Recently i've been really wanting to use Heart-Centered themes in my classes. mainly because it is actually a lot easier to teach from a theme than just to float out there with nothing to anchor your class to. working with a theme brings my instructions back to a mid-point rather than letting them fly out of me totally unorganized and unrelated. so i put it out there to a group of friends who were gathered at my house. and this group has some universe mojo working because big things always come out of meeting with these folks.
so in the last two weeks, after meeting with them, my themes have come really really easily and beautifully. AND my classes have had more people in them and it seems they actually buy in to the themes and therefore into my instructions more.
two weeks ago i worked on Courage as the theme. and we worked with Warrior III and Handstand at the wall and with a partner. and it really hit home for some students, i could tell.
this week we worked on Playfulness (got to get softer after that hard work in Courage week) and we did binding and some crazy arm balancing. but what i think helped was that i got them to work as partners too, which opens up the class a bit more and opens up the energy.
So thank goodness that seems to flow at the moment. i'll have to keep it going even in classes where it isn't quite as easy for me to feel comfortable working from a theme. i still feel totally disorganized in how i present the alignment material, if i would just go in order of the 5 principles i'd be FINE I know it, but i never remember to do that. but oh well. eventually i'll improve and for now at least the students have something in the theme they can attach to.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Voicelessness
i have almost totally lost my voice. sort of. my best friend called on the phone earlier and we hadn't spoken in a few days. she immediately said :"what's wrong" and i have to work hard to reassure people i'm really ok, i feel totally fine, i just can't really speak properly at the moment.
apparently i have 'the cough.' someone at the gym where i work called it 'the 50 day cough' but i'm refusing to let it stick around that long. i mean, really, i do yoga, surely that will take care of it. honestly i'm surprised i caught it at all.
but the cough has made teaching an interesting task this week. i've kept warm water at hand whenever possible but i've found that the moment i am explaining something in intimate detail and with emphasis my voice kicks out and of course i'm miles from the water at the front of the room. it is an exercise in humility to be sure.
thus far students have been quite gracious as their instructions fade in and out due to the unpredictable nature of my vocal cords, but i don't know how long they'll last if this thing hangs on for 50 days!
apparently i have 'the cough.' someone at the gym where i work called it 'the 50 day cough' but i'm refusing to let it stick around that long. i mean, really, i do yoga, surely that will take care of it. honestly i'm surprised i caught it at all.
but the cough has made teaching an interesting task this week. i've kept warm water at hand whenever possible but i've found that the moment i am explaining something in intimate detail and with emphasis my voice kicks out and of course i'm miles from the water at the front of the room. it is an exercise in humility to be sure.
thus far students have been quite gracious as their instructions fade in and out due to the unpredictable nature of my vocal cords, but i don't know how long they'll last if this thing hangs on for 50 days!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Immersion 2 Lunchtime Sunday
Yogini's Journal: FEAR is such a huge emotion. What a motivator and a STOPPER. it puts the brakes on so fast ... even when the body is able, if the mind is fearful, WHEW! Today Moses had us practice handstand in the middle of the room with a friend. A girl got very very fearful very fast and started to cry. But the great part was instead of running away or trying to hide she came right up to Moses and said "i need help" I think that took exceptional courage. And he helped her and they worked together. So it worked out OK.
I guess i forget how scary handstand can be. And actually i don't ever remember being truly aware of being afraid of handstand. I know i was. And i definitely get afraid of headstand off the wall and of Bakasana.
Fear is such a tricky demon. You think you master on part and it turns out it is only waiting deeper inside to reveal itself again. Why is getting to know oneself and all the beauty that IS the individual so incredibly scary and even painful? Why are we so afraid of 'what we might find' in there? Really, we're going to find the GOOD, the BEAUTIFUL the LOVE that is at our core. unfortunately its usually covered up by lots of hurts and anxieties, and those are what we are fearful of. But if we accept that underneath we'll eventually find all those fabulous qualities then all those other things don't matter so much.
and of course there is always the unknown... so i have to just trust the universe to take care of what needs to be cared for and go on from there.
I guess i forget how scary handstand can be. And actually i don't ever remember being truly aware of being afraid of handstand. I know i was. And i definitely get afraid of headstand off the wall and of Bakasana.
