Wellbeing & Design
At first glance, Design and Yoga may seem like two very different things, and yet, they have a lot in common. Both traditions build on sharp inquiry, soulful creation and mindful communication with oneself and the external world.
✺
Auf den ersten Blick scheint es, als wären Grafik und Yoga zwei komplett unterschiedliche Bereiche. Und dennoch haben sie vieles gemeinsam: Grafik wie auch Yoga erfordern genaue Beobachtung, kreatives Denken, sowie achtsame Kommunikation und Umgang mit sich selbst und der Umwelt.
Studio Mauna
Mauna is often translated to “stillness” from Sanskrit. It also describes the Yogic practice of a sacred vow of silence. In a larger context, Mauna relates to mindful and non-violent speech and how we interact with the world, both internal and external. Studio Mauna offers thoughtful Graphic Design solutions to uplift heart-centered businesses and teaches Yoga, Meditation and Reiki to support your stress management in a busy world.
✺
Mauna (Sanskrit) bedeutet übersetzt «Stille». Der Begriff beschreibt auch das Yogische Ritual eines Schweigegelübdes, und repräsentiert im grösseren Kontext die achtsame Kommunikation und Interaktion in unserer Welt. Studio Mauna bietet sorgfältige Grafik für Unternehmen mit Herz, sowie Yoga, Meditation und Reiki zur Unterstützung im Umgang mit Stress.
About Me
From an early age, I’ve shown a deep fascination for language, culture, sacred texts, and the performing and visual arts. I call myself lucky for growing up in Switzerland, where so many doors have always been open for me: I’ve had the privilege to learn several languages, and am currently studying Khmer. I was taught different forms of dance, and trained to become a teacher for Yoga, Meditation and Reiki. My formal education led me from wanting to become a Primary School Teacher to studying Communication Design in Switzerland and the United States. During my studies, I gained valuable experience from working in hospitality, cultural institutions and event management. Since 2016, I’ve been working as a Graphic Designer and Yoga Teacher, and have been co-leading a contemporary art space and design studio in Cambodia. I am currently living and working in Switzerland and Cambodia.
My personal Yoga practice helps me to get through stressful periods with lots of deadlines, and revitalizes my body and mind after long days at the desk. But most of all empowers me to stay present and engaged in this world and strive to make it a better place. What excites me about design is its potential to make meaningful content accessible to a wide audience, and make a positive impact. That’s why I decided to specialize in communication design for heart-centered and sustainable businesses. After years of keeping my passions separated, I decided to found Studio Mauna as a space that merges mindful living, cross-cultural exchange and the arts, to share and pay forward what I have learned. Ultimately, my goal is to help make knowledge about design and wellbeing more easily accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial, social or cultural background.
My current heart-project is based in Cambodia, where I’ve been an active member of the MIRAGE Collective since 2017. We are a diverse team of creatives with the aim to uplift the emerging creative community in Siem Reap and beyond. Since our early days, we’ve been creating job opportunities in the arts and design sector, have exhibited several Khmer artists at our not-for-profit gallery, produced numerous educational events that are accessible for a diverse audience and encouraged intercultural dialogue.
I also teach occasional workshops United Yoga Asia, a Cambodian-led Yoga studio based in Phnom Penh that offers mindful Yoga, Meditation and movement classes in the capital. Furthermore, the organization engages closely with the local community by supporting young Cambodians in their personal development through educational courses, in tandem with a yoga and meditation practice. The goal is to offer underprivileged young adults a chance to break free from the impoverished or traumatic circumstances they may have grown up in, and rediscover their own cultural heritage.
✺
I am very grateful for everything that has led me here – it really was the little things that have lined up for me. I was 18 years old when I first practiced Mauna (sacred vow of silence) for one full day. While I wasn’t fully aware of its origins back then, the experience was very moving nevertheless, and I still remember it vividly today. The regular practice of Mauna and mindful speech reminds with me to this day. That’s why after long and careful consideration I chose Mauna as a name for what I have to offer. I live my life with deepest respect for its origins and heritage, and its values that are part of my every day. I recognize and am grateful for the privilege to have had many amazing opportunities in my life already, and firmly believe that we all deserve to live a life in which we can express ourselves openly. In that sense, Studio Mauna is my path of learning and unlearning, and a commitment to always strive for and encourage mindful and graceful interaction. It is my vow to actively uplift and create space for those around me, and to no longer stay silent when truth needs to be expressed.