优

0%

中文

Return to top

中文

Welcome to

A magazine created
for you, you and you

What is “wellness”? Well, we don’t really know. Really!

From the very beginning, we had decided on the overarching theme of “wellness” for Taikoo Li Qiantan; it’s infused into every aspect of the project, from its design to its personality. But yet, even today, we still haven’t been able to precisely define what wellness is. There isn’t even a Chinese term for the concept!

So we thought, if wellness is so difficult to define, why don’t we put our minds together and work it out. And, unsurprisingly, it wasn’t easy. One of our teammates suggested that it seemed more like a process of elimination: it’s neither about being “Zen” nor about following any religious or spiritual path. From a “what it is” point of view, some thought it was about positivity, and being good to yourself, your friends, your family, and to the Earth.

What exactly
is wellness?

We realised that maybe we should think of wellness as an all-encompassing concept instead – an ongoing exploration, rather than something with an official definition. And that’s when the idea of a magazine was born, where we could allow everyone to experience “wellness” in their own way through the power of words and imagery. That’s how, in early 2019, YŌU was conceived.

While launching YŌU and opening Taikoo Li Qiantan, we’ve arrived at a better understanding of wellness and now associate terms like “balance”, “positivity”, “joy” and “living well” with this theme. While there still isn’t a single word or phrase that we can use to explain wellness, our team will continue to work hard to deliver wellness to every corner of Taikoo Li Qiantan.

And this magazine, YŌU, is here to help inspire this ongoing discussion. Wellness encompasses the “good” everywhere: being good to yourself, to others, to your family, to the environment. All of this goodness together creates a certain greatness – reflected in the Chinese character for YŌU (优), which means exceptional, outstanding and brilliant. But the English name also emphasises that it’s all about “you”, our reader.

Available electronically – making it environmentally friendly and easier to share with your friends – we hope that YŌU can find its way into your smart device and serve as a little inspiration for when you need some ideas for living well.

Taikoo Li Qiantan is here to embark on a wellness journey with all of you – and you. Because life is for living, but don’t just live it – live it well. Let’s begin this journey right here, with YŌU.

Spring 2021

中文

Cover Story

A
Better
Way to
Live

What does it mean to live well in
the modern world? YŌU
eavesdrops into conversations
around the globe, and shows you
how many small things can add
to a whole new way of living

Text: Emily Chu / Illustrations: Lok Wong

Wellness – we hear about it all the time now. There are some things that we know about it: it’s important, it involves good health, eating well, and an active lifestyle. These are the basics to being well.

What does it
mean to live well?

It’s a question that so many of us are asking ourselves, particularly in a post-pandemic world. So let’s explore…

The world
of wellness

Yearning to live better is one similarity that brings us all together across the globe, despite the miles between us. And there’s a singular feeling that we all gravitate towards when we think of being well: happiness.

But happiness is a difficult concept to define.

For this, we turn to the World Happiness Report, which ranks countries and cities in order of the happiness of its residents. For 2020, the Report focused on environments for happiness, considering the social environment of a country, the level of happiness in cities and rural areas, and the natural environment.

This year’s winner? Helsinki. The makings of a good life, a good work-life balance, open studies on welfare and quality of life, and overall positive vibes where residents feel safe, valued and stress-free are what makes it a happy city. The Finnish also define happiness as something that is more about contentedness and being at peace – and that makes us think that globally, happiness and wellness are connected in many ways.

The way we talk
about wellness now
is always changing

But wellness, of course, comes with its own continuously emerging trends. It might have started with yoga and calorie-counting, but now, the way we talk about wellness is very quickly expanding, and always changing.

In the near future, the world is getting ready to explore circadian health, or marrying energy healing and traditional remedies. We’ll be thinking about wellness sabbaticals as part of work/life balance. According to the Global Wellness Institute, now’s the time to discover brain-boosting botanicals, to nurture our senses, spaces and sleep, while meditation and mindfulness continue to be prominent in our new, refined, integrated daily routines.

These are parts of the global conversation that are going to guide how we all see wellness.

Wellness in China:
what are we talking
about?

In China, we’re aiming to live better too, and the chatter on wellness continues get even louder. But we’re no longer just talking about short-term fads like #A4Waist or #iPhone6Knee – we’re focusing on long-term wellness instead.

