This year, we managed to organize our first Joy in me! trip! We took the girls to Zakopane, into beautiful natural surroundings, for a ski touring trip combined with yoga. Meet Kasia Tochman-Filip, the yoga instructor on the trip and an enthusiast of mindful nutrition. She tells us about her love for Poland and Spain, unique encounters, and endorphins.
You live and teach yoga in two countries – Poland and Spain. What do you value about these places, what do you like about them the most?
In Spain, I found peace, sunshine, and waves. In Poland, I love the people; I have friends and family here. I also come here for the mountains; my first and greatest passion is snowboarding. Even though the Sierra Nevada is about 300 km away, I still fly 3,500 km to the Tatra Mountains because that's where my most wonderful girls are.
Why did you become a yoga teacher? What does teaching others give you?
Contact with a person is the most valuable thing I can experience. I mostly teach at retreats and workshops. The moment someone comes up to me after their first yoga class asking where they can sign up because it was great—that’s the biggest satisfaction for me.
What made you fall in love with Spain?
That's a long story :) I live by the ocean, so instead of going for a run in the morning, I go surfing. In my town, it's really empty and beautiful off-season. Total peace. I don’t rush through the city, I don’t sit in traffic, and the time I save I spend with my family. The people are incredibly kind. No one overworks here, but everyone has time for walks on the beach. I’m still learning that sense of calm; I still shift from foot to foot when a driver stops in front of me just to say hello and chat with a neighbor.
You are very active; you surf and exercise. What does movement give you?
I’m actually a bit of a couch potato, so going out for yoga every day when it’s pitch black outside and so warm under the covers is a big challenge. But without movement, I feel terrible. When my body is strong and flexible, I feel unconstrained; every movement is a pleasure, and the more I move, the more I need it. Endorphins.
This is your next trip with Love Love Life. What do you like about these trips? What makes you want to be a part of them?
The girls, the girls, the girls. It’s an energy that can’t be described. Girls from different cities, with the most varied stories, connected by one passion. Fire. After a few hours, we feel like we’ve known each other for 10 years.
What do you admire in the girls? What is our superpower?
I admire the girls just as much as the guys, but the truth is that, socially, we have more roles to fulfill. We stand on our heads to keep up, and although it doesn't always work out, I feel like there are only superheroes around me.
What guides you in life?
My life is constantly changing, and with it, my perception of what is important and what makes sense. I have learned that there are no certainties and everything is possible. I focus on what is essential to me at this moment. Sometimes I have to let go of certain things to pursue others. I finished economics, psychology, and sexology. I became a yoga teacher in Spain. You never know.
I’m looking at your Instagram and seeing beautiful places. Do you have a dream place on Earth?
It’s certainly not one specific place, but I am increasingly escaping to nature; I need to “ground” myself. The energy of the city is great, but after 2 days, it overwhelms me.
What makes you happy?
It’s individual moments, times when I feel it in every cell of my body. Though it might not be visible on Instagram, life is not a fairytale. Everyone has their problems and challenges. Even if you live in the most beautiful place on Earth, you have dark days. But I try to catch the moments when I feel that I don't need anything more—everything is perfect just as it is.
You are an enthusiast of mindful nutrition. You founded Brain Salad, a company producing organic CBD oils. What is your mission as a company?
Above all, we want to raise awareness about how to take care of well-being. We believe that the power flowing from plants is key. Many people take care of their bodies but completely forget that the body and mind are two very closely linked mechanisms. Our goal is to restore balance and harmony in the body by reducing the influence of harmful factors such as stress, fatigue, and chronic pain.
Your favorite recipe?
Coffee made from good beans with a few drops of CBD oil in the morning.
