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The Farm at San Benito is the first wellness retreat in the Philippines and offers a series of wellness programs including detox. As someone who lives in a city and often consumes an unreasonable amount of junk food, cocktails, and sits behind a desk most of the day, I was curious to try out their detox program.
Do note that for a full juice cleanse, you’d need 5 days and one more for liver flush. I was arriving late and leaving early for my 4 night stays, so I only did a mild detox program.
> See what a stay is like at the Farm at San Benito
Table of Contents
Wellness Centers in The Farm at San Benito
There are 2 main wellness centers in the Farm at San Benito where most people get their treatments:
Holistic Sanctuary
The Holistic Sanctuary is where the medical wellness treatments take place. It’s across from the reception and near the three restaurants. They actually have 3 floors that extend down and have various treatment rooms.
Healing Sanctuary
The Healing Sanctuary is on the other side of the main ground near the Secret Garden. This is where the spa treatments take place.
The Farm at San Benito Wellness Program
I ended up going on a light Detox program which involves a vegan diet with juice cleanse for 3 days and a day of easing in and easing out. This is also coupled with a colon cleanse.
Juice Cleanse
For the middle 3 days, I have 2 juices a day, 8am and 3:30pm. They generally find me if I’m slated for an activity e.g. yoga, or send it to my room.
I had a normal breakfast and lunch, warm soup for dinner. But all the food I had was vegan and delicious – but be warned, don’t come with a friend who is not on detox because you’d be watching them eat!
Colema
Colema is the cleansing of the colon using a coffee-water mix that is injected through a tube into your anus.
The staff greeted me warmly and I changed into an open back gown and sat on the elevated and elongated toilet.
There is minor discomfort when the tube is inserted, but the staff is very nice and makes the environment comfortable. It’s a strange sensation when the water is pumped into the body, like a cooling, then it’s just like normal diarrhea but with mostly just water.
The benefits of colema are:
• Removing toxins and waste from the colon that may cause diseases, infections, or inflammation
• Improving digestion and absorption of nutrients by clearing the colon of harmful bacteria, yeast, parasites, and mucus.
• Enhancing energy, mood, immunity, and skin health by reducing the burden on the liver and other organs of detoxification
• Promoting weight loss and metabolism by stimulating the peristalsis of the colon and eliminating excess water and fecal matter
Note: it can leave you dehydrated and with electrolyte depletion, which is why I also did the Angel of Water.
Angel of water
Angle of Water is the second step in the colon cleanse. It involves feeding water to cleanse the colon and promote wellness. It is designed to ease the go and improve your digestion by removing toxins and waste from your digestive system.
It is a little different to Colema but the principle is the same. There is a lot more water and there is even a little mirror that lets you see what is passing down from you.
Some of the benefits of angel of water are:
• It can boost your immune system and prevent infections by balancing your gut flora and pH levels.
• It can reduce bloating, gas, constipation, and other digestive issues by improving your bowel movements and eliminating impurities.
• It can support your weight loss goals by increasing your metabolism and reducing your cravings.
Angel of water is a natural and gentle way to detoxify your body and improve your health. However, it is not a substitute for a healthy diet and lifestyle. You should also consult your doctor before trying any colon cleanse, especially if you have any medical conditions or allergies.
Flotation Tank
A floatation tank is a device that allows you to experience sensory deprivation, which is a state of reduced or absent sensory input. By floating in a dark, soundproof tank filled with warm salt water, you can achieve deep relaxation, stress relief, pain reduction, and other health benefits.
The salt water also supports your body and relieves pressure from your muscles and joints. Floatation tank therapy can help you cope with various conditions, such as anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. I wasn’t sure whether I would like it or not but I was very relaxed and it was like sleeping under the coziest blanket on the best mattress.
Note: remember to rinse thoroughly afterward as I ended up with salt crystals in my hair!
Purification treatment
The Purification treatment at the Healing Sanctuary is a 90 minutes coconut oil scrub in a soft massage technique. It is very soothing and you can opt in and out of scrubbing the hair and the face.
Hilot Massage
Hilot massage is a traditional Filipino art of healing that uses manipulation and massage to restore balance and harmony in the body, mind, and spirit. Hilot massage is performed by healers who use their intuition and knowledge of the body-mind connection to diagnose and treat various ailments.
The Hilot massage at the Farm at San Benito uses the house coconut oil and it’s a relaxing 90 minutes.
Activities on Wellness Program
When I was on the wellness program, you were not allowed to call for the buggy to increase your step counts. With walking to and from classes, sessions, and meals, I clocked around ten thousand steps every day when I was there!
Yoga Classes
We attended daily yoga classes, with one at 7:30 pm and another at 10:30 pm. They are gentler classes but a great way to get the body moving.
Pure Gym
There are HIIT workout sessions in the afternoon at the gym across from the Healing Sanctuary. There are also treadmills if you want to walk in an air-conditioned space or do some weight training.
Swimming Pools
Since there are 3 swimming pools in The Farm at San Benito, you can also do some swimming and it’s great when the sun is hot.
Aqua Sanctuary
For some you might get sessions at the Aqua Sanctuary, which provides low-impact exercise options. These you would have to book in advance.
Results of my Detox Program
Since I was only on a light detox, the effect on me isn’t as strong as it’d be if I was on a full detox. But with the colon flush and eating clean, I did feel less bloated and dropped an inch off my waistline and 2kg. Although in order to not bounce back, you need to keep up with the clean eating and exercising.
