Day 292 Intention ~ Stand In Awe

Day 292 Intention ~ Stand In Awe

Last night was my husband's big art opening. I was amazed by the outpouring of support from friends, family, co-workers and my yoga students (who are also friends) that came out. It is difficult for me to express how touched John & I both were from all of this. I stand in awe of all of their amazing-ness.

I am also in awe of the turn out in the Cleveland Heights community and all of their kind words and support. It is always nice to hear from strangers. I do really enjoy living in this community, so to feel like my husband's work was appreciated here, at home, was a wonderful feeling. 

I am also in awe of the amazing range of artists that do support the community. The talents out there are amazing and I hope that we can all support each other in our endeavors and keep art alive & well! 

Keep living and loving those around you and your community will only grow and thrive. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 268 Intention ~ Play To My Audience

Day 268 Intention ~ Play to My Audience

I have three yoga classes today. All are very different audiences. The first are at the Centers for Families and Children. Most of these students are stressed out and just need some gentle poses and breath work to find ease and relaxation. We always practice yoga nidra also to soothe them even more. 

The next group is a group of seniors that need to go a little bit more slowly and gently. I also need to be clear and talk a little bit louder. They still do many of the standing poses, but just enter into the poses a little bit differently and more gently than in a full on vinyasa flow class. They usually have more questions or things that are harder for them to do, so it's always a good lesson for me also to discover what directions and processes are the best to help them get the most out of their practice. 

Lastly, I have a class at the community center. It's an open level class and it runs in 6 week sessions. Some of the folks have been coming since I started teaching this class 3 years ago and are getting pretty advanced; this time there are also a number of new people that are new, not just to my class, but to yoga in general. Although this class is more vigorous than the other two today, we are still working on some basic poses for the newer people. 

I used to go into classes with a whole plan and if I got off of that class plan, I was thrown off completely. As time went on and I got more experience, the plan became less strict. I always have something in mind that I would like to work on, but depending who is there and their injuries or limitations, teachers need to be able to adapt to what is going to be best for their clients that day. We always want to offer a safe, maybe challenging class to our students. A class that makes them learn how to listen to their own body, to feel stronger, more flexible, relaxed, and wanting more.

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 254 Intention ~ Speak Clearly

Day 254 Intention ~ Speak Clearly

Sometimes when I get nervous, I start to talk fast and mumble. Today, I had to do a demo class for the senior center to try to encourage attendance for my class that is starting next week. I also started a new session at the community center. I still get a little nervous when teaching to new people. Although it's better than it used to be, I still sometimes catch myself releasing a nervous laugh, or mumbling through instructions, or saying the dreaded, "you know". 

Today, although with a couple moments of those reactions, I did my best to speak clearly and slowly. The reality is, the more relaxed I am as a teacher, the more relaxed the students will feel. That's when they can really start to open, not only physically, but emotionally. 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 243 Intention ~ Drop It

Day 243 Intention ~ Drop It

One of those days today. Started the day off subbing a class. The usual insecurities arose in me and didn't subside as I watched a few of the students walk away when they discovered that their beloved teacher was not going to be there this morning. 

Although this is an expected behavior in a substitutes world, it still doesn't feel good. I was overtired and relishing in the fact that I actually have 2 days off (in a row!) after I taught these classes today, so I became a bit distracted during the first class that, of course, was the one I was subbing. I felt like I had marbles in my mouth and unfortunately, couldn't get the vision of people walking away rather than take my class out of my mind. Good ego check for me though I suppose. 

As class went on, I started to find presence with the students who were actually there...finally! By the time my regular class rolled around, I was back on my game. 

But then as I was leaving, feelings of self-doubt crept into my being again thinking about the morning class and how I didn't feel like it was my best teaching and no wonder those people didn't want to take my class, blah, blah, blah....

But, now that I have been beating myself up for the afternoon, it's time to DROP IT! It's not serving me to talk to myself this way. We all have off days...even yoga teachers. It's okay. Move forward. And, yes, rest for a couple days before getting back to it on Tuesday! 

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 231 Intention ~ Be Understanding...and Kind

Day 231 Intention ~ Be Understanding...and Kind

In my line of work you deal with the general public...a lot. Many ask me questions before or after class about either some of the yoga poses we did in class that day, about certain studios/teachers, or other general yoga questions. 

Of course, I am always open to these questions and love when my students are interested in learning more. 

Every once in awhile, someone just keeps going and going. There are definitely people that need a little more hand holding in class and after class. Although I do try to be understanding, it can get to me at times. Today, I can feel that I have a bit of an annoyance coming on when it comes to a certain student, which is NOT how I want to feel or act towards this person. 

So, today, I am trying to remind myself to be understanding and kind to this student. This is my intention. But first, a few deep breaths in and out. :)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia

Day 188 Intention ~ Ease Back Into My Practice

Day 188 Intention ~ Ease Back Into My Practice

It's been a few days since I've gotten on my mat. Since then I have been on 2 long car rides, hiked, slept in funny beds and been dragged to the ground by George, hurting my shoulder (see post from a few days ago). Needless to say, my body is TIGHT!!! But, alas, my right arm is still not 100% ready for practice. Heck, it still hurts to lift my arm over my head. But, yet, I need to get on my mat. 

So, as I would tell my own students...listen to my body. Do what I can and be okay with stopping if necessary. It's still a hard pill to swallow when every part but one is ready to practice. Everything in moderation. Pushing oneself beyond capabilities is just asking to injure oneself during what is supposed to be a healing practice. 

So, as I approach my mat today, I will listen to my body and back off when my right shoulder starts to resist my attempts.

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 103 Intention ~ Remember It's Still New...To You

Day 103 Intention ~ Remember it's still new...to you.

...or at least it's "new" to some students that come into class. 

Some days I feel like I have said the same things over and over so many times that I feel like I have become like a broken record. I forget that students don't hear it the 17 or more times I've said something that week & frankly, they need the reminder to lengthen the side body or bend their knee or even just to breathe. 

Although it is hard to keep things sounding fresh all the time or perhaps a teacher feels like they've taught the same pose so many times that they think that there is no way this is fresh, the student is the one the class is for, not the teacher. Believe me, I learn and get things out of teaching classes too, but it's not about me...it's about the student. 

Today in class, a student that I generally only see once a week asked me if we could practice janu sirsasana, seated head to knee pose. Now I teach that in almost every class I teach, and would think that this would be one of those poses that people could get bored with, but to have this student ask if we could practice it just brought it back to the forefront that it's fresh to them...and that's who matters. 

If you find yourself getting bored with what you are saying and can't find a way to make it exciting again, change the language, or look at the student and see if they are getting it and if that doesn't work, it may just be time for a vacation. :)

Til tomorrow...

Shanti, 

Marcia