World Famous Astrologer, Yael Yardeni Is Coming to Manila

I am so very excited for November because Kabbalah Philippines is bringing in Yael Yardeni, a world reknowned French Astrologer to Manila for the very first time!

I have been a student of Kabbalah for over 2 years now. I admit to being a delinquent student but I will never forget the core principles from my mentors which I do practice and have tremendously helped me with life issues: from career advice, to marriage to parenting and self-improvement. There has been so much fruits from the lessons in our study groups. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for answers. 

One of my interests and what has drawn me to Kabbalah was their practice of Astrology and how it applies to our lives everyday. I believe in the law of karma and past-lives so I had an Astrology reading when I was pregnant with my daughter because I wanted a clean slate for her arrival. I was mindblown by the results. From what I remember, the Astrologer knew very private information about me which she couldn't have gotten from anyone else (she was in London and we were doing this session via Skype). And she also had very sound advice on how to move forward from my past live hurdles --which keeps re-enacting in this lifetime because I haven't made the necessary corrections.

If this is something that sparks interest in you, please do come hear Yael speak! It might just change or save your life!

{Sharing the Press Release from Kabbalah Philippines}

Do you know that what you’re experiencing now may have been a result of your past life?  Are you willing to make that “correction” in order to change the course of your destiny?

These questions may seem impossible to answer but to Kabbalistic astrologer, Yael Yardeni, the only question is: Are you ready to know the answer?

Yardeni’s “gift” to read the past and chart the future has made her one of the most sought-after astrologers in the world ---  the waiting period for a chart reading with Yael can be up to six months or more.

Yael is a Kabbalistic Astrologer and astrology teacher with an international reputation, practicing for the past 12 years. Her readings are grounded on the principles and teachings of Kabbalah, an ancient spiritual wisdom that speaks of free choice and the ability of each person to rise above their circumstances.  

Yael Yardeni was born and educated in France, studying mathematics, physics, and finally continuing into medical studies. In 1987, she met Rav and Karen Berg, the Kabbalah Centre's founders and soon after, changed her direction in life, choosing to leave the field of medicine to begin her study of Kabbalah.

Since then, together with her husband, Eliyahu, Yael has founded Kabbalah Centres in France, London, and Miami, and has taught in Los Angeles and Hong Kong.  Through her astrological chart readings, Yael connects thousands to their purpose in life, based on her astrological chart readings.  

Now, Filipinos need not wait that long as Yardeni will be coming to Manila for a talk “Learning the Language of the Signs: Kabbalistic Astrology with Yael Yardeni”   to be followed by-appointment-only private readings on November 4, 2015.

Upon the invitation of Kabbalah Centre Philippines (KCP) Yardeni’s visit will be coming to Asia just to visit the Philippines – and for a very compelling reason. “We are proud to say we are the biggest and perhaps busiest Kabbalah Centre study group in all of Asia,” says Sarah Weston, Filipina Kabbalah teacher  residing in London who heads KCP.

Yardeni’s Manila engagement is also seen as fortuitous given that the country is preparing for the Presidential elections next year.

“Expectations are riding high on every candidate -- there is a desire for change. Yael can give us insight on the change in consciousness each of us needs to manifest to ensure that the Philippines stays on its trajectory towards growth – as we are all collectively responsible,” explains Weston.

Weston also points out that Yardeni’s talk and chart readings are open to everyone, even non-Kabbalah students. “While there are astrological influences that are specific to the individual, there are collective influences that we are all subject to as a country and community. It will be interesting for anyone who has a stake in the Philippines to hear what's in our country’s chart,” she adds.  “Karen Berg, our Spiritual Director,  says that astral influences  impel but do not compel us.  So by tapping into astral energies  available, we can be the best versions of ourselves.”   

