For the love of yoga
- Jo Valle
- Mar 11
- 6 min read
The first time I came across Community Fitness was in 2018, when a former schoolmate and fellow yogini Johnna Villaviray-Giolagon started teaching yoga at the then newly opened studio in Pasig City.
What caught my eye beyond the images of mostly yoga poses in her social media posts was the one notable detail about studio rates. I couldn’t believe that a drop-in class at that time was even less its current rate of P200.
But making the trip to that side of the eastern border of the metropolis proved to be quite a challenge for me, so I had to put off plans of attending Johnna’s class there.
The pandemic passed, and personal circumstances led me to closing the distance to ComFit. I finally got to check it out.
One of my first classes there was a Vinyasa-based practice the studio called Ground and Align held in the early evening of June 29, 2025, according to my email records.
My overall experience was more than satisfactory, from online booking to the studio facilities and actual class. So, I returned a few times to try the other classes, including Johnna’s and the gentle type that's akin to Yin.
Aside from Yin and Vinyasa, ComFit also offers Ashtanga yoga, as well as classes in Zumba, karate, and retro line dance. It also recently added mat Pilates and other special classes, even those free of charge.
‘Create the space, and they will come’
Exercise has always been part of Richie Donnelly’s life, the ComFit cofounder tells The Fitness Advocate in an interview.
It was instilled in him by his grandfather, former Pasig City mayor Emiliano Caruncho Jr., thus he had an early childhood exposure to fitness. When he hit adolescence, he got into badminton and became, in his own words, a big player.
Years later, Richie, who grew up to be an entrepreneur, discovered yoga through his longtime partner, Jonathan Donnelly, a lawyer.
“We are both based in the United States, while I also maintain strong ties in Manila—both family and business,” he says. “We’ve been together for 27 years!”
Richie goes on sharing the story of how their first classes at Yoga District in Washington, D.C. with Jenna DiFilippo as their “awesome” teacher changed their lives forever.
“After just a few sessions, I was hooked,” he says in reflection. “We became friends with Jenna, and for five years we had a Wednesday evening yoga group. We bonded with other students and built a community.”
He explains, “I love the group energy, and I also love that yoga keeps me fit—I’m stronger! It complements my badminton, so I can still play competitively.
“I love how my mind and body are in sync during each pose, and how I can listen to my inner feelings.”
Richie’s shared love for yoga with Jonathan and Jenna led to the formation of Community Fitness, which formally opened on December 8, 2017 at Mariposa Arcade Building on A. Mabini Street in Barangay Kapasigan.
He can’t forget how it all came together during one of his visits in the Philippines: “There was one vacant space in the building we were in, and someone commented, ‘Who will take yoga in inner Pasig?’
“That was my light bulb moment. My thought was: create the space, and they will come. The rest was hard work and dedication.”
After securing the space, with an architect and a contractor to boot, Richie flew back to the States to join Jonathan for further training in yoga.
When asked about ComFit’s budget-friendly rates, he says they “simply wanted to share the practice with everyone, especially those who could not afford studio classes.”
He explains, “Imagine—most Filipinos earn around ₱695 a day, leaving nothing for wellness. At that time, there was no yoga studio in inner Pasig, which was sad.”
He then points out, “We never turn anyone away because they cannot afford it—that’s our commitment.”
As for their teaching staff, he says he and his cofounders “offered to train a group of talented yogis in exchange for them teaching at the studio.”
It turned out to be a “sweet deal,” he adds. “We were fulfilling their dreams to teach while serving the community. In the process, we created teachers and a beautiful community! We are stronger together!”
He then happily reports in a message, dated March 7: "This month, we've hit highest attendance and sales, and I'm guessing 80% regular students, grassroots campaign (community), affordability, and quality practice got us to where we are."
A well-rounded yogi
Longtime yoga practitioner Karen Nieva is a regular at ComFit, which happens to be not very far from where she lives.
She tells The Fitness Advocate in an interview that yoga is her primary fitness activity—a practice she’s been deeply connected with for 21 years.
“My journey began after I got my first job and received my first paycheck, when new studios were emerging across Metro Manila,” she recalls.
“Initially, I enrolled in gym memberships, but I never enjoyed working out there on my own. I don’t like the constant counting or navigating all the equipment. There’s just so much to think about.”
As a result, Karen ended up opting for the gym’s group classes, like yoga, fusion Pilates, boxing, and other mat-based exercises, as well as various dance styles.
She continues with her story: “My very first yoga experience was a hot yoga class that left me overwhelmed, but after giving it another chance with regular sessions, I fell completely in love.
“Today, I embrace all forms of yoga—from the intensity of hot yoga to the gentle stillness of yin yoga.”
She gives several reasons why yoga remains her core activity:
Physical benefits. “It has boosted my flexibility, strength, balance, and posture, while helping alleviate chronic stress without straining my body.”
Mental and emotional support. “As someone with ADHD, the focus on breath and body awareness creates a transformative ‘tunnel vision’ that enhances concentration and self-awareness.”
Spiritual connection. “It fosters presence and deepens my understanding of the mind-body link, nourishing my spirit without being tied to any religion.”
Accessibility. “Unlike other pursuits that require machines, travel, or dedicated studios, yoga needs only a mat and yourself. After two decades of practice, I can easily practice alone or follow guided videos, fitting it seamlessly into my daily life.”
Aside from yoga, Karen is into a myriad of fitness activities as they have the “unique grace, creativity, and challenges” that complement and enhance her yoga practice in meaningful ways.
One of these activities is swimming, which she describes as a “meditative full-body workout that boosts cardiovascular health and lung capacity.”
Additionally, “Its rhythmic flow mirrors yoga’s calm focus, with the satisfying challenge of building endurance and coordination in water.”
She also practices Pilates both with an apparatus, like the widely used Reformer, and just a mat, as well as the ballet-based discipline called barre.
All of those fitness activities, she says, build lean muscle, core stability, and body awareness. “Skills that directly support my yoga practice, with precise movements that present their own unique challenges.”
Karen likewise enjoys different dance forms. “I started ballet as a child, and once adult classes became available, I naturally continued practicing. I even follow subscription videos at home.”
Then there’s the more sensual type, such as pole dance (for energy), chair dance (for energy), and floor work (for similar benefits).
Other fitness activities of hers include gymnastics as the fulfillment of her childhood dream, and aerial arts on hammock and hoop.
“I find strong connections to these foundations, with overlapping principles in strength, flexibility, mindful movement, and artistic expression,” she points out.
“Across all these pursuits, there’s a shared focus on mindful movement, encouraging intelligent engagement without overthinking.”
When asked why she likes practicing yoga at ComFit, Karen also gives a detailed answer.
For starters, she says, the studio’s value “goes beyond the mat, rooted in accessibility, community, and purpose.”
Accessibility. “Living nearby makes it convenient, and as a non-profit, it offers high-quality classes at affordable rates. Voluntary donations make it easy to practice consistently without financial strain.”
Community. “It brings together people of all ages and backgrounds. Practicing alongside younger and senior practitioners keeps me inspired and offers insights into healthy living across life stages.”
She notes that “each person brings a unique perspective on balancing grace, creativity, tranquility, and the challenges of their practice.”
On a more personal note, she acknowledges ComFit’s role in how she reconnected with others after struggling with pandemic-era “sedentary depression.”
Lastly, Karen appreciates the studio’s “purpose-driven model” as its non-profit foundation “prioritizes community well-being over profit, inspiring me to consider contributing to similar initiatives in the future.”
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