Yoga: From a life-changing diagnosis to a journey of healing

In 2011, I faced a life-changing moment. After enduring intense pain from a herniated disc, I underwent surgery, but it did not go as planned. I nearly lost my life due to complications, and the priority became saving my life rather than completing the operation. At a follow-up, the surgeon told me I was among the 17% who would become permanently disabled for the rest of their lives. The sooner I accepted this reality, the better it was for my own well-being, and I was prescribed strong painkillers.

At the time, my right leg could barely bear weight, and my upper body leaned strongly to the left due to severe pain in my lower back and sciatica. It felt like my body had betrayed me, and the path forward was uncertain. But it was also a turning point that led me to yoga.

Yoga became my natural tool for releasing tension, reducing stress, and serving as a natural pain reliever. It was never just about flexibility or strength—it was about reconnecting with myself, learning to listen to my body, and discovering what was possible within my limits. Through mindful movement and conscious breath, I gradually began to experience relief, presence, and freedom from pain.

Over time, yoga became both an inner and outer journey. It has taken me around the world, connecting me with incredible yoga communities, studios, and teachers. I’ve also had the privilege of organizing retreats in collaboration with a Norwegian travel agency, sharing the healing and transformative power of yoga with others.

Photos: I was invited twice to the Indian Embassy in Denpasar, Bali, to participate in a roundtable and share my yoga story, where I had the opportunity to meet ambassadors and diplomats from various countries attending the event. I was also invited to teach at the International Yoga Day celebrations in Denpasar.

Looking back, even after a diagnosis that once felt like a life sentence, I realize how resilient the body and mind can be. Yoga has taught me patience, presence, and the profound connection between breath, movement, and well-being. It is a path that empowers, heals, and reminds us that even in the face of challenge, there is always a way to reconnect with ourselves.

Photos: Yoga for children in Luang Prabang, Lao

Photos: Summer camp for children, Denpasar- Bali

Photos: from classes at Rai Fitness, Bali and with Role Foundation, Bali