Day 227 Intention ~ Turn Negative Thoughts Around

Day 227 Intention ~ Turn Negative Thoughts Around

It's a general attitude for life and how you accept its ups and downs. I really try to make this a daily mantra for myself to keep from getting caught up in the whole domino effect that is negativity. 

Something is bound to happen each and every day that isn't exactly what you thought or wanted to have happen...right? If this is not your life, then kudos to you, it must be nice! 

But wait! It can be you, all by your attitude.

Take the swaha, so it is or so it goes, attitude and things won't seem so bad and you may just have that perfect (for you) day. 

Part of this is turning what could be perceived as a negative into a positive. 

For instance, twice today, things did not happen as I thought they would. I have a class in Little Italy on Thursdays at noon. This weekend is the Feast of the Assumption in that neighborhood. Tons of people, blocked off roads, and definitely nowhere close to park. In the past this hasn't affected that class...but this year, the parade was going right through it. I parked a mile away and started the trudge down the hill knowing that I was going to be late if anyone actually made it through there. 

Now, the fact that yoga classes slow down in the summer, I rely especially on my regulars and teaching my classes. So, of course, with my class not happening this afternoon. (I arrived about 10 minutes late and no one was there anyhow.) I walked back down the road and actually got to witness the parade which I have never seen before. So, that was pretty cool. 

Again this evening, one of my more popular classes only had one student. Of course, I get paid per head for this class, so it was not my biggest moneymaker, but as we went through class, I got to talk with my student and get to know what asanas work for her and what adjustments and modifications she could use in future classes too. Now, I do do this in a class with more people, but when it's one on one, it's nice for the student to get more of an explanation and more personal attention. So, although it wasn't my busiest class, I feel like I will be able to teach with a better understanding of this student in the future = positive thing!

So, when you feel like something bad or negative is happening to you, turn it around. Figure out what you are learning from the experience and make it a positive. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti,

Marcia

Day 180 Intention ~ Put Myself In Another's Shoes

Day 180 Intention ~ Put Myself In Another's Shoes

Today marks the 16th class that I have taught since Monday. Exhausting to say the least. When I get to this point, the energy level starts to drop and rarely, but it can happen, I lose patience. 

As I dragged myself to class today, a new student was waiting for me at the door. She had many questions for me as I was trying to get her and myself set up with waivers, sign-in sheets, the pass book, and on and on. I could feel myself tensing up as I just needed about 2 minutes to get it together. And, luckily, realizing what was happening, I caught myself. I pulled the grumpy out of me and visualized myself in her shoes. I became empathetic to her concerns and needs rather than self-absorbed and childishly curt because I didn't get my pre-class "zen" time. It was her fault that I was running a few minutes behind my usual routine or that I had stayed up too late last night. 

The times that I have done this in the past throughout life, I always feel badly about it and beat myself up, feeling like a complete jerk. So, I am glad that I could stop it before I spoke today & saved any hurt feelings and possibly gained a new student from the situation.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 179 Intention ~ Listen To My Own Advice

Day 179 Intention ~ Listen To My Own Advice

So, one of the things I tell newer yoga teachers when they ask me about teaching is don't judge a student and how they are feeling by the look on their face. 

When we are asking people to twist and bend and move their bodies in all sorts of directions, people make some pretty funny faces. Whenever I used to see a student who was new to my class making strange faces or looking at me during class or sighing heavily, I would decide that they just hated me, hated my class and couldn't wait to get the heck out of there. 

More than once, actually several times, these folks would be the ones who came up to me after class and tell me how much they liked it or be very thankful for teaching them. 

Yet, flash to this morning. Granted, I have taught a lot of classes so far this week at this point (13 actually with 4 more to go) and this was a last minute addition, making the week's total 18! (BTW, this will NOT be happening anytime soon again.)  So, that being said, I was already a little loopy and tired and possibly misreading people because of my own weariness. But, one woman kept looking at me and doing the deep sigh and I felt like she was just hating the class, upset that I was there subbing and again, couldn't wait to get the heck out of there. Now, in this case, she did not come up to me afterwards and thank me or any of that stuff, but I can't believe I started building this scenario in my head. It then changes how I am teaching and effects the class. 

Why??? Why did I not listen to my own advice??? 

Anyhow, later I realized I was being silly. Not every teacher is for every student. And not every stare is a glare. Not every sigh is disgust. 

Now, to move on and continue with this crazy week...

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

Day 72 Intention ~ Teach From My Heart

It happens to us all no matter what type of work we do...some days we are just feeling it more than other days. Teaching yoga is no different. There are days when I don't want to get out of bed or leave the house. This morning was one of those mornings, it may be the slight congestion I was feeling in my chest, or the need for more sleep, but I just didn't want to get up. 

But then I think about my students. I try to teach a class that I would want to attend. The students give me the energy and excitement to just flow from my heart, offering them whatever little knowledge I have, so that they can get a little closer to their inner Self. I am always happy when I see a students smile after class knowing that I gave it my heart and was as pure as I could be for them, for yoga, for me. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia