Welcome my friends!
My main name is Jessica, and I say that because what many may not know is that I have two more “unofficial” first names- Feng Feng (凤凤) and Baila (בֵּײלָא). This might seem unconventional, yet growing up in a Chinese and Jewish household meant that I was given both a Mandarin and Hebrew name. I never truly identified with my Hebrew name Baila, as it was really only used for my Bat Mitzvah (yes I had one!). During the first few years of my life we lived with my Chinese grandparents. They knew little-to-no English, so I spoke to them in Mandarin and was hence very used to being called Feng Feng.
Feng Feng, with the characters shown above, means phoenix. Over the years, I have learned to truly appreciate the symbolism behind this mythical creature. They are the ultimate example of the cycle of life and death- every time reborn from their ashes. Using this as a metaphor for my life, I would remind myself to rise up from adversity and challenges I have faced in life and within my family. Mandarin can be very confusing, since the phonetic spelling for “feng” has many other meanings if spoken or written differently. It can also mean wind (风), symbolizing the soul and the divine breath living with us all. And with that, I wanted to create Feng Flow Yoga to remind not only myself, but everyone to live with the powerful knowledge that no matter the circumstance, we all have the divine ability to grow and transform.
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self”
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self”
Over the past few years, I attribute a great increase in my happiness and mental health to my growing personal yoga practice. A while back, a friend of mine who had just started yoga told me about all of its amazing benefits, and how it would make her feel so comfortable in her body and mind. I went to a few classes here and there in the beginning, and I will admit I was discouraged when I would hear that downward-facing dog is a “resting” pose. In fact it is quite challenging, especially when developing proper alignment and strength. But with time, poses became easier, and I would even notice myself finding peace in more challenging asanas. In fact, I was finding that the more I practiced, the more peace I felt during my daily life.
I have always felt like an old soul with a young heart, preferring to make real connections with people and the outdoors. There is a huge soft spot in my heart for all living creatures- maybe one day I can help create a sanctuary. To me, the perfect weekend would consist of a good hike (or two), a trip to the local farmers’ market and spending quality time with the people I love. Oh and of course some yoga! Traveling is another passion of mine, and is a great way to explore our beautiful planet. Whether it be immersing myself in the local cultures or white water rafting, I love experiencing all that our world has to offer.
For me, the key to living my best life is simple, really... live, laugh and LOVE. That, and bring the joy and many teachings of yoga to any and all that I can!
