Monday, January 11, 2010

Callospa: experience a home-sweet-home vacation and relaxation

BY: Nathaniel P. Silvano


From a city full of mountains, hills and cliffs, who would think that from its very heart, a perfect haven is hiding and waiting for one’s discovery?

Less than two hours from Manila, Callospa Resort from Antipolo City, Rizal can be explored. Traveling on a rocky road and zigzag highway will be nothing after you landed from your final destination.

On a first glimpse, you will not be attracted from it for it just surrounded by simple gate and barriers, but by the time you enter the entrance way, stimulus perceived by your eyes will flow through your craving body up to your curious mind.
The venue is not as spacious as a typical resort but you will be amazed how big swimming pools, spa rooms, tennis court and cottages occupied the area.

From the start, you will be stimulated to swim first before taking a rest after a long trip because the glamour of the swimming pool awaits you just near the main gate of the resort. The fresh water from the pool invites your tired body to take a shower and dive into it.

But if you want to take a rest, the cottages with cool ambiance will ease your tiredness. Callospa has a cottage constructed just like a home sweet home. It has a living room with a videoke where you can sing out loud. Beside the videoke is a nice dining area where you can eat your delicious food comfortably. Cottages in some beaches and resorts commonly have cooking area outside the cottage; but in Callospa, kitchen just like in the house is provided inside the cottage. The cottage also has a two huge comfort rooms and bathrooms.

If you like to feel stress-free, different kinds of massages and spas are offered by the hands of massage therapists of the resort. You will feel really relaxed after they touch your stressed body and also your skin will be transformed into a smoother and more radiant one because of the secret oil they apply to your skin.

For some athletic persons, badminton court is perfect for you to go for it has a large area where you can show your hidden skill in playing badminton and exert some muscle and adrenalin.

Other offers of the Callospa Resort are the big jacuzzi surrounded by pretty orchids and other plants and a cottage with Wi-Fi access, good for some bloggers and internet addicts, just bring a laptop.

This resort is absolutely perfect for all occasions whether it’s a party, a reunion or you just want to escape from your unending problems.

Visiting the Callospa is really tiring because it feels like hiking the summit of a mountain but you will realize it is time well-spent after the experience.
YOGA MEDITATION
By Maria Criselda Pamela A. Galindez


Two year ago when I first entered the Chaitanya Mission located in Morayta, Manila for a minor subject requirement. At first, confusion burst out of my mind what are we supposed to do. As the session ended, I felt the contentment I had never experienced before. The value of yoga meditation was an indication for us to slow down and take time to smell the roses.

It is harsh to rush everything to its respective deadlines, when all we need is a rest to do it. “Take time to smell the roses”, it means to slow down and rest for a while to continue what should do.

Yoga meditation, as explained by Ms. Tanya Tamayo of Chaitanya Mission and a nurse in Perpetual Help, is done when stress triggers a person. Stress, as defined by her, is a change or a threat to a person’s normal environment and the person will have the reaction to it, either positive or negative, depends upon the perspective of that person. The solution to stress is to understand oneself through introspection, inspection of oneself, and the so-called “yoga meditation”.

Alvin Castrillo, instructor of Chaitanya Mission, stressed the types of meditation; the Bakti Yoga and Hatha Yoga.

Bakti Yoga is done to develop pure love for the Supreme Person (our God) and to link up with the Supreme Person. Hatha Yoga is for healthy living and is very conducive in meditation.

For a stress person, they need to undergo other kinds of meditation that suits them. Gau Ra Anga is the first kind of meditation; it means the Golden One or Lord Chaitanya. There is a melodious pattern which sang as Gau Ra Anga way. This is done for five to ten minutes a day.

Mantra meditation, usually done in India, is a song format as resemblance to Gau Ra Anga, but differs on the lyrics itself. The lyrics comprise the song Hare Krishna Rama.

Japa, the last kind, uses the sense of touch through the use of japa beads. This bead consists of 108 beads and with the chanting of Hare Krishna Rama. Once you have done it, commitment is needed, to do it everyday. It depends upon the person how many rounds he will be doing.

Yoga meditation is a form of relaxation. Some says it’s a practice of devoting your soul to non-creature thing. Christians’ philosophy on yoga does not comprises their trust to it. They do believe in the powers of prayer as their meditation process.

The power of prayer has been proven. It is a practice that extols the kingdom of God. Also, it is a way of talking to the Lord that created the Universe.