Introducing...Bodywize Yoga
They say Causeway Bay is one of the most crowded areas in Hong Kong, made up of blocks of heavily built-up (and by up, we mean up) areas which make a very small chunk of the city seem endless in terms of sights, colours, smells, and sounds.
Enter Bodywize Yoga + Retreat, a relatively recent transplant (via Happy Valley next door) to a neighbourhood that is constantly evolving and continuously growing upwards rather than outwards. Nestled comfortably in the solid Cubus building at the edge of Hoi Ping Road, this award-winning wellness centre takes up real estate on the 1st and 3rd floors respectively. And it is truly as advertised, a genuine sanctuary in the midst of all the stress of the city life.
We spoke to the owner and a true example of the school of zen herself, Lisa Mak, to find out more about what this heavenly space has to offer in terms of yoga classes and spa services.
Hello Lisa! Please tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born in Hong Kong but I lived in Australia for 16 years and then moved back to Hong Kong close to 12 years ago now.
What were you doing in Australia?
I had a spa and practiced yoga. I also got married there to an Australian.
How did you discover yoga and wellness?
It was there [in Australia] that I was first inspired about 15 years ago because the wellness and spa industry there was already developed quite maturely. I had a Swedish friend who I practiced yoga with and from there, I began to spend most of my waking hours thinking of how to create a beauty concept that would be connected to wellness.
So you came back and decided to open up a wellness sanctuary then?
Bodywize Day Spa was first opened here in 2004, at Sing Woo Road in Happy Valley. I designed a charming patio filled with amenitites that could serve as a warm weather getaway in the style of a backyard and it just naturally transformed into a relaxing retreat. With the exception of hotel spas, there were no day spas that offered a luxurious space for practice of mindfulness and relaxation; in those days when I joined a yoga retreat, it was run with style and comfort in an incredible location, where I could reconnect with myself through spa treatments, yoga, nutrition, healing through Reiki and endless fun.
After a couple of years, success blossomed and we opened another spa just down the street—our style of zen plus the tranquil and peaceful sanctuary brought the ultimate antidote to Hong Kong’s high-stress lifestyle. I’d asked myself, “Why not incorporate Yoga into our services?” and that was what inspired the launch of Bodywize Yoga in 2008.
Through the first stage of my yoga journey, it guided me to create a space that connects body, mind and spirit where we could see our real beauty. “Pretty” isn’t just about a look but it’s also the way we feel about ourselves. Through Bodywize, I can deliver the best possible experience to my clients.
When did you move from Happy Valley to Causeway Bay?
We launched Bodywize’s flagship location—combining a spa and wellness concept with 21st-century convenience and a personalized yoga service—into this building, Cubus, in May 2014. Located in heart of downtown Causeway Bay, the beautifully designed sanctuary blends classic ambience and zen Buddhism décor with state-of-the-art amenities, boasting 6000 sq. ft. of pampering space to create a premier spa and wellness center.
What kind of clients do you get coming through?
Our clients are professionals who can get extremely busy all the time. They are really looking to yoga for stress relief and to find that inner peace. This is precisely the type of yoga they need. We get mostly female clients, a mix of locals and expats. When we were in Happy Valley, it was 60% western, and 40% local. Interestingly now we are reaching out to a higher percentage of almost 60% local and 40% western now that we are in Causeway Bay.
Tell us more about Anti-Gravity Yoga! It looks fun.
I bought the “Master Developer” license of AntiGravity Yoga from NYC, and launched the first AG workshop with the founder of this program, Christopher Harrison at the W hotel in November 2012. I have significant past dance experience and taught aerobics at a health club back in my earlier days of employment. I’d always wished there was something that would integrate both yoga and dance. Starting around 2010, many yoga studios in Hong Kong started rolling up their mats and shutting their doors, and I saw that the morale [in the community] was really low. I thought to myself that this type of hammock yoga could at least can bring us a new perspective. We could choose to turn our whole personal worlds upside down and inside out and then look at things from a different perspective. Would this be more exciting or more simple? Why couldn’t we just try to incorporate yoga, Pilates and fitness in order to make it either a class for fun or an offering of deep relaxation?
What are some of the physical benefits of practicing AntiGravity Yoga?
We use more therapeutic ways to inspire our clients. It is not exactly related to aerial arts where you’re on a stage performance. Our clients aren’t looking for those. You’ll almost get the immediate results after taking several sessions. The hammock helps relieving pressure while aligning the vertebrae. We can hold challenging postures longer and in correct alignment. To stretch further with less strain, and also create body awareness while increasing overall agility. With the aid of the hammock, one can easily perform advanced inversions without neck or back compression.
What are your most popular classes?
Air Therapy and Yoga Therapy!
Where is your personal sanctuary away from this sanctuary you’ve so kindly created for others?
I feel this is a big part of my life. It’s my passion. When I am here, I see many Bodywize clients regain their health and confidence. Also, I am a Buddhist and often I give yoga classes to local practitioners inside a monastery in Tai Po.
When you’re not living the Bodywize mantra and lifestyle, what are you doing?
I love travelling. I have spent much of my life aboard, travelling far and wide before setting in Hong Kong. Throughout my travels, I’m constantly absorbing what will eventually become a result of my all passions encompassed.
For more information on aerial yoga and how to get started on your upside-down journey into a place of wellness in terms of mental and physical health, check out Bodywize online today.