Celebrity Life

Meditation and wellness expert Gianni Melwani of Ikigai Yoga illuminates the fine art of being still – or, to be more accurate, of simply being.

For meditation, an early morning start is a good idea. I usually wake up around 7am, brush and shower and get ready for my mindful morning meditation.

So as not to have a frantic start to the day, prepare the night before. I clear up the room before I start my meditation. In yoga, it’s important to have a have clean body, mind and environment.

You can meditate for as long as you like, but if you’ve never done this before at home, I suggest starting with 10 minutes.

Assume any comfortable seated position with the spine elongated. Personally, I prefer the lotus position (cross-legged on a cushion) to elevate the hips and take the pressure off my lower back. Take a deep breath.

Then:

• There are many ways to meditate. You can chant a mantra (a sound that you repeat that calms you), as it really helps focus the mind.
• I also practise pranayama (breathing exercises), along with mindfulness techniques; using all five senses.
• If you want to experience complete stillness and emptiness, the trick is... no effort. Just be. It’s hard to explain in words but train your mind to be still, to be calm and to not think of any external stimuli.
• It takes a little daily practice and time, and eventually it comes naturally to you. Meditation is one of the most natural things you can do – you don’t need any equipment or expensive accoutrements.
• The shift from a still mind to meditative state is to flow gently into it. The trick is, essentially, lack of effort. You just segue into it.
• Spend 10 to 15 minutes with yourself, with no distractions. No dogs, no kids, no family, just you.
• I encourage people to try a yoga class and and then apply the technique at home – it’s a lifestyle, not a temporary fix. Real change happens with consistency.
• It’s also important to note that I’m not overly rigid about a set-in-concrete routine. I know that it’s beneficial in my life to practise mediation and yoga every day in some form or another, but if I don’t get time to do this, I realise it’s not the end of the world. I can always start again tomorrow.

You can find out more at Ikigai Yoga

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Living through a pandemic is exhausting, but with fewer activities and events happening all year, you'd think it would be the perfect excuse to start prioritising sleep. So why do you find yourself putting off your bedtime — scrolling through social media, clicking on yet another episode of Bling Empire on Netflix, or reading a book all the way to the end instead of swanning off to dreamland the second your head hits the pillow?

What is revenge bedtime procrastination?

This refusal to shut your eyes when you know you should is an actual psychological phenomenon called "revenge bedtime procrastination." The term "bedtime procrastination" first surfaced in a 2014 study from the Netherlands. With the addition of "revenge," the term started appearing on the internet in China in 2016. It was finally introduced to English speakers last summer by writer Daphne K. Lee, who defined it on Twitter as "a phenomenon in which people who don't have much control over their daytime life refuse to sleep early in order to regain some sense of freedom during late night hours."

The "revenge" element of the phrase is what sets it apart from any other instance of failing to go to bed at an intended time, Terry Cralle, RN, a certified sleep expert with the Better Sleep Council, tells Health. It's a deliberate choice —"a failing to go to bed at an intended time in order to claim some much needed 'me time,'" she explains.

And that's understandable. "Me time" seems to be at a premium these days, what with working from home, working out from home, schooling your kids from home, and generally dealing with day-to-day stressors. "The boundaries between work and home life are blurred right now, and work responsibilities have grown and taken the space that used to exist for commutes, lunch breaks, and moments for co-worker connections," Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, tells Health. "Without this buffer, life would comprise of work and sleep."

And so revenge bedtime procrastination seems like a way to take back part of your day for self-indulgent, low-demand activities — like mindlessly watching Instagram stories or crushing candy on an app.

The health toll of revenge bedtime procrastination

Putting off our bedtime isn't as harmless as it sounds. Sleep is a fundamental, preprogrammed survival skill in humans, Abhinav Singh, MD, a sleep physician and medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center in Greenwood, Indiana, tells Health. "People look at sleep like it's for the brain only—like, if I just shut my eyes, I'll wake up refreshed—not realising that it's a head-to-toe thing," says Singh.

Lack of sleep affects your working memory; it's also been shown to negatively affect alertness, reasoning, and reaction times. Sleep deprivation is also closely linked to mental health issues like anxiety and depression (both of which are on the rise thanks to COVID-19). One scientific review actually found that people who experience insomnia have a two-fold risk of developing depression over those who don't have problems sleeping.

