ABOUT US
IN SHORT
Born in Lahore, raised and educated in Amsterdam, studied business and worked in Banking, discovered meditation & yoga and tea culture while working in Tokyo for 2 years and Bangkok for 3 years. After 2 more years abroad I felt like returning home. Back in Amsterdam now, I’m looking to make a difference in my community
Kamran Rafi
MY JOURNEY
Kindness and selflessness were character traits taught to us by my parents. Growing up the focus on the “I” therefore did not always resonate fully with me. This continued in my professional career. Over the years I would have countless and deep conversations with friends about the “I” versus the “We”.
Finishing my business studies with the desire to start my own business, but with no clear idea or money, I started working for a bank. A 20 year globe trotting career followed, rewarding and perhaps surprisingly - given also the international dimension and the people I got to know - accelerating my inner journey.
Living in Japan I came into contact with Zen Buddhism and meditation. Having grown up drinking tea, I was fascinated to learn also about the east Asian tea culture. Further exposure followed living in Thailand, where calmness and kindness are also practiced in everyday life and social interactions. Yoga came into my life for the first time.
Back again in Amsterdam, I do not live according to any dogma but yin yoga, meditation and tea are now a daily part of my life and routine. In sharing kindness, calmness and lightness I have found my new purpose.
THE IDEA
I came up with the name ‘Oasis of Calmness” while on a yoga retreat on the beautiful island of Corfu. I was explaining my vision to create a place of calmness in Amsterdam to a wonderful new friend I made there.
A place where you can find inner calmness by doing yin yoga and meditation or simply drinking a cup of tea in a tranquil environment, while connecting with other kindred spirits. The idea of selling the tea selection - online and off - grew from there.
I dream of a community of people encouraging and positively influencing each other to live with and spread kindness, calmness and lightness in their circles.
A place with a interior style and philosophy that brings us closer to nature and invites us to nurture all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect.
THE LOGO
Happy to elaborate in person on what the logo means to me and even more to hear what you recognize in it. Just reach out!