Wellness has infiltrated our daily conversations – and even into our domestic travel plans. Nowadays, travel means much more than just exploring a destination, and hotels aren’t just for the hours you’re asleep. Itineraries at holistic wellbeing destinations will have you taking care of more than just your wanderlust; you’ll be slipping out of regular routines and sliding into a change of environment that will restore and rejuvenate you in areas like nutrition, yoga, spiritual healing, and beauty.

Wellness has
infiltrated our daily
conversations

We’re demanding more from our environment, as well. We want cleaner air, indoors and out, and are thinking more about sustainability – for ourselves and for future generations. Just recently in Shanghai, actions like the plastic bag ban and Clean Plate campaign support a less common, yet equally important, sustainability exercise – waste. Going green and becoming more eco-friendly is quickly becoming commonplace, supported by conscious initiatives from fashion to F&B and design.

It’s the younger
generation that’s
leading the way

And it’s the younger generation that’s leading the way to this path to greener living. “Young people are more motivated to go green because the environmental problems are so clear and ‘in their face’, like seeing smog in the morning, going to the Bund and viewing dirty rivers,” says Sherry Poon, founder and organiser of Eco Design Fair Shanghai.

“Living well is about living responsibly,” she continues. “We dream of healthy neighbourhoods to live, move, work, play, learn and thrive in. By connecting like-minded people, sharing knowledge and solutions, and facilitating change, our daily experiences improve and our life in the city becomes happier and healthier as a whole.”

It’s all
about you

“Wellness is highly personal and, at the same time, fantastic, as we get to create our own wellness plans and lifestyles once we know ourselves well – our unique body and mind, cells and DNA,” says Kimberly Ashton, wellness coach and Traditional Chinese Medicine food therapy teacher. Ultimately, the wealth in wellness is created by you. Better still, coming together while doing it creates a greater collective wellness that benefits the entire society.

Wellness is
highly personal

Incorporating wellness into everyday living doesn’t have to be a huge undertaking; steps can be small, simple, and even silly. But where do we even start?

To help you on your journey into this new kind of wellness, we’ve put together a few suggestions on how you can add a little bit to your happiness jar, even during the most mundane days – because it’s these little moments that add up to a life well lived.

Pet a
furry
animal

There’s something about the round belly of a pug, that silly cat getting stuck in a small space, that cutie hamster hamming it up, or even a goldfish blowing endless bubbles. They’re “emotional support animals” for a reason – they boost your mood!

Whether in person or even browsing images online, find a way to spend some time with your animal of choice.

Adopt, don’t shop, when you’re ready to bring a furry friend home.

(1/9)

Indulge (for) now

Here we were, being told constantly that wellness was all about counting your calories, watching every morsel you eat during meals, and never being allowed to indulge. Ignore that – it’s all about balance and moderation. There’s a time and place to go all out, so enjoy that experience to the fullest. While you’re at it, try some new flavours, too – there’s a world of food to enjoy out there!

“Cheers” (a few times) to a worthwhile celebration during a more, oh, nutritiously liberal meal. Tomorrow, we pare back.

Over-eat, over-drink, over-do it for days in a row, and pretend to sleep it off.

(2/9)

Do you need it, or do you want it? Either way, find that piece that really sparks joy for an extended period of time.

Buy the trendiest item every season and leave it in the corner after a week.

Splurge a little

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t find happiness in things – there’s plenty of joy to be had in a new bag, jacket or gadget that you’ve been eyeing up. Maybe now’s the time to splurge on it as a treat. But think it through – that careful consideration will also have you ending up with something that you really cherish, and if you really love it, you’ll make good use of it, and treasure it.

(3/9)

The numbers game

715. 996. Work is important, but so is rest. Work out an equation for your weekend (888: sleep, me-time, socialise?) to make the most of your time off. Find discipline in totally switching off when you’ve left the office, or setting limits to how “on it” you will be during off-hours. Promise us you’ll try?

Instead of seeing them as annoying pop-up reminders, utilise those “Do Not Disturb” email functions.

Force yourself to keep working on that project until you’re typing nonsense and not making sense and seeing elephants dance in front of you and… what?

(4/9)

Back to basics

Bring it all back to basics to realise why we love something in the first place. Write instead of type. Make instead of reheat. Create instead of consume. Flip instead of swipe.

