"There is no land like the land of your childhood." – Michael Powell

I was born in Belgium into a loving family with deep farming roots. My childhood was filled with care and strong values, but also with unspoken expectations.

My father had a traumatizing youth and never had the chance to pursue higher education. He dreamed of a better life, a dream he unknowingly placed on my shoulders. As the eldest, I felt constant pressure to succeed, to prove myself, and to be "the best" in everything - school, sports, and life itself. Success became my way of earning approval.

But deep inside, I struggled with self-doubt, fear of failure, and a constant need for validation. No matter how well I performed in school, I never felt at peace. I was chasing success but losing myself in the process.

Looking back, I now see that I wasn’t trapped by my family, but by my own beliefs and conditioning. My journey has been about breaking free from perfectionism and learning that real fulfillment comes from within.

"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." – Lao Tzu

By the early 2000s, I had followed the expected path—an engineering degree, business studies, and a clear ambition to climb the corporate ladder. My goal? To become a CEO. Yet, despite doing everything “right,” something felt missing.

Then, two life-changing events changed my direction: I met Michele, my future wife, and I moved to Malaysia.

Leaving Belgium and starting a new life in a different country was a leap into the unknown. But it opened my mind in ways I never imagined. I discovered new perspectives, new philosophies, and a different way of thinking about success. Buddhism, Hinduism, and Taoism became sources of inspiration.

I started practicing yoga, meditation, and NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) - things I never would have considered before. Most importantly, I rediscovered running - not as a competition, but as a way to feel free. Running with the Hash House Harriers (PH3) was a turning point. It was fun, spontaneous, and liberating.

This period of my life was about breaking old patterns and allowing myself to explore new possibilities. The walls of my self-imposed prison started to crack, letting in the light of self-awareness and transformation.

"When nothing is certain, everything is possible." – Margaret Drabble

By my early 30s, my personal life was thriving, but my career felt uncertain. The company I worked for was struggling financially, and I decided to try freelancing - my first experience outside the traditional corporate world. It was both exciting and unpredictable.

During this transition, I set myself a bold challenge: running my first marathon. More than just a race, it was a way to channel my energy, push my limits, and regain a sense of control.

Being a perfectionist, I approached training with method and discipline - reading books, refining my technique, and preparing carefully. In December 2007, I completed the Singapore Marathon in 3 hours and 40 minutes. But more importantly, I discovered something deeper:

• Running wasn’t just physical - it had a strong mental, emotional, and even spiritual dimension.
• It gave me clarity, resilience, and a way to process challenges.
• It became my space for reflection, balance, and personal growth.

Even when I returned to the corporate world—working long hours and traveling often—running remained my anchor. It was my stress relief, my thinking time, my way to stay grounded.

Then, in 2010, on my 35th birthday, I set a long-term goal: to run the equivalent of the Earth’s circumference (40,000 km) before turning 70. Not for competition, but as a lifelong journey of movement, well-being, and self-discovery.

What started as a physical challenge had become a philosophy - one that would later inspire the Tao of Running™.

By 2013, running had become my escape, but I felt there was something more to discover. Inspired by the book The Equanimous Mind by Manish Chopra, I decided to attend a 10-day Vipassana meditation retreat in a remote Thai temple. It was an intense experience - ten days of complete silence, deep meditation, and self-reflection.

Halfway through, I fell ill with dengue fever, but I chose to stay, determined to complete the process. It was a difficult challenge, but it helped me peel away layers of my conditioning, revealing deeper insights about myself. This experience changed my life.

Through mindfulness, I learned to observe my thoughts and emotions without judgment and to stay fully present in the moment.

When I returned to running, I naturally integrated these principles and noticed that, under certain conditions, running felt effortless. The usual struggle and mental noise disappeared. I was fully present, immersed in a state of flow.

This was the missing link. Running could be more than just exercise. It could be a meditative practice, a way to unify body and mind. This realization planted the seeds for the Tao of Running™, blending endurance and mindfulness to cultivate ease, joy, and transformation

By 2014, the puzzle was coming together. Running had become a meditative, energizing practice. But my corporate career felt less and less aligned with what truly mattered to me. I decided to take a break, attend a second Vipassana retreat, and organize my ideas into what would soon become The Tao of Running™.

When I shared my approach with friends, I saw incredible results - weight loss, reduced stress, better sleep, and sharper focus at work. Their transformations encouraged me to launch a pilot program in early 2015, and the feedback was powerful. People weren’t just improving their running; they were experiencing deep changes in their health, mindset, and overall well-being.

That’s when I knew helping others find balance and sustainable performance was my true calling. So, at 40, I took the leap. I left the corporate world and dedicated myself fully to Tao of Running™.

Since then, I’ve guided thousands through this holistic journey, blending running, mindfulness, breathwork, endurance mastery, and holistic health coaching. What started as a personal quest became a mission: helping others cultivate a fit and healthy body, a sharp and balanced mind, and a happy soul! 

The journey didn’t stop with launching Tao of Running™, it continued to evolve. As I helped others transform, life challenged me in ways that deepened my understanding of resilience, health, and personal growth.

In 2017, my father’s passing from heart disease strengthened my commitment to helping people live healthier, more balanced lives. Then, in 2018, after winning my age category in my first ultra-trail race, I faced an unexpected challenge - chronic pain led to the discovery of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), a genetic condition affecting both hips.

Instead of choosing immediate surgery, I spent years exploring movement therapy, minimalist shoes, strength training, breathwork, and alternative healing methods. It was a humbling process that taught me patience, adaptability, and how to go even deeper in listening to my body. But in 2021, I eventually underwent hip resurfacing surgery on my right hip.

Recovery was not easy - compensations led to pain in my left hip, and in July 2023, I had a second surgery. Now, fully recovered, I’ve set myself a new challenge: preparing for my first effortless triathlon in 2025—the year I turn 50.

These experiences have only reinforced my belief in sustainable performance - balancing effort and recovery, ambition and intuition. Today, my mission goes beyond the Tao of running™. Through Tao Lifestyle™, I help individuals, leaders, and teams in organizations cultivate energy, resilience, and (work) peak performance using a holistic approach built on five key pillars: Move Well, Think & Be Well, Sleep Well, Eat Well, and Flow

The path ahead is clear: to keep evolving, learning, and empowering others to cultivate a fit and healthy body, a sharp and balanced mind, and a happy soul!