The Wellness
The Wellness in Lamoro, El Nido is a 50m Yoga Center hosting a wellness space and plant based restaurant known as The View – in support of the Vegan Community – with an edible garden.
Pre-pandemic, Ryan Alba founded Soul Kitchen, which employed practices such as farm to table and table to farm, zero waste, and more. For every meal bought, there would be one donated to a family in need. During the pandemic, he quickly realized the need for more food and support in other areas, and expanded into other parts of northcentral Palawan. As a group with Melanie and Diggy, they created the El Nido Community Pantry. Ryan was able to support preparing and dishing out 42,000 Plant Based Meals. Beyond food needs, housing was also a huge concern. Seeing the devastation all around as families passed meals to one another, it motivated him to support building efforts as well. In one form of fundraising, Ryan organized a walk-a-thon, going from El Nido to Roxas over 5 days spanning approximately 140 kilometers. Currently, building of additional housing is on-going.
Ryan transformed The View and his home, for the entirety of the pandemic, into something bigger. He had a vision to host more wellness activities ranging from yoga, meditation, inner dance, reiki, and other practices. Visit him, and see what he’s done since 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/wellnessattheview
Eco-Sanctuaries
Eco Sanctuaries Nature Lodge and Retreat Sanctuary, Nacpan Beach, El Nido
Eco-Sanctuaries El Nido
Nella Lomotan is a Filipino eco-advocate and conservationist who has dedicated her career to conserving Philippine biodiversity through sustainable development, restoration, and the creation of parks and protected areas. She also founded Eco Explorations, a social enterprise that raises environmental awareness through biodiversity camps, ecotourism, and online educational content. Furthermore, she runs SoulSpeak Mindfulness & Yoga Retreats, a wellness brand holding health and wellness experiences in nature-based Philippine destinations. A co-founder of Philippine Parks & Biodiversity, Nella is a passionate advocate for the environment, and is at the forefront of sustainable tourism in the Philippines.
When she moved to El Nido during the pandemic, Nella saw an opportunity for a wellness space that would offer people a chance to reconnect with nature, as well as themselves. She chose Nacpan Beach, most famous for its long stretch of white sand beach, and often cited as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Philippines. It is a protected area, and part of the El Nido Marine Reserve Park. The beach is flanked by two rocky headlands, offering dramatic views and a secluded feeling despite its close proximity to town.
Eco Sanctuaries El Nido is a sustainable beachfront lodging, with private villas located on the quieter northern end of Nacpan Beach. Offering an off-the-grid getaway, the lodge is sheltered in a coconut grove, and offers a secluded atmosphere where you can unplug and unwind. Eco Sanctuaries also offers yoga and meditation classes, as well as nature hikes and other outdoor activities. There is also a restaurant on site serving healthy, locally sourced food. For those looking to get away from it all and reconnect with nature, Eco Sanctuaries El Nido is the perfect destination.
ecosanctuarieselnido@gmail.com
Namaste
09981604700
For those in Corong-Corong or in the town proper, the nearest shala will be in POPS District over at Namaste. They’ve got classes Monday-Friday, at 9am and 5pm. They’re located on the third floor of the building on the left side as you walk down the complex. If you’re ever in the area, check out their Lawiswis Organic Shop, as they’ve got all-natural food supplements and beauty products proudly made in Palawan. If you’re lucky, they may even have some of the best kombucha in El Nido brewing.
+639981604700
facebook.com/namasteelnido
YogaTayo El Nido
In 2017, Bek Soriano moved onto the island to help jump-start El Nido Yoga at The Birdhouse. After a 9 month stint and meeting her inevitable partner, Francisco “Isko” Cowper, she went out on her own, teaching private classes at various hotels and local residences. During the pandemic, she continued exploring El Nido, placing mats in more spaces than any other yogi on the island. Fortunately for the Lio community and yogis passing through, she and Francisco started a Yoga Studio & Snack Bar. Yoga Tayo is a hub for many folks that call El Nido home — mornings classes see parents from the nearby Earth School, and afternoon feature sessions with business owners alongside tourists looking to breathe in the sea and let go of things that no longer serve them. Come in for a rejuvenating juice, a yoga session, or an eggs benedict over brunch and say hi to Andes the resident dog.
+639202887334