Mail a letter instead of shooting off an email. Cook a warming stew for an afternoon instead of three-minutes for instant noodles. Paint your own artwork instead of buying something online. Read pages instead of screens.

Lose patience. See it through – you don’t have to do it again, but the experience might change you.

(5/9)

Be a tourist

…in your own city! It’s easy to get trapped inside our bubbles, and assume that we’ll have a chance to visit a place because it’s “right there”. It can be so inspiring to discover something new, right on our doorstep. Get some variety in there – restaurants, museums, parks, anything, everything.

With your friends or family, create a shared list of new places to visit and check one off each time you meet. Qiantan, anyone?

Be a “my neighbourhood is better than your neighbourhood” snob.

(6/9)

Make an effort to see touring shows to see how art is evolving around the world.

Think that art is just something that’s high-brow and boring. That thought is boring!

Enjoy some showtime

See a show, any show. We consume so much culture on our phones nowadays, from music to art to drama, but the digital experience can never quite replace seeing something in person. Going to an exhibition and seeing the fine texture on that painting. Seeing a gig and feeling the energy of the music and the people around you. Going to the theatre and experiencing the drama of the moment, the actors and the set... these can be inspiring moments.

(7/9)

Do good

We’ve all got our community, whether it’s where we live, work or spend most of our time. And most of these communities have got organisations that support them. Why not join in? From a food kitchen for the underprivileged to cleaning up public spaces to animal welfare, find something that’s meaningful to you. Supporting them will put lots of warm fuzzies in your generous heart.

Encourage others to join you – it could be a weekend family bonding activity, or a company-wide holiday project – to build on that collective wellness we’re all talking about.

Keep your good fortune all to yourself. Sharing, after all, is caring.

(8/9)

Make a promise to yourself

There’s a lot going on at all times, and so much to take care of – life, others, work, home. But don’t forget about what’s most important – you. Because that’s who you need most to be well, and to live well.

Build a keystone habit (“I will wake up at 6am to have extra, relaxing time in the morning”) that has a significant change to your overall wellbeing. The rest will follow – as will feeling triumphant.

…give up. You can do it!

(9/9)

Return to contents

中文

The Wellbeing
Diary

The Importance of Inner
Happiness with Julia Zhu

Licensee and Sr. Coach of LMI
(Leadership & Management International)
Partner of Panoramic Awareness Space

Living Your

Inner Wellness

YŌU’s regular column
features personal stories by
wellness experts on living well.
Maybe they’ll spark a little
inspiration for your wellness
journey, too…

I’m a life coach. And the most common question I get asked is, how can I live a happier life?

This was something I wondered for myself, not too long ago. Being a coach is a meaningful yet challenging job: it requires me to support others and lead them to explore their potential. It allows me to see others – as well as myself – from a brand new, 360-degree perspective.

My own exploration into all of this really started nine years ago, when I gave birth to my son. And it began when I asked myself a very simple question: what kind of lifestyle do I really want?

I asked myself
a very simple question:
what kind of lifestyle do I really want?

At that time, I just wanted to spend more time with my baby. I also wanted to have a sustainable career that benefitted both others and myself. So I made a risky decision to leave my job to complete a coaching certification. This opened a new door for me, not only in a new career, but also in meeting people, like teachers who have been guiding and inspiring me to experience and comprehend different facets of life in new ways. Looking back, I am very grateful to my child because it was his arrival that changed the course of my life.

One of the most important discoveries I’ve had from doing this job is that everyone, regardless of their age and profession, has exactly the same need deep within their heart: inner happiness and inner wellness. This innermost need to be happy and healthy is like an engine that never stops running. It inspires all of our decisions and actions – and helps us to decide whether to do certain things or not.

Being happy and
healthy is like an
engine that never
stops running

The funny thing is, if you observe carefully, in many cases, the actions we take are actually contrary to our deepest needs. Like online shopping, for example. Its original purpose was to let us shop in a more convenient way. Yet the reality is that we’re often left feeling confused and lost in the endless choices and information presented to us, and we end up spending more time and money than expected. Frustrating situations like these take us further and further away from that inner happiness that we crave.

In other words, your inner happiness really depends on whether you can make the wisest decision for yourself. Cultivating this kind of wisdom is not easy, but it is achievable by honing our sense of awareness.

