Alvin was born and grew up in the Philippines, as the middle child in a large and loving family. After taking the leap out of the corporate environment into a completely different world, he says he is now ‘living the dream’, teaching and sharing his passion for Yoga in a setting he can only describe as a ‘beautiful paradise’ – Kuta Lombok.

He spoke with My Lombok about the ways his decision has transformed his life.

Tell us something about your background

I was the fifth child of 11 kids, living with our parents in Manila. I went to an all-boys school during my elementary and secondary studies, and then to University, where I worked for my Bachelor of Science degree, in Marketing Management. After graduating I went into the business world – first working for Lexus, selling luxury cars, and then, for a while, in the Stock Market. I made the big shift to a different career when I realised that having purpose was way better than ambition. Basically, I fell in love with Yoga and eventually quit the corporate world.

How did your involvement with Yoga begin?

While I was still in the business world, I was also really into triathlons. When I started looking for a complement to my sport, I was advised to try out yoga. To be honest, I didn’t really like the first sessions; I thought it was very boring. One of the reasons I kept going, though, was that I was usually the only boy in class full of girls. So I stuck with it and really started to like it. Later, I learned to love it and eventually made it my lifestyle.

What does it mean to you?

Yoga has made me know myself better. It has made me look inside myself and has helped me become a more authentic person. While I was in the corporate world, I didn’t know what I really wanted. I was making money, but I wasn’t happy. Yoga made me realise what was important for my life, and what made me happier and more authentic.

What was your reason for wanting to become a yoga instructor?

I fell completely in love with the practice of yoga. I loved it so much that I just wanted to share my passion with others. It wasn’t about the money; it was more about having purpose in my life. I wanted to share the practice and the good vibes, but most important to share what I loved.

Where did you do your yoga teacher training?

I trained in Manila, with YogaWorks – one of the biggest yoga providers, based in the US. The training was offered by the yoga studio in Manila, where I was practising regularly.

Of all the other places in the world, why did you choose to teach yoga in Lombok?

To be honest, the practice of yoga just leads me wherever I can share it. I truly have no expectations on where this practice will take me next. Ever since I started teaching yoga, I told myself, ‘Just trust it, go with the flow and do it with pure intentions’.

Tell us about the locations and the studios where you teach

I have taught in lots of places. To this moment, nothing has topped teaching here in Lombok. And I have taught in a place that has what is arguably one of the best yoga views on the island. At Ashtari Yoga, the shala is by a cliff surrounded by nature. You can hear the birds chirping, and see the monkeys in the forest nearby, watching you. The view of Kuta Bay is just stunning. You can even check out the waves from there, and work out whether the surf is good.

Have you taught yoga in other parts of the world?

I have. Before moving to Lombok, I taught full time in Manila, for two years. By far, the most incredible places I’ve taught yoga are here in South Lombok. Lombok is just an insane place with beautiful views. Kuta Cabana has a great view of the other side of Kuta Bay; it also has good vibes in the place. Novotel’s yoga deck is right smack on the beach with white sand surrounding it. Selong Selo has a grand view of Selong Belanak. Sempiak Villas has a yoga deck in the middle of the forest and also has a beautiful shala by the beach. And they are just some of the places – each one unique – that make it more a yoga experience than just a yoga class.

What types of yoga do you teach?

As a teacher I love the students to flow. My favourite style to teach is Vinyasa, but I also teach, Hatha, Yin, Power, Yoga for Surfers, and Restorative. I also took some courses for injury rehabilitation so I have some knowledge about teaching yoga to students who have been injured.

How would you summarise the benefits of yoga for the people who come to your classes?

I believe that it varies with every student. Some people will love my classes and some won’t. That’s the way it is. I put my heart and soul into every class I teach – and that is what matters at the end of the day. As a flow teacher, I love my students to flow with their breath and movement, so they feel their bodies and know what they are doing. I focus on the energy of the students and resonate with what they give me. It’s a two-way thing; more than teaching them, I also learn from them.

Have you been inspired, supported, or influenced by anyone in particular?

Yes, a lot. As clichéd as it sounds, I learn from everyone I cross paths with in this journey. Whether they are yoga practitioners or not, they have all inspired me. There are teachers, mentors, and even friends, all around me, who teach me every day.

What is the most important thing you would like people to know as they practise yoga?

It’s about progress not perfection. I believe for us to progress, we have to put the work into it, whatever the results we get from it. In life, there will be lots of times when we won’t have control of the results. But as long as we put in the time and the work, that’s what’s important and what matters at the end of the day. There are no regrets about putting the effort in; that itself makes us better. We all have different journeys; yours is your own. Whatever and wherever you are in your practice does not matter to other people.

Which of your skills have you found to be of greatest value in the work you do?

Growing up in a family of 11 kids has helped me a lot. Being a salesman back in the corporate world was also a bonus. The social skills that I have developed, and am still developing, are the greatest value. Teaching Yoga here in Lombok and meeting so many people from around the world has really opened my world. For that, I’m grateful.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Surfing! I learned to surf when I moved here, and ever since then, I just got hooked. It also keeps me sane and it’s one of the reasons I stay on the island. It has taught me so much as a person as well. It is like yoga for me. What you do on the mat, you do off the mat. And with surfing, I believe that who you are in the water, you are in life.

What do you enjoy most about living in Lombok?

The lifestyle. The surf, yoga, the people (local and expats) and occasionally the good parties. More than that, I’ve experienced so many new things here in Lombok – like learning the culture and a new language, having two dogs, and a cat that eventually gave birth to four kittens – and I’m just learning day by day. In the year and a half that I’ve been here in Kuta, I feel like I’ve lived 4 lifetimes. It’s been such a good life.

Do you have any success stories, memorable experiences, proud moments?

To be honest, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I might not be making the same money as I did before, but my memory bank is definitely fuller and richer. I’m living the dream now – sharing what I love, and living a simple life. And I get to surf good waves almost every day.

What is your dream for the future?

There are big dreams for the future, but for now I am getting my time to grow as a person of purpose, and to work on what I need to make them happen. I am focused on living the present moment, trusting the yoga journey and becoming a better surfer. I’m still young in my teaching career as a yoga instructor. One thing I’m pretty sure of, looking ahead, is that I’ll continue to share what I love. There will always be a good future as long as I do everything with pure intentions and with a pure heart.

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