Thanksgiving and thankfulness

As I write this I am, like many people today, snowbound. I'm stuck at home, unable to drive my little car on the icy roads. No students or clients seem to want to venture out either so I have a day off. Tomorrow looks to be the same as the temperatures will remain below freezing. Rather than fret over the lost income or my lack of productivity, I've decided just to enjoy the day. As I often remind my students, be where your at. Besides, it's Thanksgiving week after all and I have much to be thankful for.

This year, instead of suffering under the flagging economy as unfortunately many small business have, I've watched my business grow and expand. Even August, which is usually a dead month for the studio, did well. I didn't need to cancel any classes during the summer as I have in times past due to low attendance. I've watched some classes even get too full for a time and then balance out. I've learned that there is always an ebb and flow to my classes so when one gets extremely popular, another begins to drop off a bit. (Bear this in mind if you find yourself in a class that gets too full or too empty. Most likely it will change in a couple weeks time.)

My massage practice particularly blossomed this year and I've been blessed with a steady flow of regular clients. Even more exciting is watching their health and lives improve and the opportunity to be a part of it. I've learned so much for each client and feel that everyone I work with has something to teach me about my work. I am always happy to get good feedback from my clients which helps me become a better therapist.

Likewise, my prenatal classes are continually packed. It's hard to believe that a few years ago when I first offered them, only two or three students ever showed up at a time. Now, I have a waiting list for the class and hope to be able to offer more classes in the future as my schedule allows. What I love best about this class though is getting to see the all the cute baby photos and hearing about how the class helped during labor and delivery. It's always a wonderful feeling when I can help ease someone's discomfort.

As I've said many times before, I love my work. I am so blessed to have a job where I am able to help people and get to be part of their healing process. As a fellow yoga teacher and friend of mine says, "We can't really call this work, can we?"

I'd like to say thank you to all my students and clients who have supported me this past year. I am so grateful to be a part of your lives and wellness routine. I thank God for his provision during this past year as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Blackberry Blues

Recently, a student reminded me that multitasking is the art of doing many things poorly. I find this to be so true. A series of blunders this past week on my part showed me that I'm not good at multitasking or wearing several hats at one time.

I love teaching yoga and being a massage therapist, but I don't enjoy doing the administrative work that goes with it. It's not a hat that fits me particularly well. Honestly, the only job I've ever been fired from (though technically not fired, just my end-of-work date moved up because neither of us were happy) was a job as an office assistant. Right now, if I could, I'd probably fire myself as my own office assistant.

If I fire myself, then who do I hire? I can't afford a secretary or personal assistant, though I've often dreamed of having one. I get calls weekly from companies wanting to sell me elaborate and expensive software programs that do way more than I'd ever need. However, these same programs don't clean the studio, answer the phone or respond to the ever growing number of emails in my inbox begging for my attention.

Three years ago I broke down and purchased a Blackberry. I always joke about the irony of a yoga teacher with a Blackberry. It seems antithetical. Isn't one of the ideas of yoga to simplify life and be more present, not more wired? Yet it was an evil necessity. I was tired of constantly running upstairs to the computer to check my email. Or run home if I was out somewhere to make sure I hadn't missed something important. Now it seems my Blackberry has become a Crackberry. I feel the frequent need to check it and respond instantly to any waiting messages. What was supposed to make my life easier has actually made it more stressful as I feel almost too available.

I often hear the same complaint from friends and students. Technology that is supposed to simplify our lives has made it more complicated than ever. Sometimes just to give myself a break I leave my Blackberry at home while on a walk. Or if it's Saturday, my day off, I intentionally ignore messages until Sunday. This week I decided that I'm going to give myself one hour or so in the afternoon to respond to emails all at once instead of responding to the constant trickle of them all day long. (Unless it's something time-sensitive). I also don't check email after 8 PM so as to give myself sometime to unwind in the evenings. My hope in setting such boundaries is that I will be more present, efficient and less scatterbrained.

You may have heard the term "tyranny of the urgent." Our attention is constantly being hijacked by whatever urgent, important, crisis of the moment which usually isn't an urgent, important, crisis after all. Perhaps it's time to set boundaries. Turn off your cell phone once in while and go smell the flowers so to speak. Something as simple as limiting email in the evening as I've done can create more breathing room. Even media-fast for a day a week might be a nice break from the constant stream of information we are bombarded with. I definitely recommend turning off your cell phone during yoga class. It should be at least one hour where your attention (and the rest of the class's) isn't being drawn elsewhere.