Your inner happiness
depends on whether you
can make the wisest
decision for yourself

A wise man once said, “When you have awareness, you have a choice”. Awareness is a pure and simple “knowing” that does not have any labels and judgements attached to it that influence our feelings and thinking. It allows you to have a truly objective view on the overall situation without being restricted by your habitual reactions. Once you are aware, you will find that there is always a choice, at that moment, in everything.

I think about the practice of awareness as “leave it as it is”. Aside from meditation, I focus on the present even when I’m doing something mundane. For example, when I’m jogging, I try not to listen to music or look at messages on my mobile. Instead, I listen to my body: the sensation of my limbs, my breath, my heartbeat and the changes in my emotions throughout the run. I also pay attention to the light and temperature; how do I feel as the wind comes into contact with my body? I am aware of my feelings, emotions and thoughts, and I don’t pass any judgement; instead, I simply leave them as they are, and then let them go.

Also, we’re so reliant on being online now. So I’ll take a break from my electronic devices, and meet my friends at a museum, art gallery, or another beautiful place to open my senses to new sights, smells, sounds, temperatures and flavours. I really value this time connecting with others in person.

I can’t just ‘find’
time to do things
I love – I have to
‘schedule’ time
for them

But, I also realise that I can’t just “find” time to do things I love – I have to “schedule” time for them. So I’ve dropped the “I’ll do it when I have time” mentality now. I’ve sent many “Let’s meet up for dinner!” messages with my friends, but how many times did that actually happen? Either this friend isn’t all that important, or I’d never attempted to make the arrangements in the first place. Now, I just pick up the phone and schedule it in.

Making time to try something new allows me to see things – including others, and myself – from a whole new perspective. Recently, I started studying calligraphy. My teacher (who is a millennial!) taught me to slow down to first study the structure and spacing of a sample word by reputed calligraphers before converting that into the movement of my shoulders and wrists to make a stroke of my own. It made me realise how hard it was to notice these tiny movements of parts of my body that are connected to me at all times!

Making time to try
something new allows me
to see things from a whole
new perspective

I’m reminded of something that I’d learnt from one of my most respected teachers: make effort, but do so in a relaxed way. When I first heard it, I thought, well, that’s contradictory; “effort” and “relaxing” are two opposing concepts.

When we’re working hard, we feel tightly wound, while relaxation can only happen when we’re not doing anything, or laying on the beach. But I learnt to view relaxation from an awareness point of view, so that I can focus on each moment even during the busiest times. Through this, I learnt to let go of judgement of myself and others, and even judgement of judgements, and was able to create a mind space where I could truly relax.

Make effort,
but do so in a
relaxed way

Achieving inner happiness and inner wellness does not mean that you have to hide from difficulties and challenges. They also aren’t things that you wait for and can only achieve after you’ve overcome all of your hurdles. On the contrary, these are the nutrients that we need to keep growing in this uncertain world. I choose to nurture my inner happiness and inner wellness in every moment of my life. What about you?

Return to contents

中文

Fashion & Beauty

Sustainable

FASHION:

It's not just good for the planet -
shopping sustainably benefits
you, too

Text: Dominic Ngai

YŌU loves to shop, and we’re sure you do too – so you’ve probably heard of Green Consumption before, and what it endeavours to do.

And there are plenty of reasons to get behind it – it helps support a better environment, reduces waste, saves natural resources and fairly rewards the workers who produce our fashion, to name just a few.

Support a better
environment, reduce
waste, and save
natural resources

When we talk about sustainable fashion, it’s often about what it does for our planet and the greater good of humanity. Sometimes, this makes it hard for us to appreciate the small differences from our contributions.

But what about how it benefits us, as an individual? There are lots of ways that shopping sustainably can actually benefit you, right now, and help you live better. Here are just a few…

Dressing naturally

More healthier options

Just like how a healthy diet is important to your wellness, having a wardrobe made with sustainable fabric is good for you, too. Clothing made of eco-friendly fabrics, can be better for your body.

First of all, fabrics that contain too much synthetic dye and chemicals may lead to respiratory problems and skin irritation. On the other hand, sustainable materials like organic cotton and other natural fibres like hemp and linen are ultra-comfortable and temperate. Your skin will be able to breathe more naturally during stifling hot Shanghai summers.

