Flow Boho Beach Retreat

Announcing our last retreat of the year! The Flow Boho Beach Retreat, December 27-29 at Flotsam and Jetsam Art Hostel! 

Dance with the ocean, nourish your soul, move to the beat of the drums, get creative, sip on healthy green shakes and juices… spend your holidays with us, go with the Flow!

To register, fill up form at www.flowsurfyogasamba.com

Gift Guide for Yogis!

Christmas is less than a month away and you're in a panic because you haven't sorted out your presents for your friends and family? Don't fret, here are awesome gift ideas perfect for stocking stuffers meant for your loved ones.

FLOW 2013 Gift Guide for every Yogi

Yes, we all know someone who's simply addicted to yoga. She constantly bombards your instagram feed with her poses spelled in sanskrit like ardha chandrasana or perhaps her latest accomplishment, koundinyasana II which looks pretty cool but have no clue what it is. She is slowly transitioning to a vegetarian diet so she chooses to eat more greens, fruits and has started making green smoothies for breakfast.

OM Yoga Mat Bag P500

Because she support businesses that give back, she'd be happy to know that this yoga mat bag not only has her fave symbol - OM (same as her tattoo on her back), but also donates part of proceeds to charity.

Dharma Yoga Mat Sprays P235 for 100ml

Since she attends daily yoga classes, you know she'll appreciate this all-natural yoga mat spray which doubles up as a hand sanitizer too!

Gargoyle Oil Pulling Tonic P280

You can just imagine it- every morning, she will detoxify her system by Oil Pulling while reading the latest articles on Yoga Journal online.

Peace Love Yoga Eco Tote Bag P295

She'll love using this eco tote to her yoga classes or as a grocery shopping bag coz you know - she frowns upon plastics and wants to save the world one bag at a time :)

Ujjayi Rejuvenating Soy Wax Candle & Moisturizer by Earthchild P230

A rejuvinating mix of Citrus and Mint to help set the mood for any sacred space. A must-have for meditation and asana practice!

Granola Girl P550

It's vegan and contains 78% organic ingredients. This crunchy, nutty, fruity and yummy breakfast (or snack!) will power up your yogi any time of the day!

All items available at the ONLINE FLOW SHOP. Email orders at flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

FLOW turns 4 in La Union

To mark our 4th year creating unique boutique weekend retreats, the FLOW Surf Yoga Samba is having another grand anniversary party at the San Juan Surf Resort on Nov 1-3 long weekend holiday in La Union.

Join me as I lead a beginner’s Yin Yoga class and a fun-filled Partner Yoga class in nature, our fave thing! Never surfed before or just want to hit the waves again in this upcoming surf season? The San Juan Surf School offers surfing classes for beginners and beyond led by Billabong Asia sponsored pro-surfer, Luke Landrigan. The party ain’t complete without the drum and dance sessions by the Samba School of Imperatriz Filipinense under drum director Toni Bernardo and Sambista, Denise Gonzales-Bernardo. Get your greens goin’ with our Green Smoothie and Raw Food workshop led by artist extraordinaire and vegetarian advocate, Noelle Hilario. Each participant gets to go home with a goodie bag filled with awesome items from our sponsors (Havaianas flipflops!!!)

This retreat is sponsored by: Aura Athletica, Havaianas, Bobble, Belo, Moringana, Lagu, STRIP, Browhaus, The Superfood Grocer, Rawlicious, The Juice Barista, Nyogi, Yamamay, San Juan Surf Resort, Cutieverse, LIghtwater, Vitaminboost, Travel Leisure Magazine, When In Manila, My Life on Board and Beyond Yoga,

What are you waiting for? Sign up at www.flowsurfyogasamba.com. Drop in rates also apply (See photo below!) Feel the FLOW fun! See ya’ll there!

The Truth On Why We Do FLOW

If you ask any of the 3 founders of FLOW (that would be me, Noelle and Denise) why we do FLOW weekend retreats. Truthfully, it's really....for our children :)

Photo by Apple Ortiz

We want them to appreciate nature and the wonders it brings, enriching their brilliant minds and imagination.

We want their taste buds exposed to the nourishing meals and snacks we make our guests. So they grow up loving their greens as much as we do :)

Santi, the Rawlicious green smoothie drinker

Live foods merienda

We want them to play freely by the sea, even when no one is watching. (A stark contrast to the sad realities of other yayas following little ones around in the malls for fear of getting hurt or being snatched away.)

