A sanctum for wellness

Candice Lopez-quimpo

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People looking for a place to cultivate their wellness have a new home in White Space

REIKI AT WHITE SPACE. All photo by Jonas Asistio

MANILA, Philippines – Eileen Tupaz and Abbey Rivadelo had known for quite some time that they wanted to put up a space for yoga.

After all, both had found their path to the practice, even taking the Greenpath Ashtanga Vinyasa 200-hour Teacher Training Program (under Clayton Horton and Mo Ching Yip) together to deepen it.

When the path to their dream yoga studio began to manifest, it was marked with sharp turns.

Still, they kept themselves open to every possibility that presented itself.

Studio plans

A VIEW OF THE White Space studio

When fate first stepped in, it was as an offer for a free use of a small space to convert into a modest yoga studio.

It was an exciting idea that Eileen and Abbey gladly accepted. The timing was not bad; Eileen was no longer tied to long hours as a corporate employee and was working as a freelance writer, while Abbey was on a break. “It was a gap year for both of us,” Eileen relates.

The rent-free offer was enticing, but there was no rush to hurry. For 6 months they planned — but the little yoga studio was not meant to be.

Fate had bigger ideas.

They were told about “a building looking for a yoga studio,” recalls Eileen. They looked at it, and were swept off their feet. Eileen says, “It was love at first sight. We could see what it would look like.”

That building was Regis Center. Today, it is a thriving structure in the midst of bustling Katipunan Avenue. Its popularity is due to a well-selected repertoire of shops, dining choices and service establishments. 

But Regis Center is not exactly modest, nor is it exactly cheap. When Eileen and Abbey looked at the then-empty 6th floor unit, they saw potential — but they also saw costs they had not anticipated until that very moment.

But they had to have it. Plan or no plan.

Eileen shares, “(It was) exactly as we imagined our studio 5 years down the road.” The fast-forwarding of events was unnerving, and the pressure to grab and make use of the tiny window of opportunity (there were others who could take their place) was mounting, but they did what they had been practicing to do.

They went with the flow.

Understanding wellness

MEDITATION AT WHITE SPACE

The tiny studio they had planned was replaced by what is now White Space Mind and Body Wellness.

It is a place where a range of fitness classes and workshops all stem from the idea that the way to long-term health is through a holistic approach, or what they refer to as “mindfulness.”

They admit that it is a concept that is still finding its way to the consciousness of Filipinos. Abbey offers an insight, “(It’s bringing) awareness to what you do.”

While yoga has steadily gained popularity in Manila and in various parts of the country, there are still many misconceptions that need to be corrected and information that needs to be shared. Still, for many, yoga is the entry point into the holistic realm, branching out into various other disciplines; and so some yoga studios branch out to address the evolving needs of their students. 

White Space’s ready inclusion of various mind-and-body disciplines sets them apart. Offering a wide range of “everything available in the Philippines,” White Space’s menu includes Yoga, Pilates, T’ai Chi, Capoeira, Dance, Meditation and Reiki.

Healing venue

WHITE SPACE YOGA CLASS

White Space is a serene facility, with wide windows that witness the sunset way into the horizon. It’s also just barely two months old and is still finding its feet. 

Eileen and Abbey are hopeful that they can build a community that values the need for a sanctuary and a shared space for healing. 

“Most people who come here are looking for some kind of healing. Ulcer, broken bones, bad back,” Eileen recounts. “Or people who don’t like to go to the gym anymore.”

“Or people who want to complement their (existing fitness) regimen,” Abbey adds.

They also recognize that many people don’t know what they’re looking for.

Eileen and Abbey willingly guide people in making their choices, explaining what each class is about. They also recognize that they best way to understand what suits one best is to try it out. For that purpose, White Space offers a Spectrum Pass, giving access to the full range of classes for an entire week. 

The more decisive ones can avail of other packages (Class Cards or Memberships), or attend special events and workshops that White Space occasionally offers.

“We value choice,” Eileen emphasizes, whether it’s about the kind of practice that one opts for or the approach to it. All teachers at White Space come from different walks of life, all who have passionately dedicated their life to their practices. Under one roof, they are one in the pursuit of mind and body wellness.  

This openness can only benefit the students — both old and new to the idea — who are looking for a different way to feel better. 

And for those who search but still remain uncertain, perhaps it’d be best to look to Eileen and Abbey’s example: go with the flow, then answer what calls out loudly to you. – Rappler.com


White Space offers mind and body fitness classes and workshops. It located at 6/F Regis Center, 627 Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Visit www.whitespacewellness.com for more info.

 

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