WHO
WE ARE

From Hsingfang Chang, Psyched to Move Founder: ​

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The reasons why I wanted to start Psyched to Move Foundation are based on my professional and personal experiences. As a licensed psychologist, I have a deep understanding of how the mind and body are interconnected. It’s been well researched that exercise helps people better regulate their mood and relieve their level of stress. However, when people suffer from depression, it becomes difficult for them to feel energetic enough to engage in physical activities or to socialize.

 

Personally, I never routinely worked out until 12 years ago when my friend motivated me to go to Zumba class with her. Thanks to her I slowly met more friends through Zumba and felt how mentally charged I was when I could exercise with a group. About 8 years ago, because my then 10 years old daughter told me that she was interested in participating in a local 5K event, I started running 5Ks with her. Over the past ten years I have participated in over thirty 5K events. Every time I would feel so moved to see people of all ages, sizes, and shapes walking or running the 5K for their own goals, and everyone would look so positive post-race. Therefore, I started to encourage my friends to participate in 5K walk/run with me.

In February 2024, I encouraged my high school alumni group to do a 5K walk with me in Chinatown. Half of the group was over 60 years old and it was the first time they participated in such an event. I witnessed how they went from not sure if they could do it, to feeling proud of themselves at the finish line. Similarly, in April 2024, I organized another group of my affiliates to participate in the Derby 5K in Arcadia. Some of them had told me in private that they suffered with depression and they were more motivated to exercise after they did the 5K with me as they noticed a big difference in their mood.

 

These two positive experiences inspired me to set up a nonprofit foundation so I can have a platform to promote mental health awareness by motivating people to participate in events where they can move their body and also connect with people, thereby lifting their mood and alleviating stress or depression.