Yoga for Fitness, Good Health and Relaxation

“Hello Yogi Bear”, was a greeting in a chat box. Immediately I dismissed it and said, “sorry, wrong send”, not realizing that the reference was to the yoga class I went to last Saturday, 30 June. Yogi, Yoga—two entirely different terms.

Oh, yes, Yogi—a Yoga teacher, but not Yogi—the bear. Friend has been inviting me for sometime now to join her classes at the Vinyasa Yoga Cente in Strata 100, Ortigas, until I told myself, “Why not? It was a Yoga session with co-bloggers, anyway.”

I have already been reading a lot about Yoga the past few months out of interest, and it was not really difficult for her to convince me. It was just I did not have the time. For one, Yoga helps to improve one’s health and to learn to relax and mediate. Yoga has been there for a long long time, said to be as old as civilization.

It was nice to be with blog friends once again, and Jane. We started off with a short meditation then an informative briefing from Yoga instructor . Soon we were on our way to the proper way of breathing (I call it “breathe in…breathe out”. Pio calls it “inhale…exhale”), eye exercises, rotation of the hands, fingers and shoulders, and shorter variations of the sun salutations, all specifically designed for bloggers, who might live sedentary lifestyles.

All in one session, we were able to do a lot—simple forward bends, side bends, wide angle bends to stretch the spine, leg raises for the abs and the Bridge and Fish poses. I must have sweated a cupful of toxins. Not only that, the last part of the Yoga session was a meditation, which I call more of the relaxation part. Pio was so good in putting the class, at least me, to a restful state, emptying myself of all of the day’s concerns, almost going to sleep.

A delectable vegetarian dinner prepared by Pio was served afterwards. He would not divulge his secret recipe for his eggless leche flan, though.

Yes, my expectation to to experience a Yoga workout of deep breathing, stretching, cardiovascular exercise, strength and balance, and a meditation or cooling down session were somehow met, in just one session. Now I am thinking of seriously going into Yoga.