‘Swaswara’ means listening to your inner voice. It is the name of the Ayurvedic centre where we spent eight days. During those days, we listened to the needs of our bodies and of our hearts. We listened to the voice of Sari, one of the young Ayurvedic therapists, saying a short Indian prayer before the treatment, her hand on our heads and her eyes closed. In those eight days, during our yoga class, we enjoyed the warm sun rising before us from behind a small rock, every morning. Its warmth filled us until the next day. The routine of slow sunny days, vegetarian meals, papaya and banana snacks, massages, yoga and meditation led us towards the new year with a radiant calm.

Words and pictures Emanuela Villa.