Supporting fairly
made materials
is just a good
thing to do

Secondly, supporting fairly made materials is just a good thing to do. Just knowing you’re supporting practices that are ethical and good for the environment will put a good feeling in your heart.

“Slowing down”

More love in
your wardrobe

We’re now starting to get familiar with the idea of “slow” fashion: seeking locally produced garments (which cuts down on carbon footprint) made with slower schedules and fair wages using biodegradable fabrics that have little adverse effect on the environment.

Don’t get us wrong, we love picking up a small percentage of trendy pieces each season. Slow fashion, though, also reminds us to really think before making a purchase for longevity, choosing well-made, high-quality items that become prized possessions that we take care of well.

Choose well-made,
high-quality items

This is where fashion houses like LVMH come in with umbrella sustainability initiatives that have many of its brands, such as LOEWE, Christian Dior and Stella McCartney, working to produce products that are both good for your closet, and for the planet. Take luxury cashmere brand Loro Piana, for example, who have introduced the “Loro Piana Method” for producing quality cashmere that supports sustainable development without compromising quality. This method focuses on selective breeding of cashmere goats in the Alashan region in Inner Mongolia, which takes into consideration the balance of animals, the environment, and the local population with ideals such as smaller herds and justified shearing.

High quality pieces

More $$$ in
your pocket

It’s a simple equation: quality goods cost more, but they will last longer. Luckily for us, luxury fashion house Kering ticks two boxes – aside from being synonymous with premium, coveted luxe products, they’re also going to the next level with sustainability in fashion by leading the Fashion Pact, a coalition of brands committed to reducing environmental impact across the entire industry.

What does it mean? Well, quality matters. Investing in high-quality pieces means the fewer purchases you will have to make to replace it – and the fewer times your credit card will come into use. Consider the high-quality RMB1,500 sustainable option that will last for 50 wears instead of the RMB150 alternative that you will have to replace often. In other words, seek items that spark long-term joy, instead of a blink of disposable, fall-to-pieces joy.

Upcycling your pieces

More style creativity

When it comes to fashion, one rule reigns true: personal style always wins. You can really express yourself through upcycling older pieces and using your creativity to transform something old into something new (again) that’s truly unique.

Fashion designer Zhang Na started her label Reclothing Bank to address the issue of textile waste. Over the past decade, we’ve seen her turn coffee bean bags into jackets and experiment with materials made from recycled plastic bottles. Aside from creating her own pieces, she has another special way of giving old clothes a new life.

“Many of my customers come in with great stories about their clothing,” Zhang Na shared with Forbes in 2019. “I had a heartbroken client who came in with clothing pieces that a past girlfriend had given him. He asked me to create something new out of them to remind him of a new beginning.”

Shopping for upcycled pieces is fun, but you can try your hand at upcycling at home, too. Better yet, round up a group of friends for a fun afternoon of swapping unwanted pieces, sharing gossip – er, design inspiration – and creating one-of-a-kind pieces that truly reflect who you are. Don’t let trends dictate your style – sew your own story instead.

Your small efforts

More collective results

You may have heard that in China, a staggering 26 million tons of clothing end up in the trash each year. That’s scary.

But there is hope: some shops offer used garment collection to support your sustainable habits, donating preloved items to those in need, or repurposing the fabric from your pieces. Likewise, textile recycling service Fei Ma Yi offers hassle-free clothing collection across the country.

So, recycling is easy.

You’re probably thinking, still, as just one person in this world of billions, is your effort really going to make a difference? Of course it is. Every contribution, no matter how small, counts towards making the environment more sustainable. After all, living well means living in a better world for us, and for the future – and the best way to live it is to be looking fabulous at the same time.

Return to contents

中文

Food

From Heart to Plate

Four chefs and
restaurateurs reveal
the real secret behind
their recipes to success

Text: Poppy; Dominic Ngai

The saying of “you are what you eat” isn’t just about the physical – food has an incredibly strong emotional power as well.

Whether it’s mum’s tomato with scrambled eggs, grandma’s baozi or even something on the menu at a restaurant, the dishes that we love aren’t always necessarily about the most luxurious ingredients, or the fanciest setting. It’s the thought – the care, the heart behind the making of them – that counts.

YŌU got in the kitchen with four Shanghai restaurateurs as they prepare to open shop at Taikoo Li Qiantan, and spoke to them about what drives them to do what they do, every day, with heart.

