It all started with awareness of my breathing - Kim van der Veer

In our busy and often hectic world, consciously seeking ways to relax is essential to stay well-balanced. The question is: how do you do that? We ask experts to share their tips & tricks with us. Today we hear from Kim van der Veer, mom, yoga teacher and ayurveda coach at Start with Rasa.

What drives you in your work?

"I help people, especially women, increase their awareness and help them step into their inner power."

How do you notice you’re in need of relaxation?

"When I'm stressed, I'm all over the place. I act without thinking and sleep a lot worse."

What do you do when you notice this?

"What helps me with this is doing yoga. I also base my lifestyle on one of the oldest holistic health systems: Ayurveda." This involves combining the physical, psychological, mental and spiritual in order to balance your body, mind and spirit. "Finally, abhyanga is also a crucial part of my life and is something that helps me to nourish my nervous system and relieve my stress. Abhyanga literally means 'to apply warm oil.' So it's not a real massage, but rather a ritual where you rub yourself from head to toe with good quality oil, which lowers your stress."

What has conscious breathing brought you?

"Breathing exercises have changed my life! From being a banking lawyer with rheumatoid arthritis to being a happy mom. It all started with awareness of my breathing."

What is your motto in life?

“All that matters is love.”