"Life is a beautiful and ever evolving transformation journey...I take it all in" Cristina Marie
Hola! I'm Cristina Rivera; a Puerto Rican native, entrepreneur, and international yoga teacher & sound therapist currently based between Puerto Rico and Portugal.
After graduating from school in 2009 I decided to find a remedy for anxiety and a way of dealing with my newly discovered high sensitivity. I immediately fell in love with the practice and remember vividly the feeling of walking out of the studio and resisting the urge to hug everyone and everything in sight! That first yoga class made me feel a sense of peace, and ‘at-homeness’ unlike anything I've ever experienced before – and I've been hooked ever since.
I spent years exploring the intricate studies of yoga and spirituality, including my Teaching Trainings. However, my deepest learning comes from meditation, spiritual practice, reading, music, learning from different teachers and deep introspection.
I incorporate holistic therapeutic tools like sharing, active listening, chakra alignment, meditation, dance and journaling in some of my sessions where there is a deep level of heart healing at the center of every class I teach. My classes serve the purpose of deepening a connection not only to ourselves, but with the people around us.
How it all started?
My journey to become a Yoga Teacher probably started with my 1st yoga class, even tho' I didn't know a decade later I will be a teacher. The ride to get here has been amazing, including all the setbacks, but most of all has been a journey about choosing myself 1st instead following someone else's dream.
Join me on my journey...
After a few years of traveling, moving to new locations and working the "corporate/tech world" I realized there was something missing in my life. I noticed my lifestyle was not evolving and that I had compromised my heart, soul, body and mind to do something not fulfilling, except traveling of course. I was working hard and playing harder for others. Thinking it was the way to be, everyone else does it, why not? But really, it wasn't for me.
With years of feeling "the struggle is real" and hitting the mental fatigue I quit another job and decided to ground bases where I was and with what I needed. With the amazing support of my partner, I embarked a quest to HEAL. Decided to dive deeply into the world of wellness, psychology and yoga. Countless hours of reading, studying and self-studying went into the process, not to only to know all the bases, but to know myself.
When the Pandemic hit, I realized my lifestyle could get even better if I incorporate more of what I love to do routinely: yoga, music and meditation. As a practitioner for many years and an active meditation student, I knew my heart was on the right path.
Today, I'm happy to say that I'm over the moon that I've launched Mariebliss Yoga. I'm in awe of yoga. From the beautiful asana practices to the most amazing philosophies of life. My life has changed for the best!
Here I am now...
I am Certified Yoga & Sound Teacher, ready to impact and bring positive results to my students. Humbling I say, I'm always a student 1st, as I continue to dive deeper in other modalities of yoga, in order to keep learning and evolving. I teach what I love by giving the students a different perspective, where I explained that asanas are just a little part of a bigger equation.
This journey has been a beautiful one, but not an easy one. I took a leap of faith on myself and trusted my gut. I needed a change. I did the proper "hard work" to get where I am today. From therapy, workshops, traveling and studies. I took a deep inventory of my life and decided to eliminate what was no longer working and focus my energies on what it did.
The amazing support from my family, friends and partner keep me going in moments of tiredness and doubt. I realized anything you dream CAN be achievable. It is possible to love yourself so deep that you have extra love to give others. My ultimate goal was to find peace within me. However, I realized nothing can be 100% peaceful, life happens, things change. Everything I need I already got.
For anyone out there feeling alone or thinking is too hard, not sure where to start or how to heal, please know I hear you. I understand those feelings.
It took a few detours to get me to do what I really love today . My colorful life revolves around yoga, travel , music & the search for meaning!
Find me here, in nature, traveling, cooking, learning, dancing and on social media, where I love to share pieces of my life with the world. Thank you so much for reading, see you on the other side.
Love,
Cristina Marie (Bliss)
YOGA @marieblissyoga
BOOK A CLASS WITH ME here!
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