Places in HK to Rest Your Mind & Soul
“ We can’t stop life from going up and down, but we don’t have to go up and down with it”, wrote the spiritual teacher, Eknath Easwaran. When the mind is even, we can be comfortable everywhere.”
If there ever was a city in which we needed our minds to be even, it’s Hong Kong. With its vibrant, diverse and dramatic environment - from the weather, politics and work dynamics to transient friendships - it’s certainly a place where life can go way up and way down.
Age old wisdom and philosophy has taught this for centuries, and research is now proving, that meditation is a sure-fire way to calming the mind.
Call it mindfulness, meditation, or mindful meditation, the goal is the same: to help us go inward, calm the fluctuations of the mind, so we can respond, rather than react, and stay equanimous no matter what life throws us.
Yet with so many different methods and approaches out there, it’s difficult to know where to begin - which technique or teaching is “the right one” for us?
The upside is that Hong Kong being the city of variety that it is, there’s something for everyone. Be determined - if one doesn’t resonate, try a different method. By staying centred and calm you’re not just helping yourself, but everyone around you, too!
Enhale Meditation Studio
A simple one room studio that focuses on meditation and mindfulness classes.
Teachers from diverse backgrounds and traditions offer a wide range of meditation techniques. Some of these include Qi meditation, Clarity Breathwork meditation, Yoga Nidra, Sound Bath with Singing Bowls, Yin Meridian meditation and Alchemy Crystal Bowl and Gong meditation. Check their web site for schedules.
14th Floor, The Plaza, 21 D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, HK Ph: (852) 9385 8389
https://enhalems.com/
Anahata Yoga
This traditional yoga studio in a modern setting offers pranayama and meditation practices guided by experienced teachers. The beautiful studio space makes for a tranquil and blissful experience.
18/F, One Lyndhurst Tower, No. 1 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central
Ph: (852) 2905 1822
https://www.anahatayoga.com.hk/
Alive and Wellness
This health and wellness centre hosts different kinds of meditation evenings.
Tibetan singing bowls and gong meditation with Cheryl Rodriguez is a regular Tuesday evening class. A blissful experience which can induce deep relaxation on a cellular level.
Renee Claire, who has been leading core meditation groups in Hong Kong for the past 25 years, facilitates a guided channelled meditation every Wednesday at 7.30pm. Channelled meditation can help to connect you with a deeper state of presence, inner love and gratitude. These meditation sessions leave you with a sense of peace, love and wholeness and are ideal for anyone wishing to develop and expand their spiritual development.
Rm 602, Yu Yuet Lai Bldg , 43-55 Wyndham Street, Central, HK
Ph : (852) 2541-8600
http://www.alivewellness.hk/
Samadhi
This volunteer based centre welcomes you to use the space to meditate at any time (during opening hours).
They offer weekly mediatation classes and also facilitate meditation groups for your community. Call to inquire.
2-4 Tai Ping Shan Street, Sheung Wan, HK
Ph: (852) 9311 2915
https://www.facebook.com/samadhicentre/
Vipassana Meditation
An ancient Indian technique of meditation, Vipassana is “a way of self-transformation through self-observation.” The technique is taught via ten-day residential courses during which participants follow a prescribed code of discipline, with the intention of reaping the utmost benefits from the experience and time spent.
If you’re ready for a deep inner journey, then Vipassana could be an option to consider. Not only do you maintain complete silence but are also asked refrain from making eye contact with others for the entire duration of the meditation days. No phones, books, or even pen or paper. There’s nowhere to go but inward.
The course is run by volunteers and offered for free to all, including food and board. Participants are welcome to make a donation at the end of the course or any time after.
There are two Vipassana Meditation centres in HK, the older Hang Tau Centre in Sheung Shui, N.T., and the newly built Dhamma Muttā Centre in Lantau.
Ph: 852-2671 7031
https://www.mutta.dhamma.org/
Other Buddhist Retreats in Hong Kong:
Kadampa Meditation Centre, Causeway Bay
3 weeks of Teachings and Home Practice followed by 3 or 6 day Silent Meditation Retreat.
http://www.meditation.hk/en/
Plum Village, Lantau
5 day Retreats involving the study and practice of the teachings of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.
http://pvfhk.org/index.php/en/
Po Lin Monastery
Annual 7-Day Meditation Retreat.
http://www.plm.org.hk/eng/home.php
Su Bong Zen Monastery, retreat village in Lantau, monastery in Causeway Bay
1 day silent retreats, weekly meditation retreats.
https://www.subong.org.hk/en
Fa Hong Monastery, Lantau
Weekly meditation sittings and monthly retreats.
https://www.hkims.org/home
If the sound of all that meditation still doesn’t grab you, you can choose to learn some mindfulness in the city instead.
Mindfulness-based CBT
The program combines Mindfulness Practices, as a way of being present in a non-judging manner, with Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a way of becoming aware of negative thinking patterns.
The facilitator, Sebastian Droesler, is a certified MBCT teacher. As a Counselling Psychologist and Mindfulness Teacher, he promotes stress-reduction, mental strength and personal development through his practice and workshops.
Central, Hong Kong
Ph: (852) 9640 8681
Email: Sebastian@counsellinghongkong.com
https://counsellinghongkong.com/mbct/