02/27/2026
Over the years, I have come to realize that mountains offer something many people quietly long for — Peace and clarity.
Since opening my studio in 2014, I have noticed something very clear. The people who come to my classes and retreats are often those who have devoted their lives and professions to helping others. They study deeply, train continuously, and work tirelessly in service of others. They are very good at what they do — caring, giving, and holding space for so many. Yet, they are often the ones who need time and space for themselves the most.
Again and again, I witness how important it is for those who support others to have a place where they, too, can rest, reconnect, and return to themselves.
My first experience with high mountains was at the South Base Camp near Everest in 2018. On the way back, we took the Qinghai–Tibet Railway — the highest train route in the world — reaching 5,072 meters (16,640 feet) above sea level at Tanggula Pass. The journey from Lhasa to Xining took about 22 hours. I don’t think I slept at all. I kept my eyes open from day to night, watching vast open landscapes where life felt slower, simpler, and far away from the noise of modern life, and just listening and feeling the movement and the sound of train.
Something shifted in me during this trip. The space, the altitude, and the stillness created an inner quiet I had never experienced before. It wasn’t an idea or a clear vision — it felt more like an inner space opening within me. In that moment, I realized how much clarity comes when we step outside of our usual environment.
There is a unique energy in high mountains — from Mount Everest to the Andes Mountains— that gently brings us back into alignment. They ground our nervous system, invite deeper breathing, and open our minds, eyes, and hearts. When there is no constant agenda, the mind softens, and what truly matters becomes easier to see. We return able to serve others without feeling stressed or overwhelmed.
Mountains don’t rush us. They remind us to listen.
For those of you whose life’s work is to serve others — social workers, doctors, caregivers, and all who give so much of themselves — this message is for you. Peace and clarity are not something we force; they are something we allow. When we step away from the noise and reconnect with the natural rhythm of life, decisions become simpler, vision becomes clearer, and we return to our work more aligned with who we truly are.
Sometimes the most powerful work begins by standing still long enough to hear what is already within us.
How do you make space in your life for allowing?