I'm not suggesting that all technology is bad and we should go back to the Stone Age, but we do need to be more intentional about how we use it. It should help us be more organized and less scattered. We should decide when we wish to be available and when we want to be off-duty so to speak. A healthy balance of work and downtime is badly needed in our society. Technology can help us achieve that if we use it correctly and not let it run us.

Thoughts on the flap over religion and yoga

I'd say I'm getting out my can-opener for this one, but it seems the can of worms has already been opened. Recent flaps in the news lately have prompted me to write this post. It's a post I've been thinking of writing for a while since it is a question I'm often asked in class; "Is yoga religion?" However, I know this issue is very contentious and just about everyone has an opinion one way or the other. I don't like to step on toes or start arguments but I felt it was time to speak my peace, hopefully with grace.

The debate over whether it's OK for Christians to practice yoga is nothing new. Now, Southern Baptist leader Albert Mohler has called for Christians to stop practicing yoga or at least acknowledge its Hindu roots. There's been lesser publicity about Hindus complaining that yoga has become too westernized and has lost its mystical side. Does this mean that yoga is religion?

Yes and no. Yoga does have its root in the Hindu religion but it is usually maintained that yoga is a philosophy or an accessory to your own spiritual practice. That said, yoga certainly can be spiritual or it can be secular.

Just as poses can be modified to fit the individual so can the spiritual side of yoga be modified for individual needs. I often tell my students if they aren't comfortable with a pose then they shouldn't do it. Or at least practice it in a different way. I think this is also true of chanting or any other spiritual practice in yoga that make you uncomfortable. For the record I don't chant. I understand it's purposes and the meaning behind it but once in the middle of a chanting practice I felt God say to me "please don't do that." I've honored that request ever since.

I am Christian or more specifically a follower of Jesus Christ. I'm also a yoga teacher. I don't think this is paradoxical in any way. The two are not incompatible. In fact, it was yoga that made me want to be spiritual after I had wandered away from my faith in college. Yes, that's right, it was yoga that lead me back to church. While I was studying the spiritual side of yoga I had a desire to be spiritual but some of yoga's philosophy didn't work for me. I don't believe that I can reach God through my own efforts but rather God is reaching for me through his mercy and grace.

As a yoga teacher I am well aware that the students who walk through my door hold many different beliefs. I've had discussions about some of them and have even shared some of mine when asked. My goal is to create as comfortable, healing environment for everyone regardless of their religion or spirituality. I so believe in the healing benefits of yoga that I wouldn't want anyone to miss out because they felt it might compromise them in some way.  I don't think anyone of any religious background would disagree with the idea of a healthy, balanced body and a relaxed and focused mind. These are the two key things that yoga offers and can be achieved without moving into the supernatural or mystical realm.

Does this mean my practice has become westernized? Probably, but I'm OK with that. The very first yoga class I ever attended was called "Yoga for Westerners" at the University of Washington. It emphasized making the poses more accessible for inflexible western bodies. It was also a bit light on philosophy. This helped make yoga less intimidating for people who weren't familiar with it.

By "westernizing" yoga and removing some of the traditional spiritual elements from my practice, some yoga purists might argue that makes me an asana (the physical postures or pose are called asana) teacher and not really a yoga teacher. If that's the case, then so be it. I'd rather be a really good asana teacher than a really good yoga teacher and make my students feel uncomfortable.
 
A yoga teacher friend of mine says that there is a teacher for everyone but not every teacher works for everyone. I think this is true. Perhaps I'm not the right teacher for the someone who wants to delve deep into the philosophical side of yoga (though I have studied the Sutras and other ancient text related to yoga) but I just might be the right teacher for the student with lower back pain who wants to feel better. Wisdom has taught me I can't be everything to everyone.

There is a well known quote in the yoga world (I believe it's attributed to B.K.S. Iyengar) that states yoga makes you a better Christian or a better Jew or a better Buddhist or a better Muslim or a better Hindu. I don't know about the other four but I definitely feel that yoga has brought me close to God by learning to be still in his presence and focusing my thoughts on him. I can't believe that's a bad thing. Jesus is my guru.

Celebrating 8 years of teaching

September marks my eighth year as a yoga teacher. Where did the time go?

I still find it hard to believe that what started out as a tongue-in-cheek comment turned into a long-term career. I don't think that many friends and family ever thought I would truly make teaching yoga into a career either. I used to be asked regularly "what else" I planned to do with my life. Happily, I don't get asked those questions now. 

Even after eight years I still think I have the best job in the world. Or if not the best, certainly one of the best. Sure, there are mornings when I don't really feel like teaching. If I haven't slept well or am grouchy about something, I find it a bit challenging to motive myself to teach. But once I'm in class, I'm always glad to be there.

