My First Yoga Class at the Park

How often do we defy the norm and try something different in our lives? To not care of what other people think and become oblivious from other people's stares and questioning glances ? Can you just imagine how liberating it is to just follow your heart, do the thing that you always wanted and feel alive like a child once again?

Ever since I started my journey to fitness, I have found a world that I thought I will never be able to live again. Being workaholic, I rarely had time to exercise. Brisk walking especially during heavy traffic  heading for work or on my way home was the next best thing I did to keep fit. I am quite thankful for the previous company I was with when they organized events like sports fests where we get to enjoy free hip hop classes,wall climbs, fun runs and the like. It took a lot of effort to allot just one day for those free outdoor activities in a  year and I was sure glad I took the risk of joining because since that day I had joined my first 3K race, a door has been opened where I discovered a side of me that I thought never existed.

Thus the days of joining aerobic classes in BGC started. The early morning runs every Sunday simply because jeepneys were rare at 4AM in the morning that instead of being late, I chose to run so I could get to the park on time. When I started to get bored with the weekly routine, I decided to enroll in a gym membership where the group classes became more challenging be it  Zumba, Core & Definition Classes. Until one day I decided to try Yoga.

My first Yoga instructor at Gold's Gym was a kind lady whose instruction was  in Tagalog.  For a beginner, I felt so at ease even if there were poses that were hard to achieve. She encouraged us to explore what movements will be best to achieve the pose, to check our alignment and that there will be other days that some poses will be attainable if we were not able to do it on that current day. Since most of the activities I had been doing were more of cardio, Yoga became a balance from them all especially when I found out that Yoga and running went hand in hand.

Thus I became more interested with the practice. On days that I am free, I try to include Yoga for at least 15 minutes in my morning warm ups especially before my weekday runs and training. I also find time to do it before I retire to bed especially when I read and found out that it could help me sleep well.

It was in the middle of last year that I have started doing Yoga at the 30th Track Park in BGC. Oblivious to other people's stares, I take off my shoes and do my practice which at times last for half an hour. Since I do not have a Yoga mat, I make sure that the pavement where I am at is free of pebbles & stones. At times young kids would stop and stare at me for a while where as others take out their phones and video me discreetly in which I have gotten used to. I am also glad that people had gotten used to it as well which means they are starting to accept the fact the practicing Yoga can also be done at the park just like running, biking  and dancing.

Almost a month ago, I discovered a community who gather every last Sunday of the month and practice Yoga at the Burgos Circle Park in BGC. A day before the event, I was inspired to write a post about it to inform people who were interested to join. Since  next day was a Sunday, I went to BGC for my weekend run and waited for the community event to start  at 9:30 AM.

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Initiated by LiFE Yoga, Life at The-Park is a monthly event held at Burgos Circle in BGC which starts at 9:30 AM and is open not only to those who practice  Yoga  but also to those who are interested to learn more about it. It is a free class so anybody can join. No need to bring a Yoga mat because they are available at the venue plus you also get to taste the refreshing goodness of Vita Coco Coconut Water which is one of the sponsors for the event.

 



For 90 minutes, I immersed myself in the class . With the aid of Teacher Enzo's guidance, I learned to let go of my worries and just focused on what I was doing. As always, every pose has its purpose and meaning in our lives that we all too often take for granted. Our breathing, our surroundings, even the people we see everyday. It is very easy to forget all these because our lives are always in a hurry that even a day or two intended for a quiet time alone or for wellness even for an hour had been such a challenge. It is only when we start to feel the recurring stress in our bodies that we start to listen and yearn for such peace not just outside of ourselves but inside as well. And once that inner peace is discovered, you learn how to nurture it and share it with others.


For those who are interested to join the community Yoga, the next class at Life at the Park will be on March 20 which is this coming Sunday at Burgos Circle in BGC.  You can register at the Life Yoga studio or email them @ www.lifeyogacenter.com.The class starts at 9:30 AM and you can bring a friend or colleague since it is a free event. Sharing is caring and the more the merrier.

For updates on promos and upcoming community events, like Life at The Park and LiFE Yoga in facebook.

You can also sign up for a free class by visiting their website at  lifeyogacenter.com.

