Movement as Medicine

Up there at 1,700 m in the Alps — surrounded by snow and sunshine — I was finding my way back into full body movement. Brought me back to a feeling of connecting again with that body part that was completly disconnected a few weeks back from the surgery, where ligaments were fixed, bones sawed, muscles and fascia cut. Still it is incredible. I am overwhelmed by joy, just witnessing that healing every day.

Every single morning during the retreat gifted me a new — even if tiny — range of motion in my joint. By the second day, I was already forgetting my crutch in my room. Jana’s gentle yet deeply knowledgeable yoga practice was exactly what I needed in that moment. She understands fascia, muscles, physiology, touch, and even rehabilitation — her hands, her voice, her guidance created an environment for my body to find back into movement. It was time. Andrea’s incredibly healing Ayurvedic food supported that process, too, and the wonderful intimate circle of people — in just a few hours, it felt like family.

In the first night’s circle of conversations, the group shared experiences about how people have lost connection to themselves — and how difficult it can be to step back and choose a healthier, happier life when we are torn apart between different responsibilities, needs and all the things going on in our faster growing world. We shared stories of how, for many, self-confrontation only begins when something dramatic happens — an accident, an illness — when they find themselves lying in a hospital bed, alone with their thoughts, restless, unable to run away any longer from themselves or from the responsibility of their own life.

Listening to these stories, I realized how extraordinary it is that, in the moments after my surgery, I could simply be — without worry, impatience, or frustration. It struck me how profoundly all those years of practice had prepared me for difficult moments like that one.

When the surgery was over, my body instinctively shifted into calm — drawing on breath, awareness, and gentle movement. A younger version of me couldn’t have met that experience with such faith. Never! Not because of age, but because of the lifestyle and mindset changes that have taken over the past years.

“Health is a state of complete harmony of the body, mind and spirit. When one is free from physical disabilities and mental distractions, the gates of the soul open.”  B.K.S. Iyengar

This transformation didn’t happen overnight — and it’s still unfolding. I know it will continue to shape me for the rest of my life. It is forming through steady, continuous practice — of both body and mind. Forming from movement, Nutrition, Stress Management & Mental Health and Purpose, but more about that in another Blog and in my upcoming website relaunch!

So much of this shift came from the mental work — from finding purpose and learning to trust myself rather than the opinions or limitations others place on me. That lesson started early. A teacher once tried to convince my mother what he believed I should do with my life — a story far too common. Made me only realize it decades later.

No one should internalise the words of people who act only from the surface — people who have no idea where you come from or who you truly are. So why should their opinions shape your dreams? Or anyone’s? Living in different places, with different people, taught me to sense intentions clearly — to see truth behind smiles, to feel what is real.

People often try to shape others to fit their worldview or to make themselves feel comfortable. They speak from fear or surface-level judgment — and for a while, I absorbed it. Sometimes I still do. But like many things, responding in a way that you do not take it in, is a practice too.

Take a moment, breathe, and reconnect with yourself. Notice where in your body or your soul you might need the most attention right now.

If you feel inspired to share or connect, send me a message — I’d love to hear from you.