Living the Wisdom of Yoga in Modern Times

Yoga Teacher Series: Let It Go...It applies to You Too

So your class sucked...Let It go

Someone walked out...Let IT go

You forgot a pose...or a side...the words to the Ashtanga chant you have been saying for 10 years...The Name of the pose...Let It Go

You got bad feedback...LET IT Go

You Got Fired....by e-mail.....Let IT Go

No one showed up for your class.. or worse...one  or two showed up...LOL....Let It Go!

The Heat is broke...in the winter time...Let IT Go

The Stereo  is acting up...Let IT Go

You Forgot Your IPOD....Let It Go

Your students are talking smack about you....right down the hall ...in the yoga studio....Let It GO

That dude is over there doing Chataraunga push ups...during Svasana...Let It Go

Did she just role her eyes at me?....Let it go

Why You Should Let Go

1. Because if you don't lay it down now, you will bring it with you into your next class. 
2. Your energy perpetuates a cycle and brings more of what you don't want into your life.
3. You are human...if your students don't understand that...that is their problem not yours
4. Everything is a learning experience. What can you learn? What can your students learn?
5. Everyone is not going to like you. If everyone does, you are not doing your job as a teacher.  A good teacher brings the stuff that people hide in the darkest recesses of their bodies, hearts and minds to the surface and it gets ugly and people don't like it. The questions is, Do they respect you & the process? It does not matter if they like you.
6. When the student is ready,the teacher will come. Are these your students or someone else's?  Are you forcing your style and teachings on people or are they ready for it?  If they are yours, leg go of the emotionaility and take hold of the situation. If they are not, let the class and maybe even the studio go.
7. Do your really know why your numbers look the way they do or are you guessing? Tweeking your approach to teaching to be more effective and bring in more students is a good thing. But do you really, really know the real answers to why things are the way they are? Just because one or two people gave some feedback, can you really  be sure they reflect the group?  Are you sure it was your flow that made people stay home that day or was it the season finale of Dancing with the Stars?  So it does you no good to get caught up in your own guess work and take it as absolute truth.
8. When you know better, you do better-Maya Angelou. Every time you teach your class, you do so to the best of your ability & with what you know that day. You are not responsible for what you didn't know at the time. Everyone is growing and learning at all times.  Trust that your students will grow and evolve with you.

Video of the Day

 

Let Them Go...Save Yourself

There is a saying in Hip Hop, "playing Captain Save a Hoe". I was going to call this post that but I chickened out. Yes, I am aware that the saying had a less than savory start but it has evoloved a bit. The premise of the saying is that their are people out there who are strong, and when given the tools, will save themselves. Then there are others, "the hoes" who are so deep in their own stuff that trying to save them is reckless on the part of the would be hero.

As yoga teachers, and as good people really, we are given the message to go out and save others. To share our wisdom with the hope that others will be uplifted. However, we have to recognize when people don't want to be saved. When their ears are blocked, their minds are cluttered, and  their eyes are shut, the message cannot be heard.

There is a song by Erykah Badu where she says, "what good do your words do if they can't understand you?" I am fully aware that she meant something else by this line then my topic today but it is still a good question.  There is a time for taking our message down a notch so that it can be understood but there is also a time when you have to realize that people are not ready.

Does that mean you stop giving your messege & conveying your ideas? No. It means that you save your energy and convey the message where it can be heard.  Shining your flashlight on something that wants to be in the dark just drains batteries.

Video of The Day: Should You Lock Your Knees in Yoga

 

If You Think This Yoga Video is Sexual, You Are The One With The Problem

 

 

There has been some buzz in the yoga community about the video above being sexual. I watched the video awhile back and that did not even come to my mind. I was mesmerized by the beauty of her movement instead. Yep, I noticed she was in underwear, but it is no different then the sports bras and shorts, bikinis, leotards and tutus that other people wear when practicing their craft.  Shoot, I wish I had the confidence to do a yoga video period even much one with just my underwear on.

Yoga teaches us that we see the world through a mirror. If the mirror is dirty, the reflection is tainted. When the mirror is clean, the reflection is pure. If you watch this video and your first thoughts are on sex, you are the one with the problem not her. 

This same crap came up with Kino MacGregor because she practices in shorts. I have heard people  say that they have heard her speak of wanting to look nice and that somehow makes her a bad person.  Why is that a problem? Yeah, its yoga but you should still brush your teeth, comb your hair, put on deodorant,  wash your butt and that skanky yogitoe that smells like ammonia and pee....wait that is another post.

Anyway, when is being confident and loving your body and wanting to look nice been considered bad?