We want them to see us hard at work at what we love to do, to know that money is earned and not just given away.

Photo by Troy Medina

What are the things you do for your children? 

*Most of the photos were taken during the last FLOW Nature retreat in Anilao, Batangas. Want to join the next retreat? Log on to www.flowsurfyogasamba.com, kids are welcome, of course!

FLOW Yoga and Detox Retreat at Cintai

Are you a mother feeling domestic stress? Or a burnt out workaholic? Take time to reconnect with your body, mind and nature. FLOW brings you a Yoga and Detox weekend at the Balinese-inspired sanctuary, Cintai Coritos Garden, Batangas on February 16-17. This is the first of the FLOW luxe retreat series focused on different paths to wellness.

Experience a refreshing getaway to jumpstart your journey to a healthier you. Practice rejuvinating and relaxing yoga asanas amidst the lush green surroundings and pranayama exercises with pure unpolluted air. Discover the benefits of un-cooking from the Intro to Raw Vegan Food class, drink age-defying green smoothies and enjoy hearty nourishing vegetarian meals. Learn personal detoxifying tips from the founders of FLOW and health advocates: Denise Bernardo, Monica Eleazar-Manzano and Noelle Hilario.

Package Rate: P6,880

Retreat Inclusions:

•

2D/1N Shared Aircon Accommodation

•

2 Yoga Sessions (Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga and Sunset Yin Yoga)

•

Healthy vegetarian meals and snacks

•

Intro to Raw Vegan Food and Green Smoothie Class

•

DIY Detox Workshop: Oil Pulling, Energy Cleanse Tonic and more!

•

Flow Shirt and Eco tote bag

To register for the retreat, log on to www.flowsurfyogasamba.com or email flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

Memories of FLOW SurfYogaSamba Year 3

I'm feeling nostalgic because another epic FLOW SurfYogaSamba weekend retreat has come to an end. We celebrated our 3rd year of existence at Casa San Miguel in Zambales. 

Facade of Casa Backstage Cafe

Back in 2009, the 3 of us yummy mummies (yes, we each have 1 son!) were already into surfing, yoga & samba but we needed a venue for all of us to try each others passion out. Then came the idea of organizing an awesome retreat weekend away from the maddening city that included all of that. Since then, we have done 9 successful FLOW weekend retreats...and counting!

Denise, Me & Noelle

For every participant, we gave an earth friendly FLOW tote bag filled with sponsored goodies which they can use all throughout the weekend. For this retreat, we had Bobble filtered water bottles,  Moringana capsules and tea bags, Vitaminboost & Lightwater from Suncoast, face & body sunblock from Belo Essentials Sun Expert, Human Nature feminine wash, Travel Magazines and travel tags, FLOW tees plus gcs from Beyond Yoga, Fitness Lab and STRIP & Browhaus.

The FLOW eco tote bags are for sale, email flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com

One of the special things about going out of the city is that we can do yoga amidst nature, fresh air & greens. I led the Yin Yoga class in the whimsical garden of artists, Plet Bolipata & Elmer Borlongan. What a special treat to hear crickets, see the stars, feel the grass...a heightened yoga experience!

Yoga + Nature = perfect combination, always!

Corey Wills also taught a Surf-inspired yoga class which helps build strength and loosen tight muscles after surfing.

Then some AcroYoga moves to go with the class to lighten up the mood. Always a crowd pleaser :)

One of our participants also happens to be a yoga teacher from Absolute in Bangkok, Thailand. Canadian skiing Paul Verchere willingly shared with us by teaching a Vinyasa class to his new FLOW friends :)

Despite having no waves last weekend, everyone learned so much ground training and safety skills from Surfasana.

Nuno Romao, head coach of Surfasana teaching participants

Some onboard drills 

FLOW collaborates with Surfasana

Our make shift tent

Mona Lisa Neuboeck, a certified raw food chef can turn anyone into live foods because of her glowing beauty. She gave a very enlightening lecture on how to create yummy snacks for any Raw Food Surf Trips :)

Mona's creations: Raw Sushi and Raw Breakfast Porridge

Each night, Toni and Bogey Bernardo of Escola de Samba de Manila would take on the beats with Denise Gonzales-Bernardo leading the Samba dance steps for beginners.  

The night scene

In every retreat, the FLOW girls share the benefits of drinking green smoothies. For our 3rd year anniversary, Noelle, Denise and I each shared our favorite recipes powered by Moringana.

We set up the FLOW SHOP for our guests to opt to buy their summer/beach essentials any time during the weekend.

