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Health & Wellness

Lawrence Tse leads a class outside the tea museum in Hong Kong Park. Photo: Lawrence Tse
Wellness

Why tai chi and qigong are great for health, and English classes in Hong Kong

The Chinese ‘internal’ arts of tai chi and qigong offer a host of health benefits and are slowly becoming more accessible to English speakers.

Wellness

This fit former bodybuilder thought pole would be easy. He was wrong

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SCMP Highlights

Part-Asian identities, ‘skinny runner’ to top Hyrox star: 7 Lifestyle highlights

Wellness

Want to do Hyrox? Hong Kong coaches explain how to train and prepare

Hong Kong Hyrox coaches explain training methods, what to avoid and why carbs are good, plus why it’s important to choose your race wisely.

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Hong Kong Hyrox athlete Caleb Heung competes in his first solo Hyrox race in Bangkok in 2026. He and fellow competitor-trainer Daniel Yeung share tips on how to prepare your body and mind if you want to take part in the hugely popular fitness competition. Photo: Instagram/caleb_heung
Hong Kong Hyrox athlete Caleb Heung competes in his first solo Hyrox race in Bangkok in 2026. He and fellow competitor-trainer Daniel Yeung share tips on how to prepare your body and mind if you want to take part in the hugely popular fitness competition. Photo: Instagram/caleb_heung
Wellness

From wine critic to representing Hong Kong in the world’s fastest-growing sport

Now one of Asia’s fastest Hyrox athletes, former wine critic Claire Nesbitt helps others achieve their Hyrox and other fitness goals.

Wellness

1 in 4 people are ‘Alzheimer’s gene’ carriers like Chris Hemsworth. What to do

APOE4 comes with a higher risk for Alzheimer’s disease, but the 25 per cent of people who have it can lower that risk with lifestyle changes.

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Wellness

How to sleep better, from bedtimes to regularity – what the research says

Sleep research has come a long way in the last decade. Here’s what you need to know to help make your slumber better.

According to British neuroscientist Matthew Walker, mastering sleep requires managing three main factors: regularity, timing and continuity. Photo: Shutterstock
According to British neuroscientist Matthew Walker, mastering sleep requires managing three main factors: regularity, timing and continuity. Photo: Shutterstock
Wellness

Healing like Wolverine? Why peptide stacking is taking off and risks involved

Taking multiple synthetic peptides to target goals like weight loss, muscle growth and injury recovery is not without its risks, experts say.

Wellness

Do you feel more anxious after googling symptoms? You could have cyberchondria

Also known as ‘Dr Google syndrome’, cyberchondria can lead to depression or, at worst, illness anxiety disorder.

What to do in Hong Kong

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong on Labour Day weekend, May 1-3

Hunt for rare Pokemon cards, savour French wine and cheese, shop for antiques, enjoy a Cantopop Pilates party or watch Aaron Kwok’s new film.

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PokeFest 2, Hong Kong's largest dedicated Pokemon card expo, will take place at D2 Place One mall in Lai Chi Kok from May 1 to 3, 2026. It is one of many things to do in Hong Kong this weekend, alongside enjoying food and wine at French GourMay, watching Cold War 1994 and more.
SCMP Highlights

Inside a notorious triad, simple tests for ageing well: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From a 60-year-old Singaporean keeping fit with pole dancing to the birthplace of China’s chilli culture, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

The “flamingo” test - balancing on one leg - is one of the ways you can assess how well you are ageing. Photo: Shutterstock
The “flamingo” test - balancing on one leg - is one of the ways you can assess how well you are ageing. Photo: Shutterstock
Food and Drinks

Asian-American mother challenges tough Chinese traditions for new mums

Clarissa Wei’s cookbook ‘Sitting the Month’ puts a modern spin on the traditional Chinese foods typically given to post-partum mothers.

Wellness

How this 60-year-old Singaporean is defying age through pole dancing and fashion

Known on TikTok as the ‘Corridor Runway Aunty’, Vicsland Poh proves that a person’s silver years can be full of new challenges and knowledge.

