Motivation and success are words that ANA CINCO lives out in her day-to-day affairs and not just aspires to achieve. Believe it or not, Ana is an Assistant Vice President for one of the country’s leading banks. Her success in her career in the finance world has helped her become the preferred Investment Banker among her clients.

But Ana’s success does not stop here. It is evident in all aspects of her life. When Ana stepped onto a yoga mat a year ago in the class of (now co-teacher) Cara De Ocampo, she managed to perfect her inversions even before basic poses!

Ana is also determined at maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle. Aside from practicing yoga, she makes sure to stay fit by running and being on the go. Ana loves eating out, and prefers fish and salads to heavier meals, but enjoys a home cooked the most. She even manages to find time to cook, and is not afraid to experiment in the kitchen.

Ana hopes to inspire others into living out success by giving 110% of ourselves in every endeavor. With a coy smile and gleaming eyes she adds, “Take life as it comes and always be open to life’s surprises.”

Her positive disposition, free spirit, and energy are what draw people to ANNA CARBONELL. As one of the founders of Beyond Yoga, Cradle Media and Aloha Hula NYC, Anna keeps her days busy and is constantly interacting with different groups, yet she always manages to stand tall and welcome those around her with a smile on her face. What also draws people to Anna is her zest for life and her willingness to share all that she is passionate about.

Anna was practically born into the practice of yoga. She learned her first shoulder stand when she was four years old from her father, Rolando “Swami Deva Leelananda” Carbonell, who helped pioneer yoga in the Philippines. Her first experience of deep yoga practice came when she attended Ananda Marga ashram as a little girl.

Years later, after pursuing other interests which include modeling, acting, and working full-time as a supervisor for the IT department for a financial company in New York City, Anna reconnected with yoga at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in Manhattan. Since then, Anna has completed numerous teacher training programs, including an 800-hour Jivamukti Yoga Advanced Teacher Training, a 200-hour Vinyasa certification at Sankalpah College of Yoga in NYC, Yin Yoga certification with Sarah Powers, and Lady Niguma Yoga Series with Geshe Michael Roach. This September, Anna will add to this list a training certification for Anti-Gravity Yoga, which is becoming the latest craze, with all poses performed in a suspended woven silk hammock.

Anna also loves to travel and learn about different cultures. Before venturing to a new destination, she is quick to Google yoga studios in the area. She also enjoys playing tennis and dancing, and finds happiness and solitude in all the activities she pursues. Her favorite sutra best describes her attitude towards life. With great conviction, she recites: “May all beings everywhere be happy and free, and may the thoughts, words, and actions of my own life contribute in some way to that happiness and to that freedom for all.”

In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell talks about Connectors as the people who “link us up with the world... with a special gift of bringing the world together.” This best describes CARA DE OCAMPO, who, with an infectious smile and beaming energy, has the extraordinary knack for making everyone feel most welcome in her presence.

Cara’s energy and positive outlook allows her to overcome life’s challenges with her head held up high. As the founder of Beyond Yoga, Cara hopes to inspire others through the practice of yoga— which has become her source of fulfillment— alongside her roles as loving wife to husband, Leon, and mother to her little four-pawed loves, Darla and Gabe.

Cara cites her training as a former ice skater (and gold medalist!) as one of the reasons for her flexibility. She has no problems getting into backbends and balancing poses, but always pushes to get deeper into poses. In 2009, Cara decided to deepen her practice by pursuing training under Shiva Rea in Venice Beach, California, with further training in Manila.

Even when not on a yoga mat, you are most likely to find Cara dressed in Zobhas or Lululemon outfits which fill her closets, and which she considers her second skin. As the world’s Connector, Cara is the go-to person for information on the ‘best of’ everything from furniture and design, travel destinations, restaurants, and (her other passion) milk tea.

With love and warmth, Cara hopes to share life’s passions with all those she meets along the way.

