HOKA®, a division of Deckers Brands (NYSE: DECK), proudly announces its latest collaboration with HAVEN, a Canadian-based technical apparel label known for its elevated utility design and commitment to functional innovation. Together, the two brands unveil a bold reinterpretation of the Stinson EVO. This is the first time the silhouette features GORE-TEX®, marking a milestone moment that blends performance and lifestyle, in a new and exciting way.
“We wanted to create something that lives naturally between the outdoors and the city,” says Arthur Chmielewski, HAVEN Co-Founder and Creative Director. “We set out to create a design that reflects our lifestyle and environment, refined yet rooted in technical capability and craftsmanship. It performs in the toughest conditions while remaining elevated and versatile in any setting”.
The HAVEN x HOKA Stinson EVO GTX stays true to HAVEN’s modern utilitarian approach, featuring clean lines, tonal color palettes, and a mix of premium technical materials. Nubuck and suede textures are paired with durable ripstop, bonded overlays, and a waterproof yet breathable GORE-TEX® membrane. HOKA’s signature cushioning and Zero Gravity midsole with Adaptive Tuning offer lightweight comfort and stability for both daily wear and outdoor movement.
“Collaborating with the HAVEN has been a true masterclass in fusing contemporary craftsmanship & technical innovation,” says Thomas Cykana, Senior Director of Global Collaborations at HOKA. “The team’s uncompromising vision & inimitable taste is undeniable. This project reflects our shared obsession of intentional objects & refined design rooted in modern application.”
The result is a product that goes beyond performance. The Stinson EVO GTX offers a design-forward solution for cold, wet, and unpredictable conditions. It was created with commuters, travelers, and everyday explorers in mind, people who value comfort and durability without compromising style.
The collection will be available globally at HOKA.com on October 24. Retails at P 14,495.00.
The Designers’ Holiday Bazaar (DHB), the country’s groundbreaking first nonprofit initiative bazaar, is set to transform the holidays once again. Marking the highly anticipated return of the premier shopping event where Filipino creativity takes center stage, DHB brings together the finest in Filipino fashion, food, home, and wellness, all meticulously curated by the visionary duo, Beatriz Zobel Jr. and Sofia Zobel Elizalde. This showcase makes exceptional local craftsmanship accessible to city dwellers, transforming Makati’s Central Business District into a hub of holiday discovery.
Presented by GCash and Globe, the DHB is setting up shop in Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta from November 29 to December 7, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to shop with purpose!
DHB in Greenbelt 5 will be located in The Gallery & Amphitheatre, featuring a vibrant mix of fashion, accessories, wellness products, curated gift items, local crafts, and personal care brands. Meanwhile, DHB in Glorietta will be located in both the Main Activity Center and the Palm Drive Activity Center, the latter specially dedicated to a wide selection of artisanal food brands, gourmet treats, local delicacies, baked goods, and seasonal gift baskets.
Now in its 12th year, DHB continues its philanthropic efforts in two ways: by supporting local brands and by raising funds for Ayala Foundation Inc. (AFI) and STEPS foundation scholars.
“We always believed that passion can take many local talents to great heights when given the right support,” says Sofia Zobel Elizalde, curator and co-founder. “More than a marketplace, the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar is a platform that makes dreams come true, potentials realized, and goals achieved. Every patron gets to be a part of this mission. It’s a collective effort that inevitably makes Christmas shopping more meaningful.”
To date, through the AFI x DHB Scholarship, 25 students are able to complete their studies (Grade 7 to College), three of whom are now college graduates building meaningful careers in education, business, and healthcare. At the same time, young classical dancers trained under the STEPS Scholarship Foundation have gone on to perform with prestigious companies such as Ballet Manila, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines, Alberta Ballet, and the American Ballet Theater.
Celebrating Filipino creativity
DHB presents categories that reflect the diversity of Filipino creativity, spanning Fashion & Accessories, Holiday Decor, Local Flavors, Home & Lifestyle Finds, and Wellness & Beauty Goods.
