Don't Underestimate the Power of Gentle Yoga

Ok I'm not saying those "gentle" yoga classes secretly burn tons of calories...

They don't.

But for both exercise-aholics and sedentary people, these yoga classes that are slower and on the gentler side really give you a great time to just breathe deep and go within yourself.

The fast paced yogas- Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa- get the heart rate up, the body sweating, and muscles toned. Sometimes you get completely lost in the intensity of the practice; a great place to be lost indeed. All the hard work can build up for a deep relaxation  in savasana at the end too.

A slow class has a lot to offer too though, and I think not enough people take time to change up their routine. What the slow gentle class gives you is a moment to feel what each stretch is doing for your body as you comfortably breathe. Your body and mind are not struggling with fatigue or exhaustion, what comes next, and how deep you can go into a posture.

A couple years ago, I was in Bali with my mom and we took a Yin yoga class. We were in Ubud and there was no Bikram studio there so I thought sure why not, its about time I tried some style besides Bikram! I was definitely not ready to accept what that class was or appreciate what it had to offer. I was frustrated by the absence of sweat and rigor. There I sat, in a beautiful open air structure in a rice field of an exotic country, breathing with a beautiful energy of people from all over the world, and I was stuck inside the limits of my yoga fixation and what I thought to be right..

I have come a long way since then, finding my way back to those other yoga classrooms and finally embracing what was there. How beautiful it is that each and every one of these forms of yoga exist. I am so thankful to be guided synergistically (spell check says that isn't a word..?) by all of them. This is the "power" I am talking about.

The class I took tonight was called Relax and Flow. Yep, it has the word "relax" in the title. Sure the poses are simple enough to do on my own but to just go somewhere and be guided through a simple series is really fun. I felt great after, not necessarily energized but not tired. Just in a good place. The other people in the class included a few young active yogis but also some less able-bodied people who quite possibly get their only movement right there in that room.

I like to see people making an effort to do things that are good for their mind and spirit, not just their six-pack and their deltoids. Though that is a byproduct thats fine by me, I just hope that people keep an open mind and try something different once in a while! I think you can be pleasantly surprised.

I can't wait until the next time I'm in Ubud :)

I’m the Epitome of “First World Problems”

*In no way am I joking or being light about third world problems. Yes, those are still are big issue which will remain a concern.*

With that disclaimer out of the way… you may have heard the phrase “first world problems” lately…

I don’t like to use new age slang and I’m not into twitter and all those hash tag phrases that are bothersome captions for facebook photos.

But “first world problems” is a useful term for me.

One time I was telling a fellow yoga teacher (a much older wiser man) that I wanted to get some acupuncture and he asked why. I said for stress and anxiety. He chuckled and just looked at me and said “how are you stressed..?!”

Yeah, I get it. I’m this girl who has the world at her fingertips. I can travel the world, I can do yoga all day, people help me out with transport, housing, planning, and I’m never far from a beach.

..And I’m stressed out?

Somebody slap this girl upside the head.

So, what's my "problem?": where to go next, when to go, with who, how long, which yoga, which flight, which dinner salad!!?

First world problems right?!

The problem with having a head clear of concerns for spouse, kids, pets, finances, and obligations, the problem with having the world at my fingertips……?

THE WORLD IS HUGE!

Abundant opportunity is stressful. Which awesome thing should I do next? There, I said it. That is my first world problem.

5 Things I Learned from Teaching Yoga Besides "Yoga"

Since Bikram Yoga is the same 26 postures every class, and I practiced about six days a week for a little over a year before I arrived at Teacher Training, I assumed pssssh I know these postures soo well! I therefore assumed that teaching them would be easy. I would naturally be a knowledgeable, confident, and loving yoga teacher...


Then why did I find myself a few months into my new career getting asked questions I had no idea the answers to, feel like I wanted to cry when people looked sad while practicing, and feel frustration towards people who appeared not to be listening to my instructions?

Through teaching hundreds of classes to hundreds of bodies and abilities, traveling to studios and seminars, and researching and discussing the postures, my knowledge of the postures certainly deepened to a new level.

Meanwhile, I was learning so much more than physical postures. Here are the main things, of which I hold just as important to teaching as the knowledge about yoga postures.

1. Kindness. Realizing all the different kinds of people in this world, and how many of them are suffering, was sad and overwhelming at first. It is my purpose to share this yoga with them and I found how to recognize the good in each person, regardless of past judgements or of their behavior.


2. Sympathy. Before, I only knew the postures for one body, mine, but you can't teach to your own body. I realized that certain instructions that once helped me may be ineffective to the class. Having never experienced injury myself, it was difficult to understand why a student would not take my instruction. When my dad's arthritis prevented him from doing several postures fully, I understood that students have so many things going on in their body and that I needed to recognize that, not resent it.

3. Tolerance - There are certain aspects of yoga that students aren't ready to address. I learned not to let students' bad habits steal my peace as a teacher or steal my energy from the rest of the class. Taking a moment to think back to my early practice, I suddenly remembered that I also did some wacky stuff in class that I was not yet ready to detach from. I realized that acting like a drill sergeant was not the environment I wanted to create. The fact that we are all here trying yoga is all that matters.

4. Gratitude. I am thankful for my practice and I am thankful for yours. No. Matter. What.  Even if a student is difficult to "tolerate," no, especially when they are, the bottom line is, I'm glad you're here, I'll see you tomorrow.

5. EGO. Who knew that even with a history of low self-confidence I could have such a big ego? The way that students practice is not always about the teacher. So, why would I take personal offense? I have no idea what their day was like, what is happening at home, and what is going on in their body and in their mind. Taking offense or feeling ignored as a teacher is the ego responding; their behavior may have nothing to do with me. Teaching is a humbling experience. Sometimes I can recognize the presence of my ego but not always. Knowing this, I try to surround myself with more experienced teachers, to remind myself that I don't know all the answers.





When I say that this is what I learned besides yoga, I now realize that this is yoga. Yes, those who study yoga know that is not only asanas or physical practice. But I had no idea I would explore the rest by means of teaching. I practice these five things inside the yoga room but more importantly, outside the room as well.

Many of us try yoga to free our bodies from discomfort, and for health and fitness, but find that we learn to free our minds and open our hearts.