Wellness: Other Movement
Stretch, connect, reflect. Get into a new headspace and experience a different kind of yoga with boutique studio, Other Movement
A‘LL LEVELS WELCOME,’ boasts the neon sign by the entrance of Other Movement (OM), the newest boutique yoga studio in the metro. Beyond referring to the kind of yoga practiced within its walls, the tagline says so much more about OM than you could imagine.
Other Movement offers candlelit hot Vinyasa yoga to music, definitely something Manila has yet to experience despite the existing crop of reputable yoga studios that offer more traditional yoga modalities. With the Signature OM class, feel energized by moving with your breath, feeling the sweat drip, and getting lost in the music. Founding partner Abel Jose explains that in opening OM, they had hoped to make yoga more accessible and a lot less intimidating by offering a space for people to get a great sweat session, find balance, and feel reenergized while enjoying amazing music. “Our place is made for people to feel welcomed and flow without judgement,” says Jose. Co-founding partner Cara Sanvicente Jose is quick to add that conducting the class in candlelight helps yogis and practitioners just focus on themselves, allowing for no judgment whatsoever. “We also strive to have everything be the best quality we can provide for our customers— the class, the amenities, the service, the communication with our team, and even the smell of the studio is something we look after!” she muses. “What sets us apart, though, is having that boutique-quality feel without being intimidating or inaccessible. That’s why our prices are more affordable for a boutique studio.”
The vibe and energy of OM is authentic, a true reflection of the couple’s own journey with yoga. “Cara and I love fitness and wellness. We constantly immerse ourselves in that environment whenever we travel,” shares Abel. “(OM) was a conversation we had one day after reflecting on all our travels, when we realized there really wasn’t just one way to do yoga.” Cara adds that the idea of OM was born out of their own need and craving for a different type of mental and physical recovery that could balance out what they were doing on a bike, in the gym, or from team training. “We knew how yoga could benefit us long-term but the type of yoga just wasn’t out there and available yet.” And so OM was born as the couple sought to solve a problem they saw and cared about. “I guess it’s a bit selfish, but we made OM in a way that we knew would appeal and benefit us personally. We discussed it with our partners and created something we sincerely enjoy: hot candlelit yoga to music,” says Jose.
Moreover, the studio is an embodiment of the OM ethos: “All levels welcome, where we treat everyone as a friend,” says Cara. “A friend is someone you find comfort in, and the space was created to feel welcoming and safe. We created it in a way that people can hang out before and after class. We were also inspired by wabi sabi,
which is about beauty in imperfection and impermanence. This was the reason why we used a lot of natural and real materials. This extends to the flow of the class. The flow makes you appreciate whatever your body lets you feel. It’s very real and inwardlooking. Yoga shows you what’s happening in your body and if today that means just being able to be in child’s pose for a chunk of the class, that’s real and that’s something that is still beautiful.”
Book a mat and experience hot candlelit yoga to music at Other Movement. OM is located on the second floor of OPL Building, 100 C. Palanca, Legaspi Village Makati
City and is open from Mondays to Sundays, one hour prior to class. For more information such as class schedules and promotions, visit https://othermovement.com/ and follow them @other.movement on Instagram and @othermovementstudio on Facebook.