This is It! Yin Yoga Teacher Training in September!

( I was inspired by my fellow yogi, Jane, who posted her announcement that I shall post mine too)

Before yoga became popular mainstream, I was following online yoga gurus like Tara Stiles in YouTube and doing quick yoga exercises from what I read in magazines. It was more of a 10-15 minute workout really then,  just to get my body started.

My real  first formal yoga class taught me a different style of yoga from what I experienced in the online videos - which is Yin Yoga. Unlike the yoga we all know from what we seem this type of yoga is a passive, quiet, and relaxing yoga. The flow of asanasgoes deeper than muscle and strength and target connective tissues and fascia. Energy channels and meridians are also targeted to recharge and detox the body. After that class,  I can say that I got hooked. I even memorized the sequence even to do at home and followed the asanas in the presskit given to me. After that class, I bought my first yoga mat thinking that if I can't go to the studio, might as well do some sequences at home.

One of my favorite hip-openers, the swan. I attended my first yin yoga class in this studio. 

Yin yoga was a great compliment in my pole fitness regimen it helped me get my splits and backbends safer. It was through yin yoga that I learned that I need to elongate before I do my backbend instead of crunching in order to protect my spine. In a deeper sense, yin yoga brings balance to an otherwise active fitness routine and daily grind to quiet the mind and let the body rest and recover. Even the monthly cycle has been calmed through yin yoga. With that too, my body became ready to practice more active styles of yoga like Vinyasa and Hatha yoga. Yoga for me was the alternative for my cross-training in pole because it is a safe way to develop my strength and flexibility.

During my earlier months practicing yoga, some of the people I meet ask me, "Do you teach yoga?" I was like, "No, I just practice." And then, the follow-up question, "Why don't you start teaching? You're really flexible and strong. Extra money pa" There's more to being a teacher than just being very skilled, strong, and flexible. There's also the proper intention, and not just solely to make extra money. And the proper time.

Earlier this year, I was contemplating on taking up yin yoga teacher training. I wanted to share how the practice affected me physically. Besides, with today's active lifestyle and Facebook feeds underestimating the value of sleep and rest (I have seen too many "coffee-powered with 2 hours of sleep" statuses  turn to "on antibioitcs and fluids" ), it would be great to share yin to others. For people who want to get started doing yoga, yin yoga is a good practice before going to a more dynamic practice.  For example, if I started with a very strong, active practice, I would be  too overwhelmed to come back to the mat.

Yin yoga has helped me not just in my dynamic fitness activities but also in my overall help. I decided to level up and take a formal teacher training program to share this experience with others. 

Yin Yoga teacher training would usually be abroad, and a yoga teacher training program is very expensive. Aside from the module, you would need to spend for your flight, accommodations, meals, etc. The schedule would also be in December.  Since December is usually peak season for makeup artists.  I thought that yin yoga teacher training would just remain to be a dream. There however, was something in me that says that, it will happen. I just didn't know how. Maybe all my bookings would move to the months prior and after, making the teacher training dates magically be free for me to fly to Singapore. Maybe my cat is actually a magical cat that can teleport me to Singapore and back and poops money as an added bonus.

Or maybe teacher training would come to Manila. And that happened

Months back, it was announced that there would be another Yin Yoga teacher training to be conducted here in Manila in September of this year. It would be a 50-hour basic teacher training given by Victor Chng (I attended a couple of his workshops before when he was here in Manila). I was like, "This could be a sign!" . Also, it's going to be here in Manila, so no need to fly out or continue wishing my cat is magical. Also, it would occur on weekdays at an off-peak month. I immediately attended the orientation and expressed my intention to attend the teacher training to Dona (who was my first yin yoga teacher). Just this week,  the reservation has been sealed and confirmed.  No turning back kitty, no turning back. Maybe the stars are saying, this is your time kitty.

Leading to September, I am deepening my yin practice by attending the workshops and classes I could attend. I also attended a teacher's top up class on my birthday in order to further prepare myself by learning from present yin yoga teachers. Self-practice also helps, and I do my own sequences at home and try to practice them or list down the sequence I learn in class or shared by my mentors and practice them at home.

A surprise too, my regular practice and knowledge gained from workshops and asking my mentors was put to test when I taught my first yin yoga class with Yoga For Life. How did it feel? I admit I was nervous in the first few asanas, and I really have to learn how to make that bell chime. It felt more at home as the class progressed, just like easing myself into a yoga pose.

 My makeup career will still continue, and this will even be a good compliment that I can share with my colleagues. It's an exciting experience and I'm looking forward to this new career opportunity while going deeper in my practice. In the future, I look forward to sharing with others my knowledge and yin experience. I look forward to learning from my teachers Dona, Victor, Kit, and Lek and my fellow classmates who have different stories why they decided to take the teacher training too.

I remember a photo posted by my pole teacher Natasha Wang in her Instagram;

I guess it called out to me in one way to not let this opportunity pass, to take a teacher training program here locally.  Otherwise, I would still be in that sea of "what if's?"


