I Make Love with Myself…
Every time I practice asanas I connect to a deeper place. With each breath, each movement, each taste, each smell and each sensation, I make love.
Yoga has taught me to love myself first as I am, with all my imperfections. So as I practice yoga on my mat, I make love with myself and with all that this universe embodies. I make love with gratitude towards my blessings. I embrace all that I am, as I am.
I explore the smallest inch in my body and the deepest breath from my lungs. I caress my skin with each inhale…and each exhale. My ujjayi warms my insides and makes my eyes float up ever so slightly as I feel the energy building. Beads of sweat kiss my face. Loose hairs tickle my neck. Body parts dance gracefully and rhythmically.
In the beginning, I tease myself with flirtatious movements that make my muscles peak with interest. During the practice, I am at a constant climax as I explore God’s play. But at the end, in the final surrender, I let go and give myself completely.
And yes, it’s sexy, sweet and sattvic.
I Found My ZEN in NYC.
A couple weeks ago I had the “F&*k-it! I-gotta-get-out-of-here” moment and the first place I thought of, or rather my intuition connected with, was New York City. In fact, it felt like I was being called by Mr. NYC himself and he was sounding like an angry boss saying, “Where the heck are you? You’re supposed to be up here!” So that’s exactly what I did. Within 48 hours I had my flight booked and my hotel reserved.
I will admit I had a few moments of hesitation. Although my heart was being pulled towards NYC, my head was convincing me that “New York is expensive, loud, busy and stressful. Why don’t you go to Biminy or to a beach somewhere close by? That would be much more logical.” But this trip wasn’t about being logical or strategic. It was about saying, “F#$k it! Let’s see what life has in store.”
All I had planned was where I was going to stay because as a single woman in New York traveling by herself, things could get a little dangerous if I just wandered around the city looking for somewhere to stay. Besides that safe decision, I chose to be fearless during this trip.
My itinerary was wake up in the morning, get dressed, go downstairs from the hotel and just start walking. Where to? I didn’t know. I would stand on a corner and ask myself, “left or right?” And then I might go straight instead. I just went where I was being called. And sometimes I was being called by friends or friends of friends whom I had never met and they would say, “hey let’s hang out” and I would just say “ok” or “no thanks” without issues of obligations. I would only use my intuition.
Whatever felt “right”, I did. Whatever felt “wrong”, I did too. I didn’t have a judgment of right or wrong. I didn’t discriminate. I just acted. I just lived. I met new people who led me to meet new people who led me to new places. I explored, observed and let myself just be.
One day, after it was time to leave Central Park, I was led straight to the Julliard School of Music! When I noticed where I had been led all I could do was smile and laugh. If you know how much I love music, then you’d know this was quite a treat for me. I was drawn to eat lunch right in front of the school and enjoy the elevated vibe I was sensing.
After lunch, a new friend I had made the day before sent me a text which read, “If you are free, join us for a movie.” With such a beautiful day outside, I didn’t want to be indoors, but the text clearly read, “If you are free…” And I am free – completely free, so I went. The movie sucked, but it didn’t matter. It was where I was supposed to be.
I didn’t worry about money. I didn’t worry about work. I didn’t worry about liking or disliking something. I didn’t worry about plans. I didn’t worry about what I looked like. That’s the beauty of New York! Nobody cares! So you can embrace all of your imperfections exactly as you are.
One night I had dinner with my cousin who was vehemently against my decision to come to NYC with the purpose of unwinding and relaxing. He urged me to go to a beach and disconnect from everything and everyone in order to really recharge my batteries. But, I urged him that that’s exactly what I was doing in New York.
My relationship with New York is a bit odd in that I get to be Yin to everyone’s Yang. I am usually the more intense, highly productive and driven person at home in Miami – the Yang element is quite dominant. But, in New York, since everyone is Yang, I get to relax and let other’s be stressed for me. It’s perfect!
I would walk along the streets almost in slow motion. Even though I was still walking gracefully with the crowd, I was not part of the crowd. I would use peripheral vision to be extra aware and observant.
There were so many colors. So many sounds. So many cultures. So many smells. So much of everything that the senses were celebrating life, while still not being attached to them. I was not attached to them because it made no difference what I was seeing, smelling, or feeling. It was all the same.
I was practicing having no desires although I clearly see the irony in wanting no desires…Since I wasn’t fazed by what food I wanted to eat or what I wanted to do, then I could experience and live the moment in its purest state without expectations. It was all a blessing.
