By Nickky Faustine P. de Guzman
ZUMBA, yoga, Pilates, juicing veggies and fruits are just some of the many popular activities today that illustrate how Filipinos are becoming conscious of their health and wellness.
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“Being healthy is not just a trend, it should be a lifestyle,” said yoga instructor Noelle Rodriguez, who has been a yoga enthusiast and instructor since 2007.
Yoga has helped her maintain a fit physique and is a way to destress her mind, body, and spirit. While yoga sessions can last for hours, if one has a busy schedule, a “15-minute exercise could start your day right,” she said.
Ms. Rodriguez is the president of Life, a recently opened wellness hub at Burgos Circle, BGC, which combines yoga, music, food, and art in one convenient place.
“Music can affect our emotions, which also affects our entire body.
Music can help bring us into deeper states of meditation, which is ideal for yoga. A DJ, for instance, can directly set the vibe and provide the right tempo for the class. Aside from that, it also adds a bit more fun and funk to what otherwise could be just another session,” she said.
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While living in London, she found inspiration from the flourishing art scene in the city. It prompted her to infuse art in Life, “because [art] enrich[es] one’s creativity” while also being therapeutic.
“Art seems to spice up any place, adding a touch of character.
Beautiful images and colors always seem to raise our spirits as well.
[It] will also serve as a gateway for people to communicate and bond… a way to get people to connect on other levels aside from the practice of yoga,” she said.
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Currently home to 12 instructors, the studio offers 12 classes on weekdays and six classes on weekends. Certified instructors have backgrounds in Ashtanga (intense and powerful poses), Bikram (set in a heated room), Yin (slow-paced poses that last for five minutes each), and Vinyasa (which literally means breath-synchronized; teaches breathing techniques).
After a relaxing and tiring session, yogis may want to refresh and refuel with healthy food. In the two-storey hub is a cafeteria called Vibe which serves salads, fresh juice, and light snacks, among others.
One of the diet brands it carries is the Happy Diet which targets diet conscious people who do not have the time to cook healthy meals. It serves food packs from 1,200 to 2,000 calories.
“Healthy food doesn’t have to be tasteless,” said Pat Kalingking, the sister of the owner who serves as the brand’s marketing head, “but it can be as satisfying, as long as in moderation.”
Life is located at Eight Forbestown Road, Burgos Circle, BGC, Taguig City.