Fashion & Accessories highlight brands that uniquely reinterpret tradition by incorporating contemporary sensibilities in each masterpiece. Among these are PIOPIO, Earl Gariando, R. Filart, KitSilver Jewelry, and J. Makitalo.
Under Holiday Decor are bright and meaningful adornments meant to spread festive joy. Alriver, Mallows Collection, and Natureline Enterprise offer a variety of wreaths, trees, lights, accents, and ornaments—not to mention the very iconic parol. In tribute to the Philippines’ deep spiritual roots, DHB also presents Chrysara Nest, known for Nativity sets and Santos; and Allora Manila, which offers rosaries, crosses, and other faith-inspired wearables.
For artisanal delights, Local Flavors is a treat to the tastebuds! Heny Sison Desserterie, Flour Pot, Auro Chocolate Cafe offer cakes and pastries; Tsaa Laya carries wondrous flavors of tea products and gift sets; while Sonya’s Secret Garden is a go-to for salads, dressings, and homemade jams.
Then there is the Home & Lifestyle Finds section, where you can find bespoke furniture from impeccable woodwork to carefully restored artifacts—all evoking distinctly Filipino aesthetic. The lineup includes T’nalak, Mabolo Flower Shop, Osmundo Furniture Gallery, E. Murio Manila, and Sarimanok Antiques.
Finally, DHB’s curated Wellness & Beauty Goods include Cathy + Bee’s handcrafted candles and essentials; Lumi Candles Philippines’ candles, reed diffusers, and parfums; Esscentials Manila’s candles and home sprays; and For Keeps Clean Beauty’s hand and body bars. Carefully and consciously crafted, each product reflects the Filipino artisan’s sensitivity to detail and atmosphere.
“We are always on a mission to give back to the Filipino community, and one of the ways we are able to achieve this year after year is the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar,” shares Bea Zobel Jr., curator and co-founder. “It’s always heartwarming to see both consumers and beneficiaries benefit from DHB. Families take home beautifully crafted products from different regions of the Philippines, while artisans gain greater visibility and scholars receive vital support. It’s quite inspiring, even for us, and it moves us to do better and aim higher every time.”
Adding rhythm to the holiday shopping experience, DHB will also host live performances across both venues spread throughout the bazaar dates. At Glorietta, soulful tunes await by Project 201 Jazz Quartet (headed by Michael Guevarra) and Maki Ricafort’s Trio; as well as heartwarming numbers from Steps Dance Project, Tuloy Foundation Choir, and the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir. Over at Greenbelt, catch serenades by sax players Mr. Pterlhen and Michael Guevarra, as well as guitarist Mr. Chai. This will be followed by an upbeat set by DJ Cocoy Puyat, who will keep the festive energy alive when the bazaar comes to a near close.
Partners in purpose
As DHB continues to highlight Filipino creativity and community spirit, event partners GCash and Globe are elevating the consumer experience through innovation, convenience, and connection.
This year, GCash for Business is exclusively launching PocketPay and SoundPay at the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar. These two new payment solutions are designed to help MSMEs embrace the ease of digital transactions and usher in the “easy era” of doing business. With PocketPay, even the smallest of businesses can turn their smartphones into secure, cashless POS machines with no costly equipment or complicated setup required. Alternately, SoundPay offers a portable QR payment solution that confirms transactions through instant voice alerts, allowing business owners to manage payments hands-free and without disrupting customer service.
Globe is also bringing the spirit of togetherness at Glorietta Activity Center. Throughout the event, patrons can enjoy exciting offers from Globe and Globe At Home. What’s more, Globe Platinum customers can unwind and relax at the Globe Platinum lounge after a full day of shopping and apply for a Platinum line to get special gifts prepared just for them.