I didn’t always stay in this desireless state. I would say I maintained it for about 80% of the time, but there were moments of relapsing into my old patterns. It takes time to master a new habit, especially when the old one is so conditioned and comfortable. In New York City though, it just clicked. Now my challenge was going to be maintaining this click in Miami, where I am the Yang to others’ Yin. I have made it a priority and a necessity since it has made my life more balanced and peaceful. These two weeks of just being, without attachments and without desires has made me understand that there’s no going back now. I am forever grateful for all the lessons I continue to learn.
Who’s ready for some Zen? NYC anyone?
Day 90: Are You Booming With Me?
Hey everyone,
So I had decided to stop posting because no one was posting with me. This is ideally a community collaborative effort. What incentive do you guys need in order to help us all share here together? Maybe you just like to read the posts and you BOOM on your own time but you don’t want to share. That’s cool. Maybe you don’t BOOM at all but enjoy the posts. That’s cool. Maybe you don’t read the posts and BOOM. That’s cool. (But you wouldn’t know it’s cool because you would be reading this post… haha!) Or maybe you don’t care either way. And that’s cool too! So, regardless, I will periodically be posting my BOOMS. Not every day like before but whenever it feels pertinent. If you want to post something please let me know… I will be happy to post on here for you and link it to your website/facebook/whatever you want.
So here goes… I boomed yesterday with my sister. It was great to inspire each other. Of course, my BOOM was restorative practice due to physical fatigue and a need to take care of myself in a gentle way. But it was definitely a sort of A.D.D. Yoga with distractions like my cat Apu watching our every move, spunky music, and my dog, Dino’s periodic farting episodes. Gotta love those stinky dog farts…
Thank you Tamay for igniting the BOOM in me again.
Namaste Jas’mine, Apu and Dino!
Top 13 Movies/TV Shows For Yogis. And Why?
Me at Pixar in California. I got as close as they would let me.
Below is a list of 13 movies or TV shows that I think would be great for yogis to watch and get inspired. They have similar messages as to the teachings in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.
(If you are interested in me linking up the movies with their respective yoga sutra then please comment on this article and let me know.)
They are in no particular order and there is no reason for 13 – that’s just the number that came up. Enjoy!
- Peaceful Warrior
This is a MUST!!! This movie will show not tell the audience what yoga and being present is all about. Everytime I watch it I get inspired to live NOW! I invite you to do the same.
“There’s never nothing going on.” – Dan Millman. Can someone please throw me over a bridge now? AAAAAH!
- What the Bleep Do We Know?
This movie is powerful as long as all the interviews filled with quantum physics terminology doesn’t make you fall asleep halfway through. I usually pass out after the wedding scene, but it shares some conceptual truths in a visual and understandable way. This is hard to achieve with such esoteric concepts, so kudos to them. It is worth watching all the way through at least once.
- Avatar: The Last Airbender
The TV Series NOT THE MOVIE. Please do yourself a favor and NEVER EVER EVER watch the movie version of this amazing TV series! If you want to get back at a friend you may suggest they watch this movie so they waste an hour and 30 minutes of their life… No, don’t do that yogis. We practice ahimsa, nonharming. Anywho, this clever and witty cartoon is genius! The story is so well developed and the messages throughout all the three seasons will leave you wanting more. It is for all age groups. And a yogi would like this because there is actually a whole episode dedicated to yoga and the chakras and there’s something called the Spirit World! Plus, who wouldn’t want to bend water, fire, earth and air? These are the siddhis (superpowers of yogis) at their best and worst!
(I couldn’t find the English version of this clip so here’s a little Spanish Avatar. It does sound a little cheesy, but I’m hoping you watch the whole show. Well worth your time. I know I’m not the only one who would watch episode after episode hooked to a marathon weekend.)
- Animaniacs
Yes Animaniacs… They are crazy and that’s exactly why they are yogis. They turn the world (aka our reality) upside down by being completely themselves. Could you handle living in the world they live in? Does your world need to be perfect all the time, or can you find the peace in the chaos? Yakko, Wakko and Dot are actually geniuses in my book – if you can see the deeper layers. Really, really deep layers. Thanks Steven Spielberg!
Here’s another one: I just couldn’t help myself…
- I Heart Huckabees.
Oh the beauty of the blanket metaphor… Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin master the yin and yang in this movie. Prepare to be surprised by this witty comedy/drama. Would you hire people to follow you around and analyze every move, every breath, every word, then question you on all your actions in order to find deeper healing? Lily and Dustin are actually your Yoga Sutras in practice during this movie.
- Meet the Robinsons.
A Disney/Pixar movie that came and went under the radar, but it was beautiful and had a very profound message.
