Soulbalance

Hi, it’s Saru again! I thought you may want to read more into my story, apart from the brief introduction on my homepage. Perhaps you’ve gone through similar experiences in your life, or perhaps you’re just curious. I hope there’s something for everyone here :) 

My father is South Indian and my mother Sri Lankan. I was born in Sri Lanka but the Jaffna War made it unsafe for our family to live there, so the earliest years of my life were mainly spent in South India. When I was 9 we moved again, but this time to a Jaffna War refugee camp in Germany. 

For 2 years, I lived amongst other traumatized immigrants, some of whom sexually abused me. Everything felt so out of control and scary…when we moved out of the camp and into our own flat, things improved but continued to be difficult. We were not welcome in this new land, and my family and I endured racism and rejection in Germany. Inside our home, there was tension and stress too, as my parents were forced to take underpaid jobs because their qualifications didn't mean anything outside of their home countries. These events in my early life planted so much fear, anger, and distrust in me. It would be years until I was able to transform my pain to create something beautiful with it.

I was finally at a breaking point—my body was in pain and my heart felt heavy. I decided to take a chance and move from Germany, where I never felt I truly belonged anyhow. Landing in Alentejo, Portugal, the positive changes set in motion almost immediately. I began dancing wildly, running hard, practicing yoga, and spending time in nature to give both my body and mind the attention they craved. 

As I gained strength and softened my heart, I felt compelled to help others struggling with themselves. So, I began work as a systemic coach for troubled youth. During my time in this role, I grew immeasurably. It was a tough environment where many of the kids had only learned violence and manipulation to get their needs met. But instead of crumbling or quitting, I used it as a teaching for my personal growth. I learned how to care for myself so I can be of service, how to lead with compassion, and how to combine therapeutic methods with my own life experience so I can guide others more effectively.

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Though as all things come to an end, I decided to let go of my job with the facility after 8 years. I traveled to India for the first time in 35 years, earning my teacher’s training in Hatha yoga, and created Soulbalance. With Soulbalance, I am offering all the tools that helped me the most on my own path. My dream is for my clients to reach the highest expression of who they are, free of shame and full of passion for life.

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