Vera was working in Thailand, Phuket at first. She then travelled around and had heard about Koh Phangan from various people. It appealed to her and she was amazed when she came, she didn’t know it would be so nice.
We invited Vera to Phanganist to help explain what she does, the first thing she did on arrival apart from saying hello is to give us a shoulder massage! (thank you)
Hello Lovely, what made you stay on Koh Phangan?
It is full of nature! Plus I like the fact that half of it is the party scene yet half is more chilled, relaxed and you have things like yoga. I decided to stay around the yoga community in Sri Thanu, I like the spiritual energy there and it inspires me with crazy ideas. I heard someone play didgeridoo after a just one week and I was inspired that I should try to play it. Being here has made me be myself again.
When did you start dancing?
10 years ago, maybe before. I finished education in art school when I started working in theatre painting, but this was not sustainable beacause of the poor pay so I decided I wanted to do something else so I started dancing. I was dancing with different groups and this is also when I started pole and more exotic dancing. Koh Phangan has made a big impression on me to dance so I started to belly dance. This is already a type of exotic dance so it fits my style, I like to do something more different. I then brought in the fire fans as you can still do belly dance moves and be passionate.
Who are your dance influences?
Natelie Sundalini in freeway bar has inspired me.
What is special to you about dancing?
Feeling the energy and sharing my energy with people. Helping people warm up and seduce minds by giving people passion.
What do you feel Dancing bring to the People?
People start to have more conversations and interact more it gives people more freedom to get to know each other.
What do you teach?
I teach power stretching meditation ( stretching, working on the flexibility of body, diving meditation inside your body, exploring opportunities of the body, increasing them, listening to the energy flows) The program is orientated on opening hip joints, including exercises with twisting hips and increasing mobility of hip-bones and pelvis, stretching the back and whole body. Exercises on coordination and developing excellent muscle memory, that'll give you advantages in all points of everyday life. It is a combination of cardio and pilates elements and breathing technics which give you a firm body, calm mind and turns on processes of detoxication of body
What is the best thing you ever been involved with or done?
On Koh Phangan I love to dance when lots of people are jamming all together, mixing different styles and types of instruments, even they don’t know what will be next! So it develops me. I like to dance to trance music a lot so where ever there is trance I always have my best experience.
Where is your favourite place here? what do you do in your free time?
I love Sri Thanu beach and a lot of the viewpoints. In my free time I play the jaw harp and didgeridoo, also I like painting, I do a lot of abstract work. I’m also working on costumes which are based on a traditional wear but with new style, it is something special, I call it shamantic couture. I’m very into Shamanti culture , the music and everything. I like to lead a healthy natural life. I have been a raw vegan for 4 years now and it’s totally changed my life. I have more energy and I felt the vibrations from the island which is what attracted me. I’m meant to be here. There are such amazing people, lots of creativity. Everyday you meet cool people. Everyone wants to create something and you really can work together. You can be yourself on Phangan, natural, no make up, what ever style you like. There is no pressure to look the same as everyone else like in other parts of the world. You can sit on the beach or near a fire and feel relaxed and feel the nice vibration from the island.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
I prefer to live and be happy in the moment. I don’t think of 10 years from now. I can get new information which can change my mind in one moment.
What are your Hopes & Dreams?
To teach people how to be healthy and have more energy in your body and to create art. I like to teach people how to come back to themselves.
What is your life philosophy?
To be full of love, to feel life intensively and strong.
Thank you so much Vera, it's been a pleasure. See you very soon :-)
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