Anicca was branded in my head kind of unexpectedly as I encountered a severe depression.

 

I had been trying to dig myself out of the hell I found myself in for a month. I was confused, directionless and afraid. I don’t remember how, but I stumbled across the term Anicca. It stuck with me because of it’s meaning. In Eastern philosophy it is notable for its role in the Buddhist three marks of existence.  Anicca represents Impermanence. In simpler terms, all things in our universe – change; nothing stays the same.

 

I thought at the time, this is pretty cool! And I knew, deep inside that I would not be in the depression I was experiencing forever. Anicca! But nothing was changing for me. I was still lost.

 

One day I got out of the shower and noticed that I had lost a significant amount of weight. 30 lbs. to be exact (13 kgs). As I looked at myself in the mirror, I git somewhat angry. Questioning to myself – “Who are you???”

I knew at that moment that I needed help. I knew that I alone was not going to be able to get myself out of the depression and move forward.

 

Fast forward, I went to India in the coming weeks and enrolled in S-VYASA University which is an accredited Centre of Advanced Research (CAR) in Yoga and Neurophysiology to understand how an integrated approach of Yoga, Ayurveda, Naturopathy, Acupuncture, Physiotherapy, Psychotherapy, Diet, and nutrition is applied for treating Non-Communicable Disease and promotion of Positive Health.

 

Next, I traveled to an ashram in the north where I participated in a 10-day Vipassana Meditation. Here, you lock away your phones, computers, tablets, notepads, even your watch and go 10 days without speaking. This was unlike any meditation I had ever practiced. One is taught to focus on your sensations and let them go. The biggest lesson taught was about Anicca.

 

Anicca! I heard of that before! It was in this experience where I truly learned and experienced all about Anicca. How to let go. How change comes when you let go. How powerful the mind is and how we can learn to manage it and our thoughts. Mind over matter if you may.

 

Upon completion of my studies at S-VYASA University and the Vipassana Meditation, I had no more depression. Was I back to 100%? No, but I was well equipped to better myself and become the best version of myself by combining things that I already knew, along with the new practices I learned at S-VYASA and the new meditation technique I learned with Vipassana.

 

Not only was I able to come out of the depression, but I also self-healed myself from sleep apnea and syncope through breathing exercises and reducing my internal inflammation. I was ecstatic and feeling like a new person! So, what’s next?

 

Well, 6 months went by as I returned to Colombia. The COVID-19 Pandemic began. Politics in my home country had families and friends turning on each other. Children were forced into virtual classes. The balance of energy in our world felt off. I felt off. Then the intuitive voice that had been gone for so long until found again through my meditation whispered “I think it’s time you do another 10-day Vipassana).

 

I thought, “why not?” I had just moved into a cabin in the Andes mountains outside of Bogotá, surrounded by forest and nature so it was the perfect setting to not be disturbed or interrupted. I set a schedule to wake at 4am and meditate 8x a day, 1 hour each sitting, following the same practice as I followed at the ashram in India. It was brutal but rewarding!

 

During my meditations I listened to the inner voice saying to me that I have a wealth of knowledge that can help people in need with and it would be a damn shame if I sat on it and kept it all to myself. I began envisioning adding some improvements to the cabin and prepare it to receive others to share these teachings.

 

I referred back to one of my passions, drawing, designing, planning after the 10 days were over. The construction was challenging and very slow which tried my patience and sometimes temperature. But knowing what good this would bring kept me motivated and putting more good energy in the project of development.

 

Over the next year I designed wellness programs shaped from my own life and professional experiences and teachings I accumulated from all over the world. I coached many in these practices successfully. I went from being a high-profile Global Consultant helping transform businesses into highly efficient, productive, profitable organizations, in addition to helping individuals transform their lives through reducing stress, anxiety and burnout through time management, increasing focus and raising their performance while introducing valuable mind – body balance methods.

 

Anicca has been a subtle reminder since it entered my mind during my depression. The Law of Impermanence was part of my journey and a daily note to self that change is inevitable. So, what better name to have for my mission? Anicca Wellness aims to bring positive change to individuals and groups, here in Colombia or anywhere else in the world life is to take me.

 

My retreats are not identical to each person as we are all different. Therefore, I take pride in giving focused attention and customizing my programs to the individual for a day, weekend or more. Small group retreats of no more than 3 people are welcome for a full day retreat of balance and proper disconnect.

 

Anicca Wellness, serving the globe with intention, awareness and most of all, LOVE.