Yoga for Life: TOUCHING LIVES

On Sunday, 15 May 2011, the Yoga for Life community will come together to join the world in commemorating the 28th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial at the Glorietta 3 Park in Ayala Center, Makati. Entitled Yoga for Life: Touching Lives, it will be an afternoon that will gather yoga enthusiasts and HIV advocates alike in a candlelit sunset ceremony honoring the lives of people affected by HIV and AIDS.

The Yoga for Life community will take the traditional candle lighting ceremony further by making an impact in the way that it knows best - through yoga. Co-founders Charmaine Cu-Unjieng and Paulo Leonido will be joined by the country’s top yoga instructors in leading the community through yoga poses, breathing techniques and guided meditation, to demonstrate how the discipline and community of yoga help those affected by HIV. More importantly, the event aims to unite the community’s energies towards igniting the flames of HIV awareness in the general public.

The event will begin with registration at 3:30 pm, and will be supported by yoga instructors Roland dela Cruz, Jeannie Javelosa, Tesa Celdran, Marilen Elizalde, Marc Carlos, Lex Bonife and Rebecca de Villa, HIV advocates from different sectors and friends of the Yoga for Life community. Proceeds from the event will support the services that Yoga for Life provides to the HIV community, which include yoga classes, meditation sessions, and HIV and life-skills counseling.

This is the 28th year since the International Candlelight Memorial was first held, making it the longest running community event around HIV and AIDS. It will also be the first time that the Yoga for Life community is joining the tens of thousands of people from 75 different countries in touching the lives of those affected by HIV. While the Candlelight Memorial was originally held to commemorate the lives lost to HIV, Yoga for Life chooses to empower the lives of those who continue to triumph in spite of the virus, and celebrate the HIV advocate in everyone.

Yoga for Life began in June 2010, and is the Philippines’ first community-based yoga program for persons living with HIV, as well as others who support them and the cause and want to experience the beauty of yoga. To date, the community has grown to over 300, as Yoga for Life continues to reach more people and build a community of advocates who, through yoga, share their energies towards living positively and living well.

So come and join us as we touch lives through yoga!

Career path

It's been a while since I posted something here, I'm just busy with LIFE. My doctor changed my meds to lamivudine, tenofovir and efavirenz I'm on my 2nd month with this combination, SO FAR SO GOOD! I can tolerate sa dizziness caused by efavirenz. In my last post I lost my job due some issues I encountered when I'm starting my medications, funny because I haven't really started my work and I'm already fired. So now I am really having hard time setting my priorities at the moment. I've been job hunting for a few months now, still no luck! I always made it to the final interview but still not getting the position, I've tried applying for a entry level position but still no luck, maybe it wasn't really for me, I know I sucked at interviews, my nerves gets the best of me so I end up stuttering, I need to practice more and try again until I hit the jackpot. My dad keeps telling that I should help in our business instead, my family has two business and its quite stable as a matter of fact I will live without having to work but I am not satisfied with that kind of living, I need a self fulfillment I need to grow as a person. Having to work under my parent is very difficult for me we have different ways of running a business, they are more old school, they have a hard time adopting to change. I'm still indecisive of which career path am going to take, to work or to pursue business? I need a sign. LOL! I need to stable financially so I can prepare for the future.

YOGA FOR LIFE

Yoga for Life is the first ever community-based yoga class series, specially designed for the needs of people living with HIV, but open as well to others who support them and want to experience the beauty of yoga.

For inquiries, you may contact: Charmaine: 0917 540-4247 | charmaine.cuunjieng@gmail.com Paulo: 0917 388-9658 | comradepaw@gmail.com yogaforlife.ph@gmail.com

Photos taken by Noel Abelardo
http://noelabelardo.multiply.com/photos/album/61/Yoga_For_Life

Get It Right

What have I done

I wish I could run

Away from this ship going under

Just trying to help

Hurt everyone else

Now I feel the weight of the world is

On my shoulders

What can you do when your good isn't good enough

And all that you touch tumbles down

'Cuz my best intentions keep making a mess of things

I just want to fix it somehow

But how many times will it take

Oh how many times will it take for me

To get it right

To get it right

Can I start again

With my faith shaken

'Cuz I can't go back and undo this

I just have to stay

And face my mistakes

But if I get stronger and wiser

I'll get through this

What can you do when your good isn't good enough

And all that you touch tumbles down

'Cuz my best intentions keep making a mess of things

I just want to fix it somehow

But how many times will it take

But how many times will it take for me

To get it right

So I throw up my fist, throw a punch in the air

And accept the truth that sometimes life isn't fair

Yeah I sent out wish

Yeah I sent up a prayer

Then finally someone will see how much I care

What can you do when your good isn't good enough

And all that you touch tumbles down

Oh my best intentions keep making a mess of things

I just want to fix it somehow

But how many times will it take

Oh how many times will it take

To get it right

To get it right

A Warrior and A Child

Most of you think people living with HIV are strong, yes we are, it would really take a lot of strength to live every day for the rest of our lives. I think I am but sometimes I find a need to wore a mask, fake a smile, a laughter just to hide what I am feeling, It's not because I'm not being true to myself, I just need too! So that the people around me wouldn't worry too much, most especially my family, they have no idea what I am going through, I wish I could just tell them but I can't, not right now, I need to wait for the right moment. I never expected this journey to be easy but I know I am strong enough to handle it, my best friend's A and M didn't had any clue that I was going through something like this until I told them, they were shocked but they didn't let me see a tear fall from their eyes, they always act strong in front of me but I know they are worried, I wanted everything to be normal, I don't want people to treat me like a sick or a dying person, I don't want to have limitations, I don't want to limit my life, I just want it to live the way I want it although I know I can't live it carelessly, especially at this moment where my body is at a fragile state. I am very scared but I am confident that through this battle GOD and the people that loves me will be always by my side, they are my armor they prevent me from getting wounded. I maybe a warrior but I am also just a child...

I fall... I cry... I get defeated... my enemy has already got me on my knees but I will always have the courage to stand up and fight!