[ch t’r y u s] means possessed of wonderful vitality
integrating fluidity in life through movement . levity . vibrancy . wellbeing .
Translating comPassion into Experience.
CRISTINA LOPEZ McLAUCHLAN
Yoga Instructor, Holistic Coach
'You take care of the future best by taking care of the present now.'
Cristina's being is connected to many different vibes. She's the founder of ethical PR brand The Vibe Tribe, Wellness Expert for Compare Retreats, Asia Pacific PR for A Plastic Oceans and a yoga teacher to name a few.
Harbouring 'conscious collaborations' and bridging together Hong Kong and the world's wellness and holistic professionals. Creating a collaborative, community spirit, The Vibe Tribe is a great source of inspiration and a place to spot brands and people who are change-makers as well as following Cristina's healthy adventures around the world.
Cristina's yoga practice is incorporated both on and off the mat, she approaches her practice as an eternal student. Cristina's classes combine breath work, creative sequencing and music to encourage playfulness with movement. When she is not involved in teaching her trademark holistic approach to yoga, Cristina is actively promoting a conscious and sustainable, holistic approach to life at her base in Hong Kong and shares it with global community where she travels.
Cristina is a graduate of Samahita YTT and currently teaching at Kita Yoga in Hong Kong.
- 50 Hong Kong Fitfluencers You Should Follow Now @_thevibetribe_/3.5K followers
COLLABORATORS
I create opportunities to nurture and balance the trinity of body, mind and soul by weaving passion into a time, a place and memorable movement experiences via studio citrAyus & citrAyus retreats.
I practice movement to bring myself back into an awareness of the more subtle integration of the physical, mental, emotional & spiritual alignment into my body. I teach movement to invite others to explore their own awareness and the possibility of fulfilling their own potential.
Practicing yoga brings me closer to the still point, samadhi, the feeling of being centered, or self sustained. What I am practicing is to sustain the vulnerable life force of the synergy between
vitality (my body), calm (my mind), presence (my spirit) and surrender (my emotions). I am recognising vulnerability, in pursuit of my truth. I am discovering a deeper self-respect which teaches me how to more deeply respect others. I am celebrating life, mine and yours, for we are all connected.
I live by a simple mantra - 'Life is a path, follow your heart. Embrace uncertainty, for some of the most beautiful chapters in our lives won’t have a title until much later.’
KAREN LAW
Movement Practician, citrAyus founder & créatrice
'.. like music: the rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of
the soul create the symphony of life.'
- B.K.S. Iyengar
A native of France, Sarah Bellagamba is a professional dancer, Vinyasa Yoga and AntiGravity® instructor and Yamuna® Body Rolling practitioner. Her dance career has taken her all around the world, to perform, teach and choreograph and inspired her to study anatomy and many different body conditioning techniques for movement in order to prevent injuries, build more strength and increase her range of motion.
Her different classes are meant to do just that, teach you tools to keep your body moving and injury-free.
Whether you fly with her in the AntiGravity® Hammock, roll on a Yamuna ball or flow on your mat, you will create space in your body, linking your movement to your breath, and leave the class recharged and energized.
SARAH BELLAGAMBA
AntiGravity® Fitness Instructor, Yamuna® Body Rolling Practitioner, Dancer, Yoga Instructor, Lululemon Ambassador
'Every time I dance I turn into a better version of me.'
'You are light, consciousness itself.
You are also this unique self. And Yoga is the seamless movement between the two by which we create Heaven and Earth.'
LEELA DASI
Lotus Shores Host
Leeladasi is the name given by her guru-ji, Sharon Gannon, creator of the Jivamukti Yoga Method. In Hindu thought, Leela or Lila is the phenomenal world that is the creative or playful expression of the Divine. More importantly, Lila is the belief that every life form and every experience is sacred, containing the essence of Brahman or the sublime, infinite reality. Dasi is a female servant; Leeladasi is a servant of life and of all of beings who are manifestations of the One.
As her name suggests, Leela’s classes are creative, playful, and philosophical. Each practice is undertaken with the intention of cleansing the lens of our perception and tuning the instrument that is our body and mind so we can reside in the infinite present from which we create the experience of heaven on earth—for other beings and the self.
Leeladasi shares the wisdom of her teachers in the Jivamukti Open-level and Yogic Movement & Meditation classes. She also leads the fortnightly New Moon and Full Moon Kirtan and Meditations at the Retreat. She divides her time between surfing, playing the harmonium, and creating the programs at the Lotus Shores.
At the heart of Lotus Shores is the intention to create a home for the Yoga practice in the Philippines, thereby continuing it wisdom in the present as a means of safeguarding a more peaceful future for the following generations.
At the same time, it is a space that where visitors from other countries can experience the power of the land and the warmth and light-hearted manner of the people in a way that inspires and supports the unfolding of the essential teachings of Yoga: unity, compassion, loving awareness.
CARLITO NOGALO
Professional Surfer
'I love surfing because it’s a really amazing lifestyle and it makes me happy all the time. The waves inspire me.'
Before surfing blew up all over the Philippines, before today’s young guns got sponsored and sent abroad to compete, before the exponential growth of fame and attraction of Siargao, there was Carlito Nogalo.
Carlito was the first Philippine professional surfer, and he was the country’s best before many a Filipino riding the surf trend ever picked up a surfboard. He’s been living the dream since he was born. He inspired many locals and paved the way for local professional surfing, with Siargao’s new breed of professional surfers following in his path and earning titles for the country and the little surf mecca they call home.
He was born in 1984 in Brgy. Catagnan, when Siargao’s main thoroughfare was only a dirt road and surfing hadn’t even hit the island. As a Siargaonon grom in the 80’s and 90’s, he would have to deal with difficulties such as having no leash, no wax, and sharing one surfboard with four other kids. “My first experience surfing, I was surfing alone in Jacking Horse, I stood up and I was so stoked. I can’t even explain what my feelings were at the time.
Despite the struggles of living in Siargao in the early days, Carlito was thankful for its simplicity. “I was so grateful to have grown up on this island because life is so simple and the people are all nice.”
Few can claim to be the first pro surfer from his country. “My dream before was to be a professional surfer and travel around the world, my goal was to be a champion and now it’s all happened. My dreams and goals were achieved. Being the first Filipino pro surfer, I feel I’m a very very lucky person because I traveled around the world, went to Hawaii, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and I’m thankful to the people who helped me get there.”
“Siargao has become so famous around the world, so many improvements and new resorts these days, so many guests coming in from different countries.” With Siargao’s accelerating development, Carlito only has one wish for Siargao: “I want the community to be peaceful, orderly, and without any trouble.”
His hopes for the younger generation are for them to “practice hard and even if they surf everyday they should always go to school.”
Carlito's love of surf is uncomplicated.
Photos and interview by Sabs Bengzon for KUDOSURF.