Trying not to overly plan
I taught tonight using the triad of tapas, Isvara-pranidhana and svadhyaya for my class at Black Dog. It really works so well.
I came in knowing that I wanted to do a specific Handstand variation, some variation of Camel poses and Anjaneyasana. The rest was pretty much improvised- and it was lovely. I think that for a planner like me to come to class being more open, is really such a gift that I get to give myself and my students. I am more available to their energy, I pay more attention to them and I am not as attached to my goals. What a feat though, isn't it? To plan a class but then to be so open that you are willing to throw it all out the window. I am not there yet by any means, but I do notice that when I allow myself to be more open to the room, magic happens.
Funny, I was thinking about award shows and how award shows are similar to yoga classes. I love to watch awards shows, in particular the Oscars. And yet I find them so boring! I think it's because there is so much planning that goes into them; so much money that goes into dance numbers, montages, etc. And when the moment comes that someone wins then they are told that they have a few seconds to speak before they get cut off. And isn't that what we yearn for as viewers? Those moments of unscripted magic that happens when you let people be vulnerable and go off script? When I look back on memorable moments in awards shows it is never a dance number, a song or a montage. It is Sandra Bullock's emotional speech or Adrian Brody kissing Halle Berry, or Cuba Gooding Jr. losing his shit as he won... It's those moments that happen without any planning.
Last week I taught a class like that at Still, and a certified Anusara teacher who's a friend of mine was in the room. She wrote me afterwards saying how much she enjoyed class and asked me if class was improvised because it felt so organic. I told her that I had come in with a few poses planned and the rest I opened to the universe.
I think that for the next few weeks, I'm going to practice teaching like this; I'll see how it goes. It will be a good homework for me. Have a few poses planned and then be open. I think that will help me take away a lot of stress that I create for myself before class. It will be lovely not to be so stressed before I teach yoga!
Beautiful!! I'm totally with you about award shows--I think it's hilarious how much stress, money and time goes into planning events where the best moments are completely spontaneous. My art teacher always says there's three stages of being an artist, and I think they apply to yoga teaching: In the beginning, you master the tools (asanas, alignment, sanskrit, etc), then you develop your skill (study under the masters, practice, planning). Finally, when you've experimented and planned long enough, you reach mastery, where your cumulative experience in the other stages causes technique and intuition to synthesize, and the art flows from you organically. Sounds like you're experiencing stage 3!!
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Solana, I really love this. It so applies to yoga. Maybe you should share it at the training? Thank you!
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Thanks MC! <3 I shared it on Friday night, and Peter really seemed to dig it. I'm so happy you do too! =}
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Handstand is one of the more intimidating poses, but once you do it, it feels awesome. I found Leeann Carey has a free yoga video with great pointers for Handstand. I thought your readers might want to check it out: http://planetyoga.com/yoga-blogs/index.php/free-yoga-video-adho-mukha-vrksasana-downward-facing-tree-pose-handstand/
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Thank you- I thought it was really well explained and helpful.
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