Monday, 29 October 2018

Musical Motivation: Propel Your Workout Intensity



T8 Fitness offers a wide-range of equipment solutions which caters to exercise, rehab, Pilates, yoga and more. As the sole distributor of ToeSox and Tavi Noir in Hong Kong, T8 Fitness is here to ensure that you have comfortable, stylish and practical fitness gear for all of your workout needs.

Music is everywhere in our lives today, affecting how we feel, our movements, and our everyday tasks. Have you ever noticed how music motivates and inspires you to work out? Perhaps a favorite song plays on your way to work, and you pick up your pace to match it. Fitness classes, gyms, and Pilates studios frequently play music throughout class and workout activities. There is a reason for this. Music affects exercise and your motivation to move!

Here’s how music affects your motivation:

Music improves your coordination-- the way you move. Recent research shows that fitness routines that include a musical beat can help motor and movement coordination. For example, moving to the beat of the music during a group fitness class. As a bonus, people also often experience a boost in self-confidence when their body is in sync with music and this creates a positive connection to exercise. Which is a good thing! Encouragement to exercise is something we all need from time to time!


Reduced fatigue-- or at least you think you feel less tired. Music helps us focus on something else besides the physical sensations of fatigue, it distracts us. So not only does music provide a rhythmic beat to help us push ourselves further… it also helps us feel more energetic afterwards!

Basically it boils down to this: When you are inspired, you’re more likely to be motivated to exercise. If you enjoy your workout, you’re more apt to actually do it! Music greatly influences movement, from improving your performance to increasing your workout intensity just a little bit further.

There are many reasons to live a healthier and more active lifestyle, and T8 Fitness can help! We stock just about everything you need to achieve your fitness goals. Visit the T8 Fitness online shop and check out some of the recommended yoga, Pilates, power lifting, and cardio products you may find useful.

Connect with T8 Fitness

Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA): PRDA's Founder Douglas White developer of proven 5 step, 4 KPIs process of Social Media Marketing.
Posted by Director of SO-U.TV at 23:22 0 comments

Polestar Pilates Asia: Rediscovering Your Passion for Teaching



As a Polestar Pilates Asia movement teacher, what is your greatest motivation? A big paycheck, fame, or the joy of teaching? The joy of watching your students being able to rebound quickly from an injury, ease stress from their high pressure job, and/or perform an intricate movement excellently on their own for the first time-- based on your guidance and instruction. This is the passion we want to see and achieve within our students at each and every Polestar Pilates Asia course, from the Gateway Pilates Mat to our Continuing Education classes for those looking to requalify and/or brush up on the latest methods.

About the Passion…

Why is it that some teachers get amazing results and some don’t? Even when they are both equally as qualified?  It is often the passion and enthusiasm, the way we relate to our clients. The way that we think about our profession and relate to our clients can affect how both we and our clients progress.

We are fortunate that almost everybody that comes through our Education has a real passion to move and to positively “impact the world through intelligent movement” It’s important to always maintain that passion for teaching Pilates, to keep yourself fresh, so that you can continue to impact the lives of your clients in a positive way.

Polestar Pilates Asia Gateway Mat Course at MySoul, Shanghai

Rediscover your Passion...

Sit down and write down three things you love about your job, about teaching Pilates to your students. Quickly! Don’t think about it much, just write down three positives.

Look at your list, these reasons are why you love your job. It’s important to love your work, to love what you do each day and to be passionate about it. This love, this passion is passed on in your sessions with your students-- people really can tell if you are doing something you love! As a teacher, your most important job is to teach and make sure your students understand each movement and can complete it successfully. Reflect on your skills as a teacher. Does your student or clients understand how the movement you are teaching them will help in meeting their fitness goals? This is what is most important.

Have you taken any Continuing Education courses recently? Nothing sparks a teacher more than learning something new, being able to see something from a fresh perspective. At Polestar we pride ourselves on helping to provide a career that lasts a lifetime – check out our schedule for the latest CEC course offerings around Asia!

Remember these wise words from Joseph Pilates

“Both the mind and the body must be coordinated, in order not only to accomplish the maximum results with the minimum expenditure of mental and physical energy, but also to live as long as possible in normal health and enjoy the benefits of a useful and happy life.”.

