日本語ができるから、日本語でもメッセージを送ってください！😊

Hey, good to have you here on my profile.

I have lived and traveled in Asia for 2.5 years, a big chunk of that time in Japan. This time probably influenced me a lot, I feel that my personality now is somewhat shaped like a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures. I see it as my responsibility to build the bridge for others as well, that's one of the reasons why I work as a tour guide when I am in Japan. Another form of it is teaching or talking about meditation, yoga, these sorts of things. And integrating it with neuroscience and psychology. Apart from that, I love being out in nature, go hiking, breathe deeply and enjoy the mountains, the sea, the plants and animals, people.

Here some words that could describe me:
Creative, joyful, easy-going, compassionate, patient, understanding, motivated, skillful, spontaneous, thoughtful.

I have experience with various forms of meditation like Metta, Vipassana, Samatha and Zazen. I have learned these from teachers in India, Thailand and Japan, as well as online and through books from various talented teachers around the world.

Currently I enjoy studying the chakras (chakra psychology), Classical Chinese Medicine and the electromagnetic view on the human body-mind system, trauma, psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy and some languages.

I learn, teach and practice Yoga, including the philosophy, psychology, breathwork (pranayama) and the spiritual part of that ancient practice. I am taking a 3 level course in Yoga Psychology Counseling, in June 2024 I am going to start Level 3 of that Program (Integral Chakra Psychology, Yoga Psychotherapy). I am currently finishing an M.Sc. in Neurocognitive Psychology, i.e. I study the psychology, the thoughts and behaviors of human beings, based on what is happening in their brains. I like to integrate the Western and Eastern approaches in my understanding of the human experience, which I also see as the bridge between the scientific approach of the West and the ancient wisdom of the East.

Some of my goals in life are to study and develop myself; to meet and understand people from different places, ideologies, and societies; to learn as much as I can; share my knowledge and skills with curious beings; and to reduce suffering in people and help them enhance their mental and physical health.

One of my dreams is to found a retreat center that facilitates multimodal healing and reduces human suffering. A place where neurodiversity is a gift. Next to psychological transformation also nutrition and body work will be important aspects of the retreats, as well as Eastern and shamanic practices (e.g. breathwork, plant medicine). Newest scientific findings shall be implicated and communicated, produced and reproduced in the center. If you have a similar vision or are interested in the topic, please do reach out!

I believe in salutogenesis over fighting disease. We need healing work, as the "Krankenhaus" (hospital) should be renamed "Gesundheitshaus", but our large scale medical system might not be there yet. When people move on from capitalism as their religion (think about it), find their roots in spirituality, we may find ourselves on a healthier planet with happy people and much less disease and suffering.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

All of our friends once have been strangers, so why don't we give any person the chance to become a friend? Life is full of opportunities. The more people you meet, the more you fill your heart with love, the more you will see these opportunities. People can be very inspiring and I met some of the most inspiring people through couchsurfing.

Interests

One of the first passions I had in my life was learning and speaking different languages. I've had many language tandems and enjoyed the experience how a tandem can become a strong friendship. Normally I do something for my languages every day.

Another passion that I have is nature. I love animals and I love plants and mushrooms, I cannot and will probably never decide which I like more. The diversity of living organisms is incredible, I love how they function in different ways and how they interact with each other. I like being in contact with nature and having interaction with living beings.

Yoga. There is a lot to say and not that much to say. You know it when you experience it!

I love (doing) every kind of sports. I enjoy trying out new stuff but in the past years I have focused quite a bit on acro yoga, hiking and dancing.

Diet:
I like sustainable, ecological, organic and anti-inflammatory food. I often eat vegan or vegetarian, but also consume animal products. As a rule of thumb, products from an ethically raised goat in the mountains having lived breathing fresh air and eating medicinal herbs while enjoying a healthy social life, I would enjoy more than a vegan product that is based on inflammatory ingredients (e.g. processed oils and carbs) and comes from a company with low ethical standards (e.g. Nestlé).

• japanese food
• yoga
• meditation
• reading
• violin
• outdoor activities
• biology
• nature
• tea
• learning languages
• plants
• mindfulness
• japan
• healthy eating
• vegan cooking
• ted talks
• psychotherapy
• neuropsychology
• random acts of kindness
• psychedelic science
• loving kindness
• wim hof method
• keto diet
• psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

Music, Movies, and Books

Music:

Jazz, classical music, Lindsey Stirling, Japanese music, instrumental music. Actually I like songs of almost all music genres and in different languages. It really depends on the art the artist creates, I enjoy gems of and outside of all schools.

Books:

Books about Neuropsychology, Yoga, Buddhism, Society, Breath, Nutrition, etc. Some examples:

If I would recommend only one book:

"Letting Go - the pathway of surrender" David R. Hawkins

Other good recommendations:

"Breath" by James Nestor

"Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

"Why We Sleep" by Matthew Walker

"The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz

"The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho

"The Courage to Be Disliked" Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi

"Ikigai - The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Hector García and Francesc Miralles

"The Japanese Mind" by various authors

"Born a crime" by Trevor Noah

"1000 days of spring" by Tomislav Perko

"Le Petit Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Measuring the world" by Daniel Kehlmann

"Das geniale Gedächtnis" (=The genius mind) by Hannah Monyer and Martin Gessmann

Movies:

Yes Man (Jim Carrey)
It is still one of the most impactful movies I've watched.

Human (by Yann Arthus-Bertrand)
Amazing documentary about the different stories we human's live on this planet.

Mysteries of the Unseen World (National Geographic)
Shows the things we can't see with our eyes, that yet are existent and should be part of our image of reality.

TED talks

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Being part of the foodsharing / foodsaving project in Germany. Since most of the food worldwide is being wasted, this network saves the food from supermarkets, bakeries, etc. from being thrown away, share it and eat it. This contributes to slowing down a long chain reaction which damages our planet... And there is free food for everyone!

Going on a nature retreat in Norway for one week, without a phone, without classical time reckoning, without noise, without walls and artificial lights. Coming closer to my inner personality and having a lot of interesting insights about humanity, societies, nature and myself. This experience is unforgettable and made me understand better what it actually means to be born human (2018).

Staying for 6 weeks in Albania, teaching German and getting to know a very unique culture, understanding the world a bit better.

Joining several yoga programs in India, one of them was definitely one of the most impactful weeks in my life.
Completing a Yoga Teacher Training Course (200h YTTC).

Being part of "The Mindfulness Project Thailand". I learned a lot about Buddhism, loving kindness and how a small community can give you all you need and heal the members' mental wounds through meaningful talking circles and acceptance. I visited this project twice, in 2019 and 2024. Here is the link, go and heal thyself :D

https://www.mindfulness-project.org

Doing different freelance jobs in Japan, including tour guiding in several languages and modeling for art projects and some vestments.

Teach, Learn, Share

I can teach the languages I can speak and some tips and tricks for learning languages in general.

I have interesting stories to share, I've seen places and people. Ask the right questions and you will likely get interesting output.

I can show and teach you how to juggle.

I can teach and guide yoga, pranayama, meditation, acro yoga.

Cooking.
Preferably fresh and plant based food and / or sustainable natural animal products. Flexibility is key - whichever ingredients we have, it can make a fantastic meal.

Inspiring and philosophical covnersations.

Knowledge about biology, languages, healthy nutrition, the brain and neuropsychology, sleep, yoga, healing diseases, etc.

I am up for any physical activities like hiking, climbing, laughing, etc.

Hugs.

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Laos, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Vatican City State, Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Albania, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway