First Annual Moving Rasa Badminton Tournament @ Prime Produce!
From Trust to Play to Wisdom, our values hit the court—and so did a lot of laughter. On November 8, 2025, Prime Produce hosted our first public event in our new home, where we raised $2,000 and crowned Rising Phoenix as finalists.
We opened with a centering breath and a land acknowledgment for Lenapehoking, homeland of the Lenape (Munsee) peoples. Because Moving Rasa centers consent and reciprocity, a portion of proceeds supports Native-led resistance in NYC.
Play with Purpose
Our six doubles teams rallied to 21 (win by two), trading serves every five points. Before each match, teams drew a value—Trust, Vulnerability, Cooperation, Perseverance, Play, or Wisdom—and the crowd helped “shape” that value with collective sculptures after each game. To keep things equitable (and hilarious), skilled teams that won by 5+ points took on playful movement constraints the next round—elbows lightly bound with an ace bandage, staying back to back with a partner, or self-imposed, like being in a fully inflated Cow Costume. The room buzzed with creative risk-taking.
Finalists: Rising Phoenix (Ryan Suseno & Linda Saphen) soared by embodying many of the values across their matches.
Best Team Name: Dragon Masters (roars well-earned!).
Between rallies, folks filled giant Poster sheets with “Nasi Goreng notes,” poems, sketches, and stories about where these values live in their own lives. Brunch opened at 11:30 a.m. under the Nasi Goreng sign with fresh plates from Chef Mirantii, while delicious turtle-shaped cookies by Judy Chen sweetened the day. Kiddos thrived in our Kid zone shepherded by Joanna Fitzick, and raffle cheers peaked with a beautiful gift basket from Wicked Finch Farms and a surprise pre-order of our Movement Tarot deck (destined to come out in the middle of 2026!)
Why Doubles?
Moving Rasa invests in intimacy and connection. In a culture where loneliness runs high, we practice consent-based touch, shared attention, and co-creation. During the semi-finals, the audience paired up to craft duet shapes around the winners’ values—reminding us that Rasa arises in relationship: from memory, desire, sensation, and the people beside us.
Voices from the Day
“I came expecting cut-throat Asian competition, but was pleasantly surprised by the family-fun vibe. People wore costumes, skilled players took on constraints, and everyone joined in laughing during the collective movement. It was so fun!”
Gratitude & What’s Next
Deep thanks to players, families, volunteers, chefs, childcare, partners, and raffle donors—and to everyone who showed up to breathe, move, and give. Awards closed the day (Best Costume → Imani County [inflatable Cow!] MR Turtle Plushy; Best Cheerer (Ione Lewis)→ Miranti Chocolates; Champions (Ryan Suseno and Linda Saphen (Mekong NYC) → 2 MR Bags), but the real win was practicing courage, consent, and connection—on and off the court.
If you felt the Rasa, help us grow it: donate, volunteer, or join a class. Terima kasih / Thank you!