A Thriver & Survivor
“Such is life.” I often remind myself of this when faced with life's troubles. I learned the hard way, in which on several occasions in life it cost me to lose one of the most precious aspects of life: myself.
From a young age, I embraced meditation as a way to retreat from chaos and turn inward. At around 10, I found a peaceful bookshop filled with calming scents and sounds. A book on meditation caught my attention, particularly a chapter on gazing at a tree leaf to improve focus and concentration. This practice has always brought me peace.
Over the years, I explored in mindfulness and yoga practices. Initially, I dismissed yoga poses as mere stretching and gymnastics, thinking I could just join a gymnastics class instead. But eventually, as I saw friends mastering poses I'd encountered before, my ego sparked. I thought, “I can do this.” I tried and failed. I was determined to master these poses, and so, as written in the yoga sutras (aphorisms/foundational text of classical yoga philosophy): atha yogānuśāsanam;
atha, now; yoga, yoga; ānuśāsanam, teachings.
Now, the teachings of yoga [are presented].
I unconsciously entered the traditional practice of Ashtanga Yoga and continued as a student under renowned teachers linked to K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson R. Sharath Jois. As I immersed myself in this practice, I realized I wasn't lost and have been here all along. George Bernard Shaw's quote, “Life isn't about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself,” resonated with me. It emphasizes actively shaping one's identity and purpose, rather than passively waiting for life to unfold.
I began to shine, attracting colleagues and friends who’d ask me to guide them through the practice of yoga. I initially declined, suggesting they learn from my teachers instead. However, they insisted I’d become their teacher to encourage their practice. So, I enrolled in an accredited yoga course and began my journey. Fast-forwarding to today, despite yoga's peaceful community, I found myself struggling during what felt like the worst phase of my life. I sought guidance through a life coaching course and later a cognitive behavioural therapy course. Despite earning these certificates, I still felt trapped by my traumas. Accepting guidance wasn't the hard part, accepting time off to rest and work on facing my traumas is. To add to the struggle, I faced a 52-week wait for a suitable therapy program. I sought alternative programs with shorter waiting lists, which ultimately helped my progress.
I'm ready to empower seekers eager to understand and create themselves while waiting for their psychologist's assistance.
You deserve a supportive system.
It can start here.
Do you feel stuck, and can you relate? Let's connect, feel free to leave a message and let's go from there.