Not getting enough sleep can also weaken your immune system — a major issue right now. "You're actually four times more likely to get the common cold if you get less than six hours of sleep a night," says Dr Singh. And getting enough sleep could be crucial vaccine effectiveness; one 2020 study found those who slept less before getting a flu shot developed fewer protective antibodies from the vaccine compared to those who slept longer. "Chronically sleeping less than six hours [per night] gives you almost a three to five times higher likelihood of mortality in the next five years," he says. "I get it, wanting that extra time to catch up, but you pay a price for that."

How to stop revenge bedtime procrastination

We live in this instant gratification culture, Dr Singh says, and you expect to fall asleep the second your head hits the pillow. But sleep is a process. "Think of it like a flight," he suggests. "When your flight has a 10 pm departure, you don't get to the airport at 10, you're there at 9 pm or 9:30."

So instead of resisting your bedtime when it rolls around, prepare for it ahead of time. "I have a four-step routine: shower, journal, read, breathe," says Dr Singh. Creating a similar routine for yourself "gives you time to wind down and start to slow your brain down a bit," he adds. In other words, it allows you to welcome sleep, instead of trying to force it.

Your sleep environment is also important. Reserve your bed for sleep and sex only, making it a sacred place your brain immediately associates with rest. The more time you spend in bed awake, the less likely you'll be able to fall asleep when you want to. During work hours, Romanoff suggests recreating your former work setting in your home office or living room as much as possible. "Was work often a few degrees colder? Were the lights brighter? Transforming the space will help create differentiation between work, home, and bedtime activities," she explains.

Consistency is key. "Set an alarm for a bedtime that provides you with sufficient shuteye every day of the week," suggests Cralle — and stick to it. "When we are fueled with sufficient sleep, our waking hours will be better and we will likely have more time for me time, because when we're functioning in a well-rested state, we are more efficient, accurate, focused, clear-headed, productive, motivated, energised, healthy, and happy," she explains.

Even the awareness of what you're doing — and how harmful it can be long-term — can help. "The more we know about sleep, the more we will prioritise it," says Cralle.

This story first appeared on www.health.com

(Main and Feature Image Credit: Cottonbro/Pexels)

© 2021. Health Media Ventures, Inc. . All rights reserved.  Licensed from Health.com and published with permission of Health Media Ventures, Inc. . Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

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Jennifer Aniston just shared her preferred workout routine — and not only is it surprisingly approachable, but trainers also give it a thumbs-up.

Aniston, 52, told InStyle for the magazine's September cover interview that she tries to exercise every day. "I had an injury last fall and I was only able to do Pilates, which I absolutely love," she said. "But I was missing that kind of sweat when you just go for it."

Now, she said, she's "going back to my 15-15-15, which is a 15-minute spin, elliptical, run." After that, she said, it's "just old school: I can chase myself around a gym." Aniston said she's someone who needs regular activity in her life. "I need some kind of movement, even if it's just 10 minutes a day on a trampoline," she said.

 

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OK, but 15 minute intervals on different machines seems incredibly…doable. For starters, it meets the American Heart Association's exercise guidelines, which says adults should strive to get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. (The AHA also recommends moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity like resistance training or weights on at least two days a week, but more on that later.)

Trainers are all about the former Friends star's workout plan. "It's great," Albert Matheny, RD, CSCS, co-founder of SoHo Strength Lab, Promix Nutrition, and ARENA, tells Health. "The idea of three different modalities and the fact that you're varying it up a bit is excellent. It's probably less intimidating and mechanically, you're not just doing the same repetitive motion at a high volume."

The issue with just doing one workout, like running or biking or the elliptical, is that you can develop an overuse injury, Matheny explains. "When you mix things up, the chances of you having an overuse injury is less," he says.

Cycling through different exercises can also lower the risk that you'll get bored during your workout, Doug Sklar, CPT, a personal trainer, running coach, and founder of PhilanthroFIT in New York City, tells Health. "If you struggle with motivation, it's much easier to convince yourself to do something for 15 minutes than it is for an hour," he says.

