Just a short note to the blog about a coincidence (i.e. six degrees of separation).
Got a call this morning regarding a private session for a gentleman new to the practice. He wondered if a private (or two) was a good idea to get him started. After discussing, we decided he could do a private with me today, Monday afternoon.
First question: injuries? Well, just a couple things related to riding and jumping horses.
Didn't I just read Donna Farhi's blog; and comment on how enjoyable it was to read about her experiences teaching yoga, raising and training her horses (she does dressage), and her life in New Zealand?
Small world! I'm sure I have more than one student who works with horses, but it just seemed to be too coincidental to go un-commented upon.
That's all; good night!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 30, 2009
EVER FORGET WHERE YOU READ IT?
Yesterday morning I was putting the finishing touches on my 9 am class plan, and wanted to use a line I know I had read somewhere. (Important to give appropriate credit where it's due.)
I knew I had read it recently. So, what have I been reading in the last week?
I knew I had read it recently. So, what have I been reading in the last week?
- Donna Farhi's 'Insights' on her website -- read 'em all, good stuff
- "Eat, Taste, Heal" -- an Ayurvedic book of recipes and information recommended by Cate Stillman
- Anusara® Teacher Training Manual
- "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" -- a great little book that sits outside of the realm of 'curriculum reading'
So, I spent a precious 20 minutes searching Donna's writings, sure that I had read it there.
What was I looking for, you ask? "It is yoga throughout every phase of the pose, not just in the final form."
Where did I read it? Well, this morning as I reviewed previous posts, I came upon it in an entry I made 4-5 entries ago. It is a quote from the Anusara® Teacher Training Manual.
Not only did I read it, but I wrote it and commented about it! Where, oh where, is that razor sharp memory going? I hope it's just getting a bit dulled by the mountains of information I'm trying to cram into this 'boomer brain'.
Now, why am I writing about something that has little to do with yoga? Not sure, just thought it interesting that I read it, I embraced it, I wrote it, I commented on it, then I promptly forgot it. Bad sign.
The class I taught went on without the quote -- tho I did paraphrase it, without giving credit.
Going to do yardwork today. Did some yesterday and felt really good about the result; anxious to make the rest of the (visible) flower beds look as good.
Enjoy YOUR Sunday,
Saturday, August 29, 2009
GIDDY TO THE POINT OF 'FLUORISHMENT'
What a nice day -- enjoyable to teach the Gentle Yoga class yesterday morning. Small group, but included was one person newer to the practice. As is my tendency, I worry I give too much information -- I want them to know all the helpful information; and, I guess, I want them to know it RIGHT NOW. So, I had to restrain myself and the information a bit and just teach.
Then a bit of grocery shopping, lunch with Howard, a bit of reading, a nap (I've heard rumor that Darren Rhoades takes a nap every afternoon; gives me license to do likewise - or at least as often as possible. No guilt allowed.), a bit of domestic paper shuffling, then back to the studio to prepare for the 5:40 pm class.
It was a smaller-than-normal number in attendance. Some I had met in previous classes, some new to me. But, all had done yoga before. My class plan changed, as I met and got re-acquainted with those in attendance.
My theme, heart quality, and alignment emphasis did not, however. Hugging in to create stability; steadfast; muscle energy.
Why "giddy to the point of fluorishment"? I found myself having so much fun, I really had to contain myself; I had to remind myself that I was there for the students, to teach and keep them safe (NOT to have TOO much fun and FORGET them). Giddiness, like that, has not happened to me before. I can be funny, I can crack jokes, but never have I felt so energized and so happy to be teaching. I'm usually pretty sedate, maybe to the point of being boring(?). I think I may have just jumped off a plateau and UP to the next level.
During the class, we moved through warm-ups, some salutations, some standing twists, then took legs wide to work on parsvakonasana (first time, elbow on knee; second time, hand to outside of front foot). The 'capper' was trichonasana / ardha chandrasana / trichonasana -- using muscle energy to support and allow the poses to open and ALSO to allow those smooth and graceful transitions between poses. We did that series twice, as well. The first time through, I encouraged use of a block; second time, their choice.
A couple sets of tight shoulders in the room, and all of these poses are challenging to tight-shouldered students as they take the arm up. What to do? I encouraged keeping the upper hand on the waist or rib cage, elbow bent, to encourage the upper shoulder blade to move on to the back. Who can concentrate on working through any of these poses when their shoulder 'screams' at them (or just becomes immobile) as they try to extend the upper arm; so, why not keep it in a place of accessibility, while we work on other aspects of the pose?
