Wellness
Eleonora Zampatti 114

“The moon understands what it means to be human.  Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.”  I remember the first time I read this quote from the poem, Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi.  I was on the F train and it was late at night, I was coming back from Brooklyn after a long day at work and I still clearly remember feeling my soul trembling and my heart shaking while reading it.

In a few seconds I realized how sad I truly was and how much pain I was carrying inside, simply by reading a few words that spoke the same language as my soul.  This poem gave my soul a voice. A voice that for a long time I tried to shut down in order to avoid the brutality of the reality that trapped me.

Girl waiting for train by Hernan Pinera
Photo: Hernan Pinera

I was living in Manhattan back then, in a very little apartment on the upper west side.  My daily commute was long and exhausting. I was broke, and I was broken.  I barely slept and I was not taking care of myself at all, although externally it looked like I was living a picture perfect life.

I used to wake up at 5 am and catch a train, with my bike on my shoulder, travelling all day long from one studio to another, from one private costumer to another and then run to yoga practice.  Never missing a class, never taking a break, never even considering the idea of going on vacation, because everything I needed was right there between Coney Island and Union Square.

Eleonora Zampatti doing yoga by Aaron Santoro
Eleonora Zampatti | Photo: Aaron Santoro

I had it all. I was young, healthy, and fit, living in Manhattan – one of the most beautiful and charming cities in the world. I was working as a personal trainer and yoga teacher all over Brooklyn and the city. To make it even better, I was dating the perfect guy: an accomplished, educated, wealthy, well dressed and well behaved man who everybody loved and admired.

I was always smiling and barely complained about anything, but I was slowly dying inside, consumed by demons that I did not even have the courage to name. I needed to be stronger than my fears and better than everybody else, because I needed to live up to the expectation that my partner had of me. I had to be enough to make my family proud of me. Failure was not an option.

New York City is like a tough mother, one moment she holds you in the warmest hug, and the moment after she slaps you in the face just to remind you how hard life can be. This city makes you feel invincible.  If you really embrace “her” magic, you can feel “her” growing within you; such an inspiring, cultivating and vibrant energy. On the other hand, it can also end up eating you alive.

I pretended for so long that everything was fine, but it was not. I was abused. I was living in a toxic relationship and it was not the first time that I found myself in this situation. Because of that, I was not admitting to myself that it was happening again.

I was lost and my heart was broken. I was not only too ashamed to talk about my past but also too ashamed to think about my present. There was no escape for me.

At night, alone in that small apartment, I could not do anything but cry. I could not take it any more. I could not live like that anymore. NYC, the city of the American Dream was becoming a trap for me with no escape. I was surrounded by so many people, but started to feel so alone and so desperate.

Nobody was there for me. Nobody understood what was going on in my life. Nobody had time to listen to me, to truly connect with me. Silence became the cradle of violence and my biggest enemy. My partner at the time convinced me that I was too sick and too vulnerable and that there was no space for the weak ones in a city like New York. For so long all I thought was that I really wanted to be a “New-Yorker” and I really wanted to be with him.

Then I discovered yoga and everything changed. It took a long time, but the practice taught me to connect. It taught me that being vulnerable is not a sin but indeed a gift. It taught me that I could heal. It taught me that I could rise again.

Eleonora Zampatti yoga handstand in the ocean
Eleonora Zampatti | Photo: Aaron Santoro

When I started to let go of the fear, I was able to understand my power.  By surrendering to the moment, I found the peace I needed, to be honest with myself. It was not about me “not deserving to be a New Yorker.”  It was not about me not being enough for my partner or being worthless, and more then anything it was not about failure.

It was time to reclaim my soul and understand what I really needed. The sublime melody of the sound of the ocean, the blowing of the wind, the crashing of the waves, and the singing of the seagulls flying along the horizon. The silence of walking away from the chaos of a city that never sleeps, and away from those overwhelming traffic lights. The darkness of a night illuminated just by the moonlight where your thoughts become clear like shadows under the moon. The many shades of a sunrise above the water, when Mother Nature paints reality with colors that you have never seen before. All this I needed.

Full moon over water by Benji
Photo: Benji

It took me 5 years to understand that NYC was not for me, that the life I was living was not for me. I took me 5 years to understand that by letting that go I was not failing, but instead I was winning. The end was painful, but it was the beginning of something beautiful. So I said goodbye. I left him.

