Feel Good Flow Boracay 2013

One thing I love about my job is that I help inspire people towards a healthier lifestyle. Being a yoga teacher and retreat organizer empowers myself and others I meet to make cleaner and greener choices. It's inevitable. When you become mindful of your physical body, thoughts and emotions, you will naturally gravitate towards people/things/experiences that will heighten your 'feel good moments'. Nodding now, ya?

Here are photos from a 'feel-good' FLOW retreat by Fil-Am, Stephanie Torres of Infinite Satori who came along the FLOW bandwagon while she was traveling all over the Philippines.

Rocket Yogi and PSA Surfer, Bri Manglapus sporting a Zobha bra top from Aura Athletica, teaches a challenging Vinyasa Flow class facing the ocean.

Triangle Pose or Trikonasana against Coconut Trees. Aaah such is life in an island paradise....

Cheers! After yoga flow drinking our Nyogi coconut water with high spirits yogis and yoginis. 

Yoga + Surf = Crazy awesomeness! We teamed up with PSA's Paolo Soler for a surf sesh on the wave pool of Crowne Regency.

A family that surfs together, stays together! Flow's Noelle Hilario with beau and pro-surfer Luke Landrigan and their son, Kai who looks like he'll be a pro too pretty soon!

The FLOW Team joined Lifestyle Network's Summer Soul Bohemian Fair for a full afternoon of music performances, workshops, activities and games!

 Flow girls being silly on the sand with much laughter and love all around.

Happy Havaianas feet! All participants received a pair of flipflops which we all used during the event.

Sexy Sambista, Denise Bernardo shows off her baby bump as she leads the group into some booty-shakin' moves at Epic beach front.

The FLOW trio on-stage for a green smoothie and live foods demo at the fair. Green smoothies are made from local fresh (preferably organic) greens blended by Breville with fruits and other superfoods (like chia) for an instant boost of energy and nutrients!

We love our Moringana in our green smoothies!

Alessa Lanot, of Life After Breakfast led the Rubber Stamping crafternoon at Two Seasons. I tell you, this is quite addicting once you get the hang of it. After a few mojitos to go with the class, we didn't want it to end!

Finished products!

Toni Bernardo takes centerstage serenading folks with Brasilian music

We surely know how to have fun! I was just telling Noe and Dee that this retreat was by far the most exciting because of all the happy hour afternoons and cocktails at night thanks to Summer Soul sponsors!

Fun FLOW group!

After a night of partying (however you define that!) ... time to relax our frazzled nerves through Yin Yoga on the white beachfront of Discovery Suites. Here I am leading the focused group into pyramid, a pose highly recommended for detoxification through the meridians of the stomach.

Thanks to Aura Athletica for my printed Zobha top

"Just Go With The Flow" - a reminder on our tees on how to live our lives. Never get too attached to anything and trust in what life brings you :)

Aaaand a FLOW retreat is never complete without an eco-lootbag from our sponsors!

Life's a B-E-A-C-H!

Check out the rest of the photos from FLOW's Facebook fanpage album here.

Interested to join our next retreat? We are flowin' to Punta Bulata in Negros! Another island hoppin' adventure for us sun lovers. Registration here. Early bird rate until May 28! Secure your slot now :)

Life Factory and Para'kito at Juju Eats

After hearing so much rave on Juju health & detox drinks plus their newly launched salad meals, I finally had a chance to try a it today in an intimate mommy affair hosted by Lifefactory and Para'Kito at the Juju Eats Cafe in Pasong Tamo.

Look at the extensive menu of fresh salads and health drinks. I'm like a little girl in a candy store, except that they're not selling candy (which is not good for you) but fresh nutritious food for your body.

Kitchen staff mix up your ordered greens while you watch. I like how clean and organized it is here! Residents of Dasma and offices on Pasong Tamo are just so lucky to have Juju in their neighborhood. There is just no excuse to eat trashy

Ay Caramba is their take on a spicy Mexican inspired salad. Denise ordered this sans the chicken. Really good stuff, will be craving for this often I just know it!

Yummy Mummy Denise with her Juju orders. A ginger and fruit concoction with her salad.

Blogger Sara Tirona with Bevs Dalton of Yahoo Philippines

David Azanza talks about the story behind Juju. He is the husband of Kat Rempe-Azanza, who is the daughter of the founders of the health and wellness resort, The Farm at San Benito. Now you see the connection. They are truly immersed in the world of alternative health.

