It isn’t new to you guys that I’m part of a pretty fun blogger community called The Butterfly Project. It is such a fun, wholesome community led by the one and only Tammy Lim, once a ‘plus-size’ kitten, now a Keto-dieting, health-conscious leader. She put together the Health & Beauty workshop, a first-of-its kind for the community with workshops catering to the mind, body and soul. So on a sweltering mid-August Saturday, I put on a ‘neutral’ outfit in line with the dress code of the day, and made my way to the workshop.
The venue sponsor of the day was Hilton Kuala Lumpur, which name
requires no introduction. The unique brand of Hilton hospitality is world-class
for a reason.
Delectable fruits by Hilton
We were warmly welcomed by Jessica, and soon after
arrival, were roped into a fun physical activity to get the heart pumping and
blood flowing. Imagine the horror for those adorned in heels and full makeup
when we had to stretch, squat and more.
Hilton KL wanted us to share about their gym and spa
facilities, which unlike other hotels, is completely equipped to be your
monthly gym. It has an incredible range of equipment, dance studios with free yoga and spin classes for members (schedule here), personal trainers on standby as well as spa facilities for
those interested in taking it easy. With a pool, jacuzzi, Hilton-class changing
rooms and showers as well as easy accessibility via KL Central, the Hilton Gym
is most certainly a viable alternative from other mainstream gyms.
They have other perks as well which will make your money
worth it, like… maybe you’ll meet your next business investor at the gym? Besides
that very real but also half-in-jest possibility, a membership gets you 25% off
ALL bills at Hilton outlets (I heard this even applies to drinks at their bar!)
and a 25% discount off all spa treatments. With that, you’ll very quickly have
the chance to ‘earn back’ the membership price of RM233.20 a month for 6
months or RM201.40 a month for a year. I pay RM220 for my commercial gym, so this is a decent price for a
world-class facility.
If you’re worried about parking fees, gym members also get 2
hours free parking at Hilton Hotel – so even better!
https://life.hiltonkl.com/gym
As a blog reader, go ahead and see for yourself how the gym
is. A one-day free trial is applicable. Simply quote ‘Butterfly’ at the front
desk to be eligible.
After that introduction and tour, we had three fun workshops awaiting us for the day. They
split us up into groups and got us to attend each workshop in turn, ensuring
that the group never became too big so we could better learn from each session.
Self Care by Minc.Care
Hosted by entrepreneur and counsellor, Minnie Chang, Minc.Care’s
offered services are fairly new in Malaysia but valued and highly subscribed
overseas. Her services include 1:1 coaching services, journaling workshops or
self-care, goal setting for emotional well-being and other helpful therapy.
For the workshop she hosted, we started off seated in a
circle around yoga mats and asked to introduce ourselves in a word. The word
she chose was kind. I, naturally, said talkative. It’s easy to describe
ourselves with a less personal description, i.e. tall, short; or rely on our
careers, i.e. lawyer, accountant; but to say simply – I am k i n d, was a little
difficult for me. Because what if I taught I was kind? Or smart? But others
didn’t think so.. So already in that simple exercise of describing ourselves, I
found myself thinking a little more about the person I like to be identified
as. And I think, if I were to repeat the exercise, I would say that I am joyful/positive/optimistic.
That’s the outlook I believe I have, and what I am proud to embody – rather
than just a characteristic.
With that over and done, we opened the goodiebags before us,
and found an adorable pen, journal prompts, a self-care habit tracker template
and a blank sheet with the word ‘Dear’ on top of it. We were to write a letter
to our current-self, from the perspective of our future self.
At least, that’s what
I understood the instruction to be, and it was such a healthy and wholesome way
to pay a little attention to our feelings at present which left me feeling more
grounded and hopeful about the future. Through prompts from Minnie and sharing
from the rest of the butterflies, a number of us got to share some of our
struggles and thoughts in a safe environment.
Truly a workshop like no other, especially in an increasingly
fast-paced world. I would imagine it’ll be
a really interesting activity to have for a primary school reunion (she
can certainly adjust the intimacy level to be more appropriate – after all,
most of us in the group hadn’t met each other many times before and we still
got to have a good time) or if you’re interested in personal coaching for your
goals or aspirations, feel free to get in touch with her. She also offers
corporate training to companies seeking to incentivise their employees.
Therapy is a big deal in the US and is apparently a useful
way to help us understand ourselves. Minnie’s programs are destigmatising and
really, why is taking care of your mind so much harder than taking care of your
body? If personal trainers work, a personal coach should too.
Use the code BUTTERFLY10 to get 10% off any of her services
on her website. Code is valid till 18 December 2019.
Clay Mask Workshop by Naturally Handmade
100% natural, vegan, chemical-free, cruelty-free and
environmentally-friendly. Naturally Handmade promises all of that, along with
solid set up story that deserves a listen. Having grown up constantly hearing
the idea that she needed to be fair to be beautiful, founder Bavani Gopala
Krishnan found herself using all sorts of chemical products to bleach her skin,
eventually damaging it.
She realised that in her pursuit of society’s ideals, she
ended up causing more harm than good. With the realisation that skincare should
be good for you and improve the way you feel rather than the other way around,
she started preparing her own clay masks. They were so good that she turned it
into a business, and Naturally Handmade now has a range of signature products
ranging from natural insect repellent to lotions and more.
The workshop was fairly straightforward, as she introduced
us to the variety of ingredients that form a claymask. Different clay bases
perform different functions, and when mixed with the right super food
(pomegranate powder anyone?) you get a cooling, moisturising and firming mask
that is completely natural.
Just a note – although it’s natural, it does not mean that
your skin won’t react adversely to it. When trying new products with
ingredients you are not familiar with, it’s always a good idea to patch test
first (smear a little on the back of your hand) to see if your skin likes it.
If it does, mask away!
I brought home a powdered mask, that I’ll activate by mixing
in with water, yogurt, or milk which will turn it into a clay paste. This is
definitely the next sleepover activity I’ll be trying.
Aromatherapy Essential Oils with Plant Origins
The benefits of essential oils are not unheard of. The right
combination can help you sleep better, help get rid of headaches, make you feel
calmer and even reduce period cramps! With Plant Origins, you’re introduced to
a range of affordable essential oils, perfect for using as a roll-on perfume or
even to diffuse at your workplace or at home.
We were given the option to smell a variety of scents, some
putrid in their intensity, others addictive in their sweetness. I ultimately
chose a combination of Bergamot, Jasmine and Grapefruit, resulting in a scent
so good, I’m convinced Jo Malone would bottle it.

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I had a great time at the workshop. Thanks again to The Butterfly Project for the invitation, and for all the workshop hosts for putting together such an enjoyable event.
I had a great time at the workshop. Thanks again to The Butterfly Project for the invitation, and for all the workshop hosts for putting together such an enjoyable event.
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