How Forrest Yoga and Energy Medicine Transformed His Life and Work – Interview with Ilias Kousis

Ilias Kousis is a leader in the field of stalking fear, emotional, and physical healing and transformation. He grew up in an abusive environment and was clinically obese throughout most of his childhood. Instead of spending his entire life running away from pain and going into victim mode, he took action for his own healing. He turned his old pain, fear, and emotional blockages into wisdom and strength. He decided that committing suicide or living in fear isn't worth it, so he dedicated his life to finding ways to heal and share these tools of transformation with anyone who lives in suffering and wishes to find a way out. His motto. Each adversity hides a gem of truth, be willing to seek it.

Ilias Kousis, Transformational Coach

Who is Ilias Kousis?

Ilias Kousis is a Forrest Yoga Guardian (Level 5), Energy Medicine Healer, and Breathwork Coach. He is internationally recognised as a Healer who uses his strong background as a former geoscientist and spiritual leader to help people heal their traumas, overcome their fears, and live the life they most yearn for. Ilias helps his clients get deeper access to their bodies and emotions, harness more of their personal power, overcome self-limiting beliefs, connect to their unique sacred purpose, and carry it through. Ilias believes that no one is brought to this life to feel like a victim and provides his clients with clear, practical guidance on gaining more control over their life’s direction, grounded in a true connection to Spirit. He did this for himself -and continues doing it- and he knows it is possible for others, too. He works with his clients in-person and online, and both in group and private settings. 

What inspired you to transition from a career in geology to becoming a Forrest Yoga Guardian and Energy Medicine practitioner?

I would say that what inspired me to abandon my career as a geoscientist was the realisation that our relationship with ourselves reflects our relationship with Earth, and, by extension, with the universe. What I learned throughout my life was that the more I understood myself in relation to that which runs through all beings (even things!), the better a geologist or whatever else I was identifying with, I could be. When I realised during my PhD studies that the research I was prompted to do for that specific research group I was part of wasn’t aligning with the values of doing unbiased research for the sake of mending the relationship between humanity and our planet, so that we can co-exist together in stewardship, I decided that I didn’t want to waste another minute of my precious life towards a non-purposeful direction. I immediately decided to dedicate myself to helping my fellow humans improve and deepen their relationships with themselves, which, in turn, will enable them to make better life choices not only for themselves but for everyone else, including our planet. So working with yoga and energy work was a very resourceful way for me to spread a positive influence in the world. 

How does your scientific background influence your approach to yoga and energy healing?

I literally owe everything to my scientific background for who I am today as an influential yoga teacher and energy worker. As a geoscientist, I valued the opportunity to study the Earth and the Universe in great depth, enough to realise that our planet is an instruction manual for deepening our relationships with ourselves. I was fascinated by how the organic and inorganic worlds intercalate, how living organisms become rock, and how rock becomes living life. This is a pure miracle that very few people connect deeply to. This taught me a whole lot about how our bodies, emotions, and energy fields are part of a broad energy field, or better say “that which runs in all beings”, and I want to add “things” too. Another skill I learned is how important it is to couple the scientific thinking with the First Nation People’s knowledge and bridge them together to improve the collective life experience on Earth and to fend off diseases of any kind. This now provides the basis of my healing work.

Can you describe the unique benefits of Forrest Yoga and how it differs from other yoga styles?

Forrest Yoga (named after Ana Forrest) is distinct from other yoga styles in that it offers a deeper experience of integrating body, mind, and emotions across a range of calmness and intensity and is greatly enhanced by Native American elements, such as the integration of Ceremony. It contains the perfect balance of yin and yang, encouraging the practitioner to stay within the zone of discomfort in a kind, compassionate, and conscious way, so that the autopilot patterns of the mind begin to crack and dissolve. The core principle of Forrest Yoga is to help us become aware of the unconscious programming that keeps us stuck in pain, depression, addictions, and fear of becoming a bigger and greater version of ourselves. We achieve this with long holds in the poses, coupled with deep breathing and sending attention into bodily sensations and emotions that arise during moments of quivering and the urge to escape. What the practitioner learns on the mat through Forrest Yoga is to track for dysfunctional patterns and disobey them by acting differently on the mat and, by extension, in life as well. The practitioner learns how to heal from patterns of physical pain and depressive thinking, while simultaneously igniting the passion for life. This makes Forrest Yoga an ideal practice that meets the practitioner at their level, regardless of injuries or disabilities.

What is Energy Medicine, and how does it complement your yoga practice?

Energy Medicine is a multifaceted discipline that aims to clear imprints in our luminous energy field that are responsible for disease, pain, or emotional trauma. It can be conducted in-person or remotely, and it involves minimal to zero physical intervention. Its relationship with yoga practice is reciprocal, energy informs the body, and, conversely, changes in the body can clear our energy field. One complements the other. In my own practice and in my work with clients, I see that both approaches are necessary over the long term to avoid dead ends and stagnation.

