Episode Details

What happens when you stop rushing through life long enough to actually notice how you’re living?

In this episode of Thought Atlas, I sit down with Veronique Ori, an intuitive movement and mindful awareness guide, international retreat leader, and author of Shine On and Off the Mat.

Veronique’s relationship with storytelling began in childhood, influenced by her grandfather from Hungary and the stories shared within her family. That early connection to storytelling eventually became part of the way she understands community, growth, and human connection.

Before yoga became a central part of her life, Veronique was deeply immersed in the fast pace of New York City, running a theater company and pursuing success while rarely slowing down to consider whether the way she was living was actually serving her.

Then Hurricane Sandy brought the city to a standstill.

With the subways and Broadway shut down, Veronique found herself with unexpected time and accepted a friend’s invitation to a yoga class. What she experienced in that class became a turning point. She describes feeling connected to her body in a new way—energized and rested at the same time—and soon began practicing regularly.

We explore what Veronique means by “shining,” both on and off the yoga mat. For her, shining is connected to vibrancy, inspiration, presence, and the people and places that make us feel most alive. She explains how practices involving movement, breath, meditation, and self-inquiry can become ways of navigating difficult moments without allowing them to extinguish that sense of light.

Veronique also opens up about living with vitiligo and the years she spent trying different approaches to change her skin. Eventually, she began practicing being more at peace with what is, while acknowledging that this remains an ongoing process.

We talk about the human desire for connection, the things people across cultures share, and why Veronique believes storytelling can help us feel less alone. She explains how hearing someone else’s story can give us distance from our own experiences and sometimes help us see them differently.

One particularly interesting part of the conversation explores the stories we tell ourselves. Veronique uses a simple example—a person cutting in line—to show how the same event can be interpreted through very different narratives, and how those narratives can influence what we continue carrying long after the moment has passed.

Finally, Veronique offers a practical starting point for anyone who feels disconnected from themselves: first notice and name the disconnection. From there, she suggests journaling or recording a voice note, identifying what helps you feel connected, and beginning with one small sustainable change at a time.

CONNECT WITH VERONIQUE ORI

Website: https://yogawithveronique.com

Instagram: @Veronique Ori

Book: Shine On and Off the Mat — available on Amazon in hardcover and Kindle formats, according to Veronique.

Veronique also offers an online collective featuring yoga, meditation, stretching, and self-inquiry practices. She mentions the promo code SHINE1111, which provides 30 free days.

She also mentions an upcoming retreat in Italy from October 24–31 at the time of recording.

Learn more about Thought Atlas:https://joinpodmatch.com/thoughtatlas

Food for thought from Veronique:

“Allow for space and silence to connect to spirit, to connect to nature, to connect to a loved one.”

And ultimately, she encourages us to take action toward something that truly lights us up.