Softening
I have been walking around with tenderness in my heart after a week of study with John Friend and Ram Dass in Maui. Today's class at Still was such a joy to teach. The students are so great and receptive. I was trying to be as clear a channel, so I could transmit the teachings and still be sensitive to everyone in the room. I felt very in the moment, very aware of everyone's practice- I wasn't in my head. I taught about "softening" since that is precisely how I feel right now, like my heart has been opened. I encouraged the students today to be more receptive with their practice. And inspired by John, we even did handstand and forearm balance in silence, which was so lovely to witness...
Theme:
Softening
Highlights:
*"Soften your skin so that the light you carry can be seen more brightly."
*Handstand and forearm balance in silence. Sometimes we leak out too much energy in excess chatting and it's nice to practice containing our energies. Being a bit more quiet and centered not only when we practice but when we spot each other, allows us listen more.
*Did drop backs today! So much fun.
*Was very centered and grounded. I know it sounds obvious, but there is nothing like studying with John. It really does make my teaching so much better to be around the person who created this system of yoga that I cherish so much.
Something to work on:
*I was actually nervous about being able to condense a week's long workshop into an hour and a half. I really shouldn't worry so much. These teachings are so uplifting and wonderful that the best thing to do is to show up and be a conduit for the students. We as Anusara yoga teachers have been given such a wonderful system and template. If you show up to teach with an open heart and you know the 5 UPA's (Universal Principles of Alignment) and remind the students of the main reasons for practicing yoga, then you really can't teach a bad class. You really can't.
One last thing:
I have been aware of a documentary film called THE COVE as it has garnered a myriad of awards and excellent reviews. However I decided that since it was an expose of dolphin slaughter I would not see it, as I am pretty sensitive, especially when it comes to cruelty to animals. When others told me to go see this movie, I would tell that I couldn't see it because it would be too much for me.
And yet hearing myself say that, I started to think that it was a way of keeping myself from such an important piece of work. If we only see things that don't upset us, then how are we to know about injustices, genocides and abuses throughout the world? If something horrific was happening to my family or to my friends, I would want everyone to know, and would be devastated if others said that they couldn't hear it because it was too much for them...
Anyway, I just went to see it with my friend Michelle.
Was the movie powerful? Yes Was I glad I saw it? Yes. Was it horrific? Oh yes.
Where there moments when I closed my eyes and tightened my legs and cried? Yes.
But a moment of discomfort does not compare with what these poor animals went through and are going through. What these inspiring activists, in particular Ric O'Barry went through in filming this movie and in working tirelessly for more than 30 years on this issue.
To bring it back home and even tie it to my week with John, please bear with me. John at one moment in the workshop very sweetly confessed that many years ago he had been to Hawai'i and contemplated moving there and (to use an oft quoted phrase from the 60's and 70's) "drop out." But that wasn't his dharma and the rest is history.
He continued to talk about how as yogis we don't just want to be in the "now" and "in the moment." But that as yogis yes we honor the present but we also have to remember the past and think about the choices that we are making, and be responsible for the future. The world is a wonderful mess right now. We are like Arjuna in the midst of a battle forced to make choices. Every day, what are you going to do? How are you going to act?
We have so much information available to us, that can be revealed to us if we choose to and although it might be overwhelming at first, in the end like my friend Michelle says "knowledge is power." The more we know, the better choices we can make. Isn't that what yoga is about? Aligning with something greater and moving from our highest?
Please see this movie.
And if you really don't think you can, I totally relate.
But please check the website: www.savejapandolphins.org
Thank you.
iccha-jnana-kriya, no?
By the way, I would love to hear how the restorative class is going, and your experience of it...
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