by Intuitive Living
Conscious Lifestyle for Health & Happiness
Ayako Miki
My journey from sick, stressed & unhappy, to healthy, fit & happy!
Went from struggle to living with ease. There´s a way forward...
Hello, this is my story!
Background
I was born in Örebro 1982. And this is where my musical journey started at Örebro Cultural School (an art school for young students), where they supported me wholeheartedly to the extent that it warms my heart to think about today. I didn´t think there was another path for me than performing as a classical pianist, so I just continued down that road. And I did well. I got several scholarships and awards. And at 18, I was accepted at both the Royal College of Music in Stockholm and The Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen with very high scores. In Denmark, the jury members even came out of the examination room to shake my hand, and I remember asking if my score was good. The professor said that they didn´t give any higher score. I chose to stay in Sweden though. Directly after high-school, I moved to Stockholm where I went to study for professor Staffan Scheja. At first, I was very inspired and driven,but the competitive environment and mentality stressed me, and after some time I got mentally exhausted. Clearly stress related.
The Move - New Coutry, New Life
Three years later, I continued my studies at the old music academy at H.C. Andersens Boulevard, in Denmark. (A big road running through Copenhagen). It was a beautiful old building, today turned into a luxury hotel. Here, I got some new energy and inspiration with a new, female pianist from Czeck, as my teacher. But the stress derived from both an over-ambition and lack of fun, came back. I also developed an eating disorder (bulimia). Later I understood that is was related to an addiction to refined carbs. To enjoy a good treat was relaxation to me, but I didn´t know how to do it in a healthy way, and refined carbs such as sugar and wheat didn´t make me feel good. All this happened in the middle of my time as a busy student. I also got memory difficulties based on lack of cholesterol (not enough meat and fish), and my overall lack of health. I did manage my studies though, and some periods were better than others.
2009 I was presented as 'rising star' in a concert series in Copenhagen. But it took me many years to heal my bulimia and a great deal of self-awareness and self-love. And one thing led to another. The new Swedish piano professor at the academy that was installed after professor José Ribera, unfortunately didn´t make things better, as he directly worked against my teacher´s students, whilst favoring his own. But, what doesn´t kill you makes you stronger, right? However, enough is enough, and I choose to quit my studies before time. When my viola player got sick the day before my chamber music exam, I saw it as my chance to say goodby. - A lifeline. For it´s limited how many dishonest and envious jury members you can tolerate. (I did however have two academic exams already.)
The Change & Rock Bottom
Life in Copenhagen started to feel like a lemon with no more juice to offer. I needed a change and a way out of my present squirrel wheel. I had ended my studies but continued to play. Yet, I needed more creative stimuli. And I needed more fun and ease, for life had become far too serious. That was when I begun doing some work as a model/actress for commercials, TV series and film. It was exciting and lots of fun in many ways, especially when I landed a small role as architecht assistant in the Danish TV series 'The Legacy'. I got to work side by side with some of the greatest actors and actresses in Denmark. (Some more pleasant than others.) But as a result of my unhealed self and lack of health, I also struggled financially, and I ended my time in Copenhagen in a small loft room reeking of old cigarette smoke. No dream situation for sure. However, I did my best to transform the room with the help of a friend, but no cleaning could remove the old cigarette smell... It was time to leave!
The Turning Point & Way Forward
One summer back in my hometown Örebro, I slowly but surely got a very strong intuitive feeling that I needed to move back home to Örebro. I left everything; home, friends, occupation, and a lot of belongings to ease the journey back home again. Then things moved quickly. It all happened in four month. When you make the right decision and time is up, things have a tendency to move quickly. In the train on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, the energy literally shifted, and I suddenly became aware of the heavy energy I had been living with in Copenhagen.
After the move back home to my mother who could support me as I started a new life and healed my wounds, an interest in health and lifestyle started to grow, which led to my lifestyle concept Intuitive Living - Conscious Lifestyle for Health & Happiness, as well as a diet change; my anti-inflammatory diet that I developed in step with my growing awareness and knowledge, which also healed my severe pollen allergy, eczema and watering eyes when outside. What a gift to be able to enjoy spring again!
The Insight & Choice
I realized that what most people ate, ordinary bread, cakes and sweets didn´t work for me. It didn´t make me feel good! On the contrary. And no, it´s not about balance, because what doesn´t make you feel good isn´t a good card to bet on no matter quantity! And when you´ve reached a relatively mature age, you realize that the bill always turn up on your table after dinner. If what you eat isn´t healthy for you, both your body and mind will suffer the consequences, and with time diseases start to develop. My grandpa was diagnosed with cancer, and he passed in year 2000. He loved sweets, but sweets did no good for him either. And he didn´t know how to bake healthy cakes and sweets. However, his death was an awakening for me. At first I got scared. I was afraid that it might happen me too. But then I realized that the power was in my hands. It was a choice! And I could choose to walk down a different street - without refined carbs (white flour and sugar), without pesticides and margarine, without taking my health and body for granted. So I did.
