Interview: Anita Cheung
Can you start by telling the readers a little about yourself?
I'm a freelance creative and meditation teacher based in Vancouver, BC . I started my first business in the Wellness industry when I was twenty-three years old and have been self employed ever since. A few years ago, I opened Canada's first modern meditation studio with two other business partners. When I left the studio, I dove into freelance work. These days, my "day job" includes working on fun projects with small to medium sized brands doing design and art direction, websites, photography, and illustration. On a personal level—I love reading plots to horror movies, haven't bought "fast fashion" for over two years, am a proud plant mama and aunt to two adorable nieces, and I am working on some children's book ideas.
You started the Meditation platform In Bed with Betty. Can you tell us what’s so unique about it?
Betty is the middle ground between an app and a studio. It's for people who maybe don't live near a studio/ don't have time (or financial resources) to go somewhere to meditate—but also maybe aren't particularly motivated or excited about their meditation app. Every morning, we go live at 6AM, 7AM and 8AM (PST) for ten-fifteen minutes on Instagram for guided meditations. Each day of the week is a different theme so folks can always expect something new. It's really cool to see people tune in from wherever they are in the world and there is a really lovely sense of community. Sort of a "we're all in this together" feeling which is nice to have when you're bleary eyed and you just woke up.
“You never know who you’re reaching and whose life you’re changing just through storytelling.”
How did you first become interested in meditation?
I was introduced to meditation after I finished university, at a time in my life where I was really struggling with the anxiety and depression that comes from having PMDD (Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder... basically a condition that 1/10 women have in which every month right before my period, my hormones fluctuate in a way that it causes me to feel anxious, depressed, etc.). I had hit my emotional rock bottom when a therapist taught me how to meditate. The simple act of noticing my breath, or feeling where my feet are/ what my feet feel helped pull me from the whirlwind vortex of my mind. I clung to the practice like a life raft and continue to do so- especially in any darker moments.
We are never really done growing up. What do you hope to do in the future?
So many things! I heard somewhere that my generation (millennial) and future generations will go through not just seven different jobs in our lifetime but seven different careers. I feel like I'm on part two now and can't wait to see how things will change and develop. More concretely, I hope to write and illustrate a few children's books in the future around feelings, mindful movement and touch.
What get’s you out of bed in the morning?
Literally? Doing Betty. I'm not a big fan of mornings but I've been waking up early for so long that I now wake at 5:30 AM before my alarm goes off.
Do you have any advice for girls growing up today?
My best advice is to take advice with a grain of salt. Advice is just what's worked for one person in their particular life circumstance. You're the writer of your own story and there are times where you just need to quiet the noise around you and do you.
Do you have any female figures that you look up to? (real or fiction)
I look up to a lot of my friends and fellow entrepreneurs/ freelancers—they're all so creative and thoughtful and powerful in their own ways. In terms of fictional female figures... maybe Hermione Granger?
“You’re the writer of your own story and there are times where you just need to quiet the noise around you and do you.”
Why do you think it is important to tell our stories?
Because someone out there may need to hear it. You never know who you're reaching and whose life you're changing just through storytelling. At the same time, creating a narrative around our experiences help us process our feelings and thoughts—which is so important for healing.
What is something in life that you are most proud of?
The work life balance that I'm in these days. There was a time where I would work from 6 AM-10 PM every day and basically live out of my car—traveling to meetings, teaching gigs, eating, etc. It was gross. In the last year or so I've made a commitment to not feel rushed anymore whenever I can control it and turns out, I can control it a lot of the time! This means saying no to back to back meetings, prioritizing time to cook or eat with my partner, having hobbies outside of work, etc. It's a huge privilege to do the work I do and I appreciate every moment of it.
A few favorites:
Book:
I love fiction books (a few years ago I made the rule that I won't read "self improvement" books written by white men because their life experiences are so different from mine/ it's laughably inapplicable). One of the best books I read this year was On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong. It's not fiction but it is a memoir written in a storytelling style.
Band/Song/Music Genre:
My favorite genre is typically more chill R&B, instrumental hip hop, acoustic coffee shop vibes but I have always been, and still am a Swiftie.