RITUAL TALK :: CAMILLA STRANDMARK

We are so fortunate to have Camilla Strandmark joining our Rvk Ritual space with her Acupressure Yoga courses and private Acupuncture sessions. Camilla is very passionate about connecting the tradition of yoga, meditation and Chinese medicine with the knowledge of medicine. She advocates slowness and self-love as an antidote in today’s stressful society. Camilla has been practicing different styles of yoga and mindfulness for the last 15 years.

 

NAME:  Camilla Strandmark @camillastrandmark_yogamind

CREATIVE OUTLET: Mind-body work and knitting.

WORK: Yoga & Mindfulness teacher, Medical acupuncturist, Coach and Nurse.

LOCATED: Reykjavik

SUN, MOON, RISING: Sun: pieces Moon: aquarius Rising: cancer

HUMAN DESIGN:  Manifesting generator

 

FIRST THING YOU DID THIS MORNING & MORNING ROUTINE?

Today and on most days, I go directly from bed to my meditation cushion. I love having some time for myself when the rest of the family is still sleeping. Sometimes, I sit in stillness, while other times I move. I enjoy having space to truly listen to what my body and mind need for the day, tuning into the silence. Some days, I only need 5 minutes, while on others, I require much more time. After my morning practice, it’s time for my dog, Kaj, to have his first walk (or sometimes a run). We always head down to the ocean; it’s like a magnet for us, offering the opportunity to see, smell, and feel the ocean in the morning. Following the walk and practice, I usually wake up my two daughters. We have breakfast together before heading to school/work.

 

WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

I have been a nurse for 25 years (🫣), specializing in various areas such as intensive care, anesthesia, pre-hospital care, and primary care. I’ve worked in emergency care, intensive care, prehospital care, and primary care with both kids and adults. In the last 10 years, my focus has been on bridging the gap between Western medicine and holistic traditions, including Chinese medicine as a medical acupuncturist, yogic traditions, and secular mindfulness as a yoga and mindfulness teacher. I’m originally from Sweden, raised in Eskilstuna. Currently, I reside in Iceland with my daughters Isa and Rut, my husband Rasmus, and our dog Kaj. We initially came to Iceland during the COVID-19 pandemic and stayed for 10 months. Falling in love with the place, we returned to Sweden, sold our house, car, and everything else to make Reykjavik our new home.

 

 

WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT WAKE UP CALL OF YOUR LIFE?

The most significant wake-up call of my life was undoubtedly the series of crises that unfolded like a chain of pearls.  It all commenced with a barrage of sickness and death; both my parents succumbed to cancer at a young age. Over a three-year span, our family endured five deaths, coinciding with my own cancer diagnosis. Managing funerals, undergoing my treatments, and caring for my 2- and 4-year-old daughters, especially my youngest with Down syndrome, presented a challenging time. It was (and still is) a hard time, and at the same time the best gift I ever got.  Receiving a breast cancer diagnosis at 37 was daunting. I distinctly recall thinking, “There’s no time for this.” However, I now recognize that this experience compelled me to make numerous positive changes in my life. While I had a choice to prioritize my health before cancer, it transformed into an imperative during and after the diagnosis. My body has become an effective communicator, always indicating what it needs. I’m sure all the yoga and meditation practice helped me go through the tough period, it’s been my lifeline for many years.  Allocating time for my body and mind to simply exist has become crucial for me in various ways.

 

HOW DID YOU FIND YOGA & WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR YOU?

I discovered yoga many years ago. What I find most beautiful about yoga is its ability to accompany you throughout life, meeting you exactly where you are. With a background as an elite-level handball player, I initially turned to yoga to work with rigidity.  During both of my pregnancies, I attended pregnancy yoga classes and incorporated yoga and acupuncture into the childbirth process. I’ve embraced various forms of yoga during different life phases. Initially, I was dedicated to Ashtanga yoga. However, during my chemotherapy, radiation, and surgeries in the years battling cancer, my body required more rest and recovery. During this period, I focused on practices like Yin, pranayama, Restorative, and Nidra. My journey led me to complete my first teacher training in South Africa, where I lived for a year. Since then, I’ve delved into studying various yogic traditions. I hold a RYT 500 certification, specializing in Vinyasa, Yin yoga, Restorative yoga, Pre and postnatal yoga, Medical yoga, and I’ve also established my own yoga program: Yoga for Cancer® (YFC).

 

 

WHAT HAS HELPED YOU THE MOST ON YOUR WELLNESS/SELF CARE JOURNEY?

I am confident that yoga and mindfulness have been life-saving for me. Making time for self-care is challenging yet crucial for my well-being. Maintaining a personal practice, seeing the yoga mat daily, and reminding myself to sit or move on it have been pivotal. Above all, living in Iceland greatly contributes to my healing and self-care journey!

 

DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL SELF PRACTICE OR USE ANY TOOLS TO KEEP YOUR MIND/BODY HEALTHY?

Self-practice and rituals hold significant importance for me. I engage in daily meditation, whether for just a few minutes or sometimes alongside my kids; the key is to consistently incorporate it. I also enjoy running and attending the gym a few times a week, appreciating the balance between intense workouts and gentle yoga sessions. Acupuncture plays a crucial role in my health, preventing the recurrence of migraines (which used to plague me almost weekly) and aiding in stress reduction. Since relocating to Iceland, I’ve developed a fondness for cold plunges, visiting the pool at least 3-4 times a week. My medical background drives me to explore extensive research on health, yoga, and mindfulness. Having trained myself to endure 4 minutes in the cold pool, a critical threshold for affecting brown fat and inhibiting cancer growth, I’m working towards increasing the duration😊. My pool ritual involves alternating between warm and cold dips, and my body has become reliant on this practice.”

 

HOW DO YOU RELAX: 

Meet friends, Yoga Nidra, I also love to knit,  read a good book, going to the pool or a spa. I make sure to give myself screen-free time every now and then, and every year I go on a silent retreat of 5-7 days.

 

FAVORITE SPOT IN REYKJAVIK:

Oh, they are so many…Vesturbærlaug is no 1.

 

HEALTH PHILOSOPHY:

For me it’s about balance, daring to trust your gut feeling and invite rest and silence.

 

ALWAYS IN YOUR CUPBOARD? 

Coffee and tea, vitamin D, ginger.

 

THREE THINGS IN YOUR PURSE ? 

Essential oils (often lavendel, grapefruit and eucalyptus), liquorice chewing gum and gua sha.

 

SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE?

My parents and my girlgang, we are 12 friends  who have been hung together since primary school.

SOMETHING YOU ARE PROUD OF?

My daughters🥰

WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU ? 

Continue to spread yoga and mindfulness. At the moment I’m planning to start an acupressure yoga course, silent retreats, and will also open up space for acupuncture clients soon✨