Inspired by balance, Samantha finds that her true inner peace comes from executing a well-rounded lifestyle. An avid yogi, hiker, beach bum, music enthusiast, teacher, adventure seeker, animal lover, professional artist and freestyle sport instructor, she is an active individual who loves to express her inner workings through the power of the visual world.
I am South African, I grew up with the wisdom of the land. The natural cycle of life. Where nature teaches you what is truth!
A life-changing car accident brought me onto the yogamat. To me Yoga means to be in touch with my inherent self. It infuses me with strength and power, it allows me To walk in natural beauty with knowledge of who I am. I am my own religion!
Living in the Netherlands made me a Hybrid, I learn and grow and evolve everyday … nothing is a constant.
My teachings are infused by many different labels, I prefer to call it body medicine, and just like me its a kind of Hybrid a Yogahybrid ( Yoga beyond boundaries and style) . Its a practice for acceptance of your own mind and your own body. It takes a long time to grow into your own skin, to inhabit your own mind …
The question that kept me busy after my traumatic experience is...
How do we restore, integrate and alchemize trauma?
In a lovely combination of Yin and Yang of a Vinyasa Power Flow, we let the juices flow, it lets us feel the pain, Sharpen it so to say in order to give it space and let it go, becoming non-attatched to it, Letting go, giving space for breath and ultimately healing and a deeper knowledge of self. Combined with that I use TRE (trauma release excersize ), to let go of unnamed stress and trauma.
Incorporating the studies of the body's meridians and chakras, I developed the energetic aspect of the practice:
The long holds in Yin benefits the subtle body by targeting the meridians that run through the connective tissue of the hips and lower back. I construct specific sequences to stimulate the flow of chi through different energy channels to create a balancing effect on the body, the same way acupuncture does.
Chi is a another word for prana, or life force, in Yin we use "chi." Likewise, nadis, or energy channels, are referred to as "meridians" in Yin.)
I use isolation techniques in connection with breath to restore the natural flow of energy (chi) In combination with grounding/earthing and breathing I call it the Science of healing.
In Yin Yoga, you can recover and maintain the natural range of motion in the joints. you can always improve, no matter how old or strong , or what your level of flexibility is, therefore making it a practice that you can take with you through all the stages of your life,
The improvements to flexibility and chi flow are valuable. But they are secondary to the practice of becoming intimate with and accepting of the current state of the body and mind in any given moment,"
The secret to change is to focus all your energy on giving yourself the space to be present in the now, allow yourself the time and the space on your mat, its a safe space! That is Mindfullness, be there for yourself, allow yourself to turn up for yourself! Trust yourself and breathe, the rest will follow!
How do we deal with trauma and stress?
We usually internalize stress and trauma, taking it all inside, brooding on it, making it bigger than what it really is, getting atatched to the trauma or the feelings of discomfort, feeding it instead of starving it. In my practice we face this discomfort and give it room and space in our systems, it can be confronting, but by allowing yourself the freedom of a safe and trusted environment we can move and shake and breathe it out of our systems.
How do we thrive in a culture that celebrates suppressing emotions?
We let our voices be heard!
We move and we groove!
Love your body, love yourself, in the end its all about LOVE!
