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My holistic wellness journey began in 2000, during the recovery period of a sports accident that caused me a severe spinal fracture, when I was 26 years old. This injury and the healing process was a transformational turning point in my life. After full recovery, I become a disciplined yoga & meditation practitioner and then, a certified yoga and mindfulness instructor.​​ The first training I took was the powerful healing energy work: Reiki. Later, I began to explore various spiritual paths and other energy healing modalities, which led me to yoga. I started practicing yoga, ​to help with my lower back pain, cope with stress and emotional regulation while I was working full time as a corporate relations consultant in Istanbul. 

 

In 2004, I completed my first yoga teacher training (vyasa-Vivekananda Yoga Therapy University). I was given the name "Divya" by my teacher, meaning 'divine power'. After my training, I volunteered to work as a teacher assistant for Vyasa YICC for two years and then started to work at several yoga studios in Istanbul. In the meantime, I began teaching yoga to children of all age groups at schools, creating the first children's yoga program and the first kids' yoga website in Turkey, the 'yOgaMini Project'.​In 2008, I published a Turkish children's yoga book called 'Lotus Çiçekleri-yOgaMini Projesi' and donated the earnings of my book to support children's education in a public school in Malawi. ​

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After moving to South Africa with my husband and daughter, I came across the Tibetian Buddhist lineage, Shambhala (shambhala.org) at a Buddhist Retreat Center and I decided to pursue my mindfulness & meditation trainings with Shambhala. I have been following the Tibetan Buddhist Shambhala lineage for more than a decade now. Upon completion of the first part of the  trainings at Shambhala centers in South Africa, USA, The Netherlands and France, I received the special Shambhala name 'Good Awake Sunlight'.

 

​When I moved back to Turkey, I co-founded a yoga studio with my colleague in Izmir. Durin the following years, I have also started giving private yoga therapy sessions for clients with various ailments and chronic conditions (MS, scoliosis, ALS, chronic lower back pain, herniated disc issues, ADD, depression, anxiety, panic attack, fibromyalgia, adrenal fatigue and burnout). 

Between the years 2011-2017; I completed Paul & Suzee Grilley’s Yin Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Thai massage Level I-II and Level III certification trainings in The Netherlands & Thailand. In addition, received Wellness Coaching certification training from NESTA Spencer Institute, USA.​ In 2017, I founded my company 'Holistic Wellness' in The Netherlands. 

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I am also an avid Karma yoga practitioner and actively participate in various Seva/volunteer yoga projects since 1998 in Turkey, South Africa, Malawi, The Netherlands and India, especially regarding children's and teens' health & education.  I attended several seminars and workshops regarding trauma-sensitive yoga and taught 'Recovery Yoga' classes for addiction at a recovery center in Amsterdam for three years. I took part in seva projects such as delivering medicine to Himalayan villages and I also volunteered as a yoga teacher in Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India.  Click here to find more about my Seva work and volunteer projects. 

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Throughout these years, I have written over 90 articles (in Turkish and English) about my travels, yoga, mindfulness, meditation, Thai massage and sailing. My articles in Turkish can be found in my blog: YogaDivya.net . Some of these articles were published in the following magazines: Yelken Dünyası, Trendsetter, Tempo and digital yoga magazine 'Yoga Dergisi'.

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I had the privilege to attend several trainings, International yoga conferences, workshops and retreats with world-renowned teachers, such as Sarah Powers, Paul Grilley, Cyndi Lee, Seane Corn, Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, Mooji, Peter Levine, Lee Holden, Donna Eden, Farrah Garan and Tiffany Cruikshank. Click here to find more information about the education/trainings that I have attended. I also have organised several yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, coaching and Yoga Nidra workshops in the past years.

 

 I currently reside in Amsterdam, in The Netherlands and I offer group & private yoga classes and various Holistic Wellness programs.​