And the day came when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. 

~ Anais Nin

When I lived in France on the Riviera it was often said ‘We’re living the dream people’.

Which in all honesty we were. Days were spent working alongside friends who became family, lounging at the beach – before work, after work, on days off, meeting folk from all over the world, drinking cheap booze together. In your mid 20’s this is living the dream. To be fair, in my 30’s this is still living the dream. Although the cheap booze isn’t ideal any more.

This idea of ‘Living the Dream’ is the driving force behind why we get up in the morning – and stay up. Or at least it should be. The reality of living your heart’s desire is intoxicating. I believe each one of us is here to live the exact opposite of mediocre. To be inspired daily to live our dreams, to access our truth + potential, to be connected to our purpose – this is why we get up and stay up.

To inspire you to live your own version of ‘Living the Dream’ I’m going to be interviewing a bunch of my clients doing just this. My clients (who I have the honour and privilege of working with) commit to their potential, to living consciously, responsibly and spiritually. 

Which is where Kinesiology comes in. This uber powerful therapy helps you get clear on your desires + passions and importantly kicks your subconscious blocks in the butt, forcing you to face your fears and annihilate your anxieties. 

But enough with the alliteration – Kinesiology works and it’s part of the reason these amazing people are living their dream.

So without further adieu… Meet Bianca.

Bianca Snee :: Student/Yoga Teacher :: 35 :: Napier, New Zealand:: Modern Yoga Napier/ EIT Hawkes Bay

You’re living the dream. What does this look like for you? (Describe what you do for a crust). And how long have you been doing it for? 

I wouldn’t say I’m living the dream just yet, but I’m well on my way to building my 3-5 year grand vision I have for myself.  I am currently a fulltime student studying a Bachelor of Sport concurrent with a Bachelor of Business at EIT Hawkes Bay (my home town) and teaching yoga 4 to 6 classes per week.

My dream is to own my studio and create an environment focused on rehabilitating minds and bodies through yoga, personal training, massage and Reiki.  I have my Reiki Level 1 certificate and I have been teaching Bikram yoga for 4 years and more recently Power Vinyasa.  I’ve always loved sharing my knowledge about sport, nutrition and fitness with others… It just took me a good 35 years to realize that it is possible take your passions and dreams and create lifestyle worth living ☺

Were you scared to take the leap of faith? How did it happen? Can you describe the feeling you experienced? Your mental state of being? Emotions?

One of the reasons I started seeking Clare’s help was because I felt like I was stuck in a life that was not meant for me and felt too old to change it, as well as carrying all the worries of the world on my shoulders.  After my first session I felt like some of my smaller woes had been lifted but the big issue of what to do with my life was still at hand.

During my second session with Clare I was given the affirmation “I’m committed to what serves me” which I was to say 10 times per day morning and night while tapping on my chin.  After the session I went through a couple of days of deep depression and ended up calling in sick at work (which is completely out of character for me).  I knew my body was trying to tell me something but I didn’t know what.  I forced myself to go for a walk through the bush and all of a sudden (no word of a lie), I felt like the universe opened up and hit me with an epiphany… I had to go back to school and finish my studies!!  It was right there In that moment that I felt absolute clarity for the first time in my life and have not looked back since!

What do you believe made you follow through? What was it that made you move towards your calling? 

When you have a moment in life that truly makes your heart sing, hold on to it!  In my moment of clarity my heart was wide open, pumping with excitement and happiness.  Every single part of me felt 100% sure of what I wanted my future to look like; there was no way I was going to ignore what the universe had in store for me and I wanted to feel this way forever!  I followed through with all the applications and paperwork, resigned from my job and moved back to my hometown in Napier, New Zealand.  Studying is definitely easier when it is something you have an interest in and a passion for.  I have never been happier and I can’t thank Clare enough for guiding me through the process and helping me gain the self belief and have the confidence to change my life!

How has Kinesiology + Coaching supported you through this process? How long have you been doing Kinesiology? Why do you keep returning to it? 

