May 22, 2013 |
Raise your hand if you are a yoga teacher and you’ve instructed your class to close their eyes so they can see within. Or, raise your hand if you are a yoga student and you’ve heard your yoga teacher ask you to close your eyes. I’m seeing a lot of raised hands out there in the universe as this is a common theme in yoga classes.
If you ask me, once you get comfortable in your yoga practice and can start to close your eyes during some of the asanas, that is when your practice really starts to blossom. Closing the eyes provides an outlet to quiet the mind and notice exactly what is happening in your body. When I ask my students to do this, it is not so they can’t see, but so they can truly SEE what’s happening from within.
These instructions took on a whole new meaning to me when I started the first week of my beginners’ yoga class series and was notified that one student was blind. Not only that, but she was to be accompanied by her seeing eye dog. I wasn’t terrified, but I quickly changed my game plan of how I was going to teach the class. I’ll be honest: This is one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a teacher.
With a student who is blind, you can’t tell them to look at their feet to see if they are in the proper alignment, or to watch the way you are demonstrating the proper alignment with your feet. You pretty much have to throw most of your regular cues away. It forced me to rethink every cue as it came out of my mouth.
So, what’s it like having a blind student in class? It’s awesome!
When you teach new students, there are always a few in each class who fear the unknown, not quite sure what to expect, maybe even thinking, ‘oh my gosh, what have I gotten myself into?’ If any of the women in my beginners’ series class felt this way, I’m sure their fears were squelched as soon as they saw Mary and her dog walk into the studio. I know I would be checking myself and saying, “Geez, if this woman has the courage to step onto her yoga mat, then I most certainly can too.”
Buddha always practiced with his eyes closed!
Mary has been an inspiration to each person in the class, present company included. I love the sense of community she has brought to all of us – how the other students are patient when I need to spend a little more time with Mary, how they help her prepare for class and then put away her props for her after. Every week something one of the students does to help Mary touches my heart and makes me smile. And, Mary is probably by far the most attentive and best listener I’ve ever had.
Having Sarah the dog in class is a special treat too. Sarah sits attentively next to Mary and has never caused the slightest distraction. Although, I admit I was kind of bummed when she didn’t try downward dog with us.
I close my eyes a lot when I practice, but never for a whole class. I blindfolded myself and tried this out at home and have to say (no pun intended) it was an eye-opening experience, one that I highly recommend everyone try at least once (but be safe and have a spotter there to keep an eye on you). Even if you can’t do a whole class this way, just try doing a sun salutation with your eyes closed. However, I caution you to watch your nose when you come down from plank to chaturanga dandasana. And be careful with those balance poses – they were nearly impossible for me! Standing poses and alignment will take on a whole new meaning, and if you are a teacher, this exercise provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen your verbal asana cues.
It can be really natural to be fearful of new experiences. What I’ve learned from Mary is that you can’t be afraid, that you have to look at what the experience will teach you, how you can embrace it, and how you will learn and grow from it. Mary is not showing a single sign of fear. Last week after class she asked if I could teach her how to do Warrior 3!
I’d like to send out a huge hug and thanks to Mary for having the courage to start her yoga journey and also for helping me to grow as a yoga teacher. Mary used to do a lot of ballet dancing and is looking forward to bringing her love of dance and movement into her yoga practice. So, Mary here’s to you – keep on dancing on your yoga mat and spreading your light!
Buddha image: Andrea Kratzenberg
Yoga Teacher Tale #1
Mar 19, 2013 |
The coolest things happen when I’m teaching yoga, so I decided to start sharing some of my yoga teacher tales here on the Daily Downward Dog. I can’t tell you how many times a student has told me how much better they feel after practicing yoga – their aches are gone, they sleep better, or they are using their breath to take them through difficult situations off the mat. These stories warm my heart and are what make sharing the practice of yoga so gratifying.
The other night when I was teaching a class for beginners, one student commented about how she felt she would never get all the asanas and breathing techniques correct. I reminded her that this was only her third yoga class ever, so it was perfectly normal that she didn’t remember some of the steps of a sun salutation. I always try to encourage students by letting them know that they don’t have to do the poses perfectly. As long as they are breathing and coming to the yoga mat with an open heart, they have a lifetime to refine their practice.
It was so much fun teaching the beginners’ group how to do virabradhasana 1 and 2, trikonasana, and of course ending with some cool-downs and twists. After bringing the class out of savasana and closing with seated breath meditation and namaste, I looked up at that student who had a blissed out look on her face as she proclaimed for everyone to hear,
“I love yoga!”
