Jan 22-Mar 14, 2018

In-House Yoga Teacher at the Fox and Firefly Cottages

Location: Fox and the Firefly Cottages, Loboc (municipality), Bohol (province), Philippines
Class Schedule: daily, 3pm-4pm until Mar 14, 2018
YOGA by Gigit | Learn English | Travel like a Nomad | Donation Bank

Yoga
From time to time, whenever it feels right or whenever someone books a session, I conduct a yoga class on a donation basis at Fox and Firefly Cottages. It's a one-hour class that starts promptly at 6am but can end as late as 8am (later changed to 3pm-4pm) if the practitioners don't have any tour lined-up after. It doesn't matter if it's a full house or a one-on-one, I do it like I'm doing a class for the Queen of England. The ensuing connection is rewarding on a broad spectrum - from extended sharing, coffee talks or a heartfelt namaste greeting. The 'dana' (donation) comes in all types too - money, compli-meal, a hug or a polite thank you. It's all good - I am reminded of the gift-giving economy at Burningman. What matters is being on the mat, deepening the practice and connecting with kindred souls. I'm just glad I'm not reliant on yoga for my livelihood - this way, I can keep it pure. And as a renunciate, neither do I need much to sustain myself.

guest teacher Gabbie leading the class with Jeanne, me and resort guest

Keeping it Challenging
My classes always integrate asana, pranayama and meditation. I explain the theory and methodology first so they can better appreciate what we are doing. My classes leave them kneaded like a bread dough with a smile knowing they were pushed a little off their rut. If the class wasn't challenging, then they really didn't learn anything new or leveled-up - just being on maintenance mode. At least that's how I stay the course about my practice - a little fumbling and stumbling is a good benchmark. Even if they can't totally reach the pose, as long as the honest effort was there, the breathing was synchronized with movement and the mental focus was present, then the purpose is met - that pose is perfect! Equally important, the intention is conveyed to the brain. Before the body can adapt to new things, the mind has to be on board to begin with.

On-the-mat, off-the-mat Yoga
As much as I can, I keep the practice translatable to everyday life - what is learned on the mat is applied outside the mat. Holding an increasingly difficult pose with a non-reactive mind means that outside the mat, they can observe painful thoughts from the past or worries about the future with a calm equanimity.

Ending Thoughts
Conducting yoga classes at Fox and Firefly Cottages for its guests and walk-ins enables me to meet people in the process, deepen my practice and impart whatever I know to those willing to try something different. When I leave this place, I hope I left the guests in a slightly better state-of-being.

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

fun on the mat with Alejandra, Marilen and Dali

Tagbilaran yogis are back - Amilyn, Joy and Ella

post-yoga breakfast with Marko, Kata and Joan

yoga with 2 German guests, Lena and Johanna

participants come in different shapes and sizes

3 Irish ladies (�adaoin, Laura and Siobh�n) from Villagios Pizza who attended my class

2 French ladies (Carole and Sophie) and a German first-timer

Reader Comments:
Been to my class? Care to post a comment?

Eadaoin
(Feb 17, 2018) Gigit, so nice meeting you. You really changed our Loboc experience! We loved the classes and your teaching style. Hopefully meet you along the way in the future.

Tina Chen
(Feb 11, 2018) You've taught me a lot through your session - thank you for a great class and amazing conversation. I hope one day we can do it again! Wish you the best of luck in your journey.

Marko & Kata
(Jan 29, 2018) Gigit, thank you again for the yoga sessions. Honestly, these were my 2 best yoga practice in my life (I did a few, even in Kerala, India). You gave us such a wonderful power to see the purpose of doing yoga exercises. And from now on, I have so many things that can motivate me in the future. This really means a lot to me and also for Kata. -- Marko

(Jan 30, 2018) Thank you, Gigit! It was a pleasure to meet you! The yoga with you was an amazing experience! I will never forget it! -- Kata

Shannon Amos
(Jan 25, 2018) I met this beautiful soul Gigit, in Bohol, Philippines. He invited me to attend his sunrise Yoga class the next morning. After class Gigit offered me some fresh tumeric and ginger tea and we shared space. What's sharing space? It's when you bring your entire presence to another without judgment and witness their story and emotional state while simultaneously being present to your own. Gigit shared that he left the corporate world and has been traveling and living a healthy, happy life as a minimalist for the last 8 years. I immediately sensed his inner peace the first time I saw him. He embodied positive energy, possessed a genuinely warm smile and walked lightly like a gentle breeze. I remember thinking to myself, he must be a Yogi or a teacher. He was both.