This is it!!! Looking forward to September.

Going Yin For Women's Health

Warning: I will be talking about period issues. To the men who read my blog, you have been warned. On second thought, please continue reading. I suggest you do. Really.

Girls, when you were like 11 or 12 and your classmates had their periods did you ever wish that you prayed that you'd finally get yours already? And then years after getting your first flow ever, you curse that you were ever made a woman and wish that you never got it at all? Well, what did you know, I did too. I got my period late in my life.  As some girls my age had their menarche at 10 or 11, I had it at 12 years old.         Summer of 1995 while vacationing in San Francisco with my family and I had it for like 3 weeks, I cursed the world and my own wishes for getting my period ever and cursed genetics for giving me an extra X chromosome instead of a Y.

Eighteen years later, I've had my share of bad days and so-so days. I've experienced every cursed symptom a woman experiences -the bloating, the mood swings, the tenderness, the cramps, and the horrible rage issues and cravings before that. Unfortunately, our culture sometimes has others dismissing our PMS or cramps as "kaartehan lang" or "wala yan, OA lang!". Sure, medicines and pain killers can work to a certain extent but if there was a natural way to make these symptoms lesser, then why not?

When I attended the Yin Yoga workshop for bloggers, our teacher, Dona, mentioned how yoga changed her monthly cycle to make it just like any ordinary day. I got interested into getting into that stage in life. Turns out, that the cramping, the mood swings, pains, and tenderness aren't supposed to be there. Those are actually signs of imbalances in the body, and with yoga and a few lifestyle changes, we can have a regular period day. Thankfully, my good friend, Tiger brother, and doctor Kit invited me to attend a Yin Yoga workshop for women's health (meaning reproductive health issues ) to be conducted by Dona. I love Dona's classes since I first stepped into that Yin Yoga workshop for bloggers. It was really stressful last week due to work so I thought that I could use one Sunday morning just for me and my health. I do want to give a hug to Kit next time I see him because it was just an awesome morning.

The workshop was held at Templa Wellness. I find yoga studios so amazing as although some are located in the busiest buildings of a business district, they exude a certain peace and calmness. We all gathered in a circle first before coming into the practice and for one minute, each participant shared their period experiences.

In this conversation, each girl had a chance to share her own experiences. Some were lucky to have very normal experiences, some had horrible experiences, like practically being paralysed due to excruciating pain. Interestingly, there were those as well who hid it from their families for about a year or so, for the fear of shame or what not, probably something attached to our culture already. I was reminded of an article I read a few years back, of a group who would isolate girls with their periods in a room since they were considered "unclean".

My own experience was quite lucky. My periods were regular ever since. I had the pain and tenderness and all that jazz. It was the pre-period PMS, cravings, and horrible rage issues that I had to curb. And of course, if I could still make the state of my body better and why not? Since I practiced a healthier lifestyle, eliminated meat, and did more sports, I've noticed the slight improvement already with less pains and bloating but the horrible stuff.

After that sharing, Dona shared with us a sequence especially designed to normalize the system during that time of the month. Some of the poses such as the butterfly, dragonfly, swan, and twisted root, I've already done in previous yoga classes but it was just as enlightening that aside from loosening up the body in places where it's tight, it targets also certain meridians in the body. I found out that these salty (potato chips, fries, cheese, etc) or sweet (chocolates, candies, milk tea) cravings are a result of imbalance of the spleen and kidney and certain poses are made to create and achieve a balance, as well as changing the way we eat or look at life.

This butterfly variation is super relaxing. It opens up tight hips and I could actually fall asleep in it.

The dragonfly is a pose I'm familiar with. It helps with my straddle splits and my period.

We also learned variations of the swan and other poses. The whole practice lasts for about 1.5 - 2 hours depending on the length of staying into the poses. The whole practice left me feeling relaxed and less tight, with that usual zen feeling after a yoga session.

It was an enlightening morning to know that our monthly visitor is actually a blessing, a natural detoxifying process of the body. The cramps actually and all the uncomfortable rage, mood swings, bloating, sensitivity, and all that can actually be diminished and our period days can actually be as ordinary as our good days. It was also liberating to know that I am not alone in experiencing its horrors too, and I'm glad to have met women who could relate to the same experience and not judge you for taking sick leaves at work or spending an entire day crying out your cramps.

Thank you very much Dona (she's the lovely girl in black beside me) for sharing your knowledge with us, Ivy (the girl in the orange tank beside me) for organizing this and my beloved brother in my pole family, doctor, and friend, Kit (the sole male in the group, who also assisted Dona in this session) for telling me to attend the workshop.

For those who are interested, I would be glad to share this poster, which means there shall be a part 2 of this workshop! Slots are limited so please sign up fast!

Take care girls, and have a great week ahead!

Fitness Inspirations

What inspires me to be fit and healthy? Is to goal up to hopefully have parts like these celebrities. I like looking at inspirations. It's a motivation for me to work out when I feel like being all sluggy.

