Pampering & Relaxing Hair Care with TK Trichokare

In my quest for more hair, as I've mentioned in another post, I've got a full on strategy on how to combat my hair loss problem and I figured that there's no harm in trying out another herbal remedy that's available.

TK Trichokare has been in Singapore since 2005 and unlike their competitors Yun Nam and Bee Choo (both of which I've gone to and still occasionally go to), Trichokare uses European herbs instead of Chinese herbs. Also, they have a group of Trichologists who work with them to train their staff as well as validate the efficacy of the chemicals and ingredients used in their treatments.

I was invited to try out their Puri-Scalp treatment (S$69.99 for 1st timers but my readers can get it at S$59 here) and you know that their business is booming when it was soo hard to fix a weekday night appointment with them. I finally managed to get a slot last Wed at their Orchard Gateway branch.

When you step in, you realise that it does not have any distinctive herbal smell. In fact, it smells too...normal? The decor definitely sets it apart from the very utilitarian set up of both Yun Nam and Bee Choo.

Was led into a consultation room with a computer and scanner. This is where I normally will have my guard up and be prepared to be hard sold on how hair follicles work and how unhealthy my scalp is yada yada yada....

My consultant and therapist, En En, was really nice and I was totally upfront with her about my recent trip to Bee Choo on Sunday to colour my grey hair as well as to help curb the hair loss. In fact, she was so cool about it and there wasn't any bitching about the competitors or the typical "what makes us different is ____" speech.

This is the result of my 1st scan. Top left scan showed that I do have some oil blocking up some hair follicles and some areas of my scalp was really greasy. Also, I was quite amazed at how the herbs from Bee Choo was still staining my scalp!

The consultant then told me that oily scalp and hair loss is quite common and for most clients, she recommends going for weekly scalp treatments (if you're already on a hair treatment programme) to first stablise the oil glands on the scalp before they go into the hair growth treatment. Rationale is this: if you don't get rid of the oil/dandruff, your follicles are not going to be able to absorb the treatment and hair loss will still continue.

Good news is that my follicles are generally healthy. Only issue was the greasy scalp plus the baby hair growing is getting thinner and thinner because of the oil clogs. So...it is important for me to have a clean scalp!

I then went on about my Hair Max and cold laser (yes...I am so honest...just to catch people off guard) and I was pleasantly surprised when En En said that Trichokare used to use it but stopped for reasons unbeknownst to her. She then told me to use it immediately after I've applied my hair tonic (yes, she knew that it was from Bee Choo) to encourage further absorption of the tonic.

I also asked what's the usual "package" (oops...kinda bordering on being a trick question) where she said that it depends on individual clients' needs as well as response to the treatment. Most important was to first regulate the scalp before working on strengthening the hair and then increase density.

With that, it was onto the treatment area!

Looks like a typical hairdresser salon, no? But what struck me was this: no herbal smell! My therapist told me that it's probably because instead of boiling down the herbs and fermenting it, Trichokare products are made from the extraction of the herbal essences. In other words, they extract what actually helps with the hair growth and prevents hair loss from the herbs instead of using it lock, stock and barrel.

My therapist soon came along to slather my scalp with the scalp purifying solution with what looks strangely like a paint brush. The solution had a very light floral herbal scent from the European botanicals. Think more Ricola as opposed to Hock___ Herbal Medical Hall. After which, I was given a very relaxing head massage before I was left to my own devices for the next 10 min.

When bored, take selfie with horrible hair. Haha...anyway, I felt a slight itch on my scalp after a couple of minutes. According to the therapist, it is normal and some clients even described it as tingly or stinging. Why? Apparently, this scalp purifying treatment is working on the oil on my scalp as well as the oil globules coming out from the glands under the skin.

Soon, it was off to the washing area to shampoo this all off and that's where the pampering began. My hair was shampooed twice and each round came with a head massage. 3 massages within a short span of time! Can't complain. My therapist also took a lot of time to use her fingers to separate my hair before conditioning it. It was not rushed and she really took her time when she encountered any knots.

Back at my seat, the pampering continued by a warm herbal 'pillow' (with a few drops of essential oil) that wrapped around my shoulders and my therapist gave me a shoulder massage while waiting for the towel to absorb more moisture from my hair. Those pillows are imported from overseas and you can purchase one from the shop for S$129 and enjoy some warm relief on the shoulders at home.

She thoroughly dried my hair before adding tonic as she mentioned that you should ensure that you apply tonic to a dry scalp so that it's not diluted and fully absorbed by your hair follicles. When she felt how dry my hair tips were, she even added serum!

