DAY OF OPPOSITES YET THE SAME

Yesterday was the day I teach a Gentle Yoga class in the a.m., then go to the Jail in the afternoon to teach.

It certainly is opposites in many ways -- lovely ladies (and an occasional gentleman), assembling at the studio, setting up and making small talk; wanting some movement that will help them move more effectively and therapeuticaly. Now, switch gears -- go to Jail, sign in, get pass & keys, get supplies, go to pod, ask officer to gather students. The students do want the same, however -- to get some movement into their day (and get away from 'jail-life', as much as possible, if only for 1.5 hours).

Both offer unique opportunities for teaching , and I enjoy both.

The Gentle Class is an opportunity to work with a wide variety of students with many different issues going on -- from artificial knees to lumbar stenosis to just stiff -- in a relaxed environment, with all sorts of props available.

The Jail Class is an opportunity to work with people whose background I have no information about -- to teach them something many have only preconceived notions about (a "wimpy", stretching class). Many of these students have injuries, as well. I don't ask how the injuries were incurred, unless they offer; I just ask about injuries that will impact their practice. Their practice must be therapeutic, as well. But in the jail, we only have mats and blocks -- they don't allow straps, blankets, bolsters, etc.

As I mentioned in an earier post, in the Jail class I cannot touch the students. Verbal adjustments are needed. Imagine adjusting a new student in down dog (narrow stance, chest/back pulling away from knees, lumbar spine compromised, head lifted). Now, do that verbal adjustment while you have 6 others waiting patiently in their maybe less-than-perfect down dogs. A challenge, to say the least.

It requires that I move quickly, work with the most out-of-alignment first, get everyone 'safe', before they 'crash' on the floor from fatigue. Remember, these are probably strong guys, but they are not used to holding themselves in a pose for any significant amount of time.

In a public class -- I would need to do the same: quickly peruse the students, adjust the student(s) most at risk in their pose(s), remember that there are other students in the room waiting to move on. It's different, yet the same.

All offer fun challenges; all offer me opportunities to grow as a teacher.

Enjoy another sunny day (if you're in Utah),