This week, we have treats and no tricks.
There was no party my first Halloween in Hong Kong. Decorations and advertising were equally absent here in 1992. The expat kids who came to the door of our South Side flat confused my new English boyfriend. He had no idea what was happening and I had no idea how to explain it to him. There was no internet and no Facebook and I had never had to describe the holiday before. I made the kids sing for their treats and was not prepared with candy so I handed out a few coins, a trick learned from years of Halloweening in the middle of nowhere.
It was a simpler time then and the treats that turn up today seem much more scary than the rumored razor blades we were taught to watch for in Halloween apples. Although E ingredients had arrived as food additives the year I arrived on the planet, candies were still little more than sugar bombs and they weren’t particularly toxic otherwise.
Today, on top of complex confection ingredients, parents are managing food intolerances and allergies of epic proportions, difficult when food companies are not required to list commercially sensitive details used in coloring or preservatives. What began as a day has grown into a month of parties, challenging even the most disciplined children even more.
Fortunately, our members, including Welspring and SpiceBox Organics, are ready with natural options to satisfy every sweet tooth. When it comes to costumes, my go-to has always been Salvation Army where I am inspired by what is available and take the opportunity to get creative. We now also have an abundant local supply of chemical-free cosmetics to get a little freaky in our spooky transformation.
If dressing up for a big night out is not your idea of fun, we have plenty of other choices. Those who can’t make the Halloween Spook-tacular tonight can support Room to Read at A Night for Nepal. Get your giggle on at a Laughter Funshop tomorrow night. Let your hair down and be Unleashed on Thursday. Wrap up Life Balance Week 2015 with Community Business at Noir Rose and the Mysterious Banquet dinner theatre or explore another side of Friday night in Wan Chai at Rock My Soul. Learn new moves at Nei Gong for Women’s Health over the weekend. Meet our members and make new friends at the second Wellness 360 Fair on Sunday. Explore new business options at the Social Enterprise Summit next week. These are only a few of the events on the calendar.
The trick to natural treats is keeping it simple — less is always more in the fast lane.
Before I sign off on the first newsletter of our 15th year, I want to thank you for reading and send super-size hugs to everyone who has been here since the beginning. From 1 November, weekly updates will be available as a benefit for personal members while the monthly newsletter will remain free until the end of time.
What treats do you have in store for yourself this week?
Naturally,
Founder & Publisher
www.heartbeat.com.hk
natural life in the fast lane
Listen to your own heartbeat.
“Vanity plays lurid tricks with our memory.” Joseph Conrad
Sign up as a personal member to receive weekly calendar and directory updates … naturally
Nei Gong for Women’s Health
A Weekend Intensive Workshop with Doris Baer
Discover a deeper connection with your body and new understanding of your body. Nei Gong means internal work in Chinese, referring to personal growth and spiritual work of the inner self and physical aspects of the human body’s inner systems. This massage of internal organs removes stress and anger from the liver, fears and anxieties from the kidneys and brings more joy back into your heart. The resulting improvement in quality of life empowers you to make better choices, with decision making be less clouded by emotions. Working on deep levels, Nei Gong not only cures symptoms, it can reach the cause of a problem. Feel great again in your body with the ancient Chinese art of Nei Gong.
ENQUIRIES : Doris Baer | Email : doris@tianyanneigong.com | Tel : +852 2871 0430
QUICK LINK : Nei Gong for Women’s Health | WEBSITE : tianyanneigong.com
Work-Life Balance Week
Join the annual campaign 26-30 October 2015
Findings from the 2006-2014 surveys show that Hong Kong employees are dissatisfied with life balance and it impacts their productivity, health and relationships with family and friends. They believe more can be done to address the situation. Organizations can demonstrate their commitment to work-life balance and raises awareness of work-life balance as a critical business issue. Since 2008, hundreds of participants across Asia have organized activities and initiatives during the week and throughout the year. Participants receive free access to a series of publications supporting their strategy, including Work-Life Balance in Hong Kong Case Studies (2007), Work-Life Balance: The Guide (2009) and Driving Cultural Change to Achieve Work-Life Balance (2011). Register now and start planning a week that will drive change in your organization and you community.
