Cover Lindsay Jang (Photo: Amanda Kho), Dr Ruth Lee (Photo: Supplied), Tricia Yap (Photo: Supplied)

Tatler’s Front & Female editorial director, Kate Appleton spoke to experts about what ageing well can look like through an in-depth conversation about health, with recommendations for fine-tuning nutrition and fitness across life stages

When? April 27, 2022

Where? Zoom

Who? Lindsay Jang, Tricia Yap and Dr Ruth Lee

Here’s what you missed:  

The virtual event marked this year’s second instalment of Tatler’s monthly panel series in partnership with The Upper House and the speakers were Dr Ruth Lee, the founder of Master Ruth Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, which provides customised, holistic treatments for menstrual health, fertility issues, and sexual wellness, and applies the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine to help women cope in the modern world; Lindsay Jang, the restaurateur behind Yardbird and Ronin, and the co-founder of Family Form, a mat-based workout available at The Upper House; and Tricia Yap, founder of Limitless, a training studio offering functional medicine and fitness. Yap contributed an in-depth knowledge of hormones and biomechanics, and the trio discussed the stigma around ageing, mental health, early warning signs of disorder, recovery after pregnancy, and misconceptions around traditional Chinese medicine.

“I turned 40 last year and, for the past six years, I’ve committed to preventative [ageing] measures,” said Jang. “I was raised in the West where you only go to a doctor when you’re sick. No one is exploring why these ailments are there in the first place. I’m happy to have met more functional doctors in Hong Kong who are blending Eastern and Western medicine and finding the root causes of things. I’m all about prevention and not just addressing an issue when you don’t feel well.”

Getting to the root of a health issue was the overarching topic of discussion: “Nobody wants wrinkles and grey hair [when they get older], but it shouldn’t be the only markers [of ageing] we look at,” said Lee. “I usually focus my treatments based on libido levels, and menstrual and sleeping cycles, because they each reflect a person’s energy and mental balance. We need to balance the body, mind and spirit for optimal health.”

Drawing from her experience in sport as Hong Kong’s first professional female mixed martial artist, Yap explained where she thought most people get it wrong: “The fitness industry has embraced this idea of no pain, no gain. Pushing through poor lifestyle, maintaining bad habits and putting ourselves last. We tend to ignore signs like memory loss, confusion, declining sleep quality and low energy. Genetics is the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. As we age, it’s important to optimise health at the cellular level. I always say: ‘Test, don’t guess.’ Invest in your body from the inside out and check in with a professional. It’ll bring you more benefit than any so-called longevity treatment.”

Jang agreed: “Finding a partner in a doctor is like dating. When you find that doctor who really gets you, you marry them,” she says laughing. “My doctor and I have a very close relationship. I don’t feel shame or embarrassment when talking to them. Solving [underlying] health issues comes with trusting a professional and investing in that partnership, and when you do, it’ll change your life.”


A resource for women to be their best selves, Front & Female celebrates trailblazers, breaks taboos and tackles timely issues in Asia. Join the community by subscribing to our newsletter and following #frontandfemale