We are all family in the end. When we see clearly, we are all connected and part of each other. When we are in the dark and in ignorance, we feel like orphans. Plus, the motto of the movie is “Keep Moving Forward!!!” How great is that? You just gotta watch it!
- Wings of Desire (City of Angels was a remake of this movie.)
When I was in college I wrote a screenplay with a similar theme to this movie, without having seen it, of course. Why I think a yogi would like this is because it hopes to instill compassion in us all by being able to hear people thoughts as you pass them on the street. That is what I was hoping to achieve in my own movie, which I never completed. Maybe one day, if it is meant to be.
- The Music Never Stopped
This movie will remind us yogis about our impressions, which can be so powerful and branding. What I loved about this movie was that the main actor who was suffering from a brain tumor was only able to remember things from his past when he heard songs that triggered his memory. Of course, he would remember the memories that he needed to heal the most, which is the power of the True Self trying to teach something to the little self. Healing can still happen on any level, especially when it’s not mental.
- Amelie
I think everyone who has seen this movie loves it. But, why? Because it shares the simple pleasures in life. It shows beauty in the strangest places and it definitely awakens your senses. This movie is so well done that I even smelled the fruits in the fruit cart scenes so vividly. In addition, is shares how the power of one happy girl can influence a whole town positively. We all have that potential if we allow ourselves to see and be more truthfully.
- Serendipity
Trust the universe. Don’t fret if things don’t go exactly how you had planned. The universe, God, Purusha, whomever you believe in, always has your best interest in mind… just trust, yogis, and surrender!
- Samantha Who?
This quirky TV show stares Christina Applegate who comes out of a coma and has amnesia. The yogi would like this because it is an interesting approach to what would happen if you lost your identity and your ego all in one instant. She doesn’t even remember if she liked certain foods or if she liked dancing and what not. How would you shape your life without any memories of happy or sad times? You would automatically forgive anyone who “harmed” you, and you would literally let go of all your issues at once. Would you create new ones? What would be your perspective if this happened to you? Is it a blessing or not?
I am _________________.
- Psych (I know… I just love the dorky sitcoms!)
I will admit that I LOVE this show. The main reason is because the premise of the show involves this young guy, Sean Spencer, who pretends to be psychic in order to help detectives solve crimes in Santa Barbara, California. But really what he is is SUPER observant and sees a lot more than the average person. He can deduce things by intuition and clear thinking… A yoga siddhi for sure! J Plus, the main characters are funny and the script includes a lot of witty humor (yes witty. Well, at least in my opinion) and they reference a lot of movies as their schtick.
- Life is Beautiful
If you haven’t seen this movie, then you really have not felt pure emotion during a movie yet. J This whole movie inspires true love. It shows one how to change one’s perspective to see that life is beautiful. To this day, I still feel that Roberto Benigni died in WWII because of his truthful performance. He’s an amazing character who you so badly want to believe existed during those harsh times. It’s all a matter of perspective. Walking towards his death, he smiled, made funny faces and danced for the sake of his son’s happiness! I’m crying now just writing this… What a powerful message. See his love and beauty in this clip. Click here!
My Technology Zaps Me From Being Present
Today, after I finished teaching a private on Miami Beach, I walked outside and immediately started checking my email. All of a sudden, an impulse came over me to put my phone away and just look around.
I lowered my iPhone, lifted my head here’s what I saw…
I saw the sun illuminating the city so brightly to wake us all up and play, work and feel life.
I saw a group of trees dancing a choreographed sequence that they repeatedly try to attract onlookers who don’t notice them.
I saw a glow around all the buildings that made it seem as though they were vibrating in unison.
I saw life.
And, I miss it every time I look down at my phone to check my email, check a text message or look at Facebook.
Not only am I missing all the natural beauty that surrounds me, I am also confirming to the universe that I am not present. There is nothing present about using Facebook, updating a status that has already happened, even if it was a few moments ago.
I often stop myself from saying, “Oh, what a beautiful thing I just experienced” because I realize that by typing it into my status I am missing the point of it and diminishing its value as well. In addition, I am not being present because the experience already passed. Facebook is the anti-yogi in this way.
Photo: State Library and Archives of Florida
Technology today has exploded. I remember as a kid I used to tell my mother, “Oh, if only I pressed a button and everything would just happen for me.”
Yes, I was a lazy kid.
And now, that’s exactly how it is. And it’s a touch screen so it isn’t even an actual button anymore but an image of a button.
My two-year-old niece already knows how to find angry birds on my phone and play. Although she slings the bird in the opposite direction, she still gets it.
Generations to come may lose their ability to have dexterity because they can now manipulate images on a screen instead of tangible objects. I know I am dating myself by sharing my feelings in the clichéd way of “Back in my day…,” but it is scary.
