Thoughts From the Yoga Mat

I'm Teaching Yoga!

Sort of.  In my living room, to my close friends.  They are so kind for showing up and letting me practice on them.

I have been so nervous about getting my own yoga class going.  I have such an amazing yoga teacher, and the thought of trying to do what she does has paralyzed me.  Inaction.  Procrastination.  It had me stuck.

So about two weeks ago I had a little talk with myself.  It went something like this:  "You don't suck, just do it, stop being a dork".  I, being insulted by my own behavior, quickly shot off an email to 5 of my friends who have been bugging me to teach them some yoga.  Just to further prove what a dork I had been being, all 5 promptly responded that they would be coming to my class! 

My first class consisted of 4 willing yogis rather than 5, due to a last minute cancellation, and that was just fine with me.  My theme was Openness.  Openness to a new practice (yoga), trying new poses, new chants (Om), and being open to all the things in life that are there for the taking.  The class was 60 minutes long, and other than the fact that I needed more props, nothing went terribly wrong.

This past Sunday I taught my second class.  I had one new student and 3 others who came back for a second dose.  I felt a bit more relaxed and I tried a few new things, and all in all it went smoothly.  I even borrowed some props until I get some of my own (they are ordered).  The theme for the second class was Balance.  Being that it was a few days after Thanksgiving and all of us had overindulged in something, it seemed like a good theme.  We balanced excessive eating with exercise, excessive talking with some quiet mediation, excessive time giving to our families with time for replenishing ourselves.  It was quite lovely.

I am planning to teach again this Sunday.  I took a walk about an hour ago and thought about my theme.  I have invited two additional ladies to my class this week.  My living room can't really hold everyone that I have invited, but I figure not everyone can make it, and if they do, wow, what an abundant life I have! 

I will let you know how it goes. Namaste.