Liv Magazine October 2015

FITNESS

NUTRITION

WELLBEING

TRAVEL

E CO

S PA

FREE

O C TO B E R 2 0 1 5 | l i v - m a g a z i n e . c o m

UR O S IT’ IRST !

F UE ISS

Just a Quickie

ORGANIC VEGGIES that don’t cost a bomb A HEALTHY FUDGE RECIPE? we show you how

fifteen-minute fitness? sign us up

Flying Yoga as reviewed by an exercise newbie

Caring Cambodia

support social enterprises while you travel

Eat clean now!

We meet Hong Kong’s new superfood gurus

WIN spa treatments, dining vouchers and gourmet goodies on page 14

OCTOBER 04 Editor’s Letter

LIV | NEWS 06 It’s a Date

Events for your diary

08 Hot Right Now

New on the wellness scene

LIV | MORE 28 Food

Order organic veggies straight to your door

31 Recipe

10 Fresh Cuts

32 Pamper

12 Cheat Day

34 Travel

15 Column

42 Family

Restaurant news that’s good for you

Because #YOLO

Our reluctant fitness reviewer tries aerial yoga

LIV | STORIES 16 Superfood Superheroes Meet the new pioneers of healthy eating in Hong Kong

22 The HIIT List

Can you really see results from a 15-minute workout? We find out

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10

Raw fridge fudge from Raiz the Bar

We test-drive two spa treatments. It’s a hard life

Eco-tourism in Siem Reap

Childcare courses every new family should take

8

46 Expert Opinion

Mindfulness, and why you need it

50 How I Liv

Cara G Mcilroy of Genie Juicery

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EDITOR’S LETTER

A WELLNESS REVOLUTION

is happening in Hong Kong. In the past 10 years, we’ve seen the city transformed from somewhere you’d party all night long, before heading to Wan Chai to party some more, to a place where people are eschewing the fleeting pleasures and lingering hangovers of 24-hour hedonism. Instead, we are eating clean, working out and enjoying Hong Kong’s sun, sea and natural beauty like never before. We’re tired of spending all of Sunday recovering from Saturday night. We want to live.

And that’s where Liv Magazine comes in. A publication for Hong Kong’s wellness community, we are all about helping Hongkongers feel their best and get the most out of life in this crazy, exhilarating city. Our mission is to inform, inspire and entertain Hongkongers from all walks of life - from couch potatoes to Crossfit fanatics - and help them live just a little better than they did yesterday.

For our inaugural issue, we’ve rounded up some local Superfood Superheroes (p.16). These artisanal manufacturers of healthy snacks and supplements are harnessing their passion for healthy living to bring Hongkongers quality food that’s good for you too. We’ve also delved into the world of High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT (p.22), to find out how you can get an intense, effective workout in just 20 minutes. Elsewhere, we’ve got a list of under-the-radar veggie delivery services (p.36), courtesy of the Green Queen blog, and details of an inspirational trip to Cambodia (p.28).

Welcome to Liv. We hope you like it.

Sarah SARAH FUNG PUBLISHER

facebook.com/livmagazine.hk

www.liv-magazine.com

liv.magazine, #livmagazine

Say hi hello@liv-magazine.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS Exercise fanatic Zoe Belhomme loves to work up a sweat - usually so she can eat that extra slice of cake! For the first issue Zoe uncovers why intensity is the key to reaching your fitness goals.

Mum-of-two Kate Farr is a writer, editor and blogger. This month, she’s looking at essential new parent courses that save your sanity and shopping the best buys in family wellness.

Green Queen Sonalie Figueiras is passionate about healthy eating and spends her weekends recipe-testing cleaner versions of classic comfort food. In Liv’s inaugural issue, she rounds up the newest organic produce delivery in town.

Former nightife writer Andrea Lo is a total newbie when it comes to exercise, which is precisely why we picked her to review wellness classes for our inaugural “Well I Never” column.

Since landing in Hong Kong four years ago, journalist Kate Springer has made a career of exploring Asia. In this issue, she hunts down green news for her Travel Well column and meets conscientious travel operators in Cambodia.

Buy an ad sales@liv-magazine.com

Liv Media Limited Makerhive, 10/F, Cheung Hing Industrial Building, 12P Smithfield, Kennedy Town PUBLISHER SARAH FUNG SALES JASMIN BLUNCK GRAPHIC DESIGN TAMMY TAN CONTRIBUTORS ZOE BELLHOMME, KATE FARR, SONALIE FIGUEIRAS, ANDREA LO, KATE SPRINGER RESEARCHER VALARIKA JAIN SPECIAL THANKS ZACH HINES, BLACKIE HUI, EDMUND IP, TOM HILDITCH PRINTED BY GEAR PRINTING Copyright 2015 Liv Media Limited. The content provided here is the property of Liv Media Limited and may not be reproduced in any part without the written permission of the Publisher. The information provided by Liv Media Limited’s contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or the company. The information provided by Liv Media Limited, or its staff, advertisers and contributors is given in good faith; readers should gather more information before making the decision to purchase any goods or services highlighted here. Liv Media Limited will not be held responsible for any action, omission or error resulting from actions taken on the basis of the information provided here. Please seek the approval of a doctor before following any health advice.

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1933 NAPIER-RAILTON

s r a c c i s s a l Cintage Family Festival

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tertainment n e e v i l s e l c i h ve unique clnatsasigce retail food & beverage vi

9 -11 OCT 2015

CENTRAL HARBOURFRONT

中環海濱活動空間

www.HKCLASSICCARS.COM TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE AT HKTICKETING.COM HK$100 GENERAL ENTRY | CHILDREN UNDER 12 FREE

Calendar

IT’S A DATE This month’s hottest happenings

NOVEMBER 8

The city’s best-known trail-running series, the MSIG HK50, kicks off with a 50K race around Hong Kong Island on November 8. Then there are two Lantau races on December 5 and 6, and a final event in Sai Kung on February 20, 2016. There’s still time to sign up; spaces are open right up until the day before.

Visit www.actionasiaevents.com for more details.

UP! GN W SI NO

Photo: Lloyd Belcher

UNTIL OCTOBER 18

SPIN CITY From now until October 18, the Mandarin Oriental is offering twice-daily weekday spin classes on its spa's outdoor terrace. With just six people per class, you'll get to work up a sweat in the fresh(ish) air either at 7:30am, when the business district wakes up, or at 7:30pm, when the evening lights flicker on. On Saturdays, the class is held at 9am. The hour-long session cost $550, inclusive of access to the spa's gorgeous facilities.

24/F, Mandarin Oriental, 5 Connaught Rd., Central, 2825-4888.

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Calendar

NOVEMBER 7-8

SEVENS HEAVEN

Come root for team HK at the Asian Rugby Sevens Olympic Qualifiers. It’s to be held at Hong Kong Stadium, home of the Hong Kong Sevens, where more than 60,000 fans are expected to cheer on our home side as they battle it out for a place at the Rio 2016 games, where Sevens rugby will be making its Olympic debut. Silly costumes are optional.

Weekend pass: $360; single-day pass: $200 from ticketflap.com.

FROM OCTOBER 4

The Tong Chong Street Market is back! Starting October 4, every Sunday from now until December 27 will see this pedestrianised area in Quarry Bay transformed into a food market with a (mostly) healthy twist. There’ll be gourmet goodies galore from local foodpreneurs, including freshly made treats from 3/3rds (pictured), Pololi, Teakha, Green Common, Levain and more.

Free, 11am-5pm, Tong Chong Street, Taikoo Place, Quarry Bay, www.tongchongstreetmarket.com.

OCT 9-11 DON’T MISS

HONG KONG CLASSIC

OCT 18 THE BIG SWIM

FROM OCT 10 URBAN FARM WORKSHOP

It’s too late to join the New Learn how to grow your own urban Put on your best greaser World Cross-Harbour Race, but farm at the Fringe Club roof garden. costume and admire the classic go cheer on the swimmers as 3-5:30pm, Oct 10 and 24, and Nov 7. cars on display, with plenty they make the crossing from $380 per workshop, includes a of food and fun in the sun.

Sam Ka Tuen to Quarry Bay. non-alcoholic drink. $100, Central Harbourfront.

Splashdown: 8:30am. www.rooftoprepublic.com. www.hkclassiccars.com 7

HOT RIGHT NOW News from the wellness scene

Lindsay Jang, the restaurateur behind the everpopular Ronin, Yardbird and Sunday’s Grocery, has branched into fitness with the launch of Topfit, which opened at the end of September. The elite training gym, situated on the cusp of Central and Sheung Wan, is geared toward fitness mad c-suite types, with high-end equipment and bespoke group classes. Serious athletes can opt for specialised personal training that delivers real results. All of this, of course, without skimping on luxury and style. The curved grey walls, super amenities and views over Queen’s Road Central all make Topfit a luxe addition to the fitness scene.