Filipino creativity is a tapestry woven from the country’s rich history, diverse influences, and deep sense of community. This essence shines more vividly at the Designers’ Holiday Bazaar, where patrons get to interact more closely with artisans and their creations, whilst also being moved to support young, passionate scholars. For updates and announcements, stay tuned on Facebook at /designersholidaybazaar and Instagram at @designersholidaybazaar.
We recently announced our Challengers Path to Champions that is going to shake things up for our Challengers leagues.
If you haven’t already seen it, here’s a quick recap – going forward, instead of qualifying through Ascension, Challengers teams will now have an opportunity to fight for slots at the International Leagues’ Stage 2 Playoffs leading to Champions.
As announced here, each International League will be giving 4 slots to Challengers teams. In Asia Pacific we will be splitting the slots as follows.
The top team from Challengers Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea will each be given a direct slot in Stage 2 Playoffs.
The fourth and final slot will be determined by a Last Chance Qualifier between the best team from South Asia, Oceania, and the 2nd and 3rd seeds from Southeast Asia.
Given the number of highly competitive regions we have in APAC, we focused on finding a balance between recognising regions with a track record of competitive strength, while also ensuring other regions still have a chance to prove themselves and earn a slot. And in the case of Southeast Asia, which has such a large player base and many subregions, we wanted to provide an opportunity to fight for more than 1 slot.
Apart from having a chance to compete at the international league level and potentially qualifying for Champions, each Challengers team that manages to reach Stage 2 Playoffs will be given a USD 75,000 stipend.
Academy teams will still be included in Challengers leagues, but they cannot qualify for Stage 2 Playoffs. And to foster a more equitable Challengers ecosystem, we will be removing relegation protection for Academy teams in 2026. So if an Academy team finishes at the bottom of their regional Challengers, they will need to fight to keep their slot.
Each region’s Challengers format will be announced locally in the near future.
Changes to Challengers Southeast Asia
We are also making some changes to Challengers Southeast Asia next year that we hope will create even more opportunities for local teams and players.
We’ll be pivoting towards a tournament model that consists of a mix of local events that funnel up into pan-regional matches over two splits.
Qualification for Challengers Southeast Asia will start at the local level where teams will fight through an open qualifier.
Successful teams will then play in a local qualifying tournament. This is also where Southeast Asian Academy teams will begin.The 2 best teams from each local qualifier will then move on to Challengers Southeast Asia, which will be structured as a 12 team tournament.
This process repeats for each split.
We are launching 5 local qualifying tournaments for Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The final qualifier will be made up of all the other remaining Southeast Asian regions.
Players can also climb the ranks and qualify through Premier regardless of the residency. 2 of the best Premier teams from the corresponding Episode will qualify for each Challengers Southeast Asia split.
Our goal with this new structure is to be more intentional about bringing representation to Challengers Southeast Asia, while creating more room for competition and talent development at the local level.
We also recognise that streaming exclusivity was a pain point for our teams and fans this year. So we are lifting exclusivity for Challengers Southeast Asia next year and will be working with local partners to provide local language broadcasts for our community.
We appreciate your continued passion as we navigate these changes and hope you’ll join us next year to see how Challengers teams will shake things up at VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs.
With the holidays just a little over a month away, the Philippines kicks off its most anticipated season of shopping and gifting! Lazada Philippines announces its 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year running from November 10 (8PM) to 13, and this is the perfect opportunity for every Filipino shopper to check out their holiday wish lists and discover trending global brands at incredible local price points. Prepare for the best deals, including up to 90% off LazFlash deals, up to Php2,000 Lazada vouchers, and free shipping, ensuring bigger savings and smarter shopping, only on Lazada.
This year, Lazada is making online shopping even more seamless and rewarding by integrating powerful technology and loyalty features. To maximize your discounts instantly, the platform is introducing SmartStack on AI Lazzie, a brand-new feature that lets you instantly stack all your vouchers with a single prompt. No need to hunt around for codes, simply type “SMARTSTACK” in the chat and let Lazzie automatically combine your LazRewards and seller vouchers. Plus, AI Lazzie has been enhanced to provide intelligent and personalized product recommendations across millions of products for effortless discovery.