Jennifer Aniston hinted that she also lifts weights, which Matheny says is crucial. "Everyone should do some level of strength training," he says. Sklar agrees: "It's a strictly cardio routine, so I'd absolutely add regular strength training into her schedule," he says.

Like the idea but don't have a small home gym setup going on at your place? Experts say that's no problem. "It's difficult to replicate a bike or elliptical without the actual equipment, so body weight exercises like rope skipping or jumping jacks would be the closest," Sklar says. Matheny also points out that you can bike or run outside, or add swimming to the mix if you have a pool available to you.

While trainers like Aniston's routine, they stress the importance of getting strength training in there, too. "The importance of strength training in a fitness program cannot be understated," Sklar says. "The cardio is OK, but I would advise making strength training the primary component of your workout routine and supplementing with a cardio routine like this."

This story first appeared on www.health.com

(Main and Feature Image Credit: Getty Images)

© 2021. Health Media Ventures, Inc. . All rights reserved.  Licensed from Health.com and published with permission of Health Media Ventures, Inc. . Reproduction in any manner in any language in whole or in part without prior written permission is prohibited.

Health and the Health Logo are registered trademarks of Health Media Ventures, Inc. Used under License.

The post Jennifer Aniston Just Revealed her ’15-15-15′ Workout Plan — And Trainers Actually Like it appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

With lockdowns turning us all into our own skincare experts, smart beauty gadgets are taking the world by storm. We sift through the offerings at JOYCE Beauty’s new Gadget Bar for the best devices for face, body and hair

Given the hectic nature of our daily lives - not to mention the extreme circumstances we’ve found ourselves in for more than a year - indulging in a visit to a beauty salon or spa hasn’t been easy. That's why the beauty industry’s current “tech-celeration” trend and the proliferation of gadgets in the beauty industry are both much-needed and very welcome. In fact, with so many new gizmos on the market, it’s never been easier to find the right one for you, whatever your requirements or concerns may be.

JOYCE Beauty, Hong Kong’s ultimate luxury beauty destination, offers a unique selection of devices, each promising professional-level treatments and results – all in the comfort of your own home. These smart beauty gadgets are guaranteed to transform your entire beauty regime, giving you not only complete control over your routine but also the best skin and hair ever.

This month, part of the JOYCE Beauty counter at Lane Crawford ifc will be transformed into the Gadget Bar – a repository of the most inventive and up-to-date devices for face, body and hair. Here’s our own pick of what’s on offer.

LYMA

Lyma is a beauty brand that combines science, nature and technology to help you look and feel your best. The ground-breaking beauty brand has introduced the world's most powerful, transformative, portable skin-renewal system that uses laser-based light therapy, which was formerly available only at a clinic. Now, you can have it at any time you like.

From active acne and scarring to sagging skin, unwanted texture, rosacea, wrinkles and cellulite, this laser delivers never-seen-before results.

After just 15 minutes of daily use, your skin won’t just improve but be transformed. Originally developed as a medical laser to heal injury, this at-home and completely safe light therapy eliminates surface bacteria, delivers deep cellular regeneration and hydration, and uses oxygen to improve the skin’s texture.

With zero damage to the skin and no need for goggles, a 500mW near-infrared laser such as this has never been so easily accessible; totally pain-free, it’s completely safe to use at home.

At HK$20,999, the Lyma System Starter Kit also includes a 30-day supply of LYMA Active Mist and a Lyma Priming Serum – a special three-step system to give you the best results. The laser is also compatible with any oil and serum products available at JOYCE Beauty.

CELLRETURN

With its own LED module patent, the CELLRETURN LED Mask series offers a high-tech solution for skin problems and can tackle everything from wrinkles to double chins.

It utilises LEDs of three wavelengths, with each mode providing a different combination of wavelengths and near-infrared rays. The Red Mode is effective in improving skin transparency, density, hydration, elasticity and pores; the Blue Mode is ideal for troubled skin, possibly due to external irritation or cold wind; and the Pink Mode combines RED and BLUE wavelengths for concentrated care.

We love the Iron Man-esque look of the Platinum masks, which are equipped with more than 1,000 multi-coloured LED lightbulbs to generate near-infrared rays that penetrate deep into the skin to stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation, and eliminate blemish-causing bacteria.

