Self wellness workshop with sama.
Sadly my very old laptop from 2015 that I still use froze and crashed on me earlier while I was writing this blog post, and it didn’t save what I had originally wrote. Soooooo, I am very irritated and mad that I have to rewrite this. It will definitely not be as good as the original write up, cause I am over it hahaha.
Last weekend I attended a self care workshop that was hosted by my girlfriend’s cousin, who started her own Non-Profit Organization, SAMA. From their missions statement: “SAMA is dedicated to empowering survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, as well as individuals navigating the complexities of mental health. Through advocacy, support, and education, we strive to foster healing and resilience within our community”. Just like how Guniguni is rooted in Filipino culture, SAMA taps in with our Filipino culture as well. SAMA states, “SAMA, derived from the Philippine language, embodies the spirit of unity and collective support. SAMA stands for Survivors Advocating for Mental health Awareness. In Tagalog, "Sama Sama" translates to "coming together," which resonates with our nonprofit’s core philosophy”. You can learn more and even make a donation at: https://www.sama-sama.org
Shot on: Fujifilm XT-30II, XF16mm F/1.4.
This workshop had self care wellness classes varying from Yoga, Sound Healing, Qigong, Chiropractic Health, and even Flower Bouquet making. Fun fact, I used to attend beginner Yoga classes semi-regularly at the gym I used to be a member of. So, I was looking forward to doing the Yoga, even though it has been years since my last session. Surprisingly, I did pretty well, at least I would think so. The Sound Healing was really dope. I was always fascinated by the theory of it. I thought I would fall asleep during the demonstration, but that God I didn’t. We all know my snoring is really gnarly and would absolutely disrupt the entire demo and experience for everyone. The Qigong demonstration had me very skeptical at first, because I know nothing of it, except that it is similar to Tai Chi. As corny as it sounds, it had me on some Super Saiyan shit; focusing and feeling my energy coursing through my body. Give it a try for yourself and see what I am talking about!
Shot on: Fujifilm XT-30II, XF16mm F/1.4.
My favorite demonstration from the entire day was the one that was taught by our good friends Dr. Kimi and Dr. Sully. They demonstrated some Chiropractic health exercises and stretches. As I get older, my body feels like a deteriorating bag of bones, so these tips they taught us will absolutely help make my old man body feeling better. They taught us how to combat the dreaded tech neck that everyone who is glued to their phones experiences. Another thing that they taught was the proper way to sit in a chair and stand. Who would’ve thought there was a proper way to do either of these daily things. I learned where all my lower back pain stems from. I highly recommend giving them a visit, because they will get your body feeling like a well oiled machine once you get adjusted. You can find out more about them and even book a consultation at: https://www.movementlabchiro.com
Shot on: Fujifilm XT-30II, XF35mm, F/2.0.
Overall, this was an amazing turnout for a first of many workshops to come in the future. We need to normalize self care. I know I need to practice more self care. Give yourself a break and doing something nice and much needed for yourself. I hope to see you all at one of the future workshops. Take a look at these other photos from the event. Til the next one, enjoy.
