By Martine, The Netherlands
Table of Contents
Half West half East: a new way
Recently, I realised that our daughter, Anna, has spent almost half of her life in the Netherlands and half in India. It felt like a moment to reflect: what does this actually mean? Does it make her different? Does it make a difference where you live at all? Is there truly a Western or Eastern way of life, and does it define who you become?
When we took Anna for the first time to India during a Christmas holiday, when she was eight years old, people often asked her how she felt being there. Her answer was simple: “Normal”.
And that is exactly what we saw in her. From the first moment she arrived, she naturally joined whatever came on her path.
For Remco (my husband) and me, it was very similar. We both felt a strong connection with India. Even before we first met, in a Yoga studio, each of us already felt drawn to go there. In fact, during our very first walk together along the beach in Scheveningen, we spoke mostly about our experiences, interests, and love for India.
Yet over time, it became clear that it was not just about India itself. The path was leading us towards Yoga, the deeper understanding of life and how to live it in a way that expresses its full potential.
From the moment Anna was born, we both felt a strong wish to offer her something more complete, something genuine. Over time, we came to understand this as an opportunity to expand awareness and to know her true Self. And we have seen that opening such a possibility depends entirely on how we are with life.
This blog is a reflection on the journey that unfolded, from West to East to all. A journey that was never planned, expected, or even imagined. Not a walked path, nor an escape, but one where doors to the unknown opened, offering us a precious game to play together.
Before we dive into our journey, let’s first reflect on one of the most powerful and tricky tools of our existence: the mind.
Understanding the mind: a Yogic view
The mind is, at its core, a tool, a possibility through which life can happen. According to the clear view of Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras, Chitta (which is broader than what is often called mind) consists of three parts: Manas (the mind, platform for union), Buddhi (intellect), and Ahamkara (ego).
When these three are completely balanced, Manas is the platform for the union of consciousness and nature, Buddhi reflects wisdom, pure knowing, and Ahamkara no longer claims a separate “I”. It is no longer apart from life, but one with all. It is the realisation: Aham Brahmasmi, I am the creation itself.
Then life appears, like a crystal. You are one with all, undivided, pure beingness. That is union. That is Yoga.
Understanding this helps us reflect on the path we walked and see how everything that unfolded along the way continues to support us in this direction.
Freeing the mind: expanding awareness
Freeing the mind becomes possible when we stop holding on to anything. Living in a completely different environment and culture supports this opportunity, because you can’t hold on to something if you wish to be part and merge fully in something new. Such an opportunity expands your awareness naturally.
First of all, to make it practically possible to go to India for a longer period, we took a major step to sell our house. It had been Anna’s home for her whole life and a place of celebration for all three of us, the place where we shared many precious moments. A consequence of this was also that we had to put many things away, which was also for Anna a major step, because almost everything is valuable, precious, each drawing she wished to keep. Taking that step was the beginning, letting go of all things that couldn’t come with us to India. But were those things really needed to keep? In the end we come with empty hands and leave with empty hands.
We sat surrounded by everything we had collected, needing to make decisions, not always easy, but it became a beautiful process of giving. We were able to make others happy with things they really needed, for example a desperate mother with 2 children with nothing to make a new start in a new house. After closing the door of our house for the last time and handing over the key, we knew there was a place waiting for us in India, but beyond that, we knew nothing, how long to stay or where to stay when we wished to return to the Netherlands for a holiday or longer.
This might sound like a practical example of detachment, and in a way, it is. But the real detachment as explained by Patanjali as Vairagya is not getting rid of all material things and then all suffering would end. Vairagya is about any attachments that keep you away from being one with all, everything that separates you from the flow of life.
Let’s continue to look from the angle of the mind, because it can be so powerful and tricky to keep us away from actual living. The funny thing is that we met Sage ViGo in the Netherlands when Anna was 5 years old. He came for the first time outside of India to experience the way of living and thinking and for some reason he came to the Netherlands first. In the Netherlands it is known that the mind of many people is quite conditioned which we see in strong opinions on how things should be and how to behave or to be treated. On the other side, in the East, there is a tendency to drift into illusion, where spirituality sometimes becomes an illusion or concept rather than a lived clarity. From that moment we started to be exposed to new ways of seeing and living life. Each time Sage ViGo visited the Netherlands, he would ask Anna: “Are you coming to India?”, an open invitation to take that step. When the moment of going to India came, unexpected yet natural, we felt confident to jump. Anna, still young and flexible, could easily align to and grow within new ways of living, and for us it was a unique opportunity to follow what was calling from within.
Blending, merging: the start of a new journey
The first time we went to India for a longer period was a trial, to see if it would be an enrichment for all three of us, and especially for Anna, with a whole life open ahead. Being shaped in the Netherlands, starting to blend with Indian culture opened the way for a new journey. Anna began learning English with a kind teacher who also introduced her to Kannada, the local language of the state Karnataka. It was amazing to see how quickly and eagerly she picked up both. A new dimension opened for her, and now when we hear her speak English, we hear the rhythm of Indian English. She blends with all around.
Language builds bridges and closes gaps. People may see us and treat us as foreigners, but when Anna speaks Kannada or when they learn how we live, perhaps even more like locals than some Indians, something softens. An opening appears, and differences begin to fade.
For Remco and me it was different, simply because learning a new language takes more time when you are older. Many people in India speak English, but some in the Yoga Gita Ashram community know only a little. That creates a kind of sameness, our Kannada is still basic, and their English is too. Yet even a few shared words bring connection. And often, communication flows without needing many words.
