Hi all! Greetings, full of life! I’m Maria, happy to be here ☀️

What would I like you to know about me? Well, I’m open-minded. I love to smile and walk barefoot.
I feel mindful and peaceful,
I practice Ashtanga yoga to be calm and aware, also to become flexible and strong,
I do breathing practices to feel energetic and alive,
I do contrast shower to increase my natural dopamine level,
I meditate to dive deep focusing on my inner impulses,
I dance to feel happy and cheerful,
I swim when I have some water around,
I like riding horse, cycling, SUP-boarding, kayaking, hiking, laughing at good jokes.

I have positive life attitude, appreciating calm but active lifestyle. I love music, arts and culture. Animals are my biggest passion, especially dogs and horses, well birds singing is my favourite sound of nature, not counting the sound of the ocean, it is beyond competition.
I prefer good mindful company, and I love to be alone in total silence to recharge my life battery and think.
I quit sugar and instagram, sometimes I’m back but just occasionally.

I'm from Ukraine, and my travel journey began in 2016. I've lived in Portugal and Spain and have visited many countries—my list is already up to 30. Tend to follow new paths each time, try new food.

I have a lot of experience meeting people and making friends from all over the world through Couchsurfing. I love walking for dozens of kilometres while exploring new places and taking pictures and videos of little details around me keeping those magical moments that we call life experience. I like to notice, to carefully and attentively observe my surroundings, and to find something special in every place, every moment, and every person. I love to be surprised and amazed by new places and people.

I’m art-therapist and I love my authentic path, it feels good when you combine 2 of you passion: psychology and art.
I have an experience as a wedding planner, TikTok-blogger, AI-startup founder, IT product manager, psychologist, travel organizer and handicraft master.
I enjoy my life, I am grateful to our abundant Universe for all the opportunities and adventures it brings me. As you can see, I have a wide range of interests, especially creative ones. Currently, I’m writing poetry and drawing intuitive pictures.

I dream of creating a film about love and happiness, so don’t be surprised if I show up at your place with a tripod and an iPhone, asking you meaningful questions like, "What is love?" and "What’s your recipe for happiness?" ☺️ You’re more than welcome to take part in my filming journey.

Let’s keep in touch if my values and story resonate with you. Thank you☀️

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I'm getting know this new world of people who actually are my soulmates cause traveling is a lifestyle.

Interests

All about active and mindful living

• arts
• photography
• music festivals
• walking
• blogging
• minimalism
• music
• hiking
• buddhist
• swimming
• psychology
• adventure travel
• nature
• cultures
• techno music
• exploring
• exploring new places
• healthy lifestyle
• vipassana
• handmade
• bycicle
• energy
• ashtanga yoga
• breathwork
• yoga and meditation

Music, Movies, and Books

Music: electronic, classical, ethnic, alternative, indie.

Books: spiritual literature, self-improvement books, psychological literature, adventure novels.

Movies: The Matrix, Interstellar, The Last Samurai, EX-machine, The Shawshank Redemption, Forrest Gump, The Intern, Eat pray love, Sabrina etc.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

The most life-changing experience I’ve ever had (after visiting India) was taking the Vipassana meditation course this September 2025. It transformed my inner self and my perception of the world. I realized that it's possible to simply observe all the sensations in your body objectively—and that they pass. It trains you to be strong and resilient and teaches you how to serve and help others. I made some great friends on this course and feel like Vipassana attracts the most resilient and conscious people. It was a truly valuable experience—I wish everyone could have it 🙏

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm an Explorer guys!
I don't like going the same way every day and I'm not into traditional sightseeing. I do like to get lost in an unknown city or even in my hometown in order to find some exceptional non-touristic places.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I can share some good mindful stories and practices

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Belarus, France, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, United States