Overcoming the Challenge of Matwork Pilates

Weekends.Those two days which I consider precious since I started working for a BPO company because not all agents have the benefit of getting weekends as their rest days. Before I was tempted to give an arm and a leg just to have a sense of normalcy in my life and when I felt that it may take a long time for me to have the weekends for myself again, I decided to leave and look for a company who understands its associates' and employees' need to have a life outside of the office.Thank God for weekends! And so I started running on weekends again. Since I still have two Sundays scheduled for my Eats Right Motivational Meet Ups, I hurriedly showered and ate my breakfast after finishing my long run. Good thing I was able to make it at Onelife Studio before our session on Matwork Pilates  started.

At Onelife Sutdio

Despite the few attendees, our instructor, Teacher Ched started right on time for our session. She explained that for that morning, the exercises will be modified since some of us were first timers. However if she sees to it that most of us can comply, then the exercises will progress as well. Personally, I do practice Pilates if I am not too busy which was ages ago. Most of its exercises are challenging and you need to have a lot of focus to achieve them. At first, I was able to follow but when the steps started to become a bit difficult, I was tempted to ask Ginger who was lying near me on why I decided to sign up in the first place. Kidding aside, there were times that we could hear each other's breathing, especially when our bodies are rolled like a ball and our tailbones almost touching the Yoga Mat. (I think that is called Child's Pose).

For almost an hour, our legs, arms, hips and muscles did the talking because it was hard to even talk at all. And when our instructor told us to do the Plank, I thought that I will not be able to do it. Thank goodness for Baby Planks.

Needless to say, we were able to overcome the challenge for our Matwork Pilates. It was not easy but somehow we were able to sweat even a little of those unwanted pounds.

Are we up to the next and final challenge next Sunday? We sure are because for our next meet up, we will be joining a Zumba class which is a great way to start your weekend right. So join us next Sunday for another Motivational Meet Up only at Onelife Studio.










(photo credits to Ginger Arboleda of Manila Fitness)

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Feeling Renewed with Restorative Yoga

This is a very delayed post and I would like to apologize for not blogging for more than three weeks. The whole month of August has been a busy one due to the fact that I have changed companies and some adjustments needed to be made specifically with my work schedule. Though my training started on Aug 18th and will last for 5 weeks, I did have some difficulty blogging and even waking up very early over the past weekends. I am sure glad I already have adjusted and hopefully be back on blogging mode again.

Now to update you once again on the Motivational Meet Ups that I have joined which consist of Five Meet Ups, our second meet up was held again at The Onelife Studio where we had our session on Restorative Yoga.

With teacher Tanya (center) and the rest of the Second Batch of Eats Right Motivational Meet Ups

From the word itself, Restorative Yoga is a relaxed way of renewing oneself by performing yoga poses that are doable even at home. It was very easy to give in and feel relaxed with Teacher Tanya's calmed voice. All tensed muscles will be relieved because some poses were meant to massage especially the tight muscles at one's neck and back while lying down. At one point I even heard myself saying "hmm," which was the sound I make when I go to the spa and have a massage. Perhaps Teacher Tanya heard me so she massaged my forehead with some essential oil and that really felt so good. It was very tempting to just fall asleep especially when we heard some light rain in the background which added more to that heady feeling that you are again back in your own home.

Sharing my experience on how Yoga affected my life

When the session had ended, we had a short talk with Teacher Tanya and Mr Ferdinand Aguila who was the owner of the studio. We learned the importance of Restorative Yoga and how we can apply it with our daily lives.Teacher Tanya mentioned how hurried our lives were and how focused we are on things like traffic that easily get in our nerves without appreciating the mundane things that you have, like having your own car, being home with your family and just by simply being alive. It was then that I shared my story on how I started practicing basic Yoga poses at home before I joined a running event last June 1st. I told them that the week before the marathon, I visited the venue which was Luneta and ran from KM Zero to SM MOA. It was a good and easy run considering it was my first time to run from Luneta because I enjoyed the view by looking at the bay, the trees and the change of scenery. I never even knew then that the simple Yoga poses I have been doing at home already affected me, making me enjoy not just my run but my day as well until Teacher Tanya pointed it out.