Beyond smarter savings, Lazada is rewarding its most loyal users through the newly launched Lazada Membership Programme. This offers a four-tiered loyalty ecosystem (Classic, Silver, Gold, Platinum) that provides next-generation privileges, including priority delivery, faster dispute resolution, and exclusive lifestyle perks with some of your favorite brands. This holistic approach ensures a premium, high-value experience that goes beyond traditional points-based rewards.
Shoppers can also register their qualified Lazada purchase for a chance to win in the 11.11 Shop and Drive promo!
Prizes: One (1) winner of a BYD Sealion 6 DM-I and eleven (11) winners of Php 11,111 Lazada Gift Cards
How to Join: Make a successful purchase worth at least Php 500 (net of all discounts) on the Lazada app from November 1 to 13. Purchase is valid with any product category except digital goods, bill payments, mobile top-ups, stores with digital goods products, and milk products for children under 3 years old.
Registration: Register the qualified transaction using the 11.11 Raffle Registration form via CLEO (Lazada’s virtual customer care chatbot) from November 1 to 15
Don’t miss out on the sweetest brand deals of the year! Shop the 11.11 Biggest Sale of the Year from November 10 (8PM) to 13, only on Lazada.
Merienda is an important part of Filipino food culture. Whether it’s a steaming bowl of sopas, a glass of refreshing halo-halo, or a stick of delectable fishballs, Pinoys have a fond memory of this quick in-between meal.
World Kitchens understands the country’s love for this gastronomic tradition, that’s why it is now offering beloved merienda favorites and a bit more. Its merienda menu redefines the Filipino ritual by giving familiar food comforts a touch of international flair.
Feeling drained after a full morning of errands or looking for something that feels like a reward? STICKY SWEET serves a plate of Mango Sticky Rice that might be just what you need — soft, chewy rice with coconut cream and sweet mangoes for a finish that’s bright but balanced. The Ube Champorado leans into comfort, enriched with coconut cream and cheese, and when paired with Gourmet Tuyo, the familiar dish takes on a surprising depth.
For a more leisurely catch-up with friends, the Afternoon Tea Set is the perfect treat to share. Its three-tiered selection of savories, scones, and sweets is sure to delight: Bacon and Olive Financiers and Cheesy Spinach Tartines for the savory tooth, British Scones with Chantilly cream and strawberry compote in the middle, and Carrot Cupcakes, Diamond Cookies, and Chocolate Petit Fours to close — best enjoyed with Janat tea or a cup of long black coffee.
Filipino favorites shouldn’t be missed. CHEF JESSIE’s Special Halo-Halo is light, refreshing, and beautifully layered, while her Pancit Palabok with Pan de Sal Filling and Halo-Halo gives a classic pairing a satisfying twist.
Those with a taste for spice can wander into PRANA’s Indian-inspired menu. The Afghani Murgh Tikka with Indian Masala Chai brings together smoky, tender chicken and aromatic tea, while the Vegetable Samosa and Chicken Tikka Tandoori Wrap are simple pleasures that redefine your merienda.
For something familiar yet indulgent, DARIO PIZZA & MORE serves up crowd favorites such as the Italian Sandwich with Parma ham, mozzarella, and crispy parmesan cheese, and the Margherita Pizza, a simple but flawless combination of tomato, cheese, and basil.
Then there’s SHINSHIMA’s Okonomiyaki, a savory Japanese pancake that’s light, fluffy, and topped with bonito flakes that curl as they meet the heat.