3/F, The Wellington, 196 Wellington St., Sheung Wan, 2776-7298, www.top-fit.com.

TWICE THE SPICE

Spicebox Organics, Sai Ying Pun’s USDA organic health food store, is bringing its pantry essentials to a brand new location on Caine Road. Expect Spicebox’s own label of carefully sourced grains, pulses, flours and other cookery essentials, plus a great selection of healthy goodies from both local and international brands. What’s more, shoppers will be able to make a proper visit of it, with the addition of a petite cafe serving gluten-free muffins, healthy cakes and bulletproof coffee, to name just a few treats.

Shop 1, Golden Valley Mansion, 137 Caine Rd., Mid-Levels, www.spiceboxorganics.com.

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Cool Stuff

NICE AND RUMI

Next time you’re looking for a new pair of yoga pants, pick up a pair of brightly-patterened capris from made-in-HK brand Rumi Yoga Wear and do your part to help save the planet. Believe it or not, these leggings are made from recycled plastic bottles, and the soon-to-come tops are made from old coffee grounds.

Buy at stockists citywide, including Sparks Fight & Fitness Club, 9/F, Asia Standard Tower, 56-65 Queen’s Road Central. Or shop online at rumiyogawear.com.

BIRCH, PLEASE

October is breast cancer awareness month, and brands all over the city are pitching in to raise awareness and money for the Hong Kong Cancer Fund with pink products galore. If you’ve always wanted a pair of Repetto ballerina flats, now’s the time to splurge: the brand is donating 30 percent of proceeds from purchases of its Cendrillon shoes ($2,650). Or for a cool gym bag, Hellolulu is donating 10 percent of sales of its bright fuchsia Ottlie backpack ($898) to the cause. And don’t forget: dress pink day is October 23.

Find a full list of participants at www.cancer-fund.org/pink.

While coconut water remains a gym bag staple, people looking for the next big thing in natural healthy drinks are all talking about birch water. Harvested from Scandinavian birch trees, birch water is tapped from the trees just two weeks each year at the start of springtime, when spring water is drawn up through the roots and infused with goodness from the tree.

Proponents claim that birch water is packed with electrolytes, antioxidants, cholesterol-lowering properties and xylitol for healthy teeth. Sibberi is the currently the only birch water brand available in Hong Kong through outlets including Cabinet Organics and berrytime.com, where it’s $40 per bottle.

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Dining

FRESH CUTS Dining news that’s good for you

DO THE HOKEY POKE

Lunching in Wan Chai just got fresher, with the launch of Mahalo Tiki Lounge’s new poke promo in collaboration with Pololi, Hong Kong’s original poke shack. Poke (pronounced poh-kay) is a traditional Hawaiian salad of cubed raw fish seasoned with soy, sesame oil, sliced onion and chillies. Lunchtime at Mahalo it’s served with a freshly-squeezed juice for $120 - take it out onto their gorgeous terrace for a real lunchtime getaway.

29/F, QRE Plaza, 202 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 2488-8750, www.mahalotikibar.com.

FARM-TO-TABLE FEAST

Healthy options can be in short supply along Wyndham, but Fish & Meat’s new daytime set menu makes for a light but leisurely working lunch. Starters include the Devon crab salad with quinoa, mango, avocado, cucumber and capers, or the marinated raw yellowfin tuna with compressed watermelon and soy sauce. For paleo peeps there’s a grassfed beef tartare with pickled jalapeno, duck yolk and parmesan. For mains, think sustainable seafood such as pan-fried barramundi with fava bean, chorizo and artichoke, or Australian blue mussels with pancetta in a herb

GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT One of the most exciting openings of the year - and not just in the wellness world - Sai Ying Pun’s everpopular Grassroots Pantry has taken on a much bigger space right on Hollywood Road. Formerly the site of The Press Room, Grassroots - founded by healthy food pioneer Peggy Chan - is dedicated to 10

serving Hong Kong with nutrient-rich, plant-based cuisine that caters to dietary restrictions while still maintaining its flavour.

108 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2873-3353, www.grassrootspantry.com.

Dining

WHAT DO HEALTHY PEOPLE EAT?

Syed Asim Hussein, Black Sheep Restaurants Give us your eating philosophy in a sentence.

I believe in eating clean and I try to eat as diverse a range of nutrient-rich foods as possible, but I also believe in having fun - sometimes you just need an ice-cream sundae.

broth. Desserts (because why not?) include a light Sicilian lemon tart or pavlova with berries and passionfruit coulis.

Availble Mon-Sat noon3pm. $198 for two courses; $218 for three, inclusive of coffee or tea. 1-2/F, 32 Wyndham St., Central, 2565-6788, www.fishandmeat.hk.

Where do you go for a quick, healthy lunch?

I eat lunch at Motorino most frequently where I order exclusively from the antipasti menu. A typical lunch would be a plate of roasted peppers, and either octopus salad or oven roasted calamari. I’d say I eat a Mana wrap at least once a week.

Being in the restaurant industry, how do you keep from overindulging?

A lot of people seem to think that What do you eat after eating out equals eating unhealthily, a workout? and my experience is I’ll often grab a tub of the exact opposite. guacamole from Whilst I rarely opt Cali Mex and for the healthiest eat with Mary’s thing on the menu, Gone Crackers I won’t opt for the from Just Green. most indulgent either. I dine What’s your go-to snack when you at Carbone most Friday nights – I need a boost? generally order a glass (or two) of Either a Key West or Mint Chocolate red wine, octopus pizzaioli salad smoothie from Nood Food. I keep (pictured) and the balsamic glazed a selection of nibbles in my office – chicken massimo. It’s important that almonds, chia seeds... but my stash I eat five to six small meals a day – the gets raided all the time. trick is to not gorge.

What do you usually have for breakfast?

Eggs with eggs and more eggs.

On weekends I’ll add organic turkey bacon and crushed avocado on toast with fresh chilli, green onions and coriander. I also make a mean French toast. The key is pink salt and cinnamon.

What three items do you always have in your fridge?

Organic eggs, Harmless Harvest 100 percent raw and organic coconut water and Alter Eco dark chocolate.

When was the last time you ate McDonalds?

Not that long ago! My best friend and I extended the merriment of our trip onto the plane back from Koh Samui. By the time we arrived at Hong Kong airport the golden arches sang out to us. I’m not proud - but it was good!

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Dining

CHEAT DAY

Because life’s too short to always order the salad

BEAST MODE: ENGAGED

If you think there’s nothing better in this world than a damn good sandwich, you’ll love Bread & Beast. The young Hong Kong chefs behind the brand have reinvented the humble sarnie with freshly baked bread, succulent house-made pickles and slow-roasted, nose-to-tail meat. Having taken the street market scene by storm and worked their way into becoming the hottest event caterers in town, this October they’re opening their first bricks-and-mortar restaurant in Wan Chai. Pictured is their “ngau laam” beef brisket sandwich, which reinterprets a local classic dish with a runny poached egg and crunchy pickled pak choi.

3 Swatow St., Wan Chai, www.breadandbeasthk.com

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S FR T E U E F F !

Giveaways WIN: A $1,000 dining voucher for Grassroots Pantry Sai Ying Pun’s best-loved vegetarian cafe, Grassroots Pantry has moved to a prime spot on Hollywood Road. Run by healthy eating guru chef Peggy Chan, expect earth-friendly vegetarian dishes served with finesse and a whole load of heart. We’ve got three $1,000 dining vouchers up for grabs.

Address: 108 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, www.grassrootspantry.com.

Deadline: October 28

WIN: An 02 Collagen Infusion Facial from Retreat

by Bodywize The gorgeous, multi-award winning spa, Retreat by Bodywize, is offering Liv readers a chance to win its 90-minute 02 Collagen Infusion facial. The facial provides a big oxygen boost to reduce inflammation, encourage detoxification and strengthen the skin.

Afterwards, customers will find their skin calmer and brighter, while pores are minimised and scars and pigmentation less noticeable. We have one facial to give away, worth $2,680.

1/F, Cubus, 1 Hoi Ping Rd., Causeway Bay, 2111-1656, www.bodywize.com.hk.

Deadline: October 28

WIN: A manuka honey and peppermint tea set from The Peninsula Boutique The Peninsula Boutique may be best known for its indulgent handmade chocolates, but it also has a selection of top-notch healthy teas and honey. The Active 18+ Manuka honey from New Zealand has a host of health benefits, while the whole-leaf peppermint tea aids digestion, reduces stress and enhances your mood. We have five honey and tea sets to give away, worth $790 each.

