Cover Yvette Kong, a former Hong Kong Olympic swimmer, joins Gareth Pope and Lululemon in the Find Your Well-being campaign (Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon)
Yvette Kong, a former Hong Kong Olympic swimmer, joins Gareth Pope and Lululemon in the Find Your Well-being campaign (Photo: Courtesy of Lululemon)
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Through its Find Your Wellbeing campaign and annual Global Wellbeing Report, Lululemon aims to improve the way the world looks at mental, physical and social health
Lululemon takes the well-being of its employees and community into its own hands. “I believe that we have to walk the walk to be able to talk the talk”, explains Gareth Pope, the company’s senior vice president, Asia Pacific. “Only by living lives that focus on well-being are we able to understand it, enabling us to help others in their pursuit of it.”
Inspired to promote well-being in ways that go beyond the physical and also take in the mental and social, Pope has “become increasingly aware of the importance of leading by example—whether that be as a father, a husband, a friend or a team leader”. By “prioritising and making time for myself, I learnt the importance of balance and knowing which elements of my own life are important to feel happy and fulfilled”.
He adds that he is most inspired by Lululemon’s “ability to impact people’s lives by making well-being more inspiring or accessible”. Across the globe, “highly influential voices are helping to tell their story and, in particular, break down some barriers that people have about achieving their own well-being.” With 61 per cent of Gen Z wishing they could express how they feel instead of hiding it, these alliances are fighting mental health taboos by standing strong and “talking openly about their challenges in this area”.
Above Yvette Kong (Photo: Ben Tang)
Above Gareth Pope (Photo: courtesy of Lululemon)
Yvette Kong (Photo: Ben Tang)
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One of those, Yvette Kong, a former Hong Kong Olympic swimmer and founding board member of Mind HK, makes a point of talking openly about the importance of mental health and its destigmatisation through her association with various mental health initiatives. As a member of the Lululemon Mental Wellbeing Global Advisory Board, Kong hopes to “advocate at a global scale for a paradigm shift in how the industry perceives and nurtures athletes and individuals”.
For Kong, “well-being is a holistic balance of physical health, mental resilience and emotional stability. The body might be our instrument, but the mind orchestrates its rhythm.” Alongside her exercise regime, “I’ve always valued me-time, whether it be reading, reflective thinking or being in the moment. These pockets of solitude allow me to recharge and garner a clearer perspective on my goals and aspirations.”
Lululemon’s annual Global Wellbeing Report found that 53 per cent of people throughout the Asia-Pacific region believe their community is judgemental towards those who face challenges with their mental well-being. By voicing her struggles, Kong “aims to foster a culture where seeking assistance isn’t perceived as a sign of weakness but as a hallmark of strength and self-awareness, and the fact that vulnerability and strength can coexist”. By joining the movement alongside Pope and Lululemon, she says she hopes to see a more holistic sports industry, one that values the mental well-being of athletes as highly as their physical achievements.
