Is it Yoga...?

Since I am responsible for the fitness classes here...
I assume I must accept responsibility for what we offer to some extent.
Part of the focus of the job is to also offer students a chance to develop as instructors,
probably my favorite part of this journey, though it is challenging at times :-)

I have been fortunate with the yoga classes,
to have found a school that had been operating through the kinesiology department for several years.
But this semester I have allowed someone not "officially certified"... unless you count 24 hour Fitness - training :-P
I was amused during the interview when I asked for this person's interpretation of what yoga is...
and what their PiYO class was like. Pretty much decided right there that they would only be teaching other fitness classes.
But Life flows as it should and Things aligned for her to teach a yoga class(?)
Ok, I don't like to go against what Is to Be. (though I had my doubts, I'm in human form at the moment after all) haha

I have been pleasantly surprised to find students enjoying the class...
The personality most co-workers find from this individual isn't what comes across in her class apparently.
So life flows on as it should, but one thing still lurks in the shadow.
Why must most teachers "claim" "their students" ?!?

This week I had "one of her students" come and ask if the teacher would be back, since there was a sub that night.
Enquiring feedback on the perceived difference between instructors made me wonder if I might be allowing a disservice?
Does one odd apple cause the other apples to appear incorrect? When I know on a certain level that the truth is actually inverse?!
I do Believe in "different strokes for different folks"... but may a misinterpretation lead to a lifetime of false expectations?

I caught myself somewhat defending one instructor, while kinda pointing out a false comparison by this novice.
Not a situation I like to see myself address... since this is a territory that the Ego loves to roam.
Not a dance i choose to engage with very often.
But I do admit to question what part I may play in "leading" this program I have been given to facilitate.


In my past I was educated by a surf buddy who traditionally trained to teach a Pilates mat class. (He really frowned on mixing Yoga & Pilates... which I also have come to support). I was turned on to Joseph's Contrology methods... and have much respect for this leader and the movement that was ahead of it's time & continues to live on.
I also hold a great deal of admiration & respect for Krishnamacharya & our other Forefathers...

PiYO or Yogilates... seems like a cheap re-packaging of somethings too big to try and "re-invent'.

I do know and understand how some people gravitate to certain teachers,
It has gotten more obvious as i have learned to differentiate Light from Darkness...
I choose to hold a higher level of ethics for myself, but where must I draw the line when dealing with others?
Sometimes it is hard to hear the Heart, when the Mind & Ego shout their distractions!

It is times like these that I return my focus to the task at hand...
and continue on my personal path...
What is Yoga? :-)

Coincidence, I think not..

So I must admit that I love sharing yoga...
Was at a NIRSA Conference ALL DAY, but still went in to teach class.
Got some good info during one of the session about adherence to an exercise program,
so I put it into action :-)

The theme lately has been connecting; re-membering our True & unlimited nature.
The tip was to connect with the students and work towards getting all of there names, which isn't easy in my arrangement and past rebelliousness of expecting others to know my name.
There has been a new level of Peace lately, a maturing to the PAth I am on...
I felt it more so today as I mingled with so many today and before class.

Been playing the CD Joe burnt for us: called BREAD,
A more "traditional soundtrack" then what I've been spinnin' this semester :-P
Tried to flow off of what we had done the previous week, even read over my notecard... haha
Surya Namaskar A has been the backbone of the "asana core-e-aw-gra-fee-king" I've been experimenting with.

The mental note was about Conscious: the sub-, the -ness, and the Ego.
Cueing about the Sparkly Ego... honest Awareness, humble acceptance and patient determination.
Sometimes the visual is that lone tree... separated from the forest, but still part of the Whole.
Like me today, a lone wolf roaming around for Truth, gems for my Path... but somehow separated.

Today's session Also had a reminder about Being aware of that part that critiques, judges and distracts us from our moments,
Cultivating an awareness of when the Heart speaks. And when that OTHER part contradicts "reality."

During class... I love when Song #5 comes on!
Reminds me of SlumDog Millionaire...
Which lead me to remind everyone that there are no coincidences... each moment building upon the last and preparing us for the next moment (hopefully).
Sometimes the question comes before the answer, but I Know The One usually prepares us first...
so we are ready for our Tests.

Which leads me to share this card I found for a friend...

There is only one minute in which you are alive,
this minute, here and now.
The only way to live is by accepting each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.
Which is exactly what it is - a miracle and unrepeatable.
- Storm Jameson

Reconnection Day

Today's class was about reconnecting to the Source...
Of course we have many religions discussing and telling us What that Is.
My point is that their Is Something and in Yoga we are taking time to "get online" as Erich talks about in his class.
We even did a little free-form yoga at the end before savasana...
I guess today was one of my versions of Papa Bear's class vibe,
Though I didn't have the time for those great pauses, as he speaks, that I love so much...

So starting with some of that dialogue, it lead us into alternate nostril breathing.
Syncing both hemispheres of our brain, the inhale with the exhale...
Noticing the four parts of the breathe. Having the students notice if the mind becomes involved.
I shared as a surfer, how holding the finished exhale is like the oddest thing for me...
This reminds me of a place where I am trapped under the waves, waiting for my freedom & the surface.
So I remind that we don't have to react to the mind's fears or distractions...
I like to remind these things to help in setting the tone for the practice of awareness.

My intention was to flow more quickly into postures and try to make the class a little more challenging.
I did a little cheat sheet of reminders right before class, of things we could do during some of the sequences...
But I never did look at it and ended up pretty much doing them all :-)
I did play "the BREAD" CD from the Jam Session... love it!

