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Teaching online – a lesson in bravery.

When I first closed my studio in mid March, my thoughts were as follows….”this is temporary, I’ll be open again April 1st” and “I don’t need to teach online, there is a ton of good content on the web already”.

This time of sheltering in place may be temporary but I quickly realized that it’s going to last longer than any of us had realized. Since I’m committed to my students and my role as a yoga teacher, I decided to offer online classes.

When I first thought about teaching online there were other thoughts that I didn’t share with you. They sounded like this….”the existing online content is better than anything I can do”, “no way do I want to be on camera”, “I’m not into using tech for teaching”… blah, blah, blah. This mental chatter was my fear. Fear based on my past, my perceptions, my misperceptions – you get the idea.

Fortunately, through the practice of yoga (and some gentle nudges from others) I was able to dampen the voices down enough to do what I needed to do. Which was to get over myself and get on zoom! After two weeks of being online, some patient and wonderful students, and a steep learning curve, I’m feeling much better about virtual classes.

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Need some motivation to get moving?

Check out my interview on KTNA.  The topic was group fitness opportunities in Talkeetna and how having a “workout buddy” or an online community can help with motivation. Click the link below to listen.

Tips for Healthy Living

 

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It’s not about the poses

Lately, I feel like I’ve been defining yoga by what it isn’t rather than what it is. Yoga is not about extreme flexibility, or doing advanced poses, or wearing fancy tights. Having a sanskrit tattoo, standing on your head or taking 5 classes a week will not make you better at yoga. That’s not to say you can’t do some or all of those things (I love standing on my head!) but they aren’t the essence of yoga. 

The poses are a portal into the practice of yoga but it’s not the only one. For those of us in the west, the physical practice is the way most of us come to yoga. It’s what brought me to the mat. But it isn’t why I stayed on the mat. 

If it’s not about the poses, what is it about? There are many books, teachers and schools of yoga that have answers to that question. Ultimately I think each person needs their own working definition. For me, it’s about noticing my response to stimuli, bringing awareness to my likes and dislikes, and challenging my very strong attachments to my physical body and my thoughts. It’s about having a lifelong practice that supports me regardless of my physical capacity. One that deepens my relationship to myself and others, and connects me to humanity.

Keep doing poses and keep exploring what they have to teach you. If you listen closely and are open to what they have to offer, you may be able to craft your own definition of yoga.

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Self Care

Our local radio station has a segment every other week called Tips for Healthy Living. I recently went to KTNA and had an on-air conversation about the benefits and challenges of self care. It can be especially hard to maintain a routine during the Alaska summertime. But it’s worth the effort and you can do it!

If you’re interested in some “tips”,  listen to my interview with Holly Stinson. And if you have some tips of your own, let me know. You might just end up on the radio.

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