We all have our ways of getting renewed when life's demands become too much for us to handle. Some of us go the spa and have a massage where as others go out of town to unwind. At times we feel that such relaxation is fleeting and short lived. Since not all of us have the means to relax and pamper ourselves even for a massage, a short walk at the park or just watch the sunset at the bay may help because more often than not, it is the small things that we must learn to appreciate in our lives which is enough to make us through the day.

This I have learned from my session on Restorative Yoga.







(photo credits to Ginger Arboleda of Manila Fitness)

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My First YOGA Date at ONELIFE STUDIO

When Women's Health Philippines posted on their facebook page about the series of WHPOPUP Studio classes for the month of August, I immediately sent them an email and signed up for the Pilates-Infused Yoga class at ONELIFE STUDIO. I even wrote a post  about it so other health enthusiasts especially bloggers will get to know about this yearly event. I was thankful that I got included with my chosen class where the slots got filled in no time which only goes to show that YOGA is indeed one holistic approach that has become well known in the country.

Last night after getting lost almost twice, I finally got to ONELIFE STUDIO. Upon arriving I  immediately registered, signed the waiver form and afterwards, I was handed my free shirt and my bag of freebies. Good thing I came just in time because there were ladies who where already wearing the limited edition of WHPOPUP dri fit shirt courtesy of CARB TRIM which was one of the sponsors for the class. Since I was also given a key in exchange for my ID so that I could keep my things in my locker, I then went to the restroom and changed clothes. A few minutes later I joined the other girls where the class was about to start. Looking at the group, I knew for a fact that I was the most senior in age but that did not come as a surprise anymore. Ever since I started my journey through fitness, I have met and encountered people of different ages in all walks of life where I get to learn and socialize even for a short time. As I was getting the feel of my YOGA mat, our teacher, Joanne Ignacio introduced herself and  welcomed us at ONELIFE STUDIO. With her was fellow Yoga teacher Chiara who was there to guide us as well and to make sure the poses were done right. Teacher Joanne gave some basic guidelines since majority in the group were beginners, even added that she wanted us to enjoy the experience and not to be ambitious with the poses since it will be our first time. She  also acknowledged CARB TRIM as one of the sponsors and of course the staff of SUMMIT MEDIA including the gorgeous Lara Parpan, editor-in-chief of Women's Health Magazine who gave a short talk about healthy competition and listening to our bodies need for wellness. Shortly after that, the Yoga class officially began.

With Women's Health Philippines's chief, Lara Parpan

With Teacher Joanne's soothing voice and guidance, each pose was done with ease.Not only that, she made it a point to tell us how to execute them properly so as not to hurt ourselves and the reasons behind each pose. Funny but I felt that her voice became even soother as the poses became a bit challenging to fulfill.It was really something new for me where I have gotten used to fitness instructors during aerobics and Zumba classes where one has to shout,  "Hah!" to get energized so one could follow the fast tempo and steps. With Yoga, it was the exact opposite. There is no need to raise one's voice that one may find it even intrusive to create such noise because of the serene atmosphere and the constant need to focus, concentrate and just go with the flow. I have to admit that even in the last minute, when we were lying down and sort of massaging our backs pressed gently on the Yoga mats, I almost fell asleep. I almost forgot I was not at home although it almost felt like I was. In fact  when Teacher Joanne bowed her head which signaled that the class has ended, I somehow felt that my Yoga experience was short lived. Good thing that I will be a constant visitor at their gyms for four consecutive Sundays starting August 17,2014 due to Manila Fitness Eats Right Motivational Meet Ups where I signed up as well.That also means I get to join three more Yoga classes, learn and enjoy the experiences over again.

Teacher Joanne giving us guidelines with her soothing voice

Teacher Chiara was also there to make sure the poses were done right

I am sure glad I chose to spend my rest day at Onelife Studio. It was a new learning experience and one that I will look forward for more. To the friendly staff at the studio, Carb Trim for our drinks and of course Women's Health Philippines, thanks for your WHPOPUP Studio classes and for continuously sharing your events for free to everybody. 
More power!


Visit ONELIFE STUDIO'S facebook page for more updates. 

(photo credits to facebook.com)

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