New Year, New You. How you can have more peace in 2017.

by Jenny Dinoia

With 2017 approaching, are you reflecting on 2016 and asking yourself how you want to do things differently, change your world for the better and be the best you ever?

For the past few months, I have focused on dance and my creative movement teaching work with children. I stopped studying Torah but with Winter break now in effect, I decided to swing back in for a class with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner of Temple Emanuel. The group consists of about 10 individuals, most well over 60, if not 70. I am always the youngest attendee, maybe because we meet at 9 am on Saturdays. The class is great because you always learn a lesson and see things in a new perspective. Rabbi Kushner is a painter and has a great sense of humor. He explains the often obscure Torah portion in a way that relates to our current times.

Last week, we explored the relationship between Jacob and Esau and their descendants, the Israelites and the Edomites (Jacob was later called Israel and Esau called Edom).

Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was older and therefore had the birthright of receiving the inheritance. However, Jacob pulled a trick on his brother. He asked Esau after a long day of hunting, if he wanted to trade his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup. Esau, obviously very hungry, said “O.K. that sounds like a good deal to me”. Well, maybe he didn’t quite say it that way. He did however, symbolically decide to trade something of substance and eternal (his birthright) for something to soothe temporarily his physical comfort and needs (food).

Rabbi Kushner explained that there is a very fine line between your friends and an enemy. Our enemy may be very similar to us. For us to hate another, we must deep down love them. Indeed, Esau and Jacob were so close that they even shared the same WOMB!!! You can’t get closer than that. Yet these brothers became enemies and their descendants became enemies for generations.

So, in your life why do you not like a co-worker, still harbor hatred and resentment against an ex, a family member bugs you like no other? Rabbi Kushner recommended we ask ourselves how do we fear that we may be like this person in some way? Once you can find peace with this fear and quality, the issues with your so-called enemy will resolve naturally. We fear that we have the very quality that we despise in the other. The reason we see a flaw in an enemy is because we may have that quality in ourselves and it is not resolved. Deep down we fear that quality may blossom in us and that trigger causes a reaction.

Indeed, love and hate are often two sides of the same coin. Why else would married couples hate each other while loving one another or divorced couples say such horrible things about the person they vowed to love until death do they part?

I find the word enemy to be very strong. I luckily have no enemies. I do sometimes not jive well with someone or respect their ways. Ask yourself this, how can you in 2017, even if you do not have an enemy, have more peace with your family, co-workers and community? How can you forgive more, bring more compassion to the table and be a better listener? We are all still learning.

As Dr. Levry says, all we can do is to try to be better everyday.

New Year, New You. How can you have more peace in 2017?

New Year, New You. How can you have more peace in 2017?With 2017 approaching, you might be evaluating 2016 and asking yourself how you want to do things differently, change your world for the better and be the best you ever?

For the past few months, I have focused on dance and my creative movement teaching work with children. I stopped studying Torah but with Winter break now in effect, I decided to swing back in for a class with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner of Temple Emanuel. The group consists of about 10 individuals, most well over 60, if not 70. I am always the youngest attendee, maybe because we meet at 9 am on Saturdays. The class is great because you always learn a lesson and see things in a new perspective. Rabbi Kushner is a painter and has a great sense of humor. He explains the often obscure Torah portion in a way that relates to our current times.

Last week, we explored the relationship between Jacob and Esau and their descendants, the Israelites and the Edomites (Jacob was later called Israel and Esau called Edom).

Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was older and therefore had the birthright of receiving the inheritance. However, Jacob pulled a trick on his brother. He asked Esau after a long day of hunting, if he wanted to trade his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup. Esau, obviously very hungry, said “O.K. that sounds like a good deal to me”. Well, maybe he didn’t quite say it that way. He did however, symbolically decide to trade something of substance and eternal (his birthright) for something to soothe temporarily his physical comfort and needs (food).

It is written G.d loved Jacob and hated Esau. Why? We don’t know. Similarly why did G.d chose Abraham and not any other man? The Torah doesn’t say. He liked Abraham. Similarly G.d liked Jacob and didn’t like Esau. Poor guy…I feel sorry for him.

