5 Healing Benefits of AcroYoga

I'm not an AcroYoga teacher but I do enjoy getting together with people to do jams in the city or at some of our retreats out of town. The previous Flow Yin and Yang Yoga retreat group in Palawan was lucky enough to have Paul Verchere join us for some serious stretching. He is a Vinyasa Yoga teacher and a recent graduate of an AcroYoga immersion in Thailand. It's good that he's quite a big guy because he became the base for ALL of us that weekend.

To me, much more than for show, AcroYoga is a beautiful practice with healing benefits. Here are my top 5:

1. Face Your Fears: Many first-timers are terrified of the idea of "flying" or letting go. Whether they are crippled with fear from past trauma or just not into adventure, people slowly learn how to build trust which is one of the main themes of an AcroYoga session.

2. The Healing Touch: We yearn for touch because it is a fundamental need for life, a source of energy and yet we operate on very little tanks of love and touch. AcroYoga is a fantastic way to harness this energy when we connect with others. 

3. Play is a wonderful tool for you to take life less seriously. I also love using AcroYoga as a way for me to bond with my kids! Healing past hurts and quarrels can only take place in a relaxed state of mind and body. So, chill and have some fun!

4. On a physical level, turning yourself upside down has its obvious healing benefits for increased circulation and spinal decompression. Acroyoga is so effective in lengthening the spine and giving me an instant postural adjustment.

5. And of course, we help heal the world through positive collective energies. When we come together in a community of like-minded folks practicing peaceful activities, only good can come out of it. This is the reason why we come together at FLOW to increase good vibrations.

Find AcroYoga classes, immersions and trainings near you at www.acroyoga.org or join a FLOW retreat through www.flowretreats.com. 

If you're jamming in Manila soon, let me know? I just might join you! xoxo

Waldorf Education Orientation this Friday!

Many people have been asking me about my choice of education for my children. I've been very vocal about loving the Waldorf Education curriculum because values are aligned with my wholistic lifestyle. 

Santi doing wet on wet painting, one of the healing and teaching techniques in school.

If you are on the quest for a school that truly nurtures the soul of the child (as well as the mind!) please do come to this orientation which is also open for household staff because we want everyone on the same page when raising our kids, right?

Happening July 31, Friday 2-3:30pm 

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Because a friend of mine asked "What does Kolisko mean anyway? Here is an excerpt from Wikipedia:

Eugen Kolisko (21 March 1893 – 29 November 1939) was an Austrian-German physician and educator who was born in Vienna. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, and in 1917 became a lecturer of medical chemistry. He was the son of pathologist Alexander Kolisko (1857-1918).

Eugen Kolisko is remembered for his pioneer work in anthroposophy. He was introduced to anthroposophy through his classmate, Walter Johannes Stein(1891-1957). In 1914, he first attended lectures given by Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. Consequently, he became a member of the Anthroposophical Society, and in 1920 was invited as an instructor to the newly established Waldorf School atStuttgart by Emil Molt (1876-1936).

And interesting to note...

Kolisko specialized in preventative medicine (sounds like my kind of guy!) and at Waldorf he worked with other teachers in creating a curriculum that focused on the spiritual and physical development of school children. He was instrumental in construction of several artistic therapies, such as anthroposophic music therapy and eurythmy.

Healthy Eats: Wabi Sabi

I would like to introduce to you one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in Manila. Wabi Sabi is conveniently across the studio where I teach Yin Yoga 9am Thursday mornings and a short drive from my son's school, too!

When I am craving for Japanese flavor, I frequent this place for take out or have mini-dates with my son. They're known for their ramen. Vegetarian ramen? Yes!

Their menu is really affordable, too!

Seating capacity is only at about 12 so I suggest heading here right before it hits 12noon for lunch or non-peak hours. They are closed Mondays (I had to learn this that the hard way)!

They are known for their ramon but here's what I always order: The Okonomigyoza (75php) and their Chahan Fried Rice (75php) 

Wabi Sabi
POS Building, Scout Mandriñan Street Corner Tomas Morato, South Triangle, Quezon City
0918-9622935

The Flow Tribe x Beyond Yoga Libis

Hop on to the FLOW blog to read all about the Wednesday Wellness Warriors series we launched last week at Beyond Yoga Libis :) Vlog link available here. Enjoy!