To get a taste of Yael’s weekly astrological forecasts, https://livingwisdom.kabbalah.com/astrology-forecast-august-23-29-2015

Yael’s lecture on November 4, 2015 at 7:30 pm will be at the Rockwell Cinemas at the Powerplant Mall. Yael will  give an overview of Kabbalistic Astrology and delve into each each sign, provide a forecast for Philippines, its direction for 2016 and how each sign can make use of the astral energies available in the coming year to ensure that the country and individuals  can make better choices to have a better year ahead.  Limited private astrological chart readings may also be booked, Early bird rates are available until October 13 with tickets at P1000 each, tickets purchased after then will be sold for P1500.  To inquire about tickets and private astrological chart readings: email Philippines@kabbalah.com or call 0917.584.8262

ABOUT KABBALAH

Kabbalah is a universal wisdom that can be studied by anyone regardless of their faith or path. It pre-dates the Bible and religion. Presenting the wisdom from a lineage of kabbalists, the Kabbalah Centre provides a course of study that describes the physical and spiritual laws of the universe, including human existence and the journey of the soul. With the use of Kabbalistic tools, students can improve the quality of their lives and move towards lasting joy and fulfillment. On a literal level, the word Kabbalah means “receiving.” It is the system by which we achieve true fulfillment in life.

ABOUT YAEL YARDENI

Yael Yardeni was born and educated in France, studying mathematics, physics, and finally continuing into medical studies. In 1987, her cousin introduced her to Rabbi Berg and his wife Karen Berg, the Kabbalah Centre's founders. Upon her discovering of the secrets of Kabbalah and her meeting the Rav and Karen, Yael changed her direction in life, and chose to leave the field of medicine to begin her study of Kabbalah. Her chart readings are in no way conventional. Yael has a wide and extensive knowledge on the subject, as well as degrees in hypnotic therapy, clinical hypnotic therapy, and past life regressions.

Please contact:  

Philippines@kabbalah.com

0917.584.8262

Early bird rates by October 13 of P1000

After October 13 - P1500

Tarot Card Reading at Mysterium

Tarot cards aren't new to me. My younger sister who was obsessed with witchcraft has had a deck since we were young but I always thought of it as play, nothing more. Yes, I know what you are thinking - being outside the norm is in my blood! Oh, get used to it, darlings!. :)

I was recently intrigued by Carlos Celdran's post on an eeriely accurate Tarot Card reading of Robert Rubin on DMCI. Less than a week later, I find myself walking into his sanctum, Mysterium.

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Why was I there? I just felt a pull. I've always believed in signs and I wanted to find out why I was pulled to this all of a sudden. I scratched the itch. 

Although I didn't think much of tarot cards before, I just thought "Well Monica, you haven't tried this and you're the kind of person who gives everything a chance. Besides, there is a first to everything! So, why not?" 

Enter the Mysterium and you are enveloped in purple painted walls, the color of magic and healing. The Emperor, is one of the cards in the Arcana traditional tarot deck. It is a commanding site, almost seems as if this card authority was guarding the space. Robert obviously resonates with him the most. Then, I was drawn to the Egyptian art piece (because I am almost certain I was one in a past-life).

The library was comforting. I also have a collection of books on occult sciences, yoga and massage at home. The yoga teacher in me was delighted to see a chakra map, of course.

And Kabbalah's Tree of Life. I was definitely in familiar grounds.

.

And so we began my first official tarot consultation. I kept my poker face on until the very end. I will not divulge the outcome of the reading here but he was spot on. Yes, google exists and I lead a semi-public life. However, most of my inner thoughts I do not share online - and many of these came out through the cards and his interpretation.

 I asked Robert, "Why do people come to you for readings?"

"For clarity", he replied.

I no longer think tarot cards are merely for make believe-voodoo-play. After years of teaching yoga, using my right-brain more, being exposed to different healing modalities, awakening intuition and gut, I know that more than our 5 very limited senses...when we break it all down: 

Everything is energy. The cards are merely tools that help extrapolate the energy within and around you. I guess I wanted to ask the universe a couple of things. And they were all laid out infront of me. The answers I am seeking already exists. I believe in both destiny and choice. Both dance in a whirlpool that is life. Yours is for the taking.

