The first day of 2014 was also a new moon. The new moon signifies new beginnings. As I was bringing 2013 to a close, I was met with a big decision. The new year was marking the 2 year anniversary of teaching at the studio in which I trained. Unbelievably, it was also marking the 3 year anniversary of the start of my 16 month immersive teacher training at Bodhi Tree.
But, as I drew close to these anniversaries there was a decision to be made - one that I had been playing around with for a few months in my head. I had a very comfortable teaching practice at Bodhi, and felt blessed in sharing in it's wonderful student community. I looked forward to work every day, and loved seeing the growth of my many loyal and dedicated students. I also felt like it was time to move along, to meander along my path with a little less comfort - perhaps taking a chance at something new.
Over the first two years of teaching, I tried very had to dive into learning as much as I could about teaching and conveying the essence of yoga to my students. I wanted to facilitate them in finding a connection to their breath, themselves and their bodies. As happens to many teachers, this process found me practising more and more with the intent of planning classes and less and less with the intent of furthering my own practice as a student. I attended Intermediate classes whenever I could, but often fell short on my day to day fundamentals practice. I tried to work on this at home, but still found I needed the eye of an experienced teacher to look at my body and teach me.
When I went to Wanderlust, I felt ignited in my practice as I flowed with classrooms full of peers whose practice held me up and supported me as I touched upon many edges and humbling limitations in my body. It was a call to return to the mat again. Upon my return, my teaching ignited but I didn't head back into the classroom setting again for a couple of months.
Inspired by how the Sattva practice felt in my body at Wanderlust, I ventured into Yoga Mala one day to chat to the studio owner Emma, who encouraged me to come practice. I was in class the next day for an astanga elements class that brought me right to my edge. I continued practising at Yoga Mala, finding my groove in the Sattva, flow and yin programs. I kept going to astanga elements classes - loving how it was making me feel strong, grounded, and challenged by my practice in more than just a physical sense even though I still hold a strong mental resistance to the discipline of the astanga lineage. (Sometimes what we resist, we need most!)
Emma planted the seed that she was growing her flow program, and invited me to join her studio as a flow teacher. In discussing flow with Emma we recognized we were on the same page when describing how flow fits into the yoga paradigm. I spoke about how I focus on the space between poses, movement with breath and how I want students to feel fluidity, grace and strength in their body as they mindfully move through transitions and postures. It seemed like a great match for my growth as a flow teacher.
I finally made the difficult decision to embark on 2014 with a big change, a big opportunity for growth and a determined dedication to commit to my own practice as a yoga student. I'm beginning to rediscover my love for being on the mat as a student. I've become keenly aware of my own practice, and as teachers we know that we must first and foremost be students of yoga.
I'm looking forward to growing with the Yoga Mala community - something that truly does excite my spirit. Of course, I will miss my Bodhi teachers, colleagues and students, but I know I will see them around the community and hopefully as a familiar face in a class once in a while. The yoga community in Regina is just beginning to flourish and take hold, I'm so excited to be part of this growing vibrant movement in the Queen City. I'm so grateful for every part of this journey so far, I can hardly wait to see what the future holds going forward. '
One breath at a time.
Here is my January schedule at Yoga Mala for those interested in stopping by for a class. Take advantage of the $40 new student rate, unlimited yoga for one month for new students. I found this pass to be a great way to kick start a dedicated practice plus check out the wide range of yoga programs offered at the studio.
Mondays 9:30am Flow
Saturdays 2:00pm Basics
Others for the month of January:
Friday January 10 6:00 Flow
Saturday January 11 3:30 Flow
Sunday January 12 3:00 Flow
Friday January 17 6:00 Flow
Friday January 24 6:00 Flow
If you would like to receive my newsletter regarding future classes, schedules, upcoming workshops and other random interesting news, please click the link in the side bar to sign up.
Namaste
No comments:
Post a Comment