6 Gifts of Health

@Amazon Books

@fitnesswla

Kitty Wells, author and CEO of Spice Pharm who worked in Silicon Valley for 20+ years graciously shared her anti-aging secrets with me on our interview.. She quit her high-tech, high stress job because it impacted her health. Kitty focused on using spices and herbs as part of her self-care practice. She started making her own healthy drinks and share the benefits of her natural "designer drugs" with people she knows. Kitty started her own company five years ago and believes in aging naturally into the "wisdom years".

Top 3 Spices for Health:

1. Ginger

2. Turmeric

3. Ceylon cinnamon

Benefits of ginger and turmeric:
1. Anti-bacterial
2. Anti-inflammatory
3. Boost immunity
4. Build core strength
5. Ginger is good for digestion

Ceylon cinnamon regulates blood suger

Top 3 adaptogenic herbs:

1. Rhodiola

2. Ashwagandha

3. Eleuthero 

All the spices and herbs she recommends have anti-aging and stress-reducing qualities.

She said that the economic downturn in 2008 led to an upturn in demand for natural remedies. We both believe that our health care is broken, expensive and ineffective in its delivery of quality care. More people need to take back control of their health since drugs are overprescribed and has many bad side-effects. I think there will be a big shift to prevention since Obamacare will be overturned. There is a list of books I want to read and her book "The Anti-Aging Secrets of Spices" is one of the top 3. 

My publisher really likes the tips Kitty shared and I'll include them at the end of my book under "Resources". Bonus for you: Free e-book. Sign up https://blog.spicepharm.com/e-book-signup

Total 6 gifts of health for you. I love spicepharm.com (5% off for first time customers). Try the Golden Goddess Chocolate Elixir. It's divinely healthy and delicious!

Ingrid Cheng

Author, blogger, health coach

www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

5 Gifts of Love

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Based on"The Five Languages of Love" by Gary Chapman:

1. Acts of service
2. Gifts/ presents
3. Physical touch
4. Quality time
5. Words of affirmation

This holiday season, give other gifts like your time. It's more meaningful and create a deeper bond with your loved ones. I look forward to spending quality time with my sisters and family.

I was at a Free Grants Workshop by La Quetta Shamblee (www.thegrantbuilder.com)

She walked us through the 5-Step Process that uses 10 Building Blocks to Write More Grants in Less Time! It was a successful event with a big turnout and I made a good connection with someone who wants to create an intentional community.

The 5 Steps are:
1. Program design - What do you need the grant for?
2. Grant research - How to find the money?
3. Write grant proposals and budget
4. Package and submit
5. File and track grant (Know when to follow-up)

The 10 Building Blocks are:
1. Mission statement.
2. History. Describe program/ organization that's seeking the grant. When and why it's established.
3. Describe programs and services you offer.
4. Needs assessment. Why is it needed? Third-party validated information/ statistics)
5. Goals & objectives. What do you plan to achieve? How? (Measureable, specific results)
6. Target population (demographics)
7. Evaluation: Describe how progress, success & effectiveness will be measured
8. Timeline/ workplan: Schedule for implementing the parts of the program.
9. Future sustainability: How will you fund program after grant ends?
10. Program/ project budget: What's the estimated budget for 12 months? Aim for at least $350,000

Other tips:
Is your program/ organization eligible? What's the deadline? Do you file online or on paper?
What information do you need to include in it?
Add 10% as administrative overhead to total operating costs.
Add 25% to total wages

Ingrid Cheng
Author, blogger, health coach
www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

5 Holiday Gifts

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@fitnesswla

I joined the Night Walk with the Mayor at 5 pm and enjoyed the Art & BOLD Holiday Lights tour. Lili Bosse is committed to making Beverly Hills a healthy city. I love her mission because it's like mine. I joined @Fitapproach as a #SweatPink Ambassador last year and just started a FB group:
www.facebook.com/groups/SweatPinkLosAngeles on October 19th. It already has 80 members and many fun, fitness events. My goal is to help women be healthy inside-out.

