The 2 Minute-Interview

Bettina Schuler is yoga teacher, author, activist and founder of the charitable organisation citizen2be. For three years, she has been giving yoga classes for fled women and has written a book about it: „Norahib Bikom heißt Willkommen“, published by Eden Books. Recently, she started a crowdfunding campaign at startnext. The goal: to collect 20.000 Euros to open a yoga-trauma-therapy centre in Berlin. Because only those who have arrived in themselves can truly arrive in a new society. We think that’s so cool that we have to ask a few question about the status quo – of the world, of pasta and of head stands. Because, just between us, she told us that even after 10 yogi-years, she still tumbles. We consulted her fortune-teller and asked her about the result of her funding quest. The clear answer was: Successful, you’re your help!

Name: Bettina Schuler
Age: 41
Home: Berlin
Profession: Author, yoga teacher, activist and founder of the charitable organisation citizen2be
Shoe size: 38
Favourite assana: pigeon
Contact: www.bettinaschuler.de und www.citizen2be.com, bettina.schuler@t-online.de

Photo credit: Tina Linster

The whole world is listening, what do you say?
Stop talking about changing the world and do something, damn it!

What do you need to feel good in a strange place?
My family. And good coffee.

What gives you energy?
My family, my friends and yoga, of course. And I love sleeping a lot. And Sauna is always a go-to.

Where is humanity going? Are we on a good path?
The world seems to be going crazy at the moment, things like Trump’s election or Brexit are happening, things we never deemed possible. That is really scary and on the other hand, and this is my big hope, every time of upheaval is also a chance to turn things to the better. That’s why I struggle with the term refugee crisis, because the word crisis alone causes a feeling of diffused fear in many people. I see the influx of fleeing people as a chance, because we are being forced to change our social structures that we haven’t been happy with for a long time anyway. That’s why I call it a refugee chance, not crisis.

Close your eyes and think of something nice. What is it?
My warm bed.

How do you find your balance?
When everything threatens to get too much for me, I lock myself in at home, stare into the air and just don’t do anything.

A good deed everyone can do before the year is over:
That’s easy: join our startnext campaign and support us in raising enough money to rent a space in which we can offer refugees a yoga-trauma-therapy.

What’s better: giving or getting?
The way my daughter’s eyes light up when I give her a present just can’t be topped.

Please complete: For just one day, I would like to be…
David Bowie in the 70s

How does the “keep off the grass!” sign get onto the grass?
Where? Didn’t see it…

Do you believe in fate?
Sure. And my fortune-teller. No joke.

If we came to visit you at home, what would you cook for us?
Since I can only cook pizza and pancakes, it would have to be one of those two dishes. Or pasta. With presto, of course. I can manage that. At least if someone tells me when to take them out of the water. But I’m excellent at making coffee.

What are you afraid of?
The elections next year.

When was the last time you tried something new and what was it?
I’m constantly trying new things. I always need a project. This year, it was founding my charitable organisation citizen2be that campaigns for the integration of refugees.  An incredibly bureaucratic act. But it was worth it.

What should no one know about you?
That I bought a Modern Talking tape when I was eight. And that thing about the headstand. But I already told you that.

What question should we have asked?
What are the bank details of your donations account?

Last words:
I love having them.

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