In a nutshell

I’m a certified Embodiment Coach, Meditation Teacher and group facilitator with 7+ years of professional experience in the charity and education sector. My mission is to drive individual and social change forward, through transformative, creative and holistic processes that restores and rebalances our whole self and our ecosystem.

MY JOURNEY HERE….

My first job was an eye-opening experience in a hospice where I learned to hold space sensitively for patients and families to share their stories. I’ve since held and led wellbeing support groups, transformative 1 to 1 spaces, and led numerous workshops around creativity and wellbeing, with a focus on collective storytelling. My practice is deeply birthed from my personal struggles navigating mental health, healthcare systems, anxiety and chronic health conditions as a creative and young adult.

This has led me to working in the charity sector with various organisations addressing wellbeing and systemic change, such as the National Academy of Social Prescribing UK and advocating passionately for a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.

I also bring with me my unique personal and professional experience in diversity & inclusion work. I offer a multi-cultural lens as someone who has navigated personal changes, cultural identites, careers, throughout living in 5 countries - dancing between the Eastern and Western values as a Chinese living abroad.

I work with clients through this holistic lens where I’ve come to recognise the undeniable truth that we carry social conditioning, family, generational stories as unconscious patterns stored in our bodies. We cannot look at wellbeing and growth without the intersection of social construct, relational dynamics at play. We need to consider the layers of our experiences, and combining mind-body work, expressive arts, along with modern-day psychology is the most effective and transformative way forward.

I’m currently working on my first book on mind-body and holistic healing, with anecdotes of my personal experiences and wisdom I’ve learned from my parents in traditional healing practices like Qigong. I seek to continue to share this wisdom and knowledge and expand in this field of energy work.

My Influences & Roots of Practice

My journey with embodiment and somatic work started in my university years as a musician. I was drawn to working with dancers and responding to movement. My roots of Community/ Participatory Arts with various demographics (with special needs children, elderly, migrants) is a huge inspiration for my practice and the space I hold.

In my further training in counselling and mental health, I adopt a humanistic and person-centered approach (Carl Rogers) where I believe clients are innately resourced and know what’s best for themselves.

In mind-body work, I draw on Polyvagal theory, nervous system healing, embodiment models (Mark Walsh) and somatics, all focused on creating embodied and accessible learning experiences.

(Mastin Kipp - creator of Functional Life coaching and Alex Howard - Nervous System Healing and Trauma-expert are big influences of my mind-body practice)

Gabor Maté’s work has also greatly influenced and resonated with me in the social construct of mental health and what needs to be addressed in the wider systems and the importance of healthy child development.

And of course, growing up in a Chinese culture and with further training in Mindfulness with teachers such as Sharon Salzburg, Buddhism is deep in my body of work.

Embracing all parts of selves, all parts of cultures

I used to struggle with this question - where are you from?

I remember the lightbulb moment when I realised I am a third culture kid and that I don’t have to define myself, but I’m a living intersection of the various cultures that’s been part of my growing up and life experiences.

I’m born in and grew up in Singapore, but my parents and heritage are rooted in Hong Kong. I have a deep love for Cantonese food, and own the title of ‘Bun Queen’.

I spent 7 years living in Shanghai, China from age 7-14 studying at an international school, and it exposed me to various nationalities and cultures at an early age, I was always very open and curious to learning about new cultures.

My storyline gets a bit more complicated then, where in my 20s, I did an exchange year in Spain, while studying abroad in UK (and lived there for the next 7 years) - where I then, as universe has planned it to be, met my husband. (who’s originally from Russia)

Now, we’re living in Germany after a long 4 years of long-distance, and I’m loving and embracing the mix of cultures that lives in and around me. If you’re ever confused about who you are, where you’re from, your sense of belonging -know that it makes you you, and your unique perspectives is a gift to the world.

Acknowledgements

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those that has touched my life and led me here. For believing in me, showing me the way through their being and actions. My wonderful mentors and leaders that I’ve worked with:

Alice Williams - for believing in me and discovering my gifts and passion for community arts

Laura Nyahuye - Maokwo - Teaching me the power of community, women coming together and how to hold space powerfully and curiously.

Malcolm John - ATRD - A powerful force showing how collaborative action plus boundless optimism can drive change

Sarah Paine - for leading a new way of working, introducing me to regenerative leadership, holistic healthcare, and owning the value of community experiences

And to my embodiment peer group that constantly challenged me, inspired me.

And to all members of my first journaling & personal growth group, that believed in the space and allowed me to grow and discover myself as a community leader.

And of course to my wonderful life partner, Dimitri, for his unwavering support in me and my work.