12/10 Holiday Event to Give Back to Our Firefighters. I'm making bags of treats to drop off at Station 19. Join me. Space is limited. RSVP at www.facebook.com/events/247033722497978

I wrote a short story "The Purple Elephant" for Sangita, who made "Gods in Shackles" because she is truly "the voice for the Asian Elephants" and I love her mission. Join her cause! www.vfaes.org

The Purple Elephant

Kerala didn't fit in. She was born to be different. Her purple color made her stand out, so her mom taught her to roll in mud to cover up her unique coloring.

"You must remember to do this and hide your true color. The world is a dangerous place. People will catch you and take you away if they find out that you're special." Madhu said to Kerala because she wanted to protect her precious daughter. "Promise me that you'll always be careful."

"I promise."

Kerala had trouble making friends as she'd often miss a spot or two and show her true color. Other young elephants made fun of her and called her "Spot" so she felt that there was something wrong with her. 

"Why don't they like me?" She asked her mom.

"It's the herd mentality. They don't like someone who is different from them."

"I know that as a herd, we have to live in harmony and work together. I wish that they aren't so mean to me.

"Don't worry about them. Your real friends will love and accept you for who you really are."

"How will I find them?"

"Just keep being you. Smile and say hello to other children."

"I love you mom. You're my best friend!"

"Oh Kerala, I love you too."

Five Holiday Gifts

1. The gift of love

2. The gift of kindness

3. The gift of giving

4. The gift of gratitude

5. The gift of joy and peace

How do we celebrate the holiday? By being more mindful and practicing these gifts, we will reap the benefits that spread to others. www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

P.S. Help me check off my bucket list. I've wanted to live in Mexico for a while and am seriously thinking about retiring there. I applied for a job there and need your vote!

http://ceo.cancun.com/profile/ingrid-cheng

Ingrid Cheng

Author of "The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga"

I

5 Steps to Own It!

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@fitnesswla

Here's my review of "Own It":

#1 mistake that women make is waiting until the right time or procrastinating.
By 2030, we will hold 2/3 of U.S. wealth and we donate almost twice our % of wealth to charities as men do. 

1. Be masters of reinvention
2. Take a class in something you know nothing about
3. Learn a new app or technology. Spend time with creative/ innovative people
4. Learn to manage your finances
5. Take a career break if you need to

I quit my dead-end job in June and started my own business. Now, I help women who struggle with food cravings/ sugar addiction and am a Thrive Life consultant.
www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

The Gender Investing Gap: Women retire with 2/3 the money that men have and live 5+ years longer. We see investing as a way to meet our life goals, not as a way to beat the market. Money is the #1 source of stress for most of us so we avoid dealing with it.

Money = Power but women keep 68% of our $ in cash as a default because we want to be secure but it is a false security that can cost us $10s to $100s of thousands in our lifetime. 

I love "Shift for Good"!

1. How Fed Up Are You Really? Are you finally sick of the way things are now?

2. What are you willing to give up. Change is hard and you must be willing to make sacrifices (take action).

3. What's your plan? (Know your Why?)

4. What's your daily accountability?

5. How will you develop patience and celebrate your wins?

Six parts that make a whole:

1. Love and relationships: Every one wants to love and be loved. (First of all, love yourself)

2. Healthy mind and body: Treat your body with love and respect. Create a clam mind that focuses on the present moment

3. Satisfying work and wealth: Work that matters to you and the people you serve

4. Impact through giving: Lending your time and talent to those in need

5. Calm environment: You have full control over your own mind, your response, your space

6. Curiosity in action: The antidote to boredom (stagnation). Wake up curious every day. Be inspired. Learn and grow.

I hope these tips help you be a Brave, Authentic, Daring, Amazing, Self-Confident Superwoman!

