One-Love
Jaclyn Rey

I was reading my book on a bright, sunny afternoon when I met Ismael: the homeless, Argentinian man living underneath a tree in a local plaza of Buenos Aires. It had been a month since I had temporarily moved away from home to complete a Kinesiology internship. This day of work was particularly challenging. Despite the tremendous opportunity, I could not shake the feeling of vulnerability, loneliness and fear. And so, the inner dialogue began: “How,” I thought, “am I supposed to teach people ‘yoga’ when I feel so scared. What do I do?” The homeless man was watching me as I pondered, giving little attention to the words in the book. He asked me what I was reading. I remember feeling slightly uneasy while I nonchalantly gripped tightly onto my purse.

He continued to speak to me quietly, yet with a heavy Argentinian accent. I listened to him carefully as he shared with me his story. Although having suffered much in his life, Ismael was radiating genuine gratitude, contentment and joy. Feeling the warmth from the sun overhead and this man’s presence, my breath deepened as the fear in my chest began to slowly dissolve into something indescribable and unmeasurable.

I had found yoga five years prior to this moment. Through the ancient philosophy, consistent movement and breath practice, my life began to develop a deeper meaning. Rather, I felt a sense of profound personal purpose, like I had something unique to share; something I had never noticed before.

Upon completing a 200-yoga teacher training as a Freshman at Michigan State University, I began focusing on my Kinesiology degree accompanied by a Spanish and Health Promotion minor in the pursuit of turning a passion into a career. As a senior, I had received an inquiry from Esclerosis Múltiple Argentina (EMA), a non-profit stationed in the heart of Buenos Aires, Argentina, supporting patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). I accepted the position to be an instructor for the yoga, meditation, body corporal and art sector of this organization.

In May of 2018, I flew to this vibrant, South American city, moved in with a local host- family and thus, began my work. What I quickly learned about EMA is that it is not just an organization or small community, it is a family. On the back-end, there is a team who handles the logistics including funding and marketing. I never saw much from this side of things, although I developed a great deal of respect for what it takes to keep a non-profit running within a small budget.

I worked with the ladies on the front-end: a small group of women who put their whole heart, soul and sweat into the daily success of EMA. I reported every Tuesday to teach meditation classes, alongside Sergio, EMA’s twelve-year yoga instructor. Every Thursday, I co- taught natural movement and art classes with Flavia, a member of EMA living with the illness herself. The other days were filled with writing assignments, event-fundraising and facility cleaning. I had the opportunity to attend monthly “charlas,” or educational events to inform patients and community members about topics regarding MS.

I learned that Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease that effects the central nervous system (CNS) causing a number of sensory, motor and cognitive effects to the patient. Essentially, the body begins attacking its own myelin sheath, which is the protective covering around the axon of the neurons within the CNS. If you can imagine, it is similar to a mail-person trying to deliver the mail in the morning, but with damage to the road, they cannot properly reach the countless homes to deliver the messages. The road damage is synonymous to the "demyelination" that occurs to the axon. When the neurons are unable to correctly communicate with each other, the CNS and the body cannot efficiently connect, which causes the various symptoms. The exact cause of MS, however, is still unknown, whether an autoimmune disease, carried on through genetics or external sources. Therefore, research is continuously done in this day and age to better comprehend.

Due to the fact that MS is extremely difficult to understand and treat because the symptoms vary so greatly depending on the individual, it made my work so interesting and truly life changing. The practice of mind- body connection is hard enough for an "able-bodied" human to comprehend, let alone an individual whom physiologically has pre-established problem with this interaction. Regardless, these patients put in the effort necessary to create a change in their reality. Irrespective of their physical or mental state, native language, background or age, they were still able to so profoundly and proficiently connect with themselves, one-another and with me. The inner dialogue persisted, “How?” I asked myself as I continued to breath into the heart.

Daily within EMA, the locals and I partook in the popular, and my personal favorite, Argentinian tradition: the drinking of Yerba mate. Mate is tea that originally was harvested in Paraguay, Brazil and various parts of South America. Brazil, the leading mate producer, began to emphasize coffee production in the 1930s, opening the door for Argentina to take over. (Institute Nacional de la Verba Mate). The tea is enjoyed out of the mate cup, most commonly made from "calabaza" (pumpkin), palo santo (holy wood), or glass. Once the mate is filled with "la yerba" (the name for the tea itself), it is drunk from the decorative straw, known as a "bombilla.” Though a caffeinated beverage, it is more importantly an ancient symbol of friendship. Don’t be surprised to see mate everywhere: in the home, at the office, on the streets, shared between everyone: friends, family, colleagues, strangers. Clearly a method in which Argentinians communicate, I asked myself, “Could the connection be from the mate?”

While working on a special article assignment for EMA, I felt the connection again. My objective was to create a Mindfulness guide to leave behind with the patients upon my return to the United States. I was sitting in my favorite café, enjoying the delicious "medialuna,” a sweet croissant pastry cooked to perfection, when I noticed Argentina's flag: pastel blue and white stripes with a radiant sun in the middle. The sun shines the same on every being, no matter who you are, where you are from or what you look like. This level of acceptance is truly reflected through Argentinian culture and the locals themselves. "Oh, so the nature of the sun is a part of the culture!” That time, I really thought I had it.

Through deep reflection, I have become aware of the universality amongst all these experiences. The connection I felt daily within EMA is the same that I felt within the country. The same connection I felt all those years ago when I began practicing yoga. The same connection that brings people together to share in the ritual of yerba mate. The connection established between Ismael and I on that unforgettable afternoon. “What is it?” Well, this was the beautiful discovery that has brought me so much internal peace. Love; it is unconditional love. These words, no longer coming from an inner monologue within my head, but instead, an internal knowing which can only be understood or experienced through the feeling itself.

As I write these words, I realize the soft and silly way in which this message can be received. However, as we critically examine this concept, we begin to see the strength this phenomenon has over our lives. People change for love, die for love, kill for love. Love creates life. Love unites nations while a lack there of, separates people from different backgrounds, perspectives and realities.

On a fundamental level, we are all connected and able to commune. It goes beyond physical, emotional or mental state/status. I call it the powerful vibration of love, but even if these words mean nothing to you, I always like to use the saying "tomato, tomato.” [to-may-to, to-mah-to] It is all the same. It is not about you believing what it is that I believe. It is about you believing what you believe with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul. It is about you using this belief, or faith, or consciousness, or (fill in word that resonates with you here) to become the best version of yourself that you can possibly be, for the greater evolvement of humanity. Therefore, you may efficiently do the work, receive the rest and explore the play; therefore, you may wholeheartedly serve others and create a positive impact on the world in a time of lasting global change.

Every day, I find myself grateful, an acknowledgement I had overlooked in my daily life prior to this experience. I am grateful for my healthy body and mind. I am grateful for nature's gifts and life’s infinite opportunities and abundance. I am grateful that my journey led me to Argentina, where I had the opportunity to improve my Spanish- speaking, incorporate a passion into work, come closer to myself as a woman, and receive this message. I am humbled to the realization that, although I was called to Buenos Aires as a teacher, I too was a student. I have returned to the United States, independent, inspired and full of love, approaching graduation as an unstoppable Michigan State Spartan.

References

lnstituto Nacional de la Verba Mate. (2015). History of Yerba Mate. Retrieved from http://yerbamateargentina.org.ar/en/yerba-mate/la-yerba-mate-y-su-historia/