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.