Flow Mystery Tour And Artis Artisan Antipolo

 

There is something so refreshing and healing about being out in nature. One day I will build my house surrounded with trees and live sustainably, preferably in a permaculture designed village and farm. For now, I do quick trips to renourish my body, mind and soul. 

I organized the last Flow Mystery Tour with a short escape to nature in mind for all that signed up. Last month, I brought the group to Antipolo for some sunshine and fresh unpolluted air which we all desperately needed.

 

The venue was the Bee House in Beverly Hills Subdivision in Antipolo. When we arrived, I led a yoga class out in the garden while the kids played with small animals by our side. Yes, most of our tours and retreats are kid-friendly! Check out flowretreats.blogspot.com for more details.

Then, my good friend Ana led a workshop on how to make your own Bath Fizz Bombs using all natural ingredients. 

Those are real dried Lavender flowers. They smelled heavenly! 

Our finished products drying out under the sun.

While waiting for homemade lunch, we checked out the merchants to the Artis Artisan Bazaar.

This event is the brainchild of The Bee House owners Marie Gutierrez, the wife of master builder Vitty who is also the brother of Ana. They are quite a talented family!

After our healthy lunch of falafels and , we proceeded to do workshop # 2 which was DIY Kombucha also led by Ana.

I have learned how to make Kefir before but lost track after sometime. Ana encouraged me to try Kombucha and have been making and drinking this probiotic wonder drink since she taught me. 

I love how her youngest son is her little apprentice when it comes to her handmade and homemade interests. He was manning the booth and selling his Kombucha creations for her! 

Thank you for collaborating with me, Ana! I love your life, your village and all your creations!

You may follow Ana Niguidula on Instagram @anagutch to know more about Body Food All Natural products and her workshops.

Follow FLOW Retreats on Instagram @flowretreats to find out about our next Mystery Tour or retreat!

A Waldorf Doll Making Workshop

With just a few days left before we leave for our holiday vacation, I decided to take a mini-break from the frantic planning and chaotic busy-ness of last minute work deliverables (I still have one last event this Sunday for Flow In The City Christmas Edition!).

A Waldorf Doll Making Workshop with Tita Malou Medrano (one of my son's nurturers or kindergarten teacher years ago) was just what I needed to slow down and ground. It is also my own preparation for my handmade and homemade Christmas present to both my kids (they will have to share a doll until I get to make another one!). Since I wasn't able to attend her 3-day workshop because of conflicted schedules, I opted to attend a shorter version with other Waldorf parents and teachers.

Here are some of the materials I started to work with

My classmates for today were parents and teachers from other Waldorf schools in the Philippines. I am so glad to be part of this community of like-minded folks!

Yes! With much guidance from Tita Malou, I made the head of a baby!

This doll was my inspiration for the one I am currently making. It is one of Tita Malou's masterpieces :)

Here's the group with our almost-finised works! I'm still working on adding hair and completing the finishing touches on mine but will make sure it will be ready for Christmas!

I honestly waited until I had a daughter before I decided to finally get one or better yet... make one. I don't know why I never made one for my son. Perhaps, I wasn't ready yet. Waldorf dolls are so very special because they are very simple, handmade and with the best intentions for your child. Unlike mass produced, plastic or factory made dolls that have no deep meaning nor positive energy, these loving creations are a gem to childhood! I wish I had one when I was young!

I saw this beautiful quote --

"......a handcrafted doll is one of a kind, an individual which carries the spirit of the maker in its stitches and absorbs the spirit of the child who loves it".

Another important thing about Waldorf dolls, Tita Malou says that it is important to keep it very simple, with no emotions especially for very young children (as you can see in the photos) so that your child may imagine it on the doll. Children will mirror their own emotions on the doll as they go through life's milestones. Whenever they are sad, they will also hug and care for a sad doll. When they are happy or excited, the doll will be the same. It is an extension of themselves, and so we treat dolls with respect, with reverence as with life. Read more about Waldorf dolls here.

Here are more of Tita Malou's brilliant works all sold out at the recent Advent Fair in Acacia Waldorf School. Thank you for the photo, Luisa!