Connect with Polestar Pilates Asia

Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA): PRDA's Founder Douglas White developer of proven 5 step, 4 KPIs process of Social Media Marketing.
Posted by Director of SO-U.TV at 22:51 0 comments

Iso Fit: Workplace Health and Wellness



Iso Fit Hong Kong is an advocate of optimum environment for workplace health and wellness. Today's workplace routines often result in unwanted stress and exhaustion, which not only affect the quantity and quality of an employee’s labor but also affects overall health-- often carrying over into your personal life. Pilates is the secret ingredient for millions of people around the world, from celebrities to athletes to mums, dads and everyone in between! Doing Pilates exercises can help you bounce back from a mental rut and get you feeling balanced again.

How Important is Workplace Health? Sitting is the new Smoking!

A study by CareerBuilder showed that 61% of employees are burned out on their jobs while while nearly one third of workers say work causes them extremely high levels of stress.  Add in the fact that all day you are crunched up over your desk, feeling the strain from your slouch and you have a recipe for disaster. Exercise, and specifically Pilates, will help! This is why Iso Fit provides a variety of exercises, professional consultancy and regiments for employers and employees in order to promote workplace health and wellness.

Simple Tips on How to Improve Workplace Health

Below you’ll find some of our simple tips that can really help you to improve workplace health and wellness.


Move as much as possible

Experts recommend taking at least a 5 minute movement break every hour. Try setting an alarm on your phone or device to go off, reminding you to take a quick walk or at least stand up and stretch at your desk.

Be sure to stay hydrated

Experts typically recommend drinking at least 2 litres of water per day, but this should be increased for those that are physically active, and for those that are taller/larger than average. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. If you need a little flavour, try adding lemon or other citrus slices to your water.

Reduce Stress

Whether you use a stress ball, meditation, listen to music, or another coping mechanism, it’s important to figure out healthy ways to manage stress. Plants can also help reduce stress and create a feeling of well-being-- if possible, bring the outdoors indoors by adding a plant or two to your workplace environment. Pilates at Iso Fit is our favorite way to overcome stress and anxiety, as well as aiding in strengthening and toning the body.

Get a head start on your New Year’s fitness resolutions this holiday season by joining one of Iso Fit Hong Kong’s fun and energetic Pilates group classes. We also offer private and semi-private sessions as well, stop by the studio to learn more!
Connect with Iso Fit

Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA): PRDA's Founder Douglas White developer of proven 5 step, 4 KPIs process of Social Media Marketing.
Posted by Director of SO-U.TV at 22:39 0 comments

Successful Launch of 2018 Legal 500 GC Powerlist Hong Kong



The Cognatio Law team is delighted to be associated with the inaugural edition of The Legal 500 GC Powerlist Hong Kong Teams 2018. We are very proud to be a sponsor of the first HK edition from this prestigious series of legal directories, which was successfully launched at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on October 18th, 2018. We feel very privileged to have been included in the exciting journey for many of the nominees and we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the successful in-house legal teams who were included in the final list. The Cognatio Law team looks forward to continue working with you on delivering positive business solutions outcomes for you and your companies.

The Legal 500 has been evaluating law firms across the world for over thirty years. Their latest publication is The GC Powerlist, which examines in-house legal teams, recognising forward-thinking corporate counsel members who are driving the legal market forward and was created to determine the most influential and innovative in-house counsel working across the globe. The Legal 500’s team of experienced researchers gathers insight from law firm partners and in-house counsel, working to identify brilliant minds that have been pivotal in the legal industry.

The defining attributes of a stand out in-house counsel are categorized as follows:

● Being instrumental in changing or forming opinions within their company or industry,
● Developing brilliant technical solutions to complex issues,
● Creating innovative structures to ensure that the in-house function is driving the business forward,
● Providing a business working model that other corporate counsel should follow

The Cognatio Law team enjoying the successful launch of the inaugural Legal 500 GC Powerlist Hong Kong at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on 18.10.2018.