Mountain Rose Herbs Organic Happy Tummy Tea

It's been raining all week now in Manila. Adjusting to the cooler, damp climate, I'm drinking much more tea these days. This morning, I steep the Happy Tummy tea. It's an all-organic caffeine free mix from Mountain Rose Herbs. Made with catnip, spearmint, lemongrass, calendula flowers, skullcap, rosemary, safe and fennel; it's a powerful blend that assists my tummy in digestion and cleanse. 

www.mountainroseherbs.com

Healthy Eats: Vegiezzen

I feel like I have been living under a rock. Why haven't I eaten here before? 

One nanny-less day, I drove myself here to try out their food for take home. Background story: on weekends, we let our helpers at home rest and we usually order or eat out. Due to very limited healthy restaurants and me turning (almost) vegetarian, I have gone searching high and low for more choices suitable to my lighter diet around the city.

On that fateful day, I struck gold! Affordable healthy eats so close to home. Wee!

I've decided to become a loyal customer ever since.

The restaurant is located across Ocean Sky Monastery in Little Baguio, San Juan.

You can find many vegan food products on this shelf and fridge. For unskilled cooks like myself, these products can help make food tastier at home!

Here is their menu...

Scary looking gigantic jars contain their hard-to-get enzyme drink and other vegetables which they use in their dishes. I have asked if the ezyme drink was available twice already but, sadly, I haven't had the chance to try it yet.

Since food orders are quite affordable, I'm happy to sample 3 variants at a time, yay! :) I love their veggiezen fried rice and beancurd roll. My kids are happy to eat these, too!

VEGGIEZEN

713 Jose Abad Santos St. Little Baguio, 

San Juan, Metro Manila

(02) 5313696

Best Massage I've Had in Ubud

After the #FlowBali retreat, I had a chance to do my own decompressing in the beautiful Sapu Lidi Resort. My friend Pam graciously looked after Maya while I had one of the best massages in my entire life! Thank you for that sweet gesture!

Sapu Lidi Resort
Jl. Raya Pengosekan
Banjar Pengosekan Kelod - Mas
Ubud, Gianyar - Bali,
info@sapulidibali.com

Tarot Card Reading at Mysterium

Tarot cards aren't new to me. My younger sister who was obsessed with witchcraft has had a deck since we were young but I always thought of it as play, nothing more. Yes, I know what you are thinking - being outside the norm is in my blood! Oh, get used to it, darlings!. :)

I was recently intrigued by Carlos Celdran's post on an eeriely accurate Tarot Card reading of Robert Rubin on DMCI. Less than a week later, I find myself walking into his sanctum, Mysterium.

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Why was I there? I just felt a pull. I've always believed in signs and I wanted to find out why I was pulled to this all of a sudden. I scratched the itch. 

Although I didn't think much of tarot cards before, I just thought "Well Monica, you haven't tried this and you're the kind of person who gives everything a chance. Besides, there is a first to everything! So, why not?" 

Enter the Mysterium and you are enveloped in purple painted walls, the color of magic and healing. The Emperor, is one of the cards in the Arcana traditional tarot deck. It is a commanding site, almost seems as if this card authority was guarding the space. Robert obviously resonates with him the most. Then, I was drawn to the Egyptian art piece (because I am almost certain I was one in a past-life).

The library was comforting. I also have a collection of books on occult sciences, yoga and massage at home. The yoga teacher in me was delighted to see a chakra map, of course.

And Kabbalah's Tree of Life. I was definitely in familiar grounds.

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And so we began my first official tarot consultation. I kept my poker face on until the very end. I will not divulge the outcome of the reading here but he was spot on. Yes, google exists and I lead a semi-public life. However, most of my inner thoughts I do not share online - and many of these came out through the cards and his interpretation.

 I asked Robert, "Why do people come to you for readings?"

"For clarity", he replied.

I no longer think tarot cards are merely for make believe-voodoo-play. After years of teaching yoga, using my right-brain more, being exposed to different healing modalities, awakening intuition and gut, I know that more than our 5 very limited senses...when we break it all down: 

Everything is energy. The cards are merely tools that help extrapolate the energy within and around you. I guess I wanted to ask the universe a couple of things. And they were all laid out infront of me. The answers I am seeking already exists. I believe in both destiny and choice. Both dance in a whirlpool that is life. Yours is for the taking.

Robert Rubin

Tarot Card Consultant and Hypnotherapist

+63916-551-1824

MysteriumPhilippines@yahoo.com