next class. Some yoga apparel and gear are also sold in the reception area for one's personal practice. I hope to visit this studio again next time since I have heard some great things about it. This studio is located at 3rd Floor, Active Fun Building, 9th corner 28th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City (same building as Toys R Us).

http://www.urbanashrammanila.com/

3rd and last stop... Beyond Yoga.
I actually had a peek of an on-going anti-gravity yoga (AGY) class when I visited this studio. Beyond Yoga is the first yoga studio to offer regular AGY classes in the Philippines. For those of you who are wondering what AGY is, it is basically yoga with a hammock (maybe I will feature this once i take trial classes with Beyond Yoga next time :)). Focusing on the studio, it has a simple receiving area and a relatively moderate sized practice area. Since the size of the practice area is not that vast, I'm assuming that the number of students that can be accommodated at a time will be just enough so that the yoga instructor can check everyone's asanas and correct them if needed. Beyond Yoga is located at Unit 316, C-3 Bldg, BHS. I really wanna go try their AGY class next time. :)

 

http://www.igobeyondyoga.com/bhs-schedule.html

Interested in knowing more? You can check their websites by clicking the links above. Better yet, pay them a visit... and best, go there in your yoga attire and avail of their "first-timers" package! Don't think twice, just go and be amazed at what yoga can do to your body, mind, and spirit. :)

Facts About Abs

Helpful info! :)

http://ph.she.yahoo.com/photos/5-amazing-facts-abs-slideshow/-photo-2514360-154100622.html

Lull Time Over... Back to the Gym!

I admit that I have been in and out of my workout routine recently. I have been trying to be consistent again for a while now but I can't seem to get back in my groove. To force the issue, I enrolled to a 9-class pass (for only P2500) in FTX Gym again.

The 9-class pass I got can be used for core/combat classes or for circuit training in the gym (CirqFit as FTX calls it). The core and combat classes which I can avail include the ff:

•   Boxercise

•   Muay Thai Skills

•   Suspension Training

•   TRX

•   RIP:60

While there are also several specialized Cirqfit programs to choose from, each tailor-fitted to different fitness levels and work-out preferences:

•   LOSE BIG NOW

•   KETTLE BURNING

•   TARZAN’S JUNGLE JIGGLE

•   GLADIATOR’S ZONE

•   MODELS’ RUNWAY

•   BUNS AND GLORY

•   CORE BUILDER

•   STRONGMAN

•   TITA CORA’S CIRCUIT

•   FTX CHAIRMAN’S EXPRESS

•   BALLERS’ CIRCUIT

•   RUNNERS’ CIRCUIT

•   MARVIN’S XTREME XPRESS

•   FTX EXPRESS

•   FTX EXTREME

What's best about FTX is that, since workouts are designed to be completed in a faster span of time, it is rarely full of gym goers. So you will have plenty of space to execute your exercises in the correct form. Their helpful crew of professional gym instructors also help you achieve the best results you can in the shortest possible time.

You can check http://www.gymftx.com/ for more details on this awesome gym.

So, how am I doing so far? I'm still struggling to get back to at least a thrice a week gym habit. But I'm proud to say that I'm already consistently going to a Rip 60 class at least once a week for the past month now and I have already consumed 5 out of the 9 passes I availed. :) 

I still need to gain more motivation though. Maybe I should plan a boracay trip... or better, a surf trip! ...to get me all excited to get this flabby tummy toned!