It’s time for another one of my “whenever” Yoga blogs… I’m
getting ready to teach again in another couple of weeks. While I may not teach
continuously, I certainly PRACTICE continually… And so, that’s what my blog is
about!
A woman I used to work with told me she was sore from doing
something (like moving furniture) and she thought that going to yoga class
would be the best thing to do. I mean, Yoga is good for that, right? Well,
RIGHT, but…
Your Yoga teacher does not know what is up with your body,
and even if they do, they certainly can’t teach a perfect class with a dozen
students doing just the right thing for all the students. Recently, injured myself
from ripping out brush and bushes from my yard, so, when I started my yoga
practice, I stood on my left foot and held my right heal in my right hand while
pointing my right knee out beside me. I relaxed my leg and let my spine open up
on the right. I knew it was the pose I needed to do because that’s what my body told
me to do. Your best yoga instructor is YOU. Your body will tell you
what it needs through the awareness that a multi-year practice will produce. If
you want that awareness after one yoga class, or from your instructor in each
class, you don’t get what yoga is… yet.
It IS your teacher’s responsibility to instill a continuing
interest in Yoga into you, so that you can practice on your own in order to get
the best benefits.
The woman I worked with complained that she had never been sorer
in her life after that class. A cross-trainer would say, “Good”. Some of you yoga
instructors would say that too. Not me.
Yoga is not about ripped abs, extreme endurance, big muscles
or perfection. Yoga is learning about yourself, and finding your own path to
being the best that you know you can be.
Because of that, yoga is kind to many different body types
and shapes, despite almost never seeing such things in yoga advertisements.
If you are only practicing yoga right now in a class, start
to do some yoga on your own. If you “hurt” somewhere, think about something
GENTLE that you can do that might make it feel better. Use gravity and try to
relax into your self-created pose. BREATHE into it…
So, in my class coming up, I’m going to concentrate on
passing that desire to my students – to practice it daily and on one’s own.
That way I can improve as a teacher…
Namaste! And see you in class!
Robert
I totally agree as a yoga practioner myself - practicing up to 3 times a week in class and some outside a class as needed.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree as a yoga practioner myself - practicing up to 3 times a week in class and some outside a class as needed.
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