An Interview with Michaël Bijker

A little context…

Michaël Bijker has led a truly remarkable life, over the course of which he has achieved a number of wonderful and imaginative things. His spiritual journey began at the tender age of 14, when he began to recognize the power that each of us carries within us to understand our own shortcomings, learn from our mistakes, heal from the process and become better, happier and more powerful individuals as a result.

Four years later, on the cusp of manhood, Michaël’s life took an unexpectedly tragic turn. After suffering a devastating car crash in Australia, there were fears he may never enjoy full range of bodily movement again. However, Michaël did not lose faith and through the powerful methods of Qigong and yoga, he was able to make a complete recovery – something that astounded medical professionals at the time. Ever since, Michaël has devoted his life to helping others learn and benefit from these awe-inspiring techniques.

In order to do so, Michaël went traveling the world and he studied meditation, breathwork, Qigong and yoga at the Parmanand Institute of Yoga Sciences & Research in Indore, India, and has now been teaching those techniques to others for well over a decade. Since 2010, he has settled in Sagres in Portugal, where he lives with his growing family and his thriving business, Yogalap. In recent years, Yogalap has enjoyed explosive popularity, with over 100,000 people in 176 countries around the world benefiting from his teachings.

That is quite a background! Tell us how did you first get into yoga?

From an early age, I have always been convinced of the power of the mind and its ability to work in harmony with the body and spirit to help us to achieve more, do better and become happier. Fully in tune with my inner self, I guess you could say that I was no ordinary teenager growing up in the Netherlands. I was in a way, ‘obsessed’ with trying to stay mentally and physically in an optimum condition. Partly also, because I was suffering from a young age from severe eczema. This was for me a great push to see how I could heal myself since western medicine could not offer any cure for this.

However, my involvement in yoga did not fully materialize until a serious automotive accident at the age of 18. I suffered life-threatening injuries – my right arm was totally paralyzed and I broke my vertebrae in two places – and the pessimistic prognosis from all the doctors who saw me was that I might never even walk again. At the time, I felt an overwhelming gratitude towards God / Life, for surviving the incident and I chose to view this incredibly difficult period of my life as an opportunity to put my convictions to the test. Thankfully, I was proved correct.

Through immersing myself in the practices of yoga and Qigong, I was able to tap into my inner reserves of strength and heal the physical, mental and spiritual scars caused by my injuries. Once I had tangible proof of the power of these ancient but underappreciated techniques, I knew that I must dedicate my whole being to teaching them to others.

Your online teacher training course has seen phenomenal growth over the last year. What about it sets it apart from the others?

First of all, I truly believe that yoga, breathwork and meditation are disciplines that are entirely focused on cultivating the light that is within each and every one of us – and then shining that light onto others. For that reason, my teacher training course is aimed at helping my students to help themselves before they begin to direct their efforts outwards.

It’s composed of two parts. The first focuses on the nuts and bolts of becoming a yoga teacher, including mastery of 15 different breathwork and pranayama techniques which will allow students to fully develop their meditation practice. The second is a four-week self-development program, during which students are encouraged to keep journals, reflect on their education and fully embrace all aspects of the responsibility that being a teacher brings. It’s a transformational journey, after which my students will undoubtedly have grown into a different person.

I do not expect people to take this journey alone, however. The course is supplemented by more than 100 lessons, including videos, articles and over 35 hours of content. There are also five live sessions, complete with a Q&A at their close, which is essential in allowing everyone the chance to work through particular issues and understand all that is required of them to the fullest degree.

Upon completion of the course, my students have the compassion and confidence to teach yoga to others.

You are now father of 2 children. Has the experience of having kids influenced your practice of yoga?

I probably speak for all new fathers when I say that there is literally no area of my life that has not been influenced by fatherhood! The gift of childbirth is such a magical one and I have been blessed to share it with my partner Harmke. Since the birth of our two children, I have felt more closely connected to the Earth and everyone who lives on it than ever before.

Although the fundamentals of the yoga I practice and teach have not altered drastically after becoming a father, my relationship with the discipline I have loved all my life has only deepened. It has also been extremely rewarding to be able to pass on these lessons to my own offspring, since I firmly believe that children are never too young to begin enjoying the benefits that mindfulness can bring. Even simple exercises and activities can inspire a child’s imagination and allow them to understand their own emotions more completely, setting them up well in life.

In fact, I truly believe that my own early connections with spirituality were an integral ingredient in my recovery from the near-fatal car crash mentioned above. As a result, I’m more convinced than ever that yoga, breathwork and meditation are gifts and ones which I intend to bestow as best I can on my own children, so that they too can live happier and healthier lives.

What advice would you give to novice teachers looking to start up themselves?

As a foundation to becoming a great teacher, self-practice is essential. One must really dive deep into all these practices themselves first before being able to share it with others. You can only give what you truly have. Therefore, it is so important to cultivate inner peace, strength and health so that you can start to share this with others. In the Yogalap Breathwork Instructor course in which I train people to become teachers themselves, I very much focus on that. So having a steady self-practice and diving deep into these practices is a MUST!

How do you give back to the yoga community?

It is my personal belief that addressing these issues should be freely achievable by all, regardless of their socioeconomic background or personal circumstances. That’s why I share my knowledge with the world without financial constraints; my classes are offered on a pay-what-you-can basis, so that everyone can access them. For those who simply cannot afford the so-called luxury of looking after their mental health, my teachings are 100% free.

I have always known that the union of body, mind and soul is the key to overcoming the challenges which life throws at us on a daily basis. Unfortunately, far too many of us have never learned to achieve that harmony within, which means that we’re constantly in a state of inner turmoil. During times of hardship, the stress and anxiety caused by this imbalance can be overwhelming and severely impact a person’s mental health.

So far there have been over 100,000 course enrollments from all corners of the globe. Rather than customers or clients, these individuals form a tight-knit community of yoga enthusiasts. Through shared tales of beating addiction, battling through tough times and finding inner peace, we can all help lift each other up and become the best versions of ourselves that we can possibly be. Understanding this is the gift that life has given to me, and it’s one I want to share with the world.

May all be blessed with peace, love and good energy!

To find more about Michaël’s courses and his Life Awareness Project, visit www.yogalap.com

Visit Yogalap.com