During five years I ran a blog where I shared my knowledge regarding health & diet, sustainability, personal growth, yoga and everything relative to my lifestyle, including healthy recipes - both sweet and savory. But as I don´t like the present blog concept which is all about you being a advertising pillar or market place if you will, for other companies' products, whilst you give your own value and content away for free, it came to an end. Something new is however growing, for those who are ready for a health transformation and new life.
My Yoga Journey
The summer 2018, I started my yoga journey on top of my head. Yes, I started with sirasana (headstand). Don´t ask me why, but it felt right to me. And it was lucky that I didn´t give up when I didn´t manage to get my butt up in the air, because I did succeed eventually, and then I developed quickly and was very happy with my yoga practice in the comfort of my own home. Yoga strengthened me in all ways, it helped me to feel better and love my body that became very toned thanks to my yoga practice. And I realized that this physical challenge was something I had longed for my whole life! Amazing! No, those group cardio classes was never for me. I get bored without challenge! And as I never was a gym girl, this was the perfect solution for me. Because surely, I got enough strength training through my yoga practice! Well, enough to be able to pick up a proper outdoor table made of solid wood and metal, and take a turn with it. I´ve gotten almost too strong according my mum. But just almost. 😉
With time i developed my own yoga practice called Intuitive Yoga. I also started a instagram account for Intuitive Yoga here. Warning; I´m a pincha-lover!
Health & Sustainability in Wholeness
For many years I mingled with health experts, farmers and soil experts, as well as sustainability experts on social media. It was during a time when I did a whole lot of research for health and sustainability. I realized that health, sustainability and climate was all interconnected and not separated matters. This led to my international interview series A Sustainable World. I interview some of our world´s greatest expert within their fields that in different ways work for sustainability. A Sustainable World offers three very unique and profound interviews. By 2022 it had reached the whole world. - All continents and 56 countries in one year. In other words; gone viral. Something I didn´t expect. I just wanted to learn more and share what I had learned. But apparently I wasn´t alone.
To Find My Path & Arrive at Home
And here I stand today, taking no meds whatsoever. I´m stronger than ever, both mentally and physically. I feel good in myself and with myself. And I´ve found a great balance and flow in life, as well as a way to enjoy life fully without compromising with my heath and well-being! - A super important key for me! And I find myself enjoying life and treats more than ever. In addition - without guilt nor any extra weight around the waist. You know that feeling of your jeans digging into your stomach when you sit down? It may be a small detail, but a detail I´m very grateful for not experiencing any more. 😉
My journey has also brought me a great sense of faith both in myself and my life, as well as a constant inspiration as a result of connecting with my own light and true self. Inner wounds are unfortunately like clouds blocking your light. But when your wounds are healed nothing can stop you! Today, I´ve taken back my power. It´s my life and my power, and my future lies in my hands. The most important matter however, must be to simply feel good - both mentally and physically. And that´s a reality I have reached/arrived at, today. I´ve been my own shrink, healer, doctor & PT/yoga teacher. And apparently, it has worked very well, because both my body and mind is in better shape than when I was in my twenties! And above that, I´ve been able to inspire/guide professional psychologists, motivational speakers, and coaches much older than me. So, I reckon my journey has brought me some positive results. The confusion is gone and the direction is clear. However, everything happens at the right time. No sooner, nor later.
You can read more about diet & health here.
With love & light, Ayako
"Sometimes, Ayako, your intuitive insights have the accuracy of a laser scope."~ Mark Thompson
"You bring light with your views and life perspective. A rare thing." ~ Philip (Life coach)
"Ayako... You are such a wonderful person that words fail to describe you. Your words are like magic." ~ Dr. Urmee Jahan
"You are Einstein in words!" ~ A. s. Angelo (Illustrator & performing artist)
"Very thought-provoking."~ Gemma Evans (Founder of healthHackers)
"You are a deep thinking person and an independent thinker. There are not many people like that in the world, so it is up to people like you to wake other people up." ~ Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride (Founder of GAPS)
"I shall read more of what you´ve written, as I always think it´s very good." ~ Hanna Ljung (Board-certified psychologist & Scientist, PhD in clinical neuroscience)
"A rarity that few will meet in a life time... It's your writing and playing that made me feel so real that I felt unreal."~ Anonymous
"Your way of being is inspiring to me. Lucky are those who get to absorb your spirit." ~ Patrick Combs (Motivational speaker & bestselling author)
"It is so nice to be enlightened with your presence." ~ Nati
"The first thing to notice is that you have an amazing brain and are a genius at heart..."~ Anonymous
"In the garden, you are the most special flower." ~ Vivian Van