5 Tips for Healthy Holidays

My favorite snacks

www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

1. Buy local. fresh or freeze-dried
2. Move for 30 minutes or more
3. Drink plenty of water
4. Get enough sleep 7-8 hours
5. Keep a gratitude journal and write down 3-5 things you're grateful for each day

Join Sweat Pink L.A. Free!
You're invited to Friendsgiving Potluck this Sunday. RSVP
RSVP to 21-Day Self-Care Workshop - Free!

I met Francesca Hutchinson at the Ultimate Womens Expo about a month ago and loved the freeze dried snacks that she was giving out as samples. I asked her about My Thrive Chef and learned how easy it is to make healthy, tasty meals with Thrive Life so I joined as a direct distributor right away. I brought some Snackies with me and shared them with my roommates at the Social Entrepreneur Empowerment Experience (SEEE). They loved the sweet crunch corn snacks! I met the Fellow Flowers and joined their morning workouts. I felt an immediate sense of welcome and belonging with this group of amazing women. They were on their annual retreat at Paradise Point, where I was attending the SEEE so it was a big sign that the Universe is supporting my mission to empower women to be healthy inside-out. I almost talked myself out of going to the event because I just got over being sick and didn't book a room. I went on Facebook to look for someone who wants to share a room and found Ilona Berkoben who just happened to have a room to share. So I had no excuse to not go. I drove to San Diego by myself at 6 am and got there in 2.5 hours. Just in time to check in and network with other like-minded entrepreneurs before the event started at 9 am. I'm so glad that I went because I had an incredible, inspiring and transformative experience. I got to meet Ocean Robbins in person, to thank him and shake his hand. Over 300 people from 33 countries attended SEEE and we raised over $44,000 for 2 charities!

Ocean Robbins

I love Foodrevolution.org and have been telling people to join the free webinar. I am a Good Food fan and have been involved with the food movement since I became a member of Slow Food in 2008. I was at Food Day LA on October 24th, an event by L.A. Food Policy Council and was part of the 340 attendees. Together we celebrated Good Food Champions. I shared that I want to do a documentary to highlight the good food champions here and connected with Rob Lowe who has a Giving Back Podcast. I'm honored and humbled to be included in the last half of his podcast (he called me Emily Cheng) but that's okay with me. I can't wait to see what the Law of Attraction will bring into my life next!

Ingrid Cheng

@fitnesswla

Author, blogger, foodie

Holiday Gift Guide

Benefits Charity

@fitnesswla

I got this $5 gift for my sister because it has five sample/ travel size items that are crafted with purpose, fair trade and certified natural by Natrue. Proceeds of this bestseller collection benefit charity. Weleda supports the Biodynamic Association. Learn from the top biodynamic educators through interactive webinars at www.biodynamics.com/webinars. I support this organization's mission to awaken and enliven co-creative relationships between us and the earth, transforming agriculture to renew the earth, the integrity of our food and the wholeness of our community. If you have a product that benefits charity, contact me for a short interview and a chance to be featured in my gift guide.    

Personalized Vision Board

I am offering to create 2 limited edition personalized vision board for special readers who donate $20 or more to my #Friendsgiving campaign that benefits www.nokidhungry.org Or you can PayPal.me

If you live in the 90049 zip code, I am offering free tasting demos at www.thrivelife.com/ingrid Get free products when you gather friends and family to try Thrive!

11/19 Combo B-Day Party & Potluck. RSVP

Connect with me:

www.facebook.com/ingrid.cheng1

www.linkedin.com/in/ingridcheng2

Author, blogger, creative genius

Sweat Pink Los Angeles Ambassador

Free 21-Day Healthy-Inside Out Course

Excerpt from The Three Choices

Claim Your Free Gift

Jorge Cruise's new book shares the three things he did to keep himself sane during the dark period of his life. "There are three choices to make to have a fulfilled life. Today is all we have...every change is hard. We just have to find the lesson." (Source: www.malibutimesmag.com) The Three Choices can empower you to:

1. Be imperfectly you and create affirmations that serve you
2. Breathe - breathing is the easiest way to be mindful
3. Move to improve (health and wellness) - find out what motivates you, learn how to make movement into a habit. Click this link to read more.

