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!

Raw, Vegan & Crafty this October!

Beyond Yoga together with Breville is hosting a free Raw Food Demo with our lovely Asthangi, Margo Lao. Come drop by our gorgeous new studio at Bonifacio High Street!

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Marie of Kitchen Revolution is an amazing vegetarian chef who can whip up really good & healthy meals. I was fortunate enough to get to hang with this really cool girl back when I was still living in Palawan where we had a picnic on the beach! Her Benefit Brunch menu looks really yummy PLUS you get to help animals, too!

To the animal lovers and the herbivores, the veg-curious and those who just happen to enjoy good food — take note! Here is a chance to fill your bellies with deliciousness while supporting a cause dear to my heart. Also if you haven’t been to any of my cooking classes and are curious, this is your chance to taste my food and see if healthy (vegan!) food can indeed taste pleasurable.

RSVP is much appreciated. Fake RSVP’s aren’t. Seating limited to 25. When you RSVP I will share with you the secret location.

This is in celebration of a couple of things:

1. Vegetarian awareness month
2. World Vegetarian Day (today)
3. My b-day
4. My vegetarian anniversary
5. A meal where everyone eats meat free is always something to celebrate 

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I recently did an interview on Alessa Lanot. She is the brains behind Pipino & the cutest blog on the internet-  Life After Breakfast. She is is having her anniversary party on the same day! If you're into crafting & hop on to their Pino Makati branch ;)