Robert Rubin

Tarot Card Consultant and Hypnotherapist

+63916-551-1824

MysteriumPhilippines@yahoo.com

Kabbalistic Lessons from Yehuda Berg

Last night the gates of heaven opened and shed me with light. I met Yehuda Berg up close! If you are not familiar with Kabbalah, you might be wondering, "Who is Yehuda Berg?" To me, he's a modern spiritual warrior :)

Giddy like a child beside Yehuda who signed my Pinchas Zohar.

"Yehuda Berg is the son of Rav and Karen Berg. As Co-Director of The Kabbalah Centre, he is part of a long lineage of kabbalistic masters. He is a bestselling author in the field of spirituality, has written more than 30 books on topics ranging from self-empowerment and depression, to relationships and the Bible. Two of his bestselling books, The Power of Kabbalah and The 72 Names of God, have been translated into 20 and 14 languages respectively, and he also created a transformational 23-day audio package, The Living Kabbalah System.

In 2009 the GQ Magazine Gentleman’s Fund honored him for being an Agent of Change in the field of education. Yehuda lectures internationally, delivering deep and complex kabbalistic concepts in a simplified way that is applicable to daily life. His daily emails and Facebook insights, known as “tune ups,” are read by over 250,000 fans daily. Yehuda Berg lives in Los Angeles with his wife and five children." (www.yehudaberg.com)

Yehuda met with the Philippine Kabbalah volunteers and organizing group backstage before giving the lecture. He basically gave us consciousness: placed the protective red string on students who needed them, signed our books & Zohars, he even hugged every single one of us! 

Kabbalah Philippines is a growing spiritual community!

To be in the same room as Yehuda was intense!  As a yoga practitioner & teacher, I am more attuned to the energy of people and places. I certainly felt we were in the presence of a true beacon of light. When he read from the Torah, I felt shivers in different nadis/ meridians and down my spine. 

Yehuda translated the Aramaic text, he spoke about how we all exist because our parents, grandparents, lineage paved the way and made sacrifices for us to be here. Now, it's up to us to use this opportunity in our current lives to succeed or.. fail. (At this point, many of the students started crying!)

What I felt at that moment was extreme GRATITUDE and LOVE for my parents & family. No matter what issues you have with your family, you are related in this lifetime for a reason. What lessons do they bring you?

My parents and younger sister, supportive souls who attended

These are more lessons from Yehuda's lecture which I tweeted live last night:

• Two ways to live life: everything is random, nothing makes sense OR what's in our life is for a reason. There is a lesson there. I go through phases of both. There are moments of doubt, questioning God for this and that...and of course those times where I just feel CERTAINTY and blessings in my life. The real challenge is finding PURPOSE amidst the chaos and darkness. Yehuda said it last night, God is always there...especially when you feel abandoned.
• Whatever you are going through, find the light in the situation. Here's the tough cookie to learn! It's so easy to feel victimized. A Kabbalistic tool is to be the CAUSE vs the EFFECT of any situation. Take control of your life by turning disasters upside down when you find the light/lessons each chapter of your life brings.
• Our life is a puzzle like the book- "choose your own adventure" I loved these books as a child and I thought this was a wonderful way to explain to us how God works in our lives. Too often we are blindsighted. God sees the bigger picture, and WE should too! 
• Until we learn the lessons we need to learn, we will repeat the same circumstances in our lives, over and over again across lifetimes. This is my most favorite lesson which I picked up from my previous readings on reincarnation by Dr. Brian Weiss and from "To Be Continued" written by Yehuda's mother, Karen Berg.

When I got home from the event, my husband asked if I had any alcohol because I was acting weird: either I was drunk or wired. I replied, "Yes, I'm high from Yehuda's Kabbalah water!" Yep, I'm a confessed spiritual groupie. I stole his half-full Kabbalah water bottle right when he left and drank from it. 

---

I've been studying with Kabbalah Philippines since last year. Group meetings are once a week at ADB with Skype supervision from Sarah Weston, our London-based mentor. Sarah is the direct student of Yehuda Berg and his family. One of the perks of being an active student is getting to do on-on-one Skype sessions with Sarah.

