ballet

Do you hear that voices telling you that you can never get that offer? Or that you are not pretty or intelligent? Or that you will never be happy? Or you will never find your passion in life or get your dream job? You stare at the mirror and slowly believing the many lies that these “little dictators” say about us. These “little dictators” may be our genetics or the societal norms that tells us where our life path should take. But I tell you it is time to tell the voices to keep quiet because you and me are in control now and we will #ChangeDestiny

SK II unveils its biggest empowerment campaign to date, #CHANGEDESTINY, which reminded me how I overcame the “little dictators” in my life when I was younger. ″

When I was younger, I am in a school where I never felt I ever belong. Everyday I was reminded that I am not rich enough, I am not pretty enough, and that I am not intelligent enough. As I successfully led my school life as a nobody, my music teacher discovered that I can sing, so she started giving me solos for school programs and concerts.

One morning in a camping trip organized by the school, my classmate called me that I was called to go in the bigger tent. There they are: the seniors of the school, the queen bees, the pretty ones & the honor rolls. I think there are around 7 of them, I couldn’t recall. They called measly little me in their presence to say that they don’t like me. They said, “I should stop trying to be like the star of the school because I will never be. ” I never understood why they would bother to trap me inside that tent and make me feel bad. They were four years my senior. I felt bullied and I cried the whole week after that. I never asked to be on the limelight nor did I acted high & mighty or arrogant. Suddenly, I believed in what they all said to me and I slowly dimmed my light. I believed in the external and internal dictators of my life until the light in me turned pitch black. I concealed my brightness and stopped shining.

But one fateful moment a year before changing school, I listened to a new teacher talking about living your best life and taking control of our own life, I realized that I should stop listening to the “little dictators” and that I should be holding on the steering wheel of my life. I have the power to #changedestiny. No one can say that I am never enough and that I will limit myself because of genes, social status, other people’s opinions, etc. Then, I made a decision that I will be in control of my destiny.

Inspite of the many obstacles, I am now a doctor and currently working as one here in Singapore. I didn’t limit myself from the busyness of my profession, I am also a lifestyle blogger and do freelance writing. I am also a mother and a wife. I always make time for my family. I cook for them and spend quality time with them. I also never accepted the society’s definition of pretty. I am very small woman with acne-prone skin but taking control of what you can change & accepting what you cannot, empowers me. You are beautiful because you believe you are beautiful. All of these are possible because I believe that I can #ChangeDestiny

This year, SK II aims to empower people to go beyond their limitations and #ChangeDestiny featuring acclaimed ballet dancer, Misa Kuranaga.

The global launch unveils her inspiring story how she overcame the “little dictators” in here life and achieve professional success.

Watch as she shares a snippet of her journey in becoming the Principal Dancer of Boston Ballet.

Misa Kuranaga was not born a ballet dancer but she chose to #changedestiny. never allowed the odds to hinder here from being the amazing ballerina that she is today. She is the first Asian to be Boston Ballet’s Principal Dancer.

All image credits: SK II

SK II inspires and reminds me that we can #ChangeDestiny. I maybe a doctor today but I can be something else if I want to someday because I am in control of my destiny. SK II believes in empowering people of today to overcome their limitations and be a captain of our own destiny.

So, are you ready to #ChangeDestiny?

More about SKII and #ChangeDestiny, head to www.sk-ii.sg

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post in collaboration with SK II. I only accept sponsored post which parallels my blog’s manifesto and I believed would be beneficial to share with my readers.

Arabesque… Demi Plie… Grand jete… Port de bras… I have always love ballet. My mother enrolled me in ballet class when I was in kindergarten but I didn’t manage to continue my classes during my elementary years. But my fascination to this art of dance never faded. It is poetry in liquid motion. So when I was in college and in medical school, I enrolled in ballet classes. I even get to have a ballet recital with 5-year-old girls, hahaha.

Now in my 30s, with a 5-months old baby and 5-kg shy away from my ideal weight, ballet may be a solution to my postpartum weight goal. I discovered this amazing book by Mary Helen Bowers: Ballet Beautiful. Mary Helen Bowers is responsible in helping Natalie Portman achieve her ballerina body in the movie “Black Swan”. In fact, Natalie Portman wrote the foreword of the book.

https://www.balletbeautiful.com

Ballet Beautiful is a fitness and lifestyle programme designed by Mary Helen Bowers to help every women achieve a ballerina body using ballet techniques. Bowers discovered Ballet Beautiful when she temporarily stopped from dancing ballet professionally to study in a university. She managed to stay healthy, svelte and still graceful by practicing Ballet Beautiful. She formulated a work-out using ballet principles that can sculpt the body to be more toned, fit and lean. Do you know that this is one of Victoria Secret models favourite work-out?

There are two ways of doing it. You can do the 60-minutes Classic Ballet Beautiful Work-out or the 15-minutes Ballet Beautiful Blasts spread out throughout the day. This is not only for ballerinas or dancers but for every women. However, if you have a background on ballet, it would be very helpful. It is very hard to follow the work-out instructions though the book. You would b tempted to go to their website and just purchase a class instead.

The book is divide in three parts: How Ballet Beautiful Came About, The Ballet Beautiful Workout, and The Ballet Beautiful Lifestyle. Part 3 has a chapter on diet which is entitled ‘Dieting Is A Waste of Time’. It introduced the readers on five Ballet Beautiful Eating Principles.

1. Be prepared

2. Eat often

3. Substitute for satisfaction

4. Be flexible

5. Forgive yourself and move on

I have yet to try this Ballet Beautiful work-out and tips consistently. It is hard to do a grand jete with a baby attached to me. Soon…. Au Revoir!

#CHANGEDESTINY AND OVERCOMING THE “LITTLE DICTATORS” IN LIFE

BOOK REVIEW: BALLET BEAUTIFUL