Inspired by the comfort food of the world, WORLD KITCHENS is a one-of-a-kind, first-of-its-kind 5-star dining destination created by Singapore’s food and beverage guru Andrew Tan Hock Lai. With 15 show kitchens and international chefs specializing in unique cuisines, this giant full-table-service restaurant offers a variety of international dishes at affordable prices. Serving great food at a single table, and using AI technology for seamless ordering, World Kitchens redefines dining as a global culinary experience. Discover the merienda menu at World Kitchens, Level 4, Gateway Mall 2, and make every break a delicious escape. Learn more about World Kitchens and all the delightful offerings it has by visiting www.worldkitchens.com.ph.
The Peninsula Manila welcomes the sounds of the season this November with carols and cheer
In the Philippines, Christmas is always celebrated in song. At The Peninsula Manila this month of November, this cherished tradition comes alive as Manila’s finest choirs fill The Lobby with carols. There is truly no Christmas like a Filipino Christmas, and no better place to feel it more than at The Peninsula.
November 7 Battig Chamber Singers of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila November 14 Centro Escolar University Singers Manila November 21 Servus Dei Vocal Ensemble November 28 MAPUA Cardinal Singers
The Lobby Time: 7:00 pm – 7:45 pm Price: 1,500 minimum consumption per guest
Prices are in Philippine Pesos, which include VAT and subject to 10% service charge and applicable government taxes.
For inquiries or reservations, please call (63 2) 8887 2888, extension 6694 (Restaurant Reservations) or 7410 (Festive Desk), call direct at (63 2) 8581 6630, or email reservationpmn@peninsula.com.
McDonald’s Philippines expands its iconic McSpicy lineup with the launch of the Honey Mustard McSpicy, offering fans a new take on a well-loved classic. Combining the signature spice and crunch of the now-available original McSpicy with a tangy-sweet twist, this latest innovation reinforces McDonald’s commitment to evolving its menu with fresh, exciting flavors.
The Honey Mustard McSpicy retains everything that fans of the original love — the crunch, the juiciness, and that unmistakable kick of spice — but introduces a thrilling new variety of flavor. Instead of the creamy mayo in the original, this limited-time version is finished with a silky amber-yellow honey mustard dressing, flecked with visible particles of spice that introduce a very mildly savory, zesty finish. It’s a marriage that strikes all the right chords: hot, sweet, and utterly irresistible.
“The McSpicy has always held a special place in our customers’ hearts,” said McDonald’s Philippines Marketing Director Ashley Santillan-Delgado. “With the Honey Mustard McSpicy, we wanted to surprise fans with something familiar yet refreshingly new — keeping the signature spiciness they love while adding a sweet twist that makes every bite even more exciting and flavorful.”
By reimagining one of its signature classics, McDonald’s continues to demonstrate that even classics can reinvent themselves in tasty new forms. Honey Mustard McSpicy calls to both die-hard fans and newcomers alike to rediscover the excitement of flavor only McDonald’s can provide.
“We love seeing how our customers bond over the McSpicy,” Santillan-Delgado said. “It’s not just a burger — it’s a flavorful indulgence. The new Honey Mustard McSpicy takes that experience even further, proving there’s always room for another favorite.”
The Honey Mustard McSpicy is a limited-time offering available in all McDonald’s restaurants across the country starting October 29, 2025. Along with the original variant, it is available solo or as a meal with fries and a drink, via dine-in, take-out, drive-thru and delivery.
Today, with the launch of the Honey Mustard McSpicy, McDonald’s capitalizes on the momentum, giving fans not only a comeback but an upgrade of the legendary burger.
McSpicy Hall of Flame
The introduction of the new Honey Mustard McSpicy and the return of the legendary McSpicy are McDonald’s Philippines’ ways of celebrating their customers. And to further reward their loyalty to the McSpicy, McDonald’s inducted five of the most loyal die-hard fans to the McSpicy Hall of Flame, “a (digital) wall of legends for the ultimate McSpicy fans…where the boldest, hottest, most loyal fans get their spot in McDonald’s history.” First batch of awardees include Jae Acosta (dubbed “Day One Devotee”), Kaye Lantoria (dubbed “Lunch Break Loyalist”), Joyce Avelino (dubbed “Faithful McSpicy Seeker”), Migi Rivera (dubbed “Consistent Commitment King”), and Joanne So (dubbed “Enlightened Spice Convert”).
