Tree pose because … the forest is right there … beyond the Moon Gate.
Last summer’s photos from Vancouver, BC, Canada where we hope to relocate should you know who gets elected to be the leader of the free world.lol Just kidding. Not?
So had kind of a challenging weekend. Challenge in a very good sense. Three of us were in a lineup to teach a lesson plan we each designed with specific intentions/purpose in front of (no more pre-scripted blue print sequence … we have to think it up with logical justifications as to why this over that posture for instance …) maybe – didn’t count – 30 yoga teachers (everyone like me are 200 hrs. certified) and teacher training director this Sunday. I was one of the three to share the “project”. Then be … critiqued with constructive feedback by Self first – in front of the entire group. Judgement Day? & here we are all about non-judgement in yoga BUT as one to teach, we must have humility. It is so very difficult to let the ego go and treat the challenge to get evaluated… as just another part of a learning and growing opportunity – I mean, after all, no matter what anyone tells you, we are conditioned to think it’s a … TEST, isn’t it? Evaluation is … a test. We get graded on tests and I have been conditioned to stress over them because of course I want to do well.
I overcame the performance anxieties by thinking about a dear student who used to come to my Sunday evening classes at a lovely studio in the Peninsula. I thought of her and her fighting spirit and how she used to bestow me with such positive encouraging feedback. She had really inspired me to study this art of healing more seriously. Thinking of the battles she’s waging, the challenges she is overcoming, my little test really is nothing – relatively speaking – it’s just about cultivating humility for betterment. Seeking high quality and betterment … while remaining humble is …to me, spiritual. And this is just another continuum of that pursuit.
So this challenge, this “test” is so little relatively speaking in scheme of the BIG challenges we face in our daily lives. I can even share a part of my evaluation where the program director commented as follows:
+ Thoughtfulness and care evident in instruction, voice and selection of the postures.
+ Very nurturing presence and instruction, conducive for healing.
+ Very fluid progression in sequence to help sustain mindfulness.
Phew – what a relief!!! because honesty, I found myself deviating from the pre-set lesson, practically an ad-lib even though I had a whole plan outlined, that had been peer-reviewed by a well respected cohort … At times like this, stress and tension is actually a good thing when harnessed and channeled for improvements.
Then comes the “constructive” criticism portion … thankfully not too much – This feedback being the most important:
– Simplifying postures and refining precision to highlight focus.
So in other words, hone it into a very distilled focused practice. Whereas, I made it a bit more complicated than necessary …by cramming in lots of postures, with the immature notion of more the better … Sometimes we are scared to keep things simple, but that was the overriding lesson: Keep it simple. Less is more.
As I had 100’s of possibilities running through my mind, it is indeed all about making choices, distilling the teachings into a clear, concise lesson plan that resonates.
So fortunate to immerse in the fine art and science of yoga methods for therapeutic applications. More and more amazing and helpful information to share if I am allowed to share the knowledge from the experts and experienced peers (the MDs, therapists and seasoned experienced teachers) as I integrate the teachings into lesson plans.
This month’s module … “Immune System and Yoga” taught both theoretically and through actual practice, was very eye-opening. Felt its medicinal effects immediately and felt that in some ways, regular practice of this is better than say, getting a flu shot – REALLY. Don’t we need to strengthen our immune system as we head into holiday season?
With optimal health, we can enjoy all that the coming season has to offer, healthy and fully engaged. Life is short; life is fragile and … we keep it going with loving self-care. When you are cared for, you can be that love furnace kindled with energy and light – we have to have the energy, the light ourselves so we can share that warm glow of santosha. We can’t care for others unless we ourselves are well cared for – to me, that’s what a spiritual practice is all about. To expect the best in all of us as we learn and grow on this blessed journey called life. Love & Light … Namaste