Address: Basement, The Peninsula Hong Kong, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2696-6969, www.peninsulaboutique.com.

Deadline: Oct 28

visit liv-magazine.com/giveaways for a chance to win!

Column

WELL I NEVER...

ANTI-GRAVITY YOGA

In a new column, former nightlife writer Andrea Lo vows to get fit... by trying the most unconvential fitness classes Hong Kong has to offer.

One student was literally hanging upside-down while furiously texting on her iPhone

My name is Andrea and I am unhealthy.

How so? Let me explain.

For three years, I was a nightlife writer.

I literally had to party and drink cocktails several times a week for “work”. My bar crawls regularly took me past Pure in SoHo, and I couldn’t fathom why someone would want to go and work out on a Wednesday night when they could be going for happy hour instead.

So when I stepped down as the queen of nightlife and was presented with the opportunity to try to get fit by reviewing some of Hong Kong’s most unique workouts and health programs, I thought that it was a sign that I should perhaps cut back on my partying ways and bring a little wellness into my life.

The first class my editor sent me to was antigravity yoga at Epic Yoga Studio. Everyone in Hong Kong is obsessed with yoga, but... confession time: I have never done a yoga class. In fact, I had to borrow a pair of yoga pants. I mean, who doesn’t own yoga pants?

I entered the studio, which accommodates 13 aerial yogis. It’s decked out with a mirrored wall, padded mats on the floor and of course, red hammocks hanging from the ceiling. One student was literally hanging upside-down while furiously texting on her iPhone. Yeah, we know you’re good at yoga/ being healthy/winning at life, OK? No need to rub it in.

Ignoring upside-down-texting yogi, I went to my hammock. Rachel the instructor kicked off by having us sit in the hammock and gently swing back and forth. “Maybe this is something that I could do every day”, I thought.

I was abruptly snapped out of my newly acquired zen, however, when we were told to flip the material around our bodies and somehow put our legs up in the air, dangling

upside-down just like the texting yoga was doing earlier. The person next to me flipped her legs up and dangled down with ease.

OMG. I panicked. Fortunately Rachel came over to help.

As she manouvered me into position I felt a huge headrush, the likes of which I usually experience after one too many glasses of rose.

We were told to concentrate on our breathing; I contemplated asking to be put upright again.

I told myself to just “work on my breathing” like everyone else seemed to be doing, and after a few minutes I started to feel OK. Any easier moves in the class were interwoven with positions I found almost impossible. Some full body inversions were completely beyond my abilities, but it did feel good to stretch out my whole body afterwards.

The best was the winding down part: we were told to lie inside the hammock, completely covering ourselves in the fabric, and then gently carry out a series of movements where we stretched out in our cocoon and then hugged ourselves tight again. Then the lights went down.

Sadly, the time spent in my fabric cocoon wasn’t long enough for me to metamorphose from nightlife queen to wellness babe, and soon after class I found myself on the streets of Central again, off to meet my friends for drinks.

I wonder how many fitness trials I need to go on to convert me from bar-hopper to fitness fiend. I guess we’ll have to find out.

Epic Yoga Studio, 3/F, Man Hing Commercial Building, 79-83 Queen’s Road Central, 3487-0524, www.epicmma.com/web/epic-yoga.

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Cover Story Story

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We meet the entrepreneurs bringing real food to Hong Kong.

By Sarah Fung

FOODCRAFT If you’re following a paleo diet or have food sensitivities, Foodcraft is a lifesaver. Started by raw chef Shima Shimizu (right), who has been preparing healthy raw foods for more than six years, Foodcraft creates healthy snacks that are variously paleo-friendly, vegan, raw or free from grains, soy or gluten.

Favourite snacks among Shimizu’s customers include raw coconut yoghurt, rawnowla, nut butter and grain-free cookies. She also teaches customers how to create “free-from” foods at home at Foodcraft’s newly opened kitchenslash-event space in Kennedy Town. In addition to classes and its own brand of healthy snacks, Foodcraft also also distributes products by international healthy food brands. “I want to bring

more joy to people, and get them to take ownership of their health. Doctors are for when your health goes out of your control, but I trust that we should all be responsible for our own health”, she says.

Flat A, 21/F, Yuiga Factory Building, 62 Victoria Rd., Kennedy Town.

2545-2488. Snacks available online at www.foodcraft.hk.

Raw chefs believe that in order for food to maintain its optimum nutrition levels, it should reach a temperature no greater than 48 degrees celcius during the preparation process.

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Originating from the Northern Caucuses, kefir is a fermented drink made from milk or other lightly sugary liquids and “grains” of gut-healthy bacteria cultures. It’s said to help promote digestive health and alleviate symptoms of food intolerances.

RAIZ THE BAR

For anyone embarking on a low-sugar lifestyle, chocolate can be the hardest habit to kick. But with Raiz the Bar’s organic, cold-processed, low-GI treats, it’s time to ditch the Ferrero Rocher once and for all. Founded by raw chef Priscilla Soglio and her sister Rachel Whitfield, Raiz the Bar’s small-batch organic treats are about as heavenly as it gets. Many of the ingredients are sourced from sustainable farm co-ops in Indonesia that the sisters have visited personally and where farmers are paid fairly for their products, and the bars are processed right from the bean in Raiz the Bar’s factory in Kwun Tong. “We want Hongkongers to know that when they purchase our chocolate they are not

only supporting ethical and sustainable growing practices, but they are also supporting makers striving to create the healthiest allergen-free, locally-made chocolate,” says Soglio. If it all sounds a bit too good to be actually tasty, rest assured the chocolate is delish, without the gritty texture of other healthy bars.

Soglio recommends the “Balance Me”, which comes flavoured with fleur de sel and cacao nibs, or the “Passionate Me”, flavoured with raspberry rose acai.

Available at health food stores citywide, including Spicebox Organics, Genie Juicery and Mana! Raw. Visit raizthebar.com for more stockists or to buy online.

Raiz the bar’s smallbatch organic treats are free from refined sugar, soy, dairy, gluten, peanuts and agave.

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Cover Story

QUO KEFIR BELIEVERS Natural probiotics are the latest big health trend. Believers attribute healthy gut flora to a reduction in allergies, clearer skin and improved digestion, and Quo Kefir Believers seeks to supply health-conscious Hongkongers with the lightly fizzing health drink. The four founders - Melody and Jennifer Fong, and Karen and Vanessa Cheung - got into the kefir craze after Karen’s young son was diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity.

After experimenting with various healthy foods, they felt the tangible benefits of adding probiotics in the form of kefir to their diets, and so decided to launch Quo in April this year. Right now Quo offers four core products: a fizzy coconut waterbased kefir drink, coconut kefir yogurt, gluten-free granola and fresh coconut

water. It’s definitely a labour of love: the small-batch production process ensures that everything is fresh and preservativefree. “We buy fresh Thai young coconuts each Monday morning, according to the number of orders we receive by Sunday evening. Then we crack, pour, scoop and ferment until Tuesday. Bottle, package and deliver on Wednesdays. Everything is made fresh that week and we never have any leftover stock”, say the team.

Right now Quo is just covering its costs, but for the founders it’s all about health and education. “A healthy mind and body starts in the gut. Without proper gut health, your body will never perform at its best”.

Available online at www.quohk.com.

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LOVE TRUE FOOD

A graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute, Lakshmi Harilela has been running ayurvedic nutritional consultancy Love True Food for the past eight years, offering customised vegetarian diet plans for clients based on the results of an ayurvedic health assessment. For Harilela, food isn’t just fuel: “The reason I got into health food was because I noticed how much food impacts health and well-being, not just the body, but the mind and emotions”, she says. Charity work is an important part of the Love True Food ethos; it partners with food charities Feeding Hong Kong and Pathfinders to help eradicate hunger in the city. In addition to nutritional consultations, Love True Food also offers pre-prepared vegan meals that are sold at i-Detox, healthy vegetarian cooking classes, menu consultation, private dinners and catering. “My vision is to make people love what they eat. Food is just not physical; it is the food we feed our mind, emotions and body that really counts”. lovetruefood.com.

BODY AWAKENING

Can’t sleep? Chronic insomniacs have woken up to the news that taking a magnesium supplement can help you nod off. How? It’s known to help the body naturally relax and wind down the central nervous system.

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Popping a vitamin pill is no cure-all for Hong Kong’s late nights and long lunches, but the food-based supplements

by Body Awakening come pretty close.

