It began with a three-day retreat for a senior executive and his wife at a beach resort in Batangas, designed for them to work on themselves. Wellness proponent Annaliza Laxamana led the program, which combined Art4Healing, mindful movement, guided reflection, and holistic massage. Art4Healing uses abstract art to help participants express emotions and experiences.
Annaliza Laxamana
Each morning opened with mindful walking in nature and soaking in the pure vibes. Laxamana said mindfulness is not limited to sitting meditation, but can be practiced in everyday actions, even in something as simple as drinking water and talking.
A key activity was life mapping, a creative timeline that traces past milestones and future goals to deepen self-awareness and guide decision-making. “The couple thought they had everything planned, but the life mapping became an emotional release,” Laxamana said.
The couple was also asked to write letters to each other and keep them. On the final day, they read the letters aloud. “It was like a renewal of marriage vows. Their tears of joy were overflowing. Something was healed,” she said.
The executive later organized a similar retreat for his top management team after coming home spiritually recharged.
Laxamana is the founder of NaHeal, short for natural healing, described as the starting point for well-being. This summer, she will lead a series of intimate retreats for leaders at CaSoBē Beach Resort in Calatagan in partnership with Landco Pacific Corporation. Called “Soulful Connection: A Private Circle Leaders’ Wellness Retreat,” the program will run on four dates in May and June.
NaHeal positions the initiative within a broader platform of curated wellness programs, retreats, and practitioner-led experiences, with a shared focus on supporting mental, emotional, and physical well-being. CaSoBē, for its part, is positioning itself not only as a leisure destination but also as a venue for retreats and workshops.
As an online platform, NaHeal.com serves as a directory of wellness practitioners and facilitators, including those in sound healing, holistic health, reiki, life coaching, myofascial release, energy healing, and qi gong. It brings these services together in one place, making them easier to access.
Laxamana facilitating a session
Laxamana has always been a searcher. Her understanding of spirituality evolved over time. In her younger years, she was active in campus ministry and described her practice as religious rather than spiritual. “Back then, as a Catholic, you used the word ‘religious,’” she said. “Now we call it spirituality, because it is about living a life with purpose by being aware of your authentic self and being present with God.”
Her journey into wellness began years earlier when her father fell ill. She said doctors focused on prescribing medicine without fully understanding how he felt. Despite costly hospital treatments, he died at 77. In the aftermath, she searched for ways to process her grief outside conventional medicine, and began exploring alternative approaches. Finding information meant consulting multiple sources. This experience would later motivate her to start the NaHeal directory for wellness practitioners.
After her father’s death, Laxamana searched for ways to process her grief outside conventional medicine, and began exploring alternative approaches
She later traveled to Hawaii to attend a mindfulness retreat, and spent time in a spiritual community. During that trip, a local guide brought her to elders on a remote island where life moved at a slower pace. “They lived modestly, but they were happy,” she said. The experience of being with simple but wise souls became a foundation for what would later develop into NaHeal.
NaHeal was established in 2024. As a facilitator, Laxamana follows a daily routine that begins with grounding herself in nature. “I talk to Mother Earth, to Brother Sun, and to God,” she said. She then drinks warm water with salt and does breathing exercises. Throughout the day, she tries to stay aware while eating and speaking. Before going to bed, she returns to breathing exercises and plays music. “I also talk to my angel,” she added.
Before NaHeal, Laxamana held management posts in several companies. She began journaling regularly until, she said, her intuition pushed her to start her own business. “I just listened to my inner voice,” she said. She registered a company despite limited funds and went on to found Modern Arts Ads and Promo, a manufacturer of branded merchandise. Among its largest clients is a telecommunications company. She also helped popularize terms such as “brand activation” and “brand ambassador” in the local industry.
Setting up Modern Arts Ads and Promo was driven largely by instinct. “I did not even know it was called intuition back then,” Laxamana said. “I just knew I had to decide and not overthink it.” With sparse capital, she moved quickly. “I said, ‘Okay, I will set it up,’ and I listened to that inner voice.”
She described those early years as a time when opportunities came fast. “Now we call it intuition,” she said. “Back then, I just acted on it.” Her father often reminded her to act with heart and resourcefulness, and to never delay. That approach, along with her energy and credibility, helped her secure major corporate accounts and grow the business.
Working with large companies proved lucrative, but Laxamana said she kept a simple lifestyle. “Even when I was earning, I did not spend on expensive things,” she said. “I was not distracted by wealth, so the money kept circulating.” She also began supporting charitable efforts early on, helping family members first and later extending assistance to scholars.
“For me, when you are given that kind of blessing, you have to give back without expecting anything in return,” she said. “There are many hardworking and intelligent people, but not everyone gets the same opportunities. If you have them, you share them.”
That outlook now shapes her work with NaHeal, where the focus extends beyond relaxation to include reflection, connection, and a clearer sense of purpose.
Soulful Connection: A Private Circle Leaders’ Wellness Retreat will be held on May 12–14, May 26–28, June 9–11, and June 23–25, with each session limited to 10 to 12 participants. For details, book online at naheal.com; email: yourjourney@naheal.com; or call tel. no.( +63 994) 131-4323.
