We dig deep with Alex Lam and Simon Yuen about finding balance in mind, body, and spirit. From yoga flows to breathwork and ice baths, this duo unpack their wisdom.
For wellness devotees in Hong Kong, Alex Lam and Simon Yuen are household names, but for the uninitiated, let’s dive right in! Alex, hailing from a musical family, carries forward the creative legacy. As the son of the celebrated Cantopop icon George Lam, he’s not only a musician and actor but also a yoga teacher, refining his craft in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. His approach to life is all about holistic integration, bridging the gap between nutrition and movement. Meanwhile, Simon is a trailblazer in breathwork, facilitating transformative workshops throughout Australia and Asia that hone in on the mind-body connection. His practice of cold exposure rituals is all about confronting fears to forge inner strength.
Put them together, and you have a duo that blends ancient practices with modern techniques – think yoga and ice baths – and innovative supplements like Shroommate! In our interview, Alex and Simon offer a glimpse into their journeys and impart wellness tips for maintaining a mindful lifestyle in Hong Kong.
Dynamic wellness duo, Alex Lam and Simon Yuen, dish on the secrets behind living a mindful life
What first sparked your interest in wellness and living a healthy lifestyle?
Alex: My journey into wellness started in college when I became determined to find an exercise routine and lifestyle that would make me both happy and healthy. At first, it involved a lot of gym sessions and basketball games (which are still part of my regular routine), but yoga was the real turning point. Yoga opened the door for me to true wellness and provided a strong foundation for both my body and mind; it attuned me, physically and mentally, to an elevated state. When I’m in that state, everything else falls into place – my outlook improves across the board. I’m still on this lifelong wellness journey, striving to find the optimal self-care routine, from nutrition to fitness. Now, I’m eager to share my holistic healthy living insight with others, helping them feel their absolute best inside and out.
Simon: My interest in wellness started early, thanks to my athletic family background. Then, I was hired to be a financial accountant for a huge fitness company, which grew my passion for health even more. After a while, I finally left the corporate grind and started pursuing wellness as an entrepreneur. This shift let me explore different modalities and integrate them into my life. I gotta say: the quest for balance and fulfilment was what sparked my journey in the first place. The path wasn’t straight, but each experience built on my drive to live optimally.
What surprised you most when you first tried mushroom supplements?
Alex: What really surprised me was how flexible and compatible the mushroom supplements were with other foods and drinks, especially coffee. Coffee is a huge part of my daily routine, so being able to simply mix a sachet of lion’s mane mushroom powder into my morning coffee was a game-changer. It became second nature and made me feel good knowing I was getting extra nutrition from my usual coffee. Discovering I could make my coffee more nutritious in such an easy way was the best surprise when I first started using mushroom supplements.
Simon: The biggest surprise for me was discovering just how holistic the benefits were. I knew mushrooms were used in traditional Chinese medicine for ages, but beyond the medicinal perks, the depth of their nutrition and adaptogenic superpowers floored me. The subtle but transformative impact they had on my overall health and well-being was so eye-opening.
How do your morning or evening wellness rituals contribute to your well-being?
Alex: I don’t strictly separate my routine into morning versus evening, but having a consistent wellness ritual is key for me in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. If I’m being honest, I’ve been slacking on my yoga practice lately. Ideally I’d do yoga every day, or at least every other day. When I’m consistent with it, I see the benefits on all fronts – improved mood, energy, sleep, everything.
Simon: My morning wellness ritual makes me feel alive and motivated. That rush of energy and presence when I wake up is the best! Starting the day with mindful practices like breathwork sets such a positive vibe. It gives me a sense of being present that carries through everything I do. Afterwards, I have a cold shower and a hot mushroom tonic – cordyceps and lion’s mane get me going. Same goes for my evening ritual. Some relaxing breathing exercises and stretching with reishi tea helps me transition into deep, peaceful sleep. These practices bookend my day perfectly. I go to bed feeling content and wake up feeling recharged!
Do you have any tips for us to stay motivated and keep up a wellness practice despite busy schedules?
Alex: This is definitely a big challenge, especially living in fast-paced Hong Kong where time flies by. I’ve found that even doing a little bit is better than nothing. If I can’t fit in a full yoga class, I’ll make time for just a couple of postures. It’s not quite the same, but still beneficial. I try my best to fit in mini sessions, so I don’t stray too far off track. But of course, you should eventually get back on schedule and maintain those essential wellness routines.
Simon: Staying motivated with a busy schedule takes intentionality and adaptability. The key is consistently integrating small, achievable rituals into daily routines. I focus on just a few core practices that fit my lifestyle, not overloading on 50 different supplements hoping that they all work. Even when travelling nonstop, I stick to those daily habits. It’s about taking tiny but steady wellness steps, instead of seeking some unsustainable overnight solution. I adapt my practices as needed, but the consistency of the core rituals keeps me motivated.
What’s one wellness trend you’re excited about right now and why?
Alex: I’m thrilled to see wellness going mainstream lately. After teaching yoga for almost 17 years, it feels like the whole concept of wellness is really catching on these days, even becoming a prominent part of the cultural conversation. While people have always cared about their health, major brands and corporations are now putting wellness front and centre. For example, this year we’ve already led so many corporate team-building activities centred around wellness themes. It’s exciting to see companies make employee health and self-care a priority. To me, it’s a sign that the general public is finally realising what the wellness community has known all along – caring for your mental and physical health should be part of everyday life.
Simon: I’ve been really excited about the wellness trend of biohacking. What intrigues me most is its philosophy of empowering individuals to optimise their own biology through science and technology. At its heart, biohacking is about continuous self-improvement through tracking data and self-experimentation to find what works best for you. I’ve tried different practices over the years, and found mushrooms and breathwork really optimise my life, but I’m still exploring new techniques to improve myself. The personalised and gradual approach of biohacking aligns with my belief that you should actively work to improve your own wellbeing, rather than expect an overnight fix. There’s so much we can do to enhance our health when we treat it as an ongoing science experiment and leverage the potential of technology!
Find out more about Alex Lam and Simon Yuen, and their brand Shroommate.
