Celebrity Life

Start 2022 as you mean to carry on – holistically. Here are four wellness programmes and overnight stays that should give you an edge when it comes to sticking to New Year resolutions.

We might not know what resolutions you’ve been making, but prioritising and focusing on mental and physical wellbeing is something everyone can benefit from. Here are four wellness programmes worth looking into that should enable you to feel your feelings, pick up healthy habits and start the year right.

Wellness Programmes & Overnight Stays to Book Now

"Empower from Within" at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong

Rooted in healing, mindfulness practices and nutrition, The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong’s "Empower from Within" holistic wellness initiative comprises three objective-focused wellness programmes that include consultations, kinesiology therapy, yoga, detox, breathwork, sleep meditation and sound therapy.

• The one-and-a-half-day "Deep Sleep" programme is designed to improve the quality of your slumber, with experts identifying your sleep needs and empowering you with sleep-promoting habits. The HK$6,500 package includes a wellness consultation, kinesiology therapy, Abhyanga and Shirodhara massage treatment, breathwork and guided sleep meditation.
• Also lasting a day and a half, the "Restore and Realign" programme is ideal for those who feel sluggish and tired, and who seek a fresh start. It works by kickstarting fatigued adrenal glands, helping you manage stress and anxiety, detoxifying the body and fortifying it with powerful antioxidants. Also priced at HK$6,500, it includes a wellness consultation, spa treatments, meditation and breathwork, vibrational sound therapy and detox yoga.
• And at HK$5,500, the "Journey of Motherhood" programme is tailored for expectant and new mothers, helping them prepare for pregnancy and post-partum discomfort. It includes cranial sacral therapy, spa rituals and pre-natal or for-women yoga with an Ikigai practitioner.

All programmes include a wellness lunch and relaxation in the spa’s facilities. They can also be combined with an overnight stay. Find out more by emailing or calling The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central; spa.hkg@fourseasons.com; +852 3196 8900

Sensational Mindfulness Retreat at WM Hotel Sai Kung

Held on January 9-10, the two-day one-night Sensational Mindfulness Retreat promises to enhance your wellbeing and set you up for the rest of 2022. Hosted by a team of wellness experts including Jasmine Liu of HyggeWellbeing, Simon Hui of Mindful Studio HK, Raymond Mak of FarmacyHK, Terence Lee of GITONE, sound alchemist Malbert Lee and Dr Emilie Berthet Clairet, the programme is designed to reconnect you with your senses and surroundings, and provide inspiration on living a more conscious life.

The Sensational Mindfulness Retreat includes a tea ceremony, meditation practice, principles of mindful farming classes, a gut health talk, a gong bath, sunrise yoga and mindful calligraphy. Priced at HK$3,800 (per person in a shared room) or HK$4,800 (for a single room), it includes one night of hotel accommodation, dinner and breakfast.

You can find out more by calling 5668 9008, or emailing hello@hyggewellbeing.co or mailbox@mindfulstuiohk.com

WM Hotel Sai Kung, 28 Wai Man Road, Sai Kung; hello@hyggewellbeing.co, mailbox@mindfulstuiohk.com, +852 5668 9008

"Asaya Hybrid 360", Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong x Hybrid Gym Group

Rosewood Hong Kong’s pioneering wellness centre is partnering with Hybrid Gym Group Hong Kong in the immersive Asaya Hybrid 360 programme, a bespoke, 18-week approach to wellness supported by coaches at every step of the way: assessment, goal setting, roadmap, therapies and personalised treatments, and rehabilitation plans, as well as skin health, body nutrition and naturopathic remedy.

Each customised experience begins with a series of consultations. Hybrid will analyse body composition, joint range of motion, body imbalance or instability, and nutrition, physical activity, stress levels and other potentially negative factors. Asaya, on the other hand, kicks off with a facial skin-health analysis, rehab/posture-correction assessments, and naturopathy and mental-wellness consultations.

Priced at HK$80,000, each Asaya Hybrid 360 programme includes a personalised food and supplement plan and 36 training sessions with Hybrid Gym Group, 10 tailored sessions with Asaya Wellness Practitioners and complimentary access to Asaya classes, fitness centre and swimming pool. Find out more by contacting Asaya.