Now I appreciate how strict my parents were with us with respect to not having a Super Nintendo until we were 18. Naturally, once we got to that age, we didn’t care for it so much. Mom and Dad, you rock with your tough love!
What is scary is that we are becoming less and less present by constantly having to text more, send more emails, update more through social media like facebook, twitter, blogs etc.
I am a culprit to this addiction as well, which is why I feel I can share my concern. I am zapping myself in all directions—writing articles, posting videos, updating my status, linking to sites, promoting events, texting clients, answering phone calls from telemarketers, writing emails, oh, and of course, don’t forget, teaching yoga and having a personal life.
By the time I get to my non-yoga personal life (although nothing is non-yoga for me), I’m pooped! My brain is fried from the screens I’ve been using all day and I get burnt.
Ironically, I am typing this article onto my computer and I will post it on Facebook when it gets published, so I will continue to get zapped for just a bit longer. I guess I justify it because it’s conscious zapping. Regardless, I feel that I get further from what yoga truly is when I am so technologically connected. I have made it my mission and path to realize my true Self as the yoga sutras suggest.
According to Book 1: Sutra 12, “These mental modifications are restrained by practice and nonattachment.” ~ Swami Satchidananda translation. Our mental modifications (vrittis in Sanskrit) are being zapped by Facebook, emails, texts and phone calls. Plus, they are making us more attached.
I had to put a sticker on my phone that says, “Stop” in order to remind me to put the damn phone down. It’s horrible. I think that every phone, every piece of technology (video game consoles, computers, etc.) should come with a tutorial on how to balance your life while using that gadget.
I’ve started a new approach, which includes putting my phone on airplane mode when I teach class and when I go to sleep. Of course, ideally I could have my phone on airplane mode all the time, but I don’t think that would be feasible. But as I tell my students, “Anything is possible.”
Maybe we could make a new national holiday called “TOT Day: Turn Off Technology Day” where everyone turns off their TVs, computers, cellphones, and is forced to go outside and play with each other. Adults and kids alike! Why can’t us adults play like the kids we used to be? Because our life has become too serious and complicated.
The saddest part is that my two-year-old niece once took her toy cellphone and when I was talking to her she said to me, “Hold on, I’m on the phone,” turned her back to me and walked away. This is what we are teaching our children—to disconnect and to be worried! I say, no! I will not teach that to our children. I will instead teach by being an example first, and the only way to be the example myself is to look up from my cellphone more often, lift up my head and see the world that is playing harmoniously in front of me all the time.
What are you missing by texting while you are walking? Did you see the father hug his son? Did you hear the little girl laughing because she was being tickled? Did you notice the slobbering bulldog next to you? Or, are you being zapped too? The first step to becoming unzapped is to sit back in your chair, look up from reading this article and take a deep breath!
Inhale.
Exhale.
Now…close the computer!
“There’s never nothing going on.” ~ Dan Millman.
I Am (Not) A Good Writer
I have been racking my brain all week trying to figure out how to express my feelings in the first article I post as a regular contributor for Elephant Journal. There is so much I could say regarding this phenomenon… So, naturally, I have writer’s block!
The reason I call this a “phenomenon” is because I have had a major issue in my life of believing that I’m not a good writer and that I’m not smart enough. These perceptions started in high school.
Let me set up the story a bit so you understand from where I got these feelings of inadequacy. Back in high school, I wasn’t the smartest of the bunch. I got mostly Cs at a prestigious school known for intelligent academics and mediocre sports. Since I wasn’t book smart, I loathed History, Government and English. I found History pointless because I felt there was no value in learning something that was no longer present (yogi in the making.)
Government class went in one ear and out the other because I felt there were too many rules and it was hard to tell when something was right and something was wrong (another hidden yogi quality.) And, finally, English. English was my nemesis. I enjoyed the stories and I would visualize them beautifully in my head, but then I couldn’t articulate on paper the metaphor seen on page 33 or how this one act foreshadowed this other act, or how the mirror symbolized depth, etc.
This haunted me for many years because of two memorable English teachers, Mrs. Borona and Mr. Brandt. One day in my freshmen English class with Mrs. Borona, I was standing next to her desk in front of the whole class and I was sharing how much I loved reading the comics in the newspaper every morning. The only comic I didn’t like was Doonesbury. Her response was “Only smart people like Doonesbury.” For years I would look at the Doonesbury characters with scorn since I didn’t understand them nor did I care to.
My second year of high school, Mr. Brandt left his mark on me as well. He flat out told me, in front of the class, “You aren’t good at English and you aren’t a good writer.” Since then, I have carried these two strong perceptions of myself.