Started in 2012 by husband and wife team Jessica and Zachary Williams (she has a Masters in holistic nutrition and he runs a company distributing medical products to pharmacies and hospitals in the US and Europe), Body Awakening’s cleansing kits and supplements are organic, pharmaceutical-grade products that have earned rave reviews from customers. “Really, the only thing we do more than breathe is eat, so of course what we put into our body has the power to heal or wreak havoc on our health”,

says Jessica. It offers powdered greens to help you get a veggie hit, magnesium supplements to aid muscle recovery and improve sleep quality, probiotics to boost gut health and cleansing kits to help reboot your system. “Our Probiotic+ is one of our best-selling items. It’s a powdered high potency probiotic that contains 25 billion healthy bacteria per serving. It’s shelf-stable, making it great for people who travel”, Jessica adds.

Find the supplements at health stores citywide, including Just Green and The Store, to name just a few. Buy online at www.body-awakening.net.

Cover Story

JACK & SPARROW Powdered greens are an increasingly popular way to add some oomph to your diet, particularly for Hongkongers with little time to shop and prepare healthy meals. Enter Jack & Sparrow, a young Hong Kong company that sources its organic powdered blends from New Zealand to ensure that everything is clean, pure and additivefree. Having soft launched in July, right now it offers three blends: Blades of Grass, a pure wheatgrass powder; Bounty of Barley, a barley grass powder; and Barrel of Greens, a blend of spirulina, chlorella, wheatgrass and barley grass. The brand was co-created by nutritionist Megan Jack and graphic designer Marleen Spreeuwenberg, who met in Hong Kong eight years ago and bonded over a love of healthy eating and great design. “We always brainstormed over a glass of wine about starting a great brand together

Want to make these tasty treats? Just whiz up 1 1/2 cups of strawberries, 1/2 cup of natural yoghurt, 1 tsp of honey and 1 tbsp of “Barrel of Greens” powder. Freeze in moulds and serve.

which combined our love of nutritious food and organic produce. However, we both were too busy with our respective jobs, until we decided early this year that it was now or never”, says Spreeuwenberg. With its fun, quirky branding, nutritionist credentials and dedication to quality and traceability at every turn, Jack & Sparrow is planning to expand, and quick. “We go to great lengths to check and guarantee that what our customers receive is only the best organic, pure and safe natural products we can find”, adds Spreeuwenberg. Stay tuned for an expanded product line in 2016.

Want More?

Get your superfood fix here at these great venues.

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i-Detox

One of the original purveyors of superfoods in Hong Kong, i-Detox is a one-stop shop for all kinds of healthy snacks and supplements. Think raw cacao, sprouted vegan proteins, ancient grains and kelp, to name just a few. Health supplements, kitchen appliances, organic skincare and household cleaners also available; shop in-store or online.

1/F, V Plus, 68-70 Wellington St., Central, 3904-1072, www.i-detox.com.

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For more information and to find a list of retailers, visit jackandsparrow.com.

Anything But Salads

Tons of superfoods available here: think rawnola, sprouted nut butters, cacao, kale chips, healthy crackers and more.

14 Tai Ping Shan St., Sheung Wan, 6743-5000, anythingbutsalads.com.

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Spicebox Organics

Pantry essentials for the healthy home cook, sourced and packaged by the Spicebox team.

Shop 1, Golden Valley Mansion, 137 Caine Rd., Mid-Levels, www.spiceboxorganics.com.

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Nood Food

The health food arm of the Pure group, you’ll find postworkout smoothies, salads and tasty raw dishes such sugar-free cacao mousse, healthy coconut macarons, raw coconut yogurt and other goodies.

Outlets citywide, including Kinwick Centre, 32 Hollywood Rd., Central, 8199-8189, www.allnood.com.

Green Vitamin

Wheatgrass specialist that sells vegetables and appliances, as well as its own line of healthy snacks, including kale chips, kefir, coconut yogurt, flax crackers and cocoroons. Shop for snacks at health food stores citywide; online shopping also available. greenvitamin.hk.

21

Can you really see results with just 20 minutes of exercise?

Zoe Belhomme looks at how High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, is helping Hongkongers get fit in a fraction of the time.

I

n busy Hong Kong, where so few of us can afford to spend hours in the gym, time-poor health enthusiasts are looking to fit in their fitness in as little time as possible.

HIIT, or High Intensity Interval Training, allows you to reap high returns on your workout in half an hour or less.

While the acronym might sound intimidating, HIIT simply describes any workout that alternates between intense bursts of activity and fixed periods of less-intense activity or even complete rest - common regimens include Tabata, workouts that take place in four-minute intervals; or Les Mills GRIT classes. The idea is that by pushing yourself to the max for short bursts, interspersed with recovery periods, you can get a more effective workout in a shorter period of time.

22

Fitness

Over the past few years HIIT has increased hugely in popularity and in 2014 was even named the hottest fitness trend of the year by the American College of Sports Medicine.

But while some exercise fads go out of fashion as quickly as they came, it’s likely that HIIT is here to stay, especially in Hong Kong, where classes across the city, from spin classes to bootcamps, are starting to incorporate elements of its principles.

How does HIIT work?

When you work out at a high intensity, it increases the body’s need for oxygen. During each rest period your body asks for additional oxygen to compensate for the shortfall that’s amassed during the workout time.

This uses up energy and in turn burns fat. As a bonus, HIIT creates an after burn effect known as EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption).

This fires up your metabolism so you burn additional calories for up to 24 hours after interval training, increasing your burn from 6 to 15 percent.

Compare this to say, going for a jog,

which burns almost no calories postworkout.

Torq spinning studio offers HIIT classes with on and off-bike exercises. Founder Margaret Kao launched the class for its efficiency and effectiveness. “You can achieve the results of a one-hour cardio workout in just 20 minutes. HIIT is also accredited with the preservation of muscle mass, increased fat burn, weight loss and increasing metabolic rates, so it is great for toning the whole body”, she says. “With so many people complaining that they are too busy to fit in a proper regular workout, HIIT really is the perfect exercise. You don’t even need any special equipment just 20-30 minutes and a bit of space to blast out a session”.

Linds Russell is the founder of ApeFit, one of Hong Kong’s leading outdoor bootcamp classes. Her group sessions regularly incorporate HIIT principles. She says, “I incorporate movements such as bear crawls or burpees at an intense pace for 20-30 seconds and then allow the trainees to recover for 5-10 seconds

You can achieve the results of a onehour cardio workout in just 20 minutes

THE HIIT LIST PURE FITNESS Offers group classes in GRIT and Tabata. www.pure-fitness.com.

CROSSFIT TYPHOON Bootcamp classes. www.crossfittyphoon.com.

TORQ TorqHit combines bursts of spinning with off-bike drills. www.torqcycle.com.

APEFIT Outdoor bootcamp that incorporates HIIT elements. www.ape.fit.com.

FLEX STUDIO HIIT Cardio Body class to get your heartrate up. www.flexhk.com.

23

before pushing them to do another energetic burst”, she says. “There are unlimited possibilities with HIIT just using the great outdoors of Hong Kong: squats, stair runs, frog jumps, sprints, crunches and planks - none of them require specialist gym equipment. We scale the exercises depending on ability which allows for anyone, beginner or advanced, to get involved”.

Hear it from the converts Julia Wood has been a fitness enthusiast her entire life, but over the past 18 months has attended classes at CrossFit Cavaliers in Happy Valley. She says “Both the crossfit and bootcamp workout programs are broad and include elements of weights, cardio and gymnastics.

Most importantly, my performance is measured and progress over time is tracked, which makes a huge difference compared to jumping on a treadmill and jumping off again when I get bored or tired. The results that I have seen in my strength and physicality have been unparalleled to any other fitness I have done before.”

Sophie Forsyth, a young professional working in Hong Kong, has also noticed a difference in her performance during sports matches since she has started incorporating HIIT into her gym sessions “I tend to work out on my own in the gym so I have to make sure I push myself to the limit during each effort period.

I play sports so I find HIIT the best way to keep my fitness up and ensure I perform my best during matches”.

But while there are undeniable benefits of HIIT, due to the increased

24

The results that I have seen in my strength any physicality have been unparalleled to any other fitness I have done before intensity there is a greater risk of sustaining an injury. It’s also generally acknowledged that by doing too much you’ll get adrenal burnout and potentially experience a lack of motivation.

The healthy approach is to mix up the type of exercises you do each week. Lifting weights is amazing for shaping your body but a good run in the open air does wonders for your mood, hormones and the health of your connective tissue. For flexibility and core strength try yoga and Pilates, while dance, boxing and martial arts can improve reaction time and coordination.

Fitness

HIIT AT HOME The beautiful thing about HIIT is that it requires no equipment.