QUICK LINK : Life Balance Week 2015 | Life Balance Workshops
ORGANIZER : Community Business | 
WEBSITE : communitybusiness.org.hk
CONTACT : Andrew Tsang | EMAIL : andrew.tsang@communitybusiness.org | TEL : +852 2201 1832
Events in Hong Kong this week
26-30 Life Balance Week | Community Business
27 (10:45am-12:45pm) Foundation of Good Health | i-Detox Wellness Centre
27 (12:30-2pm) Sustainability is Everyone’s Business | request details
27 (6:30-10pm) A Night for Nepal | Room to Read
27 (6:45-8:30pm) Nature in New Media Art | Asia Society Hong Kong
27 (8-10pm) Halloween Spook-tacular | Drum Jam
27 (7:30pm) Dinner at Veggie Family | Meat Free Hong Kong
27 (8pm until late) Fullmoon Gathering | Jason Canoy
28 (12:30-2pm) Gender and University Experiences in China | request details
28 (6:30-9:30pm) Laughter Funshop | request details
28 (7-9pm) Mandala – Window to the Universe | Luxe Nova Lifestyle Studio
28 (7-9pm) Kefir Class | SOL Wellness
28 (7-9pm) Superfood Happy Hour | i-Detox Wellness Centre
28-31 Eco Expo Asia | request details
29 (6:30-8pm) Guided Shamanic Meditation | All About You Wellness Centre
29 (7-9pm) Bracelets of Hope Workshop | The Mekong Club
29 (7-10pm) Mandalas with Intention | Luxe Nova Lifestyle Studio
29 (7-11pm) Unleashed | LAP Lifelong Animal Protection Charity
30 (7-9:30pm) Noir Rose and the Mysterious Banquet | Community Business
30 (11am-12pm) Baby and Mommy Dance Club | Oasis Dance Centre
30-1 Nov Awakening of Love | Pia Muggerud
30 (10:45am-12:45pm) Easy Nutritious Breakfast Class | i-Detox Wellness Centre
30 (6:45-7:30pm) Draco Dragon Healing System | Michelle Harris
30 (7:30pm) Asian Fusion October Feast | request details
30 (8-10pm) Rock My Soul | Carsten Holz
31 (10:30am-1:30pm) Timeout for You | request details
31-1 Nov Nei Gong for Women’s Health | Tian Yan Nei Gong Centre
31-1 Nov Shamanic Sacred Cacao Ceremony | Kaldora Lee
1 (10am-12pm) SUP Yoga Beach Clean Up | Nadine Bubner
1 (10am-6pm) The Wellness 360 Fair | Healthy Living Asia
1 (2-3:30pm) Meditate with Angels | The Healing Centre of Hong Kong
1 (5-6pm) Silent Disco Yoga Class | The Yoga Room
1-3 Social Enterprise Summit | request details
3 (7:30pm) Unconditional Love Deletes Pain | Richard Wickes
Visit the calendar for details or join for weekly updates
Coming up
November 6 (7:30-10:30pm) Flow in the Dark
November 6 (8-10pm) Rock My Soul
November 20-25 Belly Dance Workshop
November 20-22 A Weekend of Yoga & Meditation
Submit your event by Friday for next Tuesday’s newsletter.
Personal Membership
Conscious everyday choices are getting easier … naturally
HK heartbeat is Hong Kong’s first and only natural living community and we have been publishing fresh content and making local connections since 2001. Our vibrant personal and business network has hundreds of active members making conscious everyday choices and sharing with their friends. Times have changed since we started and it is getting even easier because now we are connected with us on social media. Discover clean, green, healthy products, services and programs. Stay in touch with what’s new and what’s on. Get a little help from the Natural Concierge to find what you’re looking for. Enjoy private offers and join us at tastings and talks hosted by businesses where you will meet people who share your interest in all things natural.
QUICK LINK : Personal Membership
CONTACT : Kinzie
TEL : +852 6628 6253
EMAIL : kinzie@heartbeat.com.hk
The Natural HK Community
Fresh content and local connections for conscious everyday choices
Hong Kong’s first natural network has connected thousands of individuals, businesses and organizations since we launched in 2001, sharing fresh content and authentic connections for clean, green, healthy living products, services and programs. HK heartbeat is, in essence, a network of communities with thousands of local residents actively raising awareness about the issues close to their heart. With everything from acupuncture to zero-waste solutions, our members have everything you’re looking for — even when you’re not sure what you’re looking for — chemical-free health and beauty, lifestyle services, whole food, sustainable fashion, eco-style, green gadgets and more … naturally.
Fresh directory listings
Contact our Natural Concierge for assistance or an introduction.
Doris Baer – Classes and private sessions teaching Nei Gong, an internal Qi Gong
Laurence James Lucas – Astrologer, Psychologist, Shaman; consultations, talks, workshops
SoHolistic Centre – Mind, body and spirit healing centre
Love True Food – Whole and sustainable food to balance mind, body and soul
Walk Hong Kong – Licensed HK tour operator offering walking and hiking tours
Anastassia’s Art House – Art classes for all ages, trash-to-treasure art parties for children
Room to Read – Literacy and gender equality in education
Register for a listing | Connect with our business members
Photo by Kinzie