( Photo credits to the beautiful people of Life at The Park Community )

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A FREE YOGA CLASS AT LIFE AT THE PARK

I have been practicing Yoga for more than a year now. It all started with plain curiosity. Of thinking how such challenging poses were done and what does one get from doing them. I spent time reading about it especially when artists like Sting and Sherilyn Crow got featured in a magazine with those twisted pretzel like poses. I wondered how they find time for it no matter how hectic their schedule were. Little by little I tried doing them.  I experimented with the tree pose while waiting for the kettle to whistle  or while eating my meals at the kitchen counter standing on one leg. It was quite queer but that never bothered me.

When I started joining race events, I accidentally found out that running and Yoga go together. I remember that day so clearly because I decided not to join our out of town team building as I needed to train for the race which was just a week away. Other than that, I needed to familiarize myself with the route as the starting line was at Kilometer Zero in Luneta. And so I went there and ran up until SM Mall of Asia  which was roughly 7 kilometers or more. Along the way, I did not just focus my eyes on the road but found time to appreciate every little thing that I passed by. For the first time, I started to appreciate the trees with their twigs and leaves, the  US Embassy which I only have learned its location not until that day including the people who ran, biked and sold food along Roxas Boulevard. I got busy admiring the view on my way there that I did not notice I already reached SM MOA. Looking back, I asked myself what happened or what I did differently on that day. Though it helped that it was an early morning run, I realized that before I left home, I did some very simple Yoga poses to warm up my legs and muscles. It turned out that it helped lightened my mood and that affected my run which turned out to be very enjoyable that come race day I had a great time finishing that 10K race.

From then on, I became interested in Yoga. I joined Yoga classes at the nearest gym where I used to work and practiced them at home at least three times a week. Lately I found out that I could memorize the sequence of Yoga poses taught in class, making my own routine which I modify when I practice Yoga before I go to bed or after my early  morning Sunday runs. I also make sure that I practice Yoga everyday as much as possible a week before a long distance race or a mountain day climb.

Needless to say, Yoga has become a part of my life. For me it was not just a way of getting fit but a way of finding time for peace and reflection. Though I could also do that when I run which is high impacting, Yoga acts as a balance especially when it is done after my long runs. It serves as a cool down exercise as it stretches those tired muscles especially those at the back of the legs,shins & gluts. It helps a great deal in strengthening the core which is important if you are a runner.

It also strengthens one's concentration as it focuses on one's breathing, how it should be done properly and how one should appreciate it in any day of our lives whether you are a runner or not. The stress one experiences at home, in school or at work at times can be overwhelming and it is very easy to give in, affecting our bodies and ultimately our health. We often neglect that our tired muscles also deserve a break and that they need to be stretched so they could continuously do their job well.

We all know that not everybody have the time to go to a gym, visit a Yoga Studio or have the finances to enroll even. Thankfully, there are people who do the extra mile to introduce Yoga in our lives without having to spend a single centavo. I was lucky enough to learn about such community event a day before it will be held.

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Brought to you by Life Yoga, LIFE AT THE PARK is a free Yoga Class which will be held tomorrow, February 28 at Burgos Circle in Bonifacio Global City. It will start at 9:30AM up until 11AM. You may want to come early to reserve on Yoga mats. You can also bring your friends and family members as all levels are welcome, whether you are beginners or not. What more LIFE YOGA will offer 20% discount on all packages if one wishes to enroll on that day.

So if you want to experience Yoga at the park, surrounded by trees and occasionally by birds, bees and butterflies, with some cool music to accompany you, try visiting Burgos Circle in BGC tomorrow. You do not only get to experience Yoga outdoors, you may even meet people who enjoy some peace and quiet while getting fit at the same time.

For inquiries, visit LiFE YOGA in facebook or you can also go to their website at lifeyogacenter.com for updates.

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FREE ZUMBA FITNESS CLASSES AT AYALA TRIANGLE GARDENS

Ever tried joining a Zumba  Fitness Class at the park ?

I had.

Way back 2012 when I was new to running, my colleague Malou invited me one Sunday to join the Group Classes at the BGC park which usually starts at 5:30 AM daily. It was a year when we had the same schedules where our shift started at 8:00 PM and ends at 5AM with weekends off. We were considered lucky with that kind of schedule and since BGC is roughly 2Kms away from where we work, we would leave in a hurry so as not to be late. Fridays were dress down days. We would come to work in our workout gear so both of us will not bother to change especially when it was already time to clock out.There was even a time that our team leader asked us to stay after shift due to a post team meeting but we creatively made an excuse to escape and ran in a hurry.