Health mom advocate, Bianca Araneta-Elizalde spoke about her personal choices in leading a green life especially when it comes to her children.

Here she is sharing some of her practical tips on safe and healthy living:

1. Eat right and preferable organic foods. -It's so refreshing to see a celebrity like Bianca choosing to promote true health and wellness. 

2. Your skin is your largest organ so be careful on what you put on it. Try to be as chemical-free as possible. She gave an example that if you rub garlic clove on your toe, you'll taste it in your mouth in 15 minutes. I did my research here and it's true! That's how absorbent our skin is and how much circulation there is in the body. Knowing that, perhaps we should all read the fine print on labels for EVERYTHING that we put on our skin and in our bodies!

3. Do NOT use the microwave.  -I completely agree with her on this one. Not many people are aware that most foods in restaurants are microwaved before being served. Make sure to check with your waiter that your food is heated on the kitchen stove instead. Microwaved food is dead food.


Life Factory and Para'kito are sure travel essentials. Life Factory are glass bottles with rubber sleeves that prevent glass breakage or accidents with kids. What is great about the design is that it has a wide-mouth access which is easier for green smoothie drinkers to pour in the smoothies, fruit slices and even ice. Must get my hands on one!

So happy to have won a Para'Kito in the raffle which will be put into good use on Santi. What's good about this all-natural band is that you can wear it even while swimming, practicing yoga, surfing, dancing samba! We used the Para'Kito during a FLOW retreat once.

The 7 natural essential oils (Lavendula, Geranium, Citronella, Maritime Prime, Patchouli and Clove) are infused on the active pellet within the band. This is their natural technology which has been tested in France to be proven effective against pesky mosquitoes.

Here with my co-yummy mummies that are also my partners in promoting a healthy lifestyle approach with our FLOW retreats.

Juju Eats Cafe
2297 BCS Building on Pasong Tamo extension 
www.jujucleanse.com

A Beatles-Inspired Yellow Submarine Party

In the recent months, we have been attending many themed and stylized or DIY birthday parties that Santi would enjoy. And so, it was inevitable for him to request his own party "with a theme". We considered a few themes (which I won't mention because we just might use it another time) until we figured the perfect one would be The Yellow Submarine by The Beatles. 

The story behind this is that this is the only app in my Ipad which I encourage Santi to view because it's a storybook with songs from The Beatles and has good life lessons which I'm all for. So, he's taken a liking to the Beatles since then and would sing the songs with us whenever we would play it. Hippie parenting - check!

So, I had a concept and needed a venue (with ample parking!) where food is mostly liked/loved, and where they will allow me to put together a dessert buffet. I actually argued with Montri on this one because he insisted we do it in a restaurant when I wanted to do it in a home-setting so I can have full control of every little detail which he thought was insane because then we'd have to hire waiters, chairs, etc. He just didn't want an event nightmare. He wanted to enjoy our son's birthday celebration. In the end, I'm glad I listened to him.

Kaye Garcia to the rescue! Kaye is my supermama friend. Three kids, multi-businesses, cooks & bakes very well, does floral arrangements and styles parties now. This woman can really achieve anything she sets her mind onto. So, fab that she owns Army Navy at the Fort because it meets all the requirements above PLUS I get to borrow all of the things needed to set up. Thank You, Kaye!

Check out some photos from the party...

Right after setting up, Kaye joins me for a photo <3 br="">

Yellow Submarine Vegan Chocolate cake by Pipino, Yellow Submarine Eclairs by Gourmandise Pattiserie

All in the little details: Homemade Calalmansi Juice for the kids, DIY Moustache on straws, Marshmallows on small yellow cups, pre-ordered cupcakes on display

The Beatles eclairs by Gourmandise Pattiserie, DIY Beatles invite, DIY Lootbags with Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band stickers

Keep Calm and Carry On Washi tape on wooden forks

My happy family :)

Happy Birthday,Santi!

Yummy Eats 2013

Every month, I look forward to receiving the Yummy Eats Magazine from husband dear because cooking doesn't come naturally to me. Perhaps this is why i enjoy making raw vegan meals and desserts because there is absolutely zero cooking involved! First recipes I read are that of Marie Gonzalez of Kitchen Revolution for her Vegan and Vegetarian dishes.



