The body isn't the only thing that needs stretching. The mind needs to be kept flexible too. Yoga can help with both. By taking the lessons you learn on the mat and applying them to the rest of your life, you might find that more than your muscles become limber.
When you try poses that take you outside your comfort zone, such as headstand or arm balances, you are showing yourself that you can adapt to new situations. You learn that you can challenge yourself even if it feels awkward or you aren't exactly successful with your first attempts. In other words, you learn to go with the flow.
I read a quote once that says, much of our lives are spent either trying to speed up or slow down the river of life instead of going with the flow. This is so true. We always seem to be in a hurry to get somewhere and once we are there we are in a hurry to get somewhere else. We get mad when our jobs are too demanding but complain when they don't challenge or fulfill us. Parents want their kids to be old enough to take care of themselves but then pine for the days when they were babies. Life's transitions can also make us feel ridged and insecure.
About five years ago I made the transition from working mainly for other studios and organizations to working mainly for myself. Truthfully, I never thought I could go back. However, recently, I've discovered that my little studio has limited capacity for the demands that are being placed on it. My prenatal class has become a victim of it's own success and I'm now having to turn more people away that I can actually take. This makes me very frustrated as I'm not a person who likes to say "no." So to remedy this situation I'm having to look at other venue options including working for someone else.
In the months to come, I'm hoping to find a partner organization that can host this class and still allow me to teach it. What this will likely mean is that the class will be held at a different site that can hold more students and I will no longer be handling the registration, (something I've never been good at.) I even see the opportunity of more such classes in the future as there seems to be a great need for them. They just might not be held here in the studio.
I think this situation has taught me that life is never either/or but rather fluid. We are always reinventing ourselves and adapting to the current demands placed on us. This is how our bodies grow and how our minds grow. If we don't grow we die. Instead of getting angry at being stuck in traffic we can use the time to breath, meditate and pray. A good friend's departure could mean an opportunity to connect with new people. A spouse's new job might mean being more intentional about scheduling time together. A rainy day might mean time to finish a partially-read book. The more mentally flexible we are the less stress we have to manage.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2011. Every new year seems to start off filled with potential and hope. Right now you might be busy writing and working on your new year's resolutions, which hopefully include regular yoga classes (wink).
But what happened to last year's resolutions? Have you ever noticed that they tend to fizzle out around March and are all but forgotten by April? I think that often our good intentions are fueled by dissatisfaction and self-loathing which burn brightly but fade quickly. Instead, it would be better to approach personal growth and change from a point of self-acceptance.
Yoga's no-pressure, no-competition, self-accepting approach is one of the reasons people stick with it. Yoga isn't about radical change but about doing something good for your body. It's about small steps toward greater health and well-being. I often tell my students at the end of class to take a moment to notice any changes in their bodies. These subtle changes are how we measure progress in yoga. Are you sitting taller than when you entered? Are you more relaxed? Breathing easier?
Sure, yoga can help you lose weight and get in shape. These are good goals, no doubt. However, if you are only focused on one narrow goal you'll abandon it if you fail to reach it in your allotted time-frame. Or if you have a set back you might be tempted to give-up all together. If you approach it from the understanding that as a human being you are prone to mistakes and failures, you'll be gentler with yourself if you do slip-up. After all, how did you get where you are now?
I'm reminded of a poem Anthem by Leonard Cohen that goes, "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's where the light gets in. That's where the light gets in." In other words, no one is perfect. We all have room to improve. Jesus said that his grace is made perfect in our weakness. Weakness and imperfections aren't all bad. It's our weaknesses that teach us how to love and accept ourselves and others.
We are all assaulted daily by images of perfect bodies and what we should strive to look like. It's unavoidable unless you move to the woods and shut out the world, hardly a practical option. However, this doesn't mean we have to accept everything the media tells about how we are supposed to look. We can chose to love our bodies as they are instead of trying to make them conform to these ideal images.
I don't watch television so I can't say that I've watched reality shows where contestants compete for makeovers which include plastic surgery. From what I've heard though, it sounds like they are sending a dangerous message about the ideal body especially to young women who are the most prone to body-image issues. I wonder what it would be like if instead of nose-jobs and breast-implants, the contestants where sent to yoga classes and self-esteem counseling? Probably not as entertaining as watching someone go through a risky operation but it would be a much healthier, loving approach.
This year as you make your resolutions, try to be realistic and practice self-acceptance. Know that real change takes time, patience and love. It's good to be healthy and let go of bad habits but don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to get it right as quickly as you had hoped. And in the words of India Arie, "Not the average girl from your video and I ain't built like a supermodel but I've learned to love myself unconditionally..."
But what happened to last year's resolutions? Have you ever noticed that they tend to fizzle out around March and are all but forgotten by April? I think that often our good intentions are fueled by dissatisfaction and self-loathing which burn brightly but fade quickly. Instead, it would be better to approach personal growth and change from a point of self-acceptance.
Yoga's no-pressure, no-competition, self-accepting approach is one of the reasons people stick with it. Yoga isn't about radical change but about doing something good for your body. It's about small steps toward greater health and well-being. I often tell my students at the end of class to take a moment to notice any changes in their bodies. These subtle changes are how we measure progress in yoga. Are you sitting taller than when you entered? Are you more relaxed? Breathing easier?
Sure, yoga can help you lose weight and get in shape. These are good goals, no doubt. However, if you are only focused on one narrow goal you'll abandon it if you fail to reach it in your allotted time-frame. Or if you have a set back you might be tempted to give-up all together. If you approach it from the understanding that as a human being you are prone to mistakes and failures, you'll be gentler with yourself if you do slip-up. After all, how did you get where you are now?