I left the only life I had known. I left the only place that I could call home with no money or support, I moved to the shore of New Jersey and slowly my soul began to heal.

Today I am lucky enough to teach yoga for a living and to wake up every morning surrounded by love in little home by the ocean.  Every night I can see the New York skyline while surrounded by the ocean. Today, I m stronger then I ever was before.

Eleonora Zampatti at peace in the ocean
Eleonora Zampatti at peace in the ocean | Photo: Aaron Santoro

I’ve told my story before, but as I move forward the story evolves and new visions are born. Through the twin paths of yoga and art, I decided to dedicate myself to help those who are still living under the oppression of violence. Inspired by the cycle of the moon, I hoped to create an environment in which we could all raise our voices against violence, a place where we could sing our song and say no to it, if needed; where we could use our body to dance the symphony of life. And so I created Ode to the Moon, a fundraiser yoga event.

This event was born from my personal battle against the silence that surrounds domestic violence, and it is my attempt to use yoga and music to heal the souls of those who are suffering, because violence is never an answer. Love is. This event inspires people to practice compassion and love for others, but more then anything, practice love and compassion for yourself. Do not fear your past, instead, make it the core of your strength and live your life with an open heart, trusting in love, and rising again, just like the moon does.

The Ode to the Moon Foundation

Since 2014, Ode to the Moon has offered its services to raise funds all over New Jersey, New York, and Europe in order to help victims of domestic violence in our community and all over the world. We have been published in all major yoga magazines putting us at the forefront in the battle against domestic violence.

The time has come now to become our own organization. And we have done just that. Just last month we achieved our legal non-profit status.  Our mission as a non-profit organization is to break the silence about domestic violence through body movement, yoga, visual artists and musicians. Our projects highlight education and discussion on the topic of domestic violence, as well as guidance to various professional services for those who need assistance. Our objective is to empower individuals who are in need of finding a voice to break their silence.

Ode to the Moon Leggings

When I met visual artist Linnea Tober I had one request only, I wanted to wear the moon. Aware that mine was a quite ambitious goal, we started to work together hand in hand on the creation of the Ode to the Moon leggings. I wanted it to be a wearable piece of art, the reflection of the soul of the Ode to the Moon project, something that everybody would want to wear on the mat and outside of the mat carrying our message around the world.

Like if this was not enough I knew that at the same time it needed to be a high performance product who could give freedom in the moments of the body during our yoga practice. We lost many nights of sleep over the creation of these leggings, trying to deliver the best product we could and I believe we did.

Eleonora Zampatti in Ode to the Moon Leggings - Feature Image
Eleonora Zampatti | Photo: Aaron Santoro

Featuring a high waistband, our Ode to the Moon leggings are made to stretch with you while you twist, turn and workout. More comfortable, this three piece style of legging allows you to optimize your movements while looking amazing. Wear them for working out, or going out, or both. Ode to the Moon leggings are printed using solvent free sublimation inks. This printing method gives a vibrant, beautiful range of colours. We have worked with colour specialists to provide the most accurate colour that won’t fade after wearing or washing. Sizes goes from XS to XL and our XL will fit size 14-18. Because our leggings are for everyBODY. A part of the profits of every sale of these leggings goes to support the Ode to the Moon Foundation.

Eleonora Zampatti Ode to the Moon Leggings Giveaway
Eleonora Zampatti | Photo: Aaron Santoro

And you can win your very own pair of Ode to the Moon Leggings from Eleonora Zampatti right here at TryBelle Magazine.

The Giveaway is now closed.  The Winner of Eleonora’s  Ode to the Moon Leggings is:

Ashley Batchelor

Congratulations Ashley! Enjoy doing yoga in your awesome leggings.

TO ENTER ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS:

  1. Comment below – What is your favourite story about the moon?
  2. Share this post link on social media. (Yes, we do check before we qualify our winners.)
  3. Like TryBelle Magazine’s Facebook Page

GIVEAWAY RULES:

  • Giveaway contest is open to those with a USA or Canadian shipping address.
  • Giveaway contest begins at time of publication August 19, 2016 and ends September 2, 2016 11:50pm EST.
  • Winner(s) will be randomly chosen and notified by email by September 12, 2016.
  • Winner(s) must reply to notification email by September 19, 2016 11:50pm EST.
  • Failure to accept prize within the designated timeline will result in forfeiture and a new winner(s) may be chosen.
  • Decision on winner(s) is final and prize is non-negotiable, non-substitutable, and non-transferable.
  • No purchase necessary.  Your gift is absolutely free, and comes directly from Eleonora Zampatti
  • Our Legal Terms
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Categories: Wellness Yoga

114 Comments

Eleonora Rises Again with Ode to the Moon

  2. This isn’t exactly a story, but I’ve read a lot about the moon representing feminine energy and that’s my favorite thing about it 🙂

  3. My mother will always tell my son she loves him to the moon and back. He could see the moon and knew how far away that was from the earth. He always said Nana loves him a lot.

