Spirituality meets Monica Eleazar-Manzano

Yoga instructor and entrepreneur Monica Eleazar-Manzano has found equilibrium with her spirituality and active lifestyle

Monica Eleazar-Manzano starts her day by meditating. She then eats breakfast (or at least has a green smoothie if she's in a rush) with her son, Santi, then drops him off to school and proceeds to teach or attend yoga classes. The rest of her day is spent blogging, reading emails, and doing online marketing. If she has no meetings for the day, she has lunch with her son at home. She then teaches more classes or runs some errands before dinner.

Monica has always wanted to become a yoga teacher since her early teens. "I just feel that this is a powerful tool to truly change your life once you experience the real benefits of the practice," she explains.

In pursuit of her passion, she then decided to train as a yoga teacher under Greenpath with Clayton Horton and Mo-Ching Yip. She trained in Boracay, with her son (who was two years old that time) and husband in tow. "I had to take my son because I was still breast-feeding then. So, while I attended the training, my husband and son had a long vacation on the island. What an experience!"

Now that Monica and her family are back in the city, they always find time to reconnect with nature. "Whenever we get the chance, we drive to nearby beaches to recharge."

Because she has always had roots in the Metro North, Monica and her family's adjustment back to city life has not been very drastic. "The North is where I grew up so there is a sense of home. I'm glad that there is an increase of interesting establishments —restaurants, cafés, yoga studios, and spas—which is convenient for busy working moms like myself. I don't need to go very far to get what I need."

BEAUTY INSIDE

AND OUT

Aside from teaching classes, Monica also works out at Beyond Yoga. She attends yoga, Zumba, and pilates classes whenever her schedule allows it. "I am blessed to have really good teachers who lead a wide range of classes so I never get bored or get stuck with a routine," she says. "I always mix it up, because I'm that kind of person that needs variety."

As someone who studies Kabbalah, she has Kosher food but her diet mostly consists of healthy greens and fruits. Because she lives a very active lifestyle, she has green smoothies and super foods daily to boost her immunity.

Monica's skin can get very dry because she is always outdoors and under the sun, so she moisturizes her face and body with virgin coconut oil. She is currently looking at good, natural suncreens to protect her skin from the sun. Another one of her favorites is Hurraw! lip balm because it is all-natural, organic, vegan, and raw.

She describes her fashion style to be very sensible. "As a yoga teacher and mom, I'm always in flats or flipflops," she says, adding that her favorite brands include Aura Athletica and Seek The Uniq. Once in a while, she admits to looking forward to parties or date nights where she can doll up and dress fancy. "I like Florence Fling for their cocktail dresses."

ALL NATURAL

Aside from being a yoga instructor, Monica is also one of the minds behind INDIGObaby, a successful line of allnatural baby products. "Motherhood changes you. Having Santi made me realize all the things that we put into our bodies and onto our skin will definitely affect you," she shares. So as much as possible, she uses natural products for her family.

"If it feels natural to me, I will follow my instincts and disregard what other people say or parenting books state. It also helps to be part of a community that supports my own values," she says, explaining how her preference for all things natural also extends to how she raises her son.

Another natural venture for her is FLOW, which offers weekend retreats chock-full of surfing, yoga, and samba activities. She went into this endeavor with two friends, combining their love for surfing, yoga, samba, health, and travel. "Just take the plunge and attend a class—it might just change your life!"

The north is where I grew up so there is a sense of home.