tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post2982306562349147236..comments2023-11-12T13:16:00.150-03:30Comments on My Fair Isle: Yoga-centric PostRobynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06391086267728343589noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-66353747132990706622011-02-17T16:04:23.974-03:302011-02-17T16:04:23.974-03:30Robyn, I hear you! I come at the intentions aspe...Robyn, I hear you! I come at the intentions aspect very much through my pagan spirituality study which reminds us time and time again to phrase what we want in an open manner that allows the Universe to provide, rather than as a list of what the intention will look like if it comes to pass. Saying 'I'm open to love with a like-minded and like-hearted person' rather than 'I'm looking for a man in this age range, in this wage bracket, who meets these physical characteristics, and does these things for me' for instance. It's almost like a visualization of feeling than of circumstances/situation. <br /><br />So, for myself, I think of the words in my intention as gates into the land of yoga as I understand it. I just reworded my intention the other night actually, thinking about all this, and while I don't share the intention with students, or only very rarely, I let it guide me when I'm teaching. This is mine: Embody, Express, and Encourage the qualities and ideals of Truth, Beauty, and Love. How that comes into class will be different every time I step forward to instruct. But it goes, for me, to the heart of why I do what I do, and it helps me navigate what I do so that I can make it appropriate to the students in front of me. <br /><br />...I can't wait to see what more comes of this discussion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-1777670434043902422011-02-17T16:03:56.112-03:302011-02-17T16:03:56.112-03:30Robyn, I hear you! I come at the intentions aspe...Robyn, I hear you! I come at the intentions aspect very much through my pagan spirituality study which reminds us time and time again to phrase what we want in an open manner that allows the Universe to provide, rather than as a list of what the intention will look like if it comes to pass. Saying 'I'm open to love with a like-minded and like-hearted person' rather than 'I'm looking for a man in this age range, in this wage bracket, who meets these physical characteristics, and does these things for me' for instance. It's almost like a visualization of feeling than of circumstances/situation. <br /><br />So, for myself, I think of the words in my intention as gates into the land of yoga as I understand it. I just reworded my intention the other night actually, thinking about all this, and while I don't share the intention with students, or only very rarely, I let it guide me when I'm teaching. This is mine: Embody, Express, and Encourage the qualities and ideals of Truth, Beauty, and Love. How that comes into class will be different every time I step forward to instruct. But it goes, for me, to the heart of why I do what I do, and it helps me navigate what I do so that I can make it appropriate to the students in front of me. <br /><br />...I can't wait to see what more comes of this discussion!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-68762104644796947452011-02-16T16:09:07.798-03:302011-02-16T16:09:07.798-03:30Hi Jessica, So, so happy that you left that comme...Hi Jessica, So, so happy that you left that comment! I have a question for you....I feel a little bit gun-shy about taking a strong stand in my yoga classes in ters of "this is where I stand" because I had a very negative experience when I (attempted) to teach childbirth education classes - another subject I feel rather passionate about. I decided I would only teach the facts, which by the way, do not at all support current hospital practices around childbirth in North America. The long and short of it was that no one wanted to take my classes because I immediately was labelled as too judgmental towards people who chose more medicalized birth. But to back off seemed like telling untruths, so I gave up teaching instead. It wasn't too hard since no one was lining up for the classes anyway! <br /><br />Sooooooo....I feel a little hesitant to walk that path with yoga. I have strong feelings about what it is/can be but I really want to teach! So I take it very slow and try to be open to all the reasons people might come into class. I do feel like I wish I could be more "myself" in some ways, but.......it isn't really about me, right?<br /><br />This is a question I play with, without answers, a lot.Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06391086267728343589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-87318091651755167522011-02-14T17:29:41.351-03:302011-02-14T17:29:41.351-03:30One of the things I'm finding in the response ...One of the things I'm finding in the response to the commotion about the NYT article and TS and the media portrayal of yoga is that many teachers do not seem to have a clearly defined intention as to why they do what they do and what it is that they want to do. What is the yoga they want to offer and how does that shape how they teach? Studios as well. <br /><br />Maybe its the love of definitions and semantics in me combining with the ingrained lessons of media communications study, but I think that succinctly expressing the what and how of each teacher's and studio's intention/goal/mission statement/et al is falling by the wayside. It leaves us without clarity as to the broadness of yoga and begins devolving things to the lowest common denominator. That denominator is not, in and of itself a bad thing, but we're loosing vitality through homegeninzing ourselves by taking it on as the only denominator and allowing it to determine what we offer as teachers. <br /><br />Yoga as a blanket term is only so handy in this way. At some point we need to use discernment, which Patanjali strongly promotes, and realize that it isn't judgment. Just look at how criticism in the yoga community is jumped on as trash talking and 'un-yogic'. What might be stopping people from being upfront about the yoga they offer - while yoga is for everyone, not every yoga teacher is for everyone - seems, to me, nice-washing: a fear of excluding people and not being nice and all inclusive all the time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-63489343532392174662011-02-14T14:30:23.110-03:302011-02-14T14:30:23.110-03:30"The one thought I had was that it can be dif..."The one thought I had was that it can be difficult to give that extra push (and I wholeheartedly agree that everyone needs it now and then!) when you don't know the people in your class at all or very well. Such a thing is important within the context of teaching yoga but one needs to know the student first." Very true. I totally agree. Even when I had a relationship developed with my ESL students, I still often ended up walking into class with one plan, and halfway through, finding the need to either shift it or toss it out all together. Timing and flexibility are really key.