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When Sheryl Song first moved to Canada in her 20s, she didn’t think finding a safe place to live would be a struggle. But when she turned to online marketplaces such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Facebook Groups, she was met with a disheartening situation: unreliable landlords, racist remarks and sexual harassment.

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! We are featured on the front page of the Globe and Mail

**When Sheryl Song first moved to Canada in her 20s,** she didn’t think finding a safe place to live would be a struggle. But when she turned to online marketplaces such as Craigslist, Kijiji and Facebook Groups, she was met with a disheartening situation: unreliable landlords, racist remarks and sexual harassment.

On another occasion, a prospective landlord wouldn’t stop calling to ask her out on a date. As a woman and recent immigrant from China, Ms. Song, now 32, said she felt unsafe. And without a circle of female friends to live with and expensive one bedroom apartments, she felt socially isolated.

In 2019, she met KD Dao, a real estate analyst who had just moved back to Toronto after working in Alberta. She, too, had turned to online marketplaces to find a place to rent, but stopped looking because she felt unsafe.

The pair saw a business opportunity in sparing other women the same struggle. In January, 2020, they founded Ryna, a real estate leasing service that allows individual women to meet each other online and rent shared apartments together. Simplifying the process of finding a roomate.

Ryna works directly with real estate companies – including the Minto Group Inc., BentallGreenOak, Minett Capital and Forum Equity Partners Inc. – to advertise apartment for rent and accept applications from renters. Then, it manages background and credit checks, arranges apartment rental viewings and matches potential female roommates with in-depth questionnaires. Room rentals start at $1,000.

To date, Ryna has matched more than 100 applicants with rooms. Ms. Song and Ms. Dao said they are now receiving about 30 applications a day, with more than 550 people on a wait-list.

Their timing was fortuitous. The pandemic, which hit just months after they started the company, prompted an exodus from downtown apartments as tenants moved in with parents or out to the suburbs. This left many landlords with empty properties. Some began offering incentives **such as free parking or a month of free rent.**

![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/163012/1219x706/c1fd117edc/blog_two_convo.jpeg)

#### [Read more about it](https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-how-struggles-finding-safe-housing-rentals-led-two-women-to-found-a//)

Ryna's co-founders Sheryl Song (she/her) were interviewed by BNN Bloomberg. 

BNN Bloomberg: Toronto-based platform aiming to make apartment renting easier and safer for women

Ryna's co-founder Sheryl Song (she/her) was interviewed by  BNN Bloomberg.
[Read more about it](https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/video/toronto-based-platform-aiming-to-make-apartment-renting-easier-and-safer-for-women~2224113)

Ryna's co-founder KD Dao (she/her) was also interviewed by BNN Bloomberg. 

Founder Feature: KD’s Lifestyle Change & She’s Not the Only One

When I went to Queen’s University for Commerce, many of my classmates were focused on finance or consulting from day one; had their paths drawn out. I, however, didn’t know where I’d end up. By my third year, I took an HR internship with Shell out in Alberta, and they hired me back after I graduated.

At the time I thought, “Okay, this is a good fit for me.” So, I moved out to Calgary and after a year and a half, I realized this wasn’t the city I wanted to end up in. And I wasn’t particularly passionate about oil & gas…Being out there in the world of work, seeing real life for what it is – that I’m going to be working for a long, long time – made me realize I better find something I really enjoy.

So, I moved back to my hometown of Toronto, and for the next 4 years worked in a couple roles at a real estate private equity fund. Safe to say, I loved my team and discovered real estate is my industry.

But as the ‘corporate honeymoon’ subdues, I realized I could continue this for the rest of my career…or I could use my time to create something that’s really needed in Toronto.

That’s when Sheryl introduced her Ryna concept to me, and I resonated with it deeply. Here’s the thing: I’ve had a total of 20-35 roommates in my life so far. It’s been the by-product of university – exchange when I was the sole Queen’s student going to Portugal – new fourth year housemates – new roomies for internship – new roomies my second time in Calgary…When I came back home, I was sick and tired of it. And all my friends in Toronto already lived together or lived with their significant other.

I wasn’t in university anymore where there’s usually a mutual friend and trust. With Toronto so big, I wasn’t comfortable shacking up with strangers so I ended up at my parent’s place. But if Ryna existed at the time – a network of property rentals for empowered women – it would’ve been perfect for me. It would’ve made my life a lot easier. My friend who got a job offer in DC, put a priority pro in her decision-making list “if my friend ends up moving to DC I will have a roommate.” You can tell how important a support system is when it comes to living in a big city.

