7 Real Good Reasons Why You Should Flow to Bali, Indonesia

Last year, FLOW conducted it's very first international retreat in Bali, Indonesia. Visiting this magical island for the first time in 2010 by myself, I knew that I would be back again and again and again. There is a certain charm to this Island of the Gods that I can't get enough of! Those who have been to this place know what I am talking about, right???! And I am so glad we pulled through with such a fun crew last year!

Here are reasons why you should join our next two retreats this coming June:

1. Destress, decompress and detox with daily yoga classes: Yep, you know you've deserve this kind of bliss!

2. Get cultured : Consider that the world really is your grand classroom. Get yourself out there and learn about other cultures and become more interesting in your next dinner conversation with friends.



4. Earthing : Walking on bare earth like soil or sand for at least 20 minutes a day will strengthen your immune system. Doing it in paradiso makes it 100 times cooler.

 5. Watching a raw food chef like Joao of Seeds of Life demonstrate why this high frequency food is super good for your whole being.

6. Make precious memories: Life is short. It's time you started collecting great moments, not things!

7. Just DO IT! When life gets crazy, you have two options. Take it or FILG. F it let's go! Then come back with a vengeance... renewed and ready to take on the universe. 

FLOW will be back in Bali, Indonesia this June! 

More details and registration at here.

All photos taken by Stephanie Dandan of Infinite Satori at #FlowBali 2014 

FLOW turns 4!

The FLOW Surf Yoga Samba team celebrated another milestone when we turned another year older in the place where it all began - San Juan Surf Resort in La Union.

Since November 2009, we have been organizing Surf Yoga Samba weekend retreats as an alternative weekend for anyone up for a healthier choice. Not all beach venues in the Philippines are surf spots- some retreats have ventured out into having other interesting and unique activities like crafternoons with cocktails (held last summer in Boracay!), stand up paddle board (happening in the next Moalboal, Cebu retreat!), even adding healing massage options to the package (which we did last June in Negros).

Opening Circle: Participants from all over the world: Russia, Malaysia, USA, Australia and of course Philippines come together to FLOW with us!

Last November 1-3, 2013 was the "classic retreat package " which consists of the our favorite activities: surfing, yoga and samba classes. These are our passions, which is really the seed of FLOW which blossomed to what it is today.

I taught the 2 yoga sunrise classes: Yin Yoga (a very deep, relaxing and healing yoga style which focuses on the joints and fascia tissues of the body) and Partner Yoga which the group enjoyed very much because it is not the usual yoga class you can find in any studio.

Guests try out partner yoga with their new friends from the retreat

Yoga after glow with our Nyogi and Lightwater refreshments

San Juan Surf School's top teachers led the surfing classes. The waves were big and messy in San Juan so everyone took a jeepney ride to bacnotan, another surf spot 30 minutes away. Luke Landrigan taught basics on land such as popping up, balance and surf safety. San Juan surf instructors guided all participants in the water. The current was strong, and waves were big but participants braved the waves and were able to stand despite most of them being first time surfers. They all enjoyed the surfing experience that some even opted for extra lessons.

Walking to Bacnotan shore

Surf's up!

Samba school Imperatriz Filipinense capped off Friday and Saturday's sunset hour with their dance and drum performance/ class sessions. Toni Bernardo, drum director of the school together with sibling, Bogey Bernardo pumped up the people with their mad percussion skills while Denise Gonzales-Bernardo taught the complementing samba dance routine which also happens to be a fun calorie burner!

Strutting their stuff on the beach

All three founders of FLOW are advocates of the green lifestyle and we share our knowledge on how to jumpstart health through the green smoothie and basic raw vegan demo in every retreat. 

Every participant had a chance to try several green smoothies, a raw vegan brekky and also received a handout of easy recipes to follow.

Many thanks to our fab sponsor for making this retreat a memorable milestone to cherish! All of this would not be possible without you - Moringana, Aura Athletica, Havaianas, Bobble, Cutieverse, Beyond Yoga, Lightwater, Lagu, Belo, The Superfood Grocer, Strip, Browhaus, Yamamay, The Juice Barista, Rawlicious Green Smoothies, Nyogi, plus our media partners: When In Manila, Wazzup Pilipinas, Travel Magazine, Lifestyle Network and My Life on Board

A Samba-Zumba Baby Shower Party!

My yummymummy soul sister and super Sambista, Denise is 8 months pregnant. What do awesome friends do at this time - throw her a SURPRISE baby shower!

Captured in FLOW Boracay by Maika

Artist extraordinaire, Noelle Hilario gave the idea of using Samba/Brazil colors for the theme of the party. I suggested that we do a Zumba party so that everyone can have fun while working a sweat (always a good thing!) with everyone.

So the fabulous plan was to invite Dee to a (fake) prenatal yoga class at Beyond Yoga. I even got another preggy mum to help me make her believe there really was a free trail session by a new foreign teacher that we are trying out (Thanks for playing along, Pam!)! Dee was so excited about the hoax, that I didn't have to worry until we were ALL running late. I had to let her know to come 30 minutes later than scheduled because the "fake prenatal yoga teacher" isn't ready yet.

This was the chaos minutes before Denise arrived! Crafternoon at Beyond Yoga studio!

I asked guests to bring their own vegetarian snack for the party. Noelle brought the Green Tea cake and cupcakes from Pipino, I brought my own green olive tapenade and cheese, Clarisse brought her own white bean dip and crackers, Devaki brought puto and Joyce brought donuts- this came in late so it isn't in the photo. (did you know Dunkin Donuts in Powerplant Mall does not use eggs...so it's actually vegetarian but not vegan since they use milk)

Look at the color coordinated Vegetarian spread: White, Yellow and Green Hues!

Yes, it was a success! Denise was genuinely surprised and fell for our plan :)

Happy Dee in Brasil color.

I have to thank the early birds...or at least those who came early enough for the SURPRISE!

Event styling by Noelle Hilario

Here we go! Zumba partttyyyyy time!

Florence Fling sponsored a prize for best Zumba dancer! Pau, our super fun Zumba-star teacher awarded Toni Bernardo for her groovy moves - she didn't miss a single beat!

Look at the stylish dress Toni won for herself (errr for her special someone?)

Visit Florence Fling at Crossings Shangri-la, Trinoma, Glorietta 

Zumba after glow with the whole group who came to celebrate Denise and her baby-in-tummy. We don't know the gender yet, that's another SURPRISE!!! :)

For Zumba or Yoga party inquiries at Beyond Yoga, please email inquire@igobeyondyoga.com and cc monica@igobeyondyoga.com. For event styling inquiries, you may contact Noelle Hilario at noellehilario@gmail.com Let's make your party, baby shower, wedding shower, any special event healthy and fun!

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.