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-78923195326242110472011-02-14T06:41:04.754-03:302011-02-14T06:41:04.754-03:30I know what you mean, and I know it is a topic tha...I know what you mean, and I know it is a topic that gets under your skin. The one thought I had was that it can be difficult to give that extra push (and I wholeheartedly agree that everyone needs it now and then!) when you don't know the people in your class at all or very well. Such a thing is important within the context of teaching yoga but one needs to know the student first. I'm sure you know this from all your teaching experience! I guess I was thinking about stepping in front of a room full of people who have never met you and never encountered yoga before...it is quite a daunting thing!Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06391086267728343589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-90217488381884447072011-02-13T20:56:43.554-03:302011-02-13T20:56:43.554-03:30Just want to add that I support your taking baby s...Just want to add that I support your taking baby steps process. <br /><br />I've been on a rant about a few issues lately, including the whole "judgment" thing, and sometimes I need to halt the train and keep quiet for a bit.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-71976377546779466862011-02-12T15:09:24.099-03:302011-02-12T15:09:24.099-03:30I don't intend to be a "lecturer" as...I don't intend to be a "lecturer" as a yoga teacher. And certainly, some folks are just going to come for the workout, no matter what. <br /><br />But I have never agreed with the idea that I should simply focus solely on my own practice until I sufficiently "get it" and then maybe I can comment on and "help" others. I see it all as a dynamic movement and flow. Some times, I'm more inwardly drawn. Other times, I'm more focused on what's happening around me. <br /><br />How do we support others to work with the flow of life, and to actually help take care of what's happening (which includes themselves) - instead of just taking, taking, taking from the practice to be a "better person"? <br /><br />I sound more strict on paper than I am in person. If being board president of the zen center, and also helping to start a non-profit, has taught me anything, it's to balance working with where people are at with offering a push whenever possible. <br /><br />I see a lot of people preaching the work with where people are at side of the issue, but not as many skillfully addressing the push. Or the other side of Suzuki Roshi's quote "You're perfect just as you are, and you need a little improvement." The strength behind my comments is about supporting the push side. We need both.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-85210461593507081412011-02-12T13:46:15.475-03:302011-02-12T13:46:15.475-03:30Thinking about these ideas in terms of teaching yo...Thinking about these ideas in terms of teaching yoga (vs. practicing yoga), I think it is hard to be quite that strict. For one thing, no one will come to your class if you aren't open to the people who are coming just to get a workout! Or, at least, I find I can insert snippets of what I feel strongly about but I can not make that a major theme of the class. If I did that, my classes would be mostly lecture, pranayama and meditation. Which is very cool, actually, but I suspect not terribly popular for people who are ready to move and stretch. <br /><br />Part of it is that yoga is sold as a fitness thing not really a path to answering life's hard questions or realizing our true nature. And because of that, I can be certified to teach in 200 hrs. It is kind of ridiculous! When I think about how my Zen teacher studied as a full-time monastic resident for over 10 years before getting dharma transmission, I have to laugh at my ability to stand in front of a group of people and pretend to know anything about yoga.<br /><br />I think that, just like in asana practice, we take small steps towards perfecting our practice and making it truly our own. Maybe someday I will teach the classes I truly want to teach but for the moment, I am still taking those baby steps. And maybe that is actually correct.Robynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06391086267728343589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38749589.post-83029194783375994822011-02-12T12:34:08.951-03:302011-02-12T12:34:08.951-03:30You know, I've had a share of comments on thes...You know, I've had a share of comments on these issues over the past few months. It does seem sometimes like a cat chasing it's tail. <br /><br />What concerns me about the commonplace attitude of "each to his/her own" and/or "it's all good" is that it creates a relativism that shuts down all conversation and consideration. In addition, I also think its a symptom of the spreading privatized, consumerist culture that says "you are entitled to do what you want, make of these ancient traditions whatever you want." It's all about "me" and nothing about the impacts, positive or negative, on the larger community or communities. <br /><br />I agree with Claudia that there's no need for everyone to have similar reasons behind a yoga practice. And that "trying to convince people" to see things differently isn't helpful. But there is a difference between trying to convince and stating what you think and how you feel about a given issue. <br /><br />There's a faux niceness amongst a lot of yoga practitioners that has, attached it, contempt for anyone that questions things, upsets the superficial happy glow, and/or offers critical analysis that "gasp" might include judgment. Judgment of ideas and actions is different from judgment of whole persons, but because people often don't want to think about it, they conflate the whole package. To me, the ethics of Buddhism, yoga, and other traditions are most interested in getting us to shed the tendency to judge other whole people, or ourselves. These same traditions are not telling us, in my view, to stop using our minds, make distinctions, or call out sloppy ideas or actions when they occur.Nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13920234350446745482noreply@blogger.com