ARM INSPIRATION

I have always loved Jennifer Aniston as Rachel Green in friends. Her simple but chic fashion sense, the famous Rachel cut, and her super toned arms accented by her gorgeous tan skin. Everytime her Rachel character does her trademark arm movements, you could see the muscle definition. It's lean, but not too muscular. In fact, it looks strong. Even post-Rachel Green, Jennifer has still maintained the trademark toned arms, and that's a woman past 40.

ABS INSPIRATION

Abs are every girl's obsession. The queen of all abs would have to be Britney Spears, most especially during her earlier days.

Her monster workout routine and hours dancing has got her the toned, lean abs that are worthy of midriffs and cropped tops that made her abs unforgettable. Tabloids do show her on the heavy side, and of course there's photo-editing to slim her down, but videos and live performances show that when required or inspired, she gets whipped back to better shape than what we see in taboloids or paparazzi photos. I miss these Britney abs though, but this will always remain.

Another lady with a fantastic midsection is Lady Gaga. My jaw dropped open when she showed her midsection at her Alejandro video. If cores like that could be attributed to dancing in high heels and her outrageous costumes, I'll be out wearing spiky bodysuits like she does.

I applaud Gwen Stefani for not making mommyhood a reason for her to stop maintaining her super-defined midsection. Her pre-baby body had amazing tone and I'm glad that she really maintained her body even after giving birth. (Mental note to self: Maternity should never stop anyone from a healthy lifestyle and working out). Remember toned abs aren't just good for picture purposes. A strong and toned midsection can improve posture and protect your back.

LEGS INSPIRATION

Naturally long legs look better with the right tone and definition. My two inspirations are leggy supermodels. I have really long legs and they can appear sticklike and awkward if left alone. Like I said, even the skinniest of all skinnies can have cellulite problems. Curvex took care of cellulites (as well as quitting smoking) already.

Statuesque supermodel Gisele Bundchen shows that mile-long legs are sexiest when they're shapely.

Another supermodel I adore for her super-toned legs and actually, overall muscle tone is my online yoga teacher, Tara Stiles, whose videos I always follow. Tara is someone who's thin, but she's not waify or sticklike. Her muscle tone is excellent, attributing it to her very active lifestyle and her being a yoga practitioner. Although she's got definition, it's not scary. It looks very natural and athletic actually. She actually looks very graceful and strong in her photo above. By the way, pointing toes helps in defining leg shape and making legs look longer in pictures.

Being long, lanky, and lean used to be one of my insecurities since I feel like I'm a scarecrow or like this awkward girl sticking out from a sea of petite and perfectly-proportioned girls. With the right toning and conditioning, I can have my own body work its own way.

Take note, I'm not saying I will be slaving myself to an exercise routine to the point that it centers my life just to attain my "goal body types". Realistically speaking, these girls are celebrities and they have an entire team of professionals, dieticians, nutritionists, and trainers to get them back in fighting form in a short amount of time. Some girls though, don't have the same natural body type as I do, so of course results can vary.

I think having goals could be a good motivation for me to not slack off and continue the healthy lifestyle I started. As with working my way towards proper fitness, I've been told not to starve myself. I still need energy. It's not how much I eat but what I eat now. Secondly, is to learn to accept my body and enjoy the process as I go along. Third, just have fun. Sometimes, a happy disposition helps us attain our goals without being impatient.

Feeling Good Inside Out With SpaRga Wellness Center

Spas are there for a reason - to make you feel good by kneading and heating up the kinks and knots that cause the owies that plague our daily lives. Even by just calling a massage therapist for at at-home massage does wonders in an hour's time. Come a week after, sometimes even days, we feel like going to the spa again for a massage for letting the kinks out.

An invitation to a launch of a spa event I got yesterday got my attention going because apart from makeup, I love going to spas for a massage. I miss my friendly neighborhood spa back in the Las Pinas home and for an emergency kink, I resulted to calling the home service spa the condo complex has. I thought a spa would be interesting. I got the address of this spa called SpaRga Wellness Center, which apparently has been around for quite some time. It's located along Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, near Buendia.

While going there, I sort of got lost so I called the PR asking if I got the location right. After several U-turns, I was able to see the quaint little building and the sign SpaRga. It was so funny though that I used to pass this route to school or work for the past few years I never really paid attention to it until now. You could miss it since it's drowned by the bigger buildings of Singing Cooks and Waiters and other banks and government offices. To get there, just take EDSA southbound then turn right to Roxas Blvd. Take the side street instead of Roxas Blvd per se. It would be on your right. It's right opposite the PNB Building along Macapagal and the complex with the roofs where Hall 5, Hall 6, etc. are written. If you're already past Buendia cor Roxas, you missed it.

When I got there to register, I was welcomed with a hot towel to clean my hands and the refreshingly relaxing scents of lemongrass and olive. It was as if I was taken to another world since outside is busy, busy, smoggy Roxas Boulevard. Inside, was complete zen.