How time flies. When I attended the Publish Your Book Bootcamp on August 11th and wrote my name under My "Do not panic" statement. I committed to making this book happen for me. "Every great and noble idea requires time before its success. I will stay calm until such time. I am worthy and it will happen". Meanwhile, I've been busy building my fan base and email list. I am learning how to market my book before it's done because that will help me reach more people and share my message. I was a "bad" yoga student because I wasn't flexible or balanced. I was "clumsy and uncoordinated", I often confused my left with my right. Normally, I'd have quit but yoga kept drawing me back to the mat. I got certified to teach yoga in 2007 and started a yoga Meetup. That evolved into a healthy networking group and led to a collaborative event. My mom came to our retreat even though she thought that I should get a job and be practical. She said my friends were weird but I didn't care. I loved what I was doing even though I didn't make enough money to pay my bills. I relied on my savings and investments to run my events. I couldn't believe that doing what I loved and making good money was possible. I started to write Creating a Better World Through Yoga and was in the process of getting it published. Then, I had to choose between money and my passion. At that time, money won and I went back to a J-O-B. Long story short, I gave up on my dream but it lingered on, haunting me. I'm so grateful for the Book workshop because it re-ignited my passion for writing.

Slow Food Nation

I love Slow Food and was at the amazing foodie event in San Francisco in 2008. That was the first time I saw a community garden. I liked that the veggies were labeled in both English and Chinese. I enjoyed good food and met like-minded people. The food movement has been slowly and quietly changing the world through food that is good, clean and fair to all. Recently, I was at Food Day on October 24th where I met Good Food Champions and was inspired by their stories. "Growing food is a human right". Eating well can be affordable when we have community gardens and learn how to grow good food. I went to a 3-Day Social Entrepreneurs Empowerment Experience where I met Stacey Murphy and learned about https://growyourownvegetables.org

@fitnesswla

Join 21-Day Self Care Free Course

Come to an event at SweatPinkLosAngeles

Connect with me

www.facebook.com/ingrid.cheng1

www.linkedin.com/in/ingridcheng2

Ingrid Cheng

www.thrivelife.com/ingrid

P.S. 11/13 is World Kindness Day. It's time to be kind to yourself and others.

10/16 World Food Day

#1 Anti-Aging Secret

Be like R2-D2

@fitnesswla

I love Sci-Fi and Fantasy. I fell in love with books by Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Mercedes Lackey, Orson Scott Card, Robin McKinley, Roger Zelazny when I was in high school. Some guy I knew from class was always reading so I got curious and asked why he liked to read. At that time, I had no interest in books because I thought books were boring. I'm so grateful that he shared his love of Science Fiction with me and I fell in love with books. Before that, I read manga (Japanese comic books translated into Chinese) for fun and was a fan of Candy Candy, Doraemon, etc. My love affair with Sci-Fi/ Fantasy continues today. I am both a Star Trek and Star Wars fan. I also love Blade Runner. Did you know that the original Blade Runner was based on a book Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick? I hope that they'd make a movie based on Isaac Asimov's Robot series. I love his 3 Laws of Robotics:

1. A robot injure a human being or through inaction allow a human to come to harm

2. A robot must obey orders given by human beings except where order conflicts with the first laws

3. A robot must protect its own existence except when it conflicts with the first or second law

Imagine if we can program ourselves to do the same with each other. What if we all follow the 3 Laws? What does that have to do with my book? That's a good question. I started writing in a diary at a young age because I didn't know how to express myself and be heard. I was taught to be quiet and not make any trouble. I wrote down all my hopes and dreams, my hurt and pain, pouring out my heart to my dear diary because it was safe to do so.

