Lessons in Presence, Healthy Intensity, and Letting Go
Twice a year, I step away from day-to-day work to do my own deep transformational work. I invest in myself—time, energy, and courage. Not because I have time to spare, but because I know I can’t afford not to.
Last week, I found myself dancing tango in Pasadena… and sitting blindfolded with wolves.
Let me explain…
I didn’t know we would be learning tango. I nearly freaked out when I realised.
I do not have a musical ear. I mean… truly none. In school, I got top marks in music—as long as I didn’t open my mouth to sing.
So when our graceful teacher Celi Arias said:
“Music is your first partner.”
I thought: Well, that’s it for me.
And yet, just two hours later, I found myself moving across the floor—following a master tango dancer.
Was it graceful? Debatable.
Was it transformational? Unquestionably.
Because tango, like leadership, is not about perfection.
It’s about presence.
Presence with yourself. Presence with the other. Presence with the moment.
And this is what I call Healthy Intensity—the ability to be fully rooted in your purpose while trusting yourself and those around you.
Not performing. Not proving.
Just leading from a place of deep clarity and connection.
If you’re leading in tango, you have to be crystal clear on your next move.
So clear that your partner feels it, trusts it, and shines because of it.
And if you’re following, you are not passive—you’re connected. Alive. Fully aware.
You’re surrendering to the moment without giving your power away.
That’s the paradox. True leadership is not about control—it’s about deep connection.
The next day, we took this work even further.
At a wolf sanctuary, we were invited to sit blindfolded, silently, while wolves roamed freely around us. No protection. No barriers. Just presence.
A wolf rubbed its body against my knee.
And surprisingly… I wasn’t afraid.
I didn’t flinch. I didn’t try to do anything. I simply was.
That was the tango lesson all over again.
Presence is not a soft skill. It is power.
In the boardroom. In a dance. In a cage with wolves.
When Celi shared during the tango lesson:
“If you’re not clear about your next move… pause.”
It hit me.
Leaders often rush to act when they feel unsure—because stillness feels threatening.
But sometimes, the most powerful thing you can do is pause.
Breathe. Connect. Let your next move emerge from clarity—not fear.
And in case you think the universe was done with me—at the end of the wolf experience, I learned there were no pictures of me with the wolves.
For a moment, I felt sad. And then…
I realised: That’s the final gift.
It’s not about the photo. It’s not about the proof.
It’s about the experience.
The presence. The memory imprinted not on picture, but in my nervous system.
So, here’s what I leave you with:
- Can you lead like a tango dancer—clear, connected, and committed to letting others shine?
- Can you follow like a true partner—receptive, attuned, and grounded in your own centre?
- Can you sit still with the wolves—eyes closed, senses alive, trusting your presence is enough
This is Healthy Intensity.
Being on purpose.
Fully trusting yourself and your team.
Acting from clarity.
Resting in presence.
Letting go of the need to prove anything at all.
And if you are ready to invest in yourself time, energy and courage : explore our programmes below.
With love and presence,
Tatiana