I was taken to a place painted a refreshing avocado green color dotted with calachuchi plants and calla lilies. I took my seat where we were offered refreshments. I chose my favorite lemongrass drink, since I've always been a fan of lemongrass and I wanted to match with the scent.

The flavor was mild and refreshing, which tasted amazing with the veggie sticks served as appetizers. I decided to eat the veggie sticks alone since the dressing was blue cheese and cream, which were danger zone to my tummy (towards the end of the event though I was wolfing two shotglasses of veggies with the dressing).

As soon as the event started, we were introduced to the owner of the spa, Mrs. Ruth Gautier, who shared with us the story of the spa's location, from the time that it used to be an old house to the spa that it was now.

The spa's interiors had remnants of the old house that it was before, complete with wooden stairs and capiz windows. I did notice the presence of calla lilies around and when I asked about it, Ruth said that among the choices of flowers that she had, she was drawn by the simplicity and elegance of the calla lily, with its pure white color and simple streamlined form, nothing complicated or cluttered.

Calachuchi also was another flower I saw around, either in the corners of the stairs or scattered randomly along with rose petals like little white stars. Calachuchi is also a readily available flower and it had a pleasing and mild scent, another personal choice of the owner.

The event also introduced to us aside from the massages Swedish and Shiatsu, the traditional therapeutic massage or hilot, which not only makes us feel good but also targets what causes our kinks and strains and irons it out to perfection.

Our volunteer gets a head and neck massage that's good for migraines. That's Alice, the head therapist working her magic on the three volunteers. Swear, she's a miracle worker and she could tell your ailments just by looking at you, even the cause of it. Freaky but cool.

Shen said she's prone to back pain and she gets her lower back massaged. After the quick massage, she said she felt relaxed and relieved.

Yours truly gets to be the willing guinea pig for foot massage. When I got there, they towelled of my tootsies with a warm towel before a dry massage that targeted pressure points. The first point massaged was the midsole which felt absolutely good that just shut me up from kidding around. After applying pressure points to my ankles and shins, it was sort of painful but feels good after. Alice asked me if I had a sprain on my right foot some time in my life. Turns out that I did, I tripped while walking a few years back and it was painful for like a few days then the pain sort of went away on its own. Alice mentioned that something's painful because there's something wrong with that part, say you had an accident or injury a few years back. If you're ticklish, there's something wrong with your circulation. To sum it up, if it doesn't feel good, there's something wrong.

After the demo, we were served lunch. I skipped the mini burger in the buffet for two servings of fresh lumpia, penne pesto, and chocolate cake.

For a second drink, a refreshing drink of avocado and pandan was my choice. These drinks are not only yummy but they have bodily benefits as well. By the way, no artificial mixes in the menu here. Everything is fresh and real from the crisp veggies to the choice cheeses and grocery items.

After our snacks, we toured the spa vicinities where we saw the various massage rooms.

The single massage room if you want a room all to yourself.

Couples or friends could opt for a room for two.

The jacuzzi laced with roses and mood light.

Here's another treat I discovered. Jo and I got to try the massages. Alice recommended that I have the Shiatsu massage due to my back problem. Okay, here's the thing... I never mentioned that I had a back problem. Okay, so far it could be obvious too but Alice was able to diagnose just by looking how I got it and when. It wasn't an accident but I got it during my growth spurt in elementary aggravated by bringing heavy books.? She told me to lie on my tummy as she proceded to align me. Since my camera was at the locker, we'd all have to rely on my narration.

Okay, Ruth and Alice warned me that it's going to hurt. BAD. And it did. The aligning process wasn't the relaxing stretching from yoga or pilates. Your muscles and limbs are stretched and bent at angles you've never bent before. Ruth reminded me to breathe according to the stretches. Can I just say that I've been stretched during yoga but never have I been stretched that's so painful I thought I was going to throw up. Brazilian waxing or physical therapy was no match and it's like you think you'll be split in half after the process.

Afterwards though, I felt a relieving feeling, like blood was rushing through the right places. Alice told me that my spine had been realigned and she made me feel my back. My right scapula was less pronounced Jo confirmed the results.

When I looked in the mirror, my back was so much flatter and when I stood up, my legs are more aligned. I felt more balanced. It was just too cool because I've underwent so many treatments and have undergone chiropractic treatments and even had a doctor abroad, which cost a lot of money. I've been through brace and conservative treatments and I was told that only surgery could correct my spine. Wooohooo! Looks like I have hope. Alternative medicine rocks! After that, I was massaged now using the Swedish technique using non-greasy lavender oil that lulled me to a ten-minute nap as it rubbed me just in the right places with the therapist only asking me if the pressure is right.

