I have never tried yoga before, and my hesitation to sign up for classes comes from sheer…read moreintimidation. I have always coursed through life with minimal exercise, and I have never found any flexibility or strength in myself. I guess I just didn't need it as much. I have always lived a pretty sedentary lifestyle, and most of the things that I loved doing didn't really require a lot of strength or endurance. However, I have heard of the many benefits of yoga, though I have always let the intimidation get ahead of actually trying it out. Also, the price tag of yoga classes was another barrier to entry, and that has stopped me from signing up for classes, no matter how much my friends urged me to try it out (it will help you calm down, it's good exercise, etc.). It wasn't until my friend Dustin gave me a pass for their Share Your Yoga promo at the Ayala Branch. Naturally, I felt really awkward and shy because I didn't know what to expect, but the instructor (Lasse) during their Global Mala Day Session was a soothing presence during the class. He walked us through the basics of pranayama and back bends, and from then on, I was instantly hooked. I didn't find the lessons that challenging (everyone else in the class was groaning and struggling) and I actually didn't struggle with most of the poses, unlike what I expected. What surprised me is that my forgotten upper body strength from my gym-workout years was still there, and I could do the planks and chaturangas with relative ease. It was like being unraveled and exposed, but in a good way. I now know how people say its a very relaxing experience. I fell in love with Urban Ashram's branch in 6780, not only because of the welcoming staff, but the cool interiors. I love the zen minimalist interiors of the place. Everything was spotless and squeaky clean, and I just love how everything was conducive and evocative of calm and serenity. I will be back.

Wonderful, spacious, clean and definitely puts you into "yoga" mood! Do not get intimidated by the…read moreoffice-look of the building located right on Ayala Avenue. Urban Ashram is a new venue with basic classes for everyone. I have been practicing yoga for a few years and I love how these classes walk me through all the basic positions step by step to perfect my movements. They often partner up with different people to organize yoga retreats or meditation weekends and host guest teachers... Namaste!

Nowadays, people are very much into achieving a healthy lifestyle by means of working out and…read moreeating healthy. I've tried a lot and would stick to at least two types every now and then just to mix things up. One thing that has stuck with me is yoga. It's a practise that I hold close to my heart for much deeper and valued reasons (other than staying fit and keeping your calm). I learned about Nancy Siy's free-for-all yoga classes from my teacher at a Surf and Yoga retreat in Zambales. Anytime someone says something is free and interesting, it should be worth checking out. I remember on my first session sometime 2013, I was the only student she had. Later on, we would be at least three in class. Today, we were eight! It was also a nice break from being in a studio. We always practise under a tree in the middle of the park and under the bright rays of the sun! We're always sweating buckets during and after each session. Props to us for handling 35 degrees of heat while holding our poses! Would you believe on the first day she already taught me how to do the head stand? I really was proud of my progress with my Jivamukti classes. I know you're wondering what Jivamukti is. It has a strong emphasis on ahimsa, which means non-harming, and compassion for all beings. It's also a vinyasa-based physical style. When I started Jivamukti, our lesson for the month is about letting go. It was so fitting of what's present in my life about two years ago because I had just been broken up with. So when I zone out and reminded that there are things I've to let go, I started feeling really better. I would really think about myself and how else I can challenge myself during and even after practise. The zoning out is really true! And within two month of constant reminders (I remember crying in one of our session because of what Nancy had said and made us listen to), I was feeling okay and have moved on completely with life. Yoga can be a deep and personal experience. The combo with Nancy's free-for-all-yoga class is something worth trying, too! You got the outdoors, the calorie-burning poses to deal with and learning how to challenge yourself. Not a bad way to start your week, right? Free-for-all-yoga classes are held every Sunday at Legazpi Active Park from 9:30am - 11am.

Urban Ashram paved way to my Introduction to Yoga 101 classes. It just opened when they handed me…read moreand encouraged me to try their classes with a 15-day pass. It was enough to convince me to keep going to my classes (mostly just FNR or Flexibilty Not Required). Though I don't go as often as I used to, it's the only studio in BGC that I would come back to. I've not stepped foot in a yoga studio before trying Urban Ashram but it was exactly what I expected it to be. Clean and vibrant with their trademark colours of violet and green. Their staff are very friendly, too! I just finished an FNR class today with them and it was my first time meeting my teacher for that class. Mj was really nice and though some people think of yoga as a serious workout, she made it relatable for everyone. We were all girls in class today and she didn't want to stress us out with the poses and didn't do chaturanga poses. It was mostly due to how insane the heat was today! Walk-in students pay P500 for each class. And they last at least an hour. They have various programs and packages for you to try. You should head out and know for sure what you're in for! Their teachers are highly trained and certified. So you're in good hands when you do your hand stands, crow poses or what have you. You're guaranteed the attention you deserve!

My first time at Urban Ashram BHS was for a trial yoga class for kids! I took my 3YO to check out…read morethe program and it was absolutely fun. My daughter loves almost anything that requires physical activity and seeing the yoga instructors don some fun "costumes," she was definitely ready to play! She even got to stand on the "sand castle" made of other instructors and kids. It was super fun and I will definitely enroll her for yoga kids classes once I start practicing yoga myself. I'm a yoga noob. I've never done yoga in a studio with other people. I am generally unhealthy in the sense that I smoke, drink, sleep late, and well, just eat anything. I know yoga can be purist so I've always been intimidated to practice around the people it's labeled to produce. But I believe yoga has a lot of benefits and I definitely will give it a try. The visit to Urban Ashram has kept this desire alive in me and it is the first studio I will probably enroll in when I get my butt out of the Starbucks smoking area. Urban Ashram is clean, and there's a lot of positive energy in its place. The facilities look great, the instructors helpful, and the prices all reasonable after you see the standards of the studio. I spend a lot of time on the website of Urban Ashram too, looking at the different classes and schedules available at the BHS branch. Whenever my daughter is at Active Fun, I also drop by to see the yoga boutique and just pretty much scout the place to make myself more familiar. (I have so many friends who practice yoga and they're all right, so I do believe my apprehensions are misrepresentations from social media.) It looks like I'm getting there and I can't wait to start!