  5. My favorite story about the moon would have to be about my daughter! When she first learned to say “moon” about a year ago, she would drag me out on the porch at night to show it to me. And every time she said it she dragged the word out like m-o-o-o-o-n! It used to make me giggle so hard!

  9. How about a favorite quote featuring the moon?

    We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls. Mother Teresa

  10. My favourite benefit of the moon is the brightness it gives off in the darkest of nights.

  11. I really enjoyed your story. The pictures of you on the beach, make it quite clean that NYC was not for you.

  13. My favourite story about the moon is HG Wells the man in the moon. Thank you for sharing your story and turning your experience into something that has the potential to help others.

  14. Inspirational story thank you. I have read and was moved by Catching the Moon the story of the girl who grew up to become the first woman to play for an all-male professional baseball team.

  15. Thank you for sharing your story. There are too many stories with unhappy endings and ai savor the stories of people who made it out. I found yoga for my life too and it heals me inside and out. ? i would love to wear these pants. (I tweeted and shared on fb). ?

  16. The Moon is a giant cookie, and its waning occurs when the North Wind takes bites out of it throughout the month.

  18. As a kid, I would here the moon was made of cheese or there is a man in the moon. It really worked my imagination.

  20. My favorite story about the moon is that it’s made of cheese. shared on Google+ and tweeted

  21. I like this moon poem from childhood “I see the moon and the moon sees me, God bless the moon and God bless me!”

  22. loved reading your story and how you found your true inner self through yoga , a great story to share with others thank you!

  23. My favorite story about the moon is actually inspired by my cousin Lisa who got married the evening of a beautiful full moon and her gorgeous daughter Lilly-Allen was also born on a full moon! Great giveaway! Shared on twitter @pmaklifts

  24. My favorite story about the moon is from the movie Dear John. You can place your thumb over the moon and it covers it no matter where it is or where you are in the world. That even though 2 people are far apart they see the same moon. Thanks for your story and the wonderful organization you started. I know the pain of domestic abuse too.

  25. My favourite story about the moon is still “Goodnight Moon” by Margaret Wise Brown. It makes me nostalgic.

  27. My favorite story is one we make up to the quote: “The sun loved the moon so much that he died every night to let her breathe.” Our stories could get pretty intense, loved when Grandma was alive and told hers.

  30. In Norse mythology, Máni is the male personification of the moon who crosses the sky in a horse-drawn carriage. He is continually pursued by the Great Wolf Hati who catches him at Ragnarok. The name Máni simply means “Moon”.

    1. There are many mythological tales that include the moon, Indian, Greek, Roman etc., but today we learned something about Norse mythology. Thanks very much for sharing Ruy!

  31. My favorite is Goodnight Moon and being able to read that book to our grandchildren.

  32. I am fascinated with “Moon Planting Guides.” I use the cycles of the moon to improve my gardening. Planting seeds during specific moon phases will increase your harvest.

    1. I forgot to mention that I shared via Facebook ( Jenny Chomiak ) and Twitter ( @PumpkinGirl78 ).

  33. you can place your thumb over the moon and it covers it no matter where it is or where you are in the world. That even though 2 people are far apart they see the same moon- it’s from a movie

  35. Love love these yoga leggings. I really have to up my game when it comes to my yoga clothes

  37. My favorite story about the moon is from my parents and how when my dad was deployed they slept under the same moon nightly and that kept them together

  38. The only story that I know about the moon is we were told as children that it was made of cheese, though there is also the werewolf story.
    Google+, pinterest shared, tweet was too long, and like FB

  39. My favourite story about the moon is “Goodnight Moon” – I used to read it to my children when they were small and they loved it!

