Hey there! I’ve been thinking about how I can bring real value to you, my dear reader. And I realized one thing: in the whirlwind of AI, high-tech gadgets, big data, machine learning, automation, and everything else on the horizon, one thing is here to stay—human connection.
So, welcome to my blog, where we’ll be talking about exactly that: US—the humans behind the screens, the deadlines, and the constant noise of notifications. I’m here to spend some quality, heart-to-heart time with you. My promise? To make sure every single one of you takes something away from this space, something meaningful, something real.
The Three Pillars: Body, Mind, and Soul
This blog is all about balance—about nurturing ourselves as whole beings, not just physically but mentally and emotionally, too. I believe that’s the key to thriving in this fast-paced, tech-driven world. So, everything we explore here will revolve around the three pillars of wellness: Body, Mind, and Soul.
We’re not just bodies hustling through workdays—we’re holistic beings. And I’m all about honoring that in a way that fits into your busy life.
Why Yoga? Here’s My Story
Let me share a bit about how I found yoga and why it became such a big part of my life.
Almost 10 years ago, while I was pursuing my master’s degree in London, I started feeling this nagging pain in my back. At first, I shrugged it off (because who has time for back pain, right?), until one day I couldn’t move at all. I was stuck, unable to even sleep in my bed—the floor was my only option. I couldn’t believe how quickly things had spiraled. How did I lose all my mobility in just one day?
Turns out, I had a herniated disc in my lower back. And I was only in my early twenties. I remember thinking, “Isn’t this something that happens to people way older than me?” My options were surgery or finding another way to heal. I chose the second option—and that’s how I discovered yoga.
At first, I moved like a robot, carefully doing yoga poses for my neck and back, trying to mobilize my spine. But honestly, I had no idea about the deeper connection between the body and the mind. Back then, I was stuck in a pretty toxic relationship, surrounded by negativity, and buried in the stress of law school. I wasn’t even paying attention to how I felt. I just kept going, kept pushing, pretending that everything was fine.
But life had other plans for me. It wasn’t just my spine that needed a 360-degree transformation—it was my entire life. After finishing my law degree, I made a decision that surprised even me. I left London. I left that life. I left the old version of Martina Kara behind.
A New Beginning in Barcelona
So, I packed up and moved to Barcelona. To be honest, the first year wasn’t easy. I didn’t fall in love with the city right away. It felt like when you compare a new partner to an ex—big mistake. I kept looking for the London I had left behind in the streets of hipster Barcelona.
Now, when people ask me, “Why Barcelona?” I always tell them, Barcelona chose me. It’s a city filled with yoga, wellness, and spirituality. It’s like Europe’s capital for all things balance and self-care. It just took me some time to embrace that and integrate into this new life.
After some big bumps in my tech sales career, my back pain returned, along with a broken heart. And once again, yoga was there for me. This time, though, I knew it was more than just physical healing I needed. So, I enrolled in a 500-hour YTT (Yoga Teacher Training), and I knew, right then and there, that my life would change forever. That was the moment everything clicked for me.
Yoga for Everyone, Especially for Tech Professionals
Since that moment, I made a promise to myself: I’m going to teach yoga wherever I can, in whatever way I can. Because yoga is for everyone. It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in or what chapter of your story you’re writing—yoga fits into all of it.
Yoga is for kids, for teens, for moms, for business leaders, and for tech professionals, like you. In our fast-moving, constantly connected world, we need yoga more than ever. Especially those of us in tech, who sit for long hours, hunched over laptops, forgetting to breathe properly, or stretch.
And that’s why I’ve decided to focus on yoga for the people I relate to most—techies and busy professionals. Because I get it. I understand the back pain, the tension, the stress. I’ve been there.
So, with that, I’ll put my laptop aside and say: Let’s begin this journey inward, together.
Shanti, Shanti, Shanti,
May peace be upon you,
Martina