Yogabody Detox with Lucas Rockwood

Lucas Rockwood

Lucas Rockwood was in Manila last weekend and conducted a "Yoga Detox Retreat" at Yoga Plus. The program consisted of yoga exercises, breathing techniques and a 3-day 100% liquid diet. Yup, no solids! He said that  the program is designed to reboot our bodies and "one of the most exciting things this process is, changes can happen very quickly."

Very quickly indeed. In three days, I lost four kilos and didn't feel weak at all. I experienced a slight headache though on the second day which may be a withdrawal symptom from no coffee.

It's actually safe to do the detox program on your own. He gave us three simple steps. First is elimination through yoga-based breathing techniques, sweating through yoga and the all- liquid diet guaranteed regular treks to the bathroom to pee out all the toxins.

Second is through proper rest. Mind you, this is not through sleeping or being immobile. How then? Rest by not eating any solids.  Yup, no solid intake. He said "On any given day, digestion takes 40% (or more) of your body's energy and resources... by cutting your digestive demands by 75%, your body can devote the same energy toward self-cleansing." The all liquid diet requires only 25% of the usual digestive energy to process.

one of the six juices

And lastly, through superfood nutrition to simultaneously detoxify and rebuild body. He defined 'Superfoods' as those loaded with vitamins, minerals, nutrients and phytonutirents.
We were provided six bottles of freshly made juices and one uncooked soup taken every two hour intervals throughout the day. The juices contain dark greens, fruits, grains and seeds and essential fat acids (e.g. flax seeds). 

Pre-tox tips: reduce or eliminate anything made with wheat, dairy and caffeine;  increase water consumption to at least three liters a day; and, add green vegetables to at least two meals each day. And to break the fast,  he recommended to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and to eat slowly.

the detoxers

Lucas said that we all have toxins inside us that need to come out. I guess from everywhere - the air we breathe, foodstuff, pesticide sprays, etc. As a parting word, I'm sharing his advise- - 'how you choose to live your life before and after the cleanse is totally up to you; but right now, I'd be smart to take some action because when you lower your toxic load, you feel better - - a LOT better."

Claudio Bravo in Manila until October 20

After 44 years, the Manila paintings of Chilean national artist Claudio Bravo can now be viewed at the Metropolitan Museum Manila until October 20, 2012.

Trust me, the exhibit is such a rare treat! The 35 portraits have remained in private collections throughout these years and the first and last time these portraits were seen was way back in 1968, during a 10-day exhibit at the Luz Gallery.

Mr. and Mrs. Zobel next to their Bravo painting (original in Spain)

Bravo was born on November 8, 1936 in Valparaiso, Chile and relocated to Madrid in 1961 where he was a celebrated  portrait artist sought after by royalty.

As the story goes, in Madrid in 1965, businessman Jaime Zobel de Ayala saw the portrait that Bravo did of his uncle  the artist Fernando Zobel and commissioned Bravo to paint him and his wife as well (the portrait is behind Mr. and Mrs. Zobel, left photo).

Back in Manila, upon seeing Zobel's portrait on a Christmas card, then First Lady Imelda Marcos loved it and invited Bravo to come visit. However, it was only in 1968 that Bravo was able to make the trip to the Philippines. He came together with the Spanish royals who were invited to the Ruby wedding anniversary of Eugenio and Pacita Lopez. He then stayed on for six months doing commissioned portraits for Manila's society.

After his sojourn in Manila, he was catapulted into international recognition. His first exhibit in New York in 1970 was critically successful. It was reviewed by the New York Times as an "art dealer's dream" and marked Bravo as a hyperrealist artist.

Baby Araneta-Fores 

If you have a chance, take a close look at the portraits and you will see his technical genius in action. The portraits are so life-like, they look like photographs. The proportions between the body, limbs and hands are in perfect symmetry. Gaita Fores said that her mom Baby Araneta-Fores (right photo) didn't even know that she had a slight bump on her forehead until she saw the portrait done by Bravo. That's how perfect his portraits are.

In a video interview, Bravo recalled his experience in Manila: "I think the Philippine portraits are, perhaps, my most lucid paintings, because it was a different race, beautiful! .. The Philippines was the tropics, a different vision of the world and light. There I began to use more 'electric' colors and enjoy color."

Curator Tats Manahan said that Bravo's stay had a great impact on his later works, noting the boldness of color as seen in his portraits and the use of light. She said "he was practicing on everything here for the paintings that eventually made him famous. That's what makes his stay here [in Manila] important." She added "It's an honor and we should be proud to be Filipinos that we inspired somebody as good as Bravo."


These Manila portraits are actually important in Bravo's career. These were his last big body of work before he concentrated on doing still life objects like his famous crumpled paper and packages; and figurative works.

