HILOT

filipino healing trADITIONS

the ancient art and science of Filipino healing

Rooted in Indigenous wisdom, Hilot is a whole time-honored system of care built on generational knowledge–passed down by oral tradition from community healers or “manghihilot”.

Hilot embodies a wholistic, highly intuitive, element-based approach to wellness that integrates the physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and environmental facets of an individual and their community.

One of the tenets of Hilot is the concept of ginhawa, which refers to the state of being in harmony with one’s mind, body and spirit.

  • since ancient times, babaylan have been our spiritual leaders, our shamans. they are called by various names among our native peoples: babaylan, balian, baylan, mumbaki, katalonan, among others.

    throughout history it has been natural to have medicine women/men/gnc people, maestros, curanderas, or shamans tending to health of the community. these caretakers worked with the energies of unseen worlds to help folks heal, to find balance in their lives & with our Grand Mother, Earth.

    we are all indigenous if we go back far enough & all indigenous cultures believe we are connected to nature & energies outside of our ordinary existence.

    it's not a religion or spiritual doctrine, but a way of connecting to the natural world & the energies that affect us. this has always been a natural part of the human experience. these healers bring individuals & communities back into balance by removing energies that are not beneficial & restoring the power that is needed.

    visit Lutiang Aghama or Center for Babaylan Studies to learn more.

  • i come from lineages of powerful healers on both my matrilineal & patrilineal sides. i was called by ancestors to bring these practices back after being lost through colonization & assimilation. after years searching for my own relief & healing from chronic pain & chronic illness, I found my way back.

    in honor of & in gratitude to them & this ninunong gamot [ancestral medicine], I intend to share this ancient wisdom with my pamilya & my community.

  • a babaylan is someone with the ability to travel to the spirit world or non-ordinary states of reality to mediate with spirits. given gifts of healing, foretelling, &/or insight, they may be a ritualist, a diviner, & may also have knowledge of healing therapies such as hilot.
    as a binabaylan, i am a lifelong student of the babaylan, Hilot, & Filipino Indigenous Spirituality.

hilot pahid

Hilot Pahid is a restorative, non-medical bodywork sesyon that incorporates a blend of touch manipulation, energy work, guided meditation, and plant knowledge.

Pahid means applying or anointing. In these sesyons, I apply body oil and essential oils to ease stress and send signals to the brain for a full-body calm. In combination with the plantitas and guided meditation, we’ll work with the breath to go beyond the physical–releasing tension and restoring your body’s natural processes to heal itself and balancing the natural flow of energy within you.

Optional Add-ons:

Pahid is often paired with the services below for a complete physical & spiritual cleanse.

  • $33

    ✷ Leaf Scanning ✷

    Pagsasala in Tagalog means “filtering”. This is a traditional procedure using a strip of banana leaf to determine energy blockage and imbalance.

    ***disclaimer: this is not a physical or medical diagnosis, nor is it a cure to any physical, mental, emotional, social & spiritwal illness, but it can help inform our bodywork.

    when you add Pagsasala before your session, this will aid us in locating what we want to move out energetically during your hilot pahid sesyon.

  • $18

    ✷ traditional alternative wellness analytic system ✷

    Tawas is the traditional Filipino spiritwal diagnostic method employed by our Filipino ancestors in determining the nature of dis-ease and ill-being.

    they understood that dis-ease is not only limited to the physical manifestation.

    ***disclaimer: this is not a physical or medical diagnosis, nor is it a cure to any physical, mental, emotional, social & spiritwal illness, but it can help inform our bodywork.

    when you add 15 minutes of tawas before your session, this will aid us in locating what we want to move out energetically during your hilot pahid sesyon.

  • $11

    Dagdagay is an authentic Igorot/Cordilleran foot care practice using two bamboo or rattan sticks to stimulate the soles.

    This has been practiced by Igorot communities for centuries with the young often providing this care for the elders. Philosophically, it applies pressure to the meridians on the feet to restore the natural flow of energy.

  • upgrade your seyson with homemade herbal Hilot oil.

    please let me know if you have any known allergies.

    ✽ available soon ✽

Book a session

Sesyons by appointment on Sundays.

See available times here.

I recommend at least a 90 minutes to get the most benefit, but 60 minute and 120 minute sesyons are also available.

We’ll work with the following to promote your well-being.