Our mobile FLOW Shop goes wherever we do!

Of course, our retreats are not complete without giving out special prizes from our sponsors! After presenting everyone with their certificate of completion, we presented all those that gave it their all during the activities, superstars for surfing, yoga & samba! 

The long weekend is over but the memories of FLOW SurfYogaSamba retreat will stay in our hearts forever <3 font="font" nbsp="nbsp">This wraps up another epic weekend, thanks to all our participants (from Canada, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines), teachers and sponsors: Havaianas, Aura Athletica, Bobble, Belo Essentials Sun Expert, Moringana, Lightwater, Vitaminboost, Beyond Yoga, Aloha Boardsports, Billabong, Browhaus, Strip, Lagu, Human Heart Nature, Fitness Lab, Travel Magazine and My Life on Board

FLOW SurfYogaSamba turns 3!

FLOW Zambales Retreat poster

We are turning 3! Since November 2009, FLOW SurfYogaSamba has been organizing weekend retreats for all of you beach hungry people. And we're planning a grand celebration next week for our third year of existence. 

FLOW trio: Me, Noelle & Denise

We're going to celebrate our milestone with another awesome retreat with the usual Surf, Yoga, Samba combination but this time in another known surf spot only 3 hours away from Manila...yep, we're flowin' to Zambales! Enjoy a long weekend getaway with like-minded people in dreamy destination -Casa San Miguel, Zambales.

Taken during a 2011 FLOW SurfYogaSamba retreat

Recharge in a relaxing Yin Yoga class by me :P Monica E. Manzano, learn drumming and samba dancing with Escola de Samba de Manila, get healthy as the Flow team share their favorite recipes in the Green Smoothie Workshop and discover the world of raw veganism with Mona Lisa Neuboeck, a raw food chef who will be giving a talk on Raw Surf Trip - tried and tested tips & tricks on How to eat healthfully raw at any surf spot.

Santi my son loves Green Smoothies!

Mona Lisa our sexy Raw Food chef

A newbie on the waves? Learn how to surf with Surfasana School by Nuno Romao & Corey Wills. Corey Wills, a raw vegan, PETA advocate and yogi, will also be leading a fundamentals yoga class to mentally prepare the mind & the body for surfing.

Nuno Romao

Corey Wills in his element

The Flow:SurfYogaSamba Weekend Retreat is on November 30 – December 2, 2012 at Casa San Miguel, Zambales. To register, please log on to www.flowsurfyogasamba.com.

For more information, email flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.com or check us out on Facebook: flow surfyogasamba, Twitter: @surfyogasamba and www.instagram.com/flowsurfyogasamba.

Flow:SurfYogaSamba Weekend Retreat in Zambales is presented by Havaianas, Aura Athletica, Bobble. In partnership with Belo Essentials Sun Expert, Moringana, Lightwater, Vitaminboost, Beyond Yoga. Minor Sponsors: Aloha Boardsports, Billabong. Browhaus, Strip, Lagu, Human Heart Nature, Fitness Lab. Media Partner: Travel Magazine and My Life on Board.

FLOW Bazaars!

FLOW SurfYogaSamba will have a booth at the Global Pinoy Bazaar this weekend Nov 10-11 at the Rockwell Tent from 10am-10pm and at the Balik Bukid Fair in Sta. Elena next weekend, Nov 17 from 8am-6pm. Get your beach goodies from us and be prepared for instant road trips or beach getaways anytime of the year! It's summer all year round anyway in the Philippines ;)

Snapshots of FLOW FarmYogaSamba

 

Last September, FLOW had an awesome first FarmYogaSamba retreat held at the GK Enchanted Farm in Bulacan. Check out these photos from that weekend! 

Green Fields on a foggy morning

Bamboo Palace for the Sunrise Yoga session

Our FLOW goodie bags with freebies from sponsors :)

Lovely & airy Grassoots Cafe where all the meals were taken

Yoga in Nature is just perfect!

Theo & Philo Chocolate Workshop

Participants wearing their FLOW FarmYogaSamba shirt

Ultimate chill right here

Escola de Samba de Manila 

Thank you to Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm, Moringana, Human Heart Nature, Beyond Yoga, Bikram Yoga, Vitaminboost, Lightwater, Sweet Ecstasy, Browhaus, Strip and When In Manila.

Want to join our next event? Check out www.flowsurfyogasamba.com for our 3rd Year Anniversary Retreat of FLOW SurfYogaSamba in Zambales!