LATINX IN WELLNESS – Part 3

by Ingrid Baquero | Oct 26, 2023 | ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS, LATINX IN WELLNESS

Latinx Community & Wellness

By: Ingrid Baquero

PROFILES

Welcome to our three part series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives. These are the stories of role models making bienestar (wellbeing) una prioridad (priority) for all.

I recently attended a community run to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. Our guide, Nicole Espinosa, took us through several iconic Hispanic/Latinx landmarks to share the history behind each one. She made a remark que me impacto (made an impact) and inspired this piece.

“There’s a space for everybody, and if it doesn’t exist, create it”.

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. Before we kick this off, let’s start with some self-reflection.

How does wellness show up in your life?
How are you creating spaces of wellbeing for others?
What does the future of wellness look like?

EVOLVING BEYOND THE ASANA

Julie Villa

Julie Villa, Sui Yoga Café mama (co-founder)

Ecuadorian, living in New York City
IG: @suiyoganyc

COMMUNITY IMPACT:
I focus on actively nurturing the Sui Yoga community, cultivating meaningful relationships with students, teachers and team members.

WELLNESS JOURNEY:
When I started practicing yoga in 2009, day by day, practice after practice, I slowly started to understand what it meant to truly feel healthy. I became motivated to make small changes that I needed in my life. I was fortunate to find a beautiful community at Modo Yoga NYC, which encouraged me to deepen my practice in a safe space surrounded by wonderful humans.

After doing my yoga teaching training with Modo Yoga, many seeds were planted which awakened my desire to dedicate my heart and soul to create a safe space for others to experience connection and transformation. The name Sui comes from sui generis, in Latin, it means ‘one of a kind’; we honor and embrace each person’s unique qualities and accept everyone as they are. After meeting my partner Sven, 4 years ago, we started dreaming together about how we would birth Sui Yoga, by joining our skill sets, intentions, aligning our offerings and practices with many values and philosophy of yoga, Sui Yoga was born. Our focus on community and connection is one of our strongest driving forces. We envision to continue growing our community and contribute to the creation of more conscious wellness spaces around the world.

THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS
Our team and students are a beautifully diverse group of humans, many are latin people. I love and appreciate how much Spanish is spoken around the studio. We have become a chosen family and we have the opportunity to create wonderful memories everyday on and off the yoga mat. Some people came to discover yoga for the first time, seeing them come back again and again is a very fulfilling feeling.In the near future, we will offer yoga in Spanish. It is one exciting project to work on, the intention is to bring more awareness and accessibility to people that either may not speak English fluently, or to people who simply enjoy the Spanish language. We are also working on supporting ways that make yoga and wellness as accessible as possible to our latinx community in NY.

About Ingrid Baquero: Ingrid envisions an inclusive, joyful world, inspiring her community through the power of well-being.As a Colombian-American, and Queens, New York native it is an honor to serve the people of Queens through yoga, running and mindfulness. She is a dedicated runner, wellness program curator, community leader and dance and music aficionada.Outside, catch Ingrid on the run. She co-leads a 5k community social run within the Astoria/LIC area. All bodies and paces welcomed. Right now, Ingrid is dedicated to her wellness work, passion project: SOL YOGA PROJECT, and volunteer work with Yoga Love Magazine.

If you have a story to share or know someone you’d like to celebrate reach out to us for a Latinx in Wellness: solyogaproject@gmail.com

LATINX IN WELLNESS – Part 2

by Ingrid Baquero | Oct 17, 2023 | ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS, LATINX IN WELLNESS

Latinx Community & Wellness

By: Ingrid Baquero

PROFILES

Welcome to our three part series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives. These are the stories of role models making bienestar (wellbeing) una prioridad (priority) for all.

I recently attended a community run to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. Our guide, Nicole Espinosa, took us through several iconic Hispanic/Latinx landmarks to share the history behind each one. She made a remark que me impacto (made an impact) and inspired this piece.

“There’s a space for everybody, and if it doesn’t exist, create it”.

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. Before we kick this off, let’s start with some self-reflection.

How does wellness show up in your life?
How are you creating spaces of wellbeing for others?
What does the future of wellness look like?

