I’m ajooni — from Chicago area and currently planning a move to the Netherlands.

I am passionate about trauma healing, honesty and living lives we love.

I love to cook and get so much joy from exploring ingredients, recipes, and food. I also love singing, dancing and making things with my hands. I also also love getting to know people and having fascinating conversations. Over the last few years I’ve developed a thicker skin which makes conversations more fun.

As my old profile said, “Everyone’s strange but no one has to be a stranger.”

Legacy profile: https://www.couchsurfing.com/users/2743714/profile/legacy

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I find CS is not just a community but a way of life. Staying open to the world and calibrated to its beauty

Interests

• dogs
• singing
• cooking
• yoga
• karaoke
• animation
• dance
• plants
• somatic therapy
• bhangra
• trauma healing
• fooooood
• health and healing
• cheetahs
• psychedelic healing

Music, Movies, and Books

Movies: The Birdcage, Tokyo Godfathers, If You Believe, Nimona, Tampopo, Street Angel, La Strada, Fern Gully, The Last Unicorn, Spirited Away/Miyazaki, Clueless, The Substance, KungFu Hustle

Music: Billie the Vision and the Dancers, ANHONI, Savage Garden, FKA Twigs, Little Richard, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, bhangra/things that are bhangra-ble, Phil Collins, Prince, Ani DiFranco, Yusuf (Cat Stevens), Alanis, George Michael, Jacob Collier, Sigur Ros, Bjork, Kate Bush, Okay Kaya, serpentwithfeet, Cat Empire, Fiona Apple, The Spinners, Gipsy Kings, Lhasa de Sela,…

Books: The Neverending Story, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Legacy by Suzanne Methot, Come As You Are, Women Who Run with the Wolves, Witches, Midwives and Nurses, Anna Karenina. (though currently reading Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles and on the hunt to find my perfect romance novel)

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Found my dog while hiking in the Himalayas and moved her back to the States with me even though everyone said I was crazy. She followed me on the bus and I said as long as she keeps following me, I’ll keep following her. We celebrated our 10 year anniversary of following each other in August 2025. Two rich and transformative months later, she passed away in my arms while I sang to her. She will remain, for the rest of my life, my best friend, my teacher, my guide, and the reason I live a life I feel so connected to now 🙏💜 Long live Manali. May everyone know a soul in this way.

Teach, Learn, Share

craniosacral bodywork, cooking, crochet, trauma healing and nervous system regulation, psychedelic therapy, singing/karaoke, dancing/bhangra, Sikhi

What I Can Share with Hosts

My skills in bodywork, specifically craniosacral therapy. General humor, kindness, respect, and zest for life. Also how to make amazing daal.

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom

Countries I’ve Lived In

France, United States

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