While this was all going on, she told me how many of her colleagues were former hair stylists before moving to learn more about hair wellness. Thus, if you find out that your therapist is one of these former hair stylists, you definitely can ask them for tips on cutting certain hair styles to better cover up those bald spots while looking sassy, ;)

My therapist definitely learnt quite a bit from her colleagues because her blow dry techniques were very professional. Quite a contrast to the random drying I keep experiencing at Bee Choo and had experienced at Yun Nam (don't talk to me about how some of the YN therapists messed up my hairstyle).

After making my hair perfectly straight and bouncy, I was wrapped by the octopus of anti-bacterialism. Ok, that's not a proper word. I just coined it. This contraption is to kill off any germs and bacteria because we all know how much they love water and how they're evil to hair follicles. 'Nuff said.

It's back to the consultation room after the treatment for another scan. The top 2 images are the before while the bottom 2 are the after pictures. As you can see, their puri-scalp treatment got rid of the oil and brown stain from my scalp, something that my shampoo could not do for the past 3 days! Unfortunately, some stubborn oil blobs are still on my scalp but that's why it takes about a month or so for the scalp to be perfectly clean and balanced before further treatments can take place.

Besides the pampering and relaxation, the best thing about my trip to Trichokare was that there was NO hard sell. They let you know your options and that they scan your scalp at every session so as to track your scalp progress and customise your treatments.

A day after the treatment, my scalp was visibly less oily throughout the whole day! I was warned that the opposite may happen because the herbal solution sometimes is very effective at extracting oil from the oil glands, encouraging expulsion so that it can be washed away through shampoo. My scalp was less itchy and I saw fewer strands of hair in the shower! Needless to say, I am very happy with this trial session and I might have to visit them again. Especially when I can get another session for $39 and the following one at a $90 discount. Details below:

Trichokare is a Gold Sponsor at WellnessYogi RESET on 11 July where they will talk more about Hair Care and wellness at their 2.45pm workshop. In addition, they have a few special treats for attendees:

1. Early birds will get a complimentary Puri-Scalp Treatment AND the chance to win $500 worth of Capitaland Vouchers when they fill in the lucky draw form on the day itself!
2. Full Day Pass holders will get a $90 discount voucher for the Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy (U.P. S$388) and a free home care kit with an anti-static hair brush

If you're not going for the workshop, join us at the Wellness Bazaar that is open to the public as Trichokare will also have special prices JUST for the day! Instead of the usual S$69.99 as mentioned earlier (as well as on their website), you can get a trial session of Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy for only S$39!

For my readers who can't make it down to the event, fret not. You'll get a discount too. You can also get a trial session of the Puri-Scalp Treatment + Detox + Scalp Therapy for S$59 when you click this LINK.

Go on...challenge the science behind hair growth and start your own hair and scalp care regime.

How To Reset Your Youth With Make Up

Mia opened her class by showing slides of Japanese models who were in their mid-40s and looked absolutely STUNNING. Nobody would've believed that they were above their 20s and they really put the whole lot of us to shame.

"Think that their faces look very natural? Let me tell you...there's a lot of make up involved!" exclaimed Mia to the small class of about 12 students.

Here, we begin the 2 hour class on how to perfect that 'natural' beauty look that's so in vogue and how to make one look younger.

Using my friend as her model, Mia used only half of the face to demonstrate how to achieve that natural look. First off - primer. Followed by a very good foundation that's applied with a sponge. Mia emphasised that we should dab the foundation on instead of dragging it across our skin in order to have full coverage.

Despite the full range of Motives cosmetics laid out onto the table, Mia had requested that her students to bring their personal cosmetics to the class as the objective of the class was to teach techniques. Nonetheless, my friend (the 'model') later told me how light and smooth the foundation and gel eyeliner were. The brushes were uber soft too!

Men can wear make up too! Especially the more 'natural' look! It's all about evening out one's skin tone and brightening up the eyes. When it comes to Asian eyes, we tend to have more sparse eyelashes, which is why a bit of eyeliner along the waterline will go a long way.

Even double eyelids for the day!

I was thrust into the world of make up tape and cutting it such that it is customised for your own eyes. Even if you have double eyelids, Mia recommends using the tape so that your eyes will become even larger! For me...it was just a matter of having double eyelids with the same thickness (my right eye has a thinner fold).

If you'd like to know more about how to effectively use make up to Reset Your Youth, do join Mia at her next workshop with WellnessYogi on 11 July at the Marina Bay Waterfront Promenade. Her workshop is bundled together with Trichokare's Hair Wellness at only S$20 or you can purchase a Full Day Pass (starts from S$35 and comes with a goodie bag worth S$60)! Register at: http://wellnessyogireset.eventbrite.com/?aff=melfann.

See you there!