SELF-REFLECTION THROUGH ART & CULTURE

Spotlight: Victoria Fernandez Forero

Victoria Fernandez Forero

Motion Graphic Designer
Mexican, living in New York City
@making_air

COMMUNITY IMPACT:
I’m a motion graphic designer who loves sports. One of the things I enjoy the most is to create connections using my strengths to create visually captivating designs. I recently completed a project ’24 Days of Yoga’ where I illustrated 22 people (me included) practicing yoga. These illustrations are on display in a yoga studio in LIC. The connections created were magical!

WELLNESS JOURNEY:
Wellness has played a significant role in my life, starting from an early age.
My mom encouraged me to engage in physical activities creating the habits of exercise and healthy eating. By being part of a team and community, I have experienced the benefits of social connection and support. Nowadays, I have a better understanding of what my body needs to feel good. I love helping people feel the same. Creating a goal or intention at the beginning of a yoga practice, race or workout is my way to help others to a path of wellness.

THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS
One aspect is the emphasis on community and family support. Hispanic communities often prioritize spending time with loved ones and engaging in activities together, which can contribute to overall wellbeing. In addition, the connection with nature and the use of natural resources for wellness can be traced back to indigenous cultures like the Mayans, who had a deep understanding of the environment and its impact on health. I would like to create an impact by continuing learning and observing past cultures, honoring their wisdom, and actively participating in community engagement.

’24 Days of Yoga’ project – instagram.com/reel/Cty5BZXABC5/
Website – holavicky.com

About Ingrid Baquero: Ingrid envisions an inclusive, joyful world, inspiring her community through the power of well-being.As a Colombian-American, and Queens, New York native it is an honor to serve the people of Queens through yoga, running and mindfulness. She is a dedicated runner, wellness program curator, community leader and dance and music aficionada.Outside, catch Ingrid on the run. She co-leads a 5k community social run within the Astoria/LIC area. All bodies and paces welcomed. Right now, Ingrid is dedicated to her wellness work, passion project: SOL YOGA PROJECT, and volunteer work with Yoga Love Magazine.

If you have a story to share or know someone you’d like to celebrate reach out to us for a Latinx in Wellness: solyogaproject@gmail.com

LATINX IN WELLNESS

by Ingrid Baquero | Oct 10, 2023 | ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS, LATINX IN WELLNESS

Latinx Community & Wellness

By: Ingrid Baquero

PROFILES

Welcome to our three part series celebrating the Latinx healers, creators and wellness advocates making an impact in our communities. Wellness is multi-dimensional, as it consists beyond the physical, but also mental, spiritual, financial, environmental, and social aspects of our lives. These are the stories of role models making bienestar (wellbeing) una prioridad (priority) for all.

I recently attended a community run to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY. Our guide, Nicole Espinosa, took us through several iconic Hispanic/Latinx landmarks to share the history behind each one. She made a remark que me impacto (made an impact) and inspired this piece.

“There’s a space for everybody, and if it doesn’t exist, create it”.

It is important to share the stories of Latinx individuals beyond Hispanic Heritage Month, as it inspires others to create their own narratives. This series consists of real stories of inspirational Latinx individuals creating safe spaces for connection, community, and self-care through the power of wellness. Before we kick this off, let’s start with some self-reflection.

How does wellness show up in your life?
How are you creating spaces of wellbeing for others?
What does the future of wellness look like?

Creating Safe Spaces for Connection, Community, and Wellbeing:
CELEBRATING COMMUNITY THROUGH RUNNING

Spotlight: Julia Azcona

Julia Azcona

@athomewith_julia
@ridgewoodrunners
Founder of Ridgewood Runners

Dominican Born
Brooklyn Raised
Living in Ridgewood, Queens, New York

COMMUNITY ROLE:
I lead a community-based running group in Ridgewood, Queens where we welcome all pace levels.

WELLNESS JOURNEY:
I did not fully understand how impactful wellness was until experiencing two traumatic events in my life: my father passed away due to a brain tumor and two years later I miscarried twins at six months. When a woman goes through a miscarriage, one often carries a profound sense of guilt and an overwhelming grief that is not only beyond comparison but also truly impossible to put into words.

