Meet Andrea Travani

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrea Travani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrea, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I think that the most radical and inspiring idea that stays in my soul as a beacon of light is to be part of something bigger than me, something which can turn bad into good, stress into resilience, trauma into strength. Sometimes I like to imagine a future where more and more people live the idea of space: space inside you to welcome new people and new things, space in your schedule to appreciate and observe how time flows, space around you to be able to sit comfortably and breathe.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve always been fascinated with the spiritual aspect of our lives. Since I was a little kid, I kept thinking that “what is essential is invisible to the eye”. Then, at the same time, I also developed a passion for engineering, which eventually became my career. I guess that both science and a spiritual path share the same passion for the truth, for finding out what are the forces and realities acting beyond what we see. I grew up Catholic and then 15 years ago I started practicing yoga. However, at some point, I felt that a certain anxiety and constant fear that something in my life might go wrong was actually growing, regardless of my practice. That’s when I found out about meditation. I realized that there was a way to permanently modify the way I think and the way I act. Then, after a few years, my Catholic formation kicked in, and I realized that I really wanted to share this with other people and start a non-profit. I didn’t want to begin this journey alone, so I asked for some help from a few friends, especially Lisa, but also Andrea, my daughter Naima, and her friend Deniz. It’s interesting to notice that I spent 30 years of my life looking for a way to give my contribution to my community. I tried many different things with the church, with my friends, but every time I felt that it wasn’t really what I was looking for. That is to say that every journey is different, the road is always bumpy, and the path is rarely linear. I think that when you realize that the real goal is here and now, it’s the path you’re walking, it’s the moment you’re living, and you give up on the idea of reaching something far that you think will make you happy, only then you can find your place.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami is a place with many different attractions. I would probably start with the beach, maybe renting a boat and going out to do some snorkeling right off the coast of Miami Beach or on the sandbar at the Haulover Park. Then, spend the day out in the Everglades and do an airboat ride. Calle Ocho is also a must with its Cuban restaurant and the ventanitas. There are also some less known little gems like the Fruit and Spice Park where you can taste many different types of exotic fruit. Downtown, Brickell, and Bayfront are modern shopping areas worth spending a day strolling through. And then I would end with a weekend in Key West.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to acknowledge here the role that Jeff Warren had in my journey through meditation. He was the one who guided me through the first steps and lit the first spark in me.

Website: https://www.yoga4meditation.org

Instagram: @yoga.4.meditation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/16GrAzCja9/?mibextid=wwXIfr