As I've mentioned in a previous review, I was looking for a place to have some exercises after work…read morelast year, so I went "gym hunting." I ended up checking out Namaste Yoga and Danz Studio. I squinted my eyes a little and wondered why they'd spell "dance" like that. Maybe it has some special meaning. PROS: There's no other place in the area that offers yoga classes, and Namaste gives legit and certified ones for newbies and pros alike; The place itself is quaint and peaceful, with calming music and the scent of incense wafting in the air; They have small class sizes to make it easier for instructors to focus on the students. It's quite intimate, really. CONS: The reason for the small class size was the place was really small, like bedroom or studio apartment small. It makes me feel like I might kick someone on the face if I attend classes there. I don't think the attendants nor the instructors would have a problem with that though, they're all so beautifully waif-like; They offer lots of classes, but unfortunately my schedule doesn't coincide with the ones that I needed to attend since I was a noob. TL;DR: Because of schedule conflicts and my fear of occupying the whole studio because of my frame, I didn't get to enroll at Namaste. But I would still want to if given the chance. Now Playing: Janelle Monae's Yoga. "Baby bend over/Baby bend over/Baby bend over/Let me see you do that yoga"

I had my first gym experience here! While I still don't go regularly (hehe), this Slimmers remains…read morea comfortable, welcoming workout place that's just all about the pure gym experience. It's not too flashy, but they get the same work done. In fact there are a lot of serious body builders here mostly taking over the first floor, haha. If you're a normal gym-goer, go on up to the upper floors. Lots of helpful personal trainers around too, but it can really add up to pay for their services each time so it might be better to just take them on for the first few visits, learn what you have to do, then go off your own the rest of the time. Of course unless you have a program. It's a straightforward place, really. Good equipment, good bathrooms and locker room facilities. Helpful and knowledgable staff. People generally keep to themselves. You don't get much gymstagrammers either hahahaha (peace!), just people going for straight up exercise. :)

It started out as a random thought in one of our many conversations, but I'd like to thank my best…read morefriend for actually getting me to do Pilates this summer at White Space, because there's just so much to love about it. We were total beginners with no clue what was in store when we signed up for a trial. Now four regular sessions in, Mondays and Wednesdays have become our favorite days of the week because of them. Our wonderful instructor, Rissah, has a meditative approach to teaching the class. I love how we do warm-up and cool-down centering to send our daily worries away as we slowly melt into our mats. I love how some workflows are intense and others are more relaxed as she adjusts the main exercises for the night depending on the general mood of her students. I love how, even if I'm sore from all my muscles being stretched out to the max, I still have a fulfilled smile on my face when the hour's up. This beautiful space is more than just a weekly reminder to stay healthy, inspired, strong, focused, and mindful about myself and everything around me. I guess I've found my happy place.

My one and only choice for practicing yoga in Manila. Neat, clean, fresh, tasteful, arty and full…read moreof happy people in this yoga studio. After practicing yoga while working in Paris, shanghai, Hong Kong and Taipei, while I enter YogaHive in front of Salcedo Village, it's really a love at first sight effect that I decide right away to join the membership for the superb attitude of receptionist, passionate yoga teacher and enthusiastic maintenance crew here. "Indulge" is the word I would describe to have my practice but I also feel it could be a ceremony to help me to ease body tension and relax my mind. We are pampered to start each journey with yoga mat and strap prepared thoughtfully from the center. No doubt there are many great studios in Makati but it would be a different experience to join us at YogaHive!

Took a class here right after they had opened and loved it! Came back after my month-long vacation…read moreand promptly enrolled in their unlimited monthly program! The teachers are young and teach enthusiastically! The studio is beautiful as well! Love it here!!!

Popped into 360 Fitness Club last week after a long break from working out, and man, it felt good…read moreto be back! Signed up for the circuit training session and loved how it keeps everything moving--no time to get bored with those quick 30-second switches between stations. The variety is insane: one minute you're doing kettlebell swings, next it's TRX rows, then some bodyweight stuff that actually challenges you. The trainers were super encouraging without being pushy, and the vibe in the group classes is so motivating--everyone's just there grinding together. Finished with a quick Body Balance class to stretch and cool down, and I left feeling energized instead of wiped out. This place really makes fitness fun again. 5 stars, no question--I'll be back regularly now!

I never liked working out just because I find being at the gym and lifting weights so repetitive…read moreand boring. I was first introduced to 360 Fitness Club about four years ago when I decided I wanted to lose weight. The journey to slimmer me wasn't easy but being at 360 made it seem less like work because the workout were actually fun. Their circuits change every quarter so I don't get bored doing the same things over and over again. Plus, group classes like suspension training, kettle bell, Body Jam, yoga, and even Zumba make going to the gym a lot less taxing. And who doesn't love options when it comes to their workouts? If you're like me, and want to take your workout a notch higher, I suggest you avail of their personal training service. Depending on your fitness goal (weight loss, toning, etc.), they have a fine number of men and women to help you out. I have my trainer to thank because these days I can lift weights I never thought I could and even climb mountains!