For anyone to be included in this process was an amazing honor and one to which we are proud to give our full support. Hong Kong is a leading legal centre in the Asia Pacific region and lies at the heart of the NewLaw revolution that is challenging Big Law and the traditional delivery of legal services. Cognatio Law was established in response to this changing paradigm and is the latest evolution in Hong Kong of the Alternative Legal Services Provider (ALSP) model that first emerged globally in 2008 and then in Hong Kong in 2011. Cognatio Law designs tailor-made solutions for our clients to assist in-house legal and compliance teams in achieving cost-effective resourcing and business management solutions. We do this by seconding experts, quickly and at short notice for any given project, removing the risk to the client of incurring additional permanent employee costs and minimising time spent recruiting. Companies can make significant financial and efficiency savings by engaging a NewLaw company over a traditional law firm. Visit our website for more information on how to engage our team of highly-qualified experts.

Connect with Cognatio Law
2310 Dominion Centre, 43-59 Queen's Road East Wanchai, Hong Kong

Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA): PRDA's Founder Douglas White developer of proven 5 step, 4 KPIs process of Social Media Marketing.
Posted by Director of SO-U.TV at 22:24 0 comments

Asian Youth Orchestra: Ways to Become a Better Musician



There is always the desire to get better. At the Asian Youth Orchestra, we have not only a talented group of young, local musicians but a team of determined and motivated people.  The atmosphere only permits room for improvement. Every musician is motivated in a tripartite fold – by instructors, their peers, and their personal hunger. And of all three, personal hunger is the greatest.

As musicians, often times, we try so hard at our instruments, practicing constantly, reading and learning so much. And sometimes we struggle, and it leads to frustration. Below we have a few tips for our young musicians, whom are still working on honing their craft, on how-to improve their skills.


Create a Time Schedule and Stick To It

You are probably telling yourself right now, “I am not good at keeping time, this advice wont work for me. I am different”. This is often the thought pattern of an undisciplined musician. Great people in any sphere of life often create a permanent time on their schedule that they devote to whatever keeps them sharp. Lend the words of one of the richest men in the world, Warren Buffet, who said he devotes two hours each day to reading a book. It is called discipline, without which it will be difficult to succeed as a professional musician, if any truth be told.

Create a working timetable at first. Set apart some time to study the theoretic aspects of music and then, few hours to practice your instrument every single day. It surely helps not only your playing skills but your sense of professionalism.

Evaluate Yourself, Set Goals and Be Realistic

Self-evaluation is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a music professional. You should be able to score your performance while weighing it against other musicians and your teacher’s comments. Be honest and do not exaggerate your skills or suppress the quality you have. Acknowledge it and aim to build.

Setting goals where you need to be very realistic. Design meaningful goals that you can achieve within a reasonable time. You will be surprised how many milestones you can reach by the end of each month. However, you may also set long term goals, such as becoming the lead musician in your department.

Practice, Take Breaks and Practice More

It may be easy for some folks to learn instruments, maybe hard for others to learn the same. However, one thing is constant – mastery takes time, energy(practice) and patience. Mastery of your instrument is beyond just showing off skills. You must understand the instrument and music as a whole. To achieve this, you must constantly and consistently practice. Development comes when you master the art of consistent practice.

Also learn to take breaks. Your brain, muscles and body need it. Take breaks at the right time, so you can reserve more energy to practice more.

Listen to Related and Unrelated Music Performances

Listening to music performances exposes your mind to new styles, methods and other benefits. You can engage in active listening and passive listening. Regardless, listening to music unconnected with your assignment or work at hand will always keep your mind sharp.

About us:

Founded by violinist Yehudi Menuhin and conductor Richard Pontzious as East Asia's counterpart to European youth orchestras, the 100 plus members of The Asian Youth Orchestra attend three weeks of musical training in Hong Kong, followed by performance opportunities and international concert touring experiences. Be sure to follow Asian Youth Orchestra on Facebook and Instagram for 2019’s audition and tour dates and details!

Connect with the Asian Youth Orchestra

Credit: Prosperity Research Digital Agency(PRDA): PRDA's Founder Douglas White developer of proven 5 step, 4 KPIs process of Social Media Marketing.
Posted by Director of SO-U.TV at 21:41 0 comments
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)