Home is Where the Soul Breathes Freely

There’s a strange kind of magic in how we can find ourselves in the middle of nowhere — surrounded by unfamiliar streets, new faces, unfamiliar landscapes — and yet feel deeply at home. At peace. As though, in stepping outside of everything we’ve ever known, we’ve finally stepped into ourselves.

And then, paradoxically, we can return to the very place we were born — the place that holds our childhood, our roots, our history — and feel like a stranger there. As though we’ve outgrown its version of us. As though we’re wearing someone else’s skin.

Maybe home isn’t a place.

Maybe it’s not where you came from.

Maybe home is wherever your soul can breathe freely.

As I navigate the familiar yet foreign festival lands in California, I can’t help but reflect on the poignant contrast between the pulse of my former homes in New York, Berlin, and Zanzibar. Each of these cities became a sanctuary where my identity as a yoga teacher, an artist, and a DJ flourished — a place where I could encourage curiosity, playfulness, and deep self-exploration in my community.

Returning to the U.S. has illuminated my profound disconnection. The vibrant multicultural backdrop I cherished, where I heard five languages in a single day, feels replaced by a monotony lacking depth. I miss the richly woven tapestry of Berlin's eclectic spirit, the nurturing connections of New York, and the genuine warmth of Zanzibar. Here in California, amidst the excitement of the festival, I, for the most part, feel the stark absence of that cultural vibrancy that once ignited my passion and purpose

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And yet, this homesickness is not merely a longing for a place; it’s a reflection of my evolution. It signals a need to honor the changes in my identity and seek spaces that align with my essence. While I wrestle with feelings of unease, I am reminded that the seeker within is resilient, filled with hope for what lies ahead. I yearn to find new underground worlds, spaces where creativity and community thrive, allowing my soul to flourish once more.

Staying Authentic in Motion

As we move through the world — new places, new people, shifting energies — it’s easy to lose our footing. We can start to mirror our surroundings, shape-shift to fit in, or perform versions of ourselves that aren’t quite real.

But staying authentic while traveling isn’t about resisting change. It’s not about staying the same. It’s about staying anchored as you evolve. It’s about checking in with your own center, even as the landscape around you changes.

That’s where practice comes in.

Practice as Portable Home

As Oscar Wilde once said, "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." This profound reminder invites us to embrace our unique essence, a task easier said than done in a world buzzing with expectations and influences. When we step into new environments and immerse ourselves in unfamiliar landscapes, the pressure to conform can weigh heavily.

This is where practice becomes essential. It creates a framework—a sanctuary amidst the chaos—where you can pause, reflect, and reconnect with the art that resides within you. It offers a sacred space to peel back the layers of external noise and rediscover the authentic self that is sometimes obscured by the cacophony of life.

In the midst of new experiences and shifting energies, your practice serves as a guiding compass, reminding you that staying true to yourself isn’t about resistance; it’s about embracing transformation while anchored in your core values. Each breath taken in yoga, every word penned in your journal, becomes a stroke of artistry on the canvas of your life, inviting you to express who you truly are — vibrant, multifaceted, and unapologetically real.

When you cultivate this internal landscape, you create a portable home that travels with you, allowing you to navigate unfamiliar terrains with confidence and grace. Here, you can bloom wherever you are planted, transforming every journey into an opportunity for self-affirmation and creative expression.

Whether it’s yoga, breathwork, meditation, journaling, or any ritual that brings you back to yourself — a practice is like a sacred thread. It weaves through the chaos, the beauty, the adventure, and the unknown, and reminds you of who you are.

Your practice becomes a portable sanctuary.

A practice doesn’t tether you — it frees you. It reminds you that you can be grounded and open, rooted and wild, stable and expansive. That you can belong to yourself, no matter where you are.

The Art of Remembering

When the world feels unfamiliar…

When you're wandering new cities or dancing under desert moons…

When you forget your name in a new time zone or don’t recognize your reflection in a moment of transformation…

Your practice always reminds you:

You are still you.

You are still held.

You are still home.

If you're seeking a way to stay grounded, reconnect, and move from a place of inner truth while traveling (or simply navigating this wild life), I invite you to practice with me or inquire about a Transpersonal Coaching Session or Mentorship.

Explore free classes, guided flows, and soulful movement on my YouTube channel— a space created to help you come home to yourself, again and again.

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Katzi