Hi there! My name is Sandra Ågren. I started studying with IKYA in 2016, during a time when I was burned out, facing a life crisis, and struggling with stomach problems and inflammation. Back then, I lived in a small town in Sweden called Sunne. In 2018, I moved to Oslo and began studying the comprehensive IKYA Therapist Education. Since 2019/2020, I’ve attended every crystal and mantra course, and now I’m studying the fifth crystal course.
Each month, we receive a new crystal with a spiritual principle to explore and integrate into our lives. This year’s first crystal, Nellite, introduced the principle of challenge, encouraging us to face and overcome obstacles. I embraced this fully and want to share some of the challenges I took on during that time.
My story is honest and pure, straight from my heart.
To start, I’ll share something I love: spending time on nude beaches. I’m very open about it and stand by it. Why do I love being on nude beaches? For me, being naked gives me a sense of freedom and connection with my natural self. It feels like I can simply be me, without filters, both physically and mentally. Spending time on nude beaches has also helped me love my body more, to feel proud of myself and confident, no matter what I look like, even if I have a few extra kilos on my belly. I also love getting an even tan all over my body; it makes me feel sexy and confident. I feel it’s completely normal to be around other naked people. In fact, I often feel that I connect with people more genuinely in this setting. Eye contact feels deeper, and it’s as if I’m seeing their souls and hearts more clearly. Through these experiences, I’ve made new friends, enjoyed swimming naked, and developed an even deeper connection with nature.
Honesty is also a big part of my spiritual journey right now, something IKYA emphasizes in the crystal courses. If I’ve been dishonest, I feel a strange discomfort in my body, almost like it hurts. I find myself needing to be honest, even if it means admitting a lie and apologizing for it. For me, being naked is part of that honesty—I can’t hide anything, not my physical body, not who I am, and not my truths. I also love the natural surroundings of nude beaches. These beaches are often located in places where there are grass, rocks, bushes, and trees, far from the sunbeds and umbrellas of commercial beaches. I don’t enjoy lying on a sunbed with a drink in my hand like others often do. I prefer exploring and immersing myself in nature, lying or sitting exactly how I feel like, and not spending money on sunbeds or umbrellas.
From the 1st to the 15th of September, during the Nellite challenge period, I took a solo trip to Rhodes. I had planned to go with a friend, but when they couldn’t make it, I decided to go alone. I had visited the same nude beach in Rhodes the year before, so I knew what to expect. However, this time I wanted to challenge myself to spend two full weeks alone. By the way, flying to Rhodes was a challenge in itself for me. I’m very scared of turbulence; even small bumps put my body into an alarmed state. No matter how much I try to calm myself, my body reacts instinctively. A small glass of red wine helps me relax, even though I don’t usually drink alcohol.
On previous trips, I’ve always found it easy to meet new people to spend time with, but this time, I didn’t connect with anyone. Instead, I received many unwanted sexual invitations, which I didn’t appreciate. I simply wanted to enjoy the sun, nature, and swimming, but the area of the beach where I was sitting, the “mixed part”, is known for attracting swingers and people looking for more.
It was uncomfortable, as some men openly stared at me and even masturbated nearby. While they didn’t approach me, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling. However, I had found a perfect spot under the shade of some bushes, and I didn’t want to leave just because of their behavior. I reminded myself that I had every right to be there and decided not to let anyone ruin my vacation. There were other challenges too. Teenage boys were stealing belongings on the beach, so I had to be extra cautious with my things. At one point, I even worried that someone might place an AirTag in my bag to track me to my hotel. Of course, that didn’t happen, but my imagination ran wild!
By the second week, my body started saying no to the sun. I developed mild sun eczema on my chest and shoulders, which made being in the sun uncomfortable during the last few days. Despite this, I felt accomplished when I left Rhodes. I had challenged myself to navigate these experiences and proved that I could handle everything on my own.
This trip taught me that I don’t need anyone else to feel safe—I can rely on myself. It also felt like a significant step forward on my spiritual journey. With the help of the crystal Nellite and my years of studying with IKYA, I’ve grown stronger, more confident, and more at peace with who I am.
Six years ago, before moving to Oslo, I would never have believed I’d be spending time on nude beaches and traveling alone. My hope is that my story inspires you to love your body a little more, feel comfortable in your own skin, and challenge yourself to do the things you’ve been scared to try. And if you’ve never gone on a solo vacation, I can highly recommend it, it’s truly a blessing.
Thank you so much for sharing ❤️❤️❤️