Celebrity mind coach Hazel Calawod is one of these essential figures behind the peak performance of the Philippines' Golden Boy, Carlos "Caloy" Edriel Yulo.
Read on for an in-depth look at Hazel’s early life, educational background, and her impact on elite sports performance.
Read: One thing Carlos Yulo does before every competition, is it effective?
BACKGROUND
Full Name
Lyn Hazel Calawod, OTRP, is how she is formally recognized in her professional capacity or when she is invited to speak at events.
The designation "OTRP" stands for Occupational Therapist Registered and Licensed Professional.
While her personal page refers to her as "Lyn Hazel," her work page is represented as "Mind Coach Hazel."
Birthday, Age, Zodiac Signs
Born on March 1, 1989, Hazel is 35 years old.
Her birthdate places her under the zodiac sign of Pisces, known for its compassionate and intuitive nature.
Additionally, she was born in the Year of the Earth Snake, a sign associated with traits such as perseverance, practical wisdom, and a strategic approach to challenges.
Hometown
Before relocating to the Greater Sydney Area in Australia, Hazel spent her formative years in South Cotabato, known as the Land of Dreamweavers, located in southern-central Mindanao.
She then moved to Manila, the Philippine capital, where she lived for five years while pursuing her college degree.
Family
Details about Hazel's family are relatively limited. However, she did offer a few glimpses into their lives between late 2019 and early 2020.
During this period, Hazel shared clips from a snowboarding trip in Japan, featuring her sister Tifanee Lin, along with her sister’s husband and their son.
Hazel also posted a video of her mother at Narita Airport, and another of her aunt having a great time in the snow.
EDUCATION
Hazel demonstrated academic competence by graduating high school in 2005 as salutatorian from Notre Dame-Sienna School of Marbel — a Catholic institution in Korondal City, South Cotabato.
She pursued higher education at the University of the Philippines in Manila, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Therapy in 2010.
While working in 2014, Hazel obtained a Diploma of Disability from TAFE NSW—a prominent vocational education and training provider in Australia with over a century of expertise.
That same year, she also took a course on Environmental Home Modifications through Occupational Therapy Australia, focusing on adapting living environments for individuals with disabilities.
In 2019, Hazel further developed her professional skills with a certificate in effective time and people management from Interasia Training Group Inc., enhancing her ability to manage workplace dynamics.
Later, she enrolled at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, where she studied Ergonomics and Human Factors: Strategic Solutions for Workplace Safety and Health.
HOBBIES
Dancing
Living an active lifestyle, Hazel is drawn to adrenaline-pumping activities like dancing.
Her posts reveal a passion for street style, with a focus on hip-hop.
She combines her expertise and love for dance by offering hip-hop dance therapy classes, blending her professional skills with her enthusiasm for movement.
Horseback-riding
Aside from dancing, Hazel recently cultivated a new interest in horseback riding.
This hobby has quickly become a favorite, allowing her to connect with nature and experience a different form of physical activity.
On May 10, 2021, Hazel shared her excitement about this new pursuit: "Here's a series of photos of my new favorite hobby— horseback riding.
"Meet Roselia, my practice horse. Roselia’s the definition of beauty and power! Her strides were so steady."
Painting
Hazel’s creative side also finds expression in painting, and she shares a diverse collection of her artworks on social media.
Her portfolio includes abstract compositions, scenic landscapes, and pieces with geometric shapes.
CAREER
COMMERCIAL MODEL
Long before she attained success as an occupational therapist, Hazel established an on-screen presence through the commercial modeling industry.
Her television work includes ads for notable brands, such as Nescafé, Coca-Cola, Sprite, Chippy, Sun Prepaid, and Block and White.
In her commercial for Sun Prepaid, Hazel had the chance to showcase her dance skills alongside Maja Salvador, dubbed "Queen of the Dance Floor."
Additionally, Hazel performed in dance segments for Chippy and appeared in a Block and White ad with YouTube vlogger Alex Gonzaga.
Through her work in the industry, Hazel has forged connections in showbiz, forming friendships with celebrities, like Jessy Mendiola, Enrique Gil, Elmo Magalona, and Jackie Rice.
MIND COACH
Hazel's extensive range of qualifications supports her expertise in the field:
- Licensed occupational therapist both in Australia and the Philippines
- Dialectical behavioral therapy practitioner in the USA
- Certified clinical anxiety treatment professional in the USA
- Certified telemental health provider in the USA
- Allen Cognitive level disability model trainee in Australia
- Human factors expert in the USA
These accreditations provide her with a comprehensive understanding of brain rehabilitation, mental health, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
In 2019, Hazel founded NeuroBalance and Precision Sports Therapy, where she leads a team of rehabilitation specialists in offering holistic therapy services.
Their services cater to individuals with pain and injuries, elderly patients, children with disabilities, and athletes focused on optimizing human performance.
As an Elite Sports Performance Coach, Hazel’s client roster includes UFC fighters, Under Armour athletes, and world champions in Esports.
She notably served as the Sports Mind Coach for Bren Esports' 2021 Valorant Team, guiding them to become Southeast Asian Champions and securing a spot at Valorant Masters Berlin.
Read: Chloe San Jose being pitted against Caloy Yulo's coach-therapist
Hazel becomes Carlos Yulo's sports occupational therapist
One of the peaks in Hazel's career is being the sports occupational therapist of two-time Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo.
Following Carlos's tremendous success at the Paris Olympics 2024, a spotlight was consequently directed at the very small team he works with, including Hazel.
She manages Carlos's biomechanics, collecting scientific data to enhance his performance and support him through intense training and high-stakes competitions.
Her work encompasses everything—from conditioning and therapy to recovery and beyond.
"Yung body niya, yung physical condition niya, as per his performance in different apparatus po, is much stronger," she told One Sports a month before the quadrennial event started.
"Kung ano yung nagawa namin on week one, which was quite heavy, nakatulong na sa pag make sure na yung muscles niya are able to get the right contractions at this certain period of time."
She added: "Despite the physical aspect of being an athlete, a big battle within them really is, how are they going to bring that momentum mentally.
"So, now that you're getting a lot of technical information for the game plan, how is he managing it from a Carlos Yulo perspective. This week yun naman po yung tinatrabaho namin sa kanya."
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