My search for truth began early on when I was a university student of International Economics (and yes, I graduated with distinction). At the tender age of twenty, I took my first meditation course and started practising twice daily.

The twenty-year-old me was an insecure, pleasing girl with an overthinking mind and minimal self-esteem. And I remember how desperately I was longing for connection and belonging.

I studied and practised with many teachers and gurus in the next twenty-one years, travelled to many countries, and attended numerous Buddhist retreats. And I can tell you one thing.

Some people will teach you a few tips and tricks, show you a thing or two. And there will be a few people who will significantly change your relationship with yourself and the world.

That one person was Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche for me.

He did the most incredible thing - Rinpoche showed me what meditation really is. That beautiful place where we can step out of the epicentre of the mind's vortex, and just watch the tornado from the outside.

My practice massively evolved since his passing on September 27th three years ago. It was a painful moment in my life but at the same time, I realised that from that point on - it was on me to make the magic happen. I could no longer rely on Rinpoche and retreats to emerge myself in his presence to get inspired for practice. It was now my responsibility to tap into my inner resources to plug into the universal database.

Thanks to Rinpoche, I am a more confident woman, who continues to cultivate her self-esteem through discernment and better alignment with my purpose and truth. Thanks to meditation, my heart is warm and I know how to forgive myself through the practice of self-compassion.

Today at times of over-thinking, judging, comparing, I am able to recruit awareness in order to put my thoughts on hold and observe them with detachment rather than react.

I am forever grateful for the connection to the source, the universal database. Being plugged in helps me manifest, receive answers, tune in to wisdom to better serve creation.

Like never before am I aware of what I am here to do: help as many people establish this connection and live a more meaningful life of Yoga.

To commemorate Rinpoche’s passing, we begin an Online Meditation Retreat on September 27th, which I hope will become a yearly tradition!