Rabbi Kushner explained that there is a very fine line between your friends and an enemy. Our enemy may be very similar to us. For us to hate another, we must deep down love them. Indeed, Esau and Jacob were so close that they even shared the same WOMB!!! You can’t get closer than that. Yet these brothers became enemies and their descendants became enemies for generations.

So, in your life why do you not like a co-worker, still harbor hatred and resentment against an ex, a family member bugs you like no other? Rabbi Kushner recommended we ask ourselves how do we fear that we may be like this person in some way? Once you can find peace with this fear and quality, the issues with your so-called enemy will resolve naturally. We fear that we have the very quality that we despise in the other. The reason we see a flaw in an enemy is because we may have that quality in ourselves and it is not resolved. Deep down we fear that quality may blossom in us and that trigger causes a reaction.

Indeed, love and hate are often two sides of the same coin. Why else would married couples hate each other while loving one another or divorced couples say such horrible things about the person they vowed to love until death do they part?

I find the word enemy to be very strong. I luckily have no enemies. I do sometimes not jive well with someone or respect their ways. Maybe I like G.d simply don’t like them for some mysterious reason.

Ask yourself this, how can you in 2017, have more peace with your family, co-workers and community? How can you forgive more, bring more compassion to the table and be a better listener? We are all still learning.

As Dr. Levry says, all we can do is to try to be better everyday.

New Year, New You. How you can have more peace in 2017.

With 2017 approaching, you might be evaluating 2016 and asking yourself how you want to do things differently, change your world for the better and be the best you ever?

For the past few months, I have focused on dance and my creative movement teaching work with children. I stopped studying Torah but with Winter break now in effect, I decided to swing back in for a class with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner of Temple Emanuel. The group consists of about 10 individuals, most well over 60, if not 70. I am always the youngest attendee, maybe because we meet at 9 am on Saturdays. I love it because I always learn a lesson and see things in a new perspective. Rabbi Kushner is a painter and has a great sense of humor. He explains the often obscure Torah portion in a way that relates to our current times.

Last week, we explored the relationship between Jacob and Esau and their descendants, the Israelites and the Edomites. Jacob was later called Israel and Esau called Edom.

Isaac and his wife Rebekah had twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was older and therefore had the birthright of receiving the inheritance. However, Jacob pulled a trick on his brother. He asked Esau after a long day of hunting, if he wanted to trade his birthright for a bowl of lentil soup. Esau, obviously very hungry, said ok sounds like a good deal to me. Well, maybe he didn’t quite say it that way but he symbolically decided to trade something of substance and eternal (his birthright) for something to soothe temporarily his physical comfort and needs (food).

It is written G.d loved Jacob and hated Esau. Why? We don’t know. Similarly why did G.d chose Abraham and not any other man? The Torah doesn’t say. He liked Abraham. Similarly G.d liked Jacob and didn’t like Esau. Poor guy…I feel sorry for him.

Rabbi Kushner explained that our enemies often are very similar to us. For us to hate another, we must deep down love them. Indeed, Esau and Jacob were so close that they even shared the same WOMB!!! You can’t get closer than that. Yet these brothers became enemies and their descendants enemies for generations.

So, in your life why do you not like a co-worker, still harbor hatred and resentment against an ex, a family member bugs you like no other? Rabbi Kushner recommended we ask ourselves how do we fear that we may be like this person in some way? Once you can find peace with this fear and quality, the issues with your so-called enemy will resolve naturally. We fear that we have the very quality that we despise in the other. The reason we see a flaw in an enemy is because we may have that quality in ourselves and it is not resolved. Deep down we fear that quality may blossom in us and that trigger causes a reaction.

Indeed, love and hate are often two sides of the same coin. Why else would married couples hate each other while loving one another or divorced couples say such horrible things about the person they vowed to love until death do they part?

I find the word enemy to be very strong. I luckily have no enemies. I do sometimes not jive well with someone or respect their ways. Maybe I like G.d simply don’t like them for some mysterious reason.

Ask yourself this, how can you in 2017, have more peace with your family, co-workers and community? How can you forgive more, bring more compassion to the table and be a better listener? We are all still learning.