Marilen
(Jan 23, 2018) Thank you! I had a great time in your class. Really enjoyed it! 🙂🙂

Alejandra
(Jan 23, 2018) 🙂

Tory
(Jan 23, 2018) "It doesn't matter if it's a full house or a one-on-one, I do it like I'm doing a class for the Queen of England" ❤❤❤

Gabbie Sanchez
(Jan 22, 2018) great memories!

Next stop: 5 Weeks at the Fox and Firefly Cottages

Loboc Map

Loboc, Bohol, Philippines

tourist attractions

Cruz Daku - 80-foot white cross erected in 1986 on top of Loboc's highest mountain
Virgen de Guadalupe - giant statue of the Black Madonna perched on a Loboc summit
River Cruise - river cruise on a floating restaurant serving lunch with cultural presentation
Busay Falls - accessible only through the river cruise
Loktob Spring - cold water spring, free admission, huts for rent
Zipline and Cable Car Ride - at the Eco-Tourism Adventure Park

hotel

Fox & The Firefly Cottages - SUP paddle boarding, luxury riverside native cottages, mountain bike tours, SUP yoga
Lyn's Backpackers Inn - family-run guesthouse in the heart of Loboc

Bohol Travel Info/Tips

Bohol FYI / Tips

the tourist area where most of the hotels, restaurants, ticket offices, tour operators are, is located within the Alona Beach area
the tourist attractions in Bohol are far apart and spread-out. It would be difficult to visit them all using public mass transit. Better hire a van (P3500/day) if in a big group, or rent a motorcycle (P400/day + gas)
Bohol relies on its tourism for revenue. As expected, everything they can capitalize on from tourism is extensively used and developed

Tagbilaran Port to Panglao

You can charter any tricycle from the port all the way to Panglao (~P300), but if you want to do it on the cheap,

don't take the tricycles lined-up inside the port. Walk past the port gate and immediately outside, you'll see many tricycles. Take one to the bus terminal in Dao (~P15)
in Dao, take the jeep that plies the Panglao route (~P20)

Tagbilaran (Bohol) to Cebu City by boat

** schedules and rates keep changing, call for latest schedule

Weesam Express - departs 6:15 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM
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 - departs 6-7:05-8:20-9:20-11:40AM, 1-2-3:30-4:20-5:30-6:30PM, 2 hours, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
Open Air / Tourist Class P800, Business Class P1000
+63(32)255 7560 / +63 (32) 255 0115 / 0917 638 0000
SuperCat (2GO) - departs 5:50-11AM, 3:45-5:25-8:15PM, arrives Pier 1 in Cebu
P 500.00
+63 32 233 7000

Things to do, Places to go in Bohol

Chocolate Hills - this is a clustering of more than 1200 hills within a 50km² area. They range in height from 30-50 meters. What's unusual is their near-perfect conical shape resembling an individual chocolate chip. No one knows how they were formed. Entrance is P50/pax.
Tarsier Conservation Area - located Upper Bonbon, Loboc. The tarsiers are no longer being played at by tourists as circus props, but instead, visitors now view them in cordoned-off areas in their natural 6ha habitat. As they are territorial and nocturnal, they are predictable on where they can be viewed. P50/pax.
Alona Beach (Panglao) - Alona Beach is the tourist hub of Bohol. It has 1.5 kms of white sand beach lined-up by bars, hotels and restos. Alona is also the jump-off point for Balicasag Island, a world class dive destination.
Danao Adventure Park - located in Barangay Magtangtang, 72 kms (2 hours ride) from Tagbilaran. Adventure activities include river trekking, tyrolean traverse, rappelling, bouldering, rock climbing and ziplining.