Pete Fisher from Ultimate Performance gives us a set of drills that anyone can replicate.

“This is a circuit called The Escalator. the most complex movements come early in the workout so that form can be maintained.”

STEP 1 BURPEES: 5 REPS • Begin in a standing position • Drop into a squat position with your hands on the ground • Keep your arms extended and kick your feet back • Return your feet to the squat position • Jump up from the squat position • Rest 10 seconds

STEP 4 SQUATS: 15 REPS • Make it harder: perform an extra ¼ at the bottom position.

If it’s still too easy then perform 2 extra ¼ reps at the bottom position • Rest 10 seconds

STEP 2 PUSH-UPS: 10 REPS • Make it easier: Drop the knees to the floor to make the movement easier • Make it harder: Slow down your movements to three seconds each way • Rest 10 seconds

STEP 5 GLUTE BRIDGES: 20 REPS • Lie down on your back and bend your knees so that your knee is at a right angle • Drive through the heels of your feet, lifting your hips up to the ceiling. Ensure that you are squeezing your glutes hard to initiate the movement. Hold for 10 seconds at the top • Rest 10 seconds

STEP 3 ALTERNATING LUNGE: 20 REPS (10 EACH LEG) • Make it easier with a split squat. Assume a stationary lunge position; this will make the movement less dynamic • Make it harder with a jump split lunge. Assume the lunge position and dynamically jump in the air switching your lead leg so that you land in a lunge position on the other leg • Rest 10 seconds

Tip: If you have trouble maintaining an upright torso then elevate your heels with a couple of books

STEP 6 MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS: 30 REPS (15 EACH LEG) • Assume a push-up position.

While maintaining tightness through the abs and lower back, dynamically bring your right knee towards your chest • Return to the start position and repeat on the other side • Make it easier: Elevate your hand position • Rest 90 seconds

25

LIV | MORE FOOD............P.28 PAMPER........P.32 TRAVEL.........P.34 FAMILY...........P.42

WISH YOU

WERE HERE? This dreamy scene is from Song Saa, a private island getaway in Cambodia. Not only does the resort focus on health and wellness as a priority, it’s all made from sustainable raw materials and is committed to protecting the marine reserve it calls home. Plus, Song Saa assists the local community by providing healthcare, education and agricultural supplies. Find out more on p.34.

27

Food

Trying to decide on an organic vegetable supplier? Check out these under-the-radar delivery companies, writes Green Queen’s Sonalie Figueiras.

Photos: Evergreens Republic

I

f you’ve always wanted to try getting your greens from a veggie delivery company, look no further. We’ve found five new top-notch produce platforms to get those greens straight into your refrigerator - now there’s no excuse for not getting your five a day.

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EVERGREENS REPUBLIC

Certified USDA Organic, Evergreens Republic grows its produce using a state-of-the-art aquaponics system in its Lau Fau Shan greenhouses. It offers a huge range of produce, including a large range of specialty and difficult-to-find leafy greens and herbs and seven different types of tomatoes. It

Food

also has three sizes of cost-effective weekly subscription boxes. Choose between Western produce, local produce, or a mix of both.

Delivery is free for orders of $350 or more, and takes place Tuesday to Saturday. Orders placed before 1pm are eligible for next-day delivery, which is everywhere in Hong Kong although times may vary.

2472 0038, www.evergreensrepublic.com.

FRESHHK

FreshHK works directly with certified organic Hong Kong fruit and vegetable farmers to offer a moderate selection of local and Western produce that changes seasonally. It also stocks a selection of fruits, nuts and herbs that are not local but are certified organic. Pricing varies but in general, they are competitive.

Delivery is free for orders over $250 and same day delivery is offered on Hong Kong Island for orders placed before 11am.

2851-3220, freshhk.com.

MAGIC SEASON ORGANICS

Growing everything on its certified organic farm in Qingyuan, China, Magic Season Organics offers a rotating selection of seasonal vegetables with its offerings leaning towards local varieties and leafy greens. It offers subscription boxes as well as individual vegetables to order, and prices are very competitive. Check the website for a list of what’s available, before placing your order via email. Credit cards, Paypal and cash on delivery are all accepted; delivery takes place every Tuesday and is free for orders over $150.

ORGANNET MARKET

OrganNet Market works directly with eight HK-ORC certified organic local farms, which means it offers a very wide range of seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs including both local and Western varieties. Produce is selected individually and pricing is set by each individual farm, which means you get very reasonably priced veggies. There is a 10 percent service charge as well as an additional 5 percent for paying with either cash or a credit card; bank transfer is free. Delivery, which is free, is available throughout Hong Kong, with deliveries taking place on Tuesdays and Fridays.

9588-7061, www.organnetmarket.com.

ECOFARM

Offering certified organic vegetables from China’s pristine Jiangxi province at a fantastic price, Ecofarm allows customers to choose one of two sizes of subscription box, or else make their own customised order. The subscription boxes focus on vegetables, including a great selection of leafy greens, but the build-your-own-box option allows you to pick from a very wide selection of fruits and herbs as well as all of Ecofarm’s vegetable options. Deliveries take place on Mondays for orders placed by Thursday of the previous week.

5509-9869, www.ecofarm.com.hk (online shopping coming soon).

6683-9119, www.magicseasonorganics.com.

Sonalie Figuerias is the founder and editor-in-chief of Green Queen, Hong Kong’s premier green living platform. www.greenqueen.com.hk.

29

Adventure Awaits.

Count it toward your daily vegetable intake.

www.jackandsparrow.com

Food

HEALTHY RECIPE

RAW FUDGE

By Priscilla Soglio and Rachel Whitfield, Raiz the Bar This no-cooking-needed fudge is super easy and free from dairy, gluten and refined sugar. The almonds and pistachios pack a protein hit, too. Makes around 36 squares.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups raw cacao powder, sifted • 1 cup raw cacao butter (2 cups shaved, then melted bain-marie style under 45C) • 1 cup raw unsalted pistachios • 1/2 cup raw almond butter • 3/4 cup maple syrup • 2 tsps vanilla extract • 2 tsps ground cinnamon • 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan crystal salt • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

DIFFICULTY LEVEL: Easy

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together all ingredients except cacao powder and pistachios until well combined and smooth.

2. Add the sifted cacao powder and pistachios to the bowl and whisk until all ingredients are well combined. Use your hands to work the dough. You should have the consistency of a thick fudge dough.

3. Prepare a 9-inch square pan with removable bottom lined with parchment paper, or 2 sheets of overlapping plastic wrap. Press fudge dough firmly into the pan and place into the freezer for 30 minute to 1 hour to set.

4. Remove fudge from the freezer. Lift out of pan and transfer to a cutting board. Slice fudge vertically then horizontally into square pieces, or into desired shape.

COOKING TIME: 30 minutes prep, 30 minutes in the fridge

STORAGE:

The fudge will keep well in the fridge for a month, or in the freezer for a couple of months in an airtight sealed container 31

Pamper

SPA REVIEWS

TOOTH-WHITENING AT

THE SMILE BAR THE BUZZ: Launched just two months ago, The Smile Bar is a tooth-whitening centre that uses Swedish products to gently whiten teeth. The gel used is just six percent hydrogen peroxide, compared to some 40 percent used by many dental clinics, meaning that there’s no stinging, sensitivity or weakening of the tooth enamel. The team there recommends first-timers go for a 40- or 60-minute session for best results, with 20-minute sessions better suited for top-ups.

THE PROCEDURE: We were led to a mirror where we used a row of plastic teeth to measure the level of discolouration on our gnashers. The staff were careful to manage expectations, as results from the treatment vary.

Then we were led to a plush red-lined egg chair, where we were handed a mouthguard filled with the whitening agent. We were given glasses to wear and a bright blue light was positioned right up against our teeth. Then we were left to relax, with a staff member checking up on us periodically. After the treatment our teeth were much more evenly coloured and we had gone up two shades a very satisfying result for just 20 minutes.

BEST BIT: The awesomely plush egg chairs that you kick back in while you wait for the treatment to take effect. The staff hand you a pair of stylish Bose headphones for added chillaxing.

WORST BIT: The Nano Seal tooth protector, which prevents staining in the 72 hours after the treatment, is an add-on service for $250. It such a vital step that it would be nice if it came included as part of the treatment.

WOULD YOU GO BACK? We can see ourselves returning for a quick session before a big event.

THE COST: $588 for 20 minutes.

Location: 1/F, Hang Wai Commercial Building, 231-233 Queen’s Road East, Wan Chai, 2620,0615, www.the-smile-bar.com.

32

R E A D E R’S D E A L !

