When it comes to health and wellness, science educator slash yoga instructor Tee Nan shares how even the smallest of choices have impacted his goals. “I want to live the highest quality of life,” says Nantiyakul when speaking about indulging in “sustainable practices that are fun, progressive and challenging.” Instructing at Asaya Wellness and XYZ,  Nantiyakul applauds the numerous skilled teachers who he calls his mentors. “They gave me the space to be my own teacher. That process inspires me because it means that I can learn anything,” he shares. 

By soulfully connecting with aspiring yogis, Nantiyakul's practice is more than a stress release that stretches the body, but a journey that explores the mind and physicality. "It is more than a passion or a career; it’s a calling where I’m a guide to pass on what’s honest to my students," he says.

With restrictions slowly opening up, Nantiyakul looks back on his past lockdown moments of unproductivity: “I’m naturally positive! When I practice my pranayama (breathing exercises) and turn upside down—it’s natural highs all day. Not only have I enjoyed teaching online classes for my clients and family—I’ve also taken classes from other experienced teachers worldwide."

Soon to be reunited at the studio, the thought of how his clients' have grown from online practices, and the celebration of their consistency is all he’s looking forward to. “I miss the energy of people before and after practice or training.”

To yoga and meditation instructor Natalie Söderström, fitness and wellness are made simple. “If you look at your life as a circle where things such as diet and movement are pieces in a pie—the other pieces are relationships, purpose, finances, work, creativity and so forth.”

Improvement and consistency are the two pillars of her life. Having approached her first teacher training, Söderström recalls how rediscovering herself was never a part of the plan. “The deeper the practice became, the more I felt I had to share it with others. It wasn't always easy, considering my feelings of shyness." Speaking of how yoga enabled her to step out of her comfort zone, she says, “it soon became about sharing what I love and letting that be the force to bestow joy and peace on others.”  

Though negatives dwelled on Söderström over the lockdown, “a simple routine of waking up, showering and getting out of pyjamas” helped her. Daily walks, exploring new hiking trails and calling up friends and families became her solace. "It felt like I was given this opportunity and gift of time knowing it was not going to last forever. It really became all about mindset,” she says. 

“It’s so often we push difficult emotions away because we don’t know how to handle them, but by doing that, it eventually blows up,” Söderström reminds us all. With excitement about teaching in person again, the young wellness advocate can only remember her own words of motivation: “love, kindness and compassion.”

“What I've been focused on for the past two years is that we can't control anything around us except our own happiness. It begins with you, your mindset and your heart,” states Cortes. 

Believing that fitness and well-being should be a concept accessible to everyone, the yoga and all-around fitness trainer reveals how a “large part of [his] drive behind becoming a trainer was to motivate and influence no matter a person's ability, size or speed.” 

Amidst the lockdown, Cortes reveals how he went through a divorce, which catapulted his acknowledgement toward self-care. Whether it be “therapy, meditation, yoga, breathwork, journaling or healthy eating—I did everything I could to give myself space and allow myself to feel.” Switching to a brighter outlook, “there is always a lesson to learn in adversity,” he says. "It’s all about your mindset."

As the trainer delved into looking after health as a whole, he warmly shares a glimpse of his ‘happy list’ which was compiled during the lockdown. He found the simplest of glee in sunbathing, watching his favourite television show and scheduling intricate tasks in his diary. “This way I know a few times a day, I am hitting those happy beats and no matter what's going on around me, I will have treated myself to a few things that put a smile on my face,” Cortes says. 

“I'm looking forward to the camaraderie and connection that comes along with a group class setting,” where he recalls his jubilation of having spent “45-60 minutes sweating with people and having a common thread of pushing the limit.” 

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