Originally from Kent in the UK, ALLY VAN DE POL has called Hong Kong home for 19 years. She dedicates her time to helping people achieve their goals through wellness coaching, strength training and naturopathy in Hong Kong.
Where do you live in HK?
I’ve lived in the Sai Kung area for the last 10 years. I love it, as we’re in the middle of a feng shui forest, surrounded by nature yet still only a 10-minute drive from SK town. It’s common to see boars, porcupines, deer and monkeys, so it’s not what people think of as Hong Kong at all. I also love the people of Sai Kung; the locals are always helpful and everyone works at a slightly more relaxed place.
Tell us about setting up Dragon Fitness, Coaching & Healing.
When we moved to our current house eight years ago, I was working as a personal trainer, visiting clients at their homes, and also as a marketing consultant for small businesses (my background is in sales and marketing). That year, I also qualified as a nutritionist as I’ve always had a keen interest in health and fitness and I wanted to help clients in both these areas.
My business grew from my basement gym and from operating successful early-morning bootcamps in Sai Kung. My “working home” is now in my garden, in the form of The Glass House, a beautiful structure that is my gym and consultation room. Everybody says that it’s the best gym in HK!
In 2019, I enrolled in a Naturopath Course through the School of Natural Medicine in the UK, studying Healing Diets, Iridology, Herbal Medicine and Naturopathy.
What services do you offer?
I offer one-on-one and small group classes in strength training and conditioning, consultations in naturopathy, iridology and herbal medicine, and half-day retreats. The retreats combine all of my wellness approaches in a life-changing retreat held in the middle of the forest; along with the different sessions, clients get treated with organic herbal teas or juices throughout the stay, use of a Bali-inspired outdoor shower with obligatory fluffy robe, organic lunch or breakfast, plus options for collection and drop off in Sai Kung town. You can even add on tarot reading!
I’m also in the process of developing a line of medicinal health products like tinctures, body butters, salves and creams – all natural, handmade and organic.
What about your 12-week programme – what does it involve?
I developed the 12-week HNF (Health, Nutrition, Fitness) Programme to combine strength training, naturopathic health and nutrition coaching as a one-stop-shop foundation programme. Training is great on its own, but most people can be healthier these days, so combining it with naturopathic consultations really helps clients achieve their goals to be happier, fitter, healthier and leaner. Over 12 weeks, the individual has 24 personal training sessions and more than four hours of consultations.
One of the best things about this programme is that the client sees me twice per week, so we can adjust the programme as we go, if needed. Clients often feel staggering positive changes in their health and they start to see physical changes in their strength, ability, fitness and body composition.
Tell us more about your consultations in naturopathy in Hong Kong?
Naturopathy is the ancient art and science of helping the body to heal naturally, with the “doctor as teacher” approach. Much of how I work with clients is educational; we’ve been taught that our health is beyond our control, but it’s not true – we are almost 100 percent in control of our health. Helping people establish healthy lifestyle practices is one of the 101s, and is so important. You cannot supplement your way out of bad sleep or a poor diet!
I focus on establishing the root causes of the individual’s symptoms, taking a holistic approach to how the body works. If you consult with me regarding a skin problem, for example, I will look at your whole health, including all your systems and organs. Skin is the body’s largest organ and also an elimination organ, and there may be issues with your other elimination organs or systems. Often, emotional problems are expressed in the skin – emotional concerns, especially stress, can be a cause of many symptoms in the body. We’re not just muscle and bone; our emotional and physical bodies overlap.
Naturopathy helps your body truly heal rather than putting a sticky plaster on the problem. Sometimes the treatment time is longer than what you would expect if you just visited the doctor, however this is because the symptom is not just being suppressed – you are helping your body to truly heal. Today, we’re all impatient and want things “now”; however, true health is a marathon not a sprint, and it’s a lifelong journey.
Who might benefit from naturopathy?
Almost anyone and everyone! We can all learn how to look after our health better. With iridology for example, I advise clients where their vulnerable areas lie, and which organs and systems they should be actively supporting now to make sure they don’t get sick later. Many more people are understanding that, as we are part of nature, we need to conduct our lives in a natural way and approach our illnesses in the same way. When we’re sick, our bodies are telling us something is wrong, or we’ve done something wrong and it’s now healing. Some people will visit their naturopath on a regular basis to make sure they stay well, taking herbs on a regular basis. Others will have a naturopath consultation when their symptoms have not improved after multiple doctors’ visits.
There isn’t any condition that naturopathy cannot help improve. It doesn’t diagnose diseases or “cure” per se; rather, it’s giving the body everything it needs to heal itself.
What are your favourite strength training or health and fitness-related things to do in Hong Kong outside of work?
It has to be trail running and swimming in the sea. I love nature – it truly grounds me. I also love being active and competitive; I enter trail races whenever I can, and because I’m older now I often do fairly well in my age category!
Do you have a favourite running trail?
Oh, there are so many! Aren’t we just so lucky to have all these trails so close to where we live? My favourite are the trail to Trio Beach, Maclehose Sections 2, 3 and 4, the hike under the cable car, and Sunset Peak on Lantau. I’ve just been gifted a trail logbook so I’m on the lookout for new and exciting ones!
What’s next for your business?
Helping as many people as I can to get healthier – conducting consultations, educational workshops, collaborations and developing my apothecary range. I have so many ideas and plans!
If you’re interested in strength training, wellness and naturopathy in Hong Kong call 9555 0358 or visit dragonfitnessandcoaching.com
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