Hans
Name: Hans-Jörg Werling
Lives in: Düsseldorf, Germany.
From: I am from a small town about 45 km north of Frankfurt am Main, but I was born in a middle size town nearby. I was accompanied by my twin sister to the surprise of my parents (there was no ultrasound back then). … and I could keep a secret 😉
Job: I work in the pension department of a large German insurance company. My coworkers and I support the staff by administrating the contracts of our business customers. We supply operating instructions, letters, some legal advice and technical support. It is a very diversified field in which I can use and develop many different skills.
Tell us your first three jobs (ever!): At age 12, I worked over the Easter holidays in my dad’s office (boring stuff back then, but I earned some extra pocket money). At age 14, I distributed papers every 2 weeks with my brother, sister and a friend. Then when I was 16, I helped my uncle to rebuild the roof of his 80-year-old barn. My cousin and I had a feeling of freedom on the roof and an amazing view (ok, the view can always be better – nothing compared to the view of Lynn’s roof deck).
Zodiac sign?: Leo
Enneagram type (if you know it)?: Peacemaker, Type 9
What do you love about Greece? I should start by saying, I never planned to come to Greece. Why? I imagined Greece was too hot in summer, too sunny, and holidays at the beach are not my favorite holidays. But life knows better … I ran into Lynn at the Kundalini Yoga Festival in France in 2014, we had a 15-minute conversation where she told me about her first yoga retreat & Enneagram talks that would happen in Paros. I was hooked, came to Greece, fell in love with the people, the food, the country … the rest is history. I have been coming back every year since then, sometimes even several times in a year. I have made friends for life. Last year I was invited to an amazing big fat Greek wedding & baptism ceremony with great food and sirtaki dancing till late in the night … HOW DID THAT HAPPEN????
Coming to Greece for the first time was a huge turning point in my life although I only understood that later. After I met Lynn in 2014 and had that brief conversation at the Yoga Festival in France, I felt an urgent need to go to Greece in spite of my concerns about the weather conditions (… life just knows better). I am very grateful. Thank you life, thank you Lynn.
Tell us something most people don’t know about you: At age 10, I was diagnosed with scolioses. Every morning for eight years I had to do physical exercises before breakfast. Thanks to my mom’s persistence I became experienced at being disciplined. It was like doing a daily practice for 8 consecutive years!
Where we are most likely to find you in Lynn’s Kundalini Yoga? Every year at the Kundalini Yoga + Enneagram Paros retreat and sometimes on the Acropolis Roof Deck in the days after the retreat.
The first time you tried Kundalini Yoga? In 2011 at the Kundalini Yoga Festival in France. I was had no clue about Kundalini Yoga but felt I needed a new experiences in my life to find out that life is not all about work, that fun is part of life and that I am liked by great people just by being me. What a relief … And life becomes easier every year.
Tell us your top tip to combat climate change: I have no car since 2007 because public transport in Düsseldorf is great.
Anything else you’d like us to know?: Follow your heart even if you feel a bit afraid.