Think Less, Breathe More

Market Street editor Lisa Litzinger-Drayton connected with Drexel alumna Corinne Trang ’03, who graduated with a degree in culinary arts and a minor in business, to explore her views on mindful living.

Trang, dubbed “the Julia Child of Asian food” by The Washington Post, is an award-winning cookbook author, food personality and wellness coach. She is also a former test kitchen director and producing editor of Saveur magazine and has made appearances on numerous television shows, including NBC’s TODAY Show, Martha Stewart Living and The Food Network’s CHOPPED Grill Masters. Her unique upbringing provided her with rare insights into global cuisine: She was raised in Paris and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, before moving to New York City as a teenager.

One of her books, Essentials of Asian Cuisine: Fundamentals and Favorite Recipes (Simon & Schuster, 2003), is considered by many to be the bible of Asian cooking. Trang recently developed a practice called The Yoga of Food™, which teaches people to embrace mindful cooking and eating principles, incorporating the ancient system of yoga, which includes meditation, pranayama (breathing) and asana (postures). Her day begins at 4:30 each morning when she rises with the birds to watch the sunrise and meditate.

How would you describe your mission? As a food professional and wellness coach, I feel a deep responsibility in teaching people to live healthy lives, and that means showing them how to develop an intimate relationship with food, using meditation and yoga to gain clarity and focus so that they may approach food in a healthy way. Balance in food is all too often overlooked by chefs and cookbook authors.

Why did you decide to integrate yoga into your expertise? I immersed myself in a yoga teacher training program because I wanted to understand the connection between body and mind. I have created for myself a balanced lifestyle, which allows me to do my practice of meditation, yoga and mindful cooking and eating every day. I’m practicing prevention, while having fun and staying calm and centered.

What’s your business philosophy? I’m a writer and a teacher with a very specific focus. I go by feel, not by numbers or the bottom line. I believe that if I do the right thing, everything else will fall into place.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “Think less, breathe more!” I try to do that with everything, when I’m in front of an audience teaching and lecturing, or when I’m cooking and eating. It makes perfect sense to me. People tend to spend too much time thinking rather than doing. I want to change that. Breathing is our most powerful tool and one that we take for granted when we should pay attention to it every day.

What’s the most inspiring thing you’ve witnessed during your travels? In Asia and South America, many have little and seem content, and that always is refreshing to see and feel. They’re the people who inspire me to continue my journey slow and steady.

What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever eaten? Stir-fried rice paddy crickets with chilies, garlic and onions, in the Philippines. I won’t tell you what I ate in Vietnam or in France.

Do you think your multicultural upbringing and extensive travels give you a different perspective than most Americans have — on food and life? Yes. America is but 200 years old. I come from cultures that go back several thousand years. I look at ingredients and I feel them immediately and know instinctively what to do with them. I know how to make them dance in the pot and on my tongue. For me, it’s effortless. I am lucky to come from a French-Asian family. I have an amazing background for sure and have learned a great deal from it and my travels. Food — better yet, food as medicine — is in my blood.

Any travel plans this summer, and what are you looking forward to eating when you get there? When I travel it’s usually a last-minute thing. I get up and go. I do have one specific trip planned for Austin, Texas, where I will be teaching The Yoga of Food™ retreat at the Lake Austin Spa Resort. No matter where I land, I will eat what they eat. The only way to fully experience a culture is by surrendering to the moment — the culture, the people — because when you resist, you come back with nothing. Go with the flow.

Did you ever meet Julia Child? I never had the pleasure of meeting Julia Child, but it is quite an honor to be compared to her. She was a pioneer in introducing the art of French cooking to Americans. She was authentic, a great personality in the culinary industry but also to Americans who tuned in to watch her on television every day. She was passionate about her craft, and it showed.

Have you ever considered opening your own restaurant? I have, for about 2 seconds. I prefer to guest chef. Though, you never know what life will bring. Maybe someday there will be an opportunity to bring The Yoga of Food™ to the public on a large scale. Nothing would make me happier than to prepare delicious, colorful, naturally healing food for everyone.

What makes you happiest in life? My peace, my family, my friends.