Category Archives: Health and Fitness

Anti Gravity by Christopher Harrison for Beyond Yoga

By | Great Achievements, Great Inventions, Health and Fitness, Sports | One Comment

Heart2Heart loves hearing success stories and how people invent and discover great ideas!  Thank you Cara De Ocampo and the team from Beyond Yoga for introducing us to Christopher Harrison!  

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He told us that he was last in Manila when he did a show called Spellbound almost 15 years ago.  He was an acrobatic dancer in Broadway – Chorus Line, Footlose and many others.  He is the founder of Anti Gravity and he choreographs opening acts for Mariah Carey, Beyonce and many more.  

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Chris demonstrated for us the different moves 

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Beyond Yoga will be offering Anti Gravity in their studio.  13 instructors will be trained and they will have 15 hammocks

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Click below to go to the website for more information

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First in Asia: American Eye Center Launches Most Advanced Method of Cataract Surgery

By | Great Inventions, Health and Fitness, Medical | No Comments

Congratulations once again to my friends, Dr. Arnold Salud, Dr. Alnette Tan and the whole team at American Eye!  

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For always being in the forefront of technology!  It’s good to know that we have the most recent and advanced technology in case we need care for our eyes! 

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A new treatment for cataracts has just been unveiled by American Eye Center (AEC), which promises to provide patients with the most advanced all-laser cataract procedure—the first of its kind in Asia.

Dubbed the Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser surgery, this new equipment brings an unprecedented level of safety, speed and precision in treating cataracts, and enhances the host of options for surgical-based methods that AEC offers its clients.

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From a surgical perspective, advances in cataract treatment have improved the way ophthalmologists deal with this condition in the past two decades. We have seen how the merger of technology and surgical ingenuity contributed to making cataract surgery the modern-day miracle that it is today. Currently, we can remove the cataract through a very small (2-3mm) incision in the eyeball using fine surgical blades and implant a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) that restores full functional vision in patients after surgery. This is called “Phacoemulsification”, presently the standard in cataract practice worldwide. Unfortunately, this procedure has often been mistakenly referred to as “laser eye surgery”—which it is NOT. It is more appropriate to call this procedure “small-incision cataract surgery”, “sutureless cataract surgery”, or “no-stitch cataract surgery” for the layman. True laser-assisted cataract surgery has never been available to patients until today—with the introduction of the Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser surgery.

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The Alcon LenSX femtosecond laser differs from the traditional methods of cataract surgery by the absence of the blade. By using very short yet intense bursts of near-infrared light, the Alcon LenSX femtosecond laser technology is able to create extremely precise subsurface cuts without manual intervention The blades used to create the small incisions in the eye have been completely replaced by this laser, making the incisions more precise and predictable. In addition, the circular opening that is

created in the human lens in order to access the cataract (called a capsulotomy) which was traditionally performed by human hands has now been replaced by the femtosecond laser, making the capsulotomies more architecturally round and centered. Studies have shown that this is very important in intraocular lens stability and refractive predictability of surgical outcomes (In one study by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, femtosecond laser incisions achieved perfect capsulotomy diameter accuracy in 100 percent of cases). Finally, the actual cataract is also fragmented by the femtosecond laser making it much easier and less traumatic for the surgeon to remove and clean it up prior to placement of the IOL. In short, the femtosecond laser has replaced many of the steps in the cataract surgery that were previously performed by human hands, i.e., resulting in less surgical error and better predictability of outcomes. Results are more precise than any other previous or current methods of cataract surgery. 

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Dr. Cesar Ramon G. Espiritu, who specializes in Cornea, External Disease treatment at AEC, said that this new technology shows the company’s commitment to provide the best eye care to its patients.

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“The Alcon LenSx femtosecond laser surgery is currently the most advanced method for cataract treatment, and we’re proud to be the first in Asia to offer it,” he says. “We want thousands of Filipinos suffering from cataracts to see that treatment is now even faster, much safer, more precise and definitely pain-free.”

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the Philippines, with an estimated half a million Filipinos blind or having some degree of visual impairment. This disease, which hits almost everyone due to aging, involves the gradual formation of a cloudy film in the lens of the eye, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity, and obstructing the passage of light.

Espiritu emphasizes that patients must decide their preferred method of surgery together with an expert ophthalmologist. AEC is backed by a team of Associated Eye Specialists, the most experienced and longest-running EyeMD group practice in the country, which comprises 17 doctors with various subspecialties. AEC also boasts a staff of highly qualified optometrists, nurses and counselors to provide patients with personalized quality eye care.