Anyway, I was also given a chance to try out reiki, which balances your energy using touch. According to Wiki, reiki is a form of alternative medicine transferring healing energy through the palms. Weirdly enough, the reiki therapist was able to assess certain aspects of my life in a freakishly amazing way, like what's causing me to have all the bad energy and how to avoid it. It was weird and cool at the same time, since I've never met her in my entire life until today and somehow what she was saying made perfect sense. She warmed her hands by rubbing them together with minty orange oil that smelled uplifting rather than overpowering. She then pressed her warmed palms on certain areas of my body where energy was concentrated like my head, tummy, throat, and legs. I had this feeling of heat and energy more on my head, where she said most of the energy was concentrated. After that, I had a relieving feeling, like the anvil on my head was removed.

Basically, I was really impressed at this new spa. If it really does work, there could be a better and more natural way of improving the quality of life of someone without pumping in chemicals or going through the knife. Aligning my spine in 15 minutes got my attention up. Until now, as I'm typing this post, I don't feel much pain and ngalay. I was advised to drink lukewarm drinks for the next few days to relieve me of the toxins which I'll be purging out in the next weeks or few.

All in good time, I'll be heading off for a much-needed vacation next week. Maybe I'll get to enjoy it more with my new disposition then! SpaRga is a place I'll definitely come back to. Not only does it relieve me of my aches and pains, but it really improved my posture and targeted why am I having those problems in the first place. The prices are relatively affordable. Whole body massages (swedish, shiatsu, combination) cost around Php500 for an hour. The Modern Hilot (Php 1,500) massage and Reiki and clinical massages are scheduled by appointment. Aside from the relaxing treatments, they have also a Cafe that serves healthy treats, Indian vegetarian, non-vegetarian, paellas, and Mediterranean specialities - that and free WiFi. You could call 8369143 or visit SpaRga wellness spa at #1 Sta. Escolastica St. Corner Roxas Boulevard Pasay City.

My SlimTone Pro Therapeutic Cream Day 1

Who doesn't want the baby-smooth, firm skin we see in photos right? In glossies and billboards, we see ripped and toned abdomens and firm arms and thighs. In real life, however, there are dimples, flabs, and the occasional stretch marks as the body bounces back to shape. Creams and gels have been available in the market to diminish all these uglies and I bet one of us is guilty trying a few in hopes of getting that billboard-worthy look.

As of today, I'm currently subjecting myself to the test to a new cream that claims to diminish visible cellulite and fat, improve skin firmness, and diminish the appearance of stretch marks. Hence, I meet SlimTone Pro, which would be my after-shower treatment in the following weeks in my own attempt to firm and tone.

SlimTone Pro, for one thing is topical. I don't take anything internally. I just apply the cream on my problem spots and see the results. This topical cream however, promises to get this - INSTANTLY FIRM and TIGHTEN the skin, just like wearing a girdle. Its promise of Total Sculpting Therapy does the following things we dream of: slimming, toning, cellulite diminishing, skin tightening, and stretch mark minimizing. Yay.

My take on this would be part-by-part first, so we all could see its effects in detail and in progress. Okay, so many of you guys might wonder, "Ikaw? Eh payat ka na eh!" I may not have a pouch on my tummy or batwing arms but I do have a few nasty cellulites and stretch marks that curses me on my hip and butt area. The stretch marks on my hamstring and bun areas were attributed to weight loss and taking my skin for granted in my younger days. The cellulite's a mystery though how they got to be there, but are there. If they're residual cellulite and have established the backs of my thighs as their area, I don't know, but they have to go. During my period, they tend to be more pronounced for some weird curse or something. Hopefully, SlimT0ne pro, coupled by my very intense exercises will finally blast these nasties to oblivion and nonexistence, or at least, diminish their appearance.

And so it begins, Day 1 of my SlimTone experience.

First of all, this is how it looks like... It's an ordinary tube of lotion, just like the ones we buy in the supermarket. This contains 60 g of the product.

So after my shower, I toweled off and when my clean skin was dry, I applied a moderate amount on my horrible problem areas - the thighs and butt focusing more where the horrid stretch marks lie. The first thing I noticed wih the cream was that it smells like lemon. Fresh! It also feels cool on the skin, unlike some lotions which make my skin feel warm. It's actually more gel than cream and it sorta reminds me of a lighter version of the gel they use during an ultrasound, except this isn't too thick and it doesn't leave a filmy residue.

I also massaged this on my abdomen and waist areas, in hopes of preventing stretch marks there in case they occur (chanting "I banish you stretch marks" may help, hopefully, but that's just me being crazy).

First impression was: My skin felt colder. Not really cold, clammy, and uh-oh-what's-wrong cold but my skin temperature on the areas applied were relatively cooler than those that were left untreated (my "control" parts). During a hot summer day, this could definitely be a good treat. Don't worry though, the feeling fades in a bit. In my case, I didn't feel itching like I do with other topical slimming treatments that say that this means they "wake up" the fat. Also, the cream didn't feel sticky on my skin. I do advise, however, to wait until the cream is fully absorbed by the skin before putting on any item of clothing or any lotion after and to make sure the skin is completely dry before using.

