Prior to having children, fitness guru and wellness advocate Ziggy was immersed in her work as a personal trainer and group fitness instructor. After having her first child in 2016, her focus shifted towards Women’s Wellness and Pre and Post-Natal Fitness. She has since devoted her time and voice to speaking up about health issues including motherhood, childbirth, postpartum recovery, menstrual cycling synching and many other topics relevant to women. Her stories and posts are authentic, raw, informative and inspirational. More than that, she uses her platform to remind all mothers that “no two motherhood fertility journeys, pregnancy, birth, post partum and beyond are alike. Yet, we share so many threads and emotions in common.” Here’s a mother’s day special feature just for you.
- What keeps you busy these days?
My children! I have 4-year-old and 1.5-year-old boys keeping me active and on my toes!
- How did you come to find your current career or life’s work?
I was a Personal Trainer with a degree in Psychology, who became a mother, and began sharing my pregnancy, recovery and parenting journey online. I'm now a Pre and Post-Natal Fitness Trainer, Co-founder and Co-Host to the Mom Body Soul Podcast, and a "Motherhood Influencer" on Instagram. I have fallen into these roles just through chasing joy and what I feel passionate about.
- What is it about your work or career that you enjoy most?
Meeting so many different types of mothers. No two motherhood fertility journeys, pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond, are alike, yet we all share so many common threads and emotions. I love connecting with these women and helping them through whichever aspect of their wellness journey is most important for them.
- What do you consider to be “hazards of the job?”
Being in the fitness industry, looking after my body is the most important, because if we get injured or sick, we can't work. When you're young, you can lift heavy and hard, and generally recover quickly. After multiple injuries, surgeries and pregnancies, I've learned that our bodies have expiry dates, and wellness needs to be sustainable; not a quick fix.
- For women who aspire for similar careers, what would be your advice?
Be authentic, admit when you don't know something, and strive to find out the answer when people seek your advice. Keep firm boundaries; know your worth and be paid for your time. Whether that's a health and fitness consultation, an Instagram post, or an hour of your energy in the gym; protect your energy by keeping firm and loving boundaries.
- How do you balance work and family life?
I think that work-family balance is the forever juggling act, and stereotypically I can get consumed with mom-guilt. Whether that's feeling that I should be working and earning more, or that I'm not at home enough with my little ones, or that I shouldn't have taken that hour to myself for a childless coffee catch up - the guilt will be there no matter what I do, so the best thing is to just let it go.
- What are activities that enable you to bond with family?
We do pretty much everything with our children, whether that's a workout, making breakfast, going to the recycling center, or reading a story. Family time is time spent together.
- How do you unwind or rewind? Any favorite spots in your current city that you consider as your me-time haven?
Alone time is rare when you have a baby and kindergartener. My favorite form of unwinding is a hot bath, and a guided meditation. My favorite spot for me-time is enjoying lunch by myself at my own pace; particularly over a bowl of bun vermicelli from my favorite Westside Vietnamese spot, Bun Cha!
- How would you describe your personal style? What are three your wardrobe essentials
Comfy, sustainable and versatile. A white t-shirt, high-waist denim bottoms, and some comfy sneakers. My favorites are the upcycled leather shoes from Kibo Eco (formerly Lacess), and the upcycled garments by Tove & Libra for everyday office wear.
- What for you makes for a good investment piece? Kindly cite examples of pieces in your current wardrobe
A good quality leather jacket that you can pass down from generation to generation.
- What do pearls mean to you?
The epitome of elegance. One of my earliest memories of pearls is the pearl necklace that my mother wore everyday to work when I was in primary school. She still has that same necklace in her jewellery collection today. Absolutely timeless.