Going With The Flow Through Kalari Yoga

Profile photo taken from Bali Spirit Festival

That's Amanda, the yogi from Real Yoga who has introduced Kalari Yoga to Singapore, and it is also the highlight of WellnessYogi RESET on 11 July! So, being good event organisers, we naturally have to attend a session of Kalari Yoga before declaring it our "highlight event".

What is Kalari yoga, you may ask? According to the description that Real Yoga gave me, it read:

Kalari Yoga is a rhythmic yoga flow that pulsates with the energy of the sacred circle.
It is as gentle as it is strong, calming as it is energising, and as uplifting as it is grounding.
Kalari is the journey of learning, being wholly present, finding groundedness in flight and tranquility in flow.

If your reaction was "Huh?", you're not alone. When we asked Amanda though, her reply was that Kalari Yoga is going back to the more organic form of Vinyasa Flow yoga. Don't fret if you have more question marks above your head. We too had them. But first, let's explain something - there are as many schools of teaching and beliefs in yoga as there are denominations in the Christian church...no need to fret over the different types. Just go with the (no pun intended) flow and what feels comfortable to you.

Kalari yoga isn't new. It has been practiced in Kerala, India and was part of the training of the warriors in the ancient martial arts. Amanda did tell us that Kalari yoga is gaining popularity in the world now because a lot of practitioners are looking for something that is more organic.

There's the word 'organic' again. Just what did Amanda mean? Didn't know until we actually hit the mats in Real Yoga's studio.

I don't like to bang out yoga poses abruptly, or snap forwards and backwards... i like vinyasa that is fluid, transient and graceful. My vinyasa is an affirmation of my strength. My vinyasa is an expression of my grace. My yoga is physical meditation and our practice is a celebration of our yoking, as a community, one in breath and spirit. World Yoga Day is this Sunday! See you on the mat!

A video posted by Amanda Koh (@amandakohkalariyoga) on Jun 17, 2015 at 8:13am PDT

Just like the caption in the above video, Kalari Yoga felt very natural. The meaning behind 'organic' hit us throughout the whole 1 hour. The transition from one pose to the next was really fluid and I was amazed at how effortless it felt to move from a half bend, into a crouch and then into a 3-legged dog before going into wild thing. I was even more impressed that I did the 3-legged dog perfectly without feeling any strain because most of us are so used to this sequence: 1. plank 2. downward dog 3. 3 legged dog.

Trust me. It had nothing to do with me getting stronger because I had just recovered from 1 week of flu and another week of hives (ie. no yoga for 2 weeks).

Some of the poses were challenging - I still can't do a full crow (only able to lift 1 foot up) and no way are my abs ready to do a shoulder stand immediately from a laid down position nor can I do a proper plough pose without using momentum. However, the sequences of the poses felt like how a novel reads, where there's a calm introduction (breathing exercises) before a build up to a climax and then going back down into a savasana (full relaxation).

Post Kalari Yoga - we survived!

We really liked how Amanda's calming voice added to the chilled out experience, which isn't something we expected considering how boisterous and fun she is to talk to outside of the yoga session.

Now, imagine how it would be during WellnessYogi RESET itself:
Fireworks go off at 7.30pm as part of the NDP rehearsals. As it dies down, the dome tent is dimly lit with mood lighting and Shamanic Music is playing in the background. Facing the view of the Marina Bay Waterfront, we will go through Kalari Yoga together as a group.

I'm getting excited thinking about the whole thing! Of course, we do hope that you stay with us after the Kalari Yoga session as we go into a chillax after party mode! :) Good news for Amanda's followers/students as well as members of Real Yoga! You guys get special discounted tickets to our event! Do bug Amanda and check your mailbox for the promo code.

See you all there on the 11th July!!

Conversations with Taiji Master Sim

My first real encounter with Taiji (or Taichi as some anglos will call it) was when my mum decided to take it up as a form of exercise some time back in the early 2000s. Like many, I brushed it off as some exercise for old folks and even laughed when she went to Chinatown just to buy those flat, blue cloth shoes just for her Taiji lessons.

Later in 2009, I found myself learning Taiji too. Who convinced me? It was Master Sim of Wu Tu Nan Taiji Gong who came to my previous workplace to give a talk about Taiji and its benefits. Years later, I contacted Master Sim again and invited him to give a workshop at my WellnessYogi RESET as I believe that, like yoga, taiji is meant for everyone and it needs an avenue to shed its stereotype.

Master Sim Pern Yiau

Master Sim Pern Yiau is a certified 5th Dan Shifu under the Wu Tu Nan Taijigong lineage. This traditional system has its roots in the holistic teachings of the great sage Lao Tze. Shifu Sim has been teaching since 2005 and has students in the U.S., Chile, Germany, Norway, Italy, Malaysia, Singapore, etc. He researches into traditional Taijigong as well as modern applications for various contexts such as healing and enhancing performance in dance, acting, singing and music performance.