I'm reminded of a poem Anthem by Leonard Cohen that goes, "Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's where the light gets in. That's where the light gets in." In other words, no one is perfect. We all have room to improve. Jesus said that his grace is made perfect in our weakness. Weakness and imperfections aren't all bad. It's our weaknesses that teach us how to love and accept ourselves and others.
We are all assaulted daily by images of perfect bodies and what we should strive to look like. It's unavoidable unless you move to the woods and shut out the world, hardly a practical option. However, this doesn't mean we have to accept everything the media tells about how we are supposed to look. We can chose to love our bodies as they are instead of trying to make them conform to these ideal images.
I don't watch television so I can't say that I've watched reality shows where contestants compete for makeovers which include plastic surgery. From what I've heard though, it sounds like they are sending a dangerous message about the ideal body especially to young women who are the most prone to body-image issues. I wonder what it would be like if instead of nose-jobs and breast-implants, the contestants where sent to yoga classes and self-esteem counseling? Probably not as entertaining as watching someone go through a risky operation but it would be a much healthier, loving approach.
This year as you make your resolutions, try to be realistic and practice self-acceptance. Know that real change takes time, patience and love. It's good to be healthy and let go of bad habits but don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to get it right as quickly as you had hoped. And in the words of India Arie, "Not the average girl from your video and I ain't built like a supermodel but I've learned to love myself unconditionally..."
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Don't forget to breathe again
As a yoga teacher and massage therapist I'm well aware of the importance of the breath and it's effects on the body. However, a recent NPR story about the effects of the breath amazed even me. Research has begun to show that the breath might actually affect the expression of our genes.
While the research hasn't shown that cancer can be prevented or cured by breathing, the implications are startling. How well we breath could determine what illnesses we suffer from as we age.
It's already well known that the breath affects hypertension and that those who regularly practice diaphragmatic or three-part breathing have lower blood-pressure. Other illnesses such as asthma, anxiety, depression and heart disease have also been shown to improve with breathing techniques. What's more, is that since many illnesses are stress related and breathing helps combat stress, it stands to reason that breathing could possibly help stave off some illnesses.
The story also said that the breath is the body's natural stress reducer. The breath directly impacts the vagus nerve which is the on/off switch for stress. When we practice diaphragmatic breath we send a signal to the nervous system to turn off the stress response. Yes, it's that simple.
The bad news is that we don't naturally breath using our diaphrams, especially during times of stress and tension. It has to be learned and practiced.
Most people are chest-breathers meaning that the breath comes from the chest and not the diaphragm. Since the lungs don't move on their own they need the diaphragm to help pull air in. If you're not using your diaphragm you aren't getting much oxygen in and your body begins to feel deprived. Tiredness can result.
As the holiday season is upon us and many of us are moving at a frantic pace trying to get all the shopping, baking etc done with all the other usual tasks we have on our plate, it's a good idea to stop and breath for a moment. Chances are if you've been rushing about, you've been breathing shallowly in your chest. These means that your body will remain in fight or flight mode until you tell it otherwise. This will make your frantic pace seem all the more frantic.You might remember to take a deep breath here and there but it takes more than a couple to truly calm the nervous system down.
A Christmas song on the radio I've been hearing lately sings about needing "a silent night. A break from all the chaos and the noise." It reminds me that we sometimes need more than just a moment to breathe but a quiet evening. It can be hard during this season but worth the effort. I'm planning to give myself an entire week off this Christmas so the studio will be closed from Dec. 22-Jan. 1 with class resuming Jan. 2.
Don't forget to breathe and don't forget to create space for the breath this holiday season. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year full of many calming breaths.
While the research hasn't shown that cancer can be prevented or cured by breathing, the implications are startling. How well we breath could determine what illnesses we suffer from as we age.
It's already well known that the breath affects hypertension and that those who regularly practice diaphragmatic or three-part breathing have lower blood-pressure. Other illnesses such as asthma, anxiety, depression and heart disease have also been shown to improve with breathing techniques. What's more, is that since many illnesses are stress related and breathing helps combat stress, it stands to reason that breathing could possibly help stave off some illnesses.
The story also said that the breath is the body's natural stress reducer. The breath directly impacts the vagus nerve which is the on/off switch for stress. When we practice diaphragmatic breath we send a signal to the nervous system to turn off the stress response. Yes, it's that simple.
The bad news is that we don't naturally breath using our diaphrams, especially during times of stress and tension. It has to be learned and practiced.
Most people are chest-breathers meaning that the breath comes from the chest and not the diaphragm. Since the lungs don't move on their own they need the diaphragm to help pull air in. If you're not using your diaphragm you aren't getting much oxygen in and your body begins to feel deprived. Tiredness can result.
As the holiday season is upon us and many of us are moving at a frantic pace trying to get all the shopping, baking etc done with all the other usual tasks we have on our plate, it's a good idea to stop and breath for a moment. Chances are if you've been rushing about, you've been breathing shallowly in your chest. These means that your body will remain in fight or flight mode until you tell it otherwise. This will make your frantic pace seem all the more frantic.You might remember to take a deep breath here and there but it takes more than a couple to truly calm the nervous system down.
A Christmas song on the radio I've been hearing lately sings about needing "a silent night. A break from all the chaos and the noise." It reminds me that we sometimes need more than just a moment to breathe but a quiet evening. It can be hard during this season but worth the effort. I'm planning to give myself an entire week off this Christmas so the studio will be closed from Dec. 22-Jan. 1 with class resuming Jan. 2.
Don't forget to breathe and don't forget to create space for the breath this holiday season. I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year full of many calming breaths.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, November 5, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
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.
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.
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