How do you integrate breathwork into your sessions to enhance healing?

How I use breathwork depends on my intention. To spark the client’s energy, prepare their bodies for physical activity, and overcome fear, I will use specific techniques such as Ujjayi (Victorious Breath), deep, continuous breathing, Kappalabhati (Breath of Fire), and Circular Breathing. If I need to prepare to switch off the analytical mind and prepare for energy work or better flexibility gains, I will instruct my clients to breathe more slowly and deeply, and to incorporate breath-holding or a longer exhalation-to-inhalation ratio. To be completely honest with you, there are many grey zones in the above, so it really comes down to the moment and the individual. I have learned that through experience, and I always listen to my intuition about what a client needs.

What are some common misconceptions people have about yoga and energy medicine?

We all know now that yoga offers many benefits, such as improving flexibility and balance, reducing stress levels, and the list goes on. But what most people fail to understand is that yoga is a lifestyle that deepens your self-awareness and your connection to Spirit. The benefits you read about yoga on the internet are a result of a deeper connection to our authentic selves, a by-product, if you will. Another misconception is that, for many, energy medicine is separate from yoga and is often treated as a belief system, whereas energy healing is the basis of yoga as well, we do yoga in order to bring our energy into balance and communicate with the rest of creation beyond the five senses. To put this straight, energy medicine is not something you choose to believe in or not, it is scientifically proven that we are surrounded by an electromagnetic energy field, with its centre in the Heart. Long gone is the taboo that energy work is only for hippies or woo-woo people, without saying that there aren’t charlatans out there, too. 

How do you tailor your sessions to address the specific needs of your clients?

I always meet my clients on their level and do extensive tracking of the needs that must be addressed. What has helped me tremendously in excelling at this is spending the majority of my life being very curious and experimenting a lot with myself, physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. By dissecting myself constantly and learning new things about how the universe works, I am able to tune in to my intuition and provide precise and effective guidance for my clients. My approach is to be compassionate and gently push my clients' boundaries to expose them to the zone of discomfort and the unknown, without feeling pressured or overwhelmed, while keeping them fully present and open to embracing new aspects of who they are.

Can you share a success story where your approach significantly impacted a client's life?

I have many success stories that have touched me deeply, but the most profound ones are when a client of mine came to me and said that she had been trying for multiple decades by bouncing from expert to expert to find a solution for her painful shoulder that was heading towards surgery, and all that shifted already from the first group class she took with me until it completely disappeared. My jaw dropped, and I was in pure awe to be of such service to someone. 

What challenges do your clients typically face, and how do you help them overcome these obstacles?

My clients typically face an array of issues that span from the physical to the emotional and spiritual layers. Often, they think they are separate issues or simply haven’t put it all together before they see me. My work with them usually revolves around healing chronic pain and emotional traumas, which are usually related to deep fears and are one story, usually a story of “I am not good enough” and fear of the unknown. And this is precisely what we typically discover and overcome. So, I would say that the typical outcome after working with my clients for a couple of months is that they notice higher and more sustainable energies, less or absence of reactivity to usual triggers, more clarity over their sacred purpose and passions in life, as well as reduction or complete healing of pain and depression. They typically discover the will and the sparkle to live fully again, with excitement and curiosity to evolve and step out of stagnation. 

What can someone expect during their first session with you?

The first session with me is always exploratory and serves as the foundation for creating a safe space where vulnerability, honesty, openness, and transformation are possible. I try to map the terrain based on what my client shares with me and on what I feel and see in their physical and energetic body. My priority is to be a good listener and a tracker so I can come up with effective ways to tackle my client’s challenges. Usually, it becomes relatively clear to me what the underlying issue is, even though it is always multilayered. My approach will then also be customised based on my client’s level of openness, belief system, and physical and emotional boundaries.

In the first session, I help my clients understand the challenges in a more structured way, breaking them down into smaller, manageable compartments and reassuring them about possible solutions. I also make sure they understand that they play a significant role in their healing process, which makes them feel truly empowered. The work we will be doing together isn’t like a passive, “do me” treatment, like taking a massage. I want them to understand why we need time together and why this time will be so valuable and enlightening for both of us.

How can someone get started on their healing journey with you?

First, I would encourage them to become more familiar with who I am and what I do to determine whether they resonate with my energy. I would recommend checking my website, where they can read a little about me and my events. It is also possible to book a free 15-min video call with me, which is a great way to see whether we have good chemistry. Some of them might want to have a taste of what I do by practising my prerecorded material, which is also another way to get a clearer sense of who I am and what I do. I have a non-binding Patreon membership, live online and in-person classes, and online courses. Last but not least, some blog posts at Brainz magazine, where I share in greater depth what my transformational journey has been and how it shaped me into the healer I am today.

Follow me on Instagram for more info!

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