About Me — Laia Bové
An Afro-Catalan writer and yoga teacher choosing to live slowly…
Hello friend!
I am an Afro-Catalan accessible and inclusive yoga & meditation teacher and educator, and a multifaceted writer and artist, and I live between my native Barcelona, Catalonia, and Tampa, in the United States.
As a former professional athlete now living with an often debilitating chronic illness, I’ve gained valuable insights into the benefits of self-care and the importance of pausing and slowing down.
I’m dedicated to sharing accessible and sustainable practices of yoga and meditation to help people create a more harmonious life.
As a black and chronically ill individual, my mission is to empower non-normative yoga teachers to find their unique voices and develop tools to make wellness practices accessible to the communities they serve, taking up space and creating a more inclusive and diverse yoga industry.
Yoga is my daily reminder to stay present and to embrace life as it comes.
Yoga continues to provide me with a wide variety of tools that enhance my resilience and increase my awareness of myself and the world.
I have trained in and practice hatha, vinyasa, trauma-informed yoga, yin yoga, and restorative and I hold E-RYT 500 and YACEP accreditations with the Yoga Alliance.
I am a freelance writer and translator and write for a variety of publications in three different languages; Catalan, English, and Spanish.
I’ve developed unique techniques that intertwine yoga and meditation with writing, journaling, and other accessible methods to help me stay balanced, creative, and mindful.
Currently, I’m spending most of my hours working on a yoga book. I cannot wait to share more details about it with you all soon!
I am also writing my first two fiction books — one literary fiction, and one science fiction — under a pen name that I am not ready to share just yet!
Join my Substack, The Pause, to read my musings. Or listen to it on my Podcast.
I’m passionate about supporting other creatives and innovators and fostering a genuine community dedicated to finding balance while staying productive and inspired.
I cannot wait to connect with other writers, creators, and folks interested in wellness and creative practices for slow living here on Medium.
5 Things About Me
Now if you want to get to know me a bit better, I decided to partake in the 5 Things About Me Challenge, and tell you a bit more about who I am!
1) What is my favorite food?
Starting with a difficult question, because food is one of my favorite things.
With my health issues, some of what used to be my favorite foods are not even appealing anymore, and what I can eat and enjoy at times, hurts me like hell only a few weeks later.
I’ve learned to enjoy food differently.
My favorite food is not a meal in particular. My favorite food has been prepared and cooked with love, and if possible, with fresh ingredients.
My favorite is a meal that is shared with people I love.
Recently, my friend invited me over to her place and we had a simple and delicious sweet potato, arugula, and avocado salad that knocked my socks off.
But what I enjoyed the most was the conversation, book recommendations, and her company.
2) What is something that nobody or almost nobody, knows about me
Although it isn’t something that I hide at all, most people do not know that I am adopted.
I know almost nothing about my origins or my birth parents.
3) What are things that can make me cry?
Pretty much anything beautiful enough; music, a colorful sunset, a good story, a moment of peace sitting in my garden and watching the deer graze in the woods behind the house…
I cry when I am happy, and I cry when I am sad. I cry in public with no shame, and encourage others to cry more often if they feel so inclined…
4) What is something that you regret in your life?
Ha! That’s a good one… I was just reflecting on that with someone, just a few days back.
Regret is not something I do often since I have always considered most moments of my life learning experiences to grow from, even when they hurt and they suck.
I mostly regret missed opportunities for true connection, as well as all the times I was a shitty human and wasn’t able to respond to situations and people with the kindness and compassion they deserved. What can I say, I lose my temper, sometimes…
That’s why I meditate and do yoga, friends!
5) What are some of your dreams?
My dream is to publish my books, both fiction, and non-fiction, but like said, “I don't want to dream, I want to do”. I’m also more about making things happen, not so much about dreaming of them.
I wish to continue traveling the world doing what I love, which is sharing yoga, meditation, and wellness practices with folks, as well as writing my books at little coffee shops.
Since I am quite new here, I don’t know that many other folks on here, but I will pass this challenge on to my dear friend .
Thank you for taking the time to read a bit more about me, and I look forward to connecting here on Medium.
Thank you for reading, and much love!
