Reviews
TEST-DRIVE Liv checks out the newest workouts and wellness trends
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WORKOUT
URSUS Women’s Programme Holistic Bodywork Therapy with Rahul Kaira The Buzz: Touch therapy is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on fixing the body’s natural energy flow through healing touch. The idea has always intrigued us, so we booked a session with Hong Kong-based therapist Rahul Kaira. A 16-year-veteran, he integrates his physical work with other spiritual practices, such as “de-armouring” - the art of releasing blocked energy, emotions and tension from the body. The Session: We arrive at Rahul’s home studio in Shek Tong Tsui. Inside, ferns frame a mural of a lush forest, and we relax on a comfy mat, letting the stress of the outside world melt away. He starts by accessing our akashic records, a cosmic database of events, emotions and words of the past, present and future, and says a blessing. Then he gives us a dynamic Thai therapeutic massage, gently rocking and stretching each limb. He also massages our abdomen using an ancient practice called Chi Nei Tsang, while guiding us through a visualisation and breathwork. We close the session with a prayer beside an altar made up of candles, crystals and spirit animals. The Verdict: The nature of touch therapy may sound prohibitively intimate, but Rahul establishes trust by always asking for permission before initiating any form of touch. We find out that he’s also highly empathic, taking the time to understand our unique physical and emotional needs. Following the session, we have a strong sense of catharsis. We feel seen. Cost: $1,500 per hour for the initial session; subsequent sessions cost $1,400 per hour.
The Buzz: Gyms can be intimidating environments for women. To remedy that problem, two fierce female fitness gurus, Santina Philips of URSUS Fitness and PT Kirsteen Thain, have teamed up, launching a new summer programme. The goal? To help women feel confident enough to walk into any gym and get an effective workout. We signed up for the four-week pilot, here’s how it all went down! The Programme: We meet on Sunday morning for orientation, where we set goals and test performance. Bam and Kirsteen outline what to expect: on Tuesdays and Sundays, we focus on strength training for our legs and glutes, while on Thursdays, it’s maximum calorie burn through metabolic conditioning. The hour-long workouts incorporate a mix of barbells, free weights, cardio, even some strongman training! They also explain how women need to train differently to men, thanks to factors like hormones, and give us some diet guidelines to follow for optimal results. The Verdict: If you’re looking to kickstart your fitness routine, look no further! This is a great introduction to learning how to train safely, while pushing yourself to your limits. Santina and Kirsteen are constantly on hand to support and challenge everyone, and with a capped class size of 15 women, there’s also a ton of group morale. Not only do we smash our initial performance indicators, we feel like we’ve got a great fitness foundation moving forward! Cost: $4,200. The next series starts August 16, and runs for six weeks on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings at 8am. ursusfitness.com
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