It got me thinking about how often we are uncomfortable or even in pain in a pose and instead of asking for help, or trying to figure out what is it that's causing the pain, we reject the pose and not do it. Instead, if we can go to the uncomfortable place and re-align, we might might just  figure it out what is causing the misalignment and break out of that paradigm.

I thought this was such a powerful lesson for me as well. I find that as a teacher it is uncomfortable for me to be "tough" or "demanding." My nature is nurturing, sweet, loving, and let to my own devices I would only teach tons of hip openers, restorative bridge and read Mary Oliver till the wild geese come home. And whenever I step (courageously I might add) into that part of me that is fierce, tough and a bit demanding, over and over I find that it complements so nicely with my nature, balancing me as a teacher. 

This week was a hard one for me as a teacher because I felt myself shuttling between my different voices. One class I taught I was a hard-ass. Another one I taught this week and I was too soft and sweet. I felt myself moving through all these different personalities. It's like that book I read in high school, Sybill, where she had all these different personalities.

Yesterday at Still I decided to live up to something I heard John Friend once say. He said: "Give them what they want, so that you can give them what they need." So we had a fiery beginning and middle. We were working with Parivirrta Parsvakonasana and did three variations of this pose. We went into Handstands and practiced with a friend and solo in the middle of the room. And we did Urdhvas. Boy did we do Urdhvas!

At first I thought of just two or even three. But then I noticed some people weren't coming up on their own. And it is so easy for me to say, "oh it's okay, you'll get it one day, let's move on. Or even go over to them and have them hold my ankles, which can be really helpful and eye opening for a beginner, but after a while it doesn't really teach them how to get off the ground! But yesterday I was emboldened! I stopped and demo-ed the pose. They did a fourth one. Someone complained of wrist pain. I explained how to get up without wrist pain. I demo-ed again. They did a fifth one. We talked about using our legs more. They did a sixth one! My goodness. And they were all getting up. It was such a good lesson for me. To keep at it, to keep the fire burning, to be strong for them, and trust that they know that behind my intensity, there is such a pure intention of wanting them to connect to the best part of themselves.

Anusara Poster Project Pose: Parivrtta Parsvakonasana (love this pose and have been teaching it all week!)