I didn't know how to fight for what I wanted or stand up for myself. I was a doormat, a victim of bullying at home. It got so bad that I ran away. I could've been a homeless teen. All the trauma I experienced as a child shaped and affected me. When I grew up, the victim mentality stayed with me until I learned to let go of my sad old story. Yoga changed my life and that's why I'm writing this book.

The #1 anti-aging secret is be curious. Learn something new every day. I've learned so many things since I started writing from my heart again in August 11th (about 2 1/2 months ago). It seems to take longer to write a book than I thought cause I set a deadline to finish it by my birthday on November 19th and I'm only halfway done. Oh well. Live and learn.

Join Sweat Pink Los Angeles & our events like We Run the City
Free Plant-Power and Thriving Expert online series

Discover Dream Yoga and go beyond lucid dreaming - free RSVP

Discover the Healing Power of Ayurvedic Herbs and Vedic Astrology - free RSVP

Are you being called to take a stand against the dark forces? Join Rise of the Fierce Feminine free. RSVP

Ingrid Cheng

Love Heals

One Love

@fitnesswla

I went to see Heal on Thursday with my friend and was reminded of the mind's power to heal the body. I had tried meditating with an app and with Unplug Meditation but I stopped cause who has the time? I had an amazing experience at One Love Fest last weekend. I felt recharged after 3 days of digital and spiritual detox. I'm so grateful for all the incredible teachers:

Claire Thompson
Tierra Karou
Amy Rose
Cheri Rae
Saul David Raye
Hemalayaa Behi

"You don't do yoga. Let yoga do you." I meditated for 5 minutes yesterday morning and realized that I was being yoga (connected, present, at peace). I'm called to this sacred circle, this beautiful time of awakening. I am designed by and for love. I pledge allegiance to pure love. One love under the Divine with joy and peace for all.

It's Make A Difference Day and I'm doing a 5K in remembrance of Princess Diana. Join my Sweat Pink Los Angeles FB Group for a virtual run/ walk. You can do it anytime/ anywhere! I'm excited about the Free Plant Power and Thriving Expert online series. Click link for more details.

I've been empowering myself to step out of my comfort zone and it has brought so much joy to me. I went to my first Comic Con yesterday and had so much fun. I met and networked with creative people while I admired all the booths, characters, displays, etc. I fell in love with Tentacle Kitty and adopted a little one for my sister who loves cats. She has 3: Roscoe, Mossberg and Spenser. I met The Rebel Legion and members of a Star Trek Meetup. Check them out at rebellegion.com and FB USSArtesia. I hope to see some of them again at Molly Lavik's Halloween Eve Party Pep Rally for #AIShowBiz (free event) tomorrow night. RSVP

Mossberg

Roscoe

Spenser

Imagine

One Love

@fitnesswla

Imagine practicing love and gratitude for 3 days. Imagine choosing joy, love and peace every day. "Imagine all the people living life in peace. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one." John Lennon. I love his song "Imagine" because it speaks to my heart and soul. I got early-bird ticket to One Love Fest not knowing what to expect. I was a festival virgin, but I felt called by its message of being connected, empowered, inspired, healed and divine co-creation. I can't believe I almost didn't go. I was anxious and apprehensive a few days before going. I didn't know anyone there, I wanted to carpool but couldn't find a ride, I just got over a cold...All the excuses and stories came up because I forgot to trust my intuition. I even contacted the ticketing agent to see if I could resell my ticket or get a refund.