At HK$16,600, the LED Mask Platinum comes in white and features wireless charging, a nine-minute fast mode and a dual cover.

So that you’re completely covered, whatever your concerns may be, there’s also the CELLRETURN Hair Alpha-Ray (HK$18,000) for the hair and scalp, as well as the Alpha Neckle Ray (HK$7,700) for the neck.

For best results, the LED Mask Platinum should be used 3-4 times a week. Hair Alpha-Ray should be used 3-4 times a week for 20 minutes every day. Neckle Ray should be used three times a week for a minimum of 5 minutes up to 20 minutes per session.

Pair the treatments with serums and hair masks available at JOYCE Beauty. For the face, we suggest Omorovicza's Blue Diamond Concentrate, whereas, for the scalp, a good recommendation is the MD's Scalp Essentials.

NuFACE

If you’re already au fait with beauty gadgets, NuFACE should be a familiar name. It promises a five-minute, at-home facial lift that improves your facial contours and skin tone while reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Choose from five levels of intensity up to 335 Micro Amps – its gentle microcurrent technology stimulates the face and neck. Plus, an app helps you keep your treatments on track.

For best results, it should be used for five minutes five times per week for about two months, and reduced to two to three times a week in the following months.

Both the NuFACE Trinity Facial Toning Device (HK$2,910) and Mini Facial Toning Device (HK$1,735) are available at JOYCE Beauty, as well as the pocket-sized NuFACE Fix Line Smoothing Device (HK$1,350), which is the world’s first pen-sized microcurrent device cleared by the US FDA for cosmetic use, and perfect for attacking fine lines and wrinkles.

PMD

For those with oily and blemish-prone skin, PMD’s Clean Pro is a must-have double-edged device. At 7,000 vibrations per minute, the ultra-hygienic silicone soft bristles help break down dirt and oil deep within the pores. On the backside, the gemstone facial massager is perfect for massaging in serums and moisturizers.

The Clean Pro (HK$1,400) is available in Blush with Rose Quartz and Black with Obsidian and comes with four customisable modes. For those whose blemish woes don’t stop at the face, the Clean Body (HK$1,240) can be used in other areas where the skin suffers from breakouts due to sweat, debris and ingrown hair.

Available in blush and navy, it includes three interchangeable/replaceable magnetic heads: a silver-infused loofah for gentle exfoliation; an aluminium oxide exfoliator to buff away rough, calloused skin; and a relaxing body massager to relieve everyday body aches.

Sarah Chapman

Sarah Chapman’s Pro Pore Refiner (HK$1,345) puts the sought-after skincare authority’s expertise right in your own hands. This three-step extraction device removes all the deep-set gunk in the pores, leaving the skin smooth and supple.

It features yellow-light thermo-therapy and ionic cleansing, which opens the pores and brings negatively charged dirt to the surface of the skin; blue-light thermo-therapy and ultrasonic vibrations, which massage over blocked areas and loosen them up; and white-light extraction with different intensity levels to remove all dirt and sebum.

Products are available now at the Gadget Bar by JOYCE Beauty at Lane Crawford ifc

The Gadget Bar by JOYCE Beauty, Lane Crawford, ifc mall, Central

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While we all look forward to the summer, one unpleasant consequence of warmer weather can be the appearance of warts on the skin. Dr Lisa Chan advises how to deal with them and, better still, avoid them completely.

As the days get hotter and we tend to wear less clothing, more patients are coming to me with complaints about discovering various lumps and bumps over their skin. One of the most common ailments we see at the clinic are warts, which are small growths that appear as the result of an infection by human papillomavirus (aka HPV).

HPV spreads via skin contact and from one part of the body to another, especially if the skin is damaged or the immune system is weak. It’s more common in children, whose immune systems aren’t as well-developed as adults', while mothers with warts can occasionally spread them to babies through the delivery process or breastfeeding.

Two to six months after infection, warts can appear as brown, pink, grey or flesh-coloured growths. There may also be a pattern of tiny black dots, due to clotted blood vessels. Depending on where the virus takes hold, different types of warts can occur over the face (filiform, flat), hands (common), feet (plantar) or genital areas. When there are several warts in close proximity, the lesions can even appear cauliflower-shaped.

