WHEN DIFFERENT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
While the ancient discipline of yoga may seem daunting for first-timers, OTHER MOVEMENT provides a welcoming space and a fresh concept that encourages all kinds of practitioners to enjoy and reap its health benefits
I’d like to think that I used to have an active lifestyle back in the day. I played tennis weekly, ran several miles a day, and occasionally, played football or baseball. But by the time I hit my thirties, finding time to hit the gym became quite difficult as I tend to put work on top of my priority list. Gym memberships end up being wasted. So when the opportunity to try yoga at Other Movement came, I was at first, a bit hesitant. Last year, I went to a yoga studio for about two months. But being the perfectionist that I am, it would get me frustrated when I couldn’t follow poses. In the end, I would wait for easier classes instead and not get the benefits of the practice that I wanted. Eventually, I quit.
A few days before my scheduled visit, I invited a friend, who I knew practiced yoga extensively, to join me so as not to be embarrassed. We went early in the morning where we were greeted by the receptionist who introduced us to the regulars who would join us in the class. The studio was quaint but well-designed. Unlike most studios with minimalist aesthetics and immaculate white palettes, at Other Movement, concrete walls, neon lights, wooden fixtures, and touches of white felt more inviting and less serious. Other than that, the studio had all the necessary fixtures— lockers, dressing rooms, a unisex bathroom, benches where people could rest and hang after a class, and a spacious area where all the yoga happens.
In the class, our yoga instructor Abel Jose (who with wife Cara Sanvicente-Jose co-owns the studio) gave clear instructions while carefully prompting us first-timers to listen to our bodies. Throughout the duration of the workout, I felt rather relaxed, unlike my previous experience. While we were all encouraged to try more difficult poses, we were all reminded of the levels of each so we could pace ourselves accordingly. This helped a great deal in my case. Even though I would often attempt more complex poses, there was no pressure to do it right on my first try. This made me more comfortable with the environment. Eventually, the beat of the music went faster, with every pose done with each breath. And by the time we ended, I was sweating buckets. Signifying the end of the class, Abel laid a cold towel on our foreheads while we laid down on the mat and he massaged our temples gently. It was a fantastic ending to a fun workout.
Post-class, I had the privilege of talking to Cara who gamely shared the journey they underwent before finally coming up with Other Movement. Cara tells me that after traveling a lot and having seen so many different practices of yoga, both she and her husband realized that perhaps they could break the mold here in the Philippines and offer something fresh and exciting for people who like her, have found the practice intimidating and overwhelming. The couple took their chances, “Being the first in the country, the journey has been challenging and sometimes scary but with a great group of partners and support system, we know we have something special that we have to share!” she says happily. “What’s awesome is that a lot of the people who have been coming here, our ‘regulars’, are people who have begun their yoga practice with us. They are beginners who used to find yoga intimidating. So that is amazing. Our hypothesis in the beginning is actually coming true—many people are just looking for a space or an avenue to start practicing yoga without feeling ‘I have to be able to do a handstand. I have to be flexible.’ ”
She adds, “Yoga for us is not just about doing the poses, it’s about carving 55 minutes of your day to tune out on the mat, be with yourself, and sound trip. Coming out sweating is just the byproduct. We want to help you sweat out toxins but what we want to focus on is helping you clear your mind. It’s really the mental aspect. For us, yoga is the entryway to a lifestyle of self-care. Once you start getting into this, it affects your diet, your interactions, how you see the world, and basically your life”
And while one might still doubt the discipline it takes to jump in and try the process, Cara assures that the program was fashioned for people who like them, do other things aside from yoga: Cara is an avid runner, while while Abel hits the gym and does indoor cycling as well. Other Movement is a terrific alternative for those looking for more ways to sweat and gain health benefits. “We really just want the class to be fun. We want people to enjoy and sweat,” she says.
For someone who has had a taste of the experience, I actually have found myself trying to fit a class in my schedule. I guess the biggest takeaway was the fact that I was able to tune out and lose myself to the beat of the music and instruction and come out feeling reinvigorated. This was totally different from my first experiences with yoga where I would work on my poses and make mental notes of what I would be doing at work in the next couple of hours. For anybody who keeps on second-guessing themselves, take a leap of faith and find your center in an entirely different, albeit fun and refreshing, type of yoga.