The Power of Listening to Your Essence: Exploring Your Purpose with Kathi Rüd
Since her first encounter with yoga, Kathi Rüd has been on a profound journey of self-discovery. Her life, marked by high-performance sports and the corporate world, led her to seek something deeper: a space of connection with herself and others.
In this interview, Kathi shares her insights on authenticity, gratitude, and inner freedom. We dive into her philosophy of life, learn how yoga can serve as a healing tool, and explore our legacy and its impact on the world.
Discover how simplicity, purpose, and presence can transform your perspective and help you live with greater peace and fulfillment.
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How was your first encounter with yoga, and what impact did it have on your life?
It was a unique, almost magical moment. I was about 11 or 12 when I attended my first yoga class. What I remember most is the moment at the end of the session: I opened my eyes and saw the soft light coming through a huge window, illuminating the room in a way that seemed to transform everything around me. It felt like the world had suddenly changed as if everything glowed with new energy.
That moment deeply impacted me because it made me feel something I had never experienced before: an absolute connection with the present, a sense of fullness and peace that stayed with me. Although for years my life centered around volleyball, I always found my way back to yoga. It was the place I returned to when I needed a moment for myself, a refuge where I could truly feel at home within myself.
Over time, that initial connection evolved, and yoga transformed from an occasional practice into a fundamental pillar of my life, the space where I genuinely connect with my essence.
Yoga [...] made me feel something I had never experienced before: an absolute connection with the present.
Practice with Kathi Rüd at Casa Kavi
Your journey went from high-performance sports to the corporate world, and from there to yoga. How did you experience this transformation?
Volleyball was a wonderful phase but also highly demanding. From age 8 to 21, I was immersed in discipline and competitiveness. I learned a great deal about commitment, teamwork, and pushing my limits. However, it also led me to develop a highly self-demanding relationship with myself. When I left volleyball and entered the corporate world, I carried over that attitude and achieved significant results. The pandemic was a moment of revelation.
I found myself achieving all my goals on paper yet feeling completely disconnected from myself. That’s when I decided to pause and seek something more meaningful. Yoga returned to my life, not as a physical activity, but as a healing practice. I realized I needed to change the way I moved through the world
Yoga returned to my life, not as physical activity, but as a healing practice
How was Casa Kavi born, and what is its purpose?
Casa Kavi was born as a dream during my honeymoon. At that moment, I allowed myself not only to dream of something different but also to visualize a place where others could find what I was searching for: peace, authenticity, and connection.
The goal of Casa Kavi is to offer a refuge where people can explore who they truly are. The name ‘Kavi’ means wise poet, "the one who sees," and reflects the idea that the answers we seek already exist within us. We want to be that space where people can reconnect with themselves, whether through yoga, meditation, movement, or creativity.
We don’t want to be just a yoga studio, but also a place that opens doors to authenticity. We work from the body and emotions, using diverse tools such as dance, singing, and art. We want everyone who crosses our doors to feel it’s a safe place to explore and be themselves.
What is authenticity for you?
Authenticity, for me, is connecting with who we truly are, with what brings us peace and meaning. It’s living in alignment with our emotional body, our deepest desires, and values without trying to meet external expectations that don’t represent us. When I say the answers are within us, I mean it literally: our body is an incredible guide. If we learn to listen to it, it will show us the path to our authentic selves.
For example, when something genuinely excites or moves you, that isn’t by chance. I firmly believe we come into this world with a unique predisposition, with talents, experiences, and sensitivities that define who we are. Our authenticity manifests in those things that deeply move us.
To access authenticity, we must learn to listen to ourselves, starting with the body, as our mind tends to be noisy. When we make decisions or face situations, our body sends signals: Does this bring me peace? Does this energize me or drain me? This process, sometimes called intuition, is a deep connection with ourselves.
Ultimately, authenticity isn’t a destination but a journey. It means being willing to observe ourselves, listen to ourselves, and accept that, just as we are, we already possess the answers and potential to live fully
Authenticity is connecting with who we truly are.
What would you like your legacy to be?
For me, legacy isn’t something material or tangible; it’s not about building monuments or statues. My concept of legacy relates more to the energy we leave behind, the intention with which we move, and the values we transmit to people and the environment. I believe my greatest contribution right now is the message of authenticity, a constant invitation to be who you truly are. That is key to honoring life and the purpose each of us carries.