Fear is such a tricky demon. You think you master on part and it turns out it is only waiting deeper inside to reveal itself again. Why is getting to know oneself and all the beauty that IS the individual so incredibly scary and even painful? Why are we so afraid of 'what we might find' in there? Really, we're going to find the GOOD, the BEAUTIFUL the LOVE that is at our core. unfortunately its usually covered up by lots of hurts and anxieties, and those are what we are fearful of. But if we accept that underneath we'll eventually find all those fabulous qualities then all those other things don't matter so much.
and of course there is always the unknown... so i have to just trust the universe to take care of what needs to be cared for and go on from there.
Immersion 2 Sunday Morning
Yogini's Journal: " Yesterday's practice was only standing poses. Not even a sun salutation to the belly! Lunge and pose, some Down Dog/uttanasana/Tadasana then parsvottanasana, trikonasana, 1/2 moon, parsvakonasana, revolved 1/2 moon, revolved parsva, revolved trikonasana then eagle legs twist and savansana. We went to 1/2 moon and revolved 1/2 moon from standing split... hard! major work in the pelvic focal point and drawing up muscular energy. A tough practice because we really held the poses for a long time. I didn't eat quite right either.. i kept getting flushed and lightheaded.
SO i'm trying to open up to this experience, but i have some sort of block.... Am I being a know it all? somehow i'm in my own way of falling deeply, madly in love with this process. It isn't the same as during the last teacher training when i was completely enraptured. But maybe that is the difference. This is an immersion, not a teacher training. I'm also finding it a little difficult to work with two different teachers. I wish they were working together instead of splitting the weekends between them.
On a whole i enjoy Moses' style. He's humorous but it feels like he is grounded in a deep spiritual practice. HE also gives more advice and directions for what to do to do good.... like carpool, vote democratic, drive as little as possible, etc. That can be inspiring. I want to be able and feel empowered to help my students live more fulfilled lives and sometimes that may include giving advice towards change.
During the last weekend one of the participants was saying she feels so good after yoga class. it makes her a different person and she wishes she could be that person all the time instead of who she often is. And i said, you ARE that person all the time, it's just covered up sometimes. And i said it not to give advice or create change for her, but because that's how i really think. the 'after yoga me' is the REAL me. She said "that's a good way to look at it" and i realized i may have crossed a line into more of a teacher counselor role. and that has stuck with me. i question myself "was that the right thing to do or say?" but now i'm thinking 'sure' we're here to learn from each other as much as from Kate and Moses. And that is what i want to be able to do with my students, to inspire and help them along the path without pushing or forcing -- just organically. It really popped right out of my mouth before i had a moment to think - so maybe she really did need to hear it. who knows.
SO i'm trying to open up to this experience, but i have some sort of block.... Am I being a know it all? somehow i'm in my own way of falling deeply, madly in love with this process. It isn't the same as during the last teacher training when i was completely enraptured. But maybe that is the difference. This is an immersion, not a teacher training. I'm also finding it a little difficult to work with two different teachers. I wish they were working together instead of splitting the weekends between them.
On a whole i enjoy Moses' style. He's humorous but it feels like he is grounded in a deep spiritual practice. HE also gives more advice and directions for what to do to do good.... like carpool, vote democratic, drive as little as possible, etc. That can be inspiring. I want to be able and feel empowered to help my students live more fulfilled lives and sometimes that may include giving advice towards change.
During the last weekend one of the participants was saying she feels so good after yoga class. it makes her a different person and she wishes she could be that person all the time instead of who she often is. And i said, you ARE that person all the time, it's just covered up sometimes. And i said it not to give advice or create change for her, but because that's how i really think. the 'after yoga me' is the REAL me. She said "that's a good way to look at it" and i realized i may have crossed a line into more of a teacher counselor role. and that has stuck with me. i question myself "was that the right thing to do or say?" but now i'm thinking 'sure' we're here to learn from each other as much as from Kate and Moses. And that is what i want to be able to do with my students, to inspire and help them along the path without pushing or forcing -- just organically. It really popped right out of my mouth before i had a moment to think - so maybe she really did need to hear it. who knows.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Iyengar Blogasana
(this is from the yoga Journal blog website, i can't remember exactly where or i'd link to it)Some how this cracks me up. Mr Iyengar blogging just like me.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Anusara Update
the universe will provide for us if we just ASK for it. or so it seems.
i'm slowly but surely making my way down the path towards having Anusara yoga in my life again. HOORAY! several things are coming together to give me momentum
first, i started my Anusara Immersions up at willow street (for #1) and plan to continue those throughout 2008. i'll probably do parts 2 and 3 with Todd Norian and Ann Greene in Columbus Ohio. (fly or drive? fly or drive???) Immersions are the first step towards being able to teach this method so i'm starting at the beginning and am happy to do so. so many times i've jumped into the middle of something and felt lost on the basics. so this is good. then hopefully by next november i'll be ready to start Todd's teacher training and head towards "Anusara-inspired" around summer 2009.
