As a coach, I believe in walking the walk. How can I support others in their growth if I’m not constantly working on mine?
Yoga has been one of the most powerful tools on my own journey. I first began practising in 2018, hoping to shift some patterns that felt out of control. It worked – and then some. Within a year, I’d lost 15kg, felt lighter physically and mentally, and had more clarity and energy than I’d had in years.
I kept up a daily practice until the pandemic hit, when everything, including my yoga, slowed.
But something had shifted. I was on the path, and even with fewer classes, the foundation had been laid. I knew yoga would remain a part of my life, in one form or another.
Leaving the City, Finding Solitude
Another major shift came in 2020, when I transitioned fully to teaching English online. That freedom made me question why I was paying city rent in Barcelona when I could live anywhere. I found a small house in Lentegí, a quiet mountain village in Andalucia. Surrounded by hiking trails and silence, I felt like I was winning.
But over time, solitude turned into isolation. Living alone in the mountains was peaceful, but I started to miss connection – real, human connection.
A Journey Begins
In July 2024, I set off on a road trip across Europe – through Spain, France, the UK, Ireland, and back again. The highlight came unexpectedly: a stay in a nudist village in Catalonia. I’ll admit, I hesitated at first. But what I found was a warm, welcoming, deeply human community. For the first time in a while, I felt part of something. I even shed a few tears of joy.
That experience lit a fire in me. I craved more community – more tribe. So I continued on to a rural co-living space in the mountains near Castellon. Clothed this time! But once again, I felt the same connection, support, and sense of belonging. I’d gone from seeking isolation to thriving in community. It surprised even me.
A Lifestyle Shift
I met digital nomads from around the world – people living between continents, chasing both freedom and depth. I started to wonder: could I live like this? Winters in Asia, summers in Europe?
The same night I returned to my flat in Andalucia, I knew. I couldn’t go back to being alone. I sold everything I owned – books, clothes, my car – and booked a one-way flight to Thailand with just a 50L backpack.
Searching for My Tribe
My first month in Thailand wasn’t easy. I tried co-living spaces in Chiang Mai, Pai, Krabi, and Phuket. Each had something to offer, but none felt like my place. Just as I began to doubt whether Thailand was right, I landed on Koh Phangan.
There, tucked away in a yoga retreat in the jungle, I found it – my tribe. A group of people from around the world, committed to yoga, growth, and presence. I also discovered Ashtanga yoga for the first time. Despite a few setbacks – like having my wallet and phone stolen – I felt more aligned than ever. Koh Phangan put me back on the yoga path, and more firmly than before.
India and a New Rhythm
From Thailand, I went to Sri Lanka, then to India – arriving in Mysore on New Year’s Eve. I’d been to India three times before, but this time felt different. I committed to less work, choosing energy over income, so I could connect more with others and deepen my yoga.
That decision paid off. The next two months were some of the happiest of my life. I shared meals, practices, and deep conversations with people from across the globe – all of us brought together by yoga and our desire to grow.
This, I’ve realised, is what spirituality means to me: not just solo meditation or silence, but connection. Shared purpose. Mutual upliftment. If I had to describe that time in one word, it would be love.
Returning, But Different
After Mysore came Goa, then Rishikesh, where I immersed myself in kirtan, Ganga baths, and five more weeks of Ashtanga yoga. Spring brought heat, and it was time to return to Europe. After a week catching up with friends in Barcelona, I returned to the co-living community in Castellon – the place where the seeds of this new life had first been planted.
Everything is green now, the rivers full from a wet winter, and I’m full too – of inspiration, of peace, and of purpose.
Staying Present
If this lifestyle has taught me anything, it’s the power of presence. Yes, there are material responsibilities. But I’ve learned that living a life that inspires and excites me has value that can’t be measured in income or possessions.
This isn’t just my story – it’s a reminder. Growth doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from showing up, staying open, and choosing joy again and again.
I choose to have the faith that if I follow a spiritual path, the material life will take care of itself.
This is the end of one chapter – and the beginning of the next.
