By: Sherry Tenorio
“I went to Bali to find myself, but instead, I found yoga,” the usually bubbly Bubbles seriously quipped her well-known advocacy about the practice that helps improve one’s physical, emotional and mental state. “I fell so in love with it. It changed my perspective in life. It allowed me to forgive. It made me a better person. In short, bumait ako!,” she laughed at the thought but the sincerity in her voice was rather touching.
Her love affair with yoga did not happen at first sight. Her first encounter with yoga happened way before she got seriously attached 
with it. She used to attend yoga classes when the practice was starting to get the raves in the Philippines. The stunning model/actress admitted that she would attend class just to do stretching – she couldn’t even do a proper headstand! But three years ago, she had to change her approach with yoga especially when she decided to fulfill her dream of becoming a preschool teacher – a dream that she turned into reality when she became a yoga teacher for kids after attending a couple of yoga teacher training programs.
The beautiful muse of Calyxta continued then to immerse herself more and more in the practice of yoga. She told us, “When I started teaching – I suppose kids are naturally flexible– some of my students would look at me, and they’d expect me to do the pose flawlessly. So, I got frustrated, and challenged. I got myself deeper into the practice. I would attend yoga classes in Beyond Yoga in Rockwell three times a week, and sometimes even more. Because of this commitment to kids yoga classes, I decided to partner with the studio’s branch when it opened in Serendra.”
Her attachment with yoga even furthered that year when she suffered from her biggest heartbreak. She started reminiscing, “I wanted to leave town. I wanted to be alone. So, I booked myself a flight to Bali. I didn’t invite any friends or family to come with me. But after booking my ticket, I thought about the activities that I should do there. Since I was opening up a yoga studio, I enrolled myself to a yoga teacher training program.”
Looking back, she would describe herself as “acting” in real life while she was attending the training. “A huge tragedy happened the day that I flew to Bali. I couldn’t rebook my tickets so I carried on with the travel plans even with a heavy heart. So, you can imagine how much I cried while I was in the plane, in the car going to the yoga center. Inside the room, I’d really cry against the wall and in the shower. But when I leave the door, it’s as if there’s a camera in front of me, I’d take a deep breath and put on an instant smile. I did so because no one in my class knew what I was going through, and I didn’t want to be that classmate who’s all about drama!”, Bubbles shared the details.
“If you resent someone, you’re giving that person the power over you. But if you accept the person for who he/she is, if you accept that you can’t do anything to change how he/she is, and if you start to accept that you won’t be a better person by resenting him/her, then you’ll be happier.”
She continued, “The first few days of doing meditation was difficult. My mind wandered back to the Philippines, and without knowing, tears would be welling down my cheeks. But things got easier and more interesting for me when we had the Yoga Philosophy class with the Indian yogi Arvind Pare. A British classmate would ask him questions about resentment and acceptance. I would be all ears and taking down notes, but among the lessons that hit me was what my teacher said “If you resent someone, you’re giving that person the power over you. But if you accept the person for who he/she is, if you accept that you can’t do anything to change how he/she is, and if you start to accept that you won’t be a better person by resenting him/her, then you’ll be happier.”
And, that’s how Bubbles Paraiso fell in love with yoga. That’s how she became committed and even more passionate for the practice that nurtures one’s whole being – from the physical, mental, emotional and to some, even spiritual. And, that’s how she went back home with a new perspective that focuses on the now, and helps in letting go of a dark past and fear for the future.
Next week, learn about this Calyxta Girl’s journey from yoga to triathlon. It’s another physical activity that allowed her to become more meditative and competitive.
Yoga Heals!
“Yoga never failed me each time I sought refuge in it. When I had my heartbreak, when I had a car accident that made me immobile, yoga has helped in healing me. Since doing the yoga poses makes you focus in the moment, it has helped me in letting go of the past, of my fears, my stresses. So, if women are going through something, I can say that yoga is a good practice to get into. The concern wouldn’t disappear overnight but getting deeper into yoga and its philosophies would certainly help them ease their burdens. One of students now have told me that she’s diagnosed with bipolar, and that attending my classes once a week helped decrease the attacks. That’s such a great thing to hear, right?”
Calyxta Behind-the-Scenes: Erica Paredes
Last year, Erica Paredes, the former Editor-in-Chief of Calyxta, traded her the art of blending beauty creams for the craft of blending sumptuous juices in Paris’ top culinary school, Le Cordon Bleu. But, the beautiful beauty journalist simply can’t forget her past. So, when she came home for the holidays, she guested as an editor of Calyxta’s February cover girl.
In our chat with her, she shared with us the top beauty secrets of the chic Parisian girls. So, watch the rest of the video to know what it takes to be like the recently crowned Miss Universe 2016, Iris Mittenaere!
Guest Editor ERICA PAREDES
Photography DIX PEREZ
Videography ANDREW APUYA
Makeup AMANDA PADILLA
Hair JET BABAS
Fashion Styling MATT PANES
Special thanks to MillenX for the active sportswear
