Personal and Professional Development
Born in 1968 in the Netherlands, I discovered my love for cats, playing outside with friends,
piano and ballet lessons, summer days, and water at a young age. At twelve, I began my
dance training at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. After six intensive years, I started my
career as a ballet dancer with the Scapino Ballet, which was then based in Amsterdam. In
1991, I moved to Switzerland to dance with the Zürcher Ballett
New Directions and Inspiration
One month before my 25th birthday, my dance career came to a definitive end following a
diagnosis of MS. Shortly after, I moved to the USA to be with my boyfriend and start a new
life. I earned a Master’s Degree in Arts Management from New York University and
completed training as a Gyrotonic movement instructor. Back in the Netherlands, I found
inspiration in teaching Gyrotonic classes at the White Cloud Studio in Amsterdam, where I
met my current husband. Together, we had a daughter in 2002 and combined our
disciplines in a practice space for Shiatsu and Gyrotonic.
Enrichment and Further Development
The need for change and the discovery of the Green School led to the decision to move to
Bali with our 8-year-old daughter. Although it was a magical year, the climate, with its high
humidity, had a negative effect on my health. Filled with unforgettable memories, we
resumed our life in Amsterdam. I continued to teach Gyrotonic classes until my body could
no longer handle it. My quest for health continued, and I deepened my understanding of
health and the human psyche. I took various courses, such as ‘The Biology of Belief’ by Bruce
Lipton, ‘Plant-Based Nutrition’ by Colin Campbell, and the multi-year live training in
Archetypal Medicine with Dr. R. Dahlke. During a weekend in Italy at Lynn McTaggart’s
‘Power of Intention,’ I came into contact with someone who ultimately led me to the ‘MAP
Coaching Institute.’ Since 2020, I have been active as a MAP coach and affiliated with the
MAP institute.