It's not just yoga that makes me feel better, it's my students too. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be where I'm at now. My students are what motivate me. Sometimes, I feel like they teach me more than I teach them.

One of my favorite compliments is when a student tells me her life has been changed because of my classes. I'm not saying that to brag that I'm a really awesome teacher or because I think that I have some sort of special gift. If I do, it came from God and it isn't mine in the first place. I know where the glory belongs. The point here is, that knowing that people are not just enjoying my classes but growing and changing because of them, is rewarding beyond words.

As I've mentioned before, I started teaching yoga after leaving a very stressful and hostile job environment. I confess I loved my title but didn't like the people around me. All I ever heard was negative comments about what I was doing wrong and why I wasn't good enough. I began to wonder if that really cool title was worth it or not. It wasn't. Honestly, the most common reaction people had to it was raised eyebrows and incredulity.

No, I didn't become a yoga teacher so people would say nice things to me and like me. I did it because I wanted to be a positive part of someone's life, not a source of ire. I wanted to change lives for the better. Yoga is one way that I've been able to do that.

Every time as student becomes pain-free or less anxiety prone, I know I made the right choice and I am following God's purpose for my life. This is where I am supposed to be.

For all of you that have attended my classes during the past eight years, thank you. I've enjoyed being your teacher and I am excited to see what the next eight years brings.

Seasonal Yoga

"There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven," says Ecclesiastes 3:1 and so is true for yoga practice. Yes, yoga practice should ebb and flow with the seasons because our bodies do. It's no wonder since the creator of our bodies set the seasons into motion too.

As the summer begins to wind down and the weather shifts to cooler temperatures, I have heard more complaints from students about stiff muscles and achy joints. The summer warmth offers a reprieve from many body aches and many students find that they can go deeper into poses or get into poses they couldn't during the winter. I often joke that the only time I do the splits is in July. However, fall can be rough because of the shifting weather patterns. Fronts affect our bodies because of the transition from high to low pressure. Likewise, the increased moisture next to the skin cools the muscles even more.

Mentally too we shift as the seasons change. In the summer we often feel more energetic and bright. Depending on work and family schedules, we might find that we have more time for leisure activities and exercise during the summer. Fall tends to bring more busyness as kids head back to school, vacations end and we feel more of an urge to accomplish our work and tasks. I tend to think of fall as more serious and contemplative especially on cool foggy mornings. In winter we might feel more lethargic and gloomy because of the lack of light and colder temperatures. Spring can bring more anxious energy as the need to be outside sets in and our bodies like the earth wake up. We can have a tendency to want to accomplish more and do more during the spring. 

With this idea in mind I find that it's helpful to structure yoga classes around the seasons.

In the winter I like to do more movement in the poses to increase blood flow to the body and help students wake up a bit. Rising cobra, cat/cow, flowing crane, swinging table top, the morning series are good examples of poses that increase circulation and warmth in the body. Often yoga is more therapeutic and restful during this time to help cope with the body aches and pains. Sometimes if students are particularly tired and grumpy I might spend the entire class practicing restoratives. Winter is a more restful time for our bodies.

In the spring, sun-salutations give outlet to our new found energy. A combination of forward-bends and back-bends are also good to help us stay grounded and ease lowerback strain associated with gardening and yardwork. Since spring in the Northwest tends to be rainy it's sometimes nice to do more of a workout to make up for the inability to get outside to exercise.

Summer is a great time to try poses that you haven't before or perhaps go deeper into poses you've been reluctant to. I really enjoy arm-balances during the summer along with inversions such as headstand. I also enjoy holding the poses longer than I typically would in the winter. Summer often feels like a quick season, especially here in the Northwest, so it's nice to slow down a bit and enjoy it. On really hot days it's better to slow down even more and do some restorative work. Palm tree, fish pose, boat pose and pigeon are all good summer poses as their names suggest.

Fall is the time for battening down the hatches so to speak. I still like to hold the poses longer, but classes tend to become more therapeutic again as we work out the last kinks of summer. Spinal twists and poses that promote stress relief such as supported child's pose, forward bends and half moon are very appropriate for the fall.

As the seasons change try to become more aware of how they affect your body. The above is a generalized example and may not necessarily be true for you. If you know what your body needs you can better adjust to the changes the seasons bring.

"But I'm bad at yoga"

In conversations when I mention that I'm a yoga teacher people often respond "Oh, I can't do yoga, I'm not flexible." Or occasionally I get a new student with some experience who classifies herself as "bad at yoga." Both of these statements are completely untrue and should not be uttered by anyone.