Yummy Eats will have an all-day eating and cooking fair on May 18, Saturday from 10am to 6pm at the NBC Tent. I hear you will get to sample yummy dishes from 50 hand-picked concessionaires. My favorite Green Smoothies by Rawlicious will be one of them, so make sure you dropby their booth! Oh, there will also be cooking demos, cook-offs and raffles all day.

Tickets are at P200. Pay only P150 if you present a copy of Yummy magazine's May 2013 issue.
For more details, visit www.facebook.com/yummymagazine and www.yummy.ph

Oh, and I will be teaching a Yin Yoga class that day 9am at Beyond Yoga Bonifacio High Street. Come to class and let's chow at (healthy) Yummy Eats together after! 

Natural Skincare Loot for a Weekend Away

Last weekend's new loot for the farm trip to Quezon was composed of Brown Belly's all natural coconut shampoo, Alba Botanica's natural very emollient facial sunscreen SPF 30, Dr. Woods Pure Black Soap, Neolia's Body Soap and Ilog Maria's feminine soap. Read my reviews per product below.

Brown Belly's island coconut shampoo (P150) feels like coconuts were personally bottled for your hair. Lathers quite well and the scent is just marvelous for anyone that loves the beach as much as I do! I even tried using this as a body wash and for emergency purposes (let's say you forget your liquid soap), you can definitely use this as well! To order, email brownbelly@gmail.com

Alba Botanica's natural very emollient facial sunscreen SPF 30 (P300+) is 100% vegetarian, has "powerful antioxidant rich Green Tea, Grape Seed Oil and Vitamin E nourish skin while Aloe Vera, Lavender and Chamomile moisturize and smooth" I've been an Alba Botanicals fan since I've used their Lavender Sunscreen for the body. Available at Healthy Options Bonifacio High Street branch.

Dr. Woods Shea Vision Pure Black Soap (P200+) is 100% natural and vegan. "The Black Soap formula is a gentle, daily exfoliant for all skin types. It contain gamma tocopherol, botanical extracts and organic shea butter to neutralize free radicals, heal blemishes and regenerate skin cells." I rarely wash my face because I feel it dries my skin BUT after a full day of errands, teaching yoga, being out in the polluted city - I feel that my face deserves some cleansing. So, here is my addition to my skincare ritual. The Shea Butter is what drawn me to buy it because it has moisturizing powers. I wash my face before/after hitting the shower with this product and moisturize with cold-pressed VCO (virgin coconut oil) at night or facial sunscreen above if during the day. Available at Healthy Options Bonifacio High Street branch.

Neolia's Body Soap (P120)  is made from Organic Extra Virgin Italian Olive Oil and Aloe Vera. I like how the bar lathers on my skin and gives that soft sheath after bathing. And who doesn't love the smell of olive on the body? Just not too sure if this is 100% natural because it doesn't list ALL ingredients in the box nor in their website. Available at Rustan's or Shopwise groceries.

Ilog Maria's Feminine Soap (P49.50) is a must have for every woman! It has peppermint oil for a cooling effect but the key ingredient here is the bee propolis extract which has anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Pure sampaguita oil is also added as a natural fragance. It is recommended for women to use if they want to feel clean and fresh all day long, naturally :)\

When I got home from the trip, I was pleased to see these Hurraw lipbalms (P250 - P350 each) come in from the mail. The Washington post calls them the holy trinity of lip balm!

Plus points for being all natural, organic, raw and vegan! For someone like me who's constantly under the sun, I need extra sun protection (I can already hear my mother's voice nagging me for it) and it's so awesome that Hurraw has a lipbalm with SPF15

"Non-nano zinc oxide that lends a broad spectrum, clear, completely natural sunscreen base to Hurraw! Antioxidant busters pomegranate seed and sea buckthorn oils protect and nourish. Red raspberry seed oil gives an even more protective punch! Juicy Tangerine and calming Roman Chamomile extract make it delish for your lips! " 

And yes it does taste good enough to eat! I'm going to have to stop myself from licking my own lips...

Too bad these lipbalms didn't make it before I left but can't wait to start using them especially during my FLOW weekend retreats! Oh my! I just checked their international website and saw that they have Ayurveda-inspired: Pitta, Kapha and Vata lipbalms! The yogini in me wants these too!

All Hurraw lipbalms with assorted flavors are locally available at Cutieverse.