Running became my outlet. Eventually, I started to educate myself about proper training and was introduced to running groups. I joined Adidas Runners NYC and my life changed for the better. I found a community of beautiful humans inside and out, that because of their energy, my wellbeing improved. It was a heartwarming return to a place of pure joy. I loved it.

In December 2022, I felt inspired to create a running community within my neighborhood. By April of this year, Ridgewood Runners came to life.

THE FUTURE OF WELLNESS

In our culture, when it comes to wellness, we still have some work to do and undo. Hay cosas que no se hablan, there are things we’ve yet to learn how to communicate and process. For example, while pregnancy loss is common it’s not often discussed openly or publicly. As a Latina woman I was taught to “stay strong” and move on. Instead in my experience, I was ashamed and kept so much inside for so long which affected my life in so many ways. It breaks my heart to think of women who suffer in silence.

How does the running community come to play? I found a purpose to create a space for people to just be, for women to feel safe, for a community that can come together and support one another. That is a start. I showed up that one day and it changed my life and I hope to inspire others to show up.

About Ingrid Baquero: Ingrid envisions an inclusive, joyful world, inspiring her community through the power of well-being.As a Colombian-American, and Queens, New York native it is an honor to serve the people of Queens through yoga, running and mindfulness. She is a dedicated runner, wellness program curator, community leader and dance and music aficionada.Outside, catch Ingrid on the run. She co-leads a 5k community social run within the Astoria/LIC area. All bodies and paces welcomed. Right now, Ingrid is dedicated to her wellness work, passion project: SOL YOGA PROJECT, and volunteer work with Yoga Love Magazine.

If you have a story to share or know someone you’d like to celebrate reach out to us for a Latinx in Wellness: solyogaproject@gmail.com

Creating a joyful community

by Miko Hafez | Sep 20, 2023 | ARTICLES, FRONT PAGE POSTS, Profiles

Creating a joyful community

Miko Hafez interviews the owner of The Plant Store in Seattle, WA

PROFILES

The Pandemic was hard. I moved to Seattle from NY during the pandemic in 2021 and at that time it was still hard to meet people and make friends. One day, I came across @seattleplantstore and discovered that they were hosting a “Plant Swap Event.” At this event, I met many plant parents and I didn’t realize how much I was craving connection until I talked to them. I made new friends that day, and honestly I didn’t expect that. The event organizer Miles was working hard to create a joyful and welcoming event and I interviewed him about his plant swap event.

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your business?
I am from Ohio and I’ve been in Seattle for 10 years, and started a plant shop about 5 years ago. I’ve always been interested in house plants since I was a little boy and I ended up going to school to study plant science and learn about horticulture and plant production in controlled environments.

I got into plant production and then worked at the Amazon at the Spheres. I also worked in cannabis production and about 5 years ago, I decided to start my plant shop. I really love plants and wanted to focus on sharing the love of that. I wanted to create a shop not only selling plants but also supporting people’s hobbies. That’s why we are doing workshops like making Terrariums and Kokedama.

What is a plant swap event?
A plant swap is where people come together and exchange plants. For example, I like to grow small plants into big plants and that’s sort of my joy. Once they get too big, I can cut this back and maybe give away cuttings, or I can just give the plant away. A plant swap is a great way to get a plant without paying money. It’s also a great way to get a plant that you might be nervous about spending money on because it’s tricky to care for. It is also a great opportunity to connect people and learn about new plants.

Why did you decide to host a plant swap event?
First of all, it is very popular. People really enjoy plant swap events. The last event we hosted in the bar next door. The bar just opened just over a year ago, we were able to collaborate with them to bring people in so their businesses as well, which is really nice for the community. it’s also a marketing opportunity for us. More and more people know that we’re here.We’re right outside of Seattle and it’s a good opportunity for people to learn about us and what we offer as well. The next one that’s coming up we have two vendors that are going to join us. It will be a very exciting and fun event.