Second, my former teacher is back around a little bit again. so we're able to practice together once a week on thursday afternoons. it is SO completely joyful for me. an Ananda-full experience. she's not even teaching me but just being in the same room and able to chat about Anusara stuff and get her to help fix me up! that's great. (plus it counts as one of my hours weekly of practice) and she's going to be teaching again this summer i think because she needs just a few more teaching hours to get her Certification. yay!
Third, i've also made my way into a class taught by a woman who did teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh. the woman teaches at the gym where i work. so while it isn't a "TRUE" anusara class, at least she is using the language and teaching from a theme. plus, she's really nice and excited to have me there working from a similar perspective.
Fourth, well, to become a teacher you have to study with one. so i've decided to make the commitment to driving up to DC once a week to take class from a certified teacher. so on Tuesday nights that's where i go. unfortunately i've only made it to one class so far but i enjoyed it. again it will be great to have a teacher with anusara eyes checking my poses. i think i've registered for a class that is lower than my level, but i had to go with my own time availability. and again, basics are a good thing. i can always play around with new poses with vicki if i want to.
and Finally, an anusara certified teacher has been hanging around YS a bit. she's from out of town but it sounds like she may be relocating to Richmond. that would be AWESOME!! then i could go for free and let go of driving to DC. plus, the more Anusara there is the better, not just for me, but for the entire richmond yoga community and for the entire richmond community as a whole.
so. things are looking up. i just have to keep on moving through and looking for opportunities when they present themselves, even if it means driving 2 hours each way some of the time. it will all be worth it in the end.
i'm slowly but surely making my way down the path towards having Anusara yoga in my life again. HOORAY! several things are coming together to give me momentum
first, i started my Anusara Immersions up at willow street (for #1) and plan to continue those throughout 2008. i'll probably do parts 2 and 3 with Todd Norian and Ann Greene in Columbus Ohio. (fly or drive? fly or drive???) Immersions are the first step towards being able to teach this method so i'm starting at the beginning and am happy to do so. so many times i've jumped into the middle of something and felt lost on the basics. so this is good. then hopefully by next november i'll be ready to start Todd's teacher training and head towards "Anusara-inspired" around summer 2009.
Second, my former teacher is back around a little bit again. so we're able to practice together once a week on thursday afternoons. it is SO completely joyful for me. an Ananda-full experience. she's not even teaching me but just being in the same room and able to chat about Anusara stuff and get her to help fix me up! that's great. (plus it counts as one of my hours weekly of practice) and she's going to be teaching again this summer i think because she needs just a few more teaching hours to get her Certification. yay!
Third, i've also made my way into a class taught by a woman who did teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh. the woman teaches at the gym where i work. so while it isn't a "TRUE" anusara class, at least she is using the language and teaching from a theme. plus, she's really nice and excited to have me there working from a similar perspective.
Fourth, well, to become a teacher you have to study with one. so i've decided to make the commitment to driving up to DC once a week to take class from a certified teacher. so on Tuesday nights that's where i go. unfortunately i've only made it to one class so far but i enjoyed it. again it will be great to have a teacher with anusara eyes checking my poses. i think i've registered for a class that is lower than my level, but i had to go with my own time availability. and again, basics are a good thing. i can always play around with new poses with vicki if i want to.
and Finally, an anusara certified teacher has been hanging around YS a bit. she's from out of town but it sounds like she may be relocating to Richmond. that would be AWESOME!! then i could go for free and let go of driving to DC. plus, the more Anusara there is the better, not just for me, but for the entire richmond yoga community and for the entire richmond community as a whole.
so. things are looking up. i just have to keep on moving through and looking for opportunities when they present themselves, even if it means driving 2 hours each way some of the time. it will all be worth it in the end.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Because i got high, because i got high....
The new slogan i'm adopting:
BACK BENDS for a DRUG-FREE AMERICA
Thank you.
(i didn't think it up, Kate Miller quote, but i whole heartedly agree)
BACK BENDS for a DRUG-FREE AMERICA
Thank you.
(i didn't think it up, Kate Miller quote, but i whole heartedly agree)
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