 The American Eye Center has been breaking new ground when it comes to ophthalmic care since its establishment in 1995.  Accredited with the Department of Health and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, AEC is fully equipped with branches located at the Level 5, EDSA Shangri-La Plaza, and at the Level 4 of Greenbelt 5, Makati City. For inquiries, call 636-0762 or 729-EYES (3937) or visit www.americaneye.com.ph, follow eyetweets in Twitter, and “like our account” in Facebook.

 

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Health is Wealth

By | Health and Fitness, Today's Quote | 9 Comments

I used to think that I am SUPERWOMAN or BATGIRL and that I am invincible and super powerful that I can do anything and nothing will happen to me! I forget that I am already midlife at 41 years old and that there are things that i used to do that I cannot probably do as well anymore at this age!  

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Sunday morning, I was in bed and feeling different and found myself breathing harder than usual.  I got scared and immediately asked my husband to take me to the hospital.

I guess I was okay because I actually thought of using James’ iPhone to take photos! 🙂

So happy that the Emergency Room now in Makati Medical is renovated!  I remember coming here a few times with other people  in the past.  

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But for me, no matter how nice the ER is, I don’t know if it will ever be a happy place for me.  For the first time I checked myself in the Emergency Room!  It’s a big deal maybe even if I overreacted 🙂  So many thoughts came into my mind – was I ready to go? Am I prepared?  What about my kids? How do poor people handle health issues when they have no money to pay for it?  What about all the things I was supposed to do that I have not done? 

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Here is the patient doctor that took care of me and not to mention had to take care of my husband who had so many questions.  The doctor told him to wait in the chair 🙂

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I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux or heartburn. No one has ever told me before what not to eat!!! 

 I am thankful for a gentle warning and will take this as a reminder for me to start a healthy lifestyle. After all, Life Begins at 40!

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 My motto now is ” Don’t overdo it!”  This goes with everything – eating, working, etc etc. 

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As my father in law, Dr. de Jesus, always says, ” I wish for you good health.”  He always tells us that we should take care of our health and that he always prays for our good health 

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 For me, any sign or any unusual condition should be attended to.  I knew it was probably not serious but I wanted to be sure.  

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Invest in health insurance for you and your family so you don’t need to think twice whether to see a doctor or have yourself examined and treated! 

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Other learnings: 

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We all have our time in HIS TIME! 

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Learn to have more faith in God and trust that everything is in HIS hands!  I should not be scared!  But I should be PREPARED!

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and 

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Re:New Me By Cohen Lifestyle Center

By | Great Achievements, Health and Fitness | 6 Comments

The fist time I heard about the Cohen diet was when I saw photos of my friend in facebook.  It was amazing!!  Mecca looks even younger than when I knew her about 15 years ago!

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Then I heard more about it from our friend, Dette who would not eat anything when we would have our lunches!!  She was really very strict about what she was eating….no wonder these girls get such good results!!!

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And then I also found out that my batchmate Rowena sent her daughter who is 18 years old  and she looks really great too!! Rowena told me that not only does she look great but it has changed her daughter’s life.  She has higher self esteem now and continues to work towards her desired goal

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 So I asked Rowena to take me to the event with her because I wanted to know more about it and of course to see her daughter model 🙂 

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The owners themselves are living proof of the program because they themselves have lost so many pounds!  After seeing many testimonials, the average weight loss is around 10 pounds per month.  The beauty of it is that it is supervised and they take your blood pressure every month when you visit the clinic to have a check up

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Dr. Bandola literally lost a whole person by losing 110 pounds!  AMAZING!! 

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I bumped into a few people who I knew- Batchmates – Anton Turalba- Abdon and Adiel Ty Cruz, Tita Evelyn, friends and relatives of people under the program,  some are undergoing already and some still planning to RENEW their lifestyle 🙂 

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I wish all events would serve healthy food 🙂  Even our food that evening was healthy and based on recipes from Dr. Cohen 

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Take note, they only give you a fork to eat 🙂  I don’t know if that is intentional but to me, it’s a good technique to lessen your eating 

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The event ended with a fashion show of some of the living testimonials and every one of them looked really good, healthy and happy!   

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And here is Isabella, Rowena’s daughter.  Rowena told me she was crying when her daughter was walking down the ramp….I would probably too.  Way to go Isabella!   

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Click below to go to their website for more information:

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Bootcamp

By | Health and Fitness | 2 Comments

Early morning every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, this is my regular routine….Bootcamp! This is my space in the gym all prepared before I arrive 🙂  If I have meetings in the office I just go half class but atleast I get to exercise.  It’s better than nothing!

