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ALOHA SPIRIT

ALOHA SPIRIT

by | Aug 10, 2023 | ARTICLES, Profiles

ALOHA SPIRIT

By: Abhaijot Kaur
Photo: Federica Dallorso

PROFILES

Bilingual Meditation

The archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands is more than just warm weather, beaches, volcanoes, valleys and Polynesian culture. It is the spirit of love, or Aloha. Before my feet hit the āina (Hawaiian for land) I could feel deep within my heart this was the place I needed to be. I had never been to Hawaii before, and I thought, “Why is this land calling me?” and day by day, the feeling would come through strongly. My partner and I decided to pack our bags and head to Hawaii. 

When I arrived on the āina, I instantly knew why my soul called me here at this time. It is because the islands are set on a foundation of Aloha. My soul must have known I needed to be here as the world was collectively going through a time of massive transition. We all know the word Aloha. On the surface, you may think of Aloha as a salutation as it is a typical greeting in Hawaii, but it is much more than that. Aloha is a philosophy that directs a code of conduct and way of life. The concept came from the need for Hawaiians to live in peace and work together, as Hawaii is very distant from most places on the earth. Coming together in harmony and kindness in all relations be it the land, people or animals was a priority, so the Hawaiians adopted this Aloha spirit. Aloha spirit is uniting rather than divisive, and a code of conduct that is so relevant for humanity right now as it transcends race and differences and embraces togetherness and equality.

  • Akahai: kindness, expressed with tenderness
  • Lōkahi: unity, expressed with harmony
  • Olu‘olu: agreeable, expressed with pleasantness
  • Ha‘aha‘a: humility, expressed with modesty
  • Ahonui: patience, expressed with perseverance. 

Aloha creates a unified atmosphere of Love, Peace, and Compassion. It is a simple prescription of how to live a life where your heart is so full, it is overflowing with the ability to influence others around you with the presence of your highest spirit on behalf of all. I am so grateful to be here living Aloha on this sacred, loving archipelago. In return, I embody that spirit of life everywhere I go. 

Here are some of my favorite ways of creating Aloha spirit every day and anywhere:

  • Smile at the people you pass on the street and greet them with a hello. A smile is an act of kindness.
  • Share something if you have a surplus. Sharing is an act of unity.
  • Need help with something? Ask for it. Sometimes we are terrified to ask for help, but we need to remember we are not alone. Asking for help is an act of humility.
  • Pay a compliment. Compliments are acts of pleasantry.
  • Sit in observation through meditation, or stand in observation when in line running errands. Observation is an act of patience.

The beauty of Aloha spirit is you can take this philosophy with you wherever you are. After all, I think we can all agree that humanity can use more love, or Aloha spirit.

Visit Abhaijot at her eco luxury permaculture farm: wai-mana.com

WEB SPOTLIGHT: SHAYS WARRIORS

WEB SPOTLIGHT: SHAYS WARRIORS

by | Aug 2, 2023 | ARTICLES, Profiles

WEB SPOTLIGHT: SHAYS WARRIORS

By: iana velez
Photos By: Lani

PROFILES

Bilingual Meditation
To celebrate the release of our print issue themed LOVE, we reached out to our amazing community to share with us a few thoughts on love. This week we celebrate one of our partners, Shay, founder of Shay’s Warriors, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was formed in the Coachella Valley to help the cancer survivorship community. Shay was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2016 and Shay’s Warriors was brought to life in hopes of providing a healthy, inspiring, and safe space for all cancer survivors to thrive and connect. Check out our interview with Shay here and learn more about her work below:

Share with us what you love about what you do: I am the Visionary and Founder of Shay’s Warriors Life After Cancer, and in this role I wear many hats. But my favorite hat is being able to sit down and listen to survivors. They trust me at some of their most vulnerable times to help lift them up in prayers, love and light. They also trust me to share their stories that help inspire other cancer survivors. It is an absolute honor to do what I do.

Share with us what you have learned about LOVE: It may sound cliche but my ultimate definition of love comes from 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 LOVE is patient and kind; it does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with truth. If we sti8ck to this everything can be done in love and if you truly understand this you can speak from a place of love in your heart always with a broader outlook on life itself. Because when you have love in your heart and soul there is no room for hate. 

