6 ways to destress and relax in Hong Kong

Zoom is booming in this current climate as business take to the platform for meetings and conference calls. This isn't all Zoom is good for, though, as it's a great tool to have a chat with your loved ones around the world! Whether it's checking in with extended family members or catching up with a group of old friends, Zoom is a great way to connect!

The health benefits – both physical and mental – of yoga and meditation are well-known, and just because you're stuck inside doesn't mean you can't channel your inner yogi. There are plenty of yoga classes to be found online. These include Luma Flow Yoga, which features a Hong Kong-Australian yoga instructor who is aiming to make yoga accessible to the community, conducting online lessons in both English and Cantonese.

You can also try Yoga with Adrienne – a channel with hundreds of videos that you can watch about yoga at home, including 30-day yoga journeys, yoga for self-care, and of course, yoga for anxiety and stress. Finally, you can also check out Headspace – the app for daily meditation. 

There are lots of fun resources online that are good for the brain, as well as the soul. Check out some of these and challenge yourself, like Dad Lab – who prescribes thrilling indoor activities for kids – and adults – to try. 

If science isn't your thing, no problem. Why not try your hand at drawing? Draw with Rob. This art instructor is currently making a special Tuesdays and Thursdays series that everyone can tune into and learn how to draw, step by step. 

Another online resource that is sure to stimulate the left side of the brain is Kelly Creates Studio. The motto here is “Breathe. Write. Relax”, and it has instructional videos of various drawings and watercolour ideas, and ideas for calming calligraphy. The studio is currently doing live streams daily that you can rewatch with new ideas every day. 

Hong Kong has such a huge variety of hiking trails and right now the weather is just right for hitting them up. For those of us whose idea of a brutal climb is taking the stairs to the fifth floor, or if you don’t own crampons and those hiking boots you bought three years ago are going mouldy in the back of the wardrobe, don’t sweat it. There are plenty of hikes in and around HK for beginners. All you need is a good supply of water, a sun hat and a sense of adventure, and responsible social distancing. 

A visit to a museum is a great way to unwind in quiet surroundings. While strolling around galleries may not be best thing to do right now, thankfully you can do it at some museums virtually from the comfort of home. Museums to be enabling virtual tours of their exhibits include The Natural History Museum of London, in which we can all now explore some of the fascinating features from our sofa!

The Vatican Museums of Rome virtual tours is another top choice for museum lovers, as now you can enjoy 360-degree views of icons such as the Sistine Chapel.

For those more art-inclined, you'll be pleased to know that you can now explore the works at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. The museum itself is temporarily closed, but from the comfort of home you can now take a virtual tour to admire works from legends like Michelangelo and Van Gogh. There are also a variety of interesting, artsy podcasts to listen to, too.

For other relaxing stream, check out more recommendations here. 

Of course, one of the easiest ways to chill is to watch old faithful Netflix, whether on your own as part of a Netflix Party with friends. It's a tried and true and it helps many of us to unwind and relax on a daily basis. So get your most comfy PJs on, cosy up on the couch, and 'Netflix and chill' (literally).