Previous Entry:  Manila Polo Club Group Workout  September 12, 2011 

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And here is our class

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Here is our trainer who is both strict and funny! 🙂

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Everyone so serious and working hard! 🙂 

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Here is the Workout Schedule for the remaining of the year.  JOIN US!!!

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The Reflex Zone

By | Health and Fitness, Spas | One Comment

 Heart2Heart was so happy to be invited to try out the new Reflex Zone owned by a friend of ours, Alex and Jamie  Coyiuto.  Congratulations Alex and Jamie on your business venture!

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There is only one kind of service which makes it easy and simple 🙂  A total of 80 minutes for the whole experience

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This is where I sat, very cozy

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A drawer to put your shoes 🙂

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First time for me to have a foot soak like this!  First it was a hot liquid

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Then it became jelly like

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Till the whole soak was jelly 🙂  It was actually nice!

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After 20 minutes, they pour this powder and you have to mix it with your feet and it becomes liquid again and then they wipe your feet in preparation for your reflexology treatment

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And here is Edmar who is the manager and head therapist at The Reflex Zone.  They are trained to be able to identify problem areas as they are pressing on your foot.  He said that three times a week treatment will be good for those who want to improve their health concerns 

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All the therapists are male to have consistency in pressure to be able to reach the pressure points in the feet and apply the correct pressure needed.  Since I am not used to having foot reflexology, it was a bit painful for me which Edmar warned me before starting my treatment.  Each of the therapists have a certificate and were all trained in Malaysia with the Rwo Shur Method

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The Reflex Zone brings the Rwo Shur Health Method of Reflexology to the Philippines 

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The healing power of touch has been known through the ages, and has come to play an important role in many therapeutic methods. Reflexology, which applies this holistic philosophy, has been proven to be effective in treating a wide variety of ailments and is recognized for its emphasis on encouraging the body’s natural ability to heal itself. Now, The Reflex Zone natural therapy center introduces the renowned Rwo Shur Health Method of Reflexology to the country, offering Filipinos a new way of improving one’s health naturally.

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Reflexology is a natural form of therapy that uses the application of pressure to specific reflex points on the feet, which correspond to all the different glands, organs, and systems of the body. Applying pressure to these points breaks up crystalline deposits of uric acid, calcium, and lactic acid on different areas of the feet, and clears blockages and toxins from the corresponding body parts. Unlike massage, which is mainly intended for relaxation and whereby benefits are limited to the areas of the body actually manipulated, reflexology works through the nervous system to heal all parts of the body. Its beneficial effects include pain and stress relief, improved blood circulation, restoration of overall balance, and prevention of many common diseases.

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The internationally acclaimed Rwo Shur Health Method of Reflexology, which has been in existence for over 30 years now, is distinctive for its use of very firm pressure, thus taking its focus beyond relaxation to detoxification and revitalization. It was developed by Fr. Josef Eugster, a Swiss Catholic priest and a missionary in Taiwan.

 

Fr. Josef got into reflexology because of his own need to be healed. In 1977, at only 37 years old, he was suffering from a debilitating severe rheumatoid arthritis in his knees. After consulting with physicians, he was told that the disease was incurable, and a cross he had to bear perpetually.  Upon learning the physicians’ prognosis, a colleague begged to differ, and encouraged Fr. Josef to learn reflexology, which can easily rid of his problem. He also suggested that an imbalance in the internal organs, especially the adrenal glands and the kidneys, both of which could be addressed by reflexology done on the feet, were the root cause of his knee condition.

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Initially, Fr. Josef didn’t understand how a method used on the feet could help his knees, but he nevertheless, began studying reflexology. When he first used reflexology on himself, he could barely stand the pain, but he diligently treated himself every day.  Within two weeks, to his amazement, the arthritis disappeared.

 

Becoming a self-taught Reflexologist, Father Josef first cured himself, and then began to share the knowledge with his friends and parishioners with great success. And since then, he has gradually developed his own variations on the known techniques judging their value solely by the results that were obtained. He has likewise promoted the healing benefits of Reflexology in Taiwan, China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, the US and Europe.

Fr. Josef’s reflexology technique has healed many people.  One of his very first clients was one of his parishioners, 73-year-old Mr. Chen, who suffered from severe back pain due to an accident. Mr. Chen visited seven physicians but received no relief, and he ended up using all his money.  Feeling that he had no more hope, he decided to tell his priest – Fr. Josef – that he was ready to die.  Fr. Josef offered to treat him and showed up at his home for the reflexology sessions.  The first three sessions proved to be painful for Mr. Chen and thus, he hid from the priest before the fourth treatment.   However, Mr. Chen’s neighbor revealed his whereabouts and Fr. Josef convinced him to undergo one more session.  That night, Fr. Josef received a joyful call from the man’s family informing him that his treatment had worked on Mr. Chen and asked him to come back the next day.  Within two weeks, Mr. Chen, who had been ready to die, had fully recovered. By working on very tough cases like this from the onset, Fr. Josef gradually developed his technique.