Kang

Co-founder of Bloom

No matter what,
stay true to yourself

“My mum is a very good cook,” says Kang. “She instilled into me some of the fundamentals of cooking, such as the important role that seasonings, herbs and spices play in a dish.”

That early influence led the Hebei native to study at the Culinary Institute of America. Armed with experience of working in L.A. and New York, he returned to Shanghai a few years later and opened casual fine dining restaurant Bloom in Jing’an.

This process took nine months, and not without struggle. “It was this time that taught me what ‘heart’ really meant,” Kang says. “It’s about striking the right balance between understanding our customers and taking their needs into consideration while staying true to who [you] are.”

In this “camera eats first” age, Kang is very focused on the presentation of Bloom’s creations. “Our plating style is inspired by everything that grows in the garden,” Kang says. But perhaps the key feature of Bloom’s “garden to table” concept is the more than 100 types of herbs and spices grown in the expansive courtyard that Kang uses in his dishes – an idea that harks back to Kang’s mum’s early teachings, and a dedication to the “heart” of where he comes from.

Raphael Prioul

Chef/Owner of La Parisienne

Do what you love, and
get better at it every day

“When I’m in the kitchen making bread, I’m my happiest self,” says Chef Raphael Prioul. “‘Cooking with heart’, to me, is about doing something that I’m passionate about.” And this boulanger’s passion continues to grow, even after 25 years in the field.

Growing up in a small town in France, as a teenager, Chef Raphael first learned the ins and outs of baking bread and pastries from his best friend’s father. “Every day at midnight, we’d start preparing bread for the next day. That was my first experience with bread making, and I’d been hooked ever since,” he tells us.

Since 2014, Chef Raphael has been sharing the heritage of French baking halfway across the world in Shanghai. Though he’s experienced, the honing of his craft is an ongoing process – one that often includes bumps along the journey. “When we’re designing new menu items, I still fail many times before I succeed. But instead of running away from mistakes, I like to embrace them, and learn from them.”

Case in point: “My wife once said to me that she thought the texture of our croissant was a little ‘off’,” Chef Raphael laughs. “I then spent days reworking the recipe until I got it right.” This mentality of always striving for quality is what defines “cooking with heart” for this baker extraordinaire – and what rewards us with perfect, flaky croissants!

Sam Xue

From Lao Ji Shi and Bar Constellation

Make guests feel at home
through thoughtful details

“We didn’t have refrigerators when I was growing up,” Sam Xue, co-owner of Shanghai F&B institutions Lao Ji Shi and Bar Constellation, tells YŌU. “But in the summer, grandma would always be waiting for me after school with chilled watermelon that she’d soaked in cold water from the well.” Similarly, his mum would always make extra wontons to share with neighbours. “So being able to bring a smile to someone’s face with food is something that I strive to do.”

As a restaurateur, Sam’s heart lies in making sure that his guests are being well taken care of. And just as his family combined food and sentiment for him, Sam and his team will be combining the familiar dishes and drinks from Lao Ji Shi and Bar Constellation into a brand-new dining concept. First up is to modernise some of Lao Ji Shi’s signature dishes with considerations to match the occasion. “For example, we’ll make our fish head with scallion dish with cod or flounder so there will be fewer pieces of bones to pick out, which will be much easier to enjoy in a bar setting,” he explains. “It’s details like these that elevate the guest experience. I really want everyone who comes through our door to feel like they’re enjoying a meal or a drink at their friend’s house.”

Craig
Willis

Chef / Owner of La Strada, mr.willis,
Henkes, Bang by willis, BOR Eatery,
SOMETHING (new project), AGNES (new project)

Give it your full,
undivided attention
– from start to finish

“I’m a farm boy at heart,” says Australian Chef Craig Willis. “Growing up in an orchard, mum always kept us in the kitchen making cakes and stuffing chickens.” Cooking was central to everything they did – and now, as the owner of eight restaurants in Shanghai, it remains central to what he does.

To Chef Craig, it’s all about putting your heart into the entire cooking process, starting with shopping for ingredients at his neighbourhood market. “When I cook at home, I don’t go to the market with a dish in mind. Instead, I let the season and the available products inspire me,” he shares.