Although warts are benign, they may feel unpleasant to the touch, due to their roughness, and may also be painful because of their protruding nature. Some of my patients are embarrassed when they occur over prominent areas, such as the face and hands, which can interfere with social activities and impact their quality of life. If you do get warts, what treatments are available? You could wait and see if your body gets rid of the warts on its own, which might take several years, and new warts could grow in the meantime. There are also over-the-counter and prescription peels, which can gradually remove the wart after several months.

However, home remedies can cause blistering and scarring. If you have diabetes or other chronic illnesses, it might be best to get warts treated by a doctor if they bother you. Options include carbon dioxide laser, electrosurgery, cryosurgery, curettage or immunotherapy. As there are no treatments for the virus itself, warts may still reoccur after removal.

To lower the chances of getting warts, there are several things that can be done:

• Get vaccinated against HPV;
• Wash hands after touching items used by others;
• Don’t share towels;
• Keep skin dry and clean;
• Don’t bite fingernails;
• Don’t pick at warts – this can spread them to other parts of the body
• Bandage and cover affected areas;
• Don’t go barefoot around public pools, locker rooms or showers;
• Pay attention to good diet and exercise – a stronger immune system will help fi ght off a host of illnesses!

Follow Dr Chan on Instagram for more beauty tips and musings.

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Beauty on the inside may be a tired platitude, but Dr Siew Ng confirms that if your gut health is a mess, then so are you. We get the dirt on what lies beneath.

Dr Siew Ng, professor of medicine and the director of Microbiota – I Centre (MagIC) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong reveals the science of beauty at a guttural level. Quite literally. In this revelatory conversation, she discusses the benefits of a little dirt and grime and how over-cleaning – especially during the pandemic – may have more adverse effects than benefits. In fact, it transpires that there’s more than a little truth in Hippocrates’ saying that all disease begins in the gut.

Of the many fields in medicinal science, why did you opt to go into gut health?

I’m a gastroenterologist, so I specialise in the gut – the digestive system. Traditionally people regard the gut as an organ that breaks down food and provides nutrition, but in recent years it’s emerged that the human gut is capable of more than that – it’s an intriguing organ, like a “second brain”.

Living inside every person’s gut are trillions of microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi and other life forms that are collectively known as the microbiome. They may be naked to the human eye, but they have powerful functions. In part, this dictates our health, our weight, our mind, our sleep, our predisposition to disease and even how well we age.

What does your medical centre focus on?

Our group has recently established a new Microbiome Innovation Centre at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, which aims at developing an effective new class of microbiome medicine that will revolutionise the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases and ultimately improve human health.

What do most people not know about the relationship between what’s happening inside and what’s reflected outside?

Beauty starts from the inside and inside you are loaded with trillions of bacteria which are tied to your probability of things like obesity, diabetes, depression and colon cancer. Like a fingerprint, each person’s microbiota is unique: The mix of bacteria in your body is different from everyone else’s mix. It’s determined partly by your mother’s microbiota – the environment that you’re exposed to at birth – and partly from your diet and lifestyle. The bacteria live throughout your body, but the ones in your gut may have the biggest impact on your wellbeing. They line your entire digestive system. Most live in your intestines and colon. They affect everything from your metabolism to your mood to your immune system. You also have bacteria that colonise your skin and they determine your risk of skin allergies, or eczema or acne.

What are the most common mistakes people make?

Taking too many unnecessary drugs, especially over-the-counter painkillers or drugs for headache, acid reflux, diabetes and psychiatric conditions; all have been linked to affecting our gut microbiome in a bad way. Among them the notorious culprit are antibiotics – they should be avoided and only prescribed when needed to fight bacterial infections, as they can also wipe out good bugs or germs that help build your immune system, and once wiped out it can take weeks to recover, so don’t take them unless you need them. Their use is also associated with obesity and allergies in animals. Even common medications like paracetamol and antacids can interfere with microbes.

We’re also way too clean as a society now (and now with the Covid pandemic it has become inevitable). The environment you grow up in matters a lot. More exposure to good germs and bacteria, within reason, can strengthen our microbiomes. You’ll be surprised to learn that children growing up playing in the dirt or playing with animals/have a pet have healthier guts. So don’t be too hygiene obsessed!

