MWF Newsletter 2004 February

Calming the Mind Through Yoga 
By Susan Nishihira 

We all seem to live very hectic, active lives these days, and life in Manila can 
be very challenging. Dealing with pollution, traffic, crowds among many added 
stresses can wear us down. We all know that exercising is important to our 
health and well being, but let's face it, finding the time to go to the gym 
regularly is a challenge. Many of us travel and find that keeping up our exercise 
regime while away can also be added to the challenge list. What to do? Today 
there is a greater awareness of the many alternative types of fitness programs 
that by themselves, or in conjunction with regular fitness club offerings, are 
beneficial to our health and vitality. Yoga is among the favorite, probably 
because it can be practiced anywhere, anytime, in any weather condition with 
the least wear and tear on our joints. It strengthens muscles, tones the body, 
burns calories, improves flexibility, calms the mind, boosts the mood, and 
energizes. Perfection.

The speaker for our meeting on January 19th was Cynthia Tomacruz, who has 
been practicing yoga for more than 30 years. Initially Cynthia took a course as 
an elective in phys ed while in school, and found that it suited her. Since her 
school days she has practiced regularly after she learned and was trained to 
teach it in the Philippines. Later Cynthia continued studying under different 
teachers in India, Europe and the USA. In 1988 Cynthia began teaching yoga 
when she was between jobs, then started teaching again in 1996 until the 
present. Cynthia teaches a non-dogmatic method of yoga; simple body work 
with breathing awareness. Her method of teaching is very effective, and I say 
that from experience. 

Everything about our January meeting was off the norm. For a change, we held 
the meeting in Alabang, at the beautiful and comfortable home of Carolyn Gibson. 
The usual sequence of our meeting activities; meet, greet, eat, introductions, 
and program, changed when the first 15 to arrive asked Cynthia about various 
aspects of yoga. Cynthia began to demonstrate and we suddenly found ourselves 
lying on the floor breathing deeply, and an impromptu lesson began. As women 
arrived they found themselves joining the class as we executed the Mountain 
pose, and Sun breaths. As they joined in, more arrived to see the expanded group 
on the floor with legs upon a wall in a modified Shoulder Stand. As each new 
arrival entered Carolyn's home, she joined in and just fell into each pose that 
Cynthia intoned. Fortunately Carolyn's home was large enough to accommodate 
all 40+ of us lying on the floor in the Rest Pose. This impromptu yoga lesson 
lasted almost 45 minutes at the end of which we all felt refreshed and energized. 

Were the pot luck offerings especially delicious or were we feeling especially 
fine from our yoga lesson? Either way, this was a wonderful meeting and a 
great program. 

You can contact Cynthia for private or group lessons at tel. 810-3234 or 
ct_yoga@yahoo.com For a list of more yoga classes throughout Metro Manila
check out www.oocities.org/manilawomensforum/resources.htm

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