An unforgettable private client
It's been over 100ª today in Los Angeles and I have no air conditioner. I taught three privates this morning and went home and literally dropped to the floor with my two cats and watched "Sex and the City" re-runs. I showered with cold water, had a little practice and then went to teach my 6PM class at Black Dog- which was so so so great and fun.
But I digress...
Today I had a really interesting thing happen. I was teaching my private client Judi, whom I've been teaching for about 6 years. She asked if her friend could join and I said yes. Her friend was a very quiet, serious, bespectacled older lady. She didn't really converse or seem to take in what I was saying. At one moment I felt like I wasn't reaching her and felt sad. She had poor body awareness and was in pain so I continued to give her the best teaching I could offer and simply make the offering of doing my best and letting go of the result.
Throughout class she remained stoic and distant. At the end I asked them to sit with their eyes closed so that we could "Om" together. She sat looking away from me. I thanked them and started to get up to gather my stuff. Then she spoke. Very softly, almost inaudibly. She continued to look away from us, right at the ground. She said she had been wanting to cry for the last three months and she hadn't been able to. She paused. She started to cry, And I started to cry. And my client started to cry. And we were crying and hugging and laughing and kleenex, snot, tears, hairs, glasses, I love you, it's going to be okay, thank you, and suddenly I loved her and I got her and I understood and saw myself in her.
I realized that you never know what a student is bringing to class; what they are dealing with or how they are taking in what you are saying. All that you can do as a teacher is teach to the best of your ability and let go of the result. Trust that the practice is so incredibly powerful and grounding, that it will hold everyone and create the release needed.
Theme: Grounding:
Feel how your practice grounds you and sustains you through the ups and downs of your life. And creates a safe place for a release to take place, whatever that might be.
Focus: Foundation. First Principle
Child's Pose, Cat Cow, Down Dog
Lunge
Crescent
Parsavakonasana
Warrior 2, Reverse Warrior 2
Trikonasana
Vasisthasana
Malasana
Bakasana
Uttanasana
Tadasana
Baby Dancer (twice)
Handstand
Eka Pada Rajakapotasana #1, with thigh stretch
Parsva Bakasana, Dwi Pada Koundinyasana to Eka Pada Koundinyasana #1
Ardha Bhekasana
Dhanurasana (twice one with partners)
Bridge
Urdhva Dhanurasana
Agni Stambhasana
Parvrrta Janu Sirsasana
Supta Baddha Konasana
Savasana
Anusara Poster Project Pose: Parsva Bakasana, Dwi Pada Koundinyasana
So sweet!
Reply to this
What an amazing story! It's a great reminder that we never know where our students have come from and what they've delt with that day and all we can do is be present with them and share the beauty of yoga. Thanks!
Quick question - Can you please tell me what "Baby Dancer" pose is?
Thanks in advance! Cx
Reply to this
Hi there- Baby Dancer is the modified version of King Dancer; the standing backbend where you stand tall, bend one leg, reach back grab a hold of your foot and lift it up behind you, like a thigh