Victoria Triep

Meet Victoria Triep

Victoria Triep is living proof of how yoga can transform someone’s life.

After a brilliant carrier as a successful architect, Victoria had to adapt to new life circumstances.

In her search for a new direction, she found peace of mind in yoga practice. Little did she know that the Universe was conspiring to take her practice to the next level.

Let’s meet Victoria Triep.

From successful architect to yoga teacher

Victoria Triep

LPM: Victoria, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where were you born and what did you do before your radical life change.

VT: I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil until I moved to Barcelona to pursue my career as an architect. In my adulthood, I have lived exclusively in Europe. After Spain, I lived and worked in Portugal for 22 years. Then, I moved to Germany where I have been living for while with my family.

LM: How did you discover yoga and how has your view about yoga change over time?

VT: It was funny because I always believed that yoga was a good workout for body and mind. But I never did it. I always recommended yoga to my Mom, but she never did either. Exercise, dance, tennis and fitness were my usual practices, mostly group classes.

After my first pregnancy, I went back to my fitness club and soon realized I was missing something. I needed to stretch and practice free movements. It was when I decided to incorporate yoga into my fitness practices.

I practised yoga until I gave birth to my second child and then stopped for a while. However, when I went back I never stopped again.

I got to know a lot of yoga styles and different approaches with different teachers. My flexibility came back, my mobility improved, I felt really good after class, with good mood, good vibe and peace.

LM: Yoga practice has been a fundamental tool in your life. How did yoga practice help improve your life?

 

VT: Well, after my asanas practice I was more aware of yoga in general, and things started to happen. One day I received an invitation to a Meditation weekend of an Indian Musician who has lived in NY. I decided to join the group. It was a very good experience, difficult but nice.

After that, I tried to join them at least once a year. By the end of five years, I realized that it had changed a lot my life. It was a slow process because I was still strongly attached to my beliefs.

The changes were proportionate to the time I dedicated to myself, my interior work but eventually the results showed up. I was able to stop a cycle in my life and start a new one.

Victoria Triep

LM: What made you decided to take a Yoga Teacher Training course?

VT: When I arrived in Germany it was a huge change in my life and my family ́s life. It was imperative to find a place to keep up my practice.

I tried different places but didn’t find anywhere I liked until I did find one teacher, but soon I felt I was not evolving. The group was very heterogeneous, at different levels, and it was not easy for the teacher to prepare classes to fit all.

I practised at home with some books I had but I didn’t feel the same way I used to feel after class. I was just contorting myself in some postures.

I kept looking for more yoga studios when I found a Yoga school offering a Yoga Teacher Training in English and the program was vast and very interesting.

It would be during four weeks starting on the last week of July, which logistically was very convenient at that time for me and my family.

LM: Where did you take your Yoga Teacher Training and what was the reason for your choice?

VT: Through my practice, I realized that I liked Hatha yoga better although I still didn’t know what it really was.

I choose the Yoga Vidya Ashram in Bad Meinberg, based on 3 important reasons:

1- It is classical Hatha Yoga from Sivananda School, who created a holistic program based on 5 points that improve health and wellness for the practitioner. His teachings were spread in the western world in the late 50ths, beeing the first who established the concepts of yoga vacation and the Yoga Teacher Training.

2- Because of the reputation of the School. It is the biggest Ashram in Europe. I asked my Yoga teacher who told me he was certified by this school and it was good but very hard.

3- The course would be done in English, by an Indian Vedanta and Yoga therapy teacher.

LM: Give us a glimpse of what it is like to have a one-month yoga immersion training?

VT: Emotionally it was a rainbow of experiences. We faced all our internal fragilities and blockages. It just comes up suddenly, even on the mat while holding a posture or a spiritual wave came during meditation or both during chanting a mantra or a boost of amazing energy during breathing exercises.

It was beautiful.

In addition, we had our daily karma yoga, which involved serving the community. Each one had their own task and had to make their contribution in maintaining the working structure in the Ashram.

Victoria Triep
Victoria Triep holding a Pranayama (breathing) workshop in Lisbon.

LM: There is a bit of confusion around the different types of yoga. Can you name the main types and explain the differences and tell us why you chose HATHA yoga?

VT: Actually, I chose Hatha Yoga before even knowing exactly what it was. It was a result of my perception and experience through all classes and teachers I had for about 15 years.

There are different types of yoga not all focus on bodywork, as karma yoga, or yoga of action; Jnana yoga, or yoga of Knowledge; Bhakti yoga or yoga of devotion and Raja yoga, or yoga of Meditation.

Hatha yoga means union, harmony. It is classic yoga, described in the old Sanscrit Scriptures. It develops the physical, mental and energetic bodies.

One aspect is Kundalini yoga that is considered the Yoga of Energy. There is also Nada yoga- the sacred sound, where I did my initiation in Meditation with a great Sitar musician and Yogi Roop Verma. It was an amazing experience!

Other types of yoga that work with the physical body are Yvengar yoga which focuses on precision and alignment and Ashtanga Yoga that emphasizes the alignment of movement (asanas) and breathing exercises. These flows of asanas we called Vinyasa Yoga.

LM: What are your next plans?

VT: I am planning to do a retreat for women who experience hormonal imbalances. In addition, I am preparing some workshops and courses to explain the benefits of certain practices which can enhance our connection to our selves and our power centre. As soon I have my program ready I will let you know.

LM: What is your advice to anyone having to face radical changes in their lives?

VT: Accept it, see it as an opportunity at least for your self-discovery and development. Invite the Universe to work with you to co-create your path. Take time to be empty, to feel your higher power, to be with your big self and enjoying your silence. It is the only way to have the clarity to see the way ahead and to feel what is the direction you should take.

LM: Last question. Did you find your bliss with yoga practice? 

VT: Absolutely! With the Integral Yoga.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Sometimes, life presents us with unexpected turns of events. In times of commotion, only by giving in to the situation and calming the mind can we regain clarity.

Victoria Triep learned this first by experience, then by training. As a result, she has made it her mission to help people improve their lives with yoga practice.

You can follow Victoria Triep on Facebook and Instagram.

Check these interviews for more inspiring stories of people who realized that “it is never too late to find your bliss”.

May The Bliss be with you,

Luciana

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