The End of the Journey.....or is it???

Level 5. I finally did it. In Arizona... in July! What was I thinking? It sounded like a good idea at the time. I'm actually kidding. I love the desert in the summer. Well, by that I mean I love touristy desert cities in the summer, but not the real desert like Death Valley or the Mojave. I love them for a couple of reasons. The hotel rates are really cheap. Probably because it's a bazillion degrees outside and no one wants to be here. And there's hardly any tourists. Because it's a bazillion degrees outside and no one wants to be here. But this desert trip is even more special to me. It's the one I have been working towards for about 15 months. I did my final training to complete my 200 hours for what's called my RYT certification. I think that stands for Registered Yoga Teacher, but I'm not totally sure. But I'll find out. I promise.

Anyway, throughout the entire past 15 months I imagined that completing this training would signify the end of this personal journey that I have set out on. But I'm starting to realize that it's really just the beginning. Of what? I'll explain in a minute.
But first let me tell you about the training. It was at another Mind, Body, Fitness Conference that YogaFit has in the desert every summer. Last year it was in Palm Springs and I did my transformational training taking Level 4. Remember, four days of yoga, yoga, yoga, and more yoga? Three hour long masters level classes everyday? My hips still feel it! But this year I find myself in Scottsdale, Arizona. It's a beautiful city outside of Phoenix. And the conference was held at a beautiful resort that I swear knew 200 yogis were coming because they had "new age" music playing everywhere. Even in the bathrooms.
Our trainers were Sandi, Jen, and Katie. And they were amazing. They opened the training by telling us that this session was for us as spiritual beings, not as teachers. All of the other trainings have been about how to teach. This one was FOR and ABOUT us.
We started with a lengthy discussion about Eckart Tolle's "The Power of Now." And if you haven't read it; I highly recommend it. By the end of the first day the message was crystal clear: I am okay just the way I am. Period. What an amazingly profound idea. Those of you that know me well, know how I have struggled with this very simple concept. We ended Day One with a activity where we had to make lists of things that made us angry, fears that we have, beliefs that we have about the world, and things that are keeping us from having what we want. Then we drew what was called a "Body Map" of ourselves and colored areas of our body that are painful for us to accept. I drew mine to resemble a gingerbread man (must be the Kindergarten teacher in me) and decorated it with frosting in all the areas that I do not like. Needless to say, It had a lot of frosting on it. And then, just before we left we had to tear up both of these pieces of paper, drop them into the trash can, and then pick out a gift of a new journal. In it we were instructed to make a list of all of the things in our life that we are grateful for and told to continue to write in this journal everyday. For the rest of our lives. Simple. But so powerful.
Day Two started with an amazing Masters Class that included a sequence called a Mandala, which simply means "circle." It was a series of poses that had us facing each of the four walls of the room in an meditative flow. Very cool. And something I hope to incorporate into my private lessons eventually.
After lunch we had a very informative discussion about the business of yoga. And I learned that I really can and should be charging much, much more for my private lessons. I also got some great ideas on ways to expand my client base. Something I am looking forward to doing this fall when schools resumes.
We ended the last day of my "under grad" training watching one of my favorite videos, The Secret. Again, if you haven't seen it. You should. Today if you can. The message is simply this: You become what you think about. Energy flows where attention goes.
So is my journey over? Not at all. It has only just begun. Where will it take me? I'm not completely sure. But this I do know for sure: it will include me actively pursuing my dream of bringing yoga to those who might not otherwise have it. Teenage girls in our juvenile detention system, battered women in our shelters, and maybe even stressed out teachers in our public schools.

And as I finish up this post I can't help but reveal the person that was on the top of my gratitude list in my new journal and say thank you to him for inspiring me to tap into my gifts and to follow my dreams. Thank you to my soulmate, the love of my life, my dear sweet Kevin. I wouldn't be here today without your love and support. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.
Nameste.

