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Country > Philippines > Cebu > Cebu City
Date > 2014 > Mar
Activity > Yoga

Mar 5, 2014

Yoga Immersion with Veer (Vaibhav Rana)

Location : Cebu City, Philippines

Fork on the Road
It's a common adage that when the student is ready, the teacher will come. Such is the case with Veer. I came to a point in my yoga practice where the road forked in many different directions.

therapeutic yoga to tailor-fit a yoga program to address specific health issues eg. scoliosis
pursue the resulting clairvoyance from a deepening yoga practice (this is considered taboo in yogic and meditative circles, but so what? let me be the child who burns himself while playing fire, but learns in the process)
continue developing the more challenging asanas as a natural progression
venture into other types of yoga eg. kundalini, sivananda, etc.

To this day, I find a strong appeal in pursuing all of the above. I'm sure Veer's teaching takes me closer to the third, but at this point, the rest don't even matter. What he puts on the table is plenty on my plate.

Yoga Workshops and Programs
Veer conducts many programs in his classes - yoga for strength, playshop, fly-days, kriya yoga, krama yoga, etc. Each program is designed to develop technique, strength, power, balance, mobility and/or flexibility.

Donkey or Tiger?
Even though I train 4x/week with him, I still can't get enough, often doing my own private training to augment his lessons. I actually injured myself while pushing it too hard. I got reprimanded. He was shaking his head, saying, "I don't know why you continue to overtrain. Do you want to train like a donkey? or train like a tiger?" He is keen on rest being an integral part of the training process.

The Usual Suspects
As I mentioned in my previous blog, with Veer, it's take it or leave it. There is no middle ground. The ones who decide to take it, stay and remain hardcore. As for the others, you don't see them anymore after the first few sessions. Not surprisingly, you see the same handful of people who push their limits on every practice - the usual suspects, as I fondly refer to them. They're all strong - you stick around long enough, there is no other outcome but to be strong. It doesn't mean he only accepts advanced students. On the contrary, he welcomes first timers. According to him, they have nothing to unlearn.


		This is the only class where if you come on time, you're already late. -- Veer (Vaibhav Rana) *** referring to his MWF Master Class where students usually come an hour early to start warming up

Find Your Teacher
When I attend led-classes in yoga centers (which is the conventional way of practicing yoga), I go through the flow with a sense of duty in keeping faith with the practice. Fortunately, there are many competent teachers in Cebu - I always maintain that a student tries many different classes with many different teachers. And then follow the teacher that resonates with him - the one who'll look after his/her continued growth. Until when? You'll know when it's time to move on.

Learning
Attending Veer's class extends beyond a call of duty. It's exciting. I'm always in eager anticipation of what could be learned for that day. Yes, every session is golden. There is something that puts an added notch to the practice. With no ego, I don't mind looking stupid as I fumble and stumble with the difficult challenges. But I learn. Of course, every teacher can make the session hard and challenging - increase the pace, do the difficult asanas or hold the asanas longer. With Veer though, he explains what the asana is for, why it's important, the intricate techniques to enter into the pose, the common mistakes, the human anatomy, etc. In doing one pose, you learn so much already.

Sunday Mudra Pranayama
This is the part where I don't know if I'm already trespassing. Sunday is his private family practice at home with pranayama and mudra - him and his lovely wife, Claire (who is also a yoga teacher). I somehow squeezed myself into that equation. So him, Claire and their little bundle of joy, Mahi would be there in an intimate family gathering - and I'm there. They take a family walk in the park - and I'm there. I somehow feel I'm an itch he can't scratch! LOL. Seriously though, I hope I'm still within normal bounds (as I tend to be clueless).

Yoga Philosophy
From a philosphical perspective, he echoes a lot of my own thinking about yoga

that if you follow your bliss, your yoga will be your own, not somebody else's yoga
that the demi-gods of yoga are also fallible people who get grumpy, play favorites and fall off the wagon too
that yoga is not the end-all and be-all, but a unifying nexus to keep things together in life - your job, your sanity, relationships, etc
that yoga has to adopt to the student...not the other way around
that yama and niyama are inevitable off-shoots of asanas (read: I only consider 6 limbs of yoga and not 8)

With my forever questioning mind and critical thinking, they all make sense.