The entire class, including me, busted up laughing because it was such an enthusiastic, heartfelt expression of how the practice of yoga can enrich our lives. I loved hearing these words from a student who had come to class that night expressing judgment and doubt; in contrast, she found peace and joy in her practice. For me, that’s what teaching is all about! I love seeing the transformation, seeing students get hooked on the practice of yoga.
I love teaching yoga!
Got a good yoga teaching tale or inspirational ah-ha moment from your own practice? Please share with a comment below.
Aug 2, 2012 |
Sharing a little TV love today with a video clip from the July 27 New Day Cleveland show on Fox8. David Moss visited Vermilion, Ohio, and along with the entire production team behind New Day Cleveland, put together an incredible show that showcased Vermilion as a road trip and vacation destination. It’s less than an hour away from Cleveland and Akron and is a great place to escape for some beach time, great food, shopping, and beach yoga!
I was thrilled that New Day Cleveland decided to include a segment on the Daily Downward Dog beach yoga classes that take place every Monday and Wednesday morning at Main Street Beach in Vermilion.
[youtube]http://youtu.be/aNxuCvVa7Vg[/youtube]
Woo Hoo, my 15 seconds of fame! At least my mother got to see it, and I think she’s pretty proud of me.
Sending a big THANK YOU and shout out to my yoga students who appear in the video, David Moss, New Day Cleveland producer Kristen Wunderle, and to the real stars of the show, the beautiful city and people of Vermilion, Ohio.
Beach yoga classes at Main Street Beach will continue through the end of August and are free and open to the public. My full schedule of summer beach yoga classes can be found below and you can find additional details on locations, class description, and fees at: https://dailydownwarddog.com/beach-yoga/
2012 Summer Beach Yoga Schedule
Mondays
8:30 – 9:30 AM | Main Street Beach, Vermilion | All Levels Hatha Flow (through August 27)
Tuesdays
7:30 – 8:30 PM | Linwood Park Beach, Vermilion | Sunset Yoga (through August 28)
Wednesdays
8:30 – 9:30 AM | Main Street Beach, Vermilion | All Levels Hatha Flow (through August 29)
Thursdays
7:30 – 8:30 PM | Firefly Beach Resort – Huron, OH | Sunset Yoga (through August 30)
Fridays
8:30 – 9:30 AM | Firefly Beach Resort – Huron, OH | All Levels Hatha Yoga (through August 31)
Saturdays
8:30 – 9:30 AM | Firefly Beach Resort – Huron, OH | All Levels Hatha Yoga (through September 1)
There’s just one month left of Lake Erie summer beach yoga, so plan your road trip to Vermilion today and go from stressed out to blissed out with the Daily Downward Dog.
Sep 1, 2010 |
I have not been a good yoga student lately. My head is not in the game. I’m surprised I haven’t had to pay more for the extra baggage I’ve been bringing with me to class—stressful thoughts from the day, all the items I didn’t accomplish on my to-do list, the errands I still need to run, and whether I have anything yummy in my fridge to eat after class. I’m a classic type-A personality, so it’s hard for me to come down and be in the moment during yoga class.
When I lose my focus, I sometimes miss the instructors’ directions and find myself turned to the left while the rest of the class is facing me, turned to the right. It makes it extremely difficult to focus on balancing poses, and forget about keeping my breathing steady.
Seriously, I feel like going to yoga class with a cluttered head is like going to church drunk. It totally goes against everything yoga is supposed to be about—being in the present, focusing on your body and your breath, and growing spiritually. It’s why I love yoga so much for the relaxing state and sense of calm that it brings to my life both on and off the mat.
My focus factor issue really hit me when I was lying in savasana last week and, instead of getting into a deep state of relaxation, I was thinking about a new tag line for a client. That’s when I knew I needed to make a change.
I really want to grow deeper in my yoga practice and know I cannot do this until I come to class with a clear head. Since the month of September is National Yoga Month, I’m going to use this month to turn a few things around. I’m going to make a point to get to class earlier so I have a chance to catch my breath, calm down, and set my intentions for my practice. I’ll use this time to get a jump start on my pranayama breathing and to turn off the clutter in my mind.
What are you doing to celebrate National Yoga Month? I’d love to hear about any special activities being planned to celebrate Yoga Month or a special intention you are going to make to your yoga practice.
If you have a great way to clear the clutter from your mind before beginning your yoga practice, please leave a comment and let me know about it.
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