Get to know Viviana
Viviana came to Leuven to study a Master degree and to join her partner who was already in Belgium. She did her PhD studying one of her favourite trees, mangroves, and then worked as a post-doc. After several years in the academic world, she decided to take a different path in her life. Now she is an entrepreneur and founded La Ecoloca, a place where we can regenerate our relationships with our bodies, minds and nature by practicing yoga or walking in nature.
Learn about the Written by Women Book Club & Guided walks in nature for Women's Circle
Viviana loves reading. The idea for the reading club just came up very spontaneously in a conversation with Anna, from the IHL.
The Book Club takes place once a month, normally on Wednesday in the last week of the month. We read the book in advance and we discuss together the topics that were present in the book and our opinions.
Viviana enjoys the Book Club as it has allowed her to learn new perspectives as other people observe things from the books that she might have not noticed. Also, she has read books that she would probably not have chosen otherwise.
Viviana also loves walking, particularly in green areas. That is why she also organizes guided walks in nature for the Women's Circle. The walks take place in areas around Leuven and they last for about two hours. The walk is an opportunity to enjoy nature and have conversations around a topic that is presented at the beginning of the walk. The walks are easy of approximately 5 km long. The walks take place outside the winter season.
Viviana loves to go for a walk with other people to open the opportunity to talk about the experience of living abroad and how we experience the world as women. The focus that she wants to bring to the walks is also a moment of enjoyment and relaxation from the day to day life.
Both activities offer a space to learn from each other and expand our horizons.
Would you like to join the group?
Keep an eye on the MeetUp group of the IHL. We also have a WhatsApp group where we post the information of the book that we are going to read and the date of the next event. We choose the book for the following session in each event. There is also another WhatsApp group for the Women's Circle where the information about the events is posted.
Connect with Viviana
If you would like to go for a walk or take a yoga class with Viviana, check www.laecoloca.org or @la.ecoloca.yoga on instagram.
Viviana's advice for internationals
Be compassionate towards yourself. You might also be surprised with the new skills and new versions of yourself on this new land.
Quickfire Quiz
Stoofvlees with fries or vol-au-vent?
Stoofvlees with fries
Bus, bike, drive or walk?
Walk and bike
Best thing about Leuven?
How international it is
Favourite season?
Autumn and Spring
Early bird or night owl?
Early bird
Introvert or extrovert?
Both
