Discipline and discipleship
When I was in Maui last week studying with John Friend, he really imparted upon us the importance of building our discipline. He wanted us all to really embody the best discipline we could have so that when Ram Dass would be giving his talk, we could really hold that space and be there fully. John had us practice seeing the yoga studio as a temple and asked us to enter it just like you would a temple; touching the floor with the right hand and then touching your heart, entering with the right foot first... Being more quiet and centered...
He asked us when it was time to sit for Ram Dass' lecture, to sit up and be steadfast as opposed to lying on the floor or even eating (you'll be surprised how often that happens!) And although I am aware that yoga studios in LA and elsewhere are not temples, again, you will be surprised how many people walk in late to class repeatedly, are on their cell phones, eat during class, walk in with their shoes... oy vey.
Anyway,
I really came to appreciate the discipline he was asking of all of us.
He even suggested that as a way of deepening our discipline, that we restrict something from our diet. And that we see how we feel from that experiment. Also, he asked us to try to go to sleep an hour earlier than usual and wake up and hour earlier. And lastly he asked us to consider restricting a thought or phrase from our day to day life which really does not serve us. Some kind of negative thinking or mantra that has become habitual but it's really not enhancing our light. I took these instructions to heart and found great solace in strengthening my practice, so that we could be stronger in our ability to contain these precious moments in Maui with Ram Dass.
Inspired by this, class today and yesterday was on discipline. And because the word "discipline" can bring to mind images of nuns with rulers, I reminded my students that the words "discipline" and "disciple" share the same roots (that is "student, learner"). I think the word "disciple" has such a sweeter flavor to it.
Theme:
Discipline and discipleship
Highlights:
*Headstand #1 and Shoulderstand #1. Very important poses that sometimes get forgotten, especially shoulderstand.
*Did a hip opener and forward-bendy class which really encourages introspection from the students.
*"Let your legs be the embodiment of your discipline while your upper body expresses all that it's learned and shares it with the world..."
*Handstand with one leg in lotus.
*Supine lotus, with tons of organic energy radiating out of the knees...
*A student did handstand for the first time in class today (love it) and she said something so beautiful, "I've never been in that position before..." It was almost a haiku.
Something to work on:
*There was a student who couldn't get up into shoulder stand. I told him to use a block under his sacrum and lift his legs up. That was good but another thing I could have said was to take his legs up the wall in Viparita Karani and for some reason I forgot... I guess it's because I don't teach this pose often and of course the gift of teaching a pose to many students, is that you start to see how to modify the pose, how to teach it to different levels of students, you start to learn from the pose....
Lastly:
Have been feeling incredibly centered since my return from Maui. Have noticed that after my classes this week I haven't had that thing of wanting to know how class went. You know that thing? You look at your student's eyes and ask pleadingly "How was it?" and you hope and pray that they say "great." You know that need for validation? It has not really been there this week. I have been feeling a lot of support from inside. And, I hope this doesn't come across as harsh, but I haven't needed the validation this week...
Although it feels lovely and amazing when a student compliments you, and in fact, several have this week. How interesting right? The moments you don't need the validation, it's when you start to get it!
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