With everyone's upper hand on the waist, I encouraged them to open their heart and chest as they took their shoulder blades onto the back 'with a dramatic fluorish'. Wow! Then, take the arm up if it was available to them. So much more opening. Even some smiles from the tight-shouldered few. Our shoulders can really get in the way sometimes and inhibit our opening (body and mind).
(Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ignore taking the arm up forever. I'm saying get the foundation of the pose established in their minds, allow them to feel the opening of their heart, THEN work on the arm. Even in my limited time as a teacher - 5 yrs - I've seen people scrunched over in all of these poses, because their shoulder and/or back won't allow the opening when they try to take the arm up. So, why do it? Leave it, for now, and enjoy the action of the poses.)
The word started as 'drama', morphed to 'fluorishment' (in my excitement), then became a 'dramatic fluorish'. If nothing else, they will remember that word from this class -- and it may, unbeknownst to them, initiate actions to open heart, body and mind.
Go forth in 'fluorishment',
Then a bit of grocery shopping, lunch with Howard, a bit of reading, a nap (I've heard rumor that Darren Rhoades takes a nap every afternoon; gives me license to do likewise - or at least as often as possible. No guilt allowed.), a bit of domestic paper shuffling, then back to the studio to prepare for the 5:40 pm class.
It was a smaller-than-normal number in attendance. Some I had met in previous classes, some new to me. But, all had done yoga before. My class plan changed, as I met and got re-acquainted with those in attendance.
My theme, heart quality, and alignment emphasis did not, however. Hugging in to create stability; steadfast; muscle energy.
Why "giddy to the point of fluorishment"? I found myself having so much fun, I really had to contain myself; I had to remind myself that I was there for the students, to teach and keep them safe (NOT to have TOO much fun and FORGET them). Giddiness, like that, has not happened to me before. I can be funny, I can crack jokes, but never have I felt so energized and so happy to be teaching. I'm usually pretty sedate, maybe to the point of being boring(?). I think I may have just jumped off a plateau and UP to the next level.
During the class, we moved through warm-ups, some salutations, some standing twists, then took legs wide to work on parsvakonasana (first time, elbow on knee; second time, hand to outside of front foot). The 'capper' was trichonasana / ardha chandrasana / trichonasana -- using muscle energy to support and allow the poses to open and ALSO to allow those smooth and graceful transitions between poses. We did that series twice, as well. The first time through, I encouraged use of a block; second time, their choice.
A couple sets of tight shoulders in the room, and all of these poses are challenging to tight-shouldered students as they take the arm up. What to do? I encouraged keeping the upper hand on the waist or rib cage, elbow bent, to encourage the upper shoulder blade to move on to the back. Who can concentrate on working through any of these poses when their shoulder 'screams' at them (or just becomes immobile) as they try to extend the upper arm; so, why not keep it in a place of accessibility, while we work on other aspects of the pose?
With everyone's upper hand on the waist, I encouraged them to open their heart and chest as they took their shoulder blades onto the back 'with a dramatic fluorish'. Wow! Then, take the arm up if it was available to them. So much more opening. Even some smiles from the tight-shouldered few. Our shoulders can really get in the way sometimes and inhibit our opening (body and mind).
(Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying ignore taking the arm up forever. I'm saying get the foundation of the pose established in their minds, allow them to feel the opening of their heart, THEN work on the arm. Even in my limited time as a teacher - 5 yrs - I've seen people scrunched over in all of these poses, because their shoulder and/or back won't allow the opening when they try to take the arm up. So, why do it? Leave it, for now, and enjoy the action of the poses.)
The word started as 'drama', morphed to 'fluorishment' (in my excitement), then became a 'dramatic fluorish'. If nothing else, they will remember that word from this class -- and it may, unbeknownst to them, initiate actions to open heart, body and mind.
Go forth in 'fluorishment',
Friday, August 28, 2009
TURMOIL
We never enjoy turmoil in our lives. And, we never expect to find it in the yoga world -- after all, aren't we supposed to be calm, loving, go-with-the-flow types of people?
Worse yet, in this merry band called Anusara®, who would ever think that turmoil, personal battles, egos, etc., would ever DARE to raise their ugly heads? But, they do -- even in our small kula of Salt Lake City.
