13. Escape Manila

11 p.m., Friday. A Victory Liner bus waits in Bonifacio High Street ready to load some adventurous free spirits pumped up for a retreat getaway, itching to knock a few items off their bucket lists. The six-hour arduous ride to La Union, somewhere in the tip of the Ilocos region, promises a spiritual, healthy and peaceful vacation.

The retreat is called Flow: a surf, yoga and samba seminar that began as a brainchild of three young mothers — Denise Gonzales, Noelle Hilario and Monica Eleazar-Manzano — back in 2009. The retreat promises a sweet escape from the crazy hustle and bustle of Manila. Offered are surf lessons with the world-famous Luke Landrigan, Vinsaya Yoga with Monica Eleazar-Manzano, and Samba lessons with Toni Bernardo and Escola De Samba De Manila. Some off-the-beaten-track activities are also promised, such as raw vegan food workshops, guided meditation and relaxation, beach clean-up (to give back to the shores of La Union), a beach yoga session with live samba music, fire poi performance, and that beautiful Thai sky lantern lift-off, where paper lanterns are lit and left to float in the night sky. 

When the bus finally touches down at 6 a.m., Saturday, on the sandy beaches of La Union, the difference in environment is already enough to draw a few sighs of relief from stressed city-dwellers. Away from the sounds of congested traffic, the clamor of every day’s work force — this is summer. The first yoga session with Monica Eleazar-Manzano takes place, helping to stretch those cramped-up limbs from the protracted bus ride.

Ten a.m., and the first wave of surf lessons is given out in batches. This is followed by healthy gourmet meals catered by Lola Nanny’s (the same caterer who provides all healthy meals during this retreat).

Stretch: Yoga to start the day right every morning, or in the beach with samba music playing, the perfect way to re-energize the body and rid it of all those nasty toxins.

For merienda at 3 p.m., snacks are given in collaboration with an Introduction to Raw Food seminar, in which fruit bowls are made, full of bananas, mangos, avocados and cashews drizzled with a carob-honey syrup. Refreshing.

And after the body’s long, hard flirtation with the sea, samba lessons with Toni Bernardo and Escola de Samba de Manila are held for all on the beach during sunset. Here, a total release of the body’s tension occurs, and never mind if you feel silly. It’s all good fun, as participants are taught they how to play percussion instruments and dance the samba.

After more socializing, the night ends early; this is healthy living, after all.

Seven-thirty a.m., Sunday. No getting away from the fact it’s supposed to do the body good to be up this early — and just look how wonderful it is waking up to a beach where the view isn’t obscured by high-rises and pollution. A Vinsaya Yoga session with Monica Eleazar-Manzano takes place, followed by another healthy gourmet breakfast with raw green smoothies.

The rest of the morning is free time for the participants, until merienda once more at 2 p.m., where raw ice cream is made with banana, honey and coco milk flavors.

The routine continues — more surfing, more samba, and to end the day there’s that gorgeous Thai lantern-lighting ceremony.

Six a.m. Monday, the last day of the retreat, begins with more yoga in the morning, in an all-abstract series by Mae Evangelista of Yoga+, followed by a Beach Cleanup at 9:30 a.m.

Dance: Samba lessons with Toni Bernardo and Escola De Samba De Manila at the beach, just as the sun is about to set.

Then a program is held with prizes were given in recognition of those who performed well in surf, yoga and samba. Goodies are given out throughout the weekend, thanks to overflowing support from the various sponsors.

After lunch and that mandatory group photo with newfound friends, it’s time to head back for Manila, a farewell to this micro-vacation of pure relaxation, de-stressing and fun.

Flow promises that people always go home with a renewed zest for life, and don’t we all need that in our lives?

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“Flow: SurfYogaSamba in the Raw Retreat” will be held August 27-29, 2011, a special retreat for those who want to experience detox through live foods. Aside from the surf, yoga and samba lessons, this retreat will be fully catered by a certified raw vegan food chef trained in Bali.  

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For updates visit http://www.facebook.com/flowsurfyogasamba and www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com.