Green Smoothie Workshop by The Flow Tribe

Lately, The Flow Tribe have been doing more Green Smoothie workshops in the the city. We usually teach this during our retreats (www.flowretreats.com) but also offer it to corporate offices, schools and yoga studios. We reckon, many urbanites want to learn the art of transitioning to a healthier lifestyle and the easiest way to do so is learn how to drink your greens or liquid sunshine!

Yesterday, Holy Carabao sponsored our loot for the smoothies. We only use premium organic (and biodynamic, if available) produce because health-wise it makes a world of a difference!

Rawlicious same to distribute their famous green smoothie cocktails to the guests at LiFE Yoga Studio.

We also used superfoods to power up our beverages which was supplied by The Healthy Grocery.

For more information on how you can get us to conduct this workshop at your school or office, please email flowretreats@gmail.com

Detoxing at Bahay Kalipay, Palawan

Every year, we do a detox retreat at FLOW for the first quarter to jumpstart your engines! Yes, our bodies are vessels of energy and we want it clear of accumulated unwanted toxins throughout the past year/s. Come join me as I lead this detox retreat at one of my favorite sanctuaries in the Philippines - Bahay Kalipay in Palawan on Feb 19-21 (Chinese New Year long weekend!). Registration is now open at www.flowretreats.com

Let's start the new year with a clean slate :)

Gift Guide for Healthy Foodie Friends & Family

My husband calls me a major foodie. I like good food and don't mind spending on it because that was the way I was raised. I grew up accompanying my mom to the market (where I fell into a dirty ditch, which explains why I do not eat red meat) and the groceries. To be honest, I think most of my money goes to food!

I have compiled a few foodie finds which I think are great Christmas gifts for your foodie friends and family ❤️

Laguna Kitchen local artisanal products: Sweet calamansi with nata de coco, Pickles: ubod, ampalaya, onion and kangkong. Each jar is 250php. For orders, text 0917-5292933. 

Homemade Fine Spreads from Dibs available in vegetarian-friendly natural flavors Onion and Chive  or Roasted Garlic 240php per pack. Follow them on IG @dibsspreads

Serendipity Gluten-Free Breads and Desserts, some are dairy free too! Follow them on IG @serendipity.dips

Toby's Apiary unprocessed unheated honey from Backyard Farms 300php per jar. Follow them on IG @backyardfarmsph

Take Root Kale Chips 230php per pack
and Bliss Balls 120php per pack available at The Flow Shop www.flowretreats.com IG @flowsurfyogasamba

First Harvest Salted Coco Caramel, Peanut Crunch and Peanut Spread sweetened with Honey trio pack 459php order through their website http://www.firstharvest.ph

And last but not the least, Dehydrated Banana Fruit Chews from Casa Natura's Kitchen at 200php per pack, another pack will be given to a street kid in need of good nutrition. To order, SMS 0917-8386261.

There ya go! Happy munching!

Gift Guide for Surfers!

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 Surfer

Raw Elements Eco Formula Sunscreen Lotion Tube P1160 (Promo until Jan 15)

Everyone needs sunscreen. Your friend will go the extra mile choosing one that does not harm his/her fishy friends.

Raw Elements Eco Stick & Raw Elements Eco Tint Skin Tone Color P1008 (Promo until Jan 15)

Christmas promo until Jan 15- With every purchase of ANY Raw Elements product, customers get 1 Hurraw! lipbalm for free!

Live Love Surf Eco Tote P295

They love to announce their surf lifestyle in everything they wear: clothes, hats and bags! 

Lagu Beach Blankets P999

Those who love the ocean also love preserving the beauty of it. Here's nifty a product that is beach-friendly because it doesn't take home sand with you!

Real Tan P495 for 75ml or P150 for 25ml

Help your friend prolong that glow with this organic browning oil rich with antioxidants.

Hurraw! Coconut Lipbalm P280* (until Jan 15 only!)

Made from the purest ingredients- raw, vegan & wildcrafted, this lipbalm is to-die-for! 

Gypsy's Friend P200

An all-natural healing balm that soothes aching muscles from paddling out to sea. The perfect travel companion that also helps with headaches, sore throats and colds.

All items available at the FLOW SHOP

Email orders at flowsurfyogasamba@gmail.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!

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

Aura Athletica Shopping Spree - Win It!

Everyone loves Aura Athletica! Now is your chance to win a shopping spree from our favorite yoga clothing store! Just follow the directions below :) 

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!

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 :)