That is, until I decided to write my book, Choose Peace: A Practical Guide into Consciousness. Oddly enough, I almost didn’t write or publish my book because of what Mr. Brandt put in my head. I was scared of what people would say about my style of writing. I forced myself to go through the steps of my own book, to heal the wounds both Mr. Brandt and Mrs. Borona left in me.
I surveyed a few people and asked them if they had any similar stories from high school and I came to learn that many people have a memory of some teacher negatively impacting their opinion of themselves.
Teresita from Puerto Rico said that a teacher questioned her high grade on an exam in front of the whole class, wondering how she could have done it if she was so quiet and never participated in class. She made her prove she didn’t cheat. To this day she feels that she doesn’t deserve any kind of achievement because she is quiet and keeps to herself. Adi from Venezuela said her ballet teacher told her she couldn’t dance, therefore she doesn’t like dancing, even to this day. Such simple sentences expressed in one moment can make such lasting impressions.
My purpose in sharing these stories with you is to help inspire some reflection on your own life and see how one person’s opinion of you from many years ago may still be determining your behavior and feelings of yourself right now. In addition, what have you said to others that may have left a mark on their opinions of themselves?
Regardless of your profession, we all have our own Mr. Brandts who mold us if we choose, but it is up to us to see ourselves for who we truly are. And according to the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, we are Pure Consciousness! Pure Love! Pure Bliss! Pure Energy!
These labels of “good or bad writer,” “good or bad dancer,” or “good or bad person” are merely labels in the opinion of the person speaking. It is relative truth unless you choose to turn it into your personal truth. You always have a choice!
When someone says you can’t do something, show yourself you can! When someone says you aren’t something, show yourself that you are! Or just let it go.
And, yes, I have forgiven both Mr. Brandt and Mrs. Borona.
It wasn’t personal.
Day 89: Meditation BABOOM!!!
Today I went early to the studio and decided to sit in meditation before class started. I was sitting for about 30 minutes as people needed to start entering the class. At first I closed the door, but then I let Heidy let people in quietly. I was hoping to instill some curiosity from those who aren’t aware of the practice, but who knows if that happened. It made me very relaxed. So relaxed that I kinda didn’t want to teach at the beginning. haha!!! But then I got into teaching. I am feeling a need to be more with myself and let myself go inwards. Part of me would love to only teach day classes so that I can focus on myself in the evenings… Maybe there’s a way this can happen. I just have to figure out how. Help anyone?
Namaste medi time,
Rina
Day 88: The China Diet BOOM
Today I had the pleasure of meeting with a friend, chef and nutritionist in the making… all in one, Alex Bulnes! We went to Milam’s Market, not Milan’s Market, and he taught me how to shop. I have a few videos of it but I will spare you for now.
Then I went home and cooked one of the recipes he gave me. YUMMYYYYY!!!
This morning he came over and we emptied my fridge and he taught me how to make some more stuff! Now I have a fridge full of healthy options for breakfast, lunch and dinner and I’M INSPIRED!!!
For those of you who don’t know me, I am not the master chef, nor the master toaster. I burn everything I cook, including toast. I personally love the taste of burnt toast, but that might just be because I have no other option. Now, I have cooked dinner, breakfast, lunch and dinner again. Four meals in a row! This is unheard of. Naturally my boyfriend is so excited for me and mostly for him! haha! 
This is a great boom because I think one of the reasons I was getting sick was my eating habits so here’s to new changes in the body and in my habits…
Namaste Alex, veggies, fruits, grains, and more…
Rina
Day 87: Migraine Boom
So my body has been communicating quite clearly with me lately and it has been saying, “LEAVE ME ALONE!!! I NEED TO HEAL!!!” Stop working, stop doing, just chill. So I have been listening. I taught a class and got a migraine halfway through it. I haven’t gotten a migraine in a year because I finally got my lasik surgery. But obviously my body is still protesting from the last week’s sickness.
So I slept more… and slept more… and was in pitch darkness and curled up like a little ball.
I don’t wish migraines upon anyone!
If someone says they have a migraine, and it’s really a MIGRAINE, LEAVE THEM ALONE!!! Let them go home from work and sleep. That’s all that helps….
Namaste’ brain,
Rina
Day 86: Blubbering Boom
Hey all,
So monday was a SLOW day! In fact, I was supposed to teach 3 classes but after my 2nd one, I felt horrible and had to go home. My body passed out at 7:30pm and didn’t wake up until the next day. I obviously needed the rest… So no booming today!
how about you guys? keep me posted!!!! let’s all be inspired together!
Namaste pillow
Rina
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