So how was it after? I felt a sort of "lift" and "pull on my skin, but not too much that everything's all -er-perkier. The area of my stretch marks felt relatively smoother and although that I'm modest about not posting pictures of my thigh area here, I could feel a bit more firmness. I could use this in shoots when I need a bit more of sculpting and toning when I feel the flabs coming. The visible cellulites too were diminished on the backs of my thighs. They do appear though if I start pinching and poking, but it's very minimal as compared to when skin was bare.

Basically, that's what the instant effect had on me. I'll keep you posted after a week of use of this product. If I get to have thighs devoid of cellulites, then I'll be one happy butty.

Energize, Soothe, and Relax with Amu'in

It has been months since I was whisked away to paradise with a few other bloggers to witness the new Nurture Spa. I do miss the fresh air and the food and it was my visit there that I pushed myself to living a healthier life more, which means more of the soy, granola, and hence Tara Stiles and I bonding thrice weekly and now I incorporate the Bidasha twins in my exercise routine.

Anyway, I'd like to share too my experience with the goodies I got in the bag after the trip, namely the Amu'in products whose scents I am so addicted to right now. I've finished already two of the travel-sized bottles and I am so loving them. I've seen Amu'in products whenever I visit the Echo store over at Serendra when I shop for my stock of organic products but it was only during my Nurture Spa trip that I experienced them first-hand. They come in four varieties and here I am writing this post to share my thoughts on it.

Depending on our needs and our mood, we tend to shift to different products. Whenever it's hot and sunny, we prefer lighter and more citrusy fragrances. For a night out with someone special, a mellow scent like vanilla or musk would be my personal choice. When I have a hard time sleeping, I bring out something with a tad of lavander. There are several scents that could address the needs of our minds and emotions and hence that must be the principle behind aromatherapy.

My goodies were travel-sized products from Amu'in, which feature three of their four lines: Alaga, Hulay, and Sigla.

These are so convenient travel-sizes I could tot them along with me in my purse. Oh a little trivia with Amu'in products is that their ingredients are all sourced here in the Philippines since Amu'in is committed to build the essential oil industry and support the communities producing essential oils. Lemongrass essential ils are sourced from Mambugsay, Negros. Also, a percentage of the sales of Amu'in products is donated to the communities living there in Negros.

The woven pouch that holds these three bottles is actually locally-woven fabric. "Abel" is a century-old weaving tradition in Bangar, La Union that is in danger of dying out. The use of Abel fabric in gift boxes, bags, and pouches aims to keep the craft alive.

Aside from promoting tradition and using materials sourced locally, Amu'in uses Filipino words to name their products. The name Amu'in itself is actually a Tagalog verb that means "to caress" or "to tame". Even their four lines are also named using Filipino words, depending on their use.

Sigla is a Tagalog word for "energy". If the orange labels are not enough, the citrusy and fresh scents (blend of Lemon, Lemongrass, Peppermint, and May Chang) are there to perk up the mood two to three notches higher. The Sigla line is for those who would want a healthy jolt of energy and focus for the day.

Isn't the happy orange hue uplifting in itself? The scent spells E-N-E-R-G-Y too, and the citrusy scent is reminiscent of taking a tall glass of fresh orange juice for breakfast. The body mist could be totted in the bag during a day full of energy, say I'll be doing makeup for a wedding.

The body lotion is what I use in the morning before I run off to work when I have work. The smell is pretty fresh and the lemongrass scent isn't reminiscent of cough lozenges. Plus, there's a tingly minty feeling after due to the peppermint and this could be great for hot days that make us all sluggish.

Use Sigla when:

• You have a hard time getting out of bed but need to.
• You need focus for a number of tasks during the day
• You're on the beach. Citrusy scents and sunshine give such positive vibes. Plus the mint will cool us down.
• During a post-workout shower to keep the energy up.

Winding down after a long day, the Hulay line eases tension and relaxes the body. A lot of stress sometimes couldn't make us sleep, and we all know now the importance of a good 8-hour sleep. With the warm and delicate scents of Lavander and Ylang-Ylang (which are iconic ingredients in spa products), this would be absolutely perfect during the time that we need to wind down. The word "Hulay" is actually Visayan for "relax," which this line aims the user to do, and I don't mean Frankie says Relax. :P



Lavander is such a calm and cool color to look at. The room and linen sprays would be a must-have in the bedroom especially when we need to rest after a long day at work. The lotion (above) is my nighttime lotion which I apply all over my body before I go to bed. It's not very greasy and the scent doesn't offend the nostrills, to think it's a pretty warm nighttime scent. The scent though lingers through the morning when I wake up.


Use Hulay when:

• You need to sleep and wind down after a long day.
• You get your at-home massage.
• You do meditation or yoga to calm the mind and the senses.