I've been empowering myself to step out of my comfort zone, but I still have self-sabotaging beliefs that make me act in ways that don't serve me. Awareness is the key to change. I realized that I wanted to get away, to recharge and reconnect. I practiced affirmations and focus on what I wanted instead of my fears. The universe answered with Marci Jarvil, author of Feel Like Yourself Again and my carpool buddy. I contacted her on Facebook, she told me to get a tent and be really prepared. I thought I'd just sleep in the car, but she shared the benefits of "glamping" (nature meets comfort). I agreed to repack, went last-minute shopping to get a tent, rolled up my foam mattress pad, added linens...Check out Marci's site www.yogaoftouch.com

As an introvert, I'd rather stay home and read a book or write. Yoga and coaching helped me live life fully. I am excited about Sweat Pink L.A. Join our FB Group now. We're all about fitness, fun and community! I had a great time at #FitFoodieRun so I signed up for several more 5Ks and can't wait to earn more medals. My next 5K is on 10/28 Make a Difference Day: Remembering Princess Diana.
I also plan to run/ walk on 10/31 Cat Day 5K. Then, I'm going to We Run the City 5K on 11/19. I am so grateful for Bridging the Gap #WeAreStrongerTogether. Check out my blog about Daisy The, The It Mom.

I met Molly Lavik, creator of #AIShowBiz at Digital Hollywood on October 12th and she asked me to blog about her event. I agreed and interviewed her a few days ago, but was so busy preparing for One Love that I didn't have time to write it up.

Molly founded Mentor Insight Inc. in 2002 with the moonshot goal to create an Obi Wan Kenobi holographic guru that you can beam in whenever and wherever you need help. This is the second year of #AIShowBiz: the intersection of technology and entertainment. "Together we can accomplish anything." Molly realized her dream with help of a strategic coach. She mostly self-financed this great event and got sponsors. We are both Star Wars fans and I told her she should have a Halloween costume party to promote her event. I was surprised when Molly took my idea and ran with it. Now, we are co-promoting her Halloween Eve Party.

Ingrid Cheng
Author of The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga
Healthy Inside-Out Coach
www.thrivelife.com

Celebrate Food Day and More

@fitnesswla

www.thrivelife.com
In honor of World Food Day, Feeding America released an extended PSA that reminds us about the real face of hunger. On October 7th, I joined the Fit Foodie Run to raise funds for this cause that's close to my heart. I am also selling items on www.ebay.com and donating 10% to #NoKidHungry. "While 41 million Americans don’t get enough to eat, 72 billion pounds of safe food" go to waste. That's why I support Food Day L.A. "Growing food is a human right" and community gardens are part of the solution. Let's work together to end hunger by making food healthy, fair, affordable, accessible and sustainable. Check out their Food Recovery Guide and join Food Day on 10/24. www.fooddayla2017.eventbrite.com

It's cold and flu season. To prevent from catching a cold or flu

1. Wash your hands before eating
2. Use hand santizer if you need to
3. Drink lots of fluids
4. Get enough sleep
5. Keep from overdoing it (stressing out)
6. Take vitamin C and zinc at the first sign of cold
7. If you feel sick, take a day off work to rest

8. Get a flu shot if you live or work with kids or seniors

Free gift! 12-Day Mindfulness Practice
Get paid to eat. Healthy Inside-Out Coaching 3-Month Program RSVP

Ingrid Cheng
Author of The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga 
Mission: Empowering women to be healthy inside-out
Vision: Creating a kinder, more loving world through yoga and my book

Health is a Resource

Instagram

I started training for my 5K two weeks before the Fit Foodie Festival #FitFoodieRun, I like to walk with my dog Sparky and when I found out that it's a dog-friendly event, I was counting down the days to October 7th. I even wrote down my goal to promote it to the #SweatPink community. I love Fit Approach because I got to connect with other women who share my passion for fitness. I joined them at the IDEA Blogfest more than a year ago, but it seemed like I've been part of them forever. I love IDEA Fitness Expo & Blogfest where I got to meet Jillian Michaels my role model and learn how she became a celebrity fitness trainer.