Here's some of the portraits with the sitters (or children and grandchildren):

Cedie Vargas next to Pacita Lopez, her grandmother's portrait 

Berta Feliciano next to her mom's portrait, Chita Lopez-Taylor

Amb. Mercedes Tuason next to her portrait

Techie Ysmael-Bilbao next to her mom's portrait, Chona Kasten

Lia next to her mom's portrait, Tingting Cojuangco

Horsing around Seoul gangnam style

The first time I heard of Gangnam was when Madonna English posted "oppa gagnam sytle!" on my Facebook wall in response to my Seoul airport check-in.  Honestly I didn't know what she meant until I googled the whole phrase and Korean rapper Psy popped out in his sleek back hairstyle, dark shades and white suit riding an invisible horse.

Believe it or not,  this guy everywhere in Seoul! On gigantic video billboards, television,  radio, everywhere!  In case you don't know who Psy is (which I doubt),  watch the youtube link. As a trivia: he already ousted Justin Bieber's number one slot on youtube.

Tree-lined Gargosugil in Gangnam

Anyway, back to Seoul. To be honest, my first visit in 2007 was so horrible that I vowed not to go back. The people were unfortunately unfriendly and all out rude.

What capped it was my flight on board Korean Airlines from Seoul to Chicago where I had an allergic reaction from the meal served. My body developed rashes, my lips and eyes puffed up and I had difficulty breathing. When I asked the flight attendant for antihistamines, she handed the first aid kit and kept screaming that the airline didn't have any. She only stopped screaming when I said that I may sue the airline if I got worst in Chicago. That's when she called the purser, who then called the captain, who then requested for a doctor and yes, I was given a shot of antihistamine and an oxygen tank sat next to me throughout the rest of the flight.

I am pleased that Seoul has changed in the last five years. The people are much friendlier, can converse in English, smile a lot and they look generally happy. There were English-speaking guides strategically located in the tourist sites to help out foreigners find their way around.

Male standees all over 

Aside from the food, one thing I love about the Koreans is that they are quite disciplined and clean. I did not spot any litter on the street. Also, most of the people that I've met - both men and women - have beautiful skin, Yes skin!  This must be because beauty products are aplenty. After all, Korea made blemish balm creams or BB creams popular throughout Asia.

If you haven't been to Seoul, it's definitely worth a trip. Do plan to stay at least four to five days to shop, eat and see the sights. The flight form Manila is only four hours.

Five things to do:

1. Sights - there are five palaces to choose from - UNESCO world heritage sites Gyengbokung and  Changdeokgung are my top picks.  Visit the Cheonggyehcheon restored stream on a weekend to check out the market (we were lucky to spot a filming crew).

2. Shop - check out the specialty shops in Gargosugil Street in Gangnam;  for antiques, celadon pottery or wooden masks in Insadong, the malls in Meyongdong (do get your BB products in Lotte's  Duty Free shop); and visit the night markets- Dongdaemun, Yongsan (electronics).

3. Facial or massage - there are lots of spas! Go for a massage, facial and you may even want to get an eyebrow or eyeliner which may last for 2-3 years.

4. Eats - of course, the best thing to do is to enjoy eating! Do try their ginseng-ginger chicken, arirang, kalbi, my favorite spicy tofu stew called soondubuchigae, bibimpap, Sunday brunch in Gangnam and don't forget to drink soju (Korean vodka)!! 

5. Night light - check out Itaewdon reminded me so much of Lai Kwai Fong, Hongdae (lots of college students) and Gangnam. 

Rx: Salt is actually good for you!

Yup, sea salt that is. My doctor advised to take at least 3 tsp daily in water.  Sad to say, it is not easy to find sea salt here in Manila. What's sold in supermarkets including the wet markets is iodized salt.

As a side note:  in December 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos (FVR) passed Republic Act 8172 or the ASIN Law to prevent iodine deficiency disorder (IDD). At that time, it was the leading cause of mental and physical retardation, including stunting and goiter. World Health Organization said that IDD "can start before birth, jeopardize children's mental health and often their very survival."

Anyway, the benefits of taking sea salt  are:  (dissolved in water) it reduces blood pressure, helps in the elimination of toxins and regulates PH balance; (when bathing) gives an antiseptic effect to the skin and may reduce histamine that causes inflammation and itching sensation; (in a diffuser) helps in relieving congestion and/or asthma (trivia: salt has been known as the first antibiotic); (and under the tongue) stops persistent dry cough.

Best of all, sea salt is apparently a natural hypnotic and helps aid sleep.  Before going to bed, drink a full glass of water  and put a few grains of salt under the tongue. You will feel sleepy within an hour.

I know that some of you may say that salt is salt and the chemical property is sodium chloride (NaCl).  Mayo Clinic nutritionist Katherine Zeratsky said that the differences between sea salt and table salt are in the taste, texture and processing. She said sea salt is produced through evaporation of sea water, usually with little processing; while table salt is mined from underground salt deposits.. and thus, "more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping."

So there! I now use sea salt as my homeopathic remedy for everything!  I get my supply from my doctor (which is sourced from Pangasinan) and when she runs out, I get in Rituals (at The Collective on Malunggay St.). For those who still believe in IDD, try eating foods that are loaded with iodine like saltwater fish, squids, shrimps, crabs, seaweeds (kelp, arame, hiziki, kombu and wakame), even cranberries and strawberries!