Philippine Yoga Asana Championship 2010

Been suffering from chronic back pains for almost a year now. It caused me panic a few months ago because it simply wouldn't go away. I googled for some possible reasons. Most of the research I found leads to sedate lifestyle.One doctor in youtube even blamed the invention of chairs for it. It was then that I realized that many of us suffer from back pains at least in our lifetime. My work requires me to be in front of the computer for hours so it only makes sense. I went to Philippine Orthopedic hospital a few months ago to make sure and the doctors advised me the same things, exercise and a lot of stretching. I am sure many of you also have the same situation. I am still to force myself to undergo change in lifestyle and I am calculating my options. Some advice yoga as a good compliment to exercise.

Then last Sunday, November 7, I was invited to witness the 2010 Philippine Yoga Asana Championship at RCBC Plaza's Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium.

Yoga is a discipline which focuses on balance and breathing. It is a safe and meditative exercise that promotes strength, stamina, stability and flexibility. The different poses facilitates for the flow of oxygen in the body, especially the brain which makes one calm.

The Philippine Yoga Asana Championships is through the initiative of Bikram Yoga Manila and its chairman Tristan Choa.It's now on its 3rd year. A total of 14 participated in this years competition, 11 for the women's category and 3 in men's. Each competitor will follow the same format and execute a total of seven (7) postures or asana. Five are compulsory asanas and two are optional.
The following are the compulsory asanas.

1. Standing head to Knee Asana

2. Standing Bow Pulling Asana

3. Bow Asana

4. Rabbit Asana

5. Stretching Asana

And what about the following for the the optional postures? Really looks back breaking. These are advances poses so be sure not to do them on your even if you think you can do so.lol

The competition was judged by internationally known judges appointed by the World yoga Foundation judging Committee. No less than Rich Nicols was the head judge. He facilitated the 2004 Thailand Regional Yoga Asana Chamioships. With him is Sittipong " ball" Rattanapong who won the Thailand regional Asana championships four (4) years in a row from 2004-2007. He also setup his own Yoga studio in Seoul with his sisters. The other judge was Thanawadee Buakird who was the  2005-2006 champion of Thailand Regional Yoga Asana Championship.

the judges L-R: Thanawaddee, Rich Nichols and Sittipong

 

 Tristan Choa, Studio director of Bikram Yoga Manila during the awarding ceremonies.

The winners:

Mens division

champion      : Dax Cabarrubias
2nd place     :  Simeon Arias
3rd place      :  Gerard Sison

Dax Cabarrubias, man on the center

Womens Division

champion      :Abegail Hasewaga
2nd place     : Kiara Tesoro  
3rd place     : Rieko Umemura

Abegail Hasewaga, 3rd from left

After the competition, the audience was given the rare privilege of watching a yoga demonstration form Ball Rattanapong himself. He wowed all of us with his flexibility. Yoga in its best form.

Sittipong " ball" Rattanapong in a yoga demonstration

on a personal note:
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I never watched such event before which I think is an indication that ordinary people think of yoga as a discipline exclusive to the upper echelons of society. We have to admit, it's expensive, and so we shy away from it. I think that is about to change.

I thought I was invited here simply to commercialize the event but the message of Tristan Choa amazed me. He spoke of spreading the word, so that ordinary Filipinos would know of Yoga and eventually start doing it. As more and more people get into yoga, the price of the practice would go down. Eventually, this would make more people experience the physical , mental, and even religious benefits of yoga. Such is a noble cause I guess. Yoga, is something that I wanna experience one of these days.....

The winners 2010 Philippine Yoga Championship will be representing the country in the World Yoga Competition which will be held early 2011.Our high hopes to you guys.

thanks Jig and  Jaycee of Perlas & Luna for the invite.

____________________________
the event was made possible through the commitment
of Pru Life UK and BPI preferred banking.

more info here:http://www.philippineyogachampionship.com/
                       http://www.bikramyogamanila.com/