For the month of October, first-time visitors to The Smile Bar can try a 20-minute tooth-whitening session, plus nano-seal, for $548. (orig. ​$838); a 2 x 20-minute toothwhitening session, plus nano-seal, for $908. (orig. $1,238); or a 3 x 20-minute tooth-whitening session, plus nanoseal, for $1,248. (orig. $1,638). Just mention Liv Magazine when making your booking.

Pamper

VITAL SKIN HEALTH FACIAL AT SENSE OF TOUCH LKF WORST BIT: The wooden onsen tub in the room looked in pretty poor condition. Time to throw it out, guys!

THE BUZZ: Straight out of a lab that specialises in medical-grade anti-microbial products, Japan’s Rehydrator La Peau by Zeal Cosmetics has launched in Hong Kong exclusively at Sense of Touch. It’s a top seller in Japan for its ability to treat skin conditions such as dermatitis, eczema and acne by targeting the bacteria that causes these complaints. Along with the product line, SoT offers two facials: Vital Skin Health for problematic skin, and Hydra Age Defense Facial for mature skin.

WOULD YOU GO BACK? Anyone suffering from dermatitis or acne needs to try the all-in-one moist serum. It’s $1,300 but a little goes a long way.

THE COST: $980 for 75 minutes.

Location: 52 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2526-6918, www.senseoftouch.com.hk.

R E A D E R’S D E A L !

THE PROCEDURE: The facial itself is pretty standard: cleanse, exfoliating peel, mask, face and scalp massage. It’s the products here that make the difference - they’re gentle enough to be used on babies and yet powerfully calming and balancing. Our skin was noticeably less red and more refined afterwards.

Throughout the month of October, Liv Magazine readers can book either facial at $800 for 75 minutes, and also receive 20 percent off product purchases. Mention Liv when making your booking.

BEST BIT: the results! For such a gentle facial the effects were beyond our expectations.

the conscious choice...

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33

CHANGE COMES

SIEM REAP

TO

Since opening up to tourism in 1993, Cambodia’s Siem Reap province has become one of Southeast Asia’s “mustvisit” destinations. But with social and environmental issues still rife, a handful of conscientious travel operators have emerged to lend a hand.

By Kate Springer

S

pend just a short time in Cambodia and you’ll see that tourism has exploded.

Look to the right and see a procession of tour buses pulling up. Look to the left, and there’s a bright orange flag trailed by 25 lanyard-toting tourists. It’s probably not quite what you imagined when planning your dream trip to Angkor Wat. Behind the scenes, it’s chaos too: the country is still reeling from three decades of civil war, and poverty is rife. But a crop of communityoriented tour operators and hoteliers has emerged to empower the Cambodian people through sustainable travel, education and environmental initiatives.

34

The Issue: Mass Tourism

In 1994, a year after the country opened up, Cambodia saw just over 176,000 international arrivals. Twenty years later, that figure has skyrocketed to 4.5 million tourists bringing in US$2.7 billion, according to the Ministry of Tourism’s June 2015 statistics report. Not surprisingly, w ​ ith the attractions of Angkor Wat, the province of Siem Reap accounts for the lion’s share, welcoming 46 percent of the country’s total arrivals in 2014.

Tourism trends have created an opportunity for niche luxury tour providers such as AboutAsia Travel. Started in 2005, the business provides “without the crowds” tours

Travel

and off-the-beaten track experiences, such as sunset cocktails on the Angkor Thom moat and early morning bike rides around lesser frequented temples.

Since first stepping foot on Cambodian soil in 2003, AboutAsia Travel founder Andrew Booth has watched tourism change dramatically. “When I first came, you could get up close to the walls of Angkor Wat, and in B ​ anteay Srey you could wander in between the temples and see the details”, he recalls.

After graduating from Oxford University with a degree in Natural Sciences, Booth worked in investment banking for 15 years.

“At 37 years old, I was ready

to do something different,” he says. “I was lucky to travel the world with a nice camera.

When I came through Cambodia, I actually didn’t find it to be the most photogenic place, but the people were genuine, generous and optimistic”.

An initial stay of five days turned into 17, and soon he was launching a full-fledged business. Booth saw the rich assets in Cambodia, and sensed that a tourism boom was coming. “It was a wondrous place with incredible potential but tourism wasn’t very well done”.

Though it’s an understated part of the business, AboutAsia Travel has a non-profit arm that supports schools around the Siem Reap Province. Over the past 10 years, AboutAsia Schools has provided assistance to 111 schools and has influenced the education of 53,000 children through donations of school supplies, as well as providing access to fully funded English classes, a Teacher Training Academy and community learning resource centers. “I wouldn’t claim for a moment that we support all of [these schools and kids] at one time, but in ways big and small, we have enhanced education”.

Photos: AboutAsia Travel

THE FINE PRINT: AboutAsia Travel donates 100 percent of its profits to running and developing AboutAsia Schools’ programs. Tours from US$157 per day, including guides and accommodations at a five-star hotel. Learn more at www.aboutasiaschools.org.

35

The Issue: Endemic Poverty To the outsider, Siem Reap may appear prosperous. However, the province is still an area locked in extreme poverty. “When I moved back here after the war, it was like ground zero. There was nothing. Even today, people in the countryside don’t have clean water to drink, to shower, or to clean”, says Sokoun Chanpreda, the co-founder of Shinta Mani Club & Resort and its nonprofit Hospitality Development Center, which provides hospitality training to Cambodians.

“How low can you get as a country?”

Born in Battambang province, Chanpreda and his family fled the country when the Civil War started in 1970. Chanpreda grew up in Thailand but returned to Cambodia in 1993 to work as a volunteer at Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope in Phnom Penh. In the years following, Chanpreda shifted his attention to Siem Reap where his family owned property.

He began developing the luxury Hôtel de la Paix in 2002, now the Park Hyatt, with no intention of it becoming a community project.

At the time, Cambodia lacked

skilled hospitality workers and Chanpreda’s plan was to hire expats and house them where the Shinta Mani Club stands today. “Looking around, there were so many desperate situations. We thought we should train the local people instead”.

With this in mind, Chanpreda founded the Shinta Mani School of Hospitality in 2004, with Shinta Mani Resort and Club to come later. From 2004-2010, the school trained 175 Khmer students.

It also supported nearby rural communities with over 1,000 wells, 90 houses and 900 piglets.

Shinta Mani offers hospitality training for Cambodians

In 2010, the school expanded its scope to train young adults in a hospitality program not just for Shinta Mani but for other hotels as well - and was renamed the Shinta Mani Development Center. “Often, the families depend on the kids to earn a living so [the children] don’t go to school”, says Chanpreda.

The 10-month-long program selects between 20 and 30 students each year and teaches them English, hygiene, hospitality, cooking, housekeeping and general life skills.

The Shinta Mani Foundation provides school materials, uniforms, bicycles for transportation, two meals a day and a rice stipend to support and feed the family until the student finds a job. “It’s like the old saying 36

‘Don’t give the poor a fish, teach them how to fish’. But we actually we go one step further and find the pond with fish so that they can catch them”, Chanpreda explains.

Shinta Mani

Travel

Explore rural Cambodia with AboutAsia Travel Song Saa’s private villas are all made from ethically sourced raw materials

THE FINE PRINT: The training program costs about US$1,900 per student, per year. The Shinta Mani Resort covers 50 percent by allocating US$5 from every room per night to the center, which covers administrative fees and salaries.

Donations usually provide for the remainder of the tuition. Rooms from US$162 per night. Learn more at shintamani.com/foundation.

The Issue: The Environment

While mass tourism hasn’t quite caught up with the coast of Cambodia, the remote islands in this fragile ecosystem are facing threats of overfishing and deforestation.

Song Saa Private Island’s founders Melita and Rory Hunter stumbled upon the little island in the Koh Rong Archipelago on the promise of a clear Scuba diving site.

“While circumnavigating the area, we stopped off on this island where there was a small community,” recalls Melita. “The head of the family was talking about how it was over-

37

fished and how he wanted to return to the mainland to farm rice. So he asked us, ‘Do you want to buy my island?’ And so we did”.

As Melita and Rory explored the island, they encountered residents and offered to pay them to help clean up the rubbish. “We talked to the islanders about setting up a marine reserve that would protect this big coral reef that’s thousands of years old,” says Melita.

Six months later, the Hunters began noticing some promising changes. “We started seeing this beautiful white sand emerge from under all the black rubbish,” says Melita. “It went from nothing to an abundance of sea life: we have huge barracudas, little baby sea turtles, sea horses and spotted stingrays”.

