Are you Ready?

We recently posted information about our 2012 teacher training program on our website (http://www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com/announcements.htm), and since then I've been getting alot of questions.

The general thread that runs through many of the questions runs along the lines of "I'm not good enough/my practice isn't strong enough/ there's alot I don't know & can't do - am I ready?"

When I began teaching, there was no Yoga Alliance certification program for teachers.  There were programs out there - but completing a 200 hour certified course wasn't a requirement for teaching yoga. 

I can remember standing in the lobby of the studio where I had been practicing regularly, when the owner asked me if I had ever thought about teaching yoga.

My immediate reply was a long-winded answer about wanting to attend this retreat & that immersion program in preparation for teaching...about wanting to be ready first.

As I finished speaking, I noticed the sign on the board that said something to the effect of " yoga teachers wanted".

He meant - had I thought about teaching NOW.

I had thought about teaching, but in an abstract, distant-future way.  Was I ready to teach - no way.  But was I going to pass up this opportunity - no way.

(and thank goodness I didn't, because it was the start on the path to where I am today).

And so I started teaching power yoga.  I did some informal training, attended various retreats & seminars, but most of what I learned, I learned as I taught & took class from others.  I learned what to do...and equally important, what not to do.

(and thank goodness for all those kind students who suffered through my early classes).

When I started teaching, there were alot of poses I couldn't do...there are still poses I can't do.  And there are poses I might never be able to do.  

When I started teaching, I hadn't been practicing all that long - there was alot I didn't know.  And there's still more that I want to know - I believe you never stop learning.

When I started teaching, I wasn't ready.  But I'm not sure when I would have felt really ready - there's always more in this practice to learn & try & do.

So when people ask me this question - about being ready - I always say, it's not about what you can't do, it's about what you can do.

If you can get on your mat & work with your body with where it is today - you're ready. 

If yoga brings you joy & light & you want to spread that joy & light - you're ready.

If you're ready to look inside & get to know yourself really well - you're ready.

If getting on your mat challenges you & you wonder how you can stay calm & centered on (and off) your mat - even then, you're ready.

It's not just about teacher training - it's about anything in your life that you want.  If you wait until everything in your practice is just right....until everything in your life is just right - you may never be ready.

What you learn on your mat, is that you are often ready...even when you think you aren't. 

You can now find my blog at the Register Citizen: http:http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/  

YES!!

Every where you go, it seems you see signs that tell you what you can't do:

"no parking"

"no left turn"

"no loitering"

"no shirt, no shoes, no service"

One of my friends owns a toy store (Toy Jam - check it out!) and she commented about this. She said she tries to avoid these kinds of signs in her store because of the negative energy that she feels goes along with them.  She's absolutely right.

It doesn't end there.  Undoubtedly, at some point in your life you've been told what you can't do:

" no, you can't - you're too short/tall"

"no, you can't - you're not smart enough"

Enough of that, right!!

One of the things that I love about yoga is that it's all about "YES".

"YES - you CAN"

Yoga teaches that you can do it - whatever "it" is.

Whatever your age, size, shape - you can practice yoga.  It is accessible to every-body.

It is a practice of saying "yes" to yourself.

Whether it's "yes, it's ok for me to rest now" or "yes - I can try a handstand today & I don't care how I look".

Once learn to say yes, the possibilities are endless...on & off your mat!

Where were you?

I remember when I was young, and my mother would talk about the day President Kennedy was shot.  Whenever she talked about it, she always said she could remember where she was & what she was doing.  She said that was something she would never forget.

At the time, I don't think I got it.  For a long time, I don't think I got it.

Then September 11th, 2001 happened.  I remember, like many of you I'm sure, where I was & what I doing on that day.  When I first heard the news of what had happened & as events unfolded.

I remember the sorrow.  I remember the fear & uncertainty & the disbelief.  I remember the anger.

When I remember what happened, my heart goes out to all those who were lost that day.  My heart goes out to all those who lost someone that day.  My heart goes out to all those who were touched by what happened that day.

When I remember that day, my heart is filled with sorrow for the past....and my heart grows & expands & is filled joy & hope for the future.

As a teacher & student of yoga, Sept 11th reminds me that we can remember what happened, and remember all that was felt.  But also that we can let go of the anger & the fear & open our hearts to love.

Anger & fear divide us.  Divide us from one another & from our true selves.  They encourage more fear & more anger & eat away at us.

Opening our hearts to love, means opening our hearts to others, and reminds us that we are more alike than different.  Opening our hearts reminds us that we are all beings of love & light.  And that we need one another to survive.

Today, and every day, practice opening your heart.  Love yourself.  Send an offering of love to those in need.  Send an offering of love to people you know & people you don't.  To people who you like & love.  And people who you don't.

"Love & compassion are necessities, not luxuries.  Without them humanity cannot survive." - Dalai Lama

You can now find my blog at the Register Citizen: http:http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/ 

Opportunity Knocks

I had a teacher in High School who, before an exam, would say "this is not a test, this is an opportunity". 

At the time, I didn't really appreciate the remark.  After all, in most cases I was worried about the test & wanted only to get a good grade (this was before I found yoga).

Still, it was a phrase that many of us used & repeated at the time.  Even if mostly in jest.  And it's a phrase that has stuck with me for more 25 years.

Now when I think of experience & the phrase, I get it.  It was in fact an opportunity - to show I was prepared, that I could handle the pressure of the moment & that I knew my stuff, amoung other things.