Here's a short conversation with him:

When we think Taichi, an image of old folks comes to mind, is this a misconception? Is there space for the young?Yes, it is a definite misconception. Certainly most Taiji (Taichi) as practised today perpetuates the misconception. That's why Wu Tu Nan Taijigong is special. Taiji is traditionally an advanced form of self-defence. Our practitioners retain this tradition. The principles of body mechanics and Qi-harnessing used in Taiji defence are the same principles used to give us health, fitness and anti-aging properties. The thing is, how can we achieve all these through that gentle flowing practice? The secret is in understanding Qi.

Master Sim demonstrating Taijigong to Norwegian students

Do you see overlaps, connections and any possible Taichi yoga hybrids perhaps coming together in the near future?
That would be wonderful.

The essential difference between these 2, in my humble observation, is that Yoga does not have the defence component. As defence requires an understanding of forces in motion as well as stillness, Taiji teaches both in equal measure, whereas Yoga generally emphasises physical stillness. Thus, Yoga emphasises asanas whereas Taiji emphasises the moving sequence.

However, at a deeper level, both share very similar energies. Both come from long and deep cultures that investigate the holistic relationships between body, mind and spirit, between humans and the larger universe. Both find stillness in motion and motion in stillness. Both work with energy - prana and qi. Both seek balance within and outside oneself. Both lead us to strength and peace.

A Yoga-Taiji hybrid is beneficial if one does not dilute the strengths and special characteristics of each.

Modern day life is plagued with 1st world problems, how does your system benefit the desk bound worker?
Our bodies can be desk bound but our mind and spirit does not have to be. In the early stages of training, the physical exercises of taiji will help you release the tensions and ailments accumulated through a non-active lifestyle. At higher levels, because of the body-mind-energy training of taiji, you can release tensions and harness energies even at your desk!

Furthermore, Taiji is essentially understanding how to balance Yin and Yang forces. These relate not only physical health but problem-solving as well. For those who practice Taiji principles as a management or self-help tool, you might even find yourself doing better at work because of Taiji. The flip-side Yin of this is that your bosses might start loading you with more work as they sense your productivity increase! (hahaha)

However, if the bosses learn Taiji too, then they might learn how to manage their whole team better in an Yin-Yang way! One of our practitioners, Mr George Yeo, has actually spoken about this in one of his speeches in his recently published book. The speech, if I am correct, is entitled "The Field of Qi which Affects our Well-Being".

Are there modern application to Taiji? Has Taiji evolved to suit the tech age we live in?
The modern applications of Taiji are potentially endless. Because everything is yin-yang. For example: what makes the mobile phone more far-reaching (yang) than the PC? Because it is small and mobile (yin). What sites are successful, huge and all encompassing (yang)? Sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, where in their vast interconnectedness, they allow for ever-evolving personalization (yin). If you want depth, go for traditional blogs. But if you want width, go for sites like Facebook. That is why many people write blogs and then put them out through Facebook.

This way of using Taiji principles in tech-thought is to enhance. The other way is to reduce. As we become more high tech, we lose touch with ourselves, our bodies and our real environments. As we spend more time with virtual communities, we can lose touch with physical communities. Taiji helps us reconnect back to our bodies and environments.

In a way, technology is nothing but the enhancement of the human senses and bodily faculties. We are able to see with our eyes but the microscope helps us see sharper while the telescope further. The internet and TV just help us see beyond our own times and cultures. We can hear but the phone helps us hear others across great distance. We can move but cars and planes just help us move farther and faster. Taiji helps you gain greater control over your body and senses without modern technology - how to use your body and energies in much more efficient ways. Taiji is, in fact, the ancient technology of the body.

Why does Taiji make you feel better? Is there a science behind this good feeling?
Taiji does not only make you feel better, it makes you better! There is so much evidence and numerous studies done over the decades on the different aspects of Taiji. There even is a book called the "Harvard Medical School Guide to Tai Chi", which was published in2013. There is not just one science behind Taiji, but an array of sciences - biological, physical and chemical.

Taiji in modern context

You look so youthful and radiant, has Taiji helped preserve your youth?

Thank you for your kind words. I should say it this way: nothing can be preserved, certainly not youth. Change is the essence of life. However, we can learn how to effectively manage change, manage the yin-yang. This acceptance rather than resistance, working with rather than working against the processes of change, these are what helps to keep us youthful and radiant. That's what we mean by going with the flow. Most importantly, be kind to oneself and others. Kindness is evergreen and radiates!

Thank you Master Sim for your time and I most certainly am looking forward to your special workshop during our WellnessYogi RESET where attendees will learn how to feel their Qi!

A variation of this interview can also be found on the website of our media partner www.intheloop.com.sg.