Now some uncomfortable truths for our readers: should they give up alcohol? Red meat? Sugar?

The good news is that in small quantities, alcohol has been shown to increase your gut diversity, which is beneficial, but large amounts are harmful to your microbes and your health. Limiting dairy, red and processed meats and refined sugars can also improve gut health. So can getting the recommended amount of fibre, from 20 to 40 grams a day. Beneficial gut microbes love plant foods and good fats. In return, they can keep your gut happy and your body healthy. Fibre intake has been shown to reduce heart disease and some cancers, as well as reduce weight gain. Steer clear of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, sucralose and saccharine. These additives disrupt the metabolism of microbes and reduce gut diversity – in animal studies this has led to obesity and diabetes. Ditch the processed foods too, as these also upset microbes’ metabolism.

Make sure to eat your vegetables – and fermented foods are gut-friendly. Stock up on dietary sources of probiotics, which are food for your microbiome. It’s important to feed these little guys to give them the energy they need to complete their very important task of managing your enteric nervous system.

How is the microbiome linked to overall health?

The bountiful bugs that make up the gut microbiome may be sensitive to stress and diet, and regulate your weight. One perfect example of this is in weight gain. The microbiome influences weight gain, in part by changing the degree to which your body accesses energy from the food you eat. It’s commonly thought that weight gain is the result of eating too much, but there’s much more going on. Research from our group and that of others have shown that even gut microbes can help explain why some people grow fat. Some microbes help protect us from weight gain and obesity by strengthening the gut lining and maintaining healthy metabolic markers. There’s a new reason to “trust your gut”.

Your gut and skin microbiome are even responsible for stopping the clock when it comes to your complexion and youth. As we age, the number of “good” bacteria in our skin’s microbiome naturally drops. Scientists can predict your age based on your microbiome. The trillions of bacteria on our skin produces short chain fatty acids that reduce inflammation and protect our skin’s DNA. In short, healthy microbiome, healthy skin.

It seems the secret to successful ageing may lie in part in your gut. Studies have shown that it might be possible to predict your likelihood of living a long and healthy life by analysing the trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that inhabit your intestinal tract. As people get older, the composition of this complex community of microbes tends to change and the diversity drops.

How has your own study affected your own life?

Unlike our genes (ie DNA), which we couldn’t change easily, the microbiome (the DNA of our microbes) can be modified to improve health. This knowledge has had a positive impact on my health. Our group has recently developed innovative ways that can provide a comprehensive view of an individual’s gut microbiome using our proprietary analysis platform and to inform people of their gut and metabolic health. Through this test, I can look at the types of good and bad organisms within my gut and help guide my diet. Based on the results, I’ve modified my diet and lifestyle that results in better health and skin. We’ve also developed a new technology that can help predict the risk of colon cancer or its pre-cancer lesions via a stool test. Using this test, I was reassured to discover that I had a low risk of colon cancer and I can be spared of a colonoscopy.

Despite the large number of probiotics available in the market, many of the bacteria may not reach the gut or even survive through low pH in the stomach. Using big data and machine learning, our team has developed a microbiome precision formula that aims to improve immunity against Covid-19 and other respiratory infections, which was tailored to population in Hong Kong and Asia. Preliminary data showed this formula also helps improve Covid-19 vaccine response and reduce vaccine-related adverse effects.

I believe Microbiome research will be a powerful driver of medical breakthroughs over the coming decades.

Can the damage done in the past be reversed now?

For now, remember that the gut microbiome is reactive and responsive to positive change. Just a little more exercise and few more servings of vegetables and whole grains are simple ways to get started.

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A selection of multi-grape blends from single vintages -- all lending credence to every wine snob's favourite theory that Champagne is predisposed to "ageing gracefully".

For all the information that accompanies widespread internet access and the omnipresent, somewhat dogged spectre of social media, a huge chunk of drinkers remain oblivious to the decisive role lees ageing plays in the production of sparkling wine. Ditto whenever you pop a bottle of Champagne: that famously coveted regionality of bubbly, that benefits from anywhere between 2-3 years of ageing sur lie for even the most pedestrian of non-vintages.