McDonald’s also organized the McSpicy Challenge in some of its branches in Quezon City. Fans competed to eat a McSpicy Sandwich in record time without any drinks. Dubbed “Speedy Spice Slayers,” these fans were also inducted in the McSpicy Hall of Flamers: Christian Castillo (45 seconds), Joey Basbas (45 seconds), Mark Desamito, Jr. (1 minute 7 seconds), Khen Maichele Mendoza (1 minute 9 seconds), Mark Abulo (2 minutes 3 seconds), and content creator Papi Louie (2 minutes 6 seconds).
McDonald’s Philippines is still looking for additional fans to include in the McSpicy Hall of Flames. McSpicy fans with proven loyalty and fandom and affinity for the heat of McSpicy may stay tuned in McDonald’s Philippines social media pages for announcements on how to be included in the next batch of Hall of Flamers.
Uncover youthful beauty and amplify your best features at Miss Esthe, a world-class Facial and Skin Care salon from Tokyo, Japan. Treat your skin to a range of gentle yet thorough treatments, expertly administered by estheticians who undergo extensive training to master Japanese beauty techniques.
Radiant skin is now closer than ever with Miss Esthe Facial Salon and Skin Care’s new locations at the Newport Circle, Newport City and Westgate Alabang, with soon-to-open branches at The Rise Assembly Grounds in Makati and at Shangri-La Plaza Mall. The Japanese Facial and Skin Care salon is a testament to precision and thoughtful and effective skin treatment. Whether you’re a first-timer or a loyal enthusiast, Miss Esthe ensures a consistently exceptional experience across all locations.
Each branch is equipped with state-of-the-art technology that is safe and non-invasive, producing radiantly beautiful results for your skin. The estheticians were not only trained by experts, but they are also devoted to guaranteeing a soothing, relaxing and effective treatment. The Japanese products used at Miss Esthe are top-notch, developed to make your skin look bright, smooth, and reduce blemishes.
Miss Esthe is known for its age-defying Anti-Aging facial as well as Whitening, Acne, Sensitive Skin, Instant Lifting, Deep Whitening and Deep Acne and Open Pores Treatments. Each treatment includes a calming face and decollete massage which is unique to the Miss Esthe.
A concept that originated in Japan, Miss Esthe opened its first branch in 2018 at the 2nd Floor of Uptown Mall in Bonifacio Global City. This was followed by another location at the Wellness Place, Glorietta 3 in Makati City.
Entrust your skin to Miss Esthe Facial Salon and Skin Care. Call the salon near you to make a reservation – Uptown BGC Taguig (63 935) 336 4720, Wellness Place Glorietta Makati +63 906 285 7811, Newport Circle Pasay (63 915) 932 9182, Westgate Hub Alabang (63 915) 932 9184, The Rise Assembly Grounds Makati (63 977) 669 7513
It is never too early to prepare for the Holidays, whether it’s shopping for gifts or planning your Christmas parties at home and at work.
Have Feast For All Platters (good for 4-6 persons) from The Bistro Group restaurants delivered with bistrodelivers.com.ph. Also available are Solo Plates (prices start as low as Php 245 for TGIFridays, Php 298, for Modern Shang, Php345 for Texas Roadhouse and P325php for Italiannis). Both the Solo Plates and Platters are great for corporate parties. These are guaranteed to be delivered where you want them, at a venue hosting an event or right at your doorstep. Food delivery is now a breeze and the holidays merrier.
Browse the wide array of options from your favorites like TGIFriday’s, Italianni’s, Texas Roadhouse, Las Flores, Siklab, and many more. Whatever strikes your fancy, there’s a dish that’s right up your alley. Steaks, ribs, burgers, pastas, pizzas, dimsum? Paella, tempura or skewers, seafood, all-day breakfast? Korean BBQ or buffalo wings perhaps? These are delivered free of charge, and loaded with flavor, love, and quality.
