Valentina Vecchi is a yogini from Milano who, for ten years now, has been working to help people rediscover their inner strength, reconnecting it to the laws of the universe; in other words, she helps people tune in to "the right frequency of their dreams", as she says. All her work is built around Pranayama (breathing) techniques, meditation, rebalancing of the body's energy blocks with Dien Chan, and the reprogramming of daily rituals for a healthier living and a more conscious self-development.

But how does a woman who made mindfulness and harmony the core of her job live her home?

Laura from our team - who has been Valentina’s student for more than one year - had a chat with her about the multifaceted concept of Home, to understand how we can all live our spaces with more harmony and serenity, to find ourselves and feel the moment.

What does it mean, for a yogini, to love her home?

Home for me is like entering in myself, the most intimate and welcoming place I know; it’s escape from moments that are often too much chaotic; it’s rest; it’s desire of making new things. Home is also surrounding myself with perfumes, objects, colors and lights that I love and that make me feel totally myself.

According to yoga principles, how can we live our house in a conscious way? In other words: are there rituals, practices that we should all adopt at home to live the magic of the ordinary with harmony?

The most important ritual for me is to create perfume inside the rooms, either from an incense (that also helps in purification) or an essential oil or a scented lit candle. In addition, keeping order and being able to get rid of what we don't use is essential to make us feel free and light within our space and to give room to the new.

Being able to be amazed by the space around us and being grateful every day: we believe these are two essential attitudes to feel good at home. What else should we work on to feel more connected to our home, in your opinion?

I do think it’s crucial to surround ourselves with everything that makes us feel good; cleaning our space - without regret - from objects that are no longer part of the person we are at that moment is also important. I believe that the memories that these objects can give us remain inside with no need to fill our home of too many things.

We often hear that "living" - truly - in this world means slowing down, listening, "not doing". What do you think about this theory?

I think that everything exists for a precise balance of opposites and therefore yes, it is right to stop and slow down and savor the details of life; but it is important as well to give our life the right amount of action and dynamism, to create new adventures, projects, ideas.

Tell us about the domestic dimension of meditation. Can keeping a room for meditation enrich and somehow amplify the space at home? Or do you advise against it?

Meditation goes beyond the space where you are: it is escape and at the same time return home within yourself. Ideally I think it is a wonderful opportunity to have a space in our home dedicated to this practice, but it’s not necessary. True meditation is when everything around you is noise and disorder but within you it’s just peace and silence.

The most difficult question in the end, as always: tell us in a word what’s home for you.

Heart.

What’s your concept of Home? We’re eager to hear your story.

Share your concept of Home with us

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