One Mind Wellness

The Path of Intuition

yoga, martial arts, meditation, and wellness.

Vanessa's Journey

In 1997 I moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where I began my spiritual quest. Being raised Agnostic, I had little influence toward any religious or spiritual path in particular. Because of this I sought to gain insight into these mysteries that had always intrigued me. I gained a grand knowledge into the more intuitive layers of the world through my introduction to Art, Sustainability, Spirituality and Philosophy. I began reading the works of Joseph Campbell, Carlos Castaneda as well as texts on Eastern Philosophy and Spirituality. Upon graduation, in 2001, I began attending my first yoga classes at a gym in Boston. I was immediately drawn to its incorporation of movement and spirituality.

In the winter of 2002 I traveled cross country, living out of a car, for 4 months. On this spiritual road trip I traveled across the western united states and Baja Mexico, hiking, rock climbing and meditating. This experience was profound and and reshaped the way I thought about existence and the cosmos.

In the fall of 2002 I was to begin college although I admit feeling a little lost and detached after the deep spiritual experiences I had had throughout the previous years. With little direction and, an urge toward expression, I began pursing my love for ceramics and painting. Graduating in 2007 from the Tyler School of Art in Philadelphia PA. However, the life of an artist is a hard one and as I met challenges I found myself being pulled further and further in negative directions.

For the next several years I struggled finding a job in my field. The only qualified positions were "unpayed". So, I spent the next four years working in restaurants while trying to sell my artistic work. Out of frustration as I found myself on unemployment after my restaurant closed, not finding work in my field, not receiving any shows in galleries, or selling any work online, and with mounds of debt spent on student loans I decided to open my own gallery. Through the various levels of stress between debt and running a business with little direction or assistance I began eating poorly and I was drinking alcohol more and more to cope with my circumstances.

In the spring of 2011 I decided to close my failing gallery and take a break from art. I found employment at a local whole foods market and began to clean up my diet. I began rereading some of the works I had discovered while living in the mountains of New Hampshire. I began working out, meditating and doing yoga. While meditating I had grand realization that forever changed my life. The realization was that I was not acting in accordance with my true nature. I realized the path that I was following was difficult because it was not intended for me. I was not in harmony. I didn't know the path I was to follow but I began trusting my intuition, which began speaking clearer to me through yoga, meditation, and physical activity.

In 2012 I packed my bags and moved to Seattle Washington where I was embarking on a year of volunteer service through Americorps with Habitat for Humanity Seattle- King County. I began enveloping myself in all of my dreams, volunteer service, martial arts, yoga, meditation. Growing up as a gymnast I had always wanted to be a ninja. I began taking classes in Kendo while also doing a work trade in Vinayasa and Hatha yoga through YogaLife Seattle. Though yoga, martial arts and meditation I cultivated a natural change in my body as well as my mind. By reestablishing my mind body awareness I was able to hear and follow my intuition like never before. I understood how to follow my heart and that my dream was to be a yoga instructor.

Completing my 200hr Teacher Training at the Himalayan Institute in Honsdale Pa, in the summer of 2014, I accomplished one of my life long dreams. Receiving inspirational spiritual lectures from Pandit Rajamni Tigunait PhD, meditation instruction from Rolf Sovik PsyD, foundations in pranayama and Sanskrit from Sandra Anderson, extensive education in asana alignment and subtle anatomy from Shari Friedrichesen, and training in anatomy and physiology from Carrie E. Demers MD. Through my education in Hatha yoga I have transformed my love for yoga into a profound insight as to how the mind effects the body. Through establishing mind body awareness each of us is able to cultivate healing from within.

Today I strive to cultivate connection and healing in individuals. My Hatha Yoga instruction incorporates Asana, (yoga poses), Pranayama (breathing exercises), systematic relaxation, and meditation. This allows for physical, emotional, mental, and ultimately whole body healing. I strive to share all the ways yoga, martial arts and meditation have changed my life. By helping others to find their path I hope to cultivate increased health and vitality in each student.

Currently, I'm living in Philadelphia and instruct Hatha Yoga locally in studios and parks. I am studying Jooklum, Southern Praying Mantas Kung Fu, I work part time at a local Fitness Studio, and I try to share what knowledge I have gained through my online media. Thank you for reading my story.


Namaste,

Vanessa Sychak

Click Here for More Information