Before seeing Clare for the first time I felt like I did not know myself very well.  I struggled with depression; I struggled to understand why I reacted to things in a certain way and why I worried about things that I had no control over.  I had a great job, great friends, great family and I was healthy; but for some reason still felt so unsatisfied with my life and knew I needed help!  I usually have trouble expressing my feelings but the moment I met Clare, I basically opened my mouth and spilled the beans no problem at all… everything that I was unhappy with ended up in pages and pages of Clare’s notes.  Over three sessions, two weeks apart, Clare dug in deep and helped me to uncover what my passions were, how to deal with worry, and helped me to build my confidence and trust in myself to move forward.

It has been about a year since my last session with Clare and I feel her help and support  has been embedded for the long term.  I know myself more intimately now and I can recognize triggers of depression and am able to pin point the issue almost straight away and remedy it.  I’ve learnt to listen to my gut and trust that the decisions I make are the right ones for me. 

We all get off track at times. Fears creep back in. Resistance gets a hold of us. Inspiration doesn’t strike. What do you do to stay on track? What gets you back to centre? Is it people? Things? Philosophies? Yoga? 

Visualizing turning my dads workshop into my ‘yoga barn’ and helping others create a healthier happier lifestyle is my motivation.  I love learning about the human body and teaching yoga and I feel happy when I see my teaching has made a difference to someone else’s life for the better.  I still have my moments where I doubt myself and think three more years of study (being the age I am) feels like an eternity but I pull my head in and visualize my life 3-5 years from now and how happy I am going to be.

Who do you talk to? God/ Universe/ Angels/ Saints/Trees/All of the above? Can you describe your relationship with your spirituality? How does this contribute to you living the dream?

If I had to categorize myself I would say I am more spiritual than religious… I believe on one hand that you have to make things happen for yourself but on the other hand I believe that if you send positive vibes out to the universe, you’ll receive positive vibes back & vice versa with the negative.  The universe is full of messages, you just need to be open and  ready to hear them.  Sometimes you may not like what the universe gives you but that’s how we “live and learn” in order to move on to something better and brighter.

What’s one or two hard truths about taking the risk to blossom. What do people need to be aware of? 

Unfortunately sometimes people such as partners may be left behind as we go through this period of growth and transformation.  In my case I broke the heart of someone I truly care about; not because I fell out of love with him but because I felt we were no longer on the same level of vibration and my energy was being bought down a level each time I saw him (if that makes sense).  I didn’t like the person I was when I was with him and felt myself going back to my old ways of dark thoughts and depression… my body was telling me it was time to move on, let him go and create space for the universe to full with positive energy.

When some people go through a life change, it may mean giving up certain things in order to gain others.  In my case, it took a lot of courage to give up my security blanket.  For 15 years I had lived off a great income, which allowed me to live in a nice house, eat out at nice restaurants, go on awesome holidays and buy expensive clothing… All of which I was about to give up in order to become a student.  There were a lot of moments where anxiety and panic reared its ugly head but I continued to remind myself that I was working towards my dream which was more important than materialistic things.  I learnt to trust that the universe will provide me with the bits and pieces I needed, and to focus on the great things I had in my life that money can not buy… family, friends and receiving A’s on assignements!

What soulful advice do you have for those reading this, who too desire to live a life of purpose + passion?

Be kind to yourself and fill your life with positive affirmations. We as humans more often than not, will beat ourselves up with the negatives rather than focusing on the positives and allowing ourselves to feel happy and proud.  Listen to your gut and don’t let your “own self” make excuses for why you shouldn’t follow through with your dreams.

If you are feeling down, go to yoga or for a walk… they are both great for clearing space inside your mind, producing endorphins which make you feel good and who knows what epiphany’s the universe with send your way!  Once you have found what makes your heart truly sing, find out how you can incorporate it into your life and have the courage to follow through.

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Everyone’s dream is different. Have an insatiable curiosity about yours.
It’s time to blossom.