The people behind IKIGAI Praha
Get to know who is behind IKIGAI Praha—our journeys, our philosophy, and the passion we bring to every session. With different backgrounds but a common vision, we are here to guide and support your journey toward balance and vitality.
RNDr. Nadine Szumilas
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My fascination with the human body and its intricate functions began in childhood. This curiosity led me to study molecular biology and conduct research on autoimmune diseases at the University of Erlangen. My main question was never just what happens in disease, but why—why does a perfectly functioning body lose its balance and start attacking itself, as in the case of autoimmune disorders? Science gave me profound insights into the building blocks of life, yet it could not answer all of my questions.
By chance—or perhaps by necessity—I discovered the ancient wisdom of India through yoga and Ayurveda. My introduction to yoga was not out of intellectual curiosity but sheer need. After a bus accident left me with chronic, debilitating back pain, I sought help from doctors and therapists, but nothing brought relief. At that time, I was skeptical about yoga, but thanks to my sister’s gentle persistence, I gave it a try—and it worked. In a remarkably short time, my pain disappeared. This experience opened my eyes: we are not just physical bodies functioning like machines, but complex beings, where inner tensions, unresolved emotions, and stress manifest as real, tangible pain.
Wanting to understand this on a deeper level, I immersed myself in the study of yoga and Ayurveda—a journey that ultimately shaped the path I walk today.
One truth remains clear to me: we are multifaceted beings, and when it comes to our health, it is worth looking beyond the surface—to explore all layers of life. This is why I do what I do: bridging the knowledge of modern science with the wisdom of ancient traditions, to support others in finding true balance and well-being.
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AYURVEDA
Ayurveda-Yoga Massage, Kat Gawor, Nuremberg, DE
Ayurveda with focus on disease and disturbance factors, Ayurveda-Akademie Rosenberg, Birstein, DE
Ayurvedic women's health, online training with Dr. Vasant Lad
Ayurvedic Marma Therapy, Costa Rica
YOGA
Student of Tantrācārya Dharma Bodhi
Tantric Kuṇḍalinī Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda, Trika Mahāsiddha Yoga, Costa Rica; Level 1; Level 2; Level 3; 1200h+
Tantric Meditation, Costa Rica; 80h "Mind of Śiva" Training Level 1 and Level 2
embodied flow Vinyasa Yoga 200h Teacher Training , Britta Kimpel, Nuremberg, DE
OTHER
Cell and Molecular Biology (MSc.)
PhD in Immunobiology (Dr. rer. nat., University of Erlangen, DE) on the topic of “The influence of Siglec-H deficiency on the function of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and microglia”
Aikido, 2. Dan Takemusu Aiki
Strategic Life Coach, Online with Graham Nichols, Priority Academy, UK
Tantric Enneagram, Trika Mahāsiddha Yoga, Costa Rica
Sanskrit - Sanskrtam Introductory Level, online with Purnavidya Institute, India
Jyotisa - traditional vedic astrology, with Penny Farrow (Basics 1-4)
Lomi Ha’a Mauli Ola - Traditional Hawai’ian Bodywork, Kahu Iwaiwa, France
Schüssler Salts according to Dr. Schüssler, Institute for Biochemistry according to Dr. Schüssler, DE
Viktor Krond'ák
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Since I can remember, I’ve been drawn to movement—not just as physical activity, but as a way to understand life. My fascination with Japan and its traditions led me to martial arts, philosophy, and healing practices. But it was Aikido, which I started at 26, that truly shaped my path. It taught me that the body reflects the mind—our posture, strength, and movement mirror our inner state. To live well, both must be in balance.
Traveling the world exposed me to different cultures and perspectives, but the deepest impact came from my Aikido master, Shihan Edmund Kern Sensei. Training with him for nearly 20 years shaped my skills and outlook on life. After his passing, I felt a great void—one that pushed me to seek deeper understanding.
That search led me to Dharma Bodhi, a lineage holder of traditional yoga and martial arts. With him, I explored White Dragon Gungfu and yoga as a system of self-mastery, expanding my view of movement beyond the physical—it became a tool for clarity, presence, and internal alignment.
Over the years, I’ve developed a sharp eye for movement patterns—how tension is held, where misalignments arise, and how they affect not only physical health but life as a whole. Today, at IKIGAI Praha, I help others recognize these patterns and realign themselves—whether through Aikido, body therapy, or movement practices.
For me, Ikigai is not just a name—it is a way of life. To do what fulfills you in every moment, not just for yourself, but to uplift those around you. This is why I do what I do.
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Saionji Massage
Aikido
Self-Defense courses & lessons
Path of Warrior (soon more info)
Kundalini Hatha Yoga -
BODYWORK
Japonská léčebná metoda Dr. Masayuki Saionjiho - Yumeiho, Sensei Zdeněk Khun
Shiatsu, Mgr. Richard Jisl
Ayurvedic Marma Therapy, Costa Rica
Lomi Ha’a Mauli Ola - Traditional Hawai’ian Bodywork, Kahu Iwaiwa, France
MARTIAL ARTS
Aikido, 5. Dan Takemusu Aiki
Deshi of Shihan Edmund Kern, 8. Dan Kyoshi, (1998 - 2017)
Founder and Dojo-Cho of Kita no Yama jori Takemusu Aik Dokokai in Liberec since 2002
YOGA
Student of Tantrācārya Dharma Bodhi
Tantric Kuṇḍalinī Hatha Yoga and Ayurveda, Trika Mahāsiddha Yoga, Costa Rica; Level 1; Level 2; Level 3; 1200h+
Tantric Meditation, Costa Rica; 80h "Mind of Śiva" Training Level 1 and Level 2
OTHER
Artisan of handcrafted leather work since 1985
Tantric Enneagram , Trika Mahāsiddha Yoga, Costa Rica
Further influences:
Yamaue-Ryu Aiki-Jutsu , Soke Jimmy Keido Yamaue
Kyudo, Edmund Kern, Germany
Kendo, Jindřich Ziegelhaim, Praha
White Dragon Gungfu, Dharma Bodhi, Costa Rica
