Luca Hadassah Bogen

I have been practicing yoga for 6 years, and became a yoga teacher in December 2017. My experience of yoga really began when I became a teacher, as it was through my training I came to realise that yoga is so much more than stretching and asanas. Training in India, Bali, Vietnam and Nepal with teachers from all walks of life, broadened the spectrum of yoga for me, and now I see yoga more than just a daily practice, it is a way of life.

March-April 2018 : Pokhara, Nepal. I taught daily traditional style Hatha lessons at Umbrella.

May and June 2018: Private lessons in Gozo, Malta in Hatha and Ashtanga, focusing mainly on teaching beginners.

September 2018: Monte De Orada Retreat, Portugal. I volunteered here at this forest retreat in southern Portugal for one month. I taught classes to volunteers and air bnb guests with styles varying from Hatha, Ashtanga and Yin as well as pranayama meditations. Other work involved working in the permaculture gardens and cooking vegan and vegetarian food for the retreat guests.

October 2018: Golden Waves, Portugal. I taught at this surf and yoga retreat for one month Vinyasa Flow and Yin.

Before I became a teacher, I worked at two yoga studios in England (my birth country). For 7 months I had the position of the Assistant Manager at Camyoga in Cambridge, where I worked on the reception mostly and hosting the studios. In this position I also worked on sales, promotion, events and helped in the yoga cafe.

The second studio I worked at was Triyoga, Camden in London. Here I started in the yoga shop managing all of the stock and assisting customers with which . yoga mat to buy, clothes, essential oils, eco cosmetics, props etc. I then went to work for Katia at the Nectar Cafe in the same studio where I prepared vegan, vegetarian and raw food goodies for all of the clients.

My love for healthy food continues as I create and post my own recipes on my blog http://www.risingonearth.com. This has become a hobby of mine for some years now, and it is a deep interest of mine to keep discovering how food is our medicine. This led me to study Ayurveda in India for 3 months on a Diploma course, broadening my understanding of how we eat, when we eat and what we eat. I hope to one day soon cook for more yogis!

Before I found yoga, I studied fashion and worked in the marketing sector of fashion in England. I interned for Vogue India and Elle UK giving me a lot of experience with styling and photo shoots. I also worked for London Fashion Week on production and backstage, gaining experience in events. Although fashion is not my main interest now, I use my skills to help with promotion, sales and events in all kinds of jobs.

During my travels, I have visited many places and volunteered with NGO’s, charities and projects ranging from teaching children in Malawi and Vietnam, to building earth bag buildings in Nepal, to empowering women in Malawi to create their own businesses. I have lived in communities from Bali to India, travelled in groups, in a camper van, with a partner, and on my own. From all of these experiences I would say I have learnt a lot more than any “job” I’ve ever had. I am truly grateful, and I’m still on the road welcoming new experiences.