Summertime, i'm learning, is the lean time for yoga teachers. the number of students in all of my classes has dropped off dramatically and i'm pretty sure this isn't about ME specifically. Summer, especially August, is prime vacation season. this year vacation season also came with the increase in energy costs and i'm sure that had some effect on the number of students in my classes also. so a few weeks i had no one in a class here or there... i also had the chance to work solo with people a few times. and the numbers at the health club, where i'd gotten up to 12 or 14, went back down to 4 or 5.
on one hand, it's very hard not to get discouraged when the numbers are low. the energy of the room seems to sink down and it feels like my voice is lost into the depths of space. but on the other hand, with low numbers it is easier to get into the more difficult poses or to get into poses that require more supervision.
in class at the health club the other night i had 6 people, one of them was a teacher who was in just to observe my class and get a feel for it. so i had five members and a teacher. so even though it is a level one class i was able to teach them handstands at the wall. in a roomful of 14 at very different skill, strength, flexibility, and listening to instruction level i would not have felt comfortable doing that. but knowing my crowd and being able to see them all at once made it possible. and the outcome was great because the true level one students really got to try something new and the level two students who just come to the level one class for fun got to work on the pose more slowly than they do in the level two classes. they got to build up to it with lots of poses beforehand and they got to ask questions without worrying about sounding too beginner.
so i just try to be grateful that i have the time to teach, no matter how many students actually make it through the door. i'll just keep putting myself and my words and my heart out there and see what happens. and i guess we'll see what september will bring.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Monday, August 4, 2008
Intentional Chocolate
When i was in Ohio, Ann and Todd shared this one minute shift video with us. The idea behind all of this and the reason to share is the reminder that our intentions.. our thoughts really do have profound impact on our lives. it is so easy to go through the day thinking negative thoughts and then attracting negative events to us. it is much harder but wiser to teach ourselves positive thinking and then watch as positive events are attracted to us. at any rate enjoy the one minute shift and then, this reminds me to offer gratitude and love before each meal.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tree Poetry
Looking for inspiration for my class this evening I came across this poem on the web:
Breath by J. Daniel Beaudry
Tree, gather up my thoughts
like the clouds in your branches
Draw up my soul
like the waters in your root
In the arteries of your trunk
bring me together
Through your leaves
breathe out the sky
(particularly great because i'm planning a class on Muscle Energy -- specifically drawing up from foot to pelvis)
Breath by J. Daniel Beaudry
Tree, gather up my thoughts
like the clouds in your branches
Draw up my soul
like the waters in your root
In the arteries of your trunk
bring me together
Through your leaves
breathe out the sky
(particularly great because i'm planning a class on Muscle Energy -- specifically drawing up from foot to pelvis)
Monday, July 7, 2008
What the Heart Says
I was practicing in Todd and Ann's class on the chakras about a week ago now. and we were working on the third chakra. we'd done plenty of abdominal work that i couldn't exactly join in on because of my rounder belly but i did what i could and modified where possible. and then we went into arm balances. Bakasana, parsvabakasana etc. again i was fighting an off-center center of gravity, and baby in the way for most of the poses, but i modified and did what i could.
and suddenly my heart burst out into my thoughts: "i LOVE arm balances" and instantly my body, heart, mind, soul, agreed. yes, arm balances rule and are a lot of fun and are worth loving.
then my rational mind burst into laughter...."You do?" and i nearly laughed out loud at the change in myself.
my rational mind is usually telling me things like "i hate arm balances" and " i'm afraid of and terrible at arm balances in general." but here it was, more accurate and true for me in my practice right now today. in reality arm balances are pretty darn fun and cool no matter how much success i have in my attempts at them.
so the statement i usually reserve for backbending and handstand 'i love X pose...' can now be expanded
turns out I LOVE ARM BALANCES too. Sweet!
and suddenly my heart burst out into my thoughts: "i LOVE arm balances" and instantly my body, heart, mind, soul, agreed. yes, arm balances rule and are a lot of fun and are worth loving.
then my rational mind burst into laughter...."You do?" and i nearly laughed out loud at the change in myself.
my rational mind is usually telling me things like "i hate arm balances" and " i'm afraid of and terrible at arm balances in general." but here it was, more accurate and true for me in my practice right now today. in reality arm balances are pretty darn fun and cool no matter how much success i have in my attempts at them.
so the statement i usually reserve for backbending and handstand 'i love X pose...' can now be expanded
turns out I LOVE ARM BALANCES too. Sweet!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Immersion 2 Yogini's Journal 2
Friday June 27, 2008 - - Columbus Ohio
Some random thoughts
- I realized this evening... So many of us in this immersion are Anusara Orphans. We have no home kula, no big Anusara family to draw from. and yet, we still do not desert the practice. We come back to it and we find a way to stay connected. We are so luckily recharged by events such as this one. So many of the people i've talked to are in the similar position as me of being one shining light of Anusara - even as teachers- with no one else around. At least i know as i go back an am alone again that i am not alone in my being alone.
- I spoke up in the group and shared some of my experience today which was an odd move for me. The beauty of it was that then it was as if my light was shining brighter and more people saw me. So i was able to connect to more people in the process because they shared about their own lives or they asked me more about me. It was nice to be seen and not to shy away from that.