I posted a blog about my fitness favorites a few months ago and shared my love of her "No More Trouble Zones" DVD. I like to vary my exercise routine to keep it fun. I practice yoga 3-5 times a week and do Cardio Strength training to tone up problem areas. I believe that as a 40+ year-old, I'm healthier now than ever before thanks to my healthy lifestyle. Yoga changed my life. I was a shy bookworm who'd rather stay home and read a book. If I haven't learned to challenge myself and step out of my comfort zone, I'd still be home reading a book and not living life to the fullest. There's nothing wrong about loving to read, but it's a solitary experience. Humans are social animals and as an introvert, I never felt like I fit in. I didn't have many friends, I was content with my books. 

I still like to read and some of my favorite books that I've read this year are:

1. The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist

2. The Power of Partnerships: Seven Relationships that Will Change Your Life by Rianne Eisler

3. The Motivation Manifesto by Brendon. I posted a blog about his D.U.M.B goals in August

4. When Wisdom Meets Passion by Dan Miller

5. One Simple Idea by Stephen Key the guru of renting ideas for passive income

I am a lifelong learner because I have a curious mind. I like to experience new things and meet new people. Yet, I have social anxiety. It's like I have split personality. I've learned to love and accept myself through yoga. That's why I am writing The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga. I believe that as long as we are learning and growing, we will have more life in our years. I'm so glad to be able to interview women like Karin Kiser, Hillary Bitar @silverstorm777 and Janet Earling-Bencivenni @grandma2glamma for my upcoming book!

Free gift: 12-day Mindfulness Practice
$50 off! Sale ends on October 15th. Healthy Inside-Out Group program. RSVP

10/27 Halloween Costume Party with Healthy Snacks! RSVP

Ingrid Cheng

Author, Blogger, Health Coach

@fitnesswla

Create Win-Win

Bridging the Gap 

Check out The It Mom 

I am excited to be part of Bridging the Gap and in my hurry I thought that Cheryl Hunter was my new partner, but found out that Daisy Teh is my actual partner. Daisy is a Filipina-American entrepreneur and I like her beauty/ style advice for moms at The It Mom.  She went through a "roller coaster" of life between ages of 18-25. As a divorced teen mom, she was a "hot mess", she focused on providing for her kids and let herself go. Both of us are Asian-Americans and though I am not a mom, I can relate to women with children because I used to be a 3rd grade teacher. The biggest challenge that Daisy faced as a mom of four kids was the ability to take care of herself because who has the time? She certainly didn't nor did she have anyone to show her how. Daisy found "everything" in magazines or through social networks, but it was hard to find. She wanted to "cut to the chase" and back up the information with "real people who experienced it themselves". Daisy launched her blog to help moms "easily look good" in every day life. Check out her site: www.theitmom.com

I know from my own experience as a teacher that educators feel the same way. I used to put my students first and myself last. I got sick a lot due to lack of sleep and stress. One winter, I got bronchitis and had to take sick leave. I lost a lot of weight, I looked and felt terrible. During my illness, I had time to ask myself if teaching was what I really wanted to do. I realized that it didn't fulfill my creative spirit. I read lots of books about health and wellness in an effort to help myself get better. I was sick of being sick and dedicated myself to be healthy. I quit teaching and began my journey into yoga. I was not a good yoga student. I was not flexible or coordinated. I was a mess, but yoga drew me back to the mat again and again. Each time, I gain more balance, flexibility and competence. I am so grateful for all the doors that yoga opened in my life. That's why I am writing The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga.

I love Cheryl's story. She is an author, coach and resilience expert. I love her TEDx Talk about growing up in a horse ranch in the middle of nowhere. She loved it, but she had to get out to experience culture, to meet people. The city was calling her name. Cheryl hopped on a mini bike and rode to Colorado City, got a fashion magazine and realized she wanted to be a model. She got a friend to fly to Europe with her, but no sooner did she get to France when a guy with a camera asked her if she wanted to be a model. Her friend said no way, but she ditched her and went with the guy. Cheryl's story of being drugged, raped, "ruined" did not keep her from becoming a model. I am following her @huntercheryl and learning more about her at Breakfreeformula.com

I stepped way out of my comfort zone to attend a crowdfunding workshop. I learned a lot and connected to dreamers: Terri Hardin, Disney Imagineer and Andy Erikson, comedian, writer and unicorn. I realized that we are a rare breed. The world needs people like us who create and dream. Yoga and coaching changed my life. I'm doing what I love and living my dream every day. Celebrate good food at www.thrivelife.com. My dream is to "be the change I wish to see in the world". What's your dream?

