Feeling good starts here! We work playfully, we play productively, and we make sure we’re feeling great as we do. Wellness is an important part of life at EAST. This month, our yoga instructor at EAST Miami Cassie shares her tips for destressing and work/life balance while Wilfred, Head Barista of Domain at EAST Hong Kong, recommends the best café drinks for a healthy morning routine.
LIVE WELLWITH CASSIE
“When I get those endorphins going, I always feel better and less stressed after.” EAST Miami’s yoga instructor Cassie is a Miami native who’s been teaching yoga for the past ten years. When she is not on her yoga mat, you can find her baking cakes, diving into a new podcast and preparing to be a first-time mom to her baby girl arriving this June. Cassie chats with us about being her healthiest self and easy, everyday ways to distress.
LIVE WELL WITH CASSIE
What is your morning routine?
My morning routine includes one delicious cup of coffee and breakfast – two eggs on a healthy toast with either avocado or fresh jam is my favourite – while I sit on our balcony to mindfully enjoy it. Having this time to sit outside and listen to the birds instead of watching the news helps me focus and feel grounded for the day. I often take a journal outside with me to jot down whatever thoughts may pop into my head that morning. Writing them down allows me to organise them and enter into my day feeling clear-headed.
LIVE WELL WITH CASSIE
How do you balance your time between work and home?
I balance my time between work and home by setting boundaries for myself and treating them like gold. I love using the “reminders” app on my phone to jot down anything that I remember regarding work or relating to my family while I am focused on the opposite, so that I don’t forget it but also don’t feel like I have to attend to it right then. It’s also important to create a solid support system for yourself so that you have people you can depend on to take care of things when you’re not there.
LIVE WELL WITH CASSIE
How do you destress?
Exercise and yoga are my go-to’s for destressing! I find that even ten to 15 minutes makes a big difference in my mood. I aim to move in some way every day, instead of feeling like I have to do a long workout or nothing at all. Moving every day keeps me in the habit and never feeling like it’s just another thing I need cross off my “to do” list. One day it might be attending a yoga class, another day a ten-minute upper body video on YouTube. When I get those endorphins going, I always feel better and less stressed after.
LIVE WELL WITH CASSIE
Who inspires you to live well physically and mentally?
My husband and soon-to-be newborn inspire me to live well mentally and physically. I know that to support them and encourage them to be their best, healthiest selves, I need to be my best self. When you work better, so does everything else!
LIVE WELLWITH CASSIE
What are the wellness classes like at EAST Miami?
The wellness classes at the EAST are taught by very skilled instructors and are personalised to what the students in class need. There are a variety of classes, typically one taught in the morning and one taught in the evening. This gives you the flexibility to find out what fits your goals and schedule best. Not only do you get an amazing class where you feel refreshed afterwards, you get to enjoy the beautiful views overlooking Miami!
Spoiler alert: yes, it can! Our Head Barista of Domain at EAST Hong Kong Wilfred explains that studies have shown black coffee in moderate doses to actually have a positive impact on your health, linked to a lower likelihood of type 2 diabetes and heart disease among a score of other benefits.
CAN COFFEEBE… HEALTHY?
If an Americano isn’t your thing, at Domain, he recommends opting for a Matcha Latte. Packed with antioxidants, matcha boosts brain function and may even protect your liver, promote heart health and decrease cancer risk. Going plant-based? Swap in oat or soy milk to your latte.
SMALL ACTIONBIG CHANGES
It’s the little things that count. At EAST Hong Kong, lights in the guestrooms and BEAST gym turn off automatically when no one’s around and dimming systems in the lobby and restaurants use less power while serving up atmospheric lighting. Outside, the decorative lighting is only on from 5:30pm to 10:45pm each day.
SMALL ACTIONBIG CHANGES
Our chefs are working to make our restaurant kitchens more eco-friendly. “As restaurateurs, we understand the amount of energy consumed every day, that’s why we seek to make our daily operations greener,” says Mark Percy, Director of Restaurant & Bar and Executive Chef at EAST Hong Kong. “Designing a green kitchen is all about making sustainable decisions to create a cooking environment that is built.”
SMALL ACTIONBIG CHANGES
Part of this effort includes working Swire Properties’ Green Kitchen Initiatives, reduce energy and water usage and improve air quality and waste management to enhance sustainability. The Green Kitchen Awards recognise restaurants leading in this, including EAST Beijing’s FEAST and Domain.
SMALL ACTIONBIG CHANGES
“As a chef and operator, I understand deeply how much energy a restaurant's kitchen uses every day so reducing energy consumption as much as possible while maintaining the existing operation needs has always been my focus,” says Tim Hunt, Executive Chef & Director of Restaurants & Bars at EAST Beijing. “For this reason, with the continued efforts of the team, FEAST and Domain have both received the Three-Leaf Green Kitchen Ratings from Swire Properties.”
The big 5-0! This year, Swire Properties is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a tribute to originality. Original thinking is a value that resonates deeply with EAST. Whether its thought leadership programmes like Ideas to Wake Up To, which brings the business and creative communities together, or art programming and sustainability initiatives, EAST is always looking for new ways to make healthier, happier communities.
ORIGINAL.ALWAYS.
To commemorate this 50th birthday, Original Always will spotlight 50 Stories of originality and host a series of exciting events across our cities to celebrate who we are and our journey growing together.