To Master, Teach

If you look on my info page on my Facebook profile you will see one of my favorite quotes is this:
To learn, Read.
To know, Write.
To master, Teach.
I do like that quote. And as I start to try my hand at doing private yoga lessons I am finding out how very true this quote is for me. Currently I have only two students. Well really only one, but I will count my favorite wine-maker/gardner/old house restorer as my other student since he indulges me with subjecting him to little mini-lessons as often as he can stand them.
I was told that I am not charging enough for my private lessons, and being someone who really doesn't get the whole concept of capitalism I am sure that is entirely true. But for now I think I will keep my fee at this incredibly cheap rate because, to be honest with you, I think the one who is learning the most is ME! Each time I meet with my one true private student I learn something new about yoga and how to teach it. I've learned that the poses look and feel different in each student's body. I've learned that giving clear verbal cues is not necessarily enough information for someone else's brain to figure out how to move her body. And I've also learned that reminding students to breath into and out of a pose is probably more important than where to place her hand or foot.
All of these are things I learned and discussed at great lengths in my training over the past year. But it wasn't until I starting putting this knowledge into practice did I really come to realize how important these concepts truly can be.
And finally, the greatest gift I have received from my new "side job" is the reassurance that my initial hopes and dreams can and will be fulfilled. When I first started my journey down the path of becoming a certified yoga instructor I really wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. And as the year progressed, the idea of doing private lessons emerged out of my desire to bring the gifts of yoga to people who might not otherwise explore them. As I've watched my student go from being someone who struggled in Warrior 2 to looking like a powerful Yogi with her arms stretched wide and her feet firmly planted on her mat, and I listen to her tell me about how she has stopped herself in the middle of a stressful situation to take the time to just breathe, I feel as much pride in her accomplishments as I have when one of youngsters at school finally discovers the mystery we call Reading.
As for my other private student, watching him go from being mildly interested in my obsession with yoga to actually doing some stretches almost every morning AND seeing how quickly his fingers are inching closer and closer to the floor, I have to say it does more than warm my heart to know that he too will someday call himself a "Yogi."
So, although I wouldn't exactly call myself a "master" by any stretch, I truly can say that for me, teaching is the way to become a better teacher. Who knows, maybe someday I'll even raise my rates and actually make some money at it.

Re-Trains

As part of my training I am required to re-do Levels 1 and 2, and because I became a member of the training system's "special club" I could take both of these classes for free. Yep, that's right. Free. As in, not have to pay 400 bucks for each one. But the catch was that I had to do it before my club membership expired in late March. Feeling the pinch of becoming a single-income household, I wasn't about to let this opportunity to save a few bucks pass me by. So I did my Level 2 re-train in Sacramento in late February, and then Level 1 on a very rainy weekend in Los Angeles in March. In fact, the Level 1 was exactly one year after my journey began last year with my very first training in Newport Beach. Re-taking both of these foundational pieces to the puzzle was enjoyable for several reasons.
First, I met some very amazing people. One being a former truck driver who is now teaching yoga on a military base in Northern California. He's an older gentleman who looks like what I imagine Santa Claus would look like if he joined a motorcycle gang. He brought his wife with him because she just likes going to all of his trainings. And throughout the entire weekend she kept saying "huh? What'd she say?" every time the instructor gave her any directions. It was adorable to watch how he made sure she knew exactly what to do. And then there was the young Indian doctor who wants to incorporate some of the traditions from his Eastern background into his Western medical practice. An idea I am totally on board with.
And secondly, and probably most importantly, is that I am feeling much more relaxed with the whole idea of being on the "other side of the mat" in a yoga class. Teaching comes naturally for me. And doing yoga is probably second only to teaching. So last year I thought combining those two parts of my being would be a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong. Over the course of the past twelve months I have learned so much. Mostly about myself. I've learned that I'm afraid to teach adults, that I have difficulty focusing on multiple things in my life, and that I can get side-tracked very easily. Nothing new. I think these aspects about me have always been there. I've just never acknowledged them before. Maybe that's what they mean when they say "wisdom comes with age". Well if that's true, then I'm planning on living to be 120!
But here it is a year later and has any of this changed? No. I'm still terrified of teaching adults, still easily side-tracked, and still suck at multi-tasking. But the difference is I'm okay with it. I know those butterflies I feel in my stomach when I start teaching a group of adults eventually goes away. I've learned that there's a big difference between "teaching" and "leading" and that it's more important to develop my own style of teaching that comes from me rather than the training manual. I've also learned that multi-tasking just doesn't work for me. And as for getting so easily side-tracked? Okay, well I am working on that one.
So after spring break next week, the school year will finish with it's usual end-of-the-year blur of activities. After which I will turn my single-task mind to finishing up my training in the hot desert of Arizona as I take Level 5 at the Mind, Body, Fitness Conference in July. So what happens after I am certified? I haven't a clue. But that's okay. Because I do know that whatever it is, it will be the right thing at the right time for me.

