Teach from Love, not Fear

One of my dear friends came to my class to support me.  After class, she went up to me with a huge smile and said, “THAT was awesome!  You had so much fun teaching…and you taught with joy and not fear.”

Ahh…

I did not realize that I had been teaching with all sorts of restraints in the recent past.  I was trying to be a role model to the new teachers at the last studio I taught at that I allowed my obligations to take over my passion.  I had forgotten how much it is to be spontaneous and really just let loose.  That means, messing up, laughing, changing my mind in the middle of the sequence and simply having fun!

In this time of transition, I am blessed to have so many doors open up to me.  I am able to explore the possibilities within my teaching and share it with my students.  Even more than that, my students are so open and accepting of the new sequences I bring into my classes now.  I feel the adrenaline in me as I flow through my class.  I am able to see my students – their struggles, their joys, their accomplishments and sometimes, their pains. And we are all one.  I feel like I have numerous relationships in my classroom.  It was a beautiful web of love, trust, joy, exploration and motivation.  This is what I receive from my students!

My trainings in the past had helped me build a solid foundation in which to teach.  I am certain that what I teach can and does change lives.  But I felt that the more I teach, the more I learn from my own discoveries.  By taking other trainings, I become humble to the expansiveness of what yoga can offer.  It began as a very physical practice for me, and now it is a life style.  For each and everyone of us, yoga is so personal and so beautiful.  As an instructor, to be able to explore and creatively express yourself is a true gift you give to others.  The discipline of teaching a chosen style of yoga is only the beginning – allow your heart to lead you to where you need to go.

Thank you to my dear and loving fellow teacher, Erin Rauscher for your inspiration and support in the last few months.  As well as my mentor, Christen Scott for encouraging me to live my dreams.

 

Variety

Variety adds a bit of spice to life.

I’ve learned that our bodies are so smart.  Within a short period of time, our bodies can get use to a workout and the sore feelings that we first get, seems to become harder to attain.

I have been feeling that way lately in my yoga practice.  I’ve worked very hard to learn the basic poses and I have accepted that every day, my body will be different.  I still have my scary poses – headstands for instance still brings a lot of fear to me.  I took an amazing Ashtanga flow class where I was taken WAY out of my comfort zone.  We were working on headstands for most of class.  I overcame my fear of falling.  I can fall very easily.  It doesn’t hurt and I got up.  I did it again and fell again and again.  I know that my work is to engage my core and totally align my body.  The love of the yoga was brought back to me.

There are so many disciplines of yoga out there. When I try a new class I find myself conflicted as the class starts.  The beauty is, I realize it right away and instead of sulking –  I tell myself, “It’s time to be a student and take on a beginner’s mind – be open to this opportunity.”  From there, I am able to learn something for every new class I take.  I’ve learned I actually enjoy taking more restorative classes to take care of my body.  I was surprised I had fun taking the challenging Bikram classes.

I’ve also have wander off the yogic path into more traditional aerobic classes.  That’s where the discomfort comes in.  Within 10 minutes, I am huffing and puffing.  I realize I need to connect with a different breathing pattern in order to survive.  My body gets so sore and the stories start to keep in.  I wonder if I am in tip top physical condition.  Do I need to lose weight?  Do I need to spend more time in the gym?  Am I out of shape?  What is wrong with me?  I have to remind myself that I am working totally different muscle groups in my body and the soreness is normal.  Ahhh…breath a sigh of relief.

Yes, Variety – I not only like to have it in my diet but it’s also great to have it in your own personal workout routine!

 

The bell curve

Power vinyasa yoga is a dance between movements and breath.  There is a rhythm that is built like a bell curve.  The breath is the essential element that connects everyone together.  It is the heartbeat that carries one from pose to pose with vitality.

As an instructor I am able to paint each class with the help of my students.  I watch them move.  Look at what is going on in the room in regards to the energy.  How do I build the heat and where?  What tools can I use to create that inner fire?  How do I keep everyone focused, come to the edge without burning people out?  How do I hold my students accountable but yet have a lightness in class so that the students know that I understand what they are going through at that very moment?  That is what I create in every class.  And it never gets boring when I live in the moment.

Living in the moment sometimes means getting really messy.  I have students that talk to me during class.  Yes, that means a full conversation.  I have students grunting in class as though they are lifting weights.  I have people laughing, crying, sighing, falling and sometimes they actually roll up their mats and leave.

I forget the names of the poses.  It took me forever to learn my right from my left.  I couldn’t count for the longest time…I am not the perfect instructor.  But now I can laugh and I practice instant forgiveness for the mistakes that I make during class.  I am not afraid to share my heart, my sorrows, my fears, my joys.  It amazes me the connection I’ve built by opening my heart and become vulnerable during class.  My students didn’t care that I constantly mess up.  It showed them that I am human and when I stop beating up on myself, they do they same.  They are able to let go and smile during their practice.  That is when yoga starts to work.  We are all interlinked.  We are inspired by each other and create a more harmonious world.  That is the bliss that I get when I teach yoga 🙂

 

Lululemon Ambassador pics!

This is my first professional photo shoot as a full-time yoga instructor.

HUGE thanks out to Lululemon Tysons Corner and photographer, Jonathan Thorpe.  You can view Jonathan’s work on his website : www.jthorpephoto.com.

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I’m a full-time fitness instructor!

