
My student love continues. Last night was my first class in the 6pm Wednesday time slot I am now taking over at the studio. This has been a "Basic Vinyasa" class, which is a title open for a lot of interpretation. To some, the basic doesn't mean intro or beginner, but it doesn't mean power yoga either. To others, I suspect that basic means straight-up, no bells and whistles, meat and potatoes vinyasa yoga.
So I confess there was just a hint of self-doubt going into the class. Teaching in the Kripalu tradition, whether that be a more heat building-vinyasa class or more gentle-restorative class, does not mean meat and potatoes. Its more experimental-soul-food.
(This is an analogy that is clearly developing during lunch time...)
In the end, I had to show up and remember I can only be me (who else am I going to be?) and the students had to allow for that. Its a pact. There are things I owe to my students and things they owe to themselves (which in turn, helps me teach them).
I owe it to my students
...to be fully present; guiding them through their practice with safety and intention
...to create a safe space to explore being in their bodies
...to watch them carefully and give substitutions or help them go deeper and teach them to do this for themselves
...to pass along knowledge that helps their practice grow; alignment, anatomy, philosophy and further resources
...to not try and change my students in any way
...to let them have their own relationship to yoga
There are more than that, I am sure...these are coming into my mind at this moment (this hungry moment) So what of the students? What is their pact? On the one hand, I often feel like yoga asks a lot, of anyone. On the other, all you have to do is show up. As a student of yoga, what do you owe yourself? (and, ahem, your teacher)
As a student of yoga, I will
...show up
...be mindful of my body - the sensations, the energy, the breath (i.e. I will turn auto-pilot OFF)
...seek moments of compassion and non-judgment and respond to them: taking a block when I need support or going further when I know I can meet the challenge
...quiet the thoughts of comparison to others or my teacher
...listen to the teacher and yet act according to my own inner voice and guidance
....not snore during savasana
Just a few off the top of my head. Can you think of more?