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Model mum acts on finding the right balance

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Almen Wong Pui-ha is a master of balance - physically, in her role as a yoga instructor, and mentally and emotionally as a successful businesswoman and mother of two.

Ms Wong is a former model and actress and is co-founder of the Pure Group, which includes Pure Yoga, Pure Fitness and Red Bar + Restaurant. But it's not just managing time that concerns her. She is also trying to find a balance between the traditional style of mothering, which she grew up with, and building a more open relationship with her children.

'I have a close relationship with my mother, but it's not too close,' said Ms Wong, who was born in Dongguan in Guangdong province but moved to Hong Kong with her parents when she was nine.

'In Chinese culture, people are usually not very affectionate. My mum and I have a traditional way of getting along - I tell her all the good news, but the bad news or unhappiness in my life I try to hide from her.'

As a mother, she wants her children to be able to talk about everything, and she wants to be more open with her mum.

'I want to know everything about their lives, no matter whether it is happy, unhappy, exciting or disappointing. It's perhaps a selfish choice - on the one hand I worry that my mum will worry about me but, on the other hand, I want to know everything about my children. You need a balance.'

Ms Wong is involved in the Shall we talk? Act Now! cervical cancer prevention awareness campaign, and is set to appear in a book featuring photographs of mothers with their daughters for the cause. The campaign aims to educate women about the need to protect themselves and their daughters from cervical cancer. The disease is linked to the human papillomavirus which is sexually transmitted and, while her daughter Camelot is only seven, Ms Wong hopes she will be able to be open about topics such as sex when the time comes.

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