Chicco Tatriele and his wife Lahra created integrated wellness concept Fivelements Retreat Bali in 2010. Now the couple has opened Fivelements Habitat in Hong Kong, an all-encompassing wellness destination in the heart of the city. Gayatri Bhaumik talks to Chicco about wellness, Hong Kong’s role as a leader in the industry, and why wellness should be everyone’s priority.
What does wellness actually mean?
Wellness, for me, is a state of being. It’s about feeling well. It’s not just a part of life, but an approach to life.
How did you get into wellness? What’s your journey been like?
It’s really been a life journey. I’ve always thought positivity is important, feeling good is important. And then in the journey of life, I discovered things that supported that, and I began looking for more. A key moment for me was my experience in Bali. Being there, I discovered that there were certain things that, for me, were part of wellbeing, but that in that moment of my life, maybe because of where I was living, were not fully understood.
In another culture, these resonate as normal practices – in Balinese culture, it’s part of daily life. I saw how this [wellness] was positively affecting their lives. Experiencing healing was really transformative – I saw the positive effect on me and family members. So then I started thinking about creating something that would bring wellness in a hospitality format. That’s when I met my wife, Lahra, and this was a common vision that helped us start Fivelements.
What wellness practices do you incorporate into your daily life?
Meditation…sound – sound is a big part of it for me. Now I’ve also started to do movement, mindfulness, and I’m restarting yoga…funnily enough, having Fivelements in Hong Kong is giving me the possibility to devote more time to this. I also do a lot of nature walks, that’s very important.
How is sound a wellness practice?
On a daily basis, I use headphones and soundscapes. I use tracks with binaural beats and alpha waves, and these frequencies help me relax. They work on the brain cells to help me focus, be present, and clear my mind. For me it’s immediate – I can go into a meditative state even while walking around the city, so it’s very helpful. I also enjoy crystal sounds and gong baths – they’re very powerful. I also see that sound, in general, is very welcome by everybody because it’s something you feel – it’s very impactful.
What led you to start Fivelements?
Life coincidences! I had the name Fivelements – I wanted to do an eco-resort, that was my initial thought when I was in Bali. And when I met Lahra, her vision was to bring a Balinese wellness centre to New York. When we met and we began to share our visions, that’s what started to shape the Fivelements concept. Our professional backgrounds supported that vision – Lahra comes from strategic marketing and brand development and I am an executive producer, translating brand strategies into operations. Both of us had hospitality experiences as well.
Fivelements began in Bali. Why bring it to Hong Kong?
Well first, we came to Hong Kong because we were invited a few years ago by a big developer to do a project in Sai Kung. In the beginning, we were asking ourselves “what are we doing in Hong Kong?” because Bali is the centre of wellness in a way, but actually, Hong Kong is a perfect location for Fivelements. Obviously, it’s needed, but I also think Hong Kong will take a leadership role in the global wellness movement.
We see what’s happening in corporate wellness – it’s becoming a huge subject, but it’s not translating into a huge reality. Hong Kong is the perfect amplifier because there are many smart people here, and financial support – all the components necessary for what we see as the wellness of humanity.
What’s the Fivelements ethos?
Our four pillars are traditional healing, sacred arts, plant-based cuisine and sustainability and the ethos is love in action. This goes into everything, from the way we design, our service philosophy, to the interaction between individuals. The mission and vision of
What wellness trends are you seeing in Asia? In Hong Kong?
The wellness industry is a US$4.2 trillion industry globally, so it’s a big industry. Hong Kong
Specifically, it’s all about mental wellness. Our mental health is under attack, so we need to have tools and strategies to stay sane. In practice, the use of certain tools like meditation, mindfulness and sound are big. What we’ve noticed as well is big universities like Harvard, Oxford and Columbia are doing these studies, and they’re proving the positive effects of practices like yoga and sound on the brain. They show how much these practices are needed by people to avoid burnout, which is a huge issue. The problem of burnout isn’t just on the individual, but it’s the people around them because it affects husband and wives, families, kids, it’s quite dangerous, and all mental illness is dangerous and impactful on people around the individual.
And what wellness trends are you seeing specifically with men? Are there any?
First, I see there is a shift where wellness is not seen as female-only thing. You’re definitely seeing more and more men. If I go to a meditation session, there are guys – it’s no longer just for women. Maybe at the beginning for men, wellness is about the physical, but men are achievers, and so when they start to see the connection between certain practices and proven results – like what these university studies show – they appreciate that.
Wellness isn’t something most guys think about. Why should they?
It should be a priority for human beings. It’s not about male or female. Both genders need to take responsibility and understand the consequences of an unhealthy lifestyle. It as basic as being happy and healthy – that’s viral, you’ll see the effects on your family, your community. So they must take ownership.
What are some basic ways to start incorporating wellness into daily life?
Well, I think places like [Fivelements] are a good way for people to explore, participate in classes, and try to feel comfortable. The space is important – sometimes you might have excellent teachers but maybe the space isn’t comfortable. Beginners want to see it’s not just for yoga maniacs or meditation experts.
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