Learn more about Miles and upcoming events at The Plant Store in Seattle

Discovering Your Luminous Self with Tracee Stanley

by Stephanie Wong | Sep 18, 2023 | ARTICLES, Book Club

Discovering Your Luminous Self with Tracee Stanley

By: Stephanie Jade Wong

BOOK CLUB

I sit indoors on a rainy day, safe from the elements, enjoying bestselling author Tracee Stanley’s new book, “The Luminous Self.” I exhale and down a refreshing glass of ice water, trying to relax in the northeast humidity. Instrumental music plays lightly in the background, as I type into my notes app—a blank canvas ready for new thoughts to appear. And Tracee wasn’t lying when she recommended having a notebook or notes app open while you’re reading!

This book came to me at the perfect time. You see, there were moments of my life where yoga appeared daily, and others where my yoga practice was non-existent for years. Yet my body, mind, and soul turned back to yoga whenever I sought it. When I wanted to learn more about myself. When I wanted to learn more about the universe. If you, like me, are struggling to get back into your yoga practice, then perhaps picking up this book is a great first step.

You’re hooked from the beginning just from Tracee’s personal story. Relatable language and exercises that are easy to get into really help you get in touch with yourself for some grounding or me-time to self-reflect.

“How are you abandoning your Self to fit in?”

This is a question Tracee mentioned in the book that made me pause. There are so many similar moments that allow you to truly hone in on certain aspects of yourself and your life.

Getting in tune with yourself and whatever you’re working on in this season of your life is difficult, and while I can’t promise you that all your concerns will be solved after reading this book and completing all the exercises, you will be more connected to yourself as you continue to grow.

We had the opportunity to chat with Tracee about this magical book she’s sharing with the world this fall:

Yoga Love Magazine: Why is self-remembrance so important?
Tracee Stanley: Self-remembrance is essential because it holds the seed of light, the inner guidance we need to support us through life. So often, we are guided by the external influences of mainstream culture, trends, and what others want us to do and be. We begin to conform and shape ourselves to fit into the box of those external pressures and forget who we truly are. When we finally have a moment of insight or inspiration to follow our truth, we can feel like an impostor because we have been separated from our knowing for so long. Practices of self-remembrance lead us to our birthright to reclaim our inherent beauty, worthiness, and wholeness.

What inspired you to share your knowledge through this book?
I have been a student of yoga for over 28 years and teaching for 23 years. I have been fortunate to study and receive teachings and practices that have helped me to navigate the ebbs and flows with presence and resilience.

During the height of the pandemic, I observed that some people felt their yoga practices were not supportive enough during such a turbulent time. They needed the kind of practices that were not easily accessible in commercial Western yoga classes. It felt important for me to gather the most potent practices of transformation that I had been gifted in a way that was accessible and relatable. I wanted to move away from the masculine energy of gatekeeping and share the healing practices needed for our times.

Did you discover anything new about your Self as you wrote this book?
Because I share so many personal stories in the book to help support the understanding of the philosophy, I found myself in a place of deep remembrance and gratitude for having these practices pull me through the hard times and support me as I continue to grow and expand. Any time I am in remembrance, I feel connected, loved, and whole.

What rituals do you have that are part of your daily routine that are healing for you?
My rituals are abhyanga, mantra, yoga nidra, daily connection with nature, meditation, and dream work. I weave rituals throughout the day. I view life as a sacred ritual, so by creating a tapestry of life and ritual, even the mundane becomes sacred, and every action becomes life-affirming and sustaining.

You took what was once a symbol of shame for you (an egg) and turned it into a symbol of power instead. Can you elaborate a little about how you made that massive transition into reclaiming your power from a traumatic experience?
You really will have to read the book to understand how that happened. However, the understanding that our wounds and discomforts are portals to our healing and expansion was the first step on my journey.

What inspires you?
I am inspired by nature—her resiliency, fierceness, unconditional holding, and how she thrives in biodiversity and community. We have a lot to learn from the natural world around us.

How do you currently answer the question, “Who am I?”
I am pure, light, awareness.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the Yoga Love Magazine community?
Please remember to cherish yourself. You are worthy.

As I completed this book, the rain had settled and the sun started shining through the dark rain clouds, pushing them further and further away. What a light this book is in the dark times we face internally and perhaps also within our communities.

Pre-order Tracee Stanley’s book, “The Luminous Self” here. You can also join the free book club with your pre-order here.

LATINX IN WELLNESS – Part 3