The University of the Philippines is known for pushing the boundaries in various fields. The UP…read moreDance Company is made up of the students of the Dance program in the College of Music. They perform inside and outside the campus, and join dance festivals locally and internationally as well. A group of young dancers and aspiring choreographers, the UP Dance Company specializes in contemporary dance and improvisation. Their dancers are trained intensively in classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance. Most of their company members are also adept at Philippine folk dance and incorporate it in their dances. As their campus encourages, the themes of their pieces are usually statements on important issues in society and culture. Their shows are often unconventional and on the radical side of the dance world, and not your typical proscenium stage productions. The UP Dance Company holds shows regularly to train and expose their dancers to the life of a professional artist. Their shows are usually very affordable, especially within campus grounds. Be sure to catch them if you're ready for something different in dance!

It takes guts to go pole dancing. It's a great form of exercise and is fun as heck. At the back of…read moreyour mind you might think it's lewd or immoral, but that's just your sheltered Catholic school upbringing rearing its ugly head. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's go back to pole dancing, shall we? One of the proponents of pole dancing locally is Polecats Manila, a ragtag bunch of misfits who are taking the dance scene by storm one pole at a time. It gave people looking to get fit a whole new way of exercising. Some people aren't built for yoga, running, or the gym because they get bored easily with all the repetition. With pole dancing, you get to exercise your core as well as build and tone muscles. Polecats offer numerous classes every day, each with different difficulty levels and accessories. If you still haven't gotten around to your New Year's resolution of getting fit, now's a perfectly good time as any!

When people talk about the different kinds of dance that certainly have a different reputation…read morethese days, pole dancing is at the forefront. Gone are the days when pole dancing is just girls in skimpy clothes (or any clothes at all) shaking their booty for men with a little bit too much time on their hands (or maybe wasn't hugged by their mothers enough growing up). These days, when you say "pole" you think of strong, beautiful women who are defying the laws of gravity, and The Polecats are a prime example of that. Polecats Manila is the exclusive studio of Polecats Manila, the first organized pole dancing group in the Philippines. Forget everything you need to know about your body and its capabilities, because one class with them will make you discover so many new things that you never thought you could do. There are classes for all types of people: women, men, young, old, those wanting something completely athletic and those looking for something a little bit sexier (striptease classes, anyone?) The studio is always vibrant with energy and happiness. But taking a class with the Polecats are not for quitters - their teachers are educated, motivated, and will push your limits. That is, after all, what pole dance is all about.

If you're from Quezon City or live thereabouts, there is only one choice if you want your kids (or…read moreyourself) to take up ballet and that is the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet. The school has been around for 30 years already and is still going strong with the tutelage of Shirley Halili-Cruz and her staff. Their two story building along Quezon Avenue has 4 dance studios outfitted with all the bells and whistles you'll need - barres, wooden floors, full-length mirrors, dressing rooms, and audio systems. The lessons they offer are mostly geared towards ballet, but they also teach hip hop, jazz, tap dancing, and even tae kwon do of all things. The students are mostly children but classes are held for different age bracket as well. It is just so heartwarming to see elderly people trying out a few sessions. A chance to cross it off their bucket list, perhaps?

Popped into 360 Fitness Club last week after a long break from working out, and man, it felt good…read moreto be back! Signed up for the circuit training session and loved how it keeps everything moving--no time to get bored with those quick 30-second switches between stations. The variety is insane: one minute you're doing kettlebell swings, next it's TRX rows, then some bodyweight stuff that actually challenges you. The trainers were super encouraging without being pushy, and the vibe in the group classes is so motivating--everyone's just there grinding together. Finished with a quick Body Balance class to stretch and cool down, and I left feeling energized instead of wiped out. This place really makes fitness fun again. 5 stars, no question--I'll be back regularly now!

I never liked working out just because I find being at the gym and lifting weights so repetitive…read moreand boring. I was first introduced to 360 Fitness Club about four years ago when I decided I wanted to lose weight. The journey to slimmer me wasn't easy but being at 360 made it seem less like work because the workout were actually fun. Their circuits change every quarter so I don't get bored doing the same things over and over again. Plus, group classes like suspension training, kettle bell, Body Jam, yoga, and even Zumba make going to the gym a lot less taxing. And who doesn't love options when it comes to their workouts? If you're like me, and want to take your workout a notch higher, I suggest you avail of their personal training service. Depending on your fitness goal (weight loss, toning, etc.), they have a fine number of men and women to help you out. I have my trainer to thank because these days I can lift weights I never thought I could and even climb mountains!

Surfing, yoga and samba are three activities that go together well. Surfing gives you that…read morewonderful adrenaline rush. Yoga keeps you centered, and also gives you the core and body strength to keep you balanced on a surfboard. Samba, on the other hand, celebrates the flow of the two other activities. Tie them all together in a weekend full of fun and new friends, and you have FLOW SurfYogaSamba, a brilliant weekend retreat that lets you lose yourself in the beauty of mindful relaxation. I went to a FLOW weekend in Flotsam and Jetsam Hostel in La Union, and I seriously believe that everyone should do this if only to recharge, rejuvenate and relax. The FLOW retreat started with a circle where everyone shared their stories and their intentions for the weekend. I was able to make a lot of new friends just from that opening circle. It was a great crowd of professionals, sports enthusiasts, yogini and surfers. The retreat organizers really put a lot of thought into the activities, and the lineup of classes and workshops complement each other. They had yoga and surfing classes assisted by top trainers from the country. The samba part was taught by Samba School Imperatriz Filipinense, the top escola de samba (samba school) in the Philippines. On top of the surf, yoga and samba classes, they also had a very informative juicing and healthy food seminar where I learned new things that can help me have a healthier diet. FLOW SurfYogaSamba also has retreats in other beaches and surfing locations in the world. They have local retreats in Palawan and La Union, and they also now have international retreats in Bali, Lombok and in Thailand. Monica, Denise and Noelle will help you with everything - transpo, logistics, organization, etc. All you need to do is pay the fee and show up. As they say, it's all about energizing the mind, body and soul. I went back home from the retreat feeling like a new person.

It started out as a random thought in one of our many conversations, but I'd like to thank my best…read morefriend for actually getting me to do Pilates this summer at White Space, because there's just so much to love about it. We were total beginners with no clue what was in store when we signed up for a trial. Now four regular sessions in, Mondays and Wednesdays have become our favorite days of the week because of them. Our wonderful instructor, Rissah, has a meditative approach to teaching the class. I love how we do warm-up and cool-down centering to send our daily worries away as we slowly melt into our mats. I love how some workflows are intense and others are more relaxed as she adjusts the main exercises for the night depending on the general mood of her students. I love how, even if I'm sore from all my muscles being stretched out to the max, I still have a fulfilled smile on my face when the hour's up. This beautiful space is more than just a weekly reminder to stay healthy, inspired, strong, focused, and mindful about myself and everything around me. I guess I've found my happy place.