Yoga For Seniors

I guess it's been awhile since my last post. I read somewhere that most bloggers stop writing after about 4 months, so I guess I'm pretty typical. Except my reason for not posting has more to do with my split personality than simply losing interest. As you may well remember my life is going down several different paths. Becoming a certified yoga instructor being one of them and teaching young children in our crippled public education system being another. This school year has brought me the opportunity of teaching a combination class of Kindergartners and First Graders. And it has only been in recent weeks that I have emerged from the depths of this new assignment. Finally feeling like I can now focus on my training again.
Actually, truth be told, this is my second attempt at writing this post. And I have done three more parts of my training since I first started it. Yoga for Seniors being one of them. So let me talk about that. It could be called "Gentle Yoga", "Chair Yoga", or a variety of other softer, gentler names. This one-day training was down in San Diego County in a town called Poway. Someplace I had never even heard of. It was at a gym called "For Women Only" or something like that. So needless to say it was one that I felt much more comfortable spending an entire day at. Not that I have anything against men who hang out in gyms, it's just that it has been my experience that when they figure out there's a yoga training going on they have a tendency to hang out around the room where we are doing our training, flexing their muscles or some other form of male strutting. And I just find this behavior rather annoying. But back to doing yoga with seniors. I had heard that this class could just be renamed "Yoga with Props" and not being a big fan of the use of props, I went into it with somewhat low expectations. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Of course we did the entire class using props such as a chair, straps, and blocks, but for me it was so much more. I learned a lot about the variety of health issues and restrictions that seniors may bring to the yoga experience. We also talked a lot about what it's like to teach seniors. How you have to get used to them talking throughout the entire class and how they have no problem telling you exactly what they think of you, your choice of music, and maybe even what clothing you have chosen to wear that day. Sounds a lot like my current teaching position in Kindergarten and First Grade.
I found this description of this group of students charming in the very least. I have always had a soft spot for elderly folks and have wanted to do some volunteer work with them for quite some time. So maybe this summer I will finally dust off that dream and incorporate teaching "Yoga for Seniors" to my growing list of summer activities. I'll keep you posted......

The Beauty Is In The Breath.....

Pranayama. In traditional yoga, the breath is known as prana, or universal life-force energy within all of us. Thus, your pranic body is your vital body, also known as your energy body. Breath is life. Yogis have known the amazing benefits of breathing practices for thousands of years, but scientists in the Western world have only recently established a clear connection between deep, controlled breathing and improved health. And someone recently told me how important it is to get plenty of oxygen to your brain, thus inspiring the topic for this post.
One of the greatest health benefits in our culture is stress reduction. We know that stress is linked to a number of health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression. Just learning how to breath deeply, on and off the mat, can reduce, or even eliminate, many of the symptoms triggered by stress.
Classic yoga breathing techniques, known as Pranayama, are used to control the breath and harness the prana within and surrounding your body in order to create a state of inner peace. And it just so happens that the many health benefits can be a by-product of a regular diaphragmatic breathing practice.
It is common during everyday life to use only the upper third of our lungs. This kind of shallow breathing is generally caused by tension or stress. Because there are more blood vessels in the lower portion of our lungs, we need to use our entire lung capacity to get enough oxygen into our bodies, and to release the toxins that are eliminated as we exhale. The increased oxygen we breathe in gives us more physical energy and improves our concentration and mental clarity, which is one of the first things we lose when we are under stress. Something I have been a target of recently.
So my purpose with this post is to explain some simple breathing techniques that can be used throughout your day to clear your mind and reduce your stress level, while releasing those toxins, leaving you feeling peaceful and calm and better able to handle the weather that you have created in your life.
Traditional yoga breathing practices are done exclusively through the nostrils rather than through your mouth. Breaths taken through your nose warm and filter the air coming into your body. These breaths keep your body warmer while you work out as well, which is necessary for your muscles and connective tissues to stretch safely and effectively. It is also more efficient for your heart and lungs, which is why many professional athletes practice this technique.