Lightbearers: Sarah Weston and Yehuda Berg

A few more Kabbalistic concepts for you to chew on...

10 Principles of Kabbalah

1. Acquire spiritual wisdom.

2. Take full responsibility.

3. Know and challenge your ego.

4. Be energized by obstacles and see them as opportunities for growth.

5. Accept your imperfection and the imperfection of others.

6. Know your power and use it.

7. Never give up because it's never too late.

8. Share.

9. We are all one.

10. Leaving our comfort zone can create miracles.

Want to know more about Kabbalah? 
Log on to www.kabbalahphilippines.com for details on classes, events and books for sale. 
Level 1 classes start on January 31, 2013. 
Sign up and be prepared for real transformation in your life :)

Claire Madarang (who sat next to me!) of Rappler published a well written article today. Please read it here: http://www.rappler.com/life-and-style/19861-yehuda-berg-nothing-is-random

Reincarnation

I've always been fascinated by reincarnation (even way before becoming immersed in yoga- which also believes in reincarnation). I remember my mom used to tell me when I was a toddler that we already knew each other in a past life, and I believed her. Somehow, I knew in the deepest core of my soul that this concept is true. 

In recent years, my interest in reincarnation/past lives is how I stumbled into my studies on Kabbalah. Two years ago, I was intrigued by the lectures of Gahl Sasson at the Asia Yoga Conference in Hong Kong. Gahl is a mystic who lectures on Kabbalah, Astrology & Psychology. The lecture that reeled me in was "The People You Were: Exploring Your Past Lifetimes Using Regression"

Read the description of this lecture below:

Ever feel like you were somebody else in a past lifetime? Have you ever visited a place for the first time, but felt at home and instinctually knew your way around? 

Ever have irrational fears or unexplained reactions to situations? Wonder where they might come from? Is death really the end? 

Discover how other cultures view death and the afterlife as we explore what happens to the soul after it leaves the body.

Gahl also led us through a past life regression and meditation, helping you:

*Gain access to former lives.

*Create a space for healing phobias, and removing blocks.

*Release physical and emotional pain.

*Experience time travel from within.

Travel through time as you access your past lives. 

So, Gahl introduced me to Dr. Brian Weiss and I remember buying all of Weiss' books on past life regression available in Hong Kong after that lecture. Pretty powerful stuff, made me cry buckets on the plane going home.

Since then, I know now that the physical body is merely the container of our immortal soul. When we die, our soul moves on to a new container (if we haven't finished what we came here to do in the first place). 

"The antimaterial particle within the material body passes from boyhood to youth to old age, leaves the old unworkable body and takes up another one." - AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

In essence, there is similarities with Rodolph Steiner's Anthroposophy. In Santi's Waldorf schools, it is taught to parents and teachers that these young souls/children, chose us parents even before coming to this world. With that knowledge, we already know that there IS a reason why they are our children and we are the parents. There are lessons to be learned specifically by us. I can't help but remember one of my yoga teachers, Mo-Ching Yip who says "My family, my karma". In yogic belief, this rings true as well. 

I'll never forget that moment my son was born and I gazed into his eyes, it's as if our souls already knew each other. I felt it. And I knew then that our relationship was special, we had this cosmic bond :)

So many things to be said about this topic but it's good that another enlightened soul is on her way to Manila to come and speak about her book on reincarnation! See details of the event below:

click to enlarge

Karen Berg talks about soul mate in her new book "To Be Continued... Reincarnation and the Purpose of our Lives."

Soul mates can take many forms. They can be parent and child, business partners, or even best of friends. Who in your life is your soul mate?

There has been changed to the talk. Yehuda Berg (the son of Karen Berg) will be speaking instead on Kabbalah, why Now?

January 15, 2013
SMX Convention Center
7PM

Limited complimentary seats available and option to upgrade to get the book for free!

Register now: http://eventregkpi.jimdo.com/purchase-seats-now/

Mindful Parenting with Consciousness

Three years ago, Denise and I did a workshop on Mindful Parenting. We spoke to our participants (mostly clients from INDIGOBaby) about breastfeeding, co-sleeping, working from home and all natural remedies for the kids.