  42. I love James Thurber’s “Many Moons” which is a children’s book that, at its core, is about not complicating things. It’s charming, but somehow not quite fitting for this post, which is so moving and inspiring to me. So I’ll add something that I’ve read about the moon, from astronauts who have visited. They say that in pictures the moon looks grey, and in person it is grey, but its greys contain such a beautiful multitude of color – they are purple greys and green greys and blue greys and yellow greys. So we think of it as being black and white, but really it contains all the colors of the rainbow, just hidden a bit. Whether this is a meaningful metaphor for anything, I don’t know, but it is, in itself, wondrous to me and part of the beauty of the moon – it is more than it seems.

    1. The fact that it is more than is seems is the wondrous and meaningful part. Similar to all our life stories – it really is more than it seems at the moment. It’s later on we realize what we’ve come through, and that brings with it growth and meaning. Thank you for sharing this elegant story!

  46. I stand beside on my boys beds at night & we I open their blinds and we gaze at the moon. Talk for abit and then I leave them open just enough so they can lie in bed & see it.

  47. I read “GoodNight Moon” so many times that I can pretty much recite the whole book as could my little ones when I read it to them. Still fun thinking of it.

  49. I’m a Cancer, ruled by the moon, I can always tell when I am being affected by the moon. I can feel its pull and energy during my days and when I’m reacting to something find myself thinking about the phase of the moon as I contemplate why I am having the reaction I am. I also have always loved the Goodnight Moon children’s story by Margaret Wise Brown. My mom would read it to me and my brother when we were children. As I think about the story as an adult the plot of the story which is about a bunny saying goodnight to everything before bedtime I think about how I perform my own bedtime ritual, recapitulating the events from my day to seal it in and wishing goodnight to my environment as I prepare for sleep. Thank you Eleonora for this story, for sharing your strength and path and the leggings turned out beautifully, I absolutely love them! Shared via twitter (@clarissa_mae_)

    1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and story with all of us Clarissa. Those night time rituals are so important to both children and adults. Goodnight Moon is a popular book and I think we all have some memories of it. Thanks for participating!

  57. My mom used to sing me a song about the moon when she was trying to get me to fall asleep. I shared the post on my twitter @jdcaldwe11.

  61. My best moon memory was watching Apollo 11 land on the moon and Neil Armstrong walk out there. It was fantastical for me, to wrap my head around the fact that this was actually happening. NASA was the personification of American best and brightest.

  64. Goodnight Moon brings back great memories from my childhood! ah nostalgia! thanks for the giveaway! <3

  65. stry about the moon, the cow in the moon?? Maybe. I just love to see a full moon. I just staring to the sky and watching. And even more the eclipse.

  67. I love that the moon waxes and wanes and seems to disappear from the sky every four weeks

  68. One of my friends got mixed up on what a lunar eclipse was and she called us telling us that tonight we were going to have two moons.

  72. I love your story, very inspirational. The poses you can do are phenomenal!

    I think my favorite moon story is The Rabbit in the Moon .
    Briefly it is about the moon watching 3 animals, and he comes to visit as a beggar. The fox hunts and brings him food, the monkey gets fruit but the rabbit who has nothing to help gives himself.
    Sometimes life is like that…. the biggest gift you can give is your time, and yourself- because life is made of tiny precious bits of time.

    Shared on https://www.pinterest.com/pin/119486196343050509/ and twitter (the tweet had to be shortened a bit I apologize) https://twitter.com/tannawings/status/769058305264279552

    Liked TryBelle Magazine’s Facebook Page

    1. What a great and powerful story Ellen. Thank you for sharing it! Life it totally like that, sometimes all you have to give is yourself, and isn’t that the best gift of all.

  79. my mom gave me a reader from her classroom when i was young called moon magic. it was a collection of storied and poems about the moon

  80. I have to say “Good Night Moon” because it was my children’s now my grandkids favorite book.

  81. After reading this story I would have to say that Eleonora Rises Again with Ode to the Moon is my favorite.

  85. I would say either Good Night Moon or the Owl & the Pussy Cat who danced by the light of the moon.

  92. My mom used to tell us stories about the man in the moon watching over us while we slept. She would tell us he lit the way for the owls and other night time creatures that roamed in the night. To this day I say goodnight to him before bed.

  99. I love The Distance from the Moon by Italo Calvino, it was just fascinating to read and very unique~

  101. My favourite story about the moon is the Apollo moon landing. I still find it so amazing as well as fascinating that our country was the first one that was able to successfully send a rocket up there. I never get tired of seeing footage from it. Thanks for the fantastic opportunity to win!

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