TheLoneRider
a seeker in search of Easter Eggs
Fitness
Yoga Calisthenics in Camotes Islands Mar 3, 2017

Yoga Calisthenics in Camotes Islands

GPS waypoint: 10°38'44.1"N 124°22'58.9"E
Location Google Map: Baywalk, San Francisco (municipality), Camotes Islands, Cebu (province), Philippines
Features: public park with bar workout facility
Fees: free
Yoga & Fitness Website: YOGA by Gigit Yoga by Gigit

Morning Ritual at Baywalk
After being in Camotes Islands over a month now, I've developed my own routine. Workout-wise, I have my morning ritual at Baywalk where I take advantage of their workout-bar features - monkey bars, dipping bar, horizontal bar, etc. I'm still basically a yogi - so my workout is still basic asanas with breath and mindfulness. I just level it up by doing the asanas, to the extent possible, on the bars.

Yoga Calisthenics in Camotes Islands
L-sit

Calisthenics
My routine took a radical turn when I stumbled upon a few calisthenics video on Youtube by Chris Heria. Seeing this guy's routine was mind-shifting. All these years, I thought calisthenics was just a series of Jumping Jacks and a few stretching. I was dead wrong. By definition, calisthenics is a body-weight workout for muscle development and strength. So you don't use weights. Also, it is questionable if rope-skipping is considered calisthenics because it doesn't build up muscle and strength.

Bar Goals
3 bar workouts really impressed me. I am highly motivated to perfect them although it may take years - perhaps even never. But whatever marginal gains I make would be an accomplishment unto itself.

Yoga and Calisthenics
Should I now abandon yoga for calisthenics, given my charged motivation for the latter? I am stoked by this new calisthenics but yoga is a lifestyle choice for me. It didn't take long before I came to terms with both. What is yoga anyway? Is it about the pose? If so, then the circus people would be the best yogis - but that is not the case. I've always maintained that yoga is a harmonious convergence of pose, breath and mindfulness. Why can't I do all that while attempting to do the Human Flag? That fits into an Asana in my world view. What makes a pose eligible to be an Asana anyway but symmetry, therapeutic factor and being able to hold it into a steady state. And what about Dips where it's a continuous movement? No problem. That is what Kriyas are all about - all within the scope of yoga dynamics.

For as long as I'm compliant to the breath and mindful about what I'm doing, then it doesn't matter if I'm doing a yogic Mayurasana or a Planche. I'll call it Yoga Calisthenics.

Rope Skipping
And where does this put rope-skipping? It's neither yoga nor calisthenics. My say? I don't care if doesn't fit either mold! Rope skipping is my cardio and therefore indispensable. As I incorporate rope skipping into my routine, I found out I can do Bastrika/Kapalabhati breathing as I skip to listen through my cardio playlist. It's very challenging. Even if I am able to sustain it, at the back of my head, I remember what Simon Borg Olivier said about doing too many things at the same time - I might fry my nervous system. But I'm always mindful of how my body is reacting to it. So far, no complaints.

Pranayama
After the physical workout, I settle down in a comfortable seated pose and do my Pranayama (breath control exercise). Kapalabhati, followed by Anumoma Viloma and capped by combining the first 2 - while squeezing Kumbhaka (breath holds) and Uddiyana Bandha (sucking-in the abdominal muscles) during the breath pause. I cannot underscore the power of Pranayama having toyed with it and experienced a Superman-effect a few years back.

Meditation
I am a Vipassana meditator, but I can't seem to fit Vipassana as my post-workout meditation. I default to a mudra meditation - chanting OM while doing a few hand mudras. The 2nd section of my meditation is to visualize on a specific body part that needs healing and chant OM while doing Ujjiyay breath. This is where I let my body do the healing instead of being reliant on medication.

Ending Thoughts
Individually, what I'm doing is sound - the breath, the physical workout and the mindfulness. But combined, with pranayama, breath-holds and bandha, I am already winging it into unchartered territory. I wish there is an existing ancient Indian treatise that would validate this experimental thing I'm doing. But in the absence of such, I'll write my own book, guided only by what I find exciting, my instinct and my body-talk.

Two weeks into this program, I get only positive feedback from my body - my muscles are beginning to bulk-up and cover more distance into my bicycling without feeling fatigued. This is all trippy for me and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

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

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unsupported Crow supported Crow 8-angle pose: Astavakrasana 2-knuckle plank handstand hold L-sit pull-up dips peacock pose: Mayurasana 4-knuckle decline push-up rope skipping with beauty pageant winner of Ms. Timubo title, Regine...I was inspired having her a glance away

Reader Comments:

Charlotte BelogoloCharlotte Belogolo
(Mar 8, 2017) Alyssha, mag yoga ta haha

Alyssha AlemanAlyssha Aleman
"Alyssha, mag yoga ta" -- Charlotte Belogolo
(Mar 8, 2017) Lage! Inspiration jud kaayo!