I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say, it will be a learning experience for all. For me, it creates a sadness; a sense of loss. At the same time, it is important to keep moving forward. The challenge will be to stay connected to all the parties involved in this rift, recognizing that each is an important part of my life -- a part that I'm not willing to let go of, but must recognize and accept that the dynamics of each relationship will change.
I also have many great things to focus on - my teaching, my continued journey, my students, my relationships within the extended kula.
The reality is that we are human; even those of us who dedicate our yoga practice to Anusara® Yoga. And, as such, we are blessed with human frailties and shortcomings. Enough said.
Today is Friday -- what happens on Friday? I teach! Gentle Yoga this morning; then, I'm subbing a class this evening for my friend, Jen. Both classes are Anusara-Inspired™. One gentle (obviously) and one more energetic. Fun!
The challenge in subbing for Jen is that she is younger, more flexible, more adept at much of the asana, not to mention a very different type of instructor than I am (tho we're both Inspired™). Don't get me wrong -- I'm not discounting my skills, just stating fact; we couldn't be more different. We started our journey into Anusara® at about the same time; in fact, Jen convinced me to attend our first teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh. The rest is history.
What Jen and I do share is laughter. Rarely are we together that we don't find something to laugh about -- to the point of being 'teenager silly'. We have fun, as friends do.
Her students will have to step back a bit, embrace their 'beginner mind', and - perhaps - take a tidbit or two away from my teaching. Things we all must do when we encounter a different teacher standing in for one of our favorites.
Now, what do I teach these students? (Note to self: read previous post -- I may already know the answer.)
Enjoy your Friday,
Worse yet, in this merry band called Anusara®, who would ever think that turmoil, personal battles, egos, etc., would ever DARE to raise their ugly heads? But, they do -- even in our small kula of Salt Lake City.
I won't go into detail. Suffice it to say, it will be a learning experience for all. For me, it creates a sadness; a sense of loss. At the same time, it is important to keep moving forward. The challenge will be to stay connected to all the parties involved in this rift, recognizing that each is an important part of my life -- a part that I'm not willing to let go of, but must recognize and accept that the dynamics of each relationship will change.
I also have many great things to focus on - my teaching, my continued journey, my students, my relationships within the extended kula.
The reality is that we are human; even those of us who dedicate our yoga practice to Anusara® Yoga. And, as such, we are blessed with human frailties and shortcomings. Enough said.
Today is Friday -- what happens on Friday? I teach! Gentle Yoga this morning; then, I'm subbing a class this evening for my friend, Jen. Both classes are Anusara-Inspired™. One gentle (obviously) and one more energetic. Fun!
The challenge in subbing for Jen is that she is younger, more flexible, more adept at much of the asana, not to mention a very different type of instructor than I am (tho we're both Inspired™). Don't get me wrong -- I'm not discounting my skills, just stating fact; we couldn't be more different. We started our journey into Anusara® at about the same time; in fact, Jen convinced me to attend our first teacher training with Desiree Rumbaugh. The rest is history.
What Jen and I do share is laughter. Rarely are we together that we don't find something to laugh about -- to the point of being 'teenager silly'. We have fun, as friends do.
Her students will have to step back a bit, embrace their 'beginner mind', and - perhaps - take a tidbit or two away from my teaching. Things we all must do when we encounter a different teacher standing in for one of our favorites.
Now, what do I teach these students? (Note to self: read previous post -- I may already know the answer.)
Enjoy your Friday,
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THE ANSWER . . .
I was poking around on the internet over the weekend and, out of curiosity for dates, I logged onto Donna Farhi's website to check when she will be in Salt Lake City.
Donna, who lives in New Zealand, is a workshop/training presenter who has practiced yoga for 30 years and authored four books (for more info, go to http://www.donnafarhi.co.nz/donna/). The website is fun because it gives you a glimpse of life in New Zealand, Donna's love for horses, and a sample of her writing skill (check out the section titled "Donna's Insight").
Three years ago, I attended a training here in Salt Lake conducted by Donna. She is a very skilled practitioner and teacher, and it was - for me - one of the earlier trainings I've attended. Because it was NOT Anusara®, I found myself in a group of new people, different dynamics, out of my 'comfort zone'. Note: I keep doing that 'comfort zone' thing to myself, don't I?
