Alicia Pan talks opening of Yoga Movement

With 10 studios in Singapore, Yoga Movement has just made the regional jump and opened its doors in Hong Kong. Co-founder Alicia Pan speaks to Olivia Bullock, discussing her career in the music industry, her transition to the fitness industry and what the future looks like

Alicia Pan is a former singer-songwriter turned yoga enthusiast, and now entrepreneur who co-founded Yoga Movement. Yoga Movement has 10 studios across Singapore and will now be expanding and opening its first studio in Hong Kong. 

Yoga Movement, a concept born in Singapore, combines fitness, community, and accessibility. The lifestyle brand has experienced staggering growth in Singapore over the past 12 years and is now ready to make the jump to Hong Kong. 

Opening an impressive 4,000 sq. ft. lifestyle hub at H Queen’s in the heart of Central, Yoga Movement will have two studios: one with 16 mats, and one with 34. The new fitness hub will also offer hot and non-hot variations. There will also be a lounge space for members to socialise and enjoy a well deserved coffee.

The seven variations of classes on offer include Basics, Slow Flow, Power Flow, Resistance, HIIT yoga, Zen and Hot Method. Click here to check out the class descriptions on the Yoga Movement website.

Congratulations on the opening of your studio in Hong Kong! How would you describe the Yoga Movement concept to those that are not familiar with it?

Yoga Movement is a lifestyle that blends yoga, community, and, above all, accessibility. Here at Yoga Movement, you can enjoy consistent, high-quality workouts in a vibrant, community-orientated atmosphere. You can call it your second home rather than just a fitness studio.

Why has Yoga Movement taken the jump from Singapore to Hong Kong?

For the most part of the last couple of years we had been working on global expansion. Of course, when the pandemic hit, we had to put things on ice for awhile and focused on expansion in Singapore.

Once things opened back up we researched different markets and found Hong Kong to have had a similar appetite for fitness-focused yoga, just like Singapore. We did a couple of trips over and really felt the vibe. Hong Kong is a bustling city that we love and are confident that yoga the YM way will suit the current climate.

What are some of the things you attribute to Yoga Movement’s impressive expansion from one studio to 10?

We started Yoga Movement in 2012 when yoga offerings in Singapore were limited, and all we had were big box gyms and more traditional yoga studios with high commitment memberships. That’s a gap we wanted to seal. We wanted to create a brand that would surround the word ‘accessibility’, catering for the masses: less intimidating, and friendly in terms of every touchpoint — from music, to fit outs, to class types and the lingo used. From there, we were able to build a close-knit community which has been the backbone of our success over the past years.

What is your favourite Yoga Movement class?

I love all our classes, but in particular we are very proud of our Resistance classes as they are in a way, a bit of a Signature class for us here at YM. These classes take you through a flow with weighted bangles on your wrists and ankles. This is great for building foundation and strength, as well as overall toning.

What would you say to someone who wants to try yoga but is nervous as a beginner?

Nervous about trying yoga? That’s totally normal! Everyone starts somewhere, and believe it or not, I felt the same way when I first stepped on the mat. Remember, it’s not about being perfect – yoga is about creating a genuine connection with yourself and your surroundings. We’re here to support you every step of the way!

You mention that you are already looking at studios elsewhere, can you give us some hints?

Sure – our choice of studio locations would resonate with our brand ethos of fostering a
strong community. We are always looking for neighbourhoods that are modern and filled with passionate individuals who are looking for genuine connections. I’m not going to give more away, so stay tuned for the grand unveiling!

Also see: Wellness guru Anastasia Williams on starting a self-care journey

How did your journey with yoga begin, how long have you been practicing yoga?

I started in 2004, so it’s been 20 years now! I started doing yoga as a form of finding space and time for myself. I was a full time entertainer at that time spending most of my time surrounded with people and had to put on a front to perform to my best ability even on down days. So my friends, who were all
yoga teachers, suggested that I try it out.

At that time, my fitness regime mainly consisted of cardio and a little bit of strength training so yoga did give me a new experience of a ‘moving meditative state’ and it has since then become my daily routine to take stock of how I feel that day.

How did you make the transition from singer-songwriter to fitness guru?

I have always been into maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping fit. The motivation of starting my own brand was inspired by a yoga studio that I visited in New York . I relayed that information to my husband who was a brand manager at that time and he was keen to help out with starting out our new brand.

We decided to take a leap of faith and venture into the fitness industry by starting Yoga Movement, a fitness-focused yoga brand that would open the doors to the people who would normally not set foot in the practice of yoga due to all things surrounding it, by focusing on the physical aspect of it.

What do you think has been the key(s) to being a successful entrepreneur?

Our brand focus of accessibility paved the way for us to many opportunities. We stick to our brand values, and have a strong focus on brand and service at the forefront of everything.

What challenges have you encountered balancing motherhood and running a business and how did you overcome them?

Drawing the line between work and family was definitely not an easy feat. Over the years, I learnt that it was important to set priorities and understand that “both work and family responsibilities never end, and being okay with it”

Being a mum to my first child was definitely a lot more challenging than my second. During that time, we were navigating through a few decisions to make in our business and also didn’t have a team like we do now.” Although it was difficult at the start, we learnt to adjust to the changes over time and embraces the experience and challenges wholeheartedly.

What do you think is key to a healthy lifestyle? What does your weekly workout routine look like?

I believe in everything in moderation. And that means being okay with cheat days and rest days. My workout routine consists of cardio + strength training at Strong Pilates, and recovering with yoga at Yoga Movement.

What do you see for the future for yourself and Yoga Movement?

Our vision for Yoga Movement extends far beyond this new studio in Hong Kong. We see it as a cornerstone for building a vibrant fitness community that redefines the way people move and feel in Asia.

Beyond yoga, we’re eager to expand our offerings to include other modalities or workouts that would sit under Move[Repeat]. We want to be able to provide variety in our offerings through working with or building top quality fitness lifestyle brands that resonate with us. Ultimately, we want to transform the fitness landscape in Asia!

Also see: A €26,000 wellness programme at a Dior retreat in France