Do you remember this poster?

We just wanted to share the insights, knowledge and skills we learned through the art of parenting. We knew deep inside our hearts that the call to parenting was very challenging and it molded us into different beings! Because of our children, we have made major changes in the way we live our lives. In fact, INDIGObaby was born because of our very own sons. Without them, we would've never made the shift to a more natural, authentic way to living life -from the products we use, to the food we eat, to the schools we've chosen (*Waldorf Education) and activities we choose to do day to day. All that has changed and change is good because then you can gauge that you have grown :)

Now that I have been introduced to Kabbalah, I'm so honored to invite you to Michal Berg's upcoming lecture on Spirituality for Parents. Spirituality (Yoga & Kabbalah) and the toughest but most fulfilling job on the earth - Parenting, helps me become the best version of myself. To merge the two together in a lecture topic is so very interesting as most of us can benefit from this..whether you are a parent or not, you ARE someone's child!

I lifted the event details below from the Kabbalah Philippines website. Feel free to repost and share on your facebook walls, twitter feeds, etc. See you all there!

Spirituality for Parents by Michal Berg

As parents, teachers and guardians, we simply want what's best for the children in our lives. We want them to be happy, to achieve success, to love and be loved. But in today's rapidly changing world, this is proving to be a more daunting challenge.

Michal Berg is the President and CEO of Spirituality for Kids (www.sfk.org) and a mother of five. She is deeply committed to bringing spiritual programs to parents and children everywhere. Her vision is to provide even very young children with universal spiritual tools to help them discover their potential.

Michal lectures on the topic of spirituality for parents, connecting with mothers and fathers who are passionate about developing a mindful foundation for raising their children. She shares her insights, her experiences, and what she has learned from communicating with parents around the world.

It is Michal’s deepest belief that not only do parents assist in the spiritual development of their kids, but that children play a significant role in a parent’s spiritual growth.

Join Michal for her first speaking engagement in the Philippines as she discusses how to parent our children with a loving consciousness that contributes to their spiritual growth as well as our own.

Parenting With Consciousness with Michal Berg

Date: Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Venue: TBA
Early bird rate: P500 (Until September 30 only)
Regular lecture fee: P750
Sponsorship seats: P1,000
Text: 0908 899 8442
Email: philippines@kabbalah.com

Yin Yoga Detox with Victor Chng

some of my favorite Yin Yoga poses :)

Over the long weekend, I immersed myself at Victor Chng's Yin Yoga intensive workshops at Beyond Yoga. I have met Victor and attended his classes at the Asia Yoga Conference in Hong Kong two years ago. His style is very different from that of Paul Grilley, Bernie Clark or Sarah Powers. Since he is Asian (Singaporean-Chinese), he is deeply influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine and has integrated it with the Yin Yoga practice.

Victor has been a Hatha Yoga practitioner for many years until he met Paul Grilley in 2005. He trained with Paul on Yin Yoga and Anatomy then with Sarah Powers afterwards. He continues to undergo continuous training with them. (as well as Scott Blossom of Shadow Yoga, I hear!)

Here are the workshops intensives that I joined and my thoughts & lessons from each :)

Freeing The Hips, Sacrum & Lower Back
I honestly did not have notes during this class because I forgot to bring my notebook :P But I did have an awesome practice and felt REALLY HOT afterwards. I asked a fellow classmate and she said she felt the same! Perhaps this brought about detox symptoms?