Alaga, which means "to care for" or "to soothe" in Tagalog is what we could use whenever nasties come our way. Depending on our needs, the Alaga line has special blends to address them whether it be aching muscles, headaches, insect bites, or dirty hands. For example, the insect repellant has citronella and peppermint to ward off bugs and insects (perfect during dengue season). The Alaga massage oil has Rosemary, Ginger, and Peppermint to warm and relax tense and tired muscles.


What I have with me is actually an almost-empty bottle of the Natural Hand Sanitizer. This 50-mL spray bottle protects ad cleanses my hands without the need of water. It smells really good and citrusy. I use this to sanitize my hands before I do makeup on my client or when I need to quick-clean my brushes. This hand sanitizer does not sting the hands since they use ethyl alcohol instead of isopropyl.


Use Alaga...

• Natural insect repellant when you would be outdoors. You'll never know what bug could bite.
• Stress Relief balm when you need a midday calming-down, say you're plugged up with meetings and deadlines.
• Hand Sanitizer for quick-cleaning before eating, snacking, or handling clients (in my case).
• Massage Oil when you need to relieve aching backs, feet, or legs.

For the romantics, Gayuma (Tagalog word for "love potion") was created to unleash and induce romance with sweet orange, cedarwood, rosewood, and ylang-ylang to put anyone in the mood for some loving. Nurture Spa uses this for the couple's massage and it's been said that some of the ingredients were used by Cleopatra to lure Marc Anthony to her. Apparently, it seemed to work. I was able to smell this and it wasn't that musky or heady. It starts out rather fresh at first and then fades to a muted musk. Ylang-ylang calms the nerves too and the woody fragrances rather attract the senses. I told them that I was quite intrigued by this line.


Use Gayuma when...

• On your next out-of-town trip with your honey
• When you want to spice things up a bit. Spray the room with the room spray, light up the essential oil, Use the massage oil as a moisturizer and get creative.

Plus, pink is such a pretty color too. Sometimes alluded with femininity, beauty and love, the pink-labeled bottles would look great on a seductress's vanity. But who says that this could only be used for couples? We could use this whenever we just want to feel sexy. Try using the massage oil sparingly or walk through a mis of the room spray. Who knows? Cleopatra's charm could work too. The Gayuma line is also a great bridal shower or affordable wedding gift to add spice to a friend's wedding night.


So there you have it. If this got anyone's interest up, you could check Amu'in products at their website. In Manila, I know they're available at Echo stores (I saw stores in Podium and Serendra). You could hop over too at Nurture Spa during one of your out-of-town trips since they're available as well there too.

[pictures of the Alaga, Sigla, Gayuma, and Hulay lines taken from the Amu'in website]

My Nurture Spa Experience Day 2

Day 2 of our Nurture Spa experience was all about wellness. While a normal day for me would consist of waking up at the sight of my clutter and the sound of cars zooming at the roads, I woke up with this scenery a few steps from our dormitory door:

Makeup-less save for brow definition, I proceded with the other bloggers at the activity area at 7:30 A.M., for the first activity of the day, which was the Qi Stretching and Breathing exercises.

Yoga mats were laid out on the floor and we were introduced to Jerry, our instructor who gave us a brief overview on Qi exercises. This was quite similar to yoga except that positions would be constantly repeated. Before the activity, we were told to wear comfortable clothing. I settled on a comfy shirt and leggings, which would enable me to stretch without heavy fabrics blocking my way. An empty stomach would also be better so we could do the positions better.

The first thing that was taught to us before the positions was breathing. When we inhale, we expand the stomach like a balloon. When we exhale, we push it back in, "deflating" it. The first exercises were quite easy, which loosened up tight areas in our body such as hips, thighs, and neck. Some of the stretches could be hard, if you're not flexible enough but Jerry showed several modifications on how to do the stretches if you couldn't do the full stretch.

Breakfast was served after our activity at Tanglad Bistro. I chose a hearty Filipino breakfast of Tapa, egg whites, and rice plus a serving of hot tea. For dessert, we were given a plate of fresh fruits for us to enjoy.

Massage came next. Before the massage, we were handed out client information sheets to sign and check for current health conditions and medical history, such as surgeries, pregnancies (for women), health concerns, diabetes, etc. After we submitted our forms, we were given 30 minutes to rest then we were lead to our therapy rooms. We were told to shower first before treatment so our skin is cleansed and rejuvenated. Just like makeup, we need to be clean before the massage.

Anyway, so here was the massage. Before the massage, I was told to sit at the foot of the bed and soak my feet at this wooden basin with warm water. I saw a mound of yellow paste in a little dish beside the bowl. When I asked what was it, I was told that it was ground corn to be used for scrubbing the feet. This was quite interesting because I've experienced only commercial scrubs and salt scrubs, yet never corn. The ground corn didn't feel scratchy on my feet though. In fact, I was quite ticklish during this time. The scrub was then rinsed and my feet dried. I was then asked to lie on my stomach for the massage.

