I first experienced the practice of yoga when I was pregnant with Flash Boy in 2007. I was only able to do it a few times, then decided to stop because of the distance of the place from our home. After that, I enrolled myself in one of those large fitness gyms that had yoga/pilates/tai chi as one of their group exercises. I loved doing that the most because I felt that yoga achieved in 15 minutes what I can only achieve doing an aerobic workout for an hour. When my membership was over after a year, I didn’t have the chance to practice it anymore. Though I’ve been wanting to get back to it, I wasn’t motivated enough to do so. An invitation from fellow blogger, Janice of The Roller Coaster Ride, to join a yoga class at ECHOyoga Shala was met with much enthusiasm by me and I accepted immediately. Online casino Ireland. ###
The day before I attend yoga, I was already looking forward to it. I felt that since I’ve been working out for a month, I would have a much better capacity to do the poses. One of the first things I noticed upon entering the shala was how calming the interiors are. The colors and design blended well together so that when you enter, you can forget what’s outside. It helped that it was located on the 3rd floor of the Steps Dance Academy Building at Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, because the street sounds can hardly be heard.
Our teacher, Ms. Jeannie Javelosa, took the time to explain the difference of doing yoga and being in yoga. She mentioned other yoga classes that offer yoga as a kind of sport or only doing the poses as opposed to being in yoga. As I understood it, being in yoga is really doing all the steps – the breath, the poses, the values and living it as a lifestyle. She said there should be no demarcation line between the yoga mat and your life.
Ms. Jeannie led us through an hour and a half of gentle yoga since most of us had little to no experience. She is a thorough teacher, gently explaining the moves in detail and correcting us where needed. At the end of the class, I had a very good workout and felt very relaxed. I took home the breathing technique she taught and continue to practice it by myself. She said that even if that’s all we can do for now, that’s already being in yoga. If you’re looking for a new place where you can go to practice being in yoga, and not just practice it as any ordinary sport, give ECHOyoga Shala a go. They also offer Deepening Education Programs, Counselling, Acupuncture and Reflexology.
Know More About ECHOyoga Shala
New Address: 3rd Floor,Steps Dance Academy Building,8465 Kalayaan Avenue (behind Rockwell) Barangay Poblacion, Makati City
Website: http://echoyoga.echostore.ph
Landline: (02) 956.7119
Mobile: 0906.5063958
Email ECHOyogaShala@gmail.com.
Facebook: ECHOyogaShala
Twitter and Instagram @ECHOyogaShala
Contact Persons:
Jeannie Javelosa / email: jeanniejavelosa@gmail.com 0917-8194395
Marilen Elizalde / email: mgelizalde@mac.com 0917-8181152
BACKGROUND:
ECHOyoga is the wellness side of ECHOstore Sustainable Lifestyle, the green retail store. ECHO means Empowerment Care Health and Oneness. Jeannie Javelosa co-owner of ECHOstore has been teaching yoga for close to 15 years, and with her co-teacher Marilen Elizalde, launched ECHOyoga five years back, offering weekly and corporate classes. Today, the two certified yoga teachers bring their passion for wholistic living through yoga in a new space called ECHOyoga Shala, located in Kalayaan Avenue, behind Rockwell in Makati.
Quotes from the owners:
Jeannie Javelosa – “Launching ECHOyoga Shala in a new space is for me a natural extension and addition to support ECHOstore’s philosophy of a sustainable lifestyle. Yoga is my disciplined practice that wholistically connects the Body, Mind and Spirit.”
Marilen Elizalde – “Yoga has always been my grounding that brings me to my center, especially with my life as a busy mother, homemaker and wife. Through teaching yoga, I expand my awareness and can share this beautiful practice with many.”
ABOUT THE NEW ECHOYOGA SHALA
ECHOyoga Shala opens its new space with the objective to offer a wholistic approach to a sustainable lifestyle, strengthen community collaborations and bring a deeper understanding of yoga practice. It is open daily, from 6:30 am to 8:30 pm with five daily classes, weekend schedules and workshops plus a daily early morning Self Practice space.
Yoga in all its varied expressions will be offered to beginners, intermediate and advanced students classes like Gentle Flow, Restorative Yoga, Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Power Yoga. ECHOyoga Shala’s thrust to go beyond just the physical practice of yoga as exercise includes sessions on Meditation, Breath Control (Pranayama) for distressing, and even “Off the Mat” community talks are led by certified and trained yoga teachers, with international experiences. Other offerings include counseling and life coaching sessions, and body-energy work therapies.
If yoga is to be embraced for a sustainable lifestyle, ECHOyoga Shala’s classes, sessions, workshop, community talks are sequenced and offered to guide the students in their yoga practice and discipline to develop a strong healthy Body, a steady focused Mind, a compassionate Heart. The ultimate goal is the development of a personal Self-Practice and tools that can be used for a deeper appreciation of life.
