We know Eleonora Licheva as the charming financial specialist at Unique Estates’office. She has been part of the company for three years now. But we do not meet her to discuss Excel tables and financial reports. We want to learn more about other passion of hers – the yoga practices and her interest in Eastern philosophies.
Everything starts three years ago when Eleonora visits yoga classes for beginners. One of them meets her with her first yoga teacher, an Indian who combines authentic yoga philosophy with the Western model of teaching. Six months later, Eleanor's journey took her to Vietnam, where she began her first Ashtanga yoga training. A month devoted to intense yoga practice and many challenges to her spirit and body turns out to be a truly purifying and awakening experience for her.
"The first task of a guru is to bring your ego out, and make you look at yourself and start working on your own transformation so that your behavior and thoughts do not serve the needs of your ego and it is enough disciplined to go somewhere into the background. This is a difficult process of self-awareness, acceptance, change, and release. The endeavor is to clear everything unnecessary, to awaken the divine in yourself, "says Eleonora.
After this training, she feels ready to teach. Intense yoga practices such as Ashtanga and Ashtanga Vinyasa feel closest to her nature. Eleonora leads yoga classes in two of the best places for yoga in the city - 2 HEALTH CLUB and Yoga Vibe.
In an active meditation practice, Ananda Mandala, she meets her second teacher, Punnu Singh Wasu. After contacting him, she is absolutely convinced that she must follow him to Bali, where he leads meditation training. "Punnu is extremely influential with his energy and presence. I felt I could learn a lot from him and I wanted to spend time with this guy, "says Eli.
Punnu is an Indian who travels and trains people all over the world. He invites Eleonora to the Yoga Barn, which is one of Bali's most popular places for yoga practices. Her three-week stay there at the beginning of the year turns out to be the most impressive spiritual experience for Eleonora so far. She meets interesting people with different life stories there, with whom she goes through deep processes of purification and awareness. Learning related to many shared experiences that fundamentally change her views and lifestyle.
"The days began with meditation, followed by yoga practices, trainings and lectures on various topics. One remains with the feeling of more wisdom, clarity, lightness and gratitude. There were days spent in meditations and hiking in the jungle, as well as purifying spiritual rituals in the waters of the Balinese rivers. We let loose of the control and freed our spirits with kirtan, singing mantras and dancing, "says Eleonora.
"Bali is a bliss. A place with generous nature and good energy, pure balm for the spirit. The people there are spiritually connected to each other. This is the key to the harmony that each of us is looking for. It is important to know that these practices can be attended by anyone, without any preparation or experience. From Bali everybody returns quite changed, more conscious and somehow a better person,"she says.
In yoga and meditation, Eleonora comes to the conclusion that there are really no limits. Everyone can achieve things they previously thought were impossible for the body and spirit. "In my classes, I insist a lot on the focus on the mind, which is always restless. Keeping the right breathing and performing of the poses as well as directing the look in the right direction. I always include Pranayama - breathing with different techniques, and comple the practices with meditation so that we all get back to ourselves,"says Eleonora. She misses everything from Bali and looks forward to the new encounter with her teacher Punnu. He will be in Bulgaria for the Udaya Live Yoga and music festival this summer.
We thank her for bringing the scent and magic of this magical place to the office of Unique Estates.