A vivid memory from that training is the method Donna uses with regards to questions. I've inserted a poem that describes it perfectly:
I beg you . . . . to have patience with
everything unresolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves
as if they were locked rooms or books
written in a foreign language. Don’t search
for the answers, which could not be given you
now, because you would not be able
to live them. And the point is, to live
everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps
then, some day far in the future, you will gradually
without ever knowing it,
live your way into the answers.
– Rilke
"May you, as the
poet Rilke suggests, gradually live
your way into the answers." - Donna Farhi
In her 'insights', Donna devotes one article to specifically that -- her theory behind the way she handles questions. How does she do it? She basically ignores most questions; sometimes prefacing the silence with, 'you know the answer'.
For us, as Americans(?), that is a bit unsettling -- to be told "No, I won't answer; you probably already know the answer." We paid the money, we want the answer!
Yet, reflect on our Anusara® trainings. Doesn't John (or our other Anusara® teachers) use comparison frequently to get us to do just that -- figure it out ourselves? His tone may be a bit less brusque, but it is essentially the same technique.
I have long taught students that, in the face of a minor pain/discomfort in a pose, they should go back through the steps that got them there. Compare those steps with the Universal Principles of Alignment and make adjustments (even experiment a bit) to see what pulls them out of that discomfort. After all, I won't always be by their side to diagnose and/or solve their yoga dilemmas.
Glitch in blogging -- first draft, thankfully, was saved but only partially. Why did that happen? Maybe I know the answer.
More to think about,
Donna, who lives in New Zealand, is a workshop/training presenter who has practiced yoga for 30 years and authored four books (for more info, go to http://www.donnafarhi.co.nz/donna/). The website is fun because it gives you a glimpse of life in New Zealand, Donna's love for horses, and a sample of her writing skill (check out the section titled "Donna's Insight").
Three years ago, I attended a training here in Salt Lake conducted by Donna. She is a very skilled practitioner and teacher, and it was - for me - one of the earlier trainings I've attended. Because it was NOT Anusara®, I found myself in a group of new people, different dynamics, out of my 'comfort zone'. Note: I keep doing that 'comfort zone' thing to myself, don't I?
A vivid memory from that training is the method Donna uses with regards to questions. I've inserted a poem that describes it perfectly:
I beg you . . . . to have patience with
everything unresolved in your heart
and try to love the questions themselves
as if they were locked rooms or books
written in a foreign language. Don’t search
for the answers, which could not be given you
now, because you would not be able
to live them. And the point is, to live
everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps
then, some day far in the future, you will gradually
without ever knowing it,
live your way into the answers.
– Rilke
"May you, as the
poet Rilke suggests, gradually live
your way into the answers." - Donna Farhi
In her 'insights', Donna devotes one article to specifically that -- her theory behind the way she handles questions. How does she do it? She basically ignores most questions; sometimes prefacing the silence with, 'you know the answer'.
For us, as Americans(?), that is a bit unsettling -- to be told "No, I won't answer; you probably already know the answer." We paid the money, we want the answer!
Yet, reflect on our Anusara® trainings. Doesn't John (or our other Anusara® teachers) use comparison frequently to get us to do just that -- figure it out ourselves? His tone may be a bit less brusque, but it is essentially the same technique.
I have long taught students that, in the face of a minor pain/discomfort in a pose, they should go back through the steps that got them there. Compare those steps with the Universal Principles of Alignment and make adjustments (even experiment a bit) to see what pulls them out of that discomfort. After all, I won't always be by their side to diagnose and/or solve their yoga dilemmas.
Glitch in blogging -- first draft, thankfully, was saved but only partially. Why did that happen? Maybe I know the answer.
More to think about,
Saturday, August 22, 2009
GO BACK TO THE B0OK
This morning I'm up early to prepare for a 9 am class. I started last night, feeling little inspiration.
As I looked around our family room, the first book I spotted was the Anusara Teacher Training Manual (conveniently opened to possible 'heart quality' ideas). Since I was feeling less-than-inspired, I decided to re-read some of the manual. Started last night, made it through 3 sections and set it aside to resume in the morning.
This morning, up and reading. Finding lots of material that I had forgotten, overlooked in previous readings, or maybe just hadn't paid attention to (or heard).
In our curriculum, there is so much reading that - if we have done one (or two or three or four) teacher trainings, the manual may sit unopened after that first flurry of teacher training exuberance. At least, that's been my history. I do open it occasionally to check possible heart qualities, look at the lists of poses for the ones I have overlooked teaching, etc.
