About Essentience
Our background, our Vision and
the Four Pillars Framework
A Remembering of Essence
Essentience is a space of remembering. A place where we reconnect with what is already within us: our essence and our sentience. The truth is that we are not separate parts to be fixed, but integrated beings to be understood and nourished as a whole.
We believe growth is not about becoming someone new. It’s about becoming more fully yourself - aligned, aware and alive in every layer of your being.
Through Essentience
We aim to inspire people and organizations towards self-actualization and to contribute to a greater awareness of self and presence in the world.
Through actionable tools we aim to share our vision of a comprehensive integrative approach to wellbeing. We aim to inspire growth, foster balance and equip people with the means to thrive across all Four Pillars - Physically, Emotionally, Intellectually and Spiritually.
We aspire to contribute as a trusted presence in integrative wellbeing by sharing accessible tools that inspire people and encourage workplaces to foster wellbeing.
The Four Pillars
Our Four Pillars approach forms the foundational thinking behind Essentience. These pillars are of equal importance, yet each holds its own center: the Body to experience, the Emotional to feel, the Intellect to understand and the Spirit to sense.
BODY
🜂 Physical Intelligence
(PQ)
Emphasizes the development of our innate greatest possible self-awareness of the body, its interaction with the environment and the energy that fuels its function. This Pillar cultivates a heightened connection with the body through enhanced biomechanical and proprioceptive awareness.
HEART
🜃 Emotional Intelligence
(EQ)
Refers to the increased awareness of our own emotions and become attuned to the emotions of others in our environment. This Pillar empowers a sensitive knowing of the self and its change of states, to allow for listening without judgment and to respond appropriately.
MIND
🜁 Cognitive Intelligence
(IQ)
Focuses on the cultivation of our mental acuity, critical thinking and reflective awareness. This Pillar explores with curiosity the deepening engagement with our thoughts, beliefs and perceptions, to question assumptions and to seek understanding and coherence of our life experiences.
SOUL
🜄 Spiritual Intelligence
(SQ)
Emphasizes the deeper dimensions of our knowing and awareness, tapping into a layer of potentiality that transcends the physical dimensions. This Pillar invites us to develop a sense of purpose and connection from within and to accept that which the mind cannot rationally explain.
Tarik Elmetaal
An experienced coach with embodied wisdom, bridging his paths of medicine, movement and integrative wellbeing.
"With two decades of experience in the NHS, I witnessed firsthand the human vulnerability and the power of a holistic pursuit of health. From cardiac arrest teams to various wards, I saw how patients can be struck with disease. I noticed how positive thinking, spiritual practice, physical strength and emotional regulation influenced the outcome of recovery.
Throughout my life, I’ve taken unconventional paths in search of meaning, creativity and independence. I’ve had my share of self-discovery journeys, which have helped me form a deep understanding of what we strive for with Essentience. A severe back injury that nearly led to surgery and amputation, a life-changing journey through India and eventually becoming a personal trainer, yoga teacher, husband and father of six - each chapter shaped my understanding of holistic health.
In 2010, I brought that vision into the corporate world, becoming a wellbeing coach in a large organization in London. That work revealed to me that when wellbeing is embedded into the culture of a business, it becomes a source of strength, resilience and purpose."
Sebastiaan Kerckhof
A driven entrepreneur fueled by his creative lust for artistic and philosophical development.
"The thread running through my career is a playful and interdisciplinary approach. This approach led to a personal training business, coaching people for Ironman triathlons and the opening of an Arts & Movement studio in Rotterdam. In the former, I strive to share a new perspective on what a physical and philosophical practice can be. The latter became a place for professional movement education through an interplay of movement disciplines, bridging into performing- and contemporary arts.
In my journey of self-discovery, Ironman races became a metaphorical tool for growth. Where I competed in several races myself and coached people to compete in theirs. Through a softening approach, guided by my teachers, it helped the development of a foundational belief at the core of Essentience: that lasting physical development can only be achieved when approached holistically.
Most recently, I spent four years at Gartner, where I partnered with CIOs and leadership teams to shape their digital transformation strategies and create lasting business value. My ability to bridge business intelligence with emotional clarity and grounded presence became an authentic approach of inspiration."