Ending Thoughts
People read my blog and come to me in private saying they'd like to join Veer's class too, but feel intimidated. They say they'll attend other classes first to get established and then, they'll attend Veer's. Since his classes differ from the conventional approach, I tell them what Veer told me - it's best to get started with him at the outset than get started somewhere else - there'd be less to unlearn.

I recently had a conversation with a devout Ashtanga teacher who even went all the way to Manila to attend Ashtanga guru, Richard Freeman's workshop. Apart from the workshop itself, she was seeking counsel. With her practice in Cebu, she does not have a senior teacher to provide the much-needed guidance to direct her practice. Then I began to appreciate my blessing even more. I have one - Veer.

--- Gigit (TheLoneRider)
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

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Veer (Vaibhav Rana) Blogs

Thank You Cebu, til the Next Time Oct 21, 2013 - May 15, 2014
Leveling Up: Veer-Yoga with the YogiVeers Apr 11, 2014
Yoga Immersion with Veer (Vaibhav Rana) Mar 5, 2014
Hiatus Feb 22, 2014
Demystefying Ashtanga Yoga Feb 13, 2014
Shifting Yoga Paradigm Feb 12, 2014
Abundance in Cebu (Part 2) Feb 11, 2014
Crossroads Jan 20, 2014
Deepening the Yoga Practice in Cebu Jan 12, 2014
Fab People: Vaibhav Rana (Veer) Jan 1, 2014

Cebu City, Philippines

tourist attractions

Tops - hilltop offering panoramic view of the city
Taoist Temple - temple on a hillslope in Lahug with panoramic view of the city

hotel

Hostel Seven Cebu - newly opened, resto/bar, central location, solo/group travellers
Juana Osmeña Street, Cebu City
S Hotel & Residences - new hotel, luxury rooms, central location
827 M. Velez corner Andres Abellana St.

resto / cafe / bar

Fujinoya - new and refreshing twists to Western style desserts using Japanese techniques
Wilson St., Lahug, Cebu City - tel. 888.6075
Bad Boys Wingz - Buffalo Wings, unique versions of sauces! Great service, accommodating staff, bad boys vibe
Kasambagan, Cebu City | (032) 415 4811

yoga

Love Yoga World - yoga studio
11/fl, Skyrise 2 Tower, IT Park, Lahug, Cebu City
Yoga Now - first Yoga and Wellness studio in Mactan offering daily Yoga Classes
at The Yacht Club Mactan

mountain biking

Cebu Mountain Bike Adventure - MTB tours, bike sales and repairs. Bed and Breakfast + Resto Cafe + wifi
1298-b V.Rama Ave, Guadalupe, Cebu City | 0942.959.7451

Cebu City to Bantayan Island

The best and fastest way is by Ceres Bus at the North Bus Terminal, adjacent to SM City. The bus takes 4.5 hours going north until it reaches Hagnaya Port. From there, you pay the ferry company separately. The bus boards the ferry until it reaches Sante Fe Port (1.5 hours) in Bantayan Island. From Santa Fe, the bus goes to Bantayan Poblacion and then to Madridejos.

Ceres Bus - PHP 260 (to Santa Fe), 4.5 hours to Hagnaya Port + 1.5 hours by ferry.

Schedule: according to the dispatcher, trips begin at 6 pm (this arrives Hagnaya around 10:30 pm but the first ferry leaves at 1 am...that's a 2.5-hour wait at the port), leaving every hour until 1 pm the following day (I speculate that 1 pm is the last trip to avoid rush hour traffic along Consolacion). This doesn't match the ferry schedule so the bus simply waits until a ferry departs. e.g. the 6 pm trip arrives 10:30 pm and waits for the 1 am ferry. The last trip, 1 pm, arrives 5:30 pm, in time for the ferry's last trip.

Bus arrives at terminal 30 mins before departure. Luggages are P150/pc if no passenger.