This time, I opened it and read each line of chapter 9 (course curriculum) through to the Syllabus of poses -- highlighting important points. Lots of gems in there that - unfortunately for me - have gotten sidelined by other information.
As John says -- stick to the basics; keep it simple. The manual helps us do just that; succinctly telling us how, what and why to teach in order to engage our students.
One line that jumped off the page for me this morning: "It is yoga throughout every phase of the pose, not just in the final form." Why? Because I've been trying to teach this, but have yet to come up with such a simple way to say it. Now I have it! All because I went 'back to the book'.
Hope you have a great weekend,
As I looked around our family room, the first book I spotted was the Anusara Teacher Training Manual (conveniently opened to possible 'heart quality' ideas). Since I was feeling less-than-inspired, I decided to re-read some of the manual. Started last night, made it through 3 sections and set it aside to resume in the morning.
This morning, up and reading. Finding lots of material that I had forgotten, overlooked in previous readings, or maybe just hadn't paid attention to (or heard).
In our curriculum, there is so much reading that - if we have done one (or two or three or four) teacher trainings, the manual may sit unopened after that first flurry of teacher training exuberance. At least, that's been my history. I do open it occasionally to check possible heart qualities, look at the lists of poses for the ones I have overlooked teaching, etc.
This time, I opened it and read each line of chapter 9 (course curriculum) through to the Syllabus of poses -- highlighting important points. Lots of gems in there that - unfortunately for me - have gotten sidelined by other information.
As John says -- stick to the basics; keep it simple. The manual helps us do just that; succinctly telling us how, what and why to teach in order to engage our students.
One line that jumped off the page for me this morning: "It is yoga throughout every phase of the pose, not just in the final form." Why? Because I've been trying to teach this, but have yet to come up with such a simple way to say it. Now I have it! All because I went 'back to the book'.
Hope you have a great weekend,
Friday, August 21, 2009
TRANSITIONS
I attended Wayne's class yesterday morning -- his theme and our practice revolved around our transitions, staying steady and strong as we move from one pose to the next.
Naturally - as good yoga teachers do - I used a similar thought process for my YogaHour class. I did use a different sequence and there was some original thought to my class. But, in all honesty, it does help me to attend a class, listen to the phrasing being used and the instructions, incorporate it into my own practice; and then -- maybe use some of it in one of my subsequent classes.
I attended a class at my studio a couple weeks ago. Response of fellow students in the class: 'what is a yoga teacher doing in class?'. Kind of caught me off guard. Either we yoga teachers disguise our professions very well, or these students never go to the classes with teachers in attendance, or - worse - few of us yoga teachers actually attend public classes.
The last option does happen - more often than we would care to admit. We get so caught up in teaching, practicing on our own, studying, attending workshops (and, some of us have full-time jobs to attend to), that we forget about public classes. A gold mine we can use to our own advantage, when needed.
As I work towards Certification, it is part of my curriculum to attend a certain number of public classes with a Certified Anusara® Instructor. So, best I not forget those public classes.
Plus, as I said before, it's a goldmine of good information, teaching ideas, theming ideas, etc., to be had. And, since most yoga instructors know and accept that it will happen, I don't need to feel guilty when I 'borrow' something from them.
Naturally - as good yoga teachers do - I used a similar thought process for my YogaHour class. I did use a different sequence and there was some original thought to my class. But, in all honesty, it does help me to attend a class, listen to the phrasing being used and the instructions, incorporate it into my own practice; and then -- maybe use some of it in one of my subsequent classes.
I attended a class at my studio a couple weeks ago. Response of fellow students in the class: 'what is a yoga teacher doing in class?'. Kind of caught me off guard. Either we yoga teachers disguise our professions very well, or these students never go to the classes with teachers in attendance, or - worse - few of us yoga teachers actually attend public classes.
The last option does happen - more often than we would care to admit. We get so caught up in teaching, practicing on our own, studying, attending workshops (and, some of us have full-time jobs to attend to), that we forget about public classes. A gold mine we can use to our own advantage, when needed.
As I work towards Certification, it is part of my curriculum to attend a certain number of public classes with a Certified Anusara® Instructor. So, best I not forget those public classes.
Plus, as I said before, it's a goldmine of good information, teaching ideas, theming ideas, etc., to be had. And, since most yoga instructors know and accept that it will happen, I don't need to feel guilty when I 'borrow' something from them.
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