“ We cannot stay home all our lives,

we must present ourselves to the world and

we must look upon it as an adventure”.

~ Beatrix Potter

I’m Anya — a Woman, Mother, Grand Daughter, Daughter, Sister, Aunty and Friend to some very special Women in my Life.

The journey that led me here to serve you has been a full life woven with dreams, courage and love, it has also been one of many challenges, risk, resilience, and trusting in the power of nature and inner strength.

At thirty two years of age I left behind everything familiar to begin a new life with my young family in a country I had only spent days in. It was a leap of faith filled with sacrifice, uncertainty, and moments of doubt, yet it became a path of growth, teaching me that life’s twists are not mistakes, but new directions.

Never dismiss your inner knowing.

This is living life and without risk nothing happens.

Along the way, I questioned what achievement really meant, wrestled with self-worth, and learned to move through fear, anxiety, and change. What remained constant was my love for family, community, creativity, and connection with Nature.

The discovery of Yoga became my grounding — a place where I could breathe, soften, and reconnect with strength and gratitude. It helped me navigate the barriers of self-doubt and cultural displacement, ( yes even in an English speaking country there are many differences in culture!) and reminded me that, with change comes possibility.

The Mat Connection was born from my life experience and a yearning to help other Women find inner peace.

I wanted to create a space where women can come together to explore yoga, creativity, and self-discovery and reconnect with the timeless healing energy of Ayurveda through massage and oil treatments. 

Ayurveda translates from Sanskrit as “ Wisdom of a Life well Lived.” 

For me, this Connection is more than a practice on the Mat — it’s a mirror, a refuge, and a place to meet our truest self and this is the beginning of finding space for yourself in the world.

We all have an element of standing in the safety of what we know.

“The Mountain is a Mirror, where climbers look to find themselves. They discover their fragility, take heart from their strengths and drink deep of the insights….”

~ Lincoln Hall ( RIP )

This quote inspired me to continue in life no matter how far out of my comfort zone I am.

Over the years my life has also been shaped by an eclectic collection of passions that weave together literature, art, color, texture, fabric, and scent — each with its power to evoke memory and presence. I've always been drawn to the paradoxical, to things many believe can't coexist: being a dedicated yogi while advocating fiercely for my values, embracing both stillness and adventure, raising a family while venturing into the unknown.

Remote camping and opera. Travel and city lights. A deep attachment to nature — the ocean, the mountains — alongside a love of fashion and design. Cottage gardening and book clubs. Burlesque. Coffee, cacao, champagne, and herbal tea. Cocktails and meditation. Music and movement. Sexual expression and spiritual practice. A hunger for learning that led me to life drawing, life modeling, and countless hours in the library — that sanctuary that has offered me shelter and connection through every storm and summer of my life.

These passions have gifted me rare moments, lifelong friendships, and a trajectory I could never have predicted. Each one holds a place in my heart and continues to inspire the feminine way I hold space for others.

Through The Mat Connection, my mission is to offer inspiration, nurture, and empowerment — so that every woman may discover her inner strength, embrace her creativity, and carry that connection into her daily life, unlocking the potential for healing, joy, and wellbeing for herself and those she loves.

If you feel called to explore your own path of self-connection and creativity, I warmly invite you to join me — on the mat for yoga, in the studio for an Ayurveda treatment or creative workshop, and in the unfolding story of your own becoming.

💫 Anya
Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.