Portrait of Justine Jaya, a formidable operating nurse assistant

We wanted to highlight the portrait of Justine Jaya, operating assistant nurse.

When she answered this questionnaire, we did not know that we would all be confined because of a covid 19 virus and that she would become in a few weeks "our hero" like all her sisters and colleagues.

So, I take this opportunity to thank her from the bottom of my heart for what she/he does for us. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

So I share his portrait with you today with joy and thanks.

My name is Justine, I am 33 years old. I have been an operating room nurse assistant for 12 years. I assist several surgeons during surgical procedures in the operating room. I am passionate about my role as a caregiver. That is why I threw myself into it body and soul from the beginning. Very quickly I forgot myself and put myself aside for others both in my professional and personal life.

How did you come to take care of yourself?

Like almost everyone, I have a past and it was shortly after entering working life that defense mechanisms and dysfunctional patterns began to cause damage.

I was looking for what I was missing in the wrong place, that is to say outside, in my personal relationships. Continuing to give everything for others thinking that there would be a return. I felt that I had this potential in me and I did not understand why others did not see it, why I did not receive what I deserved.

I tried several therapies, with a psychiatrist and psychologists. It helped me for a while. It didn't free me completely, I continued to repeat the same mistakes as they say and to remain focused on what was wrong.

Yoga came into my life in the 2010s, I am basically a dancer, at that time I had given up everything to focus on my nephew who was sick and his little sister. When I tried to restart my life in 2013, I had bits of experience with yoga, first on vacation, which was rare at that time, then on the internet.

In 2017, while I was going through a complicated end-of-contract situation, I encountered yoga in Lille, a teacher was giving classes in an outdoor park in July on Saturday mornings. I attended all the classes that month. From the first morning, something happened. Walls fell, those that had made me lose sight of myself. I glimpsed the Justine I knew so well, the one I no longer found in my behavior marked by fear, sadness and anger.

The following year I attended as many classes as possible. I appreciated the relaxation, the energy that it brought me. I was incredibly surprised because my body and my mind were able to do one with the other, one on the other or for the other. Such surpassing of oneself on a mat is magic!

After two retreats in Morocco and the discovery of several styles and teachers of yoga, in 2018, I wanted to do training.

I chose to start with the initial training given by Gérard Arnaud. I wanted a classical and traditional education and above all to meet this very interesting character.

I also fell for massage. At the end of 2019, I completed training in Thai yoga massage.

In these two disciplines, I find myself completely personally and professionally. I really like helping others, sharing and exchanging gentleness, energy, love.

This is now what I do thanks to my three functions. On the one hand, I participate in unique life moments, surgery. On the other, I bring well-being, relaxation, laughter, joy just with my hands, my person, my creativity.

I teach vinyasa yoga in a studio in downtown Lille. 

What practice for your well-being?

Yoga, meditation, visualizations and breathing exercises have become a part of hygiene like washing, so it's every day!

What is the ritual of your practice?

My ritual is to not have a ritual, to try to renew myself with each practice.

What do you get out of it?

Already a lot of pleasure, muscle and joint relaxation to counteract everyday pain. Thanks to this routine I stay aligned, confident and connected, I build my strength and flexibility.

What do you carry in your yoga bag?

My carpet that follows me everywhere in the world, incense and sometimes Newt my cat, who is very sensitive to energies and curious to discover new environments

What is your favorite object/accessory?

I don't really have any, I don't like being dependent on something, I'm more focused on material detachment.

What would be your advice for Tayrona Yoginis?

Trust, you have the answers. Yoga is a great way to go within yourself. Explore, experiment, create your yoga.

Where/how do you practice?

Everywhere with or without a mat, right side up, eyes open or closed

I get up, I meditate and depending on the time and energy I do stretches, sun salutations or even a complete flow.

What is your mantra/favourite phrase?

Just do it

If you want to know more:

FB https://www.facebook.com/justinajayya/

Follow me on Instagram! Username: justina.jaya
https://www.instagram.com/justina.jaya?r=nametag