Whether in casual conversation, or in one of her classes, CELINE ENCARNACION’s energy makes her someone that any person would naturally want to be around.

Celine best expresses herself through movement, as evidenced through her many years as a dancer and yoga practitioner. Movement comes as a natural form of expression to her, and she willingly shares this in the roles she plays: as yoga teacher, Theater and Movement Specialist for kids at Keys Grade School, and as a Senior Trainer at Plana Forma.

Her innate gift of movement and expression, coupled with formal training in Ashtanga Vinyasa with Greenpath Yoga, the Plana Forma technique, and soon KidzYoga training in HK, makes Celine one of the most sought after instructors today. She joins the Beyond Yoga team as a yoga instructor for kids yoga classes.

It may seem like an oxymoron to say that she loves life, but those who meet her can vouch that Celine really loves and lives life to the fullest. She revels in new experiences and enjoys eating through cities and discovering new dishes, learning about the history of places, and immersing herself in the culture, art, architecture and music wherever she is. “I lose myself through immersing in a world apart from my own, and in doing so, I find myself and it makes me come alive,” she says.

Celine’s enigmatic personality makes those around her feel at ease, and with her natural gift for teaching, she hopes to inspire others into finding happiness in living a full and balanced life.

On the exterior, she is a fun-loving and down-to-earth beach baby, who, when not out in the sun, is in the company of her friends, enjoying laughs over a meal.

But what defines RIANNA GATUS is her determination to do the best she can in all the endeavors she pursues. In her early years, Rianna’s determination led her to become a skilled figure skater and dancer (to which she credits her flexibility). Later on, it was determination that led her to a career as a manager in the entertainment industry.

Determination is also what led Rianna to start a yoga practice a few years ago, which was a time when she was looking for ways to push her body further. “It was love at first sight, I even took two classes in a row the very first time I tried it!” says Rianna, who completed her teacher training as a Vinyasa instructor over a year ago.

As a teacher, Rianna hopes to inspire students to challenge themselves and see how far they can take their practice. Her favorite quote from yogini Tara Stiles, “find the ease in the effort,” is something she hopes she can live by.

“Life is too short to be miserable!” exclaims MARC MACADAEG, who is not only a yoga instructor but an international corporate tax services lawyer as well.

Being a lawyer is a great feat in itself, but this important detail of his life might not even come up in a casual conversation with the humble Marc. He would rather take the time to get to know others, and maybe share a thing or two regarding other things that interest him such as good books and films. Engage in a conversation on food, and Marc is quick to share his must-haves such as: miso butter corn ramen, manchego drizzled with lavender honey, barbacoa burrito bowls, cheese ice cream, and milk tea to name a few. These are after all, some of the things that make life sweeter for Marc.

But what makes life sweetest is his ability to practice and share his love for yoga. In 2006, fresh out of law school and having finished his bar examinations, Marc tried his first yoga class as a way to get his mind off waiting for his exam results. In retrospect, he considers his first yoga class as one of the highlights of that year.

In March 2011, Marc wished to deepen his practice and so he obtained a 200-hour certification through the YogaWorks Program facilitated by Joan Hyman. He also had a strong desire to promulgate the practice of yoga. This desire became a reality when Marc, together with a group of friends, opened Urban Ashram Manila, a yoga studio in Pasig City, not too long ago.

While Marc juggles his time between teaching classes at his own studio and attending to clients as a lawyer, we at Beyond Yoga are inspired by Marc’s desire to share his gift of teaching with the yoga community in the North.

As soon as she enters a room, one can’t help but notice her confidence and commanding presence. "You are as good as the chances you take," says MONICA ELEAZAR-MANZANO, who, at 28 years old, is more than grateful for all that she has accomplished.

A yoga practitioner since 1999, it was in 2009 when Monica decided to complete teacher training with Greenpath, and in post-natal yoga with Dr. Jean Byrne. Aside from being a yoga instructor, Monica is the founder of FLOW SurfYogaSamba, which has pioneered events that combine surf, yoga, and samba. She is also a Retreat Master for Bahay Kalipay in Palawan. Did we mention that Monica also has a brown belt in Taekwando?

