LYDIA CHANG Co-Founder, Yoga Teacher, Creative Director Hi, I’m Lydia. I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, but spent most of my life in Canada. I began my career as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CA, CPA) and worked in the finance industry for 10 years. With a highly demanding workload, I first turned to yoga to help manage stress. Surprisingly, yoga not only improved my physical and mental health, it also became a source of love and strength. As I began to feel the transformations yoga had on my life, I was inspired to share the gift of yoga with others.
On a quest for authentic knowledge, I travelled to India to learn traditional Hatha Yoga, Ayurveda, and received teaching certification with Patanjali International Yoga Foundation. Upon returning home, I saw many of my friends and colleague struggling to find work life balance. They suffered from severe anxiety, fatigue, and stress as a result of intense work environments. These mental illnesses translated to painful physical symptoms such as high blood pressure, heart disease, back strain, and headaches. I knew I could help. By leveraging my knowledge of yoga and experience in the business world, I established Mindfulness at Work, a charity program to incorporate yoga and meditation at the office. The program took off immediately, more and more people were eager to learn how to achieve a peaceful mind and body! I devoted all my free time to teaching yoga, leading team building events, mindfulness leadership workshops, retreats and classes. I am so grateful for these incredible opportunities, they made me a better teacher and a better student.
In 2016, I realized it was time to follow my heart and pursue my passion as a spiritual entrepreneur. I took a leap of faith and left my corporate job. Returning to my hometown of Baishawan in Taiwan, I team up with my brother to convert our childhood home into Origin Yoga & Wellness, a sanctuary where people from all over the world can come to connect with their natural selves, with others, and with nature. It’s been an absolute pleasure to build a business that inspires your inner peace and serenity. Thank you for making our dream come true!
EDWARD CHANG Co-Founder, Chef, Operations Director
Hi, I’m Edward! I was born in Canada, but spent most of my life in Taiwan. Growing up in a small town in Taiwan, life was simple and fun. My favorite memory as a kid was strolling among the night market stalls on Sunday nights with my dad. The excited crowds, flashing lights, and aromatic mix of soy, vinegar, and spices were mesmerizing. I looked forward to the night market visits because each vendor had their own story; a secret homemade sauce, a unique topping for shaved ice, or a new type of noodle. There was something different to savor every time. Surrounded by all sorts of culinary delights, I was fascinated by food at an early age and couldn't wait to start making my own creations!
After studying restaurant management in school, I worked in the food and hospitality industry for 5 years, eventually owning a specialty café and guest house. Unfortunately, I had to put my business on hold as I suffered from a serious case of stomach illness. Doctors could not determine the root cause and nothing seemed to help. Fighting this sickness was a wake-up call to examine my own lifestyle. As part of my journey to health, I started practicing yoga, changed my diet, and discovered the power of natural healing. In 2014, I decided to further my studies in yoga and went to India with Lydia to train with Patanjali International Yoga Foundation. Combining the wisdom of yoga with my passion for food, I started to prepare food not only as a way to delight the senses, but also as a key to maintain optimal health, heal and nourish the soul.
Origin Yoga & Wellness is a way to share my love for food and gratitude for natural healing. I’m excited to welcome visitors from all over the world to my hometown. I look forward to serving you healthy and delicious food as well as enriching your experience here with meaningful touchstones into Taiwanese culture, people, and traditions!