Your Yoga

One click 8 | In each and every class I teach, every student has a different idea as to what Yoga means.Some are there for the physical aspect, in fact, most are. There are also seasoned practitioners deepening their practice, students who are curious as to the added elements of Yoga (pranayama, meditation, subtle body), and those who... well... aren't sure why they're there. They've just heard yoga, and Googled a class nearby or tagged along with a friend.

Beginners always have my heart.

Not that the other students don't... but they've already been. They know what they're in for.

Beginners are the ones craving and seeking that connection. Even when students come in asking for the physical piece, and the physicality of Yoga only! What they're saying to me is "I'm not connected". That connection is what is open to interpretation.

The way I look at it, I'm your tour guide. Here's this, and that, and here's how to use that. Tell me how it feels, adjust this way, and then breathe. First follow my visual demo, and then follow my verbal que's. I'm here to introduce you to the poses you may come to love, and the poses that will challenge you. Without a doubt, it's my greatest honor to lead you through the flow of a sequence and watch your process. Ease your process. Help you get to know yourself.

Recently my favorite question to ask is, "Are you comfortable in this pose?" I get looks, stares, and general vibes of uncertainty. I mean, why would the instructor ask you that? And then... it starts to sink in. There's a bit of tweeking in your knee. The foot isn't aligned as the instructor indicated. I'm turning left, not right! And then it's there. A sense of awareness as you practice.

As your teacher, I'm not interested in how flexible you are. Not in the least. Be as flexible as a cinder block, just be open and HONEST through the journey. Be gentle with yourself, and kind enough to leave judgement outside of the classroom. Expand on your mat, not just in body but in spirit. Because... at some point, you will feel an opening. Some space, somewhere, somehow, created by your willingness to do so.

Sometimes that space is literally the fact that you're on the mat trying to cultivate YOU, and leave the "world" behind. And to that I say... NAMASTE!

Marci Renee is a CTA Certified Wellness Coach, Yoga Teacher, and your biggest believer! She's obtained her 200 Hr Vinyasa Certification with Sonic Yoga, NYC, continues to pursue her 500 Hr Hatha training with William Duprey, and finds inspiration within Anusara and the teachers at Virayoga, NYC. Marci specializes in Fitness / Health, Lifestyle Shifts, Spirituality, and overall Wellness.

Article Source: EzineArticles