While legalizing their ownership of the island, Melita and her husband came up with the idea for Song Saa Private Island: a private island escape with just 27 villas. An interior designer, Melita designed the place herself, making use of naturally occurring resources, such as sandstone and driftwood - all beautifully re-imagined to suit the rustic location.

The Hunters later established Song Saa Foundation, a registered

nonprofit which addresses problems in three key areas: sea, land and people. Among its many projects, the foundation has created a marine research center, developed reforestation initiatives, built waste management facilities on nearby islands and implemented programs to conserve and study the surrounding marine life.

“There will always be the kind of tourism that is not so sensitive”, says Melita. “But there has been a ground swell of ‘conscious travelers’ coming to Cambodia looking for operators who give back, respect the people, and take a restorative approach to tourism”.

Song Saa’s private beach

THE FINE PRINT:

38

Approximately 0.5 percent of Song Saa Private Island’s gross operating profit funds the Song Saa Foundation, with the rest covered by donations, charity campaigns and the hotel’s “Journeys of Change” program that donates the profits of three four-night stays per month to the Foundation. Allinclusive rates from US$1,440 per night, based on double occupancy. Learn more at songsaafoundation.org.

Song Saa from above

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Travel

TRAVEL WELL with Kate Springer

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW

Chengdu’s panda sanctuary

The retro-chic Witt Istanbul Hotel recently unveiled a beautiful new rooftop garden restaurant as an example of micro-agriculture. Guests at the 18-room property and travelers alike soak up the sun on the 160-square-meter rooftop terrace, which includes a permaculture garden overlooking the Bosphorus. All the homegrown bounty goes into the roofto-plate menu, so expect just-plucked lavender in your tea, arugula in the salads and raisins for the granola for a truly fresh dining experience.

26 Defterdar Yokusu, Istanbul, Turkey, (+90) 212-293-1500, www.wittistanbul. com.

Farm-to-table takes on a whole new meaning at Witt Istanbul

CHENGDU, HOW D’YA DO?

The Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain, Chengdu

40

One of my favorite wellness hotel brands, the Six Senses, recently touched down in Chengdu, bringing its eco-chic designs and awesome service to the Chinese countryside. About an hour outside the city, the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain has planted its flag in the UNESCO World Heritage & Natural Cultural site of Dujiangyan, which was once part of the Silk Road and is now home to giant panda populations. Of course, rustic

doesn’t have to mean disconnected the hotel comes with plenty of modern amenities. For health-conscious travelers, there’s a smoothie bar as well as Farm2Fork restaurant, which serves western and Chinese classics made with fresh-from-the-garden ingredients. And of course the property’s crown jewel, the Six Senses Spa is not to be missed: it’s hidden across a bridge and behind a waterfall, so prepare for an indulgent adventure.

Dong Ruan Road, Qingcheng Mountain Town, Chengdu, China, (+86) 28-8728-9871, www.sixsenses.com.

TRUSTY TOURS

When you’re traveling around Southeast Asia, sometimes “green” and “sustainable” don’t exactly mean what you’d hope. I’ve been to “eco-friendly” resorts that have paved over a jungle to make a road and dined at “sustainable” restaurants that throw out heaps of untouched leftovers. For travelers who want to be truly sustainable, tour operator marketplace Responsible Travel has ranked national tourist boards according to their commitment to sustainable tourism as communicated on their websites. Responsible Travel rated 50 popular destinations based on several criteria—policies, local community support, cultural initiatives, evidence-based reports and readily available educational information. The big winners? Bhutan, South Africa and Sweden all scored top marks. And the biggest losers? China, Ethiopia and - surprisingly Finland and the US. So… see you in South Africa?

Read more at www.responsibletravel.com.

Kate Springer is an Asia travel expert based in Hong Kong. Tag along on her adventures at Wish You Were Here (wywhere.com), or find her on Instagram and Twitter @KateSpringer.

41

Family

A CLASS ACT New to parenthood? Take the anxiety out of those early days by taking one of these super-useful classes. By Kate Farr ANTENATAL

Looking for an antenatal class “made and led by people who know their stuff”? Your first stop after that little blue line appears should be Annerley, a Hong Kong institution that has gently steered baffled parents-to-be through the process of pregnancy and birth for well over 20 years. Founded by midwife and mum-of-four Hulda Thorey, whatever questions you have, you can be sure that the team at Annerley will have heard them before.

When asked how best expectant parents can prepare themselves for what’s to come, Hulda suggests that the one-size-fits-all approach taken by many hospitals is rarely the best option. “Have positive, professional and ethical healthcare. Mix different professionals and make informed choices. Take antenatal classes that are personalised and don’t assume everyone wants the same!” In that spirit, Annerley’s 11-hour Babies and Beyond course ($4,450) offers traditional antenatal prep covering all the essential information that can be adapted to your needs, while the Hypnobirthing sessions ($5,340 for 13 hours) encourage expectant mums to tap into their innate instincts to assist with delivery.

17/F, Tak Woo House, 17-19 D’Aguilar St., Central, 2983-1558, www.annerley.com.hk.

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FIRST AID

We all hope we’ll never have to use it, but acquiring infant and child CPR skills should be right at the top of every parent’s list of essentials.

Founded by UK-registered nurse and health visitor Yvonne Heavyside, The Family Zone offers regular paediatric first aid and CPR classes for parents, along with dedicated sessions for helpers that also include more general baby care.

The CPR sessions focus on what to do in a crisis, tackling choking, poisoning and broken bones, amongst other scenarios that we tend to mentally file away under “too horrible to contemplate” but should definitely be prepared for. www.thefamilyzone.hk.

Family

FITNESS

Speaking of delivery, we’re sorry to say that it’s not called “labour” for nothing. Being in decent shape before you give birth will not only help you deal with the rigours of the delivery room, but may also help to stave off back problems as your bump grows. Flex offers pre- and postnatal Pilates classes that are designed to help mums-to-be maintain peak physical condition throughout pregnancy and beyond. And if you’re concerned about the safety of continuing to work out while pregnant, co-founder Heather Thomas Shalabi reassures mums, saying, “Because Pilates is based on controlled motion, there is little risk of overstretching the ligaments and joints.

Furthermore, Pilates exercises have modifications for each trimester, enabling practitioners to continue working out right up to their delivery date”. If your bub has already made an appearance but you’re not yet feeling the love for your old skinny jeans, a post-natal class will help you get your body back without fear of injury.

3/F, Man Cheung Building, 15-17 Wydham St., Central, 2813-2399, www.flexhk.com.

MASSAGE

Being a parent can be challenging, but let’s be fair, being a newborn baby bombarded with sensations is probably no picnic either. With all these sights, sounds and new skills to acquire, is it any wonder that most little ones succumb

to a full-blown screaming tantrum every now and then? Help them to relieve their tension in a gentler way with an infant massage class. Matilda International Hospital holds regular courses led by a certified instructor from the International Association of Infant Massage. The classes teach parents the correct techniques to help calm and soothe their bubs, offering a bonding experience that also comes with knock-on health benefits, including reduced colic and constipation and - the holy grail for all parents - improved sleep. www.matilda.org.

INFANT SIGN LANGUAGE

You can’t truly call yourself a seasoned parent until your little darling has pitched an epic hissy fit in the middle of a supermarket/doctor’s surgery/church service, leaving those around you rolling their eyes. Baby Signs Hong Kong teaches infant sign language, meaning that your bub can more clearly communicate, hopefully avoiding (or at least diminishing) fully-fledged tantrums in the process.

Teaching your little ones to sign their basic needs, such as “hungry”, “full” or “sleepy” can cut down frustrations on both sides, and may even help to speed up language acquisition later on. An introductory course plus class materials for at home practice is $900-$1,000 per family, depending on the location. babysignshongkong.com.

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Family

FIT FAM with Kate Farr

Trying to create a healthier lifestyle for your family can be an uphill struggle in a city where even bananas come individually packaged in clingfilm.

Each month, I’ll take a look at three family-focused products that support health and wellness for your tribe.

Here’s what’s in my basket right now:

BUG OFF

Para’Kito: now in kid-friendly designs

Hong Kong’s subtropical climate brings with it lush native flora, balmy seas... and biting bugs a-plenty. If you’re tired of your kids being eaten alive by mozzies and sandflies but baulk at dousing them in DEET, then Para’Kito’s new children’s range is the answer to their itches. The three funky neoprene wristbands feature cute underwater designs that kids will actually want to wear – the pirate-themed band was a huge hit with our four-year-old. Pop in a

Bubs will love Little Freddie’s nutritious purees

refillable pellet and the patented blend of seven essential oils will deter bugs without the chemical haze for about two weeks.

