4 Ways to Find Peace and Relaxation in Shenzhen

By Luis Campos, July 3, 2019

Whether you are suffering through the ‘996’ blues, afraid of being on the wrong side of new immigration laws, or find yourself terrified by the upcoming typhoon season, it is no secret that living in Shenzhen can be challenging and stressful. Endless factors, such as the thundering roar of construction, the deluge of nameless faces pouring in and out of metro stations and even small things – such as forgetting to bring an umbrella during a rainstorm – can feel like a drowning experience.

In my own life, stress is something that is both omnipresent and habitually ignored. At times, I have even wrongly thought of stress as a form of validation, “successful people are stressed, so if I am stressed that must mean I am on my way to success!” Furthermore, although I know that stress is something I need to deal with, like many, I have often thought of the ways that people find peace and relaxation as ‘new age’ scams. How can sitting for an hour in an uncomfortable position lead to any form of enlightenment?

Rather than live with my skepticism, I decided to be proactive and to seek different options for dealing with the stress in my life. For some, the emotional and mental anguish that stress causes can be paralyzing – a heavy burden that is impossible to deal with on their own. The aim of this article is to encourage those who feel the need to regain control of their life to explore some of the options that Shenzhen has to offer. This list is in no way definitive or conclusive, but instead should serve as a source of motivation to find your own pathway to peace and relaxation.

1. Group Guided Meditation with Annie

Image via Luis Campos/That's

My journey to enlightenment began with Annie’s guided group meditation sessions. Before this experience, I had never done any form of meditation in my life. The act of ‘clearing my mind’ seemed silly, so of course the whole experience felt even sillier done in a room with strangers.

Meditation sessions with Annie, who has been leading classes like this for over two years, lack the floridness you might assume would be present in an activity such as this. There are no singing bowls, incense or imagery depicting the seven chakras. As such, the atmosphere at Annie’s sessions better resembles a work meeting without tables than a stage for connecting with your true self. Additionally, Annie does not create deep imagery during her guided meditations. Instead she gently encourages participants to ‘relax’ by repeating variations of this simple word over and over. But it is perhaps because of the simplicity with which Annie runs her sessions that people are able to find some form of enlightenment. In the two sessions that I attended with Annie, it was not uncommon to see attendees in tears afterwards.

There is nothing magical about meditating, Annie herself admits that the placebo effect is fully in action during these sessions and that meditation only works for those who believe it works for them. Ultimately, for me, there is power in knowing that the key to enlightenment is internal. Thoughts can either take control of you, or you can take control of them – the choice is yours.

Those looking for a space to add peace in their lives can check out Annie’s group guided meditation sessions in Chegongmiao, Futian district. Sessions run on Thursdays from 7.30pm to 9pm and Saturdays from 3.30pm to 5pm. For more information contact Annie directly via WeChat (ID: annieh2013).

2. Music Therapy by HeartVision Studio

Image by Luis Campos for That's

My journey to find peace and relaxation in Shenzhen next led me to music therapy sessions led by Angelo. Among many other things, Angelo is a musician who has been playing the piano since he was 4 years old to cope with the troubles in his life. Angelo runs his sessions out of HeartVision Studio located in Nanshan and has branded them using a simple term, ‘Relax.’

When I first arrived at Angelo’s studio, I was 10 minutes late and greeted by a dark room lit with electric candles. Scattered around the room in different positions were people with their eyes closed, some in the classic lotus position (aka: the pose you most likely associate in your mind with meditation), while others were simply laying down. In the middle of the room was Angelo playing the keyboard, his music accompanied by natural sounds coming from a speaker. In many ways, the whole scene felt otherworldly.

While chatting after the session, Angelo explained to me that different chords have different emotions attached to them. According to Angelo, “Major chords make most people feel happy and uplifted, while minor chords can make people feel sad and grounded.” His sessions use a combination of both of these chords to take people on a mental journey across an auditory landscape. While listening to Angelo play beautiful songs, it is easy to forget that you are located in one of the largest and busiest cities in the world.

Audiophiles are sure to find inner peace at HeartVision’s Relax sessions. These sessions run bi-monthly (although other sessions are occasionally added) in Nanshan. For more information contact Angelo on WeChat (ID: Aca079).

3. Aromatherapy by Breathe

Image by Luis Campos for That's

Before meeting Ashlee, who runs and operates aromatherapy meditation sessions out of her studio Breathe in Hi-Tech Park, I would have never described meditation as a social event. Typically known for being a quiet and introspective activity, Ashlee’s aromatherapy meditation sessions defy the conventions of enlightenment by turning peace-seeking into a party.

Sessions begin with what Ashlee calls ‘aroma tarot,’ an activity that asks people to pick a different essential oil at random while Ashlee explains what each oil represents and what its specific purpose is. Giggles are shared as Ashlee explains the sometimes-silly fortunes that the oils tell.

Of course, alongside this fun introduction to her classes is an aromatherapy meditation session in which she uses strong-smelling oils to concoct an air of peacefulness in the room. It is not difficult to get lost in meditation as Ashlee reminds closed-eyed participants to “love and forgive themselves.”

Fans of fancy smells and those looking to find peace in a setting that does not take itself too seriously can attend aromatherapy meditation sessions at Breathe in Hi-Tech Park on Thursdays from 7.30pm-9.30pm and Saturdays from 10am-11.30pm. For more information, contact Ashlee on WeChat (ID: ashlee3511)

4. Hatha Yoga by Haven Studio

Image by Luis Campos for That's

When I first began my journey, I knew that I would eventually find myself at the doorstep of a yoga studio. In recent times, yoga has become so trendy that in many ways it can be alienating for a person like myself who has not been able to touch his toes since he was a kid. All over the internet, I see fit and flexible folks doing cool yoga poses that seem to defy gravity and wonder to myself – could I ever do something like that?

Haven Studio, located in Shekou, is at the forefront of chicness. The studio is beautiful and modern (designed by the firm IcazaDeMartinez) and, in some ways, exactly the type of place a bumbling, out-of-shape guy like myself would be worried about stepping into. But, I also knew that if I wanted to take control of my stress, I would have to train both my mind and my body.

I explained my situation to Chandra and Maria who run Haven Studio and they suggested I take their hatha yoga class led by Adithya (who also goes by the name Kaka). They explained to me that hatha was their class for beginners and one that focuses more on breathing than on nearly-impossible poses.

Kaka is a patient and knowledgable yoga instructor. As he leads his class, he is attentive to each participant’s needs. For a yoga dummy like myself, he suggested modified versions of poses that made it easier for me. While others who had more experience where able to challenge themselves with more advanced techniques.

While I still cannot touch my toes, the hatha class was great. It has inspired me to continue working on my flexibility and has made me deeply aware of how important breathing is. More importantly, it was a great stress reliever. As Kaka explained, “It is difficult to worry about other things when you are focusing on taking control of your body.”

Editor's Note: Haven is set to close permanently in the coming weeks. For further info please reach out to HavenStudioSZ.

Both yoga novices and experts can find Haven Studio and all their course offerings on their official WeChat account (ID: HavenStudioSZ)

[Cover image via Unsplash]