A
STAND
OUT.
I was born in a small town called Central Luzon back in the Philippines. And boy, when you’re queer and a softy, you know that you would have more than your fair share of being ridiculed and excluded. I must admit, growing up was a massive feat. And it taught me one of the best life’s valuable lessons - resilience.
I never wavered. There were times that I had doubts and fears like all of us. But I managed to stay true to who I was. I would not say it was smooth sailing, but it gave me the ride of a lifetime. I grew up okay given the circumstances, and you are right. There are parts of me that I hid and tried to forget - the outcasted, the bullied, the shamed and the verbally abused. That part of my life I tried to shut, seal and keep at bay throughout maturity.
“when you’re queer and a softy,
you know that you would have more than your fair share of being ridiculed and excluded”
“the practice gives me permission to unravel
and feel my feelings…”
The first yoga class I did in Singapore started my healing journey without me knowing it. I have met people who have looked beyond my gay-ness, my effeminism and celebrated what made me extraordinary - a stand out.
It was through consistent practice that I began to understand that I needed to heal and that I needed to accept me for who I am, and to finally face the skeletons in my closet. The practice gave me permission to unravel and feel my feelings, and eventually, come to terms with my demons.
Both practicing and teaching gave me the tools to finally remember how it was to become whole, that it’s okay to not conform and most of all, to be unapologetically comfortable with the man I have become.
There are still occasional episodes of insecurity and inferiority every now and again, but I guess that’s why it’s called practice. It’s a lifetime commitment.
Sparkles of Interest
I figured I’d give you a peak of my life to get to know me better. I can pretty much sum myself up in three incarnations.
Light of Yoga
Yoga Teacher
Eric has been teaching yoga for almost a decade. He is currently living and teaching in Sydney, Australia. He has received more than 1000 contact training hours and taught thousands of students across India, Singapore and Australia.
He has been fortunate enough to receive tutelage from dedicated yoga teachers around the world and one in particular - Maty Ezraty, whom he considers as the most passionate teacher he had ever met.
Eric draws inspiration from traditional yoga roots and influences it with his understanding of modern functional movement, without losing the fundamental teachings of yoga - breath, awareness and internal teachings of the practice.
A Unicorn
Handstand Enthusiast
As a staple to his yoga, Eric is drawn to the handstand practice.
It keeps him humbled and disciplined as he continues to develop not only the physical skills required but also the mental benefits of being up side down.
He thoroughly enjoys the process of learning, the mental de-cluttering it gives him and the challenge of balancing on hands that constantly changes in each practice.
He secretly hopes someday that he can be at par with circus artists and perform his handstand solo act as Lady Lorenzo.
The Devil is in the Details
Visual Twinner
Apart from his distinct fashion choices, Eric channels his creative output in making low-cost, doppelgänger, celebrity look-alike photos that he calls “Visual Twinning” in his Instagram account, alongside with his yoga posts and content.
He believes that smiling and making people happy can contribute to the positivity of the world. He shares images for purposes of parody and satire.
He is thankful to his closest and most supportive friends who have been encouraging and helping him with this process when he’s not doing it alone with his 10-second timer camera at home.