Perfect for Christmas parties, office functions, catch-up dinners, birthday lunches, and everything in between, Bistro Delivers is your go-to option.
Karada, Japan’s leading wellness and body therapy brand ,continues to solidify its position as a trailblazer in the Philippine health and wellness industry by providing Filipinos with a revolutionary approach to holistic body care.
Since its launching in the country in 2012, KARADA has earned the trust of thousands of Filipinos seeking non-invasive and holistic alternatives. At the heart of its innovation is the signature AP Balance® therapy, a unique treatment developed in Japan that realigns the Atlas (A) and Pelvis (P) to restore the body’s natural posture and balance. It has become a sought-after treatment offering relief from pain, fatigue, and stress, while promoting long-term physical harmony and wellness. This method combines techniques from chiropractic, osteopathy, and deep muscle therapy
“Karada is a form of body maintenance called “seitai” that your body needs,” says Hanna Stelton, Karada Philippines’ General Manager, who advises regular visits to help correct posture-related pains and alleviate ailments, including cases of Scoliosis,Spondylosis, Frozen Shoulder, Sciatica and more.
It is ideal for people who suffer from body fatigue, poor posture, back or neck pain, muscle tightness or stress-related discomfort. It is beneficial to office workers, athletes and busy parents who need posture correction and over-all body maintenance. For new clients, sessions are recommended once a week to correct imbalances, followed by maintenance sessions once or twice a month.
The therapists at Karada go through tedious and extensive training by Sensei Hiroaki Naruse, FJG International’s Regional Manager and Head Trainer for the Philippines and the equally skilled Iku Sumiya , Assistant Regional manager and assistant head trainer. This ensures the efficacy and safety of various techniques and covers anatomy, physiology, and the challenging AP Balance techniques. Certification is granted only after passing written and practical assessments that are at par with global standards.
“Karada is not a medical clinic,” Stelton says. It does not cure diseases and injuries in the medical sense. “It is preventive and supportive therapy. It provides natural relief because, if there is AP misalignment, it causes chronic pain and discomfort, poor posture, imbalanced movement, mobility issues, fatigue and potentially contributes to dizziness,” adds Sensei Hiro. The AP Balance Treatment helps address these issues.
Each treatment at Karada begins with a consultation and assessment where the client’s current state, problematic areas or conditions, and limitations in mobility are discussed. It is also during this time that the therapists conduct safety measurements to ensure that the client will not be putting themselves at risk.
The AP Balance Body Treatment is a skull adjustment that targets your neck and skull to treat your stress at the Atlas. The therapists also loosen stiff muscles with a whole body dry massage and stretching techniques, promoting better blood circulation and preventing pain from recurring. Clients can also avail add-on treatments that target limbs and extremities, extending the relieving touch of Karada’s practitioners.
To treat misalignment, the spine and pelvis are adjusted gently to promote better balance of the body. Well-trained professional therapists safely use a gentle push and pull mobilization technique to align the spinous process, providing pain relief and satisfaction.
Sensei Hiro addresses misconceptions about cracking and pain, saying “Cracking is not the purpose of the treatment – it is actually a natural sound that can occur during alignment but is not required. The key goal is alignment and muscle balance, not the cracking sound itself. It is not a measure if the treatment is effective or not. Effectiveness comes from proper techniques, not from joint noises. Our methods are gentle, safe and precise.”
Meanwhile, Karada’s unique deep tissue massages and stretching services lie in the masterful body weight technique that penetrates deep, working together with Karada’s specially-made beds that allow therapists to massage and stretch your body in different positions that culminate in a release of tension.
Other treatments include: Foot Reflexology, New services that are being introduced are stretch programs, comprehensive wellness packages (KX Plus) and facial contouring (KOGAO) that combines physical therapy with lifestyle and posture education.