Ujjayi Breathing:
Before beginning this technique, take 3 or 4 deep breaths in through you nose and out through your nose. Focus on inhaling all the way down to the bottom third of your lungs, making your inhalation match in length with your exhalation.
Next, to begin Ujjayi breathing, also known as "Darth Vadar" breathing, inhale deeply through your nose and then place your hand in front of your mouth and exhale with your mouth open pretending that your hand is a mirror that you are trying to fog up. Do this for several breaths and focus on the sound and sensation that you feel in your throat. Then finally do this breath with your mouth closed and still produce that whisper sound in your throat as you exhale. If you can hear your breath, you will be able to recognize when it is becoming rapid or shallow, or if it is staying steady and deep. Ujjayi breath also gives you a focal point when your mind begins to wander. Once you have mastered this technique while sitting at rest, try using it when under stress or exertion, such as when driving in LA traffic or jogging.
Three-Part Breathing:
The Three-Part breath is the simplest and most rewarding of all yogic breathing exercises. It is both purifying and energizing, and if done slowly and evenly, can produce a great sense of serenity and balance. As mentioned earlier, we often breathe using only the top portion of our lungs. Breathing in and out at full capacity even just a few times can greatly increase blood oxygen levels and decrease carbon dioxide. Three-Part breaths are great for increasing your awareness of your breathing and help you use the potential depth of your lungs. In Three-Part breath you use your diaphragm to fill your lungs completely from bottom to top. To practice this technique, first focus on expanding your belly, then your ribs, and then your chest, before exhaling completely.
Relaxation Breathing:
Relaxation breath is a slow-paced technique used to induce a state of deep relaxation and centeredness. It helps reverse the physiological symptoms of stress, including lowering the heart rate and decreasing blood pressure. Although it is not as deep as the Three-Part breath, this technique also focuses on matching the length and depth of the inhalation to that of the exhalation. To do this, lie down on your back and relax completely. Place your right hand on your chest and your left hand on the upper part of your abdomen. Breathe so that only your left hand rises during the inhale and falls during the exhale. Your right hand should not move at all. Give an equal amount of time to your inhale as you do to your exhale. Breathing this way should not be a struggle. And you should do only what you are able to do calmly and comfortably.

Whether you choose to use these techniques or not, remember that when it comes to breathing, if you are breathing consciously, you are doing yoga. Nameste.

Dreaming My Dreams.....

Dreams.....in my opinion, that's what life is all about. I was very fortunate to have spent my teenage years with a dreamer who inspired me everyday for 5 years to be a dreamer and be passionate about what interests you. Teaching young children was one of those passions for me and has sustained me for many years. But as I head into the second half of my life I feel my natural teaching shifting in another direction. One that can still include young children, but may also include a whole other audience as well.

The picture I have included in this post is of a place known as Farmville. And NO it's not the virtual place made so popular by Facebook. But rather a real place where real food is being grown. I include it here because it has become a place very near and dear to my heart for many reasons. One of them being it is where I find myself rolling out my mat and doing Sun Salutations every morning. Being the daughter of an avid gardner, I grew up knowing how hard people work to produce the food we eat everyday. So it's not unusual for me to find solace in my yoga practice in the middle of a vegetable garden. But this particular garden represents more than just good, healthy food. It is also representative of someone who knows how to keep his passion close to his heart. And for that he will always be someone close to my heart. So my message today is this: search in your soul for your dreams, and if need be, dust off the cobwebs and start living them. Life is about dreams. So dream on......

Peace, Love, Joy, Gratitude.....

Each YogaFit training session always ends with a "share circle" on the last day and level 4 was no different. The idea of a "share circle" is for all of the participants to share in one word what this training has given them. Each day we were asked to focus on things, either people or events, in our lives that bring us PEACE, LOVE, JOY, & GRATITUDE and given the events in my life recently this was a very easy task for me. So it seemed only fitting to make these 4 simple words sum up the past 4 days.
Our last day together began with our final masters class led by Brett. And because he is a physical therapist by trade I think he intuitively knew that our bodies needed a break. He led us through a very restorative class that gave us a lot of opportunity to listen to our own bodies and tailor our workout to what it was telling us we needed and at what pace. My body was screaming slow, rhythmic deep stretches laced with lots of deep breathing. He did guide us through a series of shoulder work in preparation for inversions such as headstands and shoulder stands. Something I don't spend enough time doing in my personal practice. His knowledge of the human body and what it is capable of doing was amazing to say the least.
After our lunch break we spent the rest of the afternoon comparing the two majors texts we had been studying for the past 4 days: The Gita and the Yoga Sutras. We did a variety of activities with partners and in small groups where we had to look at a Sutra and then find a parallel Sloka (or verse) in the Gita that went along with it. This was no easy task, given that both of these ancient texts are not the easiest pieces of literature to comprehend. In fact, Brett told us that he has been studying the Gita for 7 years and still doesn't totally get it.
We also spent a little bit of time talking about meditation and how this practice fits in with the Yoga Sutras. One more thing to add to my growing list of things to look into a bit more.
By the end of the day my concentration had completely broken and I started to do what I always do when I get overloaded with information, which is the one thing I tell my students to NOT do: I stopped listening and started talking to the people around me. Fortunately, their brains had reached their saturation point as well and they more than welcomed the chatter. I spent more time than I should have talking to a woman named Tina who gave me lots of valuable information on how to turn my yoga training into a real business. Including how to set up a website and apply for a business license. Am I ready to take that leap? I don't know. But after spending 4 days doing nothing but yoga, I think I am ready to at least try. So some time before 2010 comes to a close look for Om To Home to go to the next level. I'll keep you posted.....