Meet Shing Yiing Ong

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shing Yiing Ong. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shing Yiing, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I believe my resilience was shaped by every chapter of my life where I had to start from scratch — and find strength in uncertainty.

I immigrated to the U.S. in 2009 to attend college. English wasn’t my first language, and I was far from everything familiar. I had to communicate in primarily not just a new language, but a whole new culture — how to advocate for myself, how to be heard, and how to keep going even when I felt invisible. That experience taught me how to adapt, how to stay curious, and how to persevere quietly — all of which still ground me today.

Then, at 35, I became a mom — a journey that reshaped my body, my identity, and my priorities. Motherhood was beautiful but also humbling. It asked me to be soft and strong at the same time — to hold space for another life while still trying to build my own dream.

Resilience, for me, doesn’t come from always being confident — it comes from choosing to show up, even when I’m scared, tired, or unsure. It comes from believing that every struggle has something to teach me.

I always had a dream of opening my own studio. When COVID hit in 2020, I pivoted and launched Body Balance Lifestyle — an online platform focused on helping busy women feel strong, sexy, and fabulous in under 45 minutes a day through at-home Pilates workouts. It was my way of turning uncertainty into purpose.

Fast forward to 2024 — while 8 months pregnant, I was laid off. But that didn’t stop me. In fact, it pushed me to finally take the leap and bring my long-held dream to life. That’s when SHINE Movement Pilates was born — a physical space opening in September 2025 where we move with purpose and shine with confidence. It’s more than just a studio — it’s a movement rooted in resilience, empowerment, and community.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

At SHINE Movement Pilates, we help women reconnect with their bodies, build lasting strength, and move with confidence — all through purposeful, empowering Pilates. What makes our approach special is that it’s not just about the workout. It’s about creating a space where women feel seen, supported, and celebrated at every stage of life.

My journey started during the pandemic, when I launched Body Balance Lifestyle, an online platform helping busy women feel strong, sexy, and fabulous in under 45 minutes a day. In November 2024, I also launched a YouTube channel focused on postpartum movement and recovery, creating accessible content for new moms navigating their healing journey.

Now, I’m so excited to bring that energy into a physical space. SHINE Movement Pilates, our first brick-and-mortar studio, is soft opening soon, with an official grand opening in September 2025 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Our classes are intimate, inclusive, and designed to help you feel powerful from the inside out — whether you’re returning to movement or stepping onto the mat for the first time.

We’re also hosting a full Grand Opening Week from September 23–27, with special classes, community events, and a ribbon-cutting celebration. It’s a chance to experience SHINE in person — and to be part of something built from resilience, heart, and purpose.

If you’re looking for a place where you can move with intention and shine unapologetically — this is it.

Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@Body_Balance_Lifestyle
SHINE Movement Pilates: https://www.shinemovementpilates.com/

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, confidence, and consistency.

Resilience has carried me through every phase — from immigrating to the U.S. for college with limited English, to becoming a mom at 35, launching a business during the pandemic, and getting laid off while 8 months pregnant. There were many moments of doubt, but resilience meant showing up anyway and trusting that each challenge was shaping me for what’s next.

Confidence wasn’t something I always had — it was something I built. As a woman, as a mother, and as an entrepreneur, I had to learn to take up space, trust my voice, and believe that my vision mattered. Confidence is a muscle — the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

Consistency is the quiet force behind everything I’ve built. Whether it was showing up online with Body Balance Lifestyle, creating content for postpartum moms on YouTube, or now opening SHINE Movement Pilates, staying consistent — even when no one’s watching — has created momentum and trust over time.

My advice to anyone early in their journey:

>Don’t wait to feel ready — start small, stay consistent, and be okay with learning as you go.

>Build your resilience by leaning into discomfort and trusting that it’s part of growth.

>Surround yourself with people who believe in you, but also be your own biggest advocate.

>And most importantly, don’t lose sight of your “why” — it will keep you going when nothing else does.

Progress isn’t always loud — but over time, it shines.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge I’m currently facing is self-doubt — something I think many entrepreneurs feel but don’t always talk about. This is my first time opening a physical studio, and it’s required a huge investment of time, money, and energy. Some days, I catch myself wondering: What if no one shows up? What if I fail?

Opening SHINE Movement Pilates is deeply personal to me. It’s a dream that’s been years in the making — and like anything that matters, it comes with fear. But I’m learning that self-doubt doesn’t mean you’re not ready — it just means you care.

To overcome it, I keep coming back to my purpose: to create a space where women feel strong, empowered, and confident in their bodies. I remind myself of the community I’ve already built through Body Balance Lifestyle and my postpartum YouTube channel. I focus on small wins, leaning into the support of my mentors, instructors, and clients who believe in the mission.

Most importantly, I’ve learned to move with the fear instead of waiting for it to disappear. Because courage isn’t the absence of doubt — it’s choosing to keep going in spite of it.

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