23/04/2025
Someone asked me yesterday - there's a lot of Asian instructors right?
Well, it kinda just happened this way but also not. Lemme explain.
As a WOC growing up in the suburbs of Sydney in the early 90s, not a lot of kids looked and sounded like me. I found comfort with people of my heritage but not acceptance - I sounded Australian and grew up culturally very different. I was always a "white girl" to them.
For many years, I tried to be a better Asian to "fit in" and make other people more comfortable. Then I realised, I don't give a f**k. I love my Asian culture but I don't have to be your model Asian.
When I decided to embark on my teaching journey 13 years ago, I found yoga and Pilates is white women dominated. This isn't a bad thing - I am eternally grateful to the women who gave me opportunities and support. I have though, experienced discrimination which includes not being given jobs because I didn't fit "the look" or being asked "are YOU the instructor?". I was too Asian.
What I want to do is support women, support women of colour, support teachers who like me may not have always fit in. There are many paths up the same mountain, we just have to get there together.
Thank you to this incredible team of women ❤️
pilatescheong
pilates