10/17 Launch of www.thrivelife.com 
10/24 Food Day L.A. GoodFoodLA.org
Global Oneness Day Globalonenesssummit.org

Ingrid Cheng
Author and Health Coach
Mission: Empower women to be healthy inside-out
Vision: Create a kinder, more loving world

Fierce Fifty Revolution

My Dream

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What I learned in the last few days made me realize that we are all more capable than we think.
I started training for my 5K run/ walk on Monday 9/25 by walking faster for 30 minutes after practicing yoga. Usually, I like to go on a leisurely Zen walk after yoga. But since my 5K event is less than 2 weeks away, I committed to my training and felt a sense of accomplishment even though my calves were sore afterwards. I did some gentle yoga stretches and soaked in a hot bath with Epsom salt. I added a few drops of lavender essential oil to help me relax. I continued to train every day this week and just finished a 2-mile walk in less time than I'd expected.

I just interviewed Janet Earling-Bencivenni, a 50+ lifestyle/ fashion blogger @grandma2glamma and I'm voting her as Grandmother of the Year because she takes care of her 4 grandkids during the day while her kids are at work. She started three and a half years ago when she joined a gym that offers yoga classes. At first, she thought that she needed to be athletic or a super bendy person to do yoga, but she had a good teacher who welcomed and accommodated newcomers so she didn't feel intimidated. "Yoga helps with my running. I also like to power lift. I don't see myself ever giving up yoga and am going to a yoga teacher training course" Janet said. After practicing yoga for more than a year, she noticed a big improvement in her balance, flexibility and coordination. She also gained strength and body appreciation/ awareness. Janet runs marathons because of the challenge and extreme sense of accomplishment she gets. "My daughter and daughter-in-law started running together and got me to join them on half-marathons and marathons. I don't like to run so I only run one day a week. I like yoga and strength training. I get a big emotional high from marathons that prove I could do it. When I was young, I was not allowed to participate in sports, so I guess I'm making up for it now." Janet loves yoga for giving her time to stretch and practice self-care; it helps with her running. "If I miss practicing yoga for any length of time, I'm not a happy person. It's very good for mental and spiritual wellness." She has a full-time job taking care of her four grandkids. That's why she needs yoga to help her keep calm. She has a friend who teaches yoga to seniors and shared that 50+ women love yoga because they find out how much they can do with their bodies. She knew about the benefits of yoga, but after experiencing them (how yoga helped her evolve), she is taking her practice to a new deeper level by training to be a yoga teacher. Janet also credits yoga for giving her the energy to run after her four grandkids.

I am so grateful to be part of Bridging The Gap (BTG) Campaign that pairs up Millennials with Influencers who are in their 40s and 50s. I blogged about Jessica Ganger, my partner in absence. I  but I haven't heard back yet. When I went to the Book Boot camp on August 11th (less than a month and a half ago), I wrote down my intention to publish a book. Then, I brainstormed ideas and came up with this book about yoga. Little did I know that it'd open so many doors for me. I got to talk to women like Karin Kiser author of Lighten Your Load, Hillary Bitar @silverstorm777 and Janet as part of market research for my book, The Anti-Aging Secrets of Yoga. I made new friends and feel so encouraged about the positive feedback and response. I will be 50 years old next year and I can't wait. BTG has a Meetup in Los Angeles on October 14th. Stay tuned here for details.

Ingrid Cheng
Author, Blogger and Health Coach


Mission: Empowering women to be healthy inside-out.
Vision: Creating a better and healthier world.