The Ditmas Park Word: Meet Neighbor Irrit Dweck

From new transplants hailing from places across the city, country and globe to residents who have lived in Ditmas Park for decades, our neighborhood is home to an amazingly diverse collection of people. This interview is the first in our “The Ditmas Park Word” series, in which we’ll get to know some of our wonderful neighbors who make Ditmas Park what it is today. For this week, we interviewed neighbor Irrit Dweck.

How long have you lived in the neighborhood? Six and a half years.

What prompted the move to our neighborhood? Friends were moving out of an amazing two-family house in the neighborhood so we moved in. I was also pregnant with my second child at the time, and we needed more space. We moved from 5th Street in Park Slope, and another thing that prompted the move was the high price of groceries in that neighborhood. When I felt like I could no longer afford peaches and cucumbers, I knew it was time to move.

What do you like about the neighborhood? I like the diversity and the feeling of community. If I am in the playground with my kids (Natalie, 8; Harry, 6; and Max, 4) and I need to step away for a moment, there will always be a family offering to assist with watching my kids. The staff at the Natural Frontier Market (1102 Cortelyou Road) are always talking to my kids and wishing them a good day. Midwood Martial Arts & Family Fitness Center (1302 Avenue H) has embraced my entire family, and there are classes there that we all enjoy.

What is your profession and what do you like about your job? I’m a yoga teacher, and I teach high school Arabic and Spanish. At Midwood Martial Arts I also teach conditioning camp.

Do you have a favorite quote? Right now a quote that I have been thinking a lot about is one by Leonard Cohen. “There is a crack in everything. That is how the light gets in.” I like this quote because it reminds me to embrace the present moment with a breath of acceptance.

Is there a philosophy that you try to live your life by? To try to be present in every moment.

The last great book you read? Right now I’m reading “The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.” In that book it says that there are things that we label responsibilities, but they really should be called irresponsibilities because they can take us away from our essence and with connecting with the people around us.

What is the best part about being a parent in the neighborhood? Diversity is important to me, and I like that my kids are seeing the world from a different perspective by living here. When we walk down the street they are exposed to different languages and different types of dress and this is their normal. I also like that I feel safe and that my kids are safe. We also enjoy that the blocks in the neighborhood are shady and green.

What is the hardest thing about being a parent in the neighborhood? I do not think that being a parent in our neighborhood is more difficult than other neighborhoods.

[pullquote]Diversity is important to me, and I like that my kids are seeing the world from a different perspective by living here.[/pullquote]

How long have you been practicing yoga? Four years.

What do you enjoy about being a high school teacher? I enjoy giving my foreign language students the opportunity to be heard and to play. I assign them stories and have them act them out, and I think that is the best way to learn a foreign language. I like to give my students the confidence to learn something new. It is a privilege to be in that position.

What do you enjoy about being a yoga teacher? Teaching at Midwood Martial Arts has been amazing. Being able to meet a variety of people of all different ages and backgrounds and have them be open to a new teacher has been wonderful. I enjoy taking and teaching classes there. At Midwood Martial Arts there is a great community feeling and this is due to the owners Al and Alison. They are very dedicated to the community, greet all of their students warmly and make everyone feel welcome.

What are the benefits of yoga? Yoga enables me spiritually and emotionally to accept and live in the present moment and to find joy. It also gives me strength and flexibility, which enables me to run.

How does staying physically fit benefit you? Running and yoga help me to connect with my breath and the current moment. This allows me to live in a way where I am present, which improves my human interactions. It is great to be in the park in the mornings, experience all of the changes in the seasons, and breathe the fresh air. It gives me time and space to meditate which is a great way to start the day.

If you know someone you’d love to see featured in this series, let us know! You can email us at editor@ditmaspark.com.