Life is short, and nature constantly reminds us of this. It is an endless source of teachings, giving continuously without asking for anything in return. Water shows us the importance of flowing, nourishing, and adapting; the earth is a perfect refuge and ecosystem where everything can transform, reminding us the seeds we plant today can become something great tomorrow.
The tree doesn’t question its place or think: ‘Should I be here or there?’ It simply exists, absorbing light, giving oxygen, and fulfilling its purpose. This makes me reflect on how we live our lives: often we drift from what is essential, to our true nature.
At Casa Kavi, my goal is to bring people closer to simplicity, to that connection with what is organic and authentic. If I can leave something behind, I hope it’s the idea of living intentionally, with presence, caring for ourselves, others, and our environment. That’s the legacy I want to share.
The tree doesn’t question its place; it simply is.
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What role does gratitude play in your life, and what practices have you incorporated to cultivate it?
Gratitude has been one of the most transformative practices in my life. My message is simple: 'Be grateful every day, no matter what.' There may be days when it seems harder to find something to be thankful for, but there's always something—even the most basic things: access to clean drinking water, the ability to move, or simply being here, in this moment.
Gratitude is like adjusting the focus of your camera. When you start to look at life from this perspective, the glass is no longer half-empty but half-full, or even completely full. You discover you need less to feel satisfied and begin to notice the abundance that has always been there, even if you hadn't valued it before.
Something I consider crucial is creating a physical space for this practice. In my case, I have a small altar at home where I place meaningful objects: letters, messages, candles, or anything that inspires me. This space has become my sacred corner, a place where I can pause, breathe, and connect with that feeling of gratitude. In my experience, gratitude creates a bridge between purpose and heart, helping me make clearer decisions aligned with what truly matters.
Be grateful every day, no matter what
Do you have any philosophical principle or value that guides your life, especially in difficult times?
Yes, there is a message that has become my guiding star, something I constantly return to: everything is perfect. Even though sometimes I don't understand why things happen in a certain way, I trust that each experience, each moment, has a purpose. Things might not turn out as expected, or I might face a challenge I didn't ask for, but instead of resisting, I try to open myself to what that moment is trying to teach me.
In difficult times, this thought helps me return to the present and find peace, even in uncertainty. And that's what keeps me authentic: trusting that every step, even the most complicated ones, is part of a greater journey I'm still discovering.
Every experience, every moment, has a purpose
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What does the word "freedom" mean to you?
Freedom, in its most spiritual essence, isn't about what's happening around us but rather about what's happening within us. It's realizing that no matter what's occurring externally, we always can choose how we respond. That internal freedom is our greatest power, and it's always available, even though sometimes we forget it.
When someone hurts or challenges us, we usually react automatically, driven by accumulated patterns or emotions. However, true freedom lies in our ability to pause, take a breath, and consciously choose how we want to act. That pause, that space between impulse and action, is where emotional and spiritual freedom resides. Yoga trains us to inhabit that space. It helps us observe our emotions, recognize automatic patterns, and consciously choose our responses.
That space between impulse and action is where emotional and spiritual freedom resides
We've already talked about legacy; how do you think Casa Kavi materializes that purpose?
If I had to summarize it in one word, it would be permission. Permission to be who we truly are, to explore without fear, and to create spaces where we can connect with our authenticity. I believe we often live restricted by external or self-imposed expectations, and my wish is to invite people to grant themselves permission to explore and become their most authentic selves, without judgments or limitations.
Permission, space, and authenticity are the three pillars guiding both my personal life and this project. I believe that when we allow ourselves to simply be, we not only transform ourselves but also the world around us. I hope my legacy serves as a reminder that peace and fulfillment don't come from outside, but from within and that it all begins when we permit ourselves to be who we truly are.
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Throughout this interview, Kathi has guided us through her inspiring journey toward authenticity, gratitude, and inner freedom. From her magical first encounter with yoga to the creation of Casa Kavi, she has shown us how reconnecting with oneself can profoundly transform our lives.
Kathi invites us to permit ourselves to be authentic, reconnect with our essence, and find peace amidst the complexities of modern life. Her focus on yoga as a practice of healing and self-discovery reminds us that the answers we seek are already within us, waiting to be heard.
Her emphasis on awareness and self-knowledge encourages us to look beyond the superficial and connect with our most authentic selves. Kathi leaves us with a powerful lesson: in every step we take, in every change we face, we always have the opportunity to find peace, self-love, and balance.
Thank you, Kathi @kathirud, for sharing your vision and reminding us that the path to fulfillment begins with a simple act of inner connection.
