Teacher Training
Yesterday was the first night of Black Dog Yoga's Teacher Training. I'm so honored to have been asked by Peter Barnett to be one of the four teachers leading it (Sigrid Matthews and Shari Goodhartz are the other two). It's not a one specific style of Hatha Yoga teacher training. And I am so excited to be with teachers who teach different styles, all of us working together creating harmony in the community.
The first night was a night of introductions, where we are in a circle and say our names and share something that brought us to yoga. It never ceases to amaze me how my heart skips a beat or two whenever I'm in a circle and have to speak. The malas get triggered, especially anava mala (that feeling of I'm not good enough...) and at times I feel myself comparing my stories with others, or not feeling as accomplished or bright as the person next to me. It's an interesting phenomenon to observe... To observe with loving-kindness, especially.
Several commented on how nervous they were and when my time came, I tried as graceful as I could to step into the seat of the teacher, embodying a more sattvic place. I spoke how hard it is for many of us to speak in front of others and I reminded myself and them to breathe, to share from their hearts. I also pointed out how beautiful the moon and asked if other's noticed is: everyone did. I pointed out how whenever we are in our mind chatter, in our monkey mind, filled with worry, we miss out on the outside world. And when something awe-some like the moon creeps up on us we pause, we look at it, the chatter stops, we become -in some way- one with the object that's being observed, and for a moment, everything is calm.
We then introduced Patanjali and his Ashtanga path. Shari did a great and swift job of that. I spoke about the yamas. Then the lovely and so funny Peter moved to Krishamacharya and his lineage. We ended with a few restorative poses beautifully taught by Sigrid.
I feel like these 12 or so students are reminding me of my own journey back in 2001 when I did my first ever TT.
I'm sweetly jealous of them.
They are in for an incredibly transformative ride.
Your writings are so inspiring Maria. Congratulations on your new position on the faculty of Black Dog Yoga. The students really are in for a deep transformative experience. Your presence will have a great deal to do with that. Much love, Amber W.
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Wow! How exciting to be on the other side of things. I can vividly remember sitting in my first class for my teacher training. I was so excited and so scared. And, I bet my teachers thought the same thing looking at me, that i was in for "a transformative journey"!
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MC,
I love this...I love you speaking about that little hiccup of fear when it comes time to speak...I had that exact experience today, and I always feel so ashamed about it, as if I am the only one who ever feels that way and am, therefore...deficient. You always strike me as so eloquent, so much a speaker from the heart and it gives me a lot of relief to know you have that same little dazzle of fear!
I am envious of all your TT students...it sounds glorious.
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