Alternatively, you can book into an Asaya Daycation or Wellcation (a daycation plus a night's stay at Asaya Lodge or at Rosewood), that include one 60-minute session of your choice from options including singing bowl therapy, mindfulness meditation, expressive arts therapy, functional insight training, active isolated stretching, sports therapy, and one 60-minute treatment. You can find out more here.

Asaya at Rosewood Hong Kong, Rosewood Hong Kong, K11 MUSEA, 18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui; hongkong.asaya@rosewoodhotels.com, +852 3891 8588

The Mandarin Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

To help you achieve greater wellbeing through the power of the mind and start your journey to self-improvement, certified hypnotherapist Christine Deschemin is running a series of group and one-on-one hypnosis workshops at The Mandarin Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong.

• The hour-long Hypno-relaxation Workshop puts the body into a deep state of relaxation in which the parasympathetic nervous system is activated, decreasing heart rate, respiration and blood pressure while boosting the immune system and digestion. It’s priced at HK$1,500.
• At HK$1,750, The 75-minute Slimming Hypnosis Workshop works on the mind-body connection to healthy eating habits, focusing on improving your relationship with food.
• And in the hour-long one-on-one Bespoke Hypnotherapy Workshop, Deschemin helps you to help you to conquer personal struggles, from sleep deprivation to general stress and anxiety – and even phobias. This tailor-made session costs HK$2,550

The Mandarin Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Road Central, Central; mohkg-spa@mohg.com; +852 2825 4888

The post Hit Reset: 4 Wellness Programmes and Overnight Stays to Book Into Now appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

There’s no doubt Alex Lam inherited his musical talent from his parents, his father being Cantopop legend George Lam Chi-Cheung, and his mother, Sally Yeh. Still, the singer-songwriter and actor hasn’t let privilege get to his head — he’s not afraid to explore other paths, from a stint in Los Angeles to discover yoga and becoming a yoga teacher, to dipping his toes in fashion.

Lam met Hiro Yoshikawa, founder and designer of Washi Jeans, a Japanese denim brand, a couple years back and was intrigued by the designer’s backstory. Now based in Hong Kong, Yoshikawa is the 18^th generation of a revered sake maker in Okayama, Japan, and the first to leave the family business to pursue his own passion in denim-making. By chance, Yoshikawa had found an old document that charted out his family’s history, written on washi paper. Inspired by this, he developed and patented the Washi No. 6 paper yarn, which he utilizes in his first solo collection launching this month.

Lam, who has always had an eye for detail, quickly became an ambassador and muse for Yoshikawa, and took it upon himself to bring the recognition Yoshikawa deserves by helping him stage his upcoming solo debut.

We sit down with Alex Lam and Hiro Yoshikawa at Washi Jean's studio to talk about style and the upcoming debut of Yoshikawa's solo collection Life on Earth.

Can you describe your style? What are your wardrobe essentials?

AL: My style has always been inspired by musicians. I grew up watching some of my favourite bands like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and today, I'm inspired by singers like Drake. For me, my summer essentials include a sleeveless vest, a good multi-functional blazer and a pair of high-quality designer jeans.

Have you always been passionate about fashion and did you want to work in fashion?

AL: I have always cared about how I look and my outfits since I was a kid. I remember there was one time when the collar of my t-shirt wasn't right and I wouldn’t wear it out until my parents fixed it for me. Having friends who are in the fashion industry allows me to execute and experiment my ideas during workshops, like the ‘marshmallow’ colourway of the t-shirt I’m wearing right now. 

How did the both of you meet?

AL: I met Hiro-san thought some of our mutual friends.

HY: have been making jeans for other brands for the past 30 years and it has always been my dream to have my own denim brand. I have always hung out with people from the fashion industry, and meeting Alex from the music and acting world has made my life more fun and exciting.

Can you tell us a bit about your project with Hiro-san?

AL: I was hanging out with a group of producers and we often talk about fashion shows, designer brands’ videos, installation art and music. Once we found out Hiro-san wanted to launch his own denim brand this year, we decided to catch this opportunity and put our ideas together. We are organising a VIP launch event with a fashion show on June 11, 2021.

What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this project?