Ryna was also introduced to me when I was going through a major lifestyle change. Living with my parents hadn’t seemed that bad because I’d been at my boyfriend’s most of the time. But when we split after 2 years, it sprung me to look for my own place. Again, none of my friends were looking. My circle was full of 5-year couples, so even when my friends were there for me, I couldn’t help but feel lonely.

I wanted to meet people I could talk to and connect with in my perspective. Luckily, Ryna was in the works at that time. Sheryl and I grew close and bought Ryna’s third property, where I experienced being a Ryna tenant first-hand. It confirmed I wasn’t the only one who needed something like Ryna. Other women have similar problems sprung on them – moving (maybe back) to the city with a bleak roommate scene, needing to move because they split with their partner, or because their roommates are moving in with their partners.

Coming from, but not limited to, those situations – it was so nice to move into the community feel that Ryna is all about. It’s about going home, where you not only love your place, but you love the people in it. It was so nice to room with new girlfriends you can enjoy life with after a long, hard day – who were also single/in the early stages of dating. Who you’d come home to – even if you’re in different life stages – where you can try out new things – like a rock-climbing class near your house (happened with me and one of my Ryna roomies!).

We’re diverse but likeminded in our strength as women, who thrive in community. We’d have movie nights once a month, wine & cheeses; it was exactly the kind of change in my life I was looking for. Having lived the Ryna concept for myself – I have a newfound appreciation for it. I lived the difference it makes, creating those friendships and bonds with my Ryna roommates.

It’s an experience in the city you don’t really get unless you happen to get extremely lucky. Where you have a fantastic landlord, a fantastic space and so forth. And we can’t forget: living in Toronto is expensive. No one wants to spend 80% of their salary on rent. We want to keep costs low so we can all have a chance to travel, live life and truly learn that way, go to the amazing restaurants that’s part of the city’s charm.

I’ve partnered with Sheryl for all these reasons; I want to create this opportunity for people, so that living well in the city is not only for the extremely lucky. I want women to have a trusted resource when they need the lifestyle shift – a stage that’s very common now – where Ryna can be there for you. To be the property rental women can trust, love, and form empowering friendships out of.

So, welcome to Ryna – our living revolution!

On a bright, sunny Sunday, I was standing in what seemed an endless flu-shot line at a Shoppers drug mart in Summerhill. I was irritated, bored and aimlessly people watching.

How to Thrive in Quarantine: Tips from Canada’s Top Model

![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/163012/360x480/f7f501a975/top_model.webp)

On a bright, sunny Sunday, I was standing in what seemed an endless flu-shot line at a Shoppers drug mart in Summerhill. I was irritated, bored and aimlessly people watching. Suddenly, an impeccably dressed lady—with bright red lipstick and heels—walked past me.

Her accessory game was unmatched, and immediately put me to shame. “Damn it,” I thought, “I should’ve put on a better coat today!” Who is she? A French visitor? A part of the Royal family paying a visit to the commonwealth nation? Who in Toronto would have that kind of elegance and style…on a Sunday…during a global pandemic??”

I had to find out.

I walked up to her, “I’m sorry to bother you, I just want to say you look absolutely fabulous!” It then hit me, horrified, that maybe I was being like a creepy person, the kind that scouts and approaches beautiful women on the street. Before I had a chance to be awkward and run away, she replied with a big smile. “Thank you darling, that is very kind of you. Funny thing, they made me a model at age 71. We should be Instagram friends!” Stunned and flattered, I immediately followed Judith Maria Bradley.

As soon as I got home, I online-stalked my new best friend.

Judith Maria Bradley—one of the biggest names in Toronto’s fashion scene—has become a city icon. She appears in all the big Canadian magazines and has racked up more than 20,000 Instagram followers since she started modeling. Reading her story was like the energy booster I desperately needed. I said to myself, “I need more Judithin my life.” And with one fell swoop into her DMs, I invited her to coffee. She immediately agreed!

