This week, I am pleased to introduce Marlène Couvet, a yoga teacher who has already gained a wealth of life experience. Her journey has led her to ask herself many questions. The answers she has found have given her a deep understanding of life. Marlène knows the keys to helping you live a fully happy life, and she shares them with you with great dedication.
1. What’s your background?
In elementary school, we used to do long-distance running—it was torture for me!! I didn’t know how to breathe! People kept pointing that out, without ever asking why I had such a hard time. “Breathing, the infallible barometer, part of the human body’s arsenal and an instant gauge of your inner emotional state.” Deep down, I couldn’t breathe; the “commute, work, sleep” world I saw terrified me! Was I the only one who saw the beauty of the moon? Who had the immense feeling of being unique and connected to the whole at the same time, of being moved by the suffering of others… I was thirsty for answers; I searched in books, confided in the stars, the rain, the crackling fire… Anorexia at 18 to stop time… to nourish myself on encounters, on deep connections, to be reborn more self-assured and ready to settle into the role of secretary that my studies had wisely prepared me for. Very quickly overtaken by suffering, because I still hadn’t understood… The word “yoga” kept coming back to me, over and over, and when finally pushed to the limit, I dared to step onto the mat: I felt like I had come home!
2. How would you describe your specialty to someone who isn’t familiar with it, or to a child?
My specialty is yoga, but more broadly, I’d say it’s about guiding people to find their inner freedom and self-love. I offer tools to help people overcome personal challenges, get to know themselves, and become increasingly self-reliant and responsible for their own happiness. That way, nothing and no one can stop you from being happy!
3. What are your core values?
The values that are important for me to embody in my life are compassion, enthusiasm, courage, and authenticity.
4. What are your goals in life?
My goal is to share yoga and contribute to the betterment of the world in the best way I can.
5. How do you plan to achieve these goals?
I’m doing my part. I make time to practice every day, to seek guidance myself, and to continue my training… This allows me to lead group sessions, individual sessions, and workshops…
6. What’s your idea for making the world a better place?
That more and more people realize that suffering is not a normal state of being, that it is constantly trivialized by the media, etc. To take responsibility and rediscover one’s own worth, power, and beauty. Then there will be no more manipulation, no more fear of others, and no more violence toward others. When we awaken to self-love, we cannot help but love others and life in all its splendor.
7. Why do you write for the online magazine Zentonik?
I write for Zentonik because talking about my passion—the human adventure—is a joy! Because I love the idea that Zentonik aims to be accessible and very current to attract a wide audience to read its articles, and that behind the simple presentation of things, minds open up, ask questions, and want to go further. Because being part of this warm and caring team is a pleasure.