 

Deciding that the future of reflexology in Taiwan would be best served by placing his work into the hands of others,  the Rwo Shur Institute International was founded (Rwo Shur is Fr. Josef’s Chinese name) in 1982. Fr. Josef’s technique, known as the Rwo Shur Health Method, gained a worldwide following, renowned for the dedication, sincerity, and humility of its founder, which are likewise reflected in the skill and commitment of its practitioners.

 

All of The Reflex Zone’s therapists are male licensed Physical Therapists who have undergone extensive training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the Rwo Shur Health Institute International. The Reflex Zone experience lasts for 80 minutes and starts with an invigorating Signature Peppermint Crystal Mud Foot Soak, which prepares the feet for the reflexology session. The treatment takes place in the serene, relaxing sanctuary of The Reflex Zone’s flagship branch in Makati. This therapy has proved to be helpful in treating a wide range of health conditions in various parts of the body, as well as easing health complaints such as headaches, sinus problems, insomnia, obesity, lack of concentration, and hormonal imbalances.

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The Reflex Zone also offers reflexology services especially suited to the needs of children aged 5 to 8 years old. Reflexology has been found to have positive effects in the treatment of various conditions common in children, such as allergies, digestive problems, sleep disruption, and emotional or behavioral problems.

 For more information, please click below to go to their website:

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The pioneer branch of The Reflex Zone natural therapy center is located at the Ground Floor of the Narra Building, 2276 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. It is open on Tuesdays to Sundays, 1:00 – 10:00 pm. Appointments and queries may be made through 812-0050 or info@reflexzone.com.ph.  You can also log onto www.reflexzone.com.ph for more information.

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The 6th FLOW Surf Yoga Samba Weekend Retreat

By | Health and Fitness | No Comments

 The Flow:SurfYogaSamba weekend retreat is a boutique three-day experience that will spark your spirit and leave your body and mind relaxed and revitalized! Learn Vinyasa Yoga and Yin Yoga with Monica Manzano, surf the waves with Luke Landrigan, dance to the samba beats of Escola de Samba de Manila, nourish your body with delicious gourmet meals and raw food snacks and witness the spectacle of thai lantern lighting.

Package rate is PHP 8,750 which includes 1 Vinyasa Yoga lesson, 1 Yin Yoga lesson, 2 Surfing lessons, 2 Brazilian batuccada samba drumming lessons, roundtrip private transfers from Manila-La Union-Manila, 3D/2N aircon accomodation at San Juan Surf Resort, healthy gourmet meals and snacks, Flow shirt and a tote bag with freebies.

The 6th Flow:SurfYogaSamba Weekend Retreat is sponsored by Para’Kito, Rudy Project, Belo Essentials SunExpert, Headware, Yoga+, Beyond Yoga, Pulse Yoga, Strip, Rawlicious, Browhaus, Made for Movement, Moringana, Brownbelly, Zola, Ish, Beachbaby Clothing San Juan Surf Shop, Total Fitness Magazine, Onesport Magazine, Expat Magazine, and When In Manila.

Energize your mind, body and soul! Be part of an experience of a lifetime.

To register, visit www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com.

To receive more updates and details on the retreat visit www.facebook.com/flowsurfyogasamba and follow us on www.twitter.com/surfyogasamb

Monica Eleazar-Manzano

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Let’s Surf, Yoga & Samba

www.flowsurfyogasamba.multiply.com

www.facebook.com/flowsurfyogasamba

www.twitter.com/surfyogasamba

 

Follow my journey

www.twitter.com/dharmadreams

www.dharmadream.blogspot.com

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Coconut

By | Health and Fitness, Yummy! | 5 Comments

Heart2Heart is into coconut anything! 🙂 “Buko” sherbet, coconut water, fresh “buko” juice and coconut oil

My friend Newton is always whispering to me and telling me that coconut oil is the best, it’s just that it is not being marketed well enough for people to understand it’s benefits.  So Newton told me to buy coconut oil for cooking.  

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It normally does not say coconut oil in the packaging but when  you look at the ingredients you will see it there 

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And Newton told me to look for the bottles that are not clear or see through 

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No CHOLESTEROL!

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And here is more information on coconuts

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