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Hi Reader,

In the end of my last email, I talked about wanting to help you go from burned out to lit up.

I think we all have a fairly good idea of what burnout is.

But what does lit up mean? 🔥

For me it's being consumed by the fire of passion, love, curiosity, creativity.... It's this vibrant energy that fuels our most bold actions and lights up the way for us to move forward.

Perhaps you've felt it?

When your heart is on fire, you can do anything.

When the fire goes out, you feel lost & depleted.

What feeds this source of joy is unique to each of us, but I believe it's crucial that we find out what it is and tend to it.

I'd like to share a personal story today to illustrate this.

It's about Yoga of course but also another love of mine: travel.

Lessons from the road

When I was 21 freshly graduated from uni, I decided to go on a solo backpacking trip through South East Asia.

I don’t know how I got the idea but I got totally obsessed! I couldn’t explain why nor did I make any particular plans.

I just bought a one way ticket to Bangkok, thinking I might explore a few weeks... and ended up travelling close to 6 months (and didn't want to go home) 🤪
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It was a mix of burning curiosity, fearlesness, and a youthful rebellion that set me on a course to find out who I was (as cliche as it sounds) outside of familiar grounds.

I wanted to know how it would feel to be alone in a foreign land, untethered to roles & identities, moving as an observer, outside of time, with no agenda, senses wide open, completely absorbed in the moment to moment magic... (sounds familiar?)

I didn’t know what Yoga was at the time, but in some way, I was already experiencing it! Traveling was my yoga.

This was hands down one of the most defining experience I've had. I'd never felt so alive, free, and yet connected.

I was left with a deep longing to continue my wandering quest.

But how to reconcile it with the demands of normal life of further studies, relationships, career??

A life on the road was not an option at the time.
But the pull never left me.

Luckily, the next time I felt it was with Yoga.

It was like I had found a map to some uncharted land, except this time the field was within.

These practices invite you to explore the landscape of the body, follow the breath’s trail, navigate the pathways in the mind, and skilfully ride the waves of emotions. It's a total trip!

As you become a more seasoned inner adventurer, there is a coherence that starts to happen between yourself and the external world.

As Sharon Gannon, founder of Jivamukti Yoga puts it:

“Yoga is a tantric practice. Tantra* is a Sanskrit word that means to stretch (tan) across (tra). The English words travel and traverse come from tra. The term tantra actually refers to the ability to stretch your perception of yourself and others - to travel or stretch across the great chasm that divides us from each other."

*And no Tantra isn't about sex. That's a modern misappropriation.

While there are many corners of the world that I'm dying to visit, I now know how to bring the exploration home. With yogic tools I can keep this flame alive wherever I find myself. How cool is that :)

When was the last time you felt the pull to dive into the unknown?

What did that look like for you? Did you follow it? Let me know!

Things to check out

👩🏼‍🎤 Dance Yoga is this Sunday!! Join me and DJ Jahra on a rooftop in Surry at 4pm & express your body's poetry to the rhythm of deep beats. Stay for a yin or a feast at Shaffa restaurant as part of the festival. You can book your spot through this link.​

🗺 These prompts by Keri Smith from her interactive journal How to be an explorer of the world nail the art of presence through everyday investigation.

🧠 I learned so much from this interview with Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist at Standford University. His research confirms what we know in yogic practices: it's much easier to control the mind with the body, by working with our nervous system. His insights on stress and motivation are fascinating.

Before you go, let me ask you...

Have you ever had an experience or a close call with burnout?

If so, I feel you. It sucks.

I've also been there and have found certain practices have been really helpful to:

• Restore energy back
• Dispel chronic stress
• Reconnect to your why

It's a topic we don't talk about out in the open enough. But if you feel up to it it would be such an honour to hear your story over a call or coffee!

In exchange, I'd love to offer you a free 30 min session with me where you'll learn a personalised yogic routine which you can do anytime to feel replenished.

As always, if you have any questions or suggestions about anything, do reach out <3

Lou