I remember my simple daily exchange with a cleaning lady. It began with questions about lunch. She saw me cooking traditional Indian food and was delighted. She asked what I was making, and I became curious about what she had eaten. In India, food is a central conversation, people often ask: “Did you have lunch?” Just as in the Netherlands, we often talk about the weather. These small shifts in conversation show how different cultures shape daily interactions.
School life brought other contrasts. In the Netherlands, we cycled with Anna to school. In India, a school bus picks her up and drops her back home. Uniforms are compulsory, jeans, shirt, and sneakers, regardless of the weather. For sports, there’s a different uniform. Children dress alike, unlike in the Netherlands where clothing is free and individual.
Now and then, ‘coloured dress day’ is announced, children are free to wear what they like. On festivals, traditional clothing is encouraged. We have experienced how nice it is to dress like locals on these occasions, it brings sameness, and people appreciate the gesture. Anna still loves wearing trendy clothes but easily aligns with what suits the culture and school setting.
Happily cooking Indian favourites in Yoga Gita Ashram and in Netherlands
Food traditions are another area of contrast. We daily enjoy the richness of Indian vegetarian Sattvic food as it suits the climate, supports energy, and offers endless variety. In the beginning, Anna resisted some vegetables, but gradually embraced them. Now she has many Indian favourites. Sometimes we recreate dishes from home, like our familiar pumpkin soup. In India, it has become more Indian, paired with puri instead of bread, but sitting together to eat brings the same celebration. During a longer stay in the Netherlands, Anna started to bring Indian food in her lunchbox to school. In the beginning her classmates were very surprised and couldn’t believe this could be nice. But when Anna offered them to try, some items became very popular, like the aloo paratha and she asked me to put more to share.
These are daily examples of simply living in new ways. Not better or worse, just different and not something to hold on to, because it is familiar. Each experience expands awareness and invites openness to life’s many forms.
Awareness, a real home
Merging into a different culture expands awareness and reveals that life is not limited by where we were born or how we were used to live. It shows us that enjoyment is not related to place or habit, it arises when the mind is open and free. Whether we are in India or the Netherlands, everything can be fresh, new, and joyful, if we are not bound by expectations or memories. When this freedom is there, life appears fully, unlimited.
Here, the real meaning of Vairagya becomes clear: freeing from the influence of memory, opinion, preference, or habit, becoming unaffected. Then, an open mind, a base for union can begin to unfold. As Sage ViGo told me during my first visit to India, after I described the contrast between climbing Chamundi Hill in silence and suddenly entering the crowd near the temples: “Be same everywhere.” It resonates with me. This is how ancient Indian philosophy reveals itself in everyday life, not just as concepts, but as lived clarity that supports life.
Reflection: one world, one family
We were invited to share our experiences in Anna’s school in the Netherlands, and it was amazing to see how curious the children were to know how life is in India. We showed pictures of a cow coming to the gate to collect organic waste, the lunch we ate, Anna’s classroom and many more glimpses of daily life. The children realised that things aren’t only as they’re used to. Children in India experience different ways of daily life and are equally enjoying it. Anna also showed some Bharatanatyam, the classical Indian dance she learns in India, wearing a traditional dress. Instead of ballet, modern dance, and hip hop she used to learn and show in the Netherlands. Her passion for dance could expand and bring the opportunity to dance any dance and her Dutch classmates were equally impressed seeing it.
When my parents were able to visit India for a few weeks, with the intention to experience how we live, nothing was as they were used to: the food, the room, the bed, the traffic, the climate, the language, and many more things. How beautiful to bring such an experience into your life, even at the age of my parents, an experience that will stay forever.
Living in India with authentic guidance became a precious gift, one that happened for all three of us. We are thankful for this opportunity and looking forward to all that is to come. We are happy to share, in the hope it may support others to live a joyful life in its full potential. With simple steps, it is possible to expand awareness and shift towards a direction of sharing a world in celebration. For more about a Yogic approach for Conscious family living, see the blog series, part 1, part 2 and part 3.
Next generations can take human evolution a step further, fully aware of how technological and scientific development can support rather than destroy. But it can only start with ourselves: at home, with our family and community, and let it spread towards our work, education, countries, and beyond.
Word of thanks
Feeling deeply thankful for the opportunity to explore the vastness of Yoga in a way that integrates its applicability into life, enabling us to bring out the best in ourselves and create a flourishing future for next generations. This precious gift, guided with unlimited love and patience by Sage ViGo in Yoga Gita Ashram, is shared with immense clarity, care and dedication.
About the author
After exploring various paths in life, ranging from playing the French horn professionally and planning and programming for cultural centers, to organising congresses and events for local government and teaching Yoga to children, Martine eventually settled in India with her husband and daughter.
Realising that understanding one’s true Self is the ultimate purpose and the key to a joyful life, Martine dedicates her time to applying ancient wisdom in everyday living. She chose to embrace a Yogic way of living at Yoga Gita Ashram under the guidance of Sage ViGo.
3 thoughts on “East, West, Home in Awareness: A Yogic Family Journey”
Inspiring, thanks for sharing your beautiful journey Martine. Greetings to all.
Majdi from Palestine
Amazing journey. We had the pleasure of spending a peaceful weekend at yoga gita ashram and it was a transformative experience. Our conversations with remco and martine inspired us to see life with an open mind.
Soundarya from Bengaluru
It’s truly heartwarming to see your family embrace Indian culture so beautifully! The way you’ve made yoga a part of your daily life and adapted to the traditions here shows deep respect and genuine connection. Congratulations on this incredible journey—your story is inspiring and a wonderful example of unity beyond borders. Wishing you continued happiness and growth in your life here!