As Dr. Levry says, all we can do is to try to be better everyday.

New Year New You

In the beginning…

Winter Fun

ho ho ho…

Enemies that shared the same womb

Jacob and Essau….

4th annual Peace in the Park Festival in Golden Gate Park – Sat., Sept. 17th

by Jenny Dinoia

On Saturday September 17th, there was the 4th annual Peace in the Park Festival in Golden Gate Park. The event was geared for people of all ages but there were many children’s activities and stations. I was drawn to one table that had books by Diane Tillman that shared activities to co-create peace for children.

The kind woman at the boothe told me the author,who has spent her life dedicated to this subject, was giving a talk later that afternoon. I immediately knew I had to stay to hear her words of wisdom.

I sat in an intimate and quiet meditation room with about 25 other people and heard Diane Tillman speak of her many experiences around the world, including war torn countries. She shared how important it was for adults to learn to model peaceful behavior so the future generation can thrive.

I have worked with children for over 10 years in various settings. Creating a peaceful environment has been, by far, the most challenging task. What do you do when a child bites another child? Or a child repeatedly hits another child for no apparent reason?

I have worked with enough children to know it’s not always the parents or home environment to blame. Sometimes the parents of these children are amazing and you wonder what is going on. Sometimes it is nature or who knows? So, how do you solve these situations? It’s a fascinating question.

I had a client who wrote for the TV series Law and Order and she said people are fascinated with violence because it has always existed in mankind and probably always will. For now, no one has figured out how to create peace in the world. They say to create world peace we must each have internal peace every day and within our families and communities. I have not mastered this task but maybe if we each try each day to do our best we can one day IMAGINE… as John Lennon sang many years ago.

Yoga means union. Yoga is to quiet the mind so we may be a witness, a peaceful witness to the thoughts and yes war in the world. We end Naam Yoga classes with the mantra Shanti which means peace. Most people want peace but if we can’t have peace on Earth how can we expect it with our children and in a classroom setting?

Diane Tillman gave very simple and direct instructions in her talk. To create peace for our children we must model peace in our behavior.

Diane Tillman spoke of a great tool for the home and classroom: Build A Peace Tent.

In recent research, it was found that time-outs for young children were ineffective and are now frowned upon.

Diane Tillman recommended each classroom and home have a peace tent. This tent could have comfortable pillows, dim lighting, stuffed animals, soothing music… When a child (or even you) feels they are not so peaceful inside simply say, “hmmm… why don’t you go to the peace tent and ponder how you can make the situation better.”

As the peace tent doesn’t have a punitive connotation it allows the child (and maybe YOU) to take a moment to just breathe and come out refreshed, with a positive idea. Dr. Levry said that in 2016 especially it was vital not to react. Ah, what precious wisdom but maybe not so easy to actually implement. If you are upset it is best to wait until you find neutrality. In other words, it is best that you go to your peace tent.

A peace tent could be a literal tent in your home, even for adults without children. The tent could also be a metaphorical place or activity that brings you to your zen place. It could be your time when you take a bath with essential oils and candles or a special corner in your home for a meditation alter or place of prayer. As we go to our “peace tent”, remember it is important to see the whole world as our family and treat others with kindness.

Modeling peace is one of the most WILD things you can do. I dare you to try it.

Until the next time and remember to stay WILD!

Jenny

What is your legacy?

by Jennifer Dinoia

I attend the ballet in San Francisco every year and inside the program it asks, “What is Your Legacy?”.

I decided weeks ago that the topic for the next Wild Woman’s Circle would be: What is Your Legacy?

To my delight, this week at Torah Study, we discussed this very topic! Unfortunately, the section we read, mostly said that we leave no legacy.

From Megilat Kohelet/ The Book of Ecclesiastes:

“One generation goes, another comes,

But each remains the same forever.

The sun rises, the sun sets-

And glides back to where it rises.

…..

“There is nothing new

beneath the sun!”

I couldn’t hep but think of Steve Jobs. Now, perhaps as an individual he wasn’t the most polite, but he left a huge legacy and changed the world. Maybe in a few hundred years people will not remember his name but they will have a technology that has forever changed humanity.

