This HOT 6 interview features a very good friend of mine. I met her during my time in Los Angeles, we participated in the same yoga teacher trainer course. She is the one who introduced me to Ayahuasca and for that I will be forever thankful! It’s been so fun watching each other grow in our friendship. With no further introduction I present Ksenia Luki.
What is it that you do? Who would benefit from seeing you?
My name is Ksenia, I am a Massage Therapist, Yoga Teacher and a Reiki Master/Teacher. My healing practice is based on the notion that the body, heart, mind and spirit are connected and that each aspect of ourselves influences the whole.
A physical problem in the body may lead to emotional problems and vice versa simply because imbalances on one level may also appear on another level. I believe that anyone who is on a journey towards physical, emotional and spiritual balance would benefit from this healing work.
There is so much pressure in today’s society to have it all, see all and be all. How do you counter the stress that this brings and find balance in your life?
Breathe. Breathwork is such a powerful instrument for releasing negative emotions in a non-negative way. Sometimes all we need to come back to our center and to a place of inner balance is a series of controlled, long, deep breaths. This is referred as Pranayama, diaphragmatic or so-called abdominal breathing.
In moments of stress and anxiety, controlled breathing calms down the nervous system by reducing symptoms of the ‘’fight-or-flight” response. This means that you can reduce the levels of stress hormones in your blood, decrease lactic acid buildup in muscle tissue, and lower your blood pressure and heart rate just by being mindful and disciplined with your breath.
When I practice Yoga, I make sure to take long and loud cleansing exhales throughout the class. It always feels like I am intentionally releasing and letting go of my stress. I definitely recommend looking into Mindful Meditation and practicing it every day, even if it’s 5 or 10 minutes. Simply focus on your breathing, observe it, and stay present. You can literally rewire your brain and change the ways you react to stress.
Breath is the most accessible tool in combating stress and maintaining balance in life; it is always there for you, just learn to use it.
What does it mean to you to live a healthy life?
I think living a healthy life means treating your body, mind, and spirit with love and respect. It means to make conscious healthy choices in every level of your life based on what serves your highest potential and happiness best. It could be choosing good food, leaving toxic relationships, finding an outlet for your creative expression, or learning something new. Living a healthy life is to radiate the energy of love both externally and internally.
What are the top three things you do to contribute to saving this planet?
I want to begin my answer by quoting Alan W. Watts: “… here is a solar system inside a galaxy, and one of the peculiarities of this solar system is that at least on the planet earth, the thing peoples! In just the same way that an apple tree apples!” I think understanding this mother-child relationship between me and the Planet has really affected the way I do certain things in life. I recycle, consume minimal plastic, and follow the “leave no trace” rule – I always pick up trash, whether it’s mine or not.
We should always start with ourselves, but helping others raise their environmental awareness is also extremely important.
For almost a year and a half now, I’ve been working with the plant teacher, Ayahuasca. I see how it is changing global environmental consciousness by healing our relationships with Earth. Ayahuasca teaches us many things, among them that we have forgotten about our connection to nature and are hurting ourselves by hurting the planet. I am very grateful for the opportunity to share this message and also reexamine my contribution to saving our planet. I am sure I can do more.
What are your favorite health habits/routines?
Yoga and meditation, organic food, massage, a glass of warm water with lemon in a morning, vitamins and supplements (remember to take your turmeric every day!!!), laughter, saying NO to fluoride, drinking water, listening to my body, drinking alcohol only on extremely rare occasions, chanting mantras and praying, constantly learning, having open and honest conversations with my partner. Pretty much everything that makes me feel good physically and emotionally.
What’s the best advice you have for us on how to live life to the fullest?
Turn Fear into Power. Only your mind poisoned by fear can stop you from being truly and fully happy, nothing and no one else can. Face your fears and transform them into motivation for growth! All of us are empowered to make positive changes and live life to the fullest.
Be Yourself! I believe that when we stop trying to fulfill somebody else’s expectation about us and fully accept ourselves for who we are, we get a chance to live our purpose and grow spiritually. Deep inside we all know what’s best for us and what makes us happy. So set your intentions and goals, examine your self-limiting beliefs and the way you speak about yourself and your abilities, break your own patterns, and follow your dreams!