That was how my colleague and I spent our early morning Saturdays then.

On Sundays, I woke up at 4AM, do some warm ups and take a very light breakfast. I leave the house at 4:30AM, take a short walk and since there were very few jeepneys on the road because it was very early, I run my way to BGC, making sure I arrive at the park 10 minutes early before the Group Exercise. 

That was how my fitness journey started.

When I moved to a different company where its benefits included a gym membership, I signed up immediately and took advantage of it. At Gold's Gym Glorietta which was a five minute walk away from work, I not only joined Zumba classes. I joined Definition and Yoga Classes as well. And even if the gym can be crowded especially during evenings and weekends, I enjoyed the various classes with their respective challenges. I also got to know such inspiring instructors who were mostly featured on local TV.

However despite the fact that I am mostly into running and Yoga these past months. I still kind of miss working out at the park where there is ample space enough for you not to collide with other fitness enthusiasts and where the trees and the sky replace the four corners of a gym studio. Thus when I have learned that there will be free Zumba Fitness classes at Ayala Triangle Gardens, I immediately became interested and got inspired to share the news by writing about it.

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Staring March 1 until March 24, fitness enthusiasts are in for a one hour treat every Tuesdays & Thursdays for a free Zumba fitness class at the Ayala Triangle Gardens. Organized by LIVE LOVE PARTY, the series of events promises a live fitness experience that will surely make one feel energized for the rest of the day.

For those who work and reside in Ayala Makati, nobody can miss the Ayala Triangle Gardens. It is located near the Philippine Stock Exchange whose landmarks are near the Insular Building and The Enterprise Building.The Ayala Triangle Gardens is one of the favorite training fields for a lot of runners and had been the venue for some Yoga and Zumba Fitness Classes in the past. Food stalls and restaurants can be found in the area making it a great place to unwind by taking a stroll in the park after a very tiring day.

So mark your calendars and remember the dates.Invite your friends and colleagues. Find time for fitness no matter how busy you are and discover how to be truly alive. Make it happen and experience the free Zumba Fitness Classes at the Ayala Triangle Gardens this March.

See you there!

For more updates, visit the LIVE LOVE PARTY page at facebook.com.

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What To Expect When You Run Your First Full Marathon (My Condura Skyway Marathon 2016 Journey)

I have been running for almost four years, joining races ranging from 3Km to 21 Km. It is a costly sport coupled with injuries associated with training or lack of it during races. And even if I had my share of running events, I am still not considered a seasoned runner. I have not joined any trail or mountain runs outside of Manila and BGC where the usual road races are held. I am not a member of any Running Group or trained in any Running Clinic so basically what little information I have on the sport was based on reading or stories heard along the road. However when you have been running for quite awhile, you eventually  meet people who share their experiences & knowledge simply because they want to pay things forward. Such kindness make it easy for one to come out of his shell and learn that the Running Community is not just all about running. It is about camaraderie, humility, honesty from all walks of life because they understand too well how it was when they were just starting.

But despite the encouragements and confidence one receives to join and run a full marathon, the final decision to do it still should come from yourself. In my case, a lot of things had to be considered before I took the plunge. While others, especially those who are young, single and have a stable job, decide too quickly, it took a lot of planning and preparation before I finally decided to say yes. Information and tips that I have learned from videos, reading and from other runners helped that I was able to apply these basic guidelines step by step.

Allow me to share them one by one:


Be prepared financially.

When one decides to run for a full marathon for the first time, one has to allot enough money not just for the registration but for the correct running gear, nutrition for training and other expenses on the race day itself. Though it is strictly advised not to wear anything new on race day to prevent injuries, I sort of deviated a little bit on that one because it was imperative that I buy a new pair of running shoes. My old Merrill trail shoes had been worn out due to the many weekend runs and races I had worn it since October 2014. In fact when I ran my last race which was RUN FOR THE ASPINS on December 2015. I could feel it loosening up. Being the over practical, spendthrift person that I am, I thought of using it again but that would also mean risking myself of injuries that I had no plan of getting. Thus the decision to buy a new pair. I have to admit it was not easy for me to let go of my hard earned money just for the registration and the new pair of shoes but when I learned from a fellow runner that ASICS which was one of the major sponsors for the CONDURA SKYWAY MARATHON gives free 42K & 21K registrations once you buy a pair of ASICS shoes, I immediately went to their Greenbelt 3 Store and signed up.

Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

Caught on Candid Camera while on Long Slow Distance training

Train Properly.

A lot of seasoned runners join Marathons with limited training and still get to maintain their Personal Record (PR) and  finish the race injury free . These are the ones who started running in their early twenties,even in their thirties. The ones who never missed a run three to four times a week, sometimes more, who get enough amount of rest and sleep days before race day. There are those who have the endurance of joining races every Sunday be it a trail run, a half marathon road race, a mountain run or even an ultra marathon. These people are called Mamaws, short for Halimaw or Beasts in the Running Commuity. Obviously, running is a way of life to them, a sort of addiction that they long for despite the pain, the possibility of injury not to mention the money they spent in every race.

But for someone who never run a 42K race before, it is imperative to train four to six months before the said running event.That means one has to run at least three times a week, with long runs that last two or three hours done on Sundays or join races whether it be a short 10K race or a half marathon. In my case that was what I did. Since I have started, I had finished 6 half marathons, a couple of 15K races, and countless 10K  & weekend runs. I also had a couple of day climbs way back in April 2015 (Mount Batulao and Pico De Loro), joined Zumba, Definition and Yoga classes at Gold's Gym. I also never missed the chance to brisk walk from home to work and vice versa especially during traffic hours and rainy days. As far as endurance is concerned, it would appear that my body was fit enough to finish a full Marathon.

But despite the number of miles or kilometers I had ran, there was still the mandatory 32K that needed to be done each and every time one will join a full marathon. Since I never ran a 32K race ever, I was lucky enough to have met a seasoned runner who coached and guided me  on that one Sunday when we have trained at UP Oval in Diliman. A separate post will be written all about that Training Day.


Never under estimate the value of Nutrition, Sleep and Conditioning.

Months before the race, the right amount of food, sleep and mindset is very important when one finally decides to run a full Marathon. Runners must never slack on veggies and fruits especially bananas. Drink plenty of water and avoid junk food at all cost. Take multivitamins for added energy and stamina.

A lot of free spirited runners both young & old find it hard to shy away from eating junk food especially if they are stressed from work or they work in the evenings.The toxic environment plus the lack of sleep at work actually pushes the body to eat at unholy hours or skip meals so it can catch up on sleep. I know this from experience because I used to work in the evenings. Sad to say, lack of sleep and running does not go together. Some runners  may not agree with that because they are still young or believe that they are healthy because they have an active lifestyle. Sadly, even runners and Olympic athletes are not immune from illness. Being active does not mean you are healthy. The effects may not yet be felt by some, others may even choose to ignore them but time will come that bad eating habits and irregular sleep cycles will affect our bodies when we least expect it.

The right mindset is also very important when it comes to running your first full  Marathon. Training your body is just half of the preparation. Your mind should follow suit as well because no matter how well trained you are, your mind will also be tested come race day. Finishing many half Marathons or a couple of 32K races do not guarantee that everything will be okay because once you hit the 32 kilometer mark,that is when the body starts feeling the pain of non stop running and when the negative thoughts start to creep in. You will question why you joined the race in the first place where as some want to go home and leave the race unfinished. It is at this point that your mind must never give in to the pain your body is feeling and to focus on finishing what you have started.


I may have just ran one full Marathon but the wisdom I have gained from that decision is tenfold. Based on what I shared, coming to that final decision took years of conditioning and preparation. Impulsive decisions are no longer my cup of tea and gone are the days when I would do a thing due to peer pressure or prodding. Those years of running have taught me that our bodies are capable of endurance if it is taken cared of properly, that no task is too difficult as long as one finds enjoyment and fulfillment doing it.Needless to say, I have learned to respect not just the distance but the sport of running the same thing with the people who have chosen to take care of their health,find meaning in their lives and make a difference because of it.



(Photo Credits by FAB Running PH & shoes by ASICS )

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