Google Map Camotes Islands, Cebu, Philippines

tourist attractions in Camotes Island tourist attractions
  • Lake Danao Park in Camotes Island Lake Danao Park - inland twin lakes in San Francisco
  • Santiago Bay Beach in Camotes Island Santiago Bay Beach - stretch of fine white sand with a cluster of beach resorts
  • Buho Rock in Camotes Island Buho Rock - dive boards perched from a high rock outcropping, Poro
  • Tulang Diot in Camotes Island Tulang Diot - white sand beach on a tiny island just 10 minutes by boat from the main Camotes Island
  • Busay Falls in Camotes Island Busay Falls - groomed plunge pool, dirt trail walk with 2 stream crossings, Tudela
  • Capasanan Spring in Camotes Island Capasanan Spring - crystal clear open spring water source in San Jose, Poro. Free
  • Hagnaon Spring in Camotes Island Hagnaon Spring - clean drinking water coming out of the rocks, dipping pool you might share with carabaos in San Jose, Poro. Free
caves in Camotes Island caves
  • Timubo Cave in Camotes Island Timubo Cave - groomed trail inside cave with lights, swimming inside, limited penetration
  • Bukilat Cave in Camotes Island Bukilat Cave - cathedral-like caverns, top lighting from cave openings, high tide swimming
  • Holy Crystal Cave in Camotes Island Holy Crystal Cave - cave formation glitters, human bones, limited penetration
  • Paraiso Cave in Camotes Island Paraiso Cave
places in Camotes Island important spots
  • San Francisco San Francisco - town center, wet market, municipal hall, eateries, live music, bar, Baywalk
  • Poro Poro - town center of Poro Municipality, port to Cebu City and Danao
  • Tudela Tudela - town center of Tudela Municipality
  • Pilar Pilar - town center of Pilar in the island of Ponson Island
  • Consuelo Wharf Consuelo Wharf - port for Danao ships
  • Poro Port Poro Port - port for Danao and Cebu City ships
hotels in Camotes Island resort hotel

Camotes Island FYI / Tips

Camotes Island Cost Index

(US$1 = Php 49.82 as of Jan 15, 2017)
Cebu City to Camotes Island
  • 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

  1. 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
  2. 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

Cebu City to Dumaguete, Negros Oriental 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
Danao to Camotes Island
  • via Consuelo - at the Danao 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).
  • via Poro - at the Danao Port, take the Super Shuttle Ferry for Poro (Camotes), P?/pax, 3 hours, daily trip - 9:00am and 5:00pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).

Camotes Island to Danao

  • via Consuelo - 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).
  • via Poro - take the Super Shuttle Ferry in Poro (Camotes) for the Danao Port, P?/pax, 3 hours, daily trip - 5:00am and 1:00pm (0936.823.8762 |0956.270.6610 | 0999.889.9999).
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Camotes Islands Blogs by TheLoneRider

  1. Daghang Salamat (Many Thanks) Camotes Islands, Goodbye Apr 6, 2017
  2. A Culture of Noise Apr 5, 2017
  3. Exploring Tulang Diot (Little Island) Apr 2, 2017
  4. In Search of the Hidden Beach Apr 1, 2017
  5. Pizza-Making Party in Camotes Islands Mar 25, 2017
  6. Zesto and Exploited Child Labor Mar 20, 2017
  7. The Bayot (Gay) Construction Worker Mar 20, 2017
  8. Yoga Calisthenics in Camotes Islands Mar 3, 2017
  9. Bathing with the Carabaos at Hagnaon Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  10. Taking a Dip at Capasanan Spring, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  11. Exploring Bukilat Cave, Camotes Islands Feb 28, 2017
  12. Exploring Tudela and Busay Falls, Camotes Islands Feb 21, 2017
  13. Settling Down in Camotes Islands Feb 19, 2017
  14. Clam Chowder Pizza from Scratch on a Rice Cooker Feb 15, 2017
  15. Exploring Timubo Cave of Camotes Islands Feb 9, 2017
  16. Exploring Holy Crystal Cave of Camotes Islands Feb 9, 2017
  17. Exploring Camotes Islands of Cebu Jan 13-14, 2017
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