On a beautiful, November afternoon (pre-lockdown), Judith and I sat down at OneCafe in Yorkville. I had the opportunity to learn more about her story. She is a mother, grandmother, and soon to be great grandmother. She could read and write at four; at age 13 she was playing organ and singing “Ave-Maria” at weddings. Her career path is like a jungle gym, from being in a rock band, an entrepreneur of an organic food store (before it was cool), to manage administration for retirement homes. Her most recent addition to this list? One of Canada’s top models at the age of 76. She is the epitome of living life to the fullest!

![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/163012/360x640/38936bf0b4/top_model2.webp)

### Lesson #1: Be Positive – it spreads!

The moment she walked into the café; you couldn’t help but notice her. And it’s more than the way she dresses; she radiates such a positive energy that pulls you in. Before we sat down at our table, she remarked, “Isn’t this the most perfect table, and isn’t this the most perfect day?” And just like that, this ordinary day and this ordinary table, became extraordinary!

When our waiter came around, Judith’s infectious energy continued, “Oh, good afternoon my dear, look at you! You have the most amazing red hair and it really goes well with your style.” Even with a mask on, I could see the waiter’s energy perk up and her eyes brighten. And guess what, liveliness is infectious…we ended up getting a 5-star experience!

“The secret to a happy life really is that simple: to stay positive. I have had chronic illness. Life itself is a gift! When you see the glass half full, you find rainbows along the way.”

### Lesson #2: Be Fabulous – it inspires!
“Judith, do you always dress like this? Even before you became a model?” I asked.

“Always. Darling, all you have to do in life is get dressed, be ready & stay positive – life will happen to you!”

“So, I really don’t have any excuse to be sloppy then.”

“Darling, you really don’t. Since COVID started, it’s changed our daily life. But remember, when you wear something beautiful, how do you feel? When you see yourself energized and refreshed in the mirror, how do you feel? I was taught to dress well by my mother, she didn’t have much money growing up. Even when she and her seven sisters had to wear the same dress for years at times, she always made sure they were perfectly groomed and had impeccable style. Be grateful for what you have, be grateful for your body and health, be grateful that you are here today, and you have the power to make today fabulous.”

I was floored!

“Judith, being in Canada, where dressing casual is the norm…do you feel you standout?”

“Of course. I remember going to a Jays game when the Yankees were in town. I am a Yankees fan. I had somewhere to go afterwards, and I thought, what’s the point in changing? So, I just showed up in a red Valentino evening gown, at a stadium where a bunch of people were wearing tracksuits. I was cheering for the Yankees, so I stood out even more. A woman in front of me turned around and asked, ‘Why are you wearing that evening gown?’ I said, ‘Because it makes me happy! Why are you wearing pyjamas?’”

After coffee, we took a leisurely stroll around the neighbourhood. I was in such great company, I selfishly didn’t want our time together to end. We walked around for about an hour; I was wearing a pair of 2-inch booties and I was tired. Judith, on the other hand, was wearing 10-inch stilettos, and she was feeling absolutely fabulous! I am 31, and Judith had turned 76. Age really is just a number!

On my way home, I wrote, ‘organize my closet’ at the top of my to-do list.

Thriving in quarantine can be this…fabulous!

When I first applied to the Dhamma 10-day silent Vipassana Meditation course in June of 2019, I was still working in corporate. I had a decent job, lots of friends, time and money to travel.

What a 10-day silent meditation retreat taught me about entrepreneurship

This time last year, I was in the woods living like a Buddhist nun in total solitude. When I first applied to the Dhamma 10-day silent Vipassana Meditation course in June of 2019, I was still working in corporate. I had a decent job, lots of friends, time and money to travel. Everything in my life seemed well-planned out and in order. Subconsciously, however, I knew there should be something more…and I was seeking answers to the deeper meaning of my life. So without any prior meditation experience, I clicked ‘apply!’

At first glance, the Vipassana Meditation course seemed too good to be true. The skeptic in me thought it almost sounded like a scam since the whole course is free (room-and-board included). The live by the policy that if by the end of the course you think it’s added value to your life, you can choose to donate to the organization. It just doesn’t make any business sense! But Yuval Harari, one of my favorite authors, claims to be a serious Vipassana meditator and participates in the 10-day course yearly. That eased my skepticism.

For the whole 10 days, “noble silence” is required. This means no communicating in any shape or form: no gestures, talking, eye contact, phone, internet, reading, writing, or physical exercise allowed. Each day, you’re required to wake up at 4am – and other than eating, walking and sleeping – your time is dedicated to practice meditation. That sounds like a living hell right?!

