Month: July 2016

Moments of Great Uncertainty

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What is your vision? What do you hope to achieve? How do you propose to serve the world that has given you so much?

These are the questions I ask myself in moments of great uncertainty. Moments when I think myself useless or incapable of reaching the lengths of my ambitions. When I feel like my plan is doomed for failure. I think about how grateful I am to have found my passion, to be of service to others while doing it, and occasionally get paid for it as well.

I am nothing. I have reached nothing. I have proven nothing.

These are the things I speak to my heart whenever I feel like I have won tiny victories. Of course, I know every person has an innate brilliance that needs years of polishing experience. But surely there is a way of accepting destiny without letting it aggrandize the ego?

My inner yoga is a constant battle between contentment and improvement. I have an unwavering desire to go out into the world and learn. But my life is so beautiful that I know in my heart it would not be wrong to stay exactly where I am. How does one decide the next move when she has wings and she has an anchor?

Snorkeling in Samal Island

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How could something so pretty be so underrated? If you find yourself wandering through Davao and its neighboring towns, the Taclobo Tours by ADECOR of Samal Island is something you shouldn’t miss. You will see clams as big as your torso. The aquatic life is so healthy and diverse, it’s such a gift to see.

I actually can’t remember the exact place to go to reach the giant clam sanctuary. Ooops. But the resident tricycle drivers are experts and you can just ask them to take you there. It’s a rough and long ride from Brgy. Peñaplata, and we’ve had issues with our boat, but the struggle was so well worth it.

Near the giant clam sanctuary is Uraya Beach, where we spent a few hours on the sand, playing with some asanas. My companions were Lydie and Mercedes, guest teachers of Bodhi Yoga Center Gensan in February 2016.

On our way back to the city, we made a quick stop to Hagimit Falls. It would have been a lovely sight if it weren’t for the overcrowding.

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Never change, Samal.

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Little Thoughts from a Little Yogintreprenuer

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Yes, yes. Reading the title, I’m fairly certain that a lot of traditional yogis would roll their eyes so hard they could see their brains. But I urge you to read on without judgment. Listen to that silent voice of reason that you know resides inside your heart.

On the 9th of March 2015, I gave birth to a beautiful baby – my very own yoga studio in the heart of General Santos City, Bodhi Yoga Center. I haven’t been the same since. It’s no walk in the park being a part-time yoga teacher and a full-time representative of your own venture. And though there have been heartbreaks in the beginning – in the form of empty classes – things have been looking up. Where there used to be exactly ZERO number of students, I now teach an average of 8 students per class – some days less, but most days, really way more.

And while being a yoga teacher is quite fulfilling, being a yoga entrepreneur made me question the entirety of my existence. You see, when you get into a venture like this, you will be perpetually torn in between selfless generosity and mutual growth between you and the community you serve. As a yogi, you feel mandated by tradition to stick to the roots of dhana. But as a modern entrepreneur, you know that in order to continue your service and further your reach, you have to make rational business decisions.

But ultimately it boils down to passion. My passion to teach and serve will not be mummed by empty classes or zero revenues. Of course, that’s because I have other revenue streams I rely on to survive. So I’m not saying you should quit your day job so you can start your passion project. It’s really more complicated than that. Passion projects are inspirational, but only if you have a working capital and you can afford a 3-5 year ROI without resorting to starvation and destitution.

What works for me might not work for everyone. Hell, what seemingly works for me might not be even working as well as I’d hoped. But here I am, getting by, making sure I can keep doing what I love with the people who love it just the same.

Namaste! 🙏

Yoga in General Santos

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I am happy with the way the yoga communities in GenSan are progressing. More and more people start to take interest in the practice, and the reception is with such fervor that we can no longer consider it a fad. I am also happy that there are more options for timetables and classes in the city.

In Bodhi Yoga Center, students can choose from Beginner to Intermediate classes. We have Vinyasa classes, Mysore-style or led Ashtanga classes, and simple Yoga Basics. We also started to roll out pre-natal yoga classes but are currently still private sessions.

We have a staple 6:00 PM class from Monday to Friday. Students can also ask us to schedule 8:00 AM and 7:30 PM group classes if they wish. Also, private sessions may be booked so as to focus on the student’s individual needs.

For bookings or inquiries regarding our Studio Classes, please contact me at Bodhi Yoga Center, mobile number (+63) 932 8891103 or e-mail at info@bodhiyogacenter.com.

For those aspiring to become yoga teachers, Bodhi Yoga Center is hosting a residential 200-Hour Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training program. This will be led by Vinay Jesta, an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher who currently conducts trainings across India and Europe. For more details about this program, kindly visit http://bodhiyogacenter.com.

Other places that offer yoga in General Santos are Marichi Yoga Studio, Metrolifestyle Fitness Center, Pacman Wildcard Gym, Tuna Smashers Badminton Courts, and AMSAI Gensan. 🙂