Next comes prepping and cooking – this is therapeutic for Chef Craig, as they require him to stay focused on the tasks at hand. “I give the ingredients my full attention. If I put a chicken in the oven, I’m always keeping an eye on it, so I’ll know when to take it out,” he says. “Remember, we’re the cook, not the oven!”

Lastly, dishes that are made with heart deserve to be enjoyed with heart, too. “When we get the rare chance to eat together, it’s time to focus on the food and the people around us,” Chef Craig says. “It makes me happy to see a meal that I’ve enjoyed cooking bring people together – and that it brings joy to them, too.”

As you can see, preparing a great dish is more than just shopping for the ingredients, following a recipe and serving it up. Next time you’re in the kitchen, listen to your heart and see what matters most to you – then tie on that apron, heat up the wok, and get cooking.

Return to contents

中文

Fitness

Getting Fit

with

Grandma

“If I can do it, so can you”

Text: Poppy / Photography: Una Zhu

Part of YŌU is about sharing new perspectives on the world of wellness – stories and people that might help you on your own journey. So when we heard about Chen Jifang, we knew we had to meet her.

Like many people you probably follow on social media, Chen Jifang has an enviable, trim body, toned calves and impressive biceps. There’s just one big difference: she’s 70. Really. And she’s arguably Shanghai’s fittest grandma.

Before she had hundreds of thousands of Douyin followers tuning in to her workout videos, Grandma Chen (as we like to call her) wasn’t always the model of health she is today. Just 10 years ago, she was overweight, had a slow heart rate, and suffered from the “three highs” (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose). So how did she get to where she is now? It’s not easy for anyone to keep a strenuous exercise regime, let alone someone her age. What’s her secret?

We sat down (after lifting some weights) with Grandma Chen to hear about her fitness journey. Find out how she does it day to day - and regardless of whether you're 17 or 70, how you can, too.

Grandma Chen’s

Workout Wisdom

I took it one
step at a time

“I clenched my teeth through my first push-ups,” she says. “But my coach said, just start with one. Then keep going.”

That became to 10, 20, 30 push-ups. Grandma Chen first discovered fitness when her daughter encouraged her to try yoga to build her stamina. This then led to her playing badminton and later, jogging. The gym, however, was a new challenge – but persistence and hard work brought positive results, and working out is now part of a routine she can’t live without.

I found motivation
in other people

“I enjoy the gym because I get to be around my community, and young people, who keep me young at heart,” she says.

At the tender age of 67, Grandma Chen decided to hit the gym. “I was basically the ‘old newbie’ at the gym,” she jokes. “I had no experience with working out, and the gym had never had a member of my age either.”

I became
best friends
with discipline

“I can’t ‘let go’ as I have before,” says Grandma Chen. “A workout is like changing the water when doing laundry,” she adds. “Your body gets rid of all the toxins and comes out cleaner.”

With just two years of training, Grandma Chen has become fit and fabulous, all spurred on by persistence in both workout and diet. Besides working out daily, she’s also cut back on sugar, oil and salt, and replaced junk food with healthier options.

I don’t make
excuses

“Even if I couldn’t make it to the gym, I used makeshift equipment like buckets, jars of oil, and bags of rice as weights,” says Grandma Chen. “It’s not important what I used or where I am, as long as I got moving.”

There’s only one thing to do with excuses: get rid of them. “I hope one day that instead of asking each other, ‘Have you eaten?’ that we’re asking ‘Have you exercised yet?’” she says while flashing a radiant smile. “That instead of ‘Where are you making money?’ we would say, ‘Where are you working out?’”

I found
my balance

“I spend a lot of time working out, and it’s my priority,” says Grandma Chen. “But it’s important to balance it out by doing other things I love.”

Grandma Chen loves to try things that pique her curiosity – that’s what got her into fitness in the first place. When she’s not sweating it out, she loves to watch documentaries, and has even picked up English lessons to further challenge herself. But true balance is also indulging yourself from time to time. “My guilty pleasure is anything made with glutinous rice,” she says. “I love zongzi and niangao!”

And finally, she has
some advice for you:

“Fitness has rewarded me with the gift of health, and it’s never too late to get started,” says Grandma Chen. “Without it, I wouldn’t be able to do all the things that I still want to do. So my young friends, take care of your precious bodies – only then can you complete the missions that you are destined to fulfil. If I can do it, so can you!”

Grandma Chen’s
Daily Workout Schedule

Here’s how she actually does it…