Guru Viking Podcast Ep334: The Dakini’s Journey - Ngakma Yumma Mudra
Nov 21, 2025
Ngakma Yumma Mudra, also known as Myriam Szabo, is a dancer, producer, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism who founded the Danza Duende Network. In this conversation, she shares her tumultuous journey from childhood trauma to discovering dance as a refuge and spiritual practice. Myriam recounts mystical experiences, her path to Buddhism, and the transformative power of retreat. She discusses her international modeling fame, overcoming struggles with abuse, and integrating dance into her spiritual life, revealing how movement can become a sacred expression.
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Early Trauma And Dance Refuge
- Ngakma Yumma Mudra describes a childhood of domestic violence and being taken from her mother as an infant, which shaped her early life and refuge in dance.
- She began formal dance at age three and later trained intensively under Russian teachers who recognized her talent and gave her exclusivity in their school.
Dance As Unconditional Refuge
- Dance acted as an inner refuge that didn't depend on external circumstances and offered consistent happiness for her.
- She describes training alone obsessively and finding an internal treasure that remained regardless of life chaos.
Professional Training In Russian Lineage
- At 13 she became a professional in a Russian ballet lineage linked to Diaghilev and Nijinska, training 2–4 hours daily with live pianists.
- Her teacher gave her a stage name and shaped her technical and rhythmic foundation across national dance traditions.
