The Power of Connection: My Path.

Dear reader,

How wonderful that you are here. My name is Manoek, and I am the founder of Studio Tree Of Life, a place where yoga, well-being and energetic healing come together. In this first blog post I would like to give you a glimpse into my inner world and my yoga journey. The path I have walked has deeply shaped me and taught me to connect – with myself, with others, and with the world around me.

My love for yoga started when I was fourteen. Yoga gave me something I had never experienced before: connection with my body. I soon noticed that yoga for me was not about the physical movements but about the release of built-up stress.

As a child and teenager I experienced a lot of inner turmoil and uncertainty. The transition to high school brought a lot of tension with it, and that tension started to pile up more and more. Nights where I barely slept because of worrying became normal, and I got caught up in a constant state of readiness. Yoga offered me a moment of peace, a place where I could escape from the constant pressure of life for a while.

Despite my practice of yoga, my world completely collapsed after my high school exams. I ended up in a burn-out and depression, a period that was anything but easy. My body had whispered to me for years which then turned into screams; the built up fear and stress had left me physically and mentally exhausted.

During this dark period I met an energetic coach who supported me on my path. She helped me to let go of certain patterns and gave me new insights, but what she kept repeating was: 'I keep getting the message that you can solve this yourself, that you are strong enough to do this.' Those words touched me deeply. It gave me the confidence not to be dependent on others, but to recognize my own strength. She also said: 'This may be the hardest initiation you have ever received, but through this experience you will be able to help so many people.' I understood that this difficult path was not only a struggle, but also an opportunity to grow and to help others later.

Yoga literally means “connection,” and that is exactly what I have experienced in my own journey. Connection with my body, with my emotions, and ultimately with my deeper self.

The tree of life, which Studio Tree of Life symbolizes, reminds me of how we as humans can be rooted in ourselves, while continuing to open ourselves to the light. Our roots deeply connected to the earth and our branches reaching for the sky. Yoga and energetic healing have taught me to ground myself in my own truth, to find the space within myself to be who I truly am.

Studio Tree of Life is the embodiment of that space. Here I can share the insights of my journey with others. A journey without a final destination, because life is a continuous dance of falling and getting up.

In the studio I do everything I can to create a safe and warm place where you have the space to explore the connection with yourself. I believe that each of us has the ability to recover from difficulties and to connect with our inner strength. I look forward to welcoming you to my studio and supporting you in your personal process towards connection - with yourself, with the world around you, and with everything you want to create in your life.

With warm regards,

Manuk