But six months flew by from when I hit that apply button. In that time, I went from a corporate job in Canada to finally acting on my start-up idea. I serendipitously partnered up with an industry acquaintance, and formally incorporated my business. The first few weeks as a full-fledged entrepreneur was quite an adjustment.

I was eager, hungry, aggressive and thought sleep was a luxury not a necessity. I ended up having two neck spasms and daily migraines. I totally forgot about the meditation course I’d signed up for six months ago until google calendar notified me two days prior. I was thinking of cancelling. I thought, “I really don’t have time to be away for 10 full days!” But my business partner and everyone around me encouraged me to go. They thought I was going to burn out before my business would even have a chance to truly start. I obliged, jumped on a 2-hr Uber ride up north in December of 2019, to literately the middle of nowhere to begin my 10 days of solitude.

### My Experience By Day
**Day 0: Check in**
The meditation center was shockingly beautiful, surrounded by ravines covered in snow. I was assigned to a picturesque little wood cabin. The food was insanely delicious, always served buffet style (I went back to the corn bread counter at least four times!). I thought, are all these really for free?? I was still skeptical. We were warned the whole 10 days would be like a deep operation into our mind; it will be difficult and sometimes painful. Before I handed in my phone, a few friends texted “will come get you in two days! LOL”. If you know me, you know how much I love a good challenge. “Bring it on,” I thought.

**Day 1: Observing breath**
I started boarding school when I was 15, so I was no stranger to communal living. Knowing the limited bathrooms, I was up at 3:50am and got ready before the huge bathroom line was formed. Winning already! (Haha). The whole day of meditation felt easy, we were instructed to observe our breath. I spent the majority of the meditation hours going deep into my memory bank and thought of everything and everyone.

**Days 2 - 3: Living my best life**
I started to question if I was doing it correctly. Isn’t it supposed to be a painful experience? I was enjoying every second of it! The food was great, no one was bothering me, I could go for walks in nature and quietly observe the snowfall. The complete noble silence was, surprisingly, the easiest part for me. Maybe I’m a closeted introvert?

**Day 4: Vipassana Day**
We finally got taught the Vipassana meditation method. From this day on, you can no longer move or change posture during your meditation practice. The Vipassana method is a mental body scan: you try to feel the sensations throughout the body. On this day, I started experiencing an acute knee pain. The pain was so real, I thought I’d need to call an ambulance. But the moment the meditation was over, the knee pain was gone.

**Day 5: Boredom**
The acute knee pain was magically gone. But I officially ran out of things to think about in my memory bank. What awaited me was the real torture: boredom. The 1-hr meditation felt like forever, and I seriously thought about quitting the course. Although I was sitting peacefully in the meditation hall, I was screaming bloody hell inside. For the first time ever, I thought of quitting.

**Day 6: Anxiety**
Worries filled my mind. What if my grandma became ill? How are they going to contact me? What if there’s a fire in my house? What if my dog ran away? What if WWIII started? Every time I closed my eyes, my anxiety would rise, and I’d have to resist every single urge to act on my ‘made-up’ anxious thoughts. All I could do was observe my rising heartbeat and the tightness in my chest.

**Day 7: Euphoria**
For the first time ever, my mind was quiet. I managed to stay focused on feeling my bodily sensations, instead of creating noise in my head. One hour flew by, and I started enjoying the meditation. During one of our evening sessions, I experienced what they call ‘free flow’ meditation. The moment I closed my eyes, I felt a warm energy from the top of my head pouring down; almost like someone was pouring a bucket of warm water on my head. And I could control how fast or slow the warm energy poured down with my own mind. I felt euphoric!

**Day 8: Pain**
Pain again! It was beyond the physical pain. It was the kind of pain that you experience in your chest after a heartbreak and right before an emotional breakdown. I’d already run out of things to think about, so there was no trigger. Nothing really happened, yet I was having an almost breakdown! But all I could do was stay seated on my mat, examine every single sensation and with no judgement. And accept everything as it is.

**Day 9: Inner Strength**
Meditating for an hour straight in the same position is no longer a challenge. Free flow returned and this time, way more powerful than what I experienced Day 7. I was able to feel the inside of my body – to go inward and actually feel the sensations in my organs.