Halaman [ plants ]
Init [ heat ]
Liwanag [ light ]
Orasyon [ prayer & time ]
Tubig [ water ]

Sliding scale energy exchange option available.


Available depending on circumstances. See which Tier you are in. Then, find the rates listed below by duration. Contact for non-monetary exchange if needed.

2SQTBIPOC to the front



This is a space that affirms & supports & prioritizes the rising of 2SQTBIPOC–Two Spirit, Trans, Black, Brown, Queer, and Gender Non-Conforming people. We celebrate the natural biodiversity of our bodies, minds, & souls–we welcome genuine expression.

energy exchange

Tier 2 is my Standard rate. Sliding scale available for accessibility–not as a “cheaper” option. If you’re Tier 1, your support allows this work to be made more accessible to the most traumatized & targeted in our communities.

  • This can be general full body care or be more focused on a specific area of your request.

    Energy Exchange:

    ✿✿✿✿✿ Tier 1: Abundant – $122
    ✿✿ Tier 2: Stable – $99
    ✿ Tier 3: Limited – $77

    Open to discuss alternate/non-monetary exchange if Tier 3 is not accessible to you (this could be sharing my workshops/programs, admin/tech support, etc). Contact me.

    If you believe this offering is worth more, I'm open to receiving 😊 you can edit the price or send donations to my venmo @ale-luya 
    Maraming salamat po–thank you!

  • Full body work with an extra focus on specific areas of your choosing. This is a great option if you want to include an add-on such as Tawas sa Papel, Pagsasala, or Dagdagay.

    Energy Exchange:

    ✿✿✿✿✿ Tier 1: Abundant – $148
    ✿✿ Tier 2: Stable – $128
    ✿ Tier 3: Limited – $108

    Open to discuss alternate/non-monetary exchange if Tier 3 is not accessible to you (this could be sharing my workshops/programs, admin/tech support, etc). Contact me.

    If you believe this offering is worth more, I'm open to receiving 😊 you can edit the price or send donations to my venmo @ale-luya 
    Maraming salamat po–thank you!

  • Full body care with an extra focus on specific areas of your choosing. This is a great option if you want to include an add-on such as Tawas sa Papel, Pagsasala, or Dagdagay.

    Energy Exchange:

    ✿✿✿✿✿ Tier 1: Abundant – $198
    ✿✿ Tier 2: Stable – $178
    ✿ Tier 3: Limited – $158

    Open to discuss alternate/non-monetary exchange if Tier 3 is not accessible to you (this could be sharing my workshops/programs, admin/tech support, etc). Contact me.

    If you believe this offering is worth more, I'm open to receiving 😊 you can edit the price or send donations to my venmo @ale-luya 
    Maraming salamat po–thank you!

✴ Save $5 on any service above when you pay in cash [does not apply to add-ons].

Book a Hilot sesyon

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This is for you if you feel...

  • heavy or stuck energy

  • exhaustion, burnout, overwhelm 

  • chronic stress

  • restlessness

  • chaotic or “monkey” mind

  • anxiety, fear

  • depression, grief

  • anger + rage [& unsure how to process or release it]

  • difficulty letting go

  • you are part of a targeted & traumatized community

  • you have a hard time resting/relaxing

Book a session

Disclaimer***

This is NOT massage therapy and is not intended to diagnose or treat medical conditions, pain, or injury. This is not for you if you..

  • have a specific or acute injury requiring focused medical treatment

  • need chronic pain support

  • are an athlete needing sports performance enhancement.

  • have a fever or flu

  • have open wounds or skin conditions

  • have blood clots or recent surgeries [always check with your doctor]

✴ If you are living with chronic pain and seeking support, I am launching two chronic pain doula programs soon. Learn more here & sign up for updates.

Policies

  • Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance. Missed appointments or cancellations within 24 hours will be charged in full.

  • Please fill out intake forms 24 hours prior to your appointment.

  • Please self-monitor for any Covid-like symptoms and reach out to reschedule if necessary. I will do the same.

    If you would like me to be masked during your session, please don’t hesitate to ask. I respect your boundaries and needs to feel safe, comfy, and protected in my space.

“Hilot is a legacy of our health culture. Mixing science and tradition, it continues to heal in ways modern medicine is only just starting to study.”

— Dr. Esperanza Cabral, former Philippine Health Secretary