Watching a William Forsythe ballet take your breath away or the work of Sean Blue, (seanblue.net) a juggler I respect and admire, makes me feel we can make something new. Look at the work of George Balanchine in the field of ballet and choreography. I’m certain in your fields of interest you can think of individuals who have or do make a difference. Maybe they are rare like Amma, Einstein etc. but even maybe your third grade teacher changed your life for the better by believing in you, or a soccer star that inspired you to get in touch with your body and love football.

In Torah study, the point that was made was that older generations know that it has all happened before. The birth of a new baby is nothing that exciting after the fiftieth one. There has always been war. The news seems to always be the same yet we read it in awe.

Often, younger generations have this belief of hope and that they can create something new. But as the Torah section says, there is nothing new under the Sun. It is not necessarily negative but simply is what it is.

A legacy for your life and name is not in the cards according to my Torah teacher.  Perhaps “your” legacy is not possible most of the time but a legacy is. Even if it is small, I believe we must strive to make the impossible possible, dare to dream new things and leave the world a better place and yes even dream of a world of peace.

Perhaps, I still have that young attitude and in a few decades shall sigh, “Oye vey, it is all the same.”

In the meantime, I’m excited to co-create some new art, pushing the boundaries with some amazing talents in NYC at the end of the month.

What is your legacy?

Wild Woman’s Circle is this Tuesday October 6th at 7pm.

116 Clayton st. at Hayes in San Francisco

Please e-mail us your comments on this blog and share with your friends and share with us what is your legacy?

theyogaroomsf@gmail.com

Thanks and remember to stay WILD!

Until the next time,

Jennifer

The Power of Gratitude

The Power of Gratitude

by Jennifer Dinoia

The importance of gratitude is no new subject within the field of new age, self-help and healing. Maybe you feel you have overheard the importance of gratitude. This is one lesson you can not over learn however because you can always become more grateful and increase your awareness of the totality of WAHEGURU! (I’ll get to that in a moment for those that are wondering what the heck I am talking about).

We hear a lot about the power of gratitude but how many of us actually live a life where we deeply feel and express our gratitude for all of our blessings AND our challenges.

I always saw myself as someone who was grateful but with time I have deepened my level of gratitude and awareness of how blessed I am. Travel definitely deepens ones level of appreciation for the freedoms and luxuries all Americans can enjoy. I remember practicing yoga in Paris and one of my teachers would often say, “Now don’t worry if your foot isn’t where you want it to be today, be grateful you have a foot at all.” After teaching in Nepal, I understood on a visceral level what my teacher meant. I remember leading the Naam warm-ups in Kathmandu, which used to be done to the mantra WAHE GURU, and I was sooo thankful for each body part as I stretched my wrists, hands, legs and feet. Returning to America, I felt true gratitude for the little things, which aren’t so little, like clean drinking water and clean sanitation, which many people in the world still do not have access to. As a female in America I feel very grateful for my freedoms and the education I received that many women in the world are not allowed to pursue.

So, what does WAHE GURU mean?

Wahe Guru is a beautiful mantra which you cannot translate. It means roughly indescribable ecstasy. It also encompasses that immense gratitude and joy for the simple and wondrous breath of life.

It really isn’t about how much you have but appreciating what you do have that matters. Many people live in beautiful homes and drive luxury cars but are deeply unhappy and feel unfulfilled. Similarly, many people live in squalor and have no money to their names but seem to be full of joy and enjoying the blessings they do have.

We are always in charge of our thoughts, our attitudes and the amount of thankfulness in our lives.

Here are a few tools you can implement today to increase your attitude of gratitude.

1. Start carrying a gratitude rock in your pocket.

Simply put a small rock in your pocket. You could also pick a small crystal that you are drawn to but any rock will do. As you come across the rock, think of one thing you are grateful for. This tool is simple, costs nothing and it will catch you at interesting moments and inspire you to remember new things that you are grateful for.

2. Gratitude lists

In the morning and before going to sleep list 3-5 things you are grateful for. They can seem mundane like “Wah, I am thankful for my comfy pillow.” or may seem deeper like “I am thankful for my daughter’s health.”

