Yoga for Life officially launches it's website

In it's aim to promote Yoga in the Philippines as an effective complementary therapy to western medicine for those living with HIV, Yoga For Life has been a great instrument in spreading the word to infected and non infected individuals.

Making a positive difference to the lives of others through a heightened awareness and holistic understanding of HIV, health, and self, Yoga for Life envisions to be the foundation of an empowered positive community and an enlightened society that live positively and live well.

Now , Yoga for Life has officially launched it's website to continue it's advocacy on and offline.

[caption id="attachment_2124" align="alignleft" width="232" caption="Yoga For Life"][/caption]

Yoga for Life sessions are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. Visit the website now!

The effects of Yoga in one's life

"Spreading the word about the YOGA FOR LIFE's program is already a great help" says James Rasco, a core group member of Yoga for Life.

Yoga for Life is the first ever community-based yoga class series, specially designed for the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS, but open as well to others who support them and want to experience the beauty of yoga. It offers a variety of postures, breathing practices and guided meditations that are directed towards alleviating the fear and stress associated with HIV and AIDS.

Last Saturday yours truly had the chance to attend at last Yoga for Life session in Century Plaza. After the session I did a hijack interview with one of the participants during the class.

James Rasco had just started doing Yoga last year as he was part of the organizers of this community. But before that, he never knew that he is going to do Yoga. "Nasa akin na lahat ng excuse para hindi kumuha ng work out regimen kasi sa tingin ko di ko kaya, wala akong time, pagod ako masyado, full time yung work ko" shared James.

Now that he's doing Yoga, he had the energy that he never felt before. He became became stronger and was able to maintain his weight. "Nagstart ako sa Yoga 4 Life once a week, every wednesday, malaking realization ko nun - meron pala akong energy".

While yoga has long proven its benefits to the health of the general population, yoga is quickly gaining ground as an important complementary therapy in the treatment of HIV, because of its adaptability, as well as its physiological and psychological benefits to those living with HIV.

Recommended Spiritual Activities

Do you pray to God?

Luckily for me there’s always been that curiosity of what’s out there in the alternative world including the alternative therapies. I’ve tried many of them over the years and will continue to do so, all in the hope I can make things better for my body, mind and spirit.



I am aware now that what my work for me may not work for someone else, so the message is to keep trying until you find something that will really suit your needs.



There were many times I’ve been told they’ve tried everything. What is everything? What it is actually boiled down to you could count on one hand. It’s worthwhile to keep searching, you may find that your world expands in a most amazing is the way by the making of new friendship and camaraderie and picking up useful skills for your ‘self-healing’ tool-kit.

So what do I do when I’ve reached nirvana and need some direction or could do with some healing?



Listed below 5 basic points that have helped to lift my spirit and with practice will also help yours, I also went to Angeles to learn this things.



1. Meditation! Mantra Meditation is one of the greatest self healing tools available and costs nothing except a little of your own time! There are many meditation techniques out there, you can find one that suits you and begin.

By putting this and some meditation music on and spending time in quiet contemplation it can soothe your soul and reconnect you with the highest aspect of yourself upto the impersonal brhaman.

do you also like smaelling incense?



2.Aromatherapy and Essential Oils.

Rebalance and rejuvenate your spirit through blending a selection of essential oils together in an aromatherapy oil burner. I’ve found the following blend works extremely well when there’s a need for nurturing, support and healing:

Approximately an hour before retiring to bed place a few drops of the following in an aromatherapy oil burner with some water (for safety’s sake, extinguish the flame before lights that are turned off for the night):

here are the ingredients;



4 drops Jasmine

4 drops Rose

4 drops Neroli

3 drops Lavender

3 drops Bergamot

The smell divine! I use this one every now and again and not only sleep like a baby but anxiety and stress disappears, and feels like the weight of the world has lifted from my shoulders by the following morning! (If you have a small bedroom you might like to half the amount of drops)



3.Fresh Breathe! Stand with feet a shoulder-length apart. Take 3 real slow and deep breaths using your diaphragm muscles. Breathe in and out through the nose, and breathe out through slightly parted lips. And as you do these imagine you’re inhaling your personal power, filling every cell in your body, from your diaphragm up to the top of your head.

Be your personal power and notice how much taller, straighter and stronger you become. Repeat the steps above.

4. Be in the Present Moment. Take a few deep breaths and focus totally on this moment, right now.

If you’re reading a book or magazine, or even this article, totally focus on the words and take in their meaning. There is only you and this article now in the present moment.

If you’re in the workplace, focus totally on the task at hand, and only this task, and what you must do in order to complete it. Nothing else matters except you and the task at hand.

5. Set an intention. When I’m on the lookout for something new and useful for me, I set my intention on what it is I’m after.

For example, I may want to find a book that will give me answers in regards to directing me to another healing modality or skill.

I then meditate on this intention, give it a timeframe then open my heart to it. Lo and behold I will have a book in my hand in no time at all! I love the power of intention – I also use intention for getting a parking space when I go shopping!

These days I rarely get sick and when I do and have a medical checkup, doctors tell me I’m actually very healthy (surely they can find something so I can get some sympathy around here!) which also includes blood test results.

I still do sadness and unhappiness well (I’m still human) though neither lasts long whereas in the past it would last many days sometimes weeks. What lasts much longer is a peaceful state.

When using the 5 points above, my spirit lifts and life once again becomes more peaceful and joyful.

If you want to have free yoga classes, go to UP Open University or join the Yoga Club in UST.