Class photo after the Hips, Sacrum & Lower Back Series

Yin Yoga & The Energy Body: An Introduction to the Therapeutic and Meridian Application

Modified Dragonfly using props

• There are 3 layers, levels or planes - the gross or the physical, the energetic (where we deal with emotions) and consciousness (at seed level). He says that people get sick when there is disconnection in one of the 3, when there isn't flow. For instance, you have a seed thought or dream of wanting to be a pilot but your actions doesn't translate to that...let's say you are working in a call center and you don't have the drive or initiative to do what it takes to go for your true calling. Or another example I can think of is when we constantly stop ourself from voicing out what we truly feel or truly want to say (seed level consciousness). Day in and out you are not living your truth. This will cause blockages and eventually will take its toll on you.
• "An emotional imbalance will lead to a disfunction of the organ." I've written about this here. Science and conventional medicine is finally accepting that we are connected..our thoughts and our emotions will lead to our realities. Remember this basic mantra, "Thoughts become things!" Have you see the movie, What The Bleep Do We Know?  Watch it to see the power of your thoughts shaping your reality!
• "We need to accept that we are beyond the physical" -now, this is a universal truth. Kabbalists have the same view. Our physical world only comprises of the 1% reality. We are just on the tip of the iceberg, you need to go deep (as yin does to connect to the energetic body!), there is still a whole new realm, the 99% reality!
• In Yin Yoga, we basically work on the main meridians of the body. Working on our limbs (arms & legs) provide energetic stimulation on our main body. Our main body is where our organs are which are our power outlets or main batteries. Hands & arm balances work on our hearts and lungs while our legs work to detoxify our liver, kidneys and spleen. 

From all the classes I took under Victor, I would have to say that this is my favorite. In my classes, I've always put emphasis on the body to energetically heal itself through Yin Yoga.

Here I am getting comfortable in Half Saddle

Improving Digestion as Key Towards Better Health

• I have to admit that I was initially confused during the lecture of this specific workshop because Victor primarily believes in a Traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic approach to food which uses a lot of cooked warm foods (as opposed to the raw vegan diet with a lot of fruits which is somewhat considered cold to the stomach). He says that you prepare/cook food to be easily digested so you cut into small pieces and put on fire.
• The stomach is in a central location, if it has no power, the circumference will have no power as well. The center has to regulate/monitor the other directions. Therefore, a good digestion will give you a very long life.
• 7-9am is when our stomach meridian is actively digesting food. It is when the dragon awakes. So we must eat our breakfast during this time or have food in the stomach by then. Have your lunch before 1pm. 12noon is ideal because our body clocks follow the energy of the sun :)
• NEVER have meals with an iced drink. In fact, maybe it's best that you never drink anything cold. When you do, you numb the stomach making you eat MORE :P This is why all the fastfood meals offer iced teas or softdrinks in the package, aha!
• Meridian of the stomach is the same as the beauty line for the...face!

Victor with the Yin Yoga teachers of Beyond Yoga

Detoxifying The Body - Working The Liver and The Gall Bladder Meridian

• The liver and gallbladder meridian line is found at the side of the breasts below the armpit region. Always include poses that release the sides.
• Detoxification depends on the quality of the liver. The liver only works when we are asleep. The liver's hours are between 11pm to 1am so if you are still awake, you are making the liver work extra hard to keep up with your body. You need to be in deep sleep in order for your liver to heal your body.
• The liver is responsible for solid waste, bowel movement.

Victor Chng c/o Jane 

Tao of Yoga - The Foundation of Integration

• The state of TAO is when the Yin and Yang energies are balanced. Victor promotes both a Yin and Yang practice because we need both.
• In nature (as in life), everything goes through phases: a stage of expansion and contraction. There are really just 2 seasons- summer and winter. Autumn and spring are merely transitions.

Some Yang poses after our Yin

with Victor Chng after Tao workshop

Finale dinner for Victor Chng at People's Palace

If you have been practicing Yin Yoga regularly and are interested in pursuing teacher training in Singapore this December 8 onwards, please check out http://www.yinyogainasia.com/100hr_tt.php for more details :)

Beyond Yoga regularly offers Yin Yoga classes in Quezon City and soon at The Fort as well! Check out their website at www.igobeyondyoga.com

Kabbalah & 2012: Reading The Stars

This is a late post on some of my notes from the talk Kabbalah & 2012: Reading the Stars by Sarah Weston last May 14, 2012.