**Day 10: “Metta”**
The last day of the meditation course. They call it the “Metta Day,” which is when we stop practicing Vipassana and are taught the Metta meditation technique. Basically, you are sending positive energy out to the world. You wish all beings to be happy. The moment the chanting started, tears streamed down my face. I felt an overwhelming amount of joy, happiness, and contentment. After the 10-day experience, I felt like a different person. On my way back to Toronto, I saw the most beautiful sunrise I’ve ever seen in my entire life. And with no thought in my mind, I felt a strong inner strength that I have never felt before. “We are gonna be okay,” I told myself. In that split second, my fear of the unknown future transformed into faith.

![](https://a.storyblok.com/f/163012/815x420/2a5fe49220/blog_medit.webp)

### My Takeaways A Year Later
Almost one year since I completed the meditation course, I have not become an even-tempered, ‘Zen’ meditator. I still have almost no patience. I still find meditation extremely difficult and often gather excuses to skip it. But my learnings still played a major role in my wellbeing (especially) during this 2020 dumpster fire of a year. It certainly did prepare me to survive the lockdown, but I want to share my top 5 lessons that are applicable to any ‘new normal.’

**1. Pay attention to your subconscious mind.**
The saying ‘trust your gut’ really meant ‘trust your subconscious mind.’ And the so called subconscious mind is in fact always conscious. Our body has memory too, and sometimes our conscious mind will choose to block out certain unpleasant memories to protect us. But the sensation attached to those memories will stay with our body forever. Have you ever met someone and felt like you’ve known the person forever? Or encountered a certain situation you just don’t feel right in? That is our subconscious mind, based from our body’s memories, reacting to the situation. Pay close attention to it, examine how you feel with no judgement. Accept and trust the feelings as they are.

**2. Nothing is permanent (this too, shall pass).**
The only constant is change, nothing in life will stay the same – you’ve probably heard these before. But how many times do you prompt yourself to ‘take a step back?’ In the heat of a moment when you’re most triggered, how do you really take a step back? When you feel triggered or angry, take a pause and really examine what you’re feeling. Accept it as it is, and observe how it evolves. Feeling guilt, shame, regret, or remorse? This non-judgmental noting will be a constant practice, but you’ll get better the more you do it, internalizing the wisdom of ‘this too, shall pass.’

**3. Choose faith over fear.**
When facing the unknown future, we can either be faithful or fearful. It is a conscious choice that we have to make every day. No one has a crystal ball, nor knows what the future holds, but you can choose whether you’re going to show up as faithful or fearful. As an entrepreneur, your whole life is full of unknowns. Every day is a bit of a roller coaster. When you feel defeated or have the urge to give up, remember, as long as you’re staying true to your core value and working on accomplishing your company’s mission, you will be okay! When in doubt, choose faith. Always.

**4. Surrender. Then surrender some more.**
In a society hyper-focused on “I” “me” and “myself,” – my rights, my value, my passion, so on…we believe “I can do anything.” So, surrendering is often seen as a negative thing. We’re encouraged to take charge of our lives. To keep going whether we hit a wall or not. But the act of surrender means to give up what you cannot control to the universe. You are giving over your anxiety, fear, and problems to a higher power. The Sanskrit word Dharma, which is spelled Dhamma in the Pāli language, originally meant ‘the law of nature’ or ‘the truth.’ The world functions by following the law of nature. So knowing and trusting that higher power will guide you and protect you. Same as how the bird sings, the flower blooms, and the sun also rises.

**5. Pay it forward!**
This was my biggest takeaway from the Vipassana course. The whole organization is supported by donation and run by volunteers. After living for 10 days on the generosity of others, you naturally want to pay it forward. On the last day of the course, I willingly donated an amount probably exceeding my paygrade. To date, it is still the best money I have ever spent.

**Is the meditation course for you?**
It was by far the best and most transformative 10 days of my life. And every single person I talked to shared how glad they were to have taken the course as well. Granted, for full transparency, there were 5 people who quit and 1 who had a mental breakdown. It certainly is difficult and not for everyone. But if you’re interested, here is the site to learn more, or to sign up for a retreat: Dhamma.org. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me! You can contact me at : Sheryl@theRyna.com or DM on instagram @theRynaOfficial. To pay tribute, I’ll end as my Meditation Teacher ended our meditation sessions: “May All Beings Be Happy.”

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By Sheryl Song • October 2021

STOP THE PRESSES!!!!! We are featured on the front page of the Globe and Mail

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