A stress-free life, one step at a time

MANILA, Philippines - We’ve heard of the surfer lifestyle, and oh, how we envy them. If only we could be as carefree, living next door to the ocean, sporting a perfectly disheveled head of beach hair every day, and wearing our most comfortable pair of shoes to work without getting a onceover from HR.

Sanuk Philippines recently invited a group of stressed-out writers to The Farm and gave us exactly this: the chance to detox from work, overtime fast-food dinners, and the pressures of fashion. Our itinerary consisted of power walks, yoga, a relaxing massage, free time to wade around the pool, and two full days of raw vegan cuisine. Woven into my excitement over the promise of R&R were threads of anxiety. Could I do this? But I survived. We all did –– and it was fun, too.

The Farm can be quite intimidating for carnivores. That peacocks freely roam the 48-hectare resort tells us something about how the resort operates, but our stay proved that it was more of a relaxing getaway than a sanctuary for endangered species or extremely disciplined people.

Sanuk, which is a Thai word for “happiness” and “balance,” tied in perfectly with The Farm’s vibe. There was no better place to launch the brand’s spring 2012 collection, including their new line of super-comfortable yoga-mat slippers. Sanuk founder Jeff Kelley himself would have approved.

A brand created with the sports enthusiast in mind, Sanuk’s global brand ambassadors include Teemu Selänne, who enjoys playing bass guitar and professional hockey for the Anaheim Ducks; Scott Rummell, baseball fan and voice actor for movies and commercials; and Ron Sizemore, a Vietnam veteran and “professional surf bum.” It’s a laidback but high-performing roster of individuals that would at once impress, intimidate, and baffle the overworked, over-caffeinated group that had the privilege of being there.

For someone who can barely carry a surfboard to touch the froth of a retiring wave, wearing footwear from a brand inspired by the needs of those who live for the outdoors — surfers and rock climbers, in particular — is the closest I’ll come to being remotely athletic. And herein lies the success of the brand. It’s crossed over to a wider market, including those who live in the city, to the point of encouraging them not just to wear their footwear, but also inspiring them to embrace the lifestyle.

Irene Nieva, AVP for the Primer Group of Companies, the exclusive distributor of Sanuk in the Philippines, said the Sanuk Fashion Detox event is all about encouraging people to go back to basics — in our case, even just for a little while.

Our detox began with a refreshing raw vegan meal at The Farm’s Alive! Restaurant, where chefs also demonstrated how key elements in dishes are prepared. Some of us even went to the extent of not tweeting for two whole days –– a side dish of cold turkey to go with their all-vegan happy meals.

During dinner, we were treated to a capoeira exhibition and the Sanuk spring 2012 fashion show, where Sanuk footwear was paired with equally relaxed ensembles. Sanuk’s spring 2012 collection of flip-flops, sandals and wedges have foot beds made with real vegan and vegetarian yoga-mat material, making them non-slip, durable, and extra cushy. It’s like walking on non-dairy, non-greasy, non-food, and non-melting butter. The collection has 17 classic designs for men, women and kids, all made from yoga-mat material.

While detox is really a process of several days, even weeks, two days off with Sanuk at The Farm somehow left me feeling lighter. The raw vegan breakfast at Mango Tree restaurant in The Farm –– Mexican scrambled tofu, healthy cereals with nut milk and bananas, rice pancakes, and tropical fruit salad with homemade yogurt –– introduced my tummy to delicious and healthier alternatives to Spam, egg and sinangag.

My feet made friends with Sanuk’s Yoga Mat Sandals, bringing me yet another step closer to detox by giving my feet the softest cushioning they’ve had in years. My body and spirit are likewise rejuvenated, thanks to the brief but sweet respite from city noises, smells, and pressures. I returned to the city still riding the wave.

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Sanuk is exclusively distributed by the Primer Group of Companies. For more information visit www.sanuk.ph.