Alternatively, you can get off the bus at Hagnaya Port and take the ferry independently. There are 2 ferry companies:

Super Shuttle Ferry
PHP 359 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Island Shipping
PHP 350 + 25 Terminal fee, 1.5 hours

Cebu City to Dumaguete

Cebu City to Dumaguete by Boat

George and Peter Lines - Mon/Thur/Sat/Sun 10pm, (035)225.4337, 0922.557.1023
Oceanjet - via Tagbilaran, daily 6am, dumticketing@oceanjet.net, 0918.898.2188
Cokaliong - Mon/Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri/Sat 7pm, Sun 12pm, 6 hours, (035)225.3599

Cebu City to Dumaguete via Liloan (bus, boat, jeep, tricycle)

Cebu City South Terminal - take the southbound Ceres bus to Liloan, P200, 5 hours
Liloan - the bus drops you off at the Liloan Port where you board the Fastcraft to Sibulan, Negros Oriental, P62, 30 mins
Sibulan - at the Sibulan Port, the jeeps wait for Fastcraft passengers to take them to the public market in Dumaguete, P12, 30 mins.
Public Market - at the market, you can take any tricycle to your hotel, P8 for short trips

Cebu City to Tagbilaran, Bohol

Weesam Express - Pier 4, departs 9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 2 hours
one way: Economy (aircon) P500.00, Economy (non-aircon) P400.00, First Class P600.00
round trip promo (at least 2 days advance booking): Economy (aircon) P600, Economy(non-aircon) P500, First Class P1200
round trip promo (1 day or on the day booking): Economy (aircon) P800, Economy (non-aircon) P700, First Class P1200
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs 6-7-8-9:20-10:40-11:40AM, 1-2-4:20-6:35PM, 2 hours
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300
SuperCat (2GO) - Pier 1, departs 08:15-13:30-15:10-18:00-19:40
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000
Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs daily 12:30pm, 10:00pm and 1:00pm (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Standard (Lying) Php 150, Tourist (Lying Aircon) Php 340
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com.ph / www.liteferry.com

Cebu City to Siquijor by Boat, via Tagbilaran

Cebu City to Siquijor, via Tagbilaran

Lite Ferries - Pier 1, departs M/W/SAT at 1:00pm, 10 hours, economy Php 649 (through barkota.com), layover in Tagbilaran 5:45pm-8:00pm, arrives Larena Port, Siquijor at 11:00pm
+63 977.822.5483 / +63 998.999.5483 / +63 925.347.5483 / (032)255-1721 to 26 / (032)414-9001 to 03
info@liteferries.com / www.liteferry.com
Ocean Jet - Pier 1, departs daily at 1pm, 5 hours
Open Air P1600
+63 932 8734 885 / +63 922 8572 300

Cebu City to Siquijor by Bus, via Liloan (Santander)

(as of Jan 2023)

Sugbo Urban
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Leaves Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) at 8 pm (Sundays 1 am), heads south to Liloan (Santander), takes the ferry to Larena Port, Siquijor, docks around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City 10 pm.

Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because when it reaches Larena Port (Siquijor), it continues its trip around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena. It spares you the cost of hiring a tricycle or habal-habal which charges exhorbitant fares. Besides, it's a long trip to the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.

This is also the slowest. The bus arrives Liloan Port around 12:30 am but the ferry leaves 2:30 am (2 hours of waiting time). The ferry trip is a slow 4 hours (this should only take 1.5 hours with Montenegro or Alesson), arriving Larena around 6:30 am. This 4 hour voyage offers no comfortable sleeping - you stay upright on your seat or sleep on the floor on a cardboard. The boat waiting/voyage takes 6 hours. Altogether, the entire trip takes 11.5 hours until the bus reaches Lazi.

Cebu City to Camotes Island

Cebu City to Camotes Islands

via Poro - from Pier One in Cebu City, take the Ocean Jet for Poro, 2 hours, daily trip - 6am and 3pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
via Consuelo - from Cebu City, take the northbound bus passing through Danao and get off at the Danao Port. At the Port, take a Jomalia Shipping boat for Consuelo (San Francisco, Camotes), P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only).

Camotes Islands to Cebu City

Poro - Cebu City (fastest and most direct) - go to Poro and take the 8am or 5pm Ocean Jet to Pier One in Cebu City, P380/pax/aircon, 2 hours
Consuelo - Danao - Cebu City - go to Consuelo (San Francisco) and take the Jomalia Shipping boat to Danao, P220/pax, a/c, 2 hours, daily trip - 5:30am, 7:00am (special trip), 8:30am, 12:00 noon (express), 2:30pm, 5:30pm and 9:00pm (express, Fri/Sat/Sun only). From Danao, take the Ceres Bus to Cebu City