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TRIBE Origins

MARIA’S STORY

I moved from Hong Kong to Vancouver when I was one. Like all Chinese kids, honour roll status was a must. The only in my grad class to score 100% on the English provincial, I went straight to UBC and left with a Bachelor’s in philosophy. My critical thinking skills were honed to a fine science, but no career awaited.

I could debate, research, and analyze, but finding a career I could be fulfilled by? I bounced from job to job, industry to industry.

A few years later I bit the bullet and enrolled in a documentation specialist program at BCIT. Midway through, I landed my first full-time as a technical editor. I’d always enjoyed editing anyway. I was set!

Reality check. I spent 9 to 12 hours a day behind a desk, stressed to the max. “Sedentary” is defined as sitting — to me, it meant a slow death. Stagnating in a chair, tissues deforming, leaving work exhausted to drive 2 hours in gridlock home. Three or four more decades of this?!

Thankfully for my health, my happy hours were spent cradling dumbbells, not beers. My therapy for the extreme stress was the gym. Training alleviated my carpal tunnel and hip injuries. My workouts were immensely healing and precious.

I knew I wasn’t the only one whose body was becoming damaged by our modern day lifestyle. How could I help others?

A year and a half in, I decided to switch to the health and fitness industry. I left editing immediately after earning my PT certification. Leaving a stable salary, job security… to start afresh in an industry known for high turnover? My poor mom was worried sick! But I decided it was too important not to, in today’s era of mounting dis-ease.

I made this vow to myself: I WOULD NEVER WORK FOR SOMEBODY AGAIN.

Now I will dedicate my life to bettering others so they can become their BEST VERSION by strengthening the body, mind, and spirit through positive challenge, nourishing food, and unwavering belief.

I made the exhilarating decision to leap into the entrepreneurial fray in the summer of 2014. I created Tribe Fitness in December.

I’ve since helped hundreds of clients lose up to 100+ pounds and reverse ‘obese’ body compositions to ‘fit and healthy’. Alleviate chronic issues that worsen quality of life. Achieve a body that they feel comfortable living in. 

I’ve repeatedly witnessed the spark ignite in those who believe themselves beyond hope but are then proven WRONG.

GOING VEGAN

In September 2015, I met an activist who would become my catalyst for change. I’d already cut out meat from my cooking years ago, but I still subscribed to the “clean protein” myth of sashimi and eggs. Some days I’d eat 4 eggs! His social media posts deeply resonated with my heart. What we eat literally makes us who we are. And I was fuelling my body with decayed flesh that had suffered so much.

I then made my second vow: I WILL RESPECT ALL LIFE AND MINIMIZE THE HARM I DO

Switching to vegan was one of my best life decisions EVER.

For the first two months, the word I kept gravitating to was BUOYANT. I felt weightless. A beautiful glow radiated from everything. I felt at peace and joyful like never before.

My immune system has been superhuman ever since. No inflammation anywhere. Everything runs like clockwork: digestion, menstrual cycle, mental clarity, emotional well-being. My recovery from training is lightning quick. Injuries take a fraction of the time to heal. When I sprained my ankle, I was back on the treadmill in 3 days! It felt like I’d unlocked a new level of physical, emotional, and spiritual alignment.

Now I help people transition to mindful health-conscious eating. Clients who’ve made the switch all tell me they feel lighter, healthier, and stronger!