Cristiane Machado is Brasilian by birth and a citizen of The Universe by default. Her open smile and welcoming energy is one of her best assets. Cristiane is filled with passion for all types of therapeutic movement. Either by flowing the physical body into asanas, or learning how to move the ethereal and energetic bodies into a ecstatic and tantalizing rhythmic dance. She’s a mother, dog land car lover, surfer, mystic, dreamer, Yogi, laughter facilitator and she’s also invested in debunking the “good girl syndrome”.
She’s passionate about traveling and hosting Yoga and wellness retreats around the globe in which she combines useful tools for self-realization
Cristiane’s background also plays a big role in her spirituality and finds the natural tools to help us achieve a higher vibrational level. She is honored to have been initiated as a Sacred Cacao facilitator and the founder of The YogaLoka Project (www.yogaloka.org), a non-profit that brings Yoga, Meditation and Holistic Health to marginalized populations. She’s a firm believer in the power of an attitude of gratitude.
What does being grateful mean to you?
It means that I get to decide to live life in a deep sense of gratitude or, in a 
sense of despise, fear and lack. Being grateful doesn’t mean that life is “dreamy or perfect” – whatever that might mean to someone. To me, being grateful is witnessing that Being Alive, by itself, is a gift. As soon as I open my eyes in the morning I feel a profound sense of great opportunity. I got one more day in this life!!! And from there I choose to be grateful for my eyes, my ears, my legs, feet, arms, hands… my son being healthy and a productive guy. I find gratitude for birds singing. I choose to be grateful for my ability to feel, even when it doesn’t feel right or good… I have met MANY humans who couldn’t FEEL a thing due to being paralyzed neck down, and that also shifted my perspective on life. In a nutshell, Being grateful is a choice, a state of mind, which we get to decide.
Right now, at this moment, what are 3 things you are grateful for?
With the pandemic of Covid19 I am grateful for:
-My ability to breathe;
-My son’s health;
-My choice of experiencing all of this from a place of hope and trust.
Not who we are expecting you to say but the first person that popped in your head. Who are you grateful for, and why?
I am grateful to ALL the people (teachers) who have taught me “What not to be abs how not to behave”. I am profoundly grateful for the people who did not know how to treat or love me correctly… I learned, through the pain they caused, that if I did not know HOW I want to be loved or treated, I would not know how to set up boundaries and speak of my truth. So, I find gratitude for them. I am who I am today and do the work that I do because I did NOT want to treat others as I was treated.
What is your morning routine like?
As soon as I realize that I’m waking up, I say THanks For one more day to live, bathroom (work like a clock), back to bed to do my Japa Mala Discipline and 20 minutes meditation… depending on where in the world I am, a walk with my dog (if home), sunrise gazing, full-on breakfast and, depending on schedule, go to teach a class, do a podcast, plan or host a retreat – I mean, co-create my life!
Please share with us what Virtual Yoga is and how it has become a part of your practice?
I came to Brasil to host one of my Yoga Retreats and, got stuck due to Covid19 (not able to return home in Costa Rica)… have been wanting to launch my online presence due to so many asking for it, so, instead of freaking out and freezing, I practiced what I preach and I started practicing Yoga on Facebook live, at my friends back porch and now, it’s a thing. I truly find gratitude for EVERYTHING! Everything is an opportunity! The practices happen every day and there are so many of my friends a d family who wanted to do or start yoga and now, they can! And, it is supporting everyone on these challenging times as we connect within and virtually with others so we do t feel so isolated.
How is gratitude part of your yoga practice?
I utilize mudras and guidance to experience gratitude for our physical bodies exactly where we at. Society can be judgmental and critical about self-image. My guidance brings a sense of being enough and worthy of love, respect, and abundance no matter how our physical bodies look. It’s all about reconnecting with our inner Divine. Practicing gratitude for the ability to breathe… even if that’s all one can do at that moment. Meeting ourselves exactly where we are. Not then or when.
Can you tell us about a struggle in the past year that you are now grateful for?
For sure. As I stated before, I now see EVERYTHING as an opportunity, which later turns into gratitude. One, in particular, comes to mind. It’s a long story but I will try to shorten it. I was hosting a retreat in Montezuma, CR, where I live and I was caught by surprise having to move houses with a broken car and still holding and creating space for 12 people in the retreat. I could have chosen to be frustrated and mad… I mean, with?!? But knowing and practicing what I do, I chose to see it all an opportunity to step into my resilient power and ask for help and support. Which I did! And, within 2 days 
I found a MAGICAL HOUSE, on the beach, sides by a wonderful and luscious river. My dog and cat are happier and so am I!
What are you excited about in this first year of a new decade?
EVERYTHING. I am a LIFE LOVER… with all of it!!!
In closing, what are some suggestions you can share with our readers to help them incorporate gratitude into their daily lives?
Connect with Cristiane at Cristianemachado.com & wellnessbycristiane@gmail.com
And the links to her social sites below.
