We live lethargically. This is the curse the modern age of technology has bestowed on us. Most of us merely exist, like robots, running on default. We worry, we overthink, we stress, we carry unnecessary burdens. We tend to push our bodies to the limit. Let me ask you this: when was the last time you stopped and took a moment to just breathe? Sometimes, that’s all we really need. To just drop everything and breathe. To just follow the flow.
That is exactly what I did, last weekend, when I attended a three-day yoga retreat facilitated by Flow Surf Yoga Samba. It was a blissful weekend spent at a beautiful location away from the city, eating good food, and connecting—with nature, new friends, and myself.
Flow Surf Yoga Samba is a weekend retreat experience designed to help its participants relax and revitalize through yoga, healthy meals, surfing, and samba. It was established five years ago by three friends, Denise Bernardo, Monica Manzano, and Noelle Hilario, as a product of their shared love for travel, nature, and wellness. “When your body starts giving out, you must listen to it. Your body knows what you need.” This is what Monica, our yoga instructor, tells us over a morning session of Vinyasa Yoga.
Below are the things I loved most during the Flow yoga retreat, which I’m pretty certain any yogi, beginner or experienced, will love just as well.
Flow Surf Yoga Samba: Yoga Retreat Designed To Achieve Inner Peace
The Place
Flow Surf Yoga Samba conducts their retreats in destinations where participants can lather up in the perfect amount of sun, sea, and relaxation. They have been to locations like Baler, La Union, Siargao, and even Bali, Indonesia.
Last weekend, the Flow yoga retreat was held at the beautiful Windward House in Tali Beach, Batangas. It was the perfect setting for unwinding, surrounded by trees, sky, sea, and birds that sing to you in the mornings.
The Food
When it comes to food, expect nothing but the best for your body and soul, as well. We were truly spoiled by lavish vegetarian meals all throughout the weekend.
Prepare to feast like kings. After all, with these healthy meals, you need not feel guilty about eating so much afterwards. And with the delectable food prepared for us by Denise Celdran of Edgy Veggy, you will certainly feel like royalty.
The Practice
I have never done yoga before, so beginners would be relieved to know that it is not a problem going to their retreats without any knowledge of the practice. You will learn everything you need to know there. The girls of Flow will help you ease into it—with extra TLC, even.
On my first yoga session, it took me a while to silence my cluttered mind, and stop worrying about my chronic back pain. But by the time of savasana, my head was clear and my body was feeling unusually unburdened. At that moment, I swear I had just fallen in love with yoga.
The Lessons
The entire weekend, there were life lessons to be learned everywhere you turn your attention to. In the juicing and detox workshop. In the stand-up paddleboard session with Tono Legarda. In the activity circles. In random conversations during dinner.
“Don’t be afraid to fall,” said Tono during our paddleboard session. “It is how you learn.”
The People
We haven’t even left Manila yet, but everyone was already talking like they had been friends for a while. It is truly a rewarding thing, coming to a place where the people are united by a common belief. Whether it is a belief in yoga, in spirituality, in nature, or in travel, being surrounded by spirits who share the same pursuit as yours is quite an empowering thing. In those three days, you grow together in your similarities, but also learn from one another through your differences.
They say that to live a happy life, you should spend not on things, but on experiences. Experiences that move you, inspire you, and ignite whatever small flicker of light in your soul that has always been there.
Flow Surf Yoga Samba is definitely one of those of experiences.
Flow Surf Yoga Samba has upcoming yoga retreats in Pagudpud and Bohol. To register, head on to their website at www.flowsurfyogasamba.com.
FLOW SURF YOGA SAMBA
www.flowsurfyogasamba.com
www.facebook.com/flowsurfyogasamba
