Kocoon Turns 8, Farm to Neighbors in Taiyanggong

This Week in Health and Fitness looks at the latest fitness and health goings on in Beijing so you can live your #bestlife.

In celebration of the National Holiday (and the hopefully blue skies) organic farmers market Farm to Neighbors is heading outside to the Yinmachuan by the Great Wall experience center in Taiyanggong on Saturday, October 1 and Sunday, October 2. In addition to their usual line up of organic veggies and artisanal food producers (including This Week in Health and Fitness favorites Mantra Bar, Miss Muesli, and Andy's Craft Sausages), they are also teaming up with a couple of different fitness groups to offer classes throughout the weekend. For example, take a yoga class (RMB 100) on both Saturday and Sunday at 1pm. Get more details about all the activities taking place during the market on Farm to Neighbors' WeChat: farm2neighbors (Chinese).

Search this address on Baidu Maps to find Farm to Neighbors in Taiyangong

Now you've bought all those healthy ingredients, why not learn how to turn them into some impressive homestyle Chinese dishes? It's no secret that home cooking is often substantially healthier than eating out, since you can tailor levels of oil and salt to suit you. Beijing Cooking School (formerly Hutong Cuisine Cooking School) is offering a seven-day intensive cookery program from October 1-7, priced at RMB 2,500 for 10 classes. Learn how to cook dishes from around China – including kungpao chicken (see also my recent adventures in cooking kungpao chicken), hand-pulled noodles, and dumplings – with Chef Chao, who originally hails from Guangdong.

Finally, it should come as no surprise to fans of theirs that marvelous French-owned spa Kocoon has made it eight years in the business. They are celebrating with a whole raft of specials during the month of October, including giveaways, free gifts for all customers, extra surprises for customers who pay on WeChat, and complimentary gift vouchers if you become a member or purchase a recharge card. Keep an eye out on their WeChat (kocoon_spa) for the latest updates and details of their month-long eighth anniversary special treatments.

On another note, tickets are now on sale for our October 15-16 Pizza Fest at the Zaha Hadid-designed Wangjing SOHO. Tickets are limited so buy ahead to make sure you don't miss out! Click here to purchase.