Wednesday, April 16, 2008

ang yoga sa buhay ko

i've been doing yoga on and off for the past three years. although i would say na di pa talaga ako master kasi may mga asanas (poses) that i still cannot do, i would say na may improvement naman ako. nag-improve ang flexibility and balance ko. i feel calmer and much more relaxed. and i would say that yoga is one of the main reasons i lost weight. pagpawisan ka ba naman ng sobra na pwede mo nang pigain ang shirt mo (at may pawis na lalabas), di ka ba naman pumayat nun!

in my daily life, nakatulog din ang yoga. for example: (pasyensya na po sa spelling at sa aking alternate terms. di ko pa rin ganun kamemorize yung ibang names ng asanas e).

- yung ujjai breathing (contracting your belly muscles and your anus, while putting your tongue at the roof of your mouth and producing a hissing sound as you breathe), nakakatulong sa pagbalance ko sa MRT lalo na kapag maraming tao at wala kang mahawakan. just ensure that your legs can support you (spread them a little bit apart), and prepare for the sudden motions ng MRT (kapag aandar na sya or titigil na), pwede ka nang wag humawak sa handrails. look ma, no hands!

- nakakatulong din yung ujjai breathing to calm yourself, lalo na sa stress ng traffic (i had one gradschool friend try it when we were driving home. nagwork sa kanya) o kaya kapag naiinis ka na sa ginagawa mo o sa kinakausap mo. kamtutinkopit, nakakatulong talaga that you relax and take a deep breath sa mga stressful situations.

- yung mga forward bends (prasaritas) and the side bends, i use it when i clean or do other things sa bahay. kapag me mga winawalis o pinupunasan ako sa mga masisikip or tricky spots, onting luhod at bending, keri na. nakakatulong din sya when lifting and carrying heavy stuff, or when you pick up stuff off the floor and you want to maintain your poise.

- yung meditation part ng yoga, nakakatulong sya when i just want to let my thoughts fly. me mga panahon kasi that i dwell on things, especially on my mistakes. it is liberating that when you let your thoughts fly (usually kapag shavasana or yung nakahiga na kami to rest), and think of random things. it helps me remember things i have/want to do, remember what i want to eat (me time na naisip ko na gusto ko pala ng chicken nuggets sa McDo. weird no?) or figure out stuff that boggles you.

not to mention that after each session, you feel relaxed and rested. ang sarap matulog sa gabi. and that loose and flexed up body (chaka yung weight loss) can't also be beat. ang sarap!