my education




I'd like to start with a big disclaimer: as a neurodivergent and critical soul, I don't make a big distinction between diplomas or certificates and other forms of education. Maybe you've read something in a blog somewhere and it changed your life more than your master's degree ever did. That being said, I also don't want to live in a world where we fake our professionalism for the sake of marketing, so a valid, thorough and ongoing life-long education is extremely valuable to me.

Only want to check my more formal yoga-therapist credentials?
    Scroll down :)
Looking for recommendations (listening, reading & watching)?
    Click here for my list :)

I have a university degree in international politics, and while that has nothing to do with yoga, it did feed into my critical thinking skills, pattern recognition, strategic puzzling and general world view. I don't like capitalism/imperialism, I see structural factors playing into individual lives everywhere and I am very big on equity, environmental justice and community.

Through volunteer work, jobs in the social/non-profit sector and engaging in political activism, I build my social skills, problem-solving and karma yoga. I think selflessly acting for others and building safe(r) spaces for vulnerable communities is a fundamental part of anybody's character development and can bring so much lessons and mirrors. Undeniably, this is a process of trial and error.

Last but not least in this informal list of credentials: my own life-long experience with different forms of therapy. I believe our capacity to support others depends greatly on the work we do for ourselves and our own psychological & spiritual growth. Lived experience is priceless & invaluable.
❀ weekly mindfulness coaching for years
❀ dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) in the context of C-PTSD
❀ psychotherapy @ Elfi Maassen
❀ dance and movement therapy @ Weronika Halwa


formal credentials as a yoga/lifestyle therapist
(this list is alive! I will update it regularly)
Want to know more about a certain school/training?
Click their names. This text contains weblinks ☺

❀ 500 hours multistyle teacher training: Hatha, Ashtanga Vinyasa, Iyengar & meditation
w/ ayurvedic theory classes & treatments

❀ 200 hours yoga teacher training: Hatha & Ashtanga Vinyasa
main teacher: doctor Malathi

I think this is worth mentioning as I've struggled with hormonal health a lot and this program was a great contribution to my knowledge about the body (endocrine system, digestion, ...), breathwork and trauma-release

In this online container we came together (weekly) with different queer & BIPOC yoga teachers, guided by Meesha from Alchemystic Studio. We explored queer yoga mythology, got creative insights and practice for cueing our classes and learned new ways of giving and receiving feedback.

❀ from anatomy to awareness:
Pranayama (breathwork), Philosophy and Integrative Anatomy
by Eyal Chehanowski from Mahakala Yoga (Ashtengar)
* important note: When I enrolled for this course, I trusted that Eyal was a Jew of Polish descent, living in the US and teaching all around the world, practicing true yoga. When I payed for the course, the receipt came from the UK, but when I asked for a full invoice (for bookkeeping) I got a Hebrew invoice from his company based in Tel Aviv. I decided not to follow his workshops in Amsterdam later this year and never buy from him again, nor share anything on social media. I don't want to support Israeli based initiatives or tax-payers. I believe he is a technically good teacher and I did learn some new things. I commit to being totally transparant about my own trajectory here, so this is it.


❀ in the near future:
* Anatomy and Fascia release (Centrum voor Avondonderwijs)
* Basistraject ervaringswerker GGZ (Thomas More, Antwerpen)


❀ everyday things:
* my own practice & study, on and off the mat
* attending yoga classes and workshops (online as well as offline) with various teachers, currently focussing on Ashtanga Mysore by Sophie Mahy & Stacy Ingham