AL: I think the rules of the game changed after Covid started last year. We looked at online fashion shows last year, without the tradition styles, and we knew our team needed to do it in a cleverer way. The restriction for event gathering is 30 persons at the moment, so we were not able to invite too many friends and make the event as big as before. Plus the campaign and fashion show video shoot all in one day, that’s the biggest challenge in this project.

HY:  We have been staying in our studio almost every day is the past few months, meeting different parties like our PR team, models, videographers and producers.

What else are you up to this year that you can share with us?

AL: I have released a new song and I just finished a music video for another song. I have also been working on my YouTube channel and created a few series, but it’s been slightly slowed down because I was focusing in this project.

Has the pandemic affected the way you work or changed your priorities?

AL: Before Covid, I was busy working with clients, who often prepared everything. With changes and restrictions during this period, I am able to organise and create more content by myself.

What are you currently inspired by?

AL: There are many indie musicians and young kids out there who are doing their music in their unique styles. I admire them a lot as they can release songs as long as they think it sounds good. I used think good music requires the best studio and recording equipment, but turned out a lot of indie musicians are producing high quality songs just by working at home.

You have a YouTube channel, you're into fashion, music as well as classic cars. How did you get into each of those passions and how do you balance it all?

AL: Project by project. I’m now focusing more on quantity over quality and I'll keep learning from the progress and mistakes.

Do you have a motto you live by?

Stay healthy. As I was a yoga teacher, I still practice yoga for two to three hours each day. It’s a good way to reflect on myself and find peace.

The post 5 Wellness Experiences to Book this Month appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Chiva-Som, in the seaside town of Hua Hin along the Gulf of Thailand, is the kind of place that’s talked about in hushed tones, a closely guarded secret shared only among the most trusted of friends and confidantes. Because it’s not a hotel. It’s not even a resort. No, Chiva-Som is -- and literally translates as -- a “haven of life”.

The first I heard of this unique health and wellness retreat was from a Chinese entrepreneur and TV host who described escaping to “the little paradise” a few weeks each year for more than a decade. She said it was the only thing that kept her grounded amid her hard-charging career and fast-paced itinerant lifestyle.

[caption id="attachment_157188" align="alignnone" width="7952"] A Thai Pavilion Suite.[/caption]

Ever since, I’ve been intrigued by this magical-sounding land of healing. At long last -- and just a few weeks before it closed for the fourth and final stage of its sweeping renovation -- I made it to Chiva-Som and learned what all the fuss is about.

After the three-hour drive south from Bangkok, we approach the entrance to the resort on one of Hua Hin’s main thoroughfares. It isn’t quite the secret passageway I was expecting, but once inside it all starts to make sense. Chiva-Som occupies what was once the weekend retreat of founder Boonchu Rojanastien, who demolished his private home to create a place for family and friends to relax, recharge and “enjoy life”. Over the years, Rojanastien and his family added to the resort’s offerings and began to welcome people from the world over looking to find their way on the path to wellness.

Last year, the resort closed for six months to allow for the renovation of the guest rooms, gym and restaurant The Emerald Room. After closing again in May, it will reopen October 15 with a refreshed health and wellness area, indoor bathing pavilion, Niranlada Medi-Spa and Taste of Siam restaurant.

[caption id="attachment_157189" align="alignnone" width="7000"] Lounge seating next to the Tranquility Pond.[/caption]

The first person to greet me, and presumably all guests at Chiva-Som, is general manager Vaipanya Kongkwanyuen. VP, as most people call him, was the director of food and beverage back in the 1994 pre-opening phase and went to work at several Aman properties before returning home last year. The much-loved fixture of the resort can often be seen greeting guests as if they’re old friends, which in most cases they actually are.

[caption id="attachment_157187" align="alignnone" width="7000"] Inside a Thai Pavilion Suite.[/caption]

“More than half of our guests are repeat customers,” VP tells me proudly. While I can certainly appreciate the beauty of the surroundings and the comfort of my one-bedroom villa -- one of 54 units that range from newly renovated Ocean Rooms and Suites to traditional Thai Pavilions -- I can’t help but wonder what keeps guests coming back year after year. Apart from a handful of families with teenagers (the minimum age here is 16), most of the guests appear to be older couples from countries such as Germany, Russia, Australia and the UK.