No one practices yoga because they are flexible but rather to become flexible. Or for those rare folks who are bendy, to become more balanced in their flexibility. Besides, flexibility is only one component of yoga, there's also strength, balance, breathing, relaxation and concentration. 

More importantly, yoga isn't about being good at it but rather doing something good for your body and mind. I like to remind my students that yoga is journey and not a destination. You'll never get to the point where you can say, "Yep, I've mastered yoga, I don't need to practice anymore." Yoga is ongoing because our bodies are constantly changing. As we age our needs change too. Younger people may need yoga to stay in shape and unwind while older folks may need yoga to help deal with everyday aches and pains. You won't be doing the same poses at 60 that you did when you were 20 or at least not in the same way.

I find it a bit troubling when students label themselves as "bad" because it means that the judgments that plague them in life have followed them onto the yoga mat.Your yoga mat should be at least one place where you can let those judgments go and simply be as you are. I like to ask my students at the beginning of class to let go of their ambitions toward their poses. I think when you set the tone of your practice this way it is much more enjoyable and frees you from expectations. So much of life is performance based why not make your yoga practice one place where it's not?

Besides the mental frustration and stress judgments create, they can also lead to injury. When you want to be good at a pose or try to force yourself into a pose you risk hurting yourself. Listen to your body, it will tell you when it's ready for something more challenging. I like what B.K.S. Iyengar says: "Challenge yourself, don't abuse yourself." One minute of glory isn't worth the three months recovery if you attempt a pose that you aren't ready for. Accept where you are in your practice and be content with it.

Funny things said in yoga class

Since it's summer I thought I'd take a break from "serious" writing and offer up something a little more lighthearted. Over the years I've collected a series of funny incidences that have happened in the classes I've taught. That collection is actually where the name for this blog originated. I've often thought that when I retire would write a book chronicling my life as a yoga teacher with the same title. However, with the advent of blogs I can share some of those stories a little sooner. Enjoy!

(I won't use any names or any identifying characteristics, but if you recognize yourself here, just know you will be forever etched in my memory and that I appreciate your good humor and willingness to laugh at yourself. This is all in good fun.)

Before I taught prenatal yoga, I would occasionally encounter pregnant students in regular classes. Usually I would just offer them modifications and alternatives to poses they should not do. One time when the classes was doing boat pose I motioned to a pregnant student that she should not do the pose. A man in the class, who hated boat pose, asked why she got to be excused from the pose and I said "Well, she's pregnant." He replied, "Then I'm pregnant too." I said, "If you can get a note from your doctor saying you're pregnant, you can skip boat, until then, you have to do the pose."

Speaking of modifications, I often tell students with back-injuries or those who are just not comfortable with cobra or upward-facing dog to do sphinx pose instead. During a very small class I had two women who both agreed that they preferred to do sphinx instead of cobra that day. One looked at the other and said, "I guess we are sphincters today." When the other woman and I cracked up laughing the same woman said, "Is that bad?" I had to explain what a sphincter was.

Another time in an exceptionally large class, I had the class move from hunting-dog into a core strengthening pose that involves moving the extended leg to the side instead of pointing straight back. The class was very quiet and serious but one student said very loudly, "I feel like a dog at a fire-hydrant!" The whole room dissolved into laughter. Thus was born fire-hydrant-dog pose.

Laughter in yoga class is always welcome because it shows that you are willing to not take yourself so seriously. However, there was a time when I subbed an early morning class that a student, who apparently felt rushed to get to class, complained afterward that I had started class a minute early. Truthfully, I thought she was joking and when I laughed she glowered at me. I said, "Really?" She said, "Yes, and I don't think that's fair that I've been late all week and and the one day I'm not, you start class early!" So she had sat through an entire class mad about a minute. Please, don't let a minute ruin your entire practice.

While students often say and do funny things in class, the teacher isn't immune to gaffs and blunders. It wouldn't be fair to point out my students laughable moments without mentioning a couple of my own. Going back to boat pose for a moment, I recall during another very large class of about 40 students that I was trying to show the different versions of the pose when I lost balance and rolled backward, still clinging to my toes. The class got quiet the kick out of that because usually they're the ones falling out of poses. See teachers aren't perfect either.

I also recall during downward-dog telling a class to instead of shrugging their shoulders down their back, to shrug their legs down their back. Usually, I catch myself when I say weird things like that but this time I didn't. Someone in the class said, "Huh? Can you explain that again?" I looked up to see the confused expressions on everyone's faces and realized what I had just said. I confess that teaching multiple classes in one day means that I repeat myself a lot and I don't always listen to what I say.