I've thought about this phrase when practicing yoga & have even related the experience of hearing it in High School to my yoga students at Sanctuary Power Yoga (http://www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com/index.htm).

When faced with a challenging pose, one that you find difficult or just plain don't like - you're presented with an opportunity.

You have the opportunity to breathe, to stay focused & calm, and to make it through that moment with ease & Grace.

In a challenging moment in your life, when faced with a challenging boss, a difficult family member, crazy traffic - you're presented with an opportunity. 

You have the opportunity to breathe, stay calm & focused & make it through the moment with ease & Grace.

So, next time you are presented with an opportunity...what will you do?  

You can now find my blog at the Register Citizen: http:http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/

Imagine

On my way to the studio (http://www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com/), I pass a church with a sign out in front.

A few weeks ago, when it was really hot, the sign read "Think it's hot?  Imagine Hell."

It got my attention.

But I'll be honest, I didn't really know what to do with something like that.

The first thing that came to my mind, and what I said to my husband when I later told him about it, was "really?".

Really?  You want me to imagine Hell?  You want everyone who drives by & reads the sign to imagine Hell?

Now, I don't want to get into a debate about religion.  That's not what this is about.  I'm not criticizing.  I'm questioning.

Because I'm confident that there are plenty of people in our town, in our city, in our state, in our country, in our world - who will tell you they don't need to imagine Hell because they are living in it.  And I'm confident that there are plenty of other folks out there who will say they've seen it.

For me, it's a matter of deliberate creation.  I want to imagine what I DO want to experience (not the other way around).  Through my imagination, I want to  create what I want to see & live.

"Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world"
-John Lennon

You can now find my blog at the Register Citizen: http:http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/

Headstand

I can remember taking class as a new teacher & watching a seasoned yogi come gracefully & effortlessly into a basket headstand, without ever bending her legs - they just floated up off the floor.  And I remember thinking "I want to do that".

I can also remember, around that same time, standing in the lobby of the studio where I had just started teaching, talking to a seasoned teacher about wanting my own studio one day.  I had just started teaching already I knew it was what I wanted.  This was over 10 years ago.

Since I started practicing yoga, I have always maintained my practice.  Sometimes practicing as much as 90 minutes a day, 6 days a week.  Sometimes as little as 30 minutes a day 2 days a week.  But always, maintaining my practice.

In the last 10 years, I have had several jobs, taught at several different yoga studios & managed a couple.  Throughout it all, I maintained that I wanted & would have my own studio.

So many times I tried that headstand & just couldn't "do" it.  I thought "well, I need to give my body some time".

In the past few years, I've had a couple of opportunities to open yoga studios present themselves to me - but each time it wasn't quite right & I couldn't make it work.  And each time that happened, even though I was a little disappointed, I always thought "well, it's just not the time yet".

Everywhere I went - I took my yoga mat with me.  I once forgot it in the airport & bought another one when I arrived at my destination, even though I already had 3 mats back at home.

Everywhere I went - from Vermont to Florida - I found vacant spaces that I thought would be great for a yoga studio.

I have never given up my belief in the benefits of this practice.  Even when I couldn't "do" much of the practice.  I stayed patient & practiced what I could.

And even when it seemed impossible that I would have my own studio, I never gave up the belief that it would happen. It was ok - I stayed patient & thought about how it would feel when it did happen. 

And one day, when I wasn't thinking about, I mastered that basket headstand.  My legs just floated up off the floor. 

And then, when I least expected it, there was my yoga studio (http://www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com/).   Everything I imagined & more.

You can now find my blog at the Register Citizen: http:http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/

Why rush?

"Nature doesn't rush.  Life doesn't rush.  Only humans rush".

I heard another yoga instructor say this a few weeks ago & it stuck with me. 

I gave up rushing some time ago.  I'm not sure exactly how it happened. 

Here's what I remember: that feeling of being in my home, looking at the time & thinking I needed to leave right now or I would be late to teach.  That feeling of needing to get everything together right away so I could get going...that desperate feeling of needing to find my keys, my phone, my wallet...everything I needed to have in order to get out of the house.

I remember the last minute, frantic searching - not being able to find what I needed - only to finally realize that what I was looking for was already in my bag or in my car.

At some point I realized that the rushing was counter-productive.  When I was rushing, I was disconnected from what I was doing. I was thinking about where I was going, instead of focusing on where I was.  I was thinking that I would never get it together in time, instead of realizing that I had all the time I needed.  At some point I realized that the time I spent rushing around like a crazy person, snapping at my family, could just as easily be spent calming getting my things together. 

Rushing is really about not being present.  When you're rushing - either yourself or a process - you're focused on the future. You're giving your attention & energy to where you think you should be, instead of experiencing where you are.

When you are present - all of your energy & attention are on what you are doing at the moment.  Focused on accomplishing what you need to do right then & there.  One thing at a time.  When you keep your breath calm & even, you can stay calm & balanced.  Focusing on what you need to do at that moment helps get it done. 

This is what yoga has taught me & this is what I try to teach my students.  To breathe.  To focus in on what you are doing RIGHT NOW.  Take it one breath, one thing, at a time.  Let go of where you think you should be, or even where you want to be.  Embrace this moment.  Don't try to rush through it.  Even when it's challenging.  Take a class at my studio (http://www.sanctuarypoweryoga.com/aboutus.htm) & see what I mean.

Remember, because it's true..."nature doesn't rush. life doesn't rush..."  and you don't have to either. 

You can now read my blog at the Register Citizen: http://www.registercitizen.com/blogs/life/