Since I started my studies in Kabbalah, more of my friends are interested in what this is all about. Interesting to know that Kabbalah comes from the Hebrew verb Le Kabel which means 'to receive'. So let me share this knowledge with you so you are able to receive the light :)

• Kabbalah is a spiritual wisdom meant to be shared especially now in 2012 when the merging of the worlds happen. This year is the year of COLLAPSE and CHANGE.
• 1st Kabbalistic book is 4,000 years old written by Abraham
• Kabbalah contains universal wisdom, it deciphers the code of the universe
• It gives us a manual of existing life systems because if everything in nature has DNA. We live in a very organized universe. There are no accidents in life

Think about how much control do you really have over your life? The level of your consciousness plus your thoughts, plugs in to the metaphyscial plane to create your reality. This is the law of cause & effect, of karma. 

• Kabbalah is everything beyond the 5 senses. 99percent of our reality is the spiritual plane while the 1percent world of illusion is that which we see, sense, taste, hear, smell..this is the physical plane, merely just scratching the surface. The call of Kabbalah is to go DEEP.
• TREE OF LIFE: There are 10 dimensions which exists in the world.
• Kabbalistic Astrology gives us an insight into what's happening and how it affects us...
• Mid August there is a highly militaristic combination of energy until October 7. The Universe is at a brink, ultimate controversy and everything can CHANGE.
• If change doesn't take place, cosmic influences will begin to happen. 'If I don't choose UNITY, the Universe will do it anyway for us to choose to live in a different state of consciousness.

If you found my notes above interesting, please come to the next Kabbalah talk on August by Marcus Weston. Marcus will be speaking about the real roots of success and failure in business. In today's unpredictable environment, having the right business consciousness is key.

Prior to becoming a full time Kabbalah instructor, Marcus enjoyed a career in international finance

with Goldman Sachs and Citibank. He coaches students all over the world and has spoken at the United Nations and managed to secure the Kabbalah Centre's NGO UN consultative status.

Asia Yoga Conference 2012

Last year, I attended the Asia Yoga Conference in Hong Kong all the way from Palawan. This year made it so much easier for me to join because I've moved back to the city (one less flight) and went with the Beyond Yoga teachers. Also, I was able to get a pass for free via an online contest I joined. Thanks to all those that voted, over 100 of you!

Here are the top highlights of this sleep-deprived, yoga-crazy, food trippin' weekend:

Right on arrival in Hong Kong, we had some major suspense action in the airport :P

Sorry can't divulge information about this incident because it's a secret but  it's definitely one for the books!


Bo Forbes for Restorative Yoga & Crafting a Therapeutic Vinyasa Practice

Recently, my practice has been drawn to more Yin and Restorative because I feel my body needs it. Whenever I get stressed when I push myself to overdrive, I suddenly have back & neck pains, headaches, etc and only these styles of yoga can really soothe my overactive mind and sore body.


Some of the things Bo said in class that I totally agree with:


1. "We all move from our comfort zones, easiest parts of our bodies...Samskaras, our habits" -so true, just merely changing the count of the Vinyasas to a slower pace will wake up parts of your body, muscles that you weren't using before.


2. "Your yoga practice as an antidote"-I've been doing this for years! My dentist pointed it out to me. Because of my TMJ, I've been drawn to a regular yoga practice and even teaching it because it gives me balance. Without it, I'd be in chronic pain.


She is an amazing teacher with a voice so powerful (she didn't need a microphone to speak to all of us in that huge conference room!) yet soothing it surprises me. Must be from the years of training she had as a psychotherapist.  Soon, I will be signing up for her online training course on Integrative Yoga Therapeutics because I feel more of the yoga teachers should have a background on how to really heal their students. 


Website: http://www.boforbes.com/


Patrick Creelman's Air Miles class 

What made me want to attend his class? This video did it for me.


 I had no notes during his class because it was just physically intense! Great for days when your body just wants a real challenge. He was such a hit with the very yang Chinese community ;)



Bernie Clark's Yin Yoga & The Mind Body

Bernie with Yin teachers of Beyond: Dona and I

If there is a practice that I have grown to love more and more, it would have to be Yin Yoga. Since I began attending classes back in the good old Pulse studio in Greenhills (Santi was only a year old, so that makes it 4 years ago), I knew this practice had powerful healing benefits.