You can also be grateful for things that are not yet in your life which affirms your faith that G.d is providing the best path for your highest good. For example, “I am thankful that I am now ready to release my sugar addiction.”

3. Express your gratitude verbally or by writing.

Yesterday marks the one year anniversary of Robin William’s passing. Tomorrow is not guaranteed to anyone and it is important to tell your loved ones how much you love them and appreciate them now before it is too late. If you haven’t yet told someone you love that you are grateful for them in your life, do it TODAY!

Here are a few rules for gratitude to keep in mind.

1. What you focus on expands.

The more grateful you are for something, the more the Universe wants to shower you with those blessings. If someone gives you a gift be sure to say thank you. If you complain or say it is the wrong size or color, believe me, that person will never give you a gift again. It doesn’t matter if the gift lacked thought or is wrong for you. You can always give it to someone who can appreciate the gift.

2. G.d takes away that which you are not grateful for so that when you receive it again you will be grateful.

Another 365 Day Journey Around the Sun

A birthday is just the first day of another 365 journey around the Sun.

Enjoy the ride.

Birthdays. Pretty fun when you are 6. Not so fun at 56 huh?

This past week I entered my Sun period and celebrated 38 rotations around the Sun.

In Naam Yoga there are 7 periods that organize the yearly calendar based on the 7 creative planets. The founder of Naam Yoga, Dr. Levry, wrote an exquisite book titled Lifting the Veil. In this book Dr. Levry clearly explains how the Universe works according to time and space. (to order the book visit http://www.rootlight.com)

The 52 days following your birthday is considered your Sun period full of opportunities and blessings.

The 52 days before your birthday is considered your Saturn period which is also a beautiful and magical time.

During the Saturn time your intuition and wisdom is heightened as you increase your meditation practice and valuable time for solace to go within and withdraw from the busy world.

Being in the “Sun” of parties, socializing, travel and being in the spotlight is fun and a wonderful part of life. Equally valuable is our quiet time to reflect, to spend time alone with yourself and to draw late at night to music that moves your soul.

What a joy to have the green light to stay at home, meditate for an extra hour for no other reason than you feel like it!

The Saturn period is just as wonderful as the Sun but birthdays as you get older seem to get more prickly with time. 38 doesn’t feel as awesome as 21 did…Deep reflection can sink in the few days before your Sun period arrives. You evaluate where your life is going and what changes you want to make.

This birthday made me think about Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan. The Wild Woman’s Circle studied this easy read book in May/June of 2014. Mutant Message Down Under is the fictional account of an American woman’s spiritual odyssey through outback Australia.

The Australian tribe in the book did not celebrate birthdays. Instead they celebrated important rites of passage such as a child’s first hunting trip, a marriage, a woman’s first moon cycle, the change in one’s name that reflects a new calling in life…

As I reflect back on my life it was my life’s landmarks such as choreographing my first show, starting my Gyrotonic teaching work or other pivitol moments that marked my life and were worthy of celebration. Not my 26th birthday nor my 38th! Yes, it’s always fun to have a reason to celebrate. And who in their right mind would say no to cake, presents and tons of gifted drinks and dinners. I now celebrate for the whole month by the way. So if you forgot, no worries. I keep on celebrating until mid August. You can make donations to water.org or any cause for the environment, children’s rights, Respect The Sea!!! I am also a fan of fun socks and bees wax candles! Just sayin…

So, let us celebrate birthdays AND becoming a woman, weddings, a friends first album release party, house-warming party or hiking up a mountain after months of training.

We all need ritual, order and a sense that our life follows a cycle, whether these cycles are arbitrary, like January first and Christmas or connected to the Universe like Solstices and Full and New Moon Rituals. Rituals bring healing and unity to communities.

May you enjoy all rituals both big and small. May you celebrate all of life’s joyous birthdays and the rising of the Sun each day in your heart. Enjoy your stamina and enjoy your stillness. Enjoy your happiness and your sorrows.

Thank you for reading and remember to stay WILD!

Until the next time,

Jenn

The 7 Creative Planets and Beyond- workshop with Jenn

Wednesday, July 29th, 7:30-8:45pm $10-$30 sliding scale