To invigorate both body and soul, take things down a notch and practise some mindfulness
TEXT: MELODY TAN
PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
If the post-holiday return to work still feels like a drag, it might be time to take stock and practise some mindfulness by paying attention to and acknowledging your physical and mental needs.
Whether you crave a retreat into a cosy ManCave (albeit one that’s not necessarily limited to men) or want to sweat it out with a good sparring session, allow yourself the time and space you need to relax and reset. You’ll find yourself calmer, more productive and ready to tackle whatever the year brings.
THE ZEN OF TEA (AND COFFEE)
More Singaporeans than ever are enjoying their caffeine in the form of brewed or specialty gourmet coffees and teas. Instead of sitting down with the same old instant cuppa or supermarket tea bag, why not switch up your morning ritual by brewing loose-leaf tea or investing in a coffee-maker. The latter range from affordable one-cup French presses to precisely-engineered Italian espresso machines with curves like a Bugatti, and similarly eye-popping prices.
It doesn’t matter if you prefer Japanese matcha, Chinese oolong or South Asian-style chai – both green and black tea leaves contain powerful antioxidants that are beneficial to our health. Coffee has an even longer list of benefits, from preventing Parkinson’s disease to having an antidepressant effect. Brewing your own drink from scratch allows you to control the flavour, temperature and sweetness levels to perfection — and might just be the form of creative self-care you need to kickstart a happier, more productive morning routine.
If you’d rather be pampered, let someone else make you a cup of good old fashioned kopi or teh instead, while you sit back and relax at the newly-opened Heavenly Wang Cafe at the HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok Clubhouse.
SLOW DOWN, WORK OUT
A good stretch can relax you like nothing else. HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok offers a selection of yoga courses to ease your way into a healthier mindset.
Hatha Yoga classes run every Wednesday from 8pm to 9.30pm, for a 10-session term. The total fees are S$110 for Ordinary, Associate and Family members, S$120 for Social and Affiliate members, and S$130 for guests.
If you prefer weekend stretches, Hatha Yoga is also available every Saturday between 11am and 12pm. There are eight sessions in total, with fees costing S$95 for Ordinary, Associate and Family members, S$104.50 for Social and Affiliate members, and S$114 for guests.
To take it really slow, turn to Yin Yang Yoga, which combines passively held poses that work on the connective tissues and joints along with the more traditional, stamina and strength-oriented form of yoga. Classes are held every Saturday from 10am to 11am, and the same fees as above apply. Click here to sign up for courses, or email courses@hometeamns.sg to learn more.
New to the yoga scene? HomeTeamNS Khatib will be having a free trial yoga class for members on 28 January 2022 from 7pm to 8pm, at Level 2, Ballroom Foyer! Non-members can also join in the fun at only S$5.
JAM SESSION
Music soothes the savage beast – and in humans, studies have shown that music might be able to soothe cortisol response. Cortisol is also known as the stress hormone, as levels of it rise whenever our bodies are stressed. In addition, music can trigger the release of dopamine and oxytocin, chemicals that result in improved mood and sense of well-being.
Whether you’re putting together the perfect Spotify playlist for your work commute or dusting off your old guitar on Saturday night, music is a great way to stimulate your creativity and relax. Best of all, it can be a solo activity – think singing in the shower – or a fun way to connect with friends and family, such as jamming together in a studio.
DANCE YOUR HEART OUT
If you want to get your heart pumping, a full-body workout like Zumba will do the trick. The intense blend of dance moves with aerobic activity set to the thumping beat of Latin-influenced music, will certainly work up a happy sweat.
HomeTeamNS Bukit Batok plays host to Zumba classes every Monday from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and every Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm. There are eight sessions in total. Ordinary, Associate and Family members pay S$90, while Social and Affiliate members pay S$100. Guests’ fees are S$110. Interested in signing up to sweat it out? Click here, or email courses@hometeamns.sg for more information.
FIGHTING FIT
Live out your Bruce Lee fantasies by getting off the couch and signing up for judo and karate classes at HomeTeamNS-JOM Balestier. Apart from the fitness benefits, you’ll perhaps even discover a lifelong passion for martial arts. Learn more here by checking out the classes under the Courses tab.
Until 31 January, receive S$20 food and beverage vouchers when you sign up. Limited slots are available, so don’t hesitate.
If your new year’s resolution is to pick up Karate as a new hobby, join HomeTeamNS Khatib and their free trial class for HomeTeamNS members! Held on 27 January 2022 from 7.30pm to 8.30pm, at Level 2, Ballroom Foyer, be sure to fight your way into the new year. Non-members can also join the trial class at only S$5.
EXPLORE SINGAPORE’S HIDDEN CORNERS
The hamster-wheel of work, home (and for many of us, work-from-home), malls and errands can get dull, especially when you seem to be visiting the same old places on autopilot. Why not open up Google Maps and look for a part of Singapore you haven’t been to? After all, seeing new places (even if they’re in the same country) stimulates your brain and diminishes boredom.
Take in charming black-and-white houses in peaceful Wessex Estate (and stop for a drink at the well-loved Western food institution, Colbar), or admire the dark, Gothic architecture of creative hub The Mill, incongruously set in an industrial estate. If you want to get out in nature, the Japanese Cemetery Park in Hougang is a serene and poignant memorial to Singapore’s early Japanese community, or you can split the cost of a yacht charter with friends to explore the Southern Islands of Singapore.
Wherever you go, make sure you have good walking shoes, an open mind and a sense of adventure.
WORK FROM MANCAVE
If the distractions and noise of work-from-home are eating into your productivity, what about working from a ManCave?
From now until 31 March, the ManCaves at HomeTeamNS Khatib offers an opportunity to work in a refreshing new setting during weekdays. And if you need a break, the ManCaves features game consoles, high-quality audio systems and even a private BBQ patio.
Frontline Digital newsletter subscribers enjoy 50-per-cent off a ManCave booking, which includes the exclusive use of a ManCave for 4 hours during peak periods (weekends) and complimentary WiFi usage among other benefits.
