She may be svelte, strong and confident, but yoga instructor Jasmine Chong has had her fair share of body issues. She opens up about her crazy past, and how to stay slim the healthy way.
She may be svelte, strong and confident, but yoga instructor Jasmine Chong has had her fair share of body issues. She opens up about her crazy past, and how to stay slim the healthy way.
You wouldn’t expect someone as slender as Jasmine Chong to have any misgivings about her body. Yet the 27-year-old founder of Yoga Lab – which has studios on Hong Kong Street and Duxton Road – reveals that she once ate only watermelon for two weeks in a quest to lose weight. Today, she’s an epitome of balance, loving her favourite mee pok as much as yoga. (Head to her Instagram account @jasmine_ yoga for some serious yoga inspiration!) Jasmine’s also an Adidas athlete, so don’t be surprised to see her at various sports events.
What motivated you to start Yoga Lab?
I strongly believe that everyone deserves yoga. No one should be excluded from its benefits because they cannot afford to do it. It has been marketed as a luxury in this part of Asia, but you don’t need much to do it. You just need a willing heart and an open mind.
What do you love most about yoga?
I love that there is always more to learn, more out there to challenge me. The physical practice is a great way to sweat and the mental practice makes me calmer.
What’s your secret to looking so good?
1 Drink warm lemon water the first thing every morning. That helps to kick-start the digestive system and get the bowels moving! 2 Do yoga daily, even if it’s just for 30 minutes. 3 Eat real food. The more processed your food, the more bloated you’ll be.
Was there ever a time when you were not fit and healthy?
When I was 18, I had a boyfriend who kept telling me I was fat. I believed him and would starve myself just to get his approval. I restricted my diet to just an apple and soup a day. Some days, I’d only have soup. That was the time when celebrity Nicole Richie was known for being super-thin. Plus, a few other cool girls in school were also anorexic, so I felt it was the thing to do. My stomach would cramp from being too hungry but I still wouldn’t eat. Because I knew my metabolism would crash when I starve myself, I took pills to increase my metabolic rate and lose even more weight. The high caffeine content got my heart racing. I did not have the energy to exercise. Eventually, I developed gastric problems. I started eating normally again after the extreme hunger impaired my memory and affected my school work. It was not an easy recovery journey. I would cringe at the mere sight of food. As I’d always loved Japanese food, I eased back into a normal diet by eating sashimi and eventually sushi. I was able to concentrate better and found it easier to move and breathe. That was also when I found yoga. It taught me how to listen to my body, and to focus more on what I’m feeling rather than how I look. If I don’t feel good, it doesn’t matter how good I look. But if I feel good, looking good becomes effortless.
On a scale of one to 10, how good do you feel now?
Nine.
What’s your best advice for those looking to lose weight?
Sweat at least once a day for an hour and your body will take care of itself. Also, don’t deprive yourself. When you ignore your cravings, you’re likely to binge eat later on. Take everything in moderation.
