About

Over the years, I witnessed firsthand how Yoga+Ayurveda restored the flow of prana
and ease in my own life, and allowed me to reconnect to my body and inner wisdom.

What follows are some insights into how this happened for me.

A young woman with long brown hair, smiling, standing outdoors beside a twisted tree trunk in a lush green garden. She is wearing a yellow top and a flowing, patterned skirt, barefoot on the grass.

© Ika Nurcahyani, 2026

Hi, and welcome to Pranaya.

My name is Sophie Guesne and I spent the first 35 years of my life largely disconnected—from my body, my emotions, my spirit; from others; and from life itself.

Over the years, I worked hard to try and feel better. I explored therapy, somatic experiencing, breathwork, yoga asana, meditation and other healing modalities. Each helped in its own way. I gained greater intellectual understanding, yet made little progress when it came to actually feeling sensations in the body.

By the time I discovered Ayurveda, I had already been practicing Ashtanga yoga for seven years and Vipassana meditation for two. Professionally, I was successful with a career that many admired—and I was good at it, too. I wanted to help people and make a difference, so I worked in international development, moving countries as I changed roles: from the Balkans to New York, from journalism to the United Nations and the European Union, and on to international NGOs.

Yet something was missing.

A wooden bowl containing cooked rice, green vegetables, beans and sweet potatoes.

In 2019, Ayurveda quietly entered my life and things began to shift, subtly. Small changes in my daily routine, in the way I approached meals and managed my energy quickly brought results. I started to sleep better, my PMS symptoms lost their intensity, my energy became steady throughout the day, and my ability to stay calm and present increased. This was encouraging, so I continued. The benefits multiplied.

Little by little, Ayurveda brought self-love and compassion into my life. It restored a sense of connection with my environment, nature’s rhythms, and, ultimately, my body. Not through words or concepts, but through consistent acts of self-care, by showing up for myself and paying attention.

It began in the kitchen, with progressively more freshly cooked meals made from local produce, and fewer processed foods and snacks.

A person sitting cross-legged on what appears to be a wooden floor, practicing meditation or yoga indoors, with a view of greenery outside through a window.

© Ika Nurcahyani, 2026

It continued on my yoga mat, with a softer yet deeper asana practice led by breath and presence rather than performance, alongside the introduction of gentle pranayama (yogic breathwork). From there, it gradually extended into every area of my life.

Over time, radical non-violence and self-honesty towards myself became my compass, in an unintentional alignment with ahimsa and satya—the first two principles of the first limb of Yoga, as described in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras.

Living this way meant leaving behind a career that no longer felt aligned and, eventually, launching Pranaya to share with others the wisdom and tools that had helped me on my journey.

I created Pranaya to support others in replenishing their prana (life force energy) through the ancient—yet deeply relevant—wisdom, practices, and tools of Yoga and Ayurveda.

In Sanskrit, pranaya also speaks of love and guidance.

These days, I mostly feel grounded, content, alive, and at peace—grateful to be where I am. And I cannot help but feel a deep gratitude towards Yoga and Ayurveda, and for the Sages and teachers who have transmitted them generation after generation.

In particular, I am profoundly grateful to Myra Lewin, whose teachings and guidance have reshaped my life in lasting ways, and to her lineage which traces back to T. Krishnamacharya, Shree Gajanan Maharaj, and Shree Vasant.

I also wish to express my sincere thanks to Jeanie Jyanti, who opened the transformative portal of pre-natal work for me, and equipped me with invaluable knowledge and tools to safely guide and support mothers-to-be.

Lush green tropical rainforest with tall trees, dense foliage, and hanging vines.

Over the years, my path has been supported by formal study, mentorship, and immersive learning

    • 100-hour Yoga Teacher Training in Pre-Natal Yoga — with Jeanie Jyanti, Alchemy School of Yoga (Ireland), April 2026

    • 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training — Akhanda Yoga (India), October 2025

    • 600-hour Ayurveda Health Counselor training — with Myra Lewin, Hale Pule (online), September 2024

    • 3-month Personal Immersion in Yoga and Ayurveda — with Myra Lewin, Hale Pule (Indonesia), January-March 2026

    • 2-week Group Immersion in Yoga and Ayurveda — with Myra Lewin, Hale Pule (India), September 2025