- The women i'm sharing the B&B with have both cooked dinner and shared food with me. i felt a bit uneasy about it. But then i think back to even a few weeks ago when all i wanted was for someone to cook for me and i feel such GRATITUDE. i feel totally wrapped in Abundance. Very very grateful for their joy, hospitality, and sharing. and i'll just try to extend the same in return.
--Other gratitude and inspiration
-i am grateful for my group of spiritual friends at home. a group i can come together with and share about all of these moments.
-I am grateful for my family and the love i feel for them and from them - including all of my wonderful friends.
- i am inspired to have friends over to share meals
- i am inspired to practice with N.
- i am inspired to learn more and play more with my chakras
Some random thoughts
- I realized this evening... So many of us in this immersion are Anusara Orphans. We have no home kula, no big Anusara family to draw from. and yet, we still do not desert the practice. We come back to it and we find a way to stay connected. We are so luckily recharged by events such as this one. So many of the people i've talked to are in the similar position as me of being one shining light of Anusara - even as teachers- with no one else around. At least i know as i go back an am alone again that i am not alone in my being alone.
- I spoke up in the group and shared some of my experience today which was an odd move for me. The beauty of it was that then it was as if my light was shining brighter and more people saw me. So i was able to connect to more people in the process because they shared about their own lives or they asked me more about me. It was nice to be seen and not to shy away from that.
- The women i'm sharing the B&B with have both cooked dinner and shared food with me. i felt a bit uneasy about it. But then i think back to even a few weeks ago when all i wanted was for someone to cook for me and i feel such GRATITUDE. i feel totally wrapped in Abundance. Very very grateful for their joy, hospitality, and sharing. and i'll just try to extend the same in return.
--Other gratitude and inspiration
-i am grateful for my group of spiritual friends at home. a group i can come together with and share about all of these moments.
-I am grateful for my family and the love i feel for them and from them - including all of my wonderful friends.
- i am inspired to have friends over to share meals
- i am inspired to practice with N.
- i am inspired to learn more and play more with my chakras
Immersion 2 Yogini's Journal
June 26 2008 -- Columbus, Ohio
Two days of immersion done already. I am interested to note that i feel much more energetic than i do at home most days and much more energetic than i was expecting to feel. Maybe i'm allowing myself to fall into a lethargy at home that isn't needed. And by working so strongly in this true, deep alignment I'm actually building more strength and energy rather than less. I think i was extremely ready to come to this immersion this time. My energy was ready to receive and my body was better prepared after taking all of Maria's classes all winter/spring.
And i'm just realizing now, i'm SO able to be a student of Todd and Ann. There's nothing in the way with them or the people around me who i am practicing with. Some part of me that had a guard up or needed to "prove" myself in Washington, DC isn't in the way or showing up here. I am quite simply enjoying the learning. This feels like a five day workshop (not an immersion).
In some of the reading tonight i am finding inspiration for my classes back home, so that is exciting. Time to go back to basics and really refine, and actually TEACH the actions in the body. Time to separate them at first and then integrate them down the line. People are smart - they can learn and apply these things.
I keep thinking one day i'd love to have Todd come to Richmond to give a workshop. It could be sometime several years from now probably once i've gotten some Anusara more established there. and if he did, then some of my students could come. So that idea makes me think i need to get serious and organized in teaching this stuff for real so the students can really apply the principles in their bodies. then when they meet Todd and he sees their practices he can see i taught them well.
This immersion doesn't particularly feel ground breaking to me. It feels comfortable and happy - Love filled. Like a mini-retreat, a refresher, a recharger even though i am learning new concepts.
I feel very settled, where many times this much yoga and this much being away from home would be unsettling and would feel chaotic. or it would have me more stirred up about big trauma in my life. Today i feel like this is exactly where i am meant to be. I am doing exactly what i am meant to be doing. If anything, instead of stirred up emotionally, i feel more inspired. But really, not even that. I just feel settled. Calm, at peace with what is. even my body feels that way - i am sore certainly - but not overly sore. Sore not tightened or locking or holding. It's like i have soreness and i am releasing it and softening into it. that feels good.
So, as we say in Anusara (and on all the T-shirts) Life is Good. not terrible, not AWESOME. Just Right. Total goldilocks principle. And i'll rest in that tonight.
Two days of immersion done already. I am interested to note that i feel much more energetic than i do at home most days and much more energetic than i was expecting to feel. Maybe i'm allowing myself to fall into a lethargy at home that isn't needed. And by working so strongly in this true, deep alignment I'm actually building more strength and energy rather than less. I think i was extremely ready to come to this immersion this time. My energy was ready to receive and my body was better prepared after taking all of Maria's classes all winter/spring.
And i'm just realizing now, i'm SO able to be a student of Todd and Ann. There's nothing in the way with them or the people around me who i am practicing with. Some part of me that had a guard up or needed to "prove" myself in Washington, DC isn't in the way or showing up here. I am quite simply enjoying the learning. This feels like a five day workshop (not an immersion).