But Monica’s greatest accomplishments are the roles she plays as a wife to Montri, and as a mother to her young son, Santiago Andres, who have both inspired her to become an advocate for Natural Parenting and Waldorf Education.

When not on her yoga mat or planning for her FLOW retreats, you might find Monica enjoying a good read, dancing, or at the beach with her son. Her zest for life is not only evident, but inspiring.

"There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them." - Vicki Baum

No one finds pleasure in dancing more than LALA ILAO-DINGLASAN.

A former host and PR professional, Lala chose to leave her career and focus on her one true love. Equipped with a background in cheerleading and gymnastics, Lala began to coach and choreograph routines for schools and companies, which eventually led her to bigger projects such as choreographing for television commercials and big events. 

With a growing clientele and projects coming in one after the other, the energetic and bubbly dancer decided to pursue further training in the US under established choreographers who have choreographed international celebrities none other than Britney Spears, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake, Jessica Simpson, and N Sync to name a few.

“Filipinos by nature, love to dance,” says Lala. With this, Lala established Movement Dance Studio, one of the country’s most recognized dance studios.

We at Beyond Yoga are thrilled and honored to have Lala and her team of equally talented instructors share the gift of dance to our yogis and the rest of the community.

“Chill” is used to describe many things, but nothing is more fitting to the word than when it is attached to the name, JOHAN ORDONEZ.

The relaxed and “chill” vibe one gets from Johan may be a reflection of his life as a resident of tropical Palawan, where the vast sea is his backyard, and the waves, his playground.

Johan is easy to get along with and can carry a casual conversation with just about anyone he meets, on just about anything of interest to him – the outdoors, running, swimming, surfing, books, music, raw food, different cuisines, travel destinations, relationships, and most importantly, on yoga and meditation.

Meditation and yoga keep Johan grounded. He has over 10 years experience practicing yoga principles and asanas, and has taken courses in Sivanda Yoga, Paramhansa Yogananda Kriya Yoga, and Native American Medicine. His favorite yoga practices include Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and Hot Yoga and he considers siddhasana, savasana, tadasana, and virabhadrasana II as his favorite poses.

Experience Johan’s Hatha classes where he passionately shares breathing and meditative techniques coupled with challenging asanas that will leave you feeling both relaxed and refreshed. Johan openly shares this beautiful quote which he hopes that his students can reflect upon, “Be all that you can Be. Be-Light and Love, Do-Light and Love, Have- Light and Love."

DONA TUMACDER-ESTEBAN has dabbled in the corporate world, performance arts and entrepreneurship before finding fulfillment in her truest life passion – sharing the gift of movement and meditation.

Currently, Dona is a yoga teacher, stress management consultant, a breathwork and movement teacher, a values education teacher at the Australian International School and a volunteer for the Art of Living Foundation – all these on top of being a loving wife and a hands-on mom.

Surprisingly, Dona first became interested in meditation in her teens. By 1999, she began “Dance of the Inner Self”, her own meditative dancing path. A year later, she brought her meditation on to the yoga
mat. Dona shares, “It is in motion that I find stillness in meditation, and in stillness, I find movement.”

Dona has had extensive training in soft belly yoga, dynamic yoga, and Yin Yoga (for beginners, for targeting energy meridians of the body, and Yin and Yang intensive), and has also studied Anatomy with David Kiel. She is currently undergoing a yoga immersion program and teacher training with Binky Mendoza, as well as therapeutic aspect of yoga.

Dona considers her teachers Lucia Misa, Binky Mendoza, and Victor Chng as her mentors and Sri Sri Ravi Shankar as her spiritual guru. Ultimately, she considers Jesus Christ as her consummate model and teacher.


Join Dona’s classes at Beyond Yoga and allow her to share the gift of Yin Yoga and meditation.