Several students brought friends and I can hear the whispers of anticipation of my "humouristic flow."
I did start with a "let's get to business" approach and the class seemed very receptive of my lesson.
But the silly, "riddling of science and spirit" (not sure what to call it?), of course was there to keep things Light.
I know it is my style of teaching and since they come, I accept this journey of sharing yoga.
Erich really captures it in this video... "as I get into this... I'm talking about YOGA"

So on the drive home this night, I don't second guess,
or disagree with what occurred or critique the process of what was done...
I think I was able to be more centered going in, though I was a little nervous (not sure why?)

I still had a minor expectation (private matter of the heart) :-)
But felt like I did well channeling the Truth...
Better than other nights?? Not sure... I think I always seem to, for the most part.
Was it because "I did everything on the list"... NO

Funny, there were a few people that left during the class, which doesn't happen usually...
I guess some people don't need a whole hours dose of Asana :-)
Maybe this evening I got the DSL high speed hook up.
I do feel good about what we were all able to download.

One Note:
I did mention during class how students have always chosen to sit at the feet of the Masters...
and as Uma said "the mind clears and becomes blank." Instantaneously Present.
I came to realize that their must be some cool "WiFi hook up" in those instances...

I give Thanks to the Masters who were present Tonight :-)

Not for very long

I had an experience on Saturday that has stuck with me for awhile...
Strange how it came to be, but obviously was meant to happen.

As a teacher... it is a unique tool we have to hold space, to reach to the place the student is at, to try and "see" where they are "coming from."
This requires us to hold our own space while we keep the "impeccable boundaries" that are between us
For we are a "conduit" for the Higher Powers. Only to lead, not to take on anything.

So the lesson I received was interesting because I have for years now, usually stated during our final twisting poses to "look towards your blind spot". Which is a clever way to have the students get the transverse motion in their cervical spine. This is a great way to get the full benefits of the posture and I've even had some older people come back and "thank me for saving them from having an accident." Which always makes me laugh and remind them that they are the one to be grateful for doing their work. :-)

So on Saturday, as Eric and were driving up to Lake Arrowhead to go climb...
We came onto a scene where this motorcyclist had been downed by another driver.
Passing only feet from him in the middle of the freeway and seeing his friend on his knees beside him with that look in his eyes. I cannot forget... and there was nothing any of us could do. Its moments like that, that seems to make our lives move in slow motion. With the unenviable Truth that reminds us of how temporary this all is for us.
I have been saying for many class sessions lately, "look in your blind spot... there may be a motorcyclist there!"
It really rang true this weekend.

When your going climbing, imagining what was going on in this friend's head and the feelings in his heart...
I really had to practice keeping those boundaries.
And you can wonder about all the "what ifs" and "what kind of sign is this for me?"
But FEAR is a bastard and the Truth will only get fogged by it...
I know God never wastes opportunities to teach us.

So I am reminded of the frailty in this life...
To witness others, but walk my own path.
To be true to the teachings I am given and share them with as many others as possible.
To realize when you find the climb you hiked 40 minutes for and find the first bolt "missing?!"...
that it may not be worth it to climb up 25ft to clip the "second" with no protection.

THIS life is NOT for very long, but I will do my part to enjoy it and get as much of it as possible.
Its a fine line some times, make the most it and don't forget the blind spots!

this Thing called Love...

I've been focusing on a mental theme, as well as a physical goal when teaching classes this semester...
For me, a good class has some verbal lessons as well as some challenging poses.
As Kira reminded us, we teach what we need ourselves...
I look to combine compassion with determination.

So this last class incorporated the words from the movie I watched last weekend called Little Children.
The older woman in the movie told her son something about how humans go on through life though we know we will lose everything.
As Jaime stated in her article... "we are all on a journey on a ship that is doomed to sink."
Yet... we go on because deep-down we know the only thing we have is Love. LOVE is all there is...

I'm always amazed how the class session goes, because somehow the mental theme comes together...
not always easy since we only have an hour & most students are there for "the work-out" :-)
But I was even able to link in the movie the Titanic, keeping with the Kate Winslet theme!
There is always quite a bit of laughter... and they keep coming back, so something is happening for the better.

Still, there have been many of nights on the way home from class,
That I catch myself questioning what the !!!! am I doing??!
I ultimately whittle it down to some type of expectation...
Which always seems to humble me and allow for the compassion to heal.

As I mentioned in the last Jam Session we had...
I anticipate this to "self-reflective, doubting, mental sparring" to someday end. SOONER, rather than later!!
But I guess it would only mess up the vibe in which I find myself "co-teaching" with the Source.
If thats the case - than I can take it :-)

It seems easier to remind others of their human-ness and quite silly for me to forget my own.
But as Life shows us... it always comes back to us Full Circle,
and we realize that all we have really... is LOVE

I like Water

I don't care in what form these wonderful hydrogen and oxygen molecules get arranged...

I'll take it as a liquid, so soothing as I glide through it - in it - on the surface even.
Love it when the energy travels thousands of miles to create that flow and movement for me to play,
6+ feet of foam and fins, slicing up a face like a surgeon or artist painting on the blank canvas :-)



I'll take it as a frozen powder, so soft and cool.
Nothing like making new tracks on the virgin whiteness, as if nobody has ever been there before me - ever.
Though the wind may toss my hair, I cherish those silent moments - just me and the trees having a pillow fight with the pow-pow!

I'll take it as a vapor... cloud like ecstasy, with my wings spread wide.
Flying on to greater heights, reminding me that I am more then this body.
Sometimes I just stand on the cliffs edge, allowing the clouds to past right through me.

I guess I actually do care and feel blessed that I get to experience the whole spectrum and even appreciate the other dimensions I may not be aware of... yet.