1. "The real yoga in what you don't see" -from an Old saying in the Upanishads
2. "We work on the Pranamaya kosha or Energy Body through 2 things: Turn on tap and remove blockages or gruntis" -You can't help notice these sensations when holding yin poses. Needless acupuncture, indeed!



Uncreating Lower back Pain & Safety & Stability in Inversions by Brad Waites

This guy reminds me of Clark Kent. Seriously, he looks a bit geeky but damn, he's a pretty serious yogi! Here he is at his Vancouver studio explaining the benefits of doing inversions :)





He really knows his stuff well and I really enjoyed his intelligent lectures on how to decompress the spine using the Purna Yoga Morning series which I have been passing on to my students in classes at Beyond.


Some deep words spoken by Brad:


1. "Physical pain is a manifestation of a disconnect in our heart center. We create our own life pain" -We all know this is true.
2. "Backpain is caused by constriction, blood flow is cut off and swelling occurs which causes pain." -Good to know the reason behind this.
3. "There are no accidents in life. The soul will draw things, people, circumstances that will allow for us to learn lessons." -Amen
4. "Every part of your life is an opportunity for love & light" - Don't you agree? I'm currently taking a course on Kabbalah and those words sound like Kabbalistic wisdom. Perhaps they're universal truths! Just observe all the challenges in your life. Don't you pick yourself up after each time you fall and suddenly you are a transformed person once again? One of my good friends Denise used to say "Damaged people are beautiful".




Replacing Force with Understanding: Arm balances with Jason Crandell

Now, who doesn't love him? Jason has gotten really popular because of his straightforward teaching style with basic, easy to understand verbal cues. He seems like the typical-American-guy-next-door-who-got-REALLY-into-yoga. I love how his wife describes him here.


1. "Balance is a process of responding to change" - this applies on and off the mat. We physically practice balancing on the mat for off the mat chaos, right? :)


2."Our greatest fear lay in anticipation" -A new concept on fear to work on! Whenever you are scared, isn't it always about something that HAS NOT happened yet? How sure are you it WILL? Why not take a leap of faith, it might turn out to be alright :)


Catch Jason's classes on Yogaglo.com 




Doctor Scott Blossom in Yoga Practice to Improve Digestive Force & Ayurvedic Massage

Tried my very best to sneak a photo of him. I felt shy to ask for a photo because he seemed so...soulful & serene sitting there while waiting for all the students to settle before his class. I didn't want to interrupt his space of calmness. He's got to be one of my favorite teachers of the conference.

1. "Real strength has a lightness to it" When you watch him practice, he is so LIGHT and his breath so subtle. With an Ashtanga background, I am not used to this because we emphasize on the Ujjayi breath. So refreshing to see a guru practice with so much, ease.

2. "Mental and Emotional Traumas without digestion will cause suffering in the person" -I've always had problems with digestion. As far as I can remember in childhood, it has always been this way. This path to yoga has helped me

3. "Sacred means WILD!" -I like this...my process in the Inner Dance healing modality is certainly WILD :)

And finally, he said something special that struck me, penetrated me to the bone...

"There is something in your own soul that knows exactly what it needs"



Aside from being one of the very few teachers of Shadow Yoga, he is also an Ayurvedic Doctor and does assessments also in Traditional Chinese Medicine. He conducts Shadow Yoga classes in Yoga Tree, Berkeley with his wife, Chandra. Now, how to schedule my life to be able to train in California...

Bumping into old friends...

Salute to my mentor, Rockstar Ashtangi Clayton Horton 

The famous & sultry Vicky Vortex of Hong Kong!

And of course, hanging out around Hong Kong with the Beyond Yoga girls :)

In between classes we exchange notes, grab a bite to eat and take photos!

Walking to recommended restaurants after a full-day of class

Chocolates and sangria, anyone?

Bubbly, happy & pretty :)

It was one yogalove weekend to remember! I look forward to going again in 2013 ;)