The oil used on me was a soothing blend of lavander and ylang-ylang essential oils in a coconut oil base. What I like with it is that it felt warm and syrupy instead of greasy on my body. The therapist only asked me if the pressure was right or if I had any certain areas of concern I would want to concentrate on. She also answered some of my questions, like what was the thing she used to poke certain areas on the soles of my feet (it was actully a bamboo stick) and she used warm banana leaves to spread the massage oil on my back. I think I had a 10-minute nap while she kneaded out the knots on my back and hips while sniffing out the scent from the aromatherapy bowl.

When it was time for the head and face massage, I asked if she could use less oil since I'm sensitive to anything greasy on my face and she agreed. Even with the absence of oil, the massage still felt very relaxing and I could feel the tension and kinks in my body go away. The therapist adjusts to the client's needs, like during stretching. She won't force out the stretch if the client isn't flexible enough. If I felt that the pressure was too hard, she would adjust. Had it been my way or had we not followed a schedule to be boarding the shuttle back to Manila, I would have wanted that massage forever.

After the massage, I was served hot tarragon tea, which really felt good in the tummy. It was a perfect way of capping a very good massage. Since I don't want to be slick and too greasy when the humid city temperature kicks in, I requested the oil to be hot-toweled off me. The massage got rid of all the tension and cramping I've been experiencing especially in the tight areas on my shoulders and upper back (from carrying heavy equipment), hands (from typing), lower back, and even on my legs from prolonged standing.

After dressing up, I went back to the dormitory with the rest of the bloggers to pack our stuff before we headed to the shuttle back to Manila. The three-hour ride was spent chatting with the guys and sharing our own experiences. Aside from a very relaxing overnight trip , I'm happy that I got the chance to bond with my old blogger friends and meet new blogger friends as well. This working vacation was absolutely great. I would definitely go back to Nurture Spa for more treatments and I do hope that I get to do a destination wedding here soon.

My Nurture Spa Experience Day 1

An e-vite I got in my inbox weeks ago to an event at a destination spa tells me one thing: I am overworked and I need to de-stress but I love my work so much that I go bonkers if I not get my hands on my brushes in a span of 24 hours. The keywords spa and destination were those that gave me my yes since it's been a long time that I went to destination spas and I would love to see this for myself.

I've seen Nurture Spa in leaflets and magazines as well as some of my friends' own personal experiences. It used to be a smaller spa before but it has now expanded its area and added more facilities and services. Aside from their massages, body wraps, and facials, Nurture Spa now has other activities such as Qi breathing and stretching exercises, cooking lessons, and wellness talks.

When we arrived at Nurture Spa, it was like we were whisked away to a totally different atmosphere. The temperature was relatively lower, for one thing. Instantly, the cement-paved streets of the metro were replaced with fresh air, vegetation, and of course, a shower of petals that welcomed us to the venue.

Tarragon tea was also served as a welcome drink.
We were served cocktails after registration. We parked our heavy bags in the dormitories and we were given a tour of the place.

Eric and I couldn't resist a bit of camwhoring when we toured the rooms. The matching glasses and green tops weren't planned, swear. Thanks Eric for the picture!

A little self-portrait indulgence.



We were introduced also to the Meditation Path, a spiral stone path of stones of various textures and sizes. We were supposed to walk barefoot in this path and the stones are supposed to target various pressure points in our feet. It does hurt a bit, especially the smaller ones. After the walk though, we felt a sense of relief, like we got rid of some of the tension in our legs, hips, and feet. The meditation path was quite interesting though. It reminded me of the stick they used to massage my feet when I get my weekly Thai massage.

They also showed us various treatments, like the signature Nilaib massage, a Filipino version of the stone massage using steamed hot pouches of traditional Filipino herbs wrapped in banana leaves to pound away stress and knots.

The venue has also been modified to cater to weddings. Nurture Spa has now tied up with Josiah's catering to provide more food choices and treats in case some couples would want to spend their wedding reception here. As you can see, the place has been set up to simulate a wedding. Aside from weddings, Nurture Spa now caters customized proposal, engagement, birthday, and anniversary dinners.

Some of the guests tried out the 10-minute head and shoulder massages using Nurture Spa's coconut-based oils. Other guests tried out the DMS or Digital Meridian Scanner, which was a computerized checkup to monitor symptoms of illness at their early stages. The procedure is proven to be 80-90% accurate and those with phobia of needles and scalpels would be happy to know that this is a very safe and non-invasive procedure.

We also got a chance to chat with Mike and Cathy Turvill, the owners of Nurture Spa who gave us a brief overview of the place. They even posed with us for this photo-op.




(Thanks Jo for this picture)

Dinner was a treat in itself. We indulged ourselves in DIY Mongolian bowls and pasta. I kept my dinner light but satisfying avoiding meat and indulging on seafood, veggies, and lemongrass and ginger tea.

Cocktails were also served. This shot of bubblegum lambanog was as smooth as water and it didn't burn from the inside.

After dinner, those who were just there for the day had to leave. I felt that I needed to stay the night, to get a full grasp of the whole experience. More on this on Day 2.