In some of the reading tonight i am finding inspiration for my classes back home, so that is exciting. Time to go back to basics and really refine, and actually TEACH the actions in the body. Time to separate them at first and then integrate them down the line. People are smart - they can learn and apply these things.
I keep thinking one day i'd love to have Todd come to Richmond to give a workshop. It could be sometime several years from now probably once i've gotten some Anusara more established there. and if he did, then some of my students could come. So that idea makes me think i need to get serious and organized in teaching this stuff for real so the students can really apply the principles in their bodies. then when they meet Todd and he sees their practices he can see i taught them well.
This immersion doesn't particularly feel ground breaking to me. It feels comfortable and happy - Love filled. Like a mini-retreat, a refresher, a recharger even though i am learning new concepts.
I feel very settled, where many times this much yoga and this much being away from home would be unsettling and would feel chaotic. or it would have me more stirred up about big trauma in my life. Today i feel like this is exactly where i am meant to be. I am doing exactly what i am meant to be doing. If anything, instead of stirred up emotionally, i feel more inspired. But really, not even that. I just feel settled. Calm, at peace with what is. even my body feels that way - i am sore certainly - but not overly sore. Sore not tightened or locking or holding. It's like i have soreness and i am releasing it and softening into it. that feels good.
So, as we say in Anusara (and on all the T-shirts) Life is Good. not terrible, not AWESOME. Just Right. Total goldilocks principle. And i'll rest in that tonight.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Becoming the Spiritual Center
This weekend i went on a walk in the woods with my friend and her dog. as we walked we talked and caught up on our spiritual lives lately and how they relate to our body movement lives. for me that means how spiritual am i being in my yoga teaching and yoga practice path?
the answer right now is really not very spiritual at all. somehow i seem to have lost contact once again with the deeper practices that can help keep my mind and body open to really be able to be there for my students. in recent weeks i have put plenty of emphasis on maintaining my asana practice and even on allowing it to change and soften as my body is becoming more round. but it seems as much as i have allowed for change, i have dropped off in my commitment to pranayama, meditation, and reading (and obviously, blogging about it) somehow the change in my body has entirely usurped disciplined spiritual practice.
next week i go to ohio for almost a week to work with todd norian and ann greene for my anusara immersion part 2. and i have been deeply concerned with keeping my asana practice up so that i'll have the stamina to make it through a week of strong practicing and lecture. what i neglected until about last week was the reading. oops! after a quick trip to amazon for used books several new volumes have landed on my door step and i'm trying to get through them as thoroughly and quickly as possible. re-reading the yoga sutras and reading about the chakras and about tantric tradition has once again reminded me... there is SO MUCH MORE on this yoga path than the asana. the readings have reminded me that my lack of inspiration comes from dropping off the other important practices and from not stopping to just be still and listen to it all around me.
my friend put it beautifully as we discussed wanting to bring spirituality into the classes we teach. she said rather than wanting to work in a spiritual center or run a spiritual center she herself wants to BE the spiritual center. in that way, everywhere she goes becomes a sacred space and everyone she comes into contact with is able to be reached more from a deeper spiritual connection. that is how i feel in the presence of great teachers like todd norian or john friend. that deeper sense of knowing and connection to my own spiritual self is what i want to cultivate and continue to bring to the classroom (and outside of the classroom). so there is an intention for me. create and maintain within the ever continuing spanda of this universe my own connection to source.
back to the meditation cushion i go.
the answer right now is really not very spiritual at all. somehow i seem to have lost contact once again with the deeper practices that can help keep my mind and body open to really be able to be there for my students. in recent weeks i have put plenty of emphasis on maintaining my asana practice and even on allowing it to change and soften as my body is becoming more round. but it seems as much as i have allowed for change, i have dropped off in my commitment to pranayama, meditation, and reading (and obviously, blogging about it) somehow the change in my body has entirely usurped disciplined spiritual practice.
next week i go to ohio for almost a week to work with todd norian and ann greene for my anusara immersion part 2. and i have been deeply concerned with keeping my asana practice up so that i'll have the stamina to make it through a week of strong practicing and lecture. what i neglected until about last week was the reading. oops! after a quick trip to amazon for used books several new volumes have landed on my door step and i'm trying to get through them as thoroughly and quickly as possible. re-reading the yoga sutras and reading about the chakras and about tantric tradition has once again reminded me... there is SO MUCH MORE on this yoga path than the asana. the readings have reminded me that my lack of inspiration comes from dropping off the other important practices and from not stopping to just be still and listen to it all around me.
my friend put it beautifully as we discussed wanting to bring spirituality into the classes we teach. she said rather than wanting to work in a spiritual center or run a spiritual center she herself wants to BE the spiritual center. in that way, everywhere she goes becomes a sacred space and everyone she comes into contact with is able to be reached more from a deeper spiritual connection. that is how i feel in the presence of great teachers like todd norian or john friend. that deeper sense of knowing and connection to my own spiritual self is what i want to cultivate and continue to bring to the classroom (and outside of the classroom). so there is an intention for me. create and maintain within the ever continuing spanda of this universe my own connection to source.
back to the meditation cushion i go.
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