In contrast to the EU's wider wine-producing industry (where the minimum statutory requirement is 90 days), in Champagne sufficient time spent on fermentation of flavour is deemed indispensable to the overall process. Away from the predations of light, in a CO²-rich environ that's deep underground, the wines of the Champenoise achieve a kind of miraculous metamorphosis: ageing, evolving, revealing complexities of character.

Of course, every Chef de Cave ('cellarmaster') has their own philosophy pertaining to the vicissitudes that accompany extended lees-ageing. Perhaps most controversially, Vincent Chaperon, Dom Pérignon's Chef de Cave, has long maintained that Champagne doesn't evolve linearly, but rather through a series of multi-year cycles he described as "windows of opportunity, or plenitudes". At DP, that hypothesis expresses itself in three distinct bottlings: the first comes 7-8 years after the wine has been sur lie (what most consumers will recognise as DP's signature, vintage-specific Champagne), the second requires 12-15 years, and the third when a vintage wine has matured on lees for at least two decades. Amongst the brand's devotees, the intermediate 'window' has always been popular, largely because of its association with the 'P2' label -- the most recent expression of which pivots around the famously "challenging" vintage of 2003.

Put plainly, in 2021, there are no shortage of serious Champagne houses releasing cuvées which bear the unmistakable mark of a long sleep in the cellar. In concert with grapes borne of excellent soil and weather, extended lees-ageing can bolster the cellaring potential of a given vintage 10, 20, occasionally even 30 years. At the very least? The process makes for bubbly that is delicious and eminently drinkable. Amidst the height of the Hong Kong summer, you'll find a few of my personal favourites below.

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There is so much to get done when planning a wedding. From huge commitments like your wedding venue and wedding dress, to smaller items like your bride box and party favours. While this whirlwind of activities might be sufficient to get some brides fit for a wedding. You might need a more structured regimen if […]

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When work and life get the best of you so you lose track of fitness goals, Ultra Burn by Naturo Vita could be what you’re looking for to keep weight gain off the table.

Hong Kongers lead busy lives and though most of us know that eating clean and working out is simply all it takes to stay fit, more often than not that’s easier said than done. If your social calendar dictates you’re eating out often and your work calendar makes frequent exercise impossible, there’s still a solution. Naturo Vita, a new brand under Vita Green, is built on the concept of "light wellness", which aims to put urbanites on the natural and simple path towards living a more youthful and healthier life.

Its hero product is Ultra Burn, which claims to accelerate weight loss by combatting stubborn body fat and reducing its accumulation in the body. Ultra Burn combines two exclusive formulas – Ultra BvrnTM and SlimmBoostTM – to create a super product that’s optimised for weight loss. Taken orally, one sachet a time, twice daily, the product claims to be able to reactivate the metabolic system, enhancing the body's ability to burn and break down fat molecules and limiting its formation.

The body typically converts carbs into energy, but if you eat more calories than you need, these are stored as body fat. A ketogenic diet works in a way to limit carb intake, so that the body learns to burn fat for energy as well, but it's also a high-fat diet that no everyone can get used to. The Ultra BvrnTM formula tells the body to convert fat into energy without having to restrict your diet in any way, allowing the body to combat stubborn body fat and reduce its accumulation.

The formula also stops the body from absorbing fat from food, again limiting its formation. SlimmBoostTM, on the other hand, reactivates the metabolic system by enhancing the body’s ability to burn and break down fat molecules – though you may not be exercising much physically, the formula will stimulate the body to burn more calories by speeding up your metabolism.

Naturo Vita’s products are formulated by a passionate group of practitioners in both Chinese and Western medicines, bringing together ground-breaking technology and all-natural ingredients to ensure that the product is safe and suitable for long-term consumption.

Naturo Vita Ultra Burn is most effective when consumed before exercise to aid in fat-burning. Simply dissolve one sachet (the recommended dosage) in 150ml of warm water and drink immediately – twice daily for best results.

Find out more here

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French businessman Nicolas Pollet’s affair with Hong Kong is a long and enduring one. He landed here first as a 19-year-old globe-trotting student before returning home and completing his business education in France (followed by a stint in Montreal, Canada) - but the fond memories of the city lured him back to the East.