What inspired you to support Yoga Love Magazine? I like to support people’s dreams, especially Women & Latino Owned small businesses. We should support each other to learn, share and connect with our world through stories, photos and so much more.

Learn more: Shay’s Warrior

SPOTLIGHT: THE NACHAN PROJECT

SPOTLIGHT: THE NACHAN PROJECT

by | Jul 28, 2023 | ARTICLES, Profiles

SPOTLIGHT: THE NACHAN PROJECT

By: Gina de la Chesnaye

PROFILES

Bilingual Meditation

The Nachan Project, founded by Gina de la Chesnaye, brings mindfulness-based practices to the women and children of the Karamojong tribe living in the Katwe slums of Kampala, Uganda as well as humanitarian aid, psycho-social support, public health advocacy and capacity strengthening. They also offer trauma informed trainings to social workers, street counselors and caregivers in East Africa. We asked Gina to share with us some of the photos of the people who have inspired her and their thoughts on LOVE, along with her own.

What was the inspiration to create The Nachan Project? 
Well, honestly I think the women and I found each other. I had been invited by my friend and colleague, Allan Katteba, who is a local social worker to visit the slums and see for myself what was going on. After spending many days in the community Allan asked me to offer some basic practices for trauma and resiliency. After that, I couldn’t walk away. The women named themselves “Gina’s Women of Uganda Group” which was very sweet and I was very honored, but I asked them to please name the group after someone important to them in their community. They chose the name Nachan, which means “someone who relieves the suffering of others.” This organization is devoted to breaking cycles of suffering.  

How do you stay inspired to continue this work?
I remind myself to get out of my own way. I had no one to protect me or help me when I was sexually abused as a child, but I did, and do have resources that include basic human rights, access to food, clothing and shelter as well as education and employment. The women have none of that. My meditation, yoga and martial arts practice has saved me again and again from intense pain, and that’s why I have dedicated the majority of my life to this work. These women have no resources, but they do have their bodies, the connection of their mind to their bodies, and to each other. This is the essence of practice and of sangha.

I also visit at least two to three times a year to continue training the staff, and to share practice with the women while also working on public health advocacy, and shooting a documentary of their lives.

The theme of this issue is LOVE, can you share with us what working with your Nachan Project community has taught you about love?
The women are my driving force. They are our sisters, mothers, daughters and grandmothers and I refuse for them to be forgotten or discarded. Love means seeing and being seen by each other, as well as ourselves, with respect and dignity.

Learn more: thenachanproject.org

BILINGUAL MEDITATION

BILINGUAL MEDITATION

by | Jul 26, 2023 | ARTICLES, Profiles

BILINGUAL MEDITATION

By: Chanty Cohen
Photo: Edson Smitter

PROFILES

Bilingual Meditation
Empieza a notar tu respiración. 
Begin to notice your breath. 

Comienza a sentir como tu pecho se infla y contrae.
Start to observe the rise and fall of your chest. 

Inhala, eleva tus hombros a tus orejas. Exhala déjalos ir. 
Inhale, raise your shoulders up to your ears. Exhale, let them go. 

Empieza a notar el espacio en que estas.
Begin to notice the space where you are at. 

Nota que esta presente en tu vida, y permite que pase.
Notice what is present in your life and allow that to happen. 

Ahora, vuelve a tu respiración, y continúa notando como puedes controlar tu respiración. Iguala el largo de tu inhalación con tu exhalación.
Now, come back to your breath, and continue to notice how you can control your breath. 

Match the length of your inhales with your exhales. 

Con cada respiración que tomas traes una vida nueva a tu cuerpo.
With every breath you take you are bringing new life into your body. 

Mientras concluimos esta meditación, toma un momento de gratitud para tu cuerpo. 
As we end this meditation, take a moment to bring gratitude to your body. 

Gratitud por estar aqui, por poder respirar. 
Gratitude for being here, for being able to breathe.

Inhala gratitud. Exhala, expande ese sentimiento dentro de tu cuerpo.
Inhale gratitude. Exhale, expand that feeling in your body. 

Recuerda que en cualquier momento de tu día puedes acceder a tu respiración para traer paz y gratitud a tu día.
Know that at any moment of your day you can access your breath to bring ease and gratitude to your day. 

Inhala gratitud. Exhala, expande ese sentimiento dentro tu cuerpo. 
Inhale gratitude. Exhale, expand that feeling in your body.