Lately, I’ve been realizing the freedom I have now that I am teaching yoga full-time.  I don’t have a regular 9-5 office job.  I don’t have to wear suits, dresses or makeup everyday.  There are days, I don’t teach until noon.  Talk about getting a lot of beauty sleep!  I can plan out my week so I can take different aerobic classes when I am not teaching.  But the down-side is I make enough money to pay my rent and bills.  I don’t have much spending cash and I do have to pick up a part-time job as a hostess to have some ‘fun funds’.  I am so grateful for the fact that my yoga clothes is being provided by Lululemon because I am an ambassador of one of their stores.  Ahh, like any other girls I love clothes – even if it’s high-end spandex 🙂

I am in training this weekend to teach a new high-intensity total body workout called Jungshin Fitness.   As I was chatting with other instructor, I realized that I don’t have anything to fall back on – my body is my source of income.  Giving up a full-time traditional corporate career is one gutsy thing I’ve done in a really long time.  I am teaching yoga because I love it and I am a testament that it can change lives.  I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives, whether it be big or small, if they know it or not – I want to be able to inspire people as I had been inspired.

During the Jungshin training, I felt invigorated and inspired.  I was aware I was judging myself and then judging the other participants.  Then I had to check-in with myself and say, “Stop the judgement, this is new and you’re learning a new skill and so are the other people here.  Chill out!”  I had so much fun learning the cutting techniques and when we went into sparring man, the inner Ninja in me came out!  Oh yeah…we use a 41″ wooden sword in class.  I have never done anything like this before.  The first time I took a class, I was praying to make it out alive and I was only 15 minutes into it.  The training was fun, informational, challenging and I left feeling like I had accomplished so much.  I never thought that this is what I would be doing as a living.  There was a time when shopping was ‘exercise’.  Now, if I don’t break a sweat, I don’t feel like I am working out.  Interesting how people grow and change.

On the last day, we had about 10 minutes to teach.  I felt nervous which was interesting because when I teach, I feel like I am sharing something I love with my students.  One of the participants did the training a few months ago so she helped me with my teaching.  It was great to get some coaching because I wasn’t 100% sure about my form.  She was so kind with her feedback and I learned so much from her.  I realize now that I didn’t use any of her tips during my teaching but I felt a lot more comfortable saying the cues we were taught.  I realize could fall back in my yoga world or use the skills I have learned, add in Ha-spice and really be with my fellow trainees.

I am happy I did the training.  I felt like a fish out of water but it was good to know that I survived (with some scraps and bruises) and one day I will be teaching Jungshin and see the excitement in my students eyes that is still in me when I pick up that wooden sword!

To learn more about Jungshin Fitness, please check out these websites:

	http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/health… http://www.annikakahn.wordpress.com

 

Yoga saves my body

I’ve been taking a few new aerobics classes to get back into shape.  I’ve found myself gaining a few pounds with the winter hibernation and my part-time job at a really good local restaurant.  Being 5′-2″, every few pounds can be visibility seen but at the same time, you can see the results of a weight lost pretty quickly too.

Last week, I took a step class that incorporated weights.  We worked on cardio then did a few rounds of upper body strength building.  My body was completely SORE the next day.  The recovery lasted 2 days and a nice massage helped my tensed muscles relaxed.  At the end of the week, I took a Zumba class which was a blast!  I continued on with another Step class and then a Cardio Kickboxing class.  OMG!  My body have not felt such intense cardio vigor in awhile.  I remember telling myself how much I need yoga as I was trying Not to trip over my own two feet.

I love the feeling of being a student in classes where no one knows me.  I’m a beginner but I found myself really enjoying the feeling of being lost. I can mess up and no one really cares.  And that includes me!  As I step back onto my mat, there is a whole new sense of appreciation for my passion.  I get a different total body workout with Bapiste Power Vinyasa Flow.  I find my strength in my practice.  I also find ease in the modifications that my body needs.  I now find the therapeutic element that yoga provides my body.  It’s incredible the wonders of yoga!

I have never been into sports but if my body can find relief and recovery after doing aerobic exercises, I can only imagine with it can do for people who are athletes.  The mental boost that occurs also makes me want to go back and take those classes so I can improve.  The burn doesn’t scare me because I know my body will heal quicker and stronger.

I HEART Yoga!

 

Partner Yoga

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FUN, not a common associated word with yoga.  When you ask people what they think about yoga, words like stretching, relaxation, meditation, downdog come to mind.  I was introduced to Partner Yoga a few years ago.  The teachers in my regular classes told me, “You have to do it, it’s SO MUCH FUN!”  With her enthuisam I signed up and invited one of my friends with me.  I had alot of fear that came up, like – “OMG, I am gonna FALL.  I/She can’t support my weight.  I’m fat!”  I sorts of stuff went through my mind.  But I told myself I paid $30 to be here, I better get my money’s worth out of it, even if I fall, I gotta try this stuff.  So I did.  I faced my fears.  I did the crazy planks stack and it was FUN!

It’s amazing the things we tell ourselves we can’t do.  Even before we make an attempt, we set ourselves up for failure.  Why?  What can happen if we just say to ourselves, “That looks interesting, I’m not sure how I’m going to do it but let me have an open-mind and see what happens.”  That’s when we have our own personal breakthroughs.  It can be small but still significant because we choose to do something about our fears.  That is empowering and with something like trying out a new pose – stacking plank – it can be a physical and psychological breakthrough while having FUN!