Para’Kito bands cost $160. Buy online at www.hk.parakito.com or in store at Mannings, Mothercare, Escapade Sports, Bumps to Babes and larger branches of Wellcome.

CRAZY FOR COCONUT Coconut oil has long been recognised as a miracle product, with a mind-boggling number of applications (seriously, Google its myriad uses), ranging from wood polish to butter substitute to nappy balm... You get the idea. New to Hong Kong is Coconut Matter, an all-organic range produced to strict ethical trade standards from coconuts hand-pressed in the Solomon Islands. Signature product “Wild” is virgin coconut oil with a pleasantly mild flavour, while “Free” is a more versatile odourless alternative. More exciting still is the organic chocolate coconut jam. I’ve stashed this Bounty-Bar-in-a-jar in a safe spot and am scheduling some quiet one-on-one time with a spoon ASAP.

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Coconut Matter oil prices range from $160 to $210 for 500ml; chocolate coconut jam $145 for 320ml. Buy online at www.coconutmatter.com.

Family

INSTANT GOODNESS Much as we all love to turn out impeccable home-cooked meals for our kids, there are times when life gets in the way, so the odd few pre-prepared pouches are undeniably handy to have in the cupboard. Little Freddie is a new, developed-in-Hong Kong range of nutritionist-designed organic baby food pouches for kids from weaning up to three years, making graband-go a guilt-free option for busy mums. With a range of 100 percent

organic European ingredients that includes grass-fed Pembrokeshire beef, strawberries from Southern Italy’s Campania region and Atlantic salmon from the wilds of Donegal, this range is set to provoke serious food envy from the grown-ups.

The Little Freddie range starts from $18.80. Available in store at Eugene Baby and Bumps to Babes, with more retailers coming soon.

Kate Farr is the co-founder of writing and editing agency Editors’ Ink (editorsinkhk.com). She also blogs about Hong Kong family life at Accidental Tai-Tai (accidentaltaitai.com). Send your family health news to kate@editorsinkhk.com

Clinics throughout Hong Kong Duddell Street, Central: 2526-7533 Repulse Bay Arcade: 2812-7231 Grand Centre TST: 2730-4437 New Town Tower, Sha Tin: 2604-4388 Yuen Long Centre: 27960-022 Visit www.byrne-hickman.com for details

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Q&A

MIND OUT Mindfulness has been hailed as a revolutionary way of training your brain to become more present, more resilient and less emotionally reactive. But what exactly is mindfulness, and how can we get some, like, now? We speak to Stuart Lennon of Mindfulness Central to learn more.

In a nutshell, what is mindfulness?

Mindfulness is a way of training the mind, through repeated practice, to be less reactive when we face difficulties. It’s a means to reduce frustration and pressure by deepening awareness of emotions and patterns of thinking.

How is it different to meditation?

Mindfulness is about coming into closer contact with what’s happening in your experience, noticing the way you’re reacting at a micro level. This involves meditation to deepen awareness, but it’s also about how you act in daily life situations. Broadly speaking, there are two types of meditation: concentration practice, and insight practice. Concentration practice can be very calming at the time that you’re doing it whereas insight practice brings insights into how and why we act the way we do. Insight practice, also known as mindfulness, is transformational in that it leads to major changes to the way we deal with difficult thoughts, emotions and situations.

Photo: Ashley Larson Photography

Give us an example.

Let’s say you have a difficult boss or partner who might be very critical and demanding. That can lead to your thoughts being constantly dominated by the fear of what they’re going to do or say next. Ultimately you could be overwhelmed by a constant state of tension that doesn’t let up even when you’re not around them.

Mindfulness offers the tools to manage the negative thoughts, to gain greater awareness of emotions, and an increased ability to manage your reactions.

MIND MATTERS

Several studies show that regularly practicing mindfulness can lead to many positive mental and physical health benefits, such as…

• A reduction in anxiety, depression and irritability • Improved memory, reaction times and mental and physical stamina • More fulfilling relationships • A reduction in key indicators of chronic stress, for instance hypertension 46

• A reduction in symptoms associated with chronic pain • A reduction in drug and alcohol dependence • Improved immune system

Q&A

WHERE’S YOUR HEAD AT? Read our checklist and see if you could could do with some mindfulness in your life.

• You regularly turn over interactions in your head, thinking about what was said and what it meant • You work in a high-pressure or toxic work environment • You find yourself so overloaded with commitments that you’re starting to forget things

• You get angry on customer service hotlines, or in shops • You suffer from chronic smartphone addiction • People around you seem to be trying to make life difficult for you Stuart runs free mindfulness classes in Central every Monday lunchtime, and offers a six-week introductory course. mindfulnesscentral.com.hk

Hongkongers are super busy. How can they make time for mindfulness?

You can start a mindfulness practice with just ten minutes a day. And practicing mindfulness can actually result in a lot of time being freed up.

You find yourself ruminating less, and therefore carrying out tasks with greater focus and efficiency. You can find yourself caring a little less about things that seemed absolutely crucial before, which opens up more space in your daily routine. The best way to make time for mindfulness is to simply start practicing it.

direct way to bring calmness and steadiness into your life at any moment.

We’re used to living in a state of constant reaction to the pressures around us: both external factors such as other people, and internal ones such as our own thoughts and the expectations we think others have of us.

With mindfulness practice we can open up more space between the pressure and our reaction. So instead of leaping into action at the slightest provocation, we find ourselves pausing, noticing ourselves about to react, and finding a way instead to respond.

How can I apply the ideas of mindfulness in my life?

Whenever you face a challenging situation, or find yourself caught up in difficult patterns of thought, take a moment to stop, and move awareness into the sensations of the body. Are you tensing up? Are you gritting your teeth, or tightening your fingers? Pay attention to the physical sensations that are present, rather than getting lost in thoughts and reactions.

Moving awareness to physical sensations activates the body’s relaxation system. It’s a simple and

Why is mindfulness important in a place like Hong Kong?

Hong Kong is a great place to live in many ways, but it’s not without its frustrations. People are constantly busy and stressed, and under a lot of pressure. Bringing greater awareness to how we interact with others and how we manage our own thoughts and emotions gives us greater resilience and greater happiness.

This guy could probably do with some mindfulness

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MARKETPLACE DNAFit-liv-outlines.pdf

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MANAGE YOUR THOUGHTS; CHANGE YOUR REACTIONS Mindfulness training in Central for more awareness, composure and calm.

Teacher: Stuart Lennon has completed a yearlong teacher training qualification with the Mindfulness Training Institute For more information visit http://mindfulnesscentral.com.hk

GROW YOUR BUSINESS WITH US! Reach out to health-mad Hongkongers from just 17 cents per copy email sales@liv-magazine.com for details

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Back Page

Wellness has been a part of my life since childhood. My mum has always been into wellness and her beliefs certainly rubbed off on me.

The hardest thing I’ve ever done is happening right now. I’m having to balance being a mother, a wife, running a business, running a house and working as a model.

I set up Genie Juicery to help educate Hong Kong about the benefits of healthy eating.

When we started Genie there was nothing else like it on the market. Now, as the population has become more enlightened on the subject, healthy options have been in high demand.

My favourite healthy food is chia seeds we use them on everything. They are full of antioxidants, fibre and protein. You can add them to salads, muffins or add to your morning green smoothie.

To me, being healthy means living a well-balanced life: eating foods that are wholesome and make you feel good from the inside out and treating yourself well.

I keep fit by walking. We walk everywhere.

I have a big dog, Roxy, who needs frequent walks throughout the day. On the weekend we like to hit the hiking trails around the city.

My favourite place in Hong Kong is Tai Long Wan in Sai Kung. The surrounding hikes are exquisite and the beaches are amazing.

It’s well worth the adventure.

My favourite place in the world is home, and for me that’s Australia. I love visiting my family on home soil - the beaches, the lifestyle and having my mum there. Being away from Australia for so long I’ve really come to appreciate how amazing the country is.

When I get stressed, I try to get out of the house and clear my head. These days, taking Roxy for a walk does this. She always seems to get me back to my calm state of mind.

When I’m feeling demotivated I think about my daughter, India. She is my biggest motivation these days and the thought of her always spurs me on to be the best version of myself.

I balance work and life by being super organised! I’m lucky to have an amazing helper who can watch India and help around the house while I go to work appointments or other business commitments.

HOW I LIV

CARA G MCILROY Model, mum of two and founder of the Genie Juicery, Cara G Mcilroy was one of the pioneers of Hong Kong’s juice craze. She talks to Liv about balancing business, family and modelling.

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Genie Juicery: Shop 2096B, IFC Mall, 8 Finance St., Central, geniejuicery.com.

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