Soon after I’m settled in, however, I begin to understand. First up, a health and wellness consultation with my appointed advisor. Ann patiently explains the dozens of programmes based on Chiva-Som’s six modalities: Spa, Fitness, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Holistic Health and Aesthetic Beauty. Options vary from a minimum of three nights to 14 nights, each inclusive of daily wellness meals, fitness and leisure activities, and choice of massage or body polish. I settle on the Taste of Chiva-Som package, and select three spa treatments, two physio sessions and one fitness session to complement what looks to be an already full schedule.

Ann consults a colour-coded spreadsheet and sets out to book my stay almost down to the minute. It’s an impressive feat of juggling and scheduling, the results of which will be delivered to my room each morning so that all I have to do is show up at the designated place at the appointed time.

[caption id="attachment_157185" align="alignnone" width="2658"] Chiva-Som Thai massage.[/caption]

The part I’m most excited about is the daily massages, a choice of Thai, foot, scalp, invigorating and Chiva-Som Signature, and they don’t disappoint. But the most eye-opening experiences lean more to the medical. Dr Jason Culp, an American naturopathic physician who’s been with Chiva-Som for five years, begins our mindfulness-based stress-release session by placing a sensor on my finger and asking me to breathe normally for three minutes.

Then he turns the computer monitor to reveal my heart-ratevariability (HRV), which unfortunately signals that I’m a prime candidate for cardiovascular burnout and accelerated age-related diseases like dementia. But after Culp shows me a simple technique to slow down my breathing, my HRV improves dramatically and all of a sudden I feel like I’ve been granted a new lease on life. Equally enlightening is my session with a physiotherapist, who analyses my posture and stride before offering easy exercises that I can do each day to feel and look a thousand times better.

But my pursuit of wellness doesn’t end there. Chiva-Som has a strict digital detox policy, which forbids the use of devices in all public areas. Thankfully I became aware of the policy just before I was due to travel and bought a book at the airport, but the resort does provide a small library with reading material in various languages.

[caption id="attachment_157186" align="alignnone" width="7000"] The juice bar.[/caption]

The food, meanwhile, is designed to not only taste good but also provide a highly nutritious foundation for life-long health. Two restaurants and a lounge area serve a range of Thai and international cuisine, and various juices, tonics and herbal teas. What they don’t serve is caffeine after 12pm and alcohol before 6pm, and the latter at prices that are no doubt designed to deter all but the most die-hard of drinkers.

The biggest surprise about the food is not how fresh and flavourful it is, but just how tiny the portions are. The first night I can’t help thinking I’ve been served a toddler meal by mistake when I see the miniscule mound of jasmine rice served alongside my baby bowl of red curry. But somehow I manage to get by without ordering seconds, and by the end of my three-day stay I’ve fully converted to this new and healthful way of eating. The drinking, of lack thereof, is a somewhat different story.

[caption id="attachment_157184" align="alignnone" width="7000"] Fresh and flavourful wellness cuisine.[/caption]

Between the meals, massages, fitness classes, aesthetic treatments, water-therapy offerings and even a visit to the resort’s community mangrove project and one of its organic gardens, the days are so packed that I don’t even make it to the beach until the morning of my departure. I manage a short stroll from the gate next to the pool and encounter a few horseback riders when a rainstorm sweeps through and drenches us all within seconds.

A bit of lazing on the beach would have been nice but I didn’t come to Chiva-Som to sunbathe or play in the surf. I came here to heal and to feel grounded, and I can always schedule in some beach therapy on my next visit, or the one after that, or the one after that...

The post Why Chiva-Som Is Considered Southeast Asia’s Leading Health and Wellness Retreat appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Crush those New Year's Resolutions by recharging at these wellness retreats to detox your body and mind.

The post 10 luxury wellness resorts across Asia for detox retreats appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Recharge, rejuvetae, relax, and about a dozen other things beginning with the letter 'R' at these stunning wellness retreats all over the world.

The post Wellness hotels and resorts to jump start your New Year resolutions appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Recharge, rejuvetae, relax, and about a dozen other things beginning with the letter 'R' at these stunning wellness retreats all over the world.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Take a much-needed wellness break by pampering yourself at these luxurious hotels featuring all-inclusive spa treatments.

The post Hotels and resorts with all-inclusive spa treatments appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Take a much-needed wellness break by pampering yourself at these luxurious hotels featuring all-inclusive spa treatments.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.