The founder and director of Cocoon Concept (specialising in designing and manufacturing outdoor furniture and accessories), he launched his company over a decade ago and his team has successfully refurbished large scale projects within Asia – from hotels, restaurants and bars to the mansions of the famed and fortuned. He also has a lighting company, is an avid yogi and is well-known among the ever-burgeoning French community in Hong Kong.

Earlier this year, while continuing his other enterprises, he surprised everyone by launching Anandha Wellness: a lifestyle product with the healing properties of cannabidiol, better known as CBD.

Name: Nicolas Pollet
Profession: Entrepreneur
Industry: Cosmetics and Lifestyle
Company Size: 7+
Startup Since: 2020

When did you decide to launch your own company and what was the impetus for you to start your own establishment?

I’ve been in Hong Kong for over a decade, and I was already working on my own business with Cocoon Concept Ltd. An extension of that, in the same field, we had Eden Cordless Lighting (which specialises in portable lighting solutions).

During the pandemic, I stepped into the wellness industry. At a time when everyone was looking inwards, at self-care and soul searching, we created Anandha Wellness Ltd, a CBD cosmetics company in 2020 and a lifestyle company in 2021. The drive to work on this new project was to find products that could really make a difference. Vision, curiosity, coupled with advocacy for wellness, soon saw the launch of Anandha.

For Hong Kong, that’s a novel way to hit the elusive CBD market.

We believe that cannabinoids (CBD - CBG) can really help people. For health, for sleep, for stamina, for comfort, and much more. Everyone can find a safe and efficient answer to specific needs. We believe that everyone should be fairly treated and can make the world more harmonious with concerted effort. Our mission would be to enhance people’s mental health, boost everyday energy, help with relaxation and protect animals.

Do you have partners?

I do not have any partners, but the team is composed of highly motivated and talented individuals that share the same vision and passion.

Apart from a digital presence, are the products available in stores?

Apart from the e-commerce platform www.anandha-wellness.com, we are also doing partnerships with a few spas (Sense of Touch), practitioners (Balance Health) and retailers (Stormie at K11).

What’s so unique about each item?

We realised that so many people decide to create their own brand of CBD products by mainly sourcing existing formulas and adding their logos on the box! CBD is amazing but it has complex ingredients. It's like we created a cocktail with different flavours - but you need to be very thorough and precise in your formulas.  

Companies, especially in the UK and the US, have spent decades developing their special recipes with the best raw materials and received universal praise from their peers. We just decided to bring it to Hong Kong. We opted for the best in the world in their own specific categories; cosmetics, therapeutic, relaxation, booster and even for pets!

What have been the challenges? Have to ask the pandemic questions, how did it disrupt your industry?

The million-dollar question. The pandemic was indeed a massive challenge to overcome, but it also gave us the kick we needed to adapt ourselves to a new reality. To be honest, there were challenges we faced every day during the pandemic... it's a long list. I could write a book, but I’d rather talk about the rewards and accomplishments. To put it simply, it was tough... but we made it through the dark, into the light.

What’s a normal work day for you?

I wake up early, take my dog for a walk. Chill for a few minutes to practise some breathing exercises, jump on my motorbike to go to the office. Lunch break is usually yoga and a salad. I’m back home by 7:30pm to spend time with my family and then, early to bed. The late nights of partying in Central or Sai Kung are long gone since I've had my daughter.

As a teen – was this the passion – what did you aspire to be? 

As a child I did not know what I wanted to become, I spent a lot of time outside with friends and playing sports. I was always heading out to nature – the call was strong to go into the wild. My father taught us early to respect the planet and made it a point to show us its beauty. It is deeply embedded within me now. In terms of professional direction, I do not recall any strong attraction to work in an office or a specific calling. I just went with the flow.

What advice would you give others trying to establish their own company in Hong Kong? 

Have a business plan! It sounds simple, but many people have great ideas and they decide to give it a try and follow their dream – but with no planning, no strategy, no research, no development. Even fewer people give themselves the means to succeed. My advice is to take the time and energy to diligently understand what you are stepping into. It is not the most fun part of starting a dream, but it is necessary. Back to the books!

Where would you like to see your company in five years? 

Between the moon and the sun! Actually, I am planning to slowly expand the concepts to other Asian countries. Stay tuned Singapore, Korea, Philippines, Thailand… we are coming! Can you let the Prestige teams there know?

Sure!

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