To order a very special Waldorf doll for your child or your godchildren or join future Waldorf doll making workshops, please SMS Tita Malou Medrano at 0932-9603392 or email mjrmedrano@yahoo.com

Advent in Kolisko Waldorf School

As we entered into the time of joyful anticipation of Christmas, my son's school celebrated the start of Advent through the walk of the illuminated circle. Each year, I look forward to this tradition because it prepares and syncs my whole body (body, mind & soul) for the darkest time of the year. It is said that light shines brightest in the darkest of days. And so we walk the path with our inner lights shining through :)

This is just one of the many things I love about a Waldorf Education! Come join the activities prepared for the school this Sunday at Flow In The City Christmas Edition. See poster below and visit www.flowretreats.blogspot.com for more details and registration :)

Flow In The City at Aruga by Rockwell

#FlowInTheCity on November 14, Saturday 10am to 8pm at Aruga by Rockwell ♥

Aruga presents, Flow In The City, a health and wellness lifestyle event featuring workshops, activities, products and food for mindful and inspired living. This exciting event will take place on November 14, 2015, Saturday, 10am-8pm at the 3rd Floor, Edades Function Room, Aruga, Rockwell Center, Makati.

Join us for an informative and inspiring day with yoga instructors, artists, crafters, musicians, speakers and health advocates who will lead workshops and classes for everyone who would like to explore and learn more about mind-body balance and a conscious lifestyle.

Shop hand-picked brands that offer organic, all-natural local and sustainable products, from fashion, home and art, to food and drinks.

Sign up for 3 workshops for only P880. Entrance is free for the bazaar. There are also a few absolutely free activities for adults and kids like the Kolisko Music Ensemble mini concert, the Cookie Lady Demo and Make Believe Story Telling :)

Unplug for a day, connect with like-minded individuals, celebrate yoga, wellness and good health!

To register and for more details on workshop schedule, visit www.flowretreats.blogspot.com (web browser)

Flow In The City is sponsored by Salad Stop, Old Navy, Dove, K Fit, She Dreams In Ink, Hola Magazine, Lifestyle Network, When In Manila, Choose Philippines and Try Local.

See updates at the event page https://www.facebook.com/events/875712215876558/

Sound Healing: Crystal Bowls and Balinese Bell

Last Saturday, I attended a Sound Healing workshop conducted by musician, healer and artist, Yeyette San Luis and Ishilta Chasi of Ginhawa at Breathe, a yoga studio in Nuvali. It was my first time to visit and this has been long overdue since I have intended tosupport since before it even opened! The day has finally arrived and I resonate with the place because it stems from a community of like-minded folks.

The space is nice, airy and bright. More than a yoga studio, Breathe focuses primarily on healing which incorporates many other modalities. There is a snack and juice bar and a healing room for more private sessions behind the main yoga studio space.

This was the beautiful set up of Yeyette and Ish. 

I've personally been drawn to Sound Healing since I attended a class in The Yoga Barn in Ubud, Bali last 2010. My soul sisters at Flow also got hooked when they attended a class and a workshop in our retreat a few months back. Since then, we have created a Sound Healing thread on Whatsapp to hopefully awaken a local collective in Manila. 

Yeyette explained that everything vibrates. Even each cell in our body creates a sound. If one goes array, then the rest is affected...just like when an instrument goes out of tune. This is a reminder that you must re-tune constantly. And that is precisely what we were all there for. For re-tuning. 

We were asked to just lie down (just like in Savasana) for the whole session. Yes, that is how they do it, even in Bali. Then both Ish and Yeyette started using their instruments: the crystal bowls, the balinese bell and then for the last few minutes, Yeyette did spirit singing as well.

While the sacred sound concert was going on, you are transported to a deeply peaceful state of being. Many of us reported seeing colors. I was watching a groovy psycedelic hologram show. I can only explain it as my chakras being activated as we were retuning to the perfect pitch. Oh, it's definitely something to experience!

A class photo of all these souls (we are more than body!)

Immediately after class, we felt the effects. Just look at our happy faces! 

And because I want more of this kind of stuff....there is another upcoming event which next weekend which I will also be attending because it is like a Energy Detox BUFFET. You may choose 3 out of the wide range of healing offerings for a flat fee of only 1,250php! I am telling you, it is certainly worth the drive out to Nuvali! Please come and join me?

Breathe 

Solenad 1, Bldg. 4

Lakeside Evozone, Nuvali

Sta. Rosa, Laguna

www.facebook.com/breatheph

Cel no. +639175606274

Email breatheph@gmail.com

Website www.breathe.ph