Among my favorite Christmas presents last December were gift passes and class cards to yoga 
They were the perfect gifts for someone like me! One of those was for a week of unlimited practices at the Urban Ashram Manila. I truly enjoyed being able to studio hop and get to try different styles of classes, as well as different teachers, during my break from work.
Anyway, at Urban Ashram I was able to try two different classes, a Hatha class by Johan Ordonez and a Restorative Vinyasa with Marc Macadaeg. Besides the two mentioned classes, Urban Ashram offers a wide array of classes that may be of interest to different types of practitioners. These include Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow and the FNR series.
The FNR series is one of the unique practices they offer (at least in my opinion). FNR stands for Flexibility Not Required. I asked JP Abinuman-Cox, one of the teachers at Urban Ashram, what the class was all about and she said it was a great foundations class for those new to the practice, but that it was not limited to beginners. Even regular practitioners can benefit from the class as it really works on and targets proper alignment. Further, this class can help one gain confidence in their abilities and build strength, as well as become more flexible. I suppose, in a way, this can help address one of the most common reservations people have regarding exploring a yoga practice, which is “but I’m not flexible!”
The studio is one of the most stylish and relaxing studios I have seen.
Welcome to Urban Ashram Manila
The interiors were designed by world-class Filipino designer, Kenneth Cobonpue. I soooo love the clouds that line the hallway
Pretty, right?
The ashram has also has an ENORMOUS bathroom, complete with three shower stalls and four toilet cubicles.
There are 4 studios for practice, each able to accommodate about 20 practitioners at a time. Studios 1-3 can also be combined for a space that can be used for extra large classes and workshops for about 60 people at one given time. Each space comes equipped with Manduka mats, blocks and straps. Blankets, bolsters and similar props are also on-hand for use.
However, it is not only pretty. When JP took me around the studio, she told me that they really worked hard at making the studio as green and eco-friendly as possible. For one, they used reengineered wood for their flooring. Also, their ceilings are very high in order to maximize the use of natural lighting and ventilation, thus enabling better management of energy and resources. Even the soap and shampoo that is available for use in their showers, as well as their cleaning materials like mat sprays, are made from earth-friendly ingredients, are non-toxic and biodegradable.
Urban Ashram Manila, Studio Details:
Location: Suite 302, 3rd Level, 3 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig City
Website: http://www.urbanashrammanila.com
Classes: Ashtanga, Sivananda Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, FNR; FNR classes run for 75 minutes while the rest are 90 minutes long.
Schedule: around 5-7 classes per day, starting as early as 6:30 am. Last class is at 7:30 pm, from Monday to Friday. Saturday and Sunday schedules available. Check out their website for more specific time schedules and teachers for each session.
Rates: Drop in rate is Php 500; Class cards, Semi-annual and Annual rates also available/Credit card and pay lite payments accepted. Regular promotions, such as the share your yoga and practice for free promos, are available. Call (02) 377 YOGA / (02) 661 YOGA / 0917 881 YOGA for more details
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