Wellness

The 10-minute morning exercise workout that millions of Japanese people do

Over 20 million people in Japan practice a Radio Taiso session at least once a week in a country with one of the highest life expectancies.

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People perform a stretching exercise while listening to a Radio Taiso programme in a public park in Tokyo, Japan, on April 6, 2026. Photo: AP
Wellness

What is ‘nonnamaxxing’? Viral health trend embraces Italian grandma’s lifestyle

Daily walks, gardening, cooking from scratch – whatever an Italian grandmother would typically do, Gen Z are going wild for online.

Embrace Italian nonna habits like cooking, walking, and less screen time for a healthier, happier life - at least, that is what TikTok users believe as “nonnamaxxing” takes off online. Photo: dpa
Embrace Italian nonna habits like cooking, walking, and less screen time for a healthier, happier life - at least, that is what TikTok users believe as “nonnamaxxing” takes off online. Photo: dpa
Wellness

Are you ageing well? 5 simple tests to get a picture of your biological age

Particularly useful for over-50s, these simple physical tests can give you a better idea of your biological age and highlight any red flags.

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Wellness

Are ice baths good for you? What you need to know before taking the plunge

Ice baths and cold plunges are springing up across Hong Kong, but will traditional Chinese medicine ideas freeze them out of the market?

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Wellness

How a zoo’s sights, sounds and smells can benefit people with dementia

Tour programmes at Berlin Zoo for people with dementia are helping them feel part of society and even jogging happy childhood memories.

Monika Jansen, 85, touches a sculpture of a rhino as she takes part in a guided tour for people with dementia organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta, at Berlin Zoo in Germany on March 26, 2026. Photo: AP
Monika Jansen, 85, touches a sculpture of a rhino as she takes part in a guided tour for people with dementia organised by Malteser Berlin, part of the international Catholic aid organisation The Sovereign Order of Malta, at Berlin Zoo in Germany on March 26, 2026. Photo: AP
SCMP Highlights

Alternative knee pain therapies; monthly zodiac forecast: 7 Lifestyle highlights

From Hong Kong’s upcoming drama The Season to the latest dessert shop in town, here are seven stories from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Wellness

Is your family addicted to screens and junk food? How to change their habits

In her book Dopamine Kids, Michaeleen Doucleff examines our reliance on ‘magnets’ that hamper happiness and explains how to overcome them.

Wellness

‘Hero of his own life’: how this Hongkonger beat high cholesterol in 12 months

Shashank Gangil had high cholesterol, signs of fatty liver and plantar fasciitis. Here’s how he got in top shape before his twins were born.

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Compose photo of Shashank Gangli for the story WW NEW DAD WEIGHT LOSS. Photo: handout
Music

A stroke paralysed pianist’s right hand. Now he wows crowds with just his left

Inspired by his music teacher, South Korean pianist Lee Hun now plays left-hand music only after a stroke paralysed his entire right side.

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South Korean pianist Lee Hun, who plays with only his left hand after his right side was paralysed by a stroke, is now preparing for a new challenge: his first joint performance with an orchestra at an international music festival next month. Photo: AP
South Korean pianist Lee Hun, who plays with only his left hand after his right side was paralysed by a stroke, is now preparing for a new challenge: his first joint performance with an orchestra at an international music festival next month. Photo: AP
Beauty

From beef tallow to salmon sperm, natural skincare products are on the rise

Cosmetics firms used to shy away from them, but now animal-based skincare products fly off shelves. Experts weigh in on their effectiveness.

Wellness

How cooking can help lower your dementia risk – even just 1 meal a week

Experts say the processes involved in cooking, from grocery shopping to following recipes, can all have a positive impact on brain health.

Food and Drinks

Is this soup being culturally appropriated? Dispute boils between 2 nations

Greece and Turkey are arguing over a traditional soup’s origins as one restaurateur attempts to register it as a dish of Greece with Unesco.

A woman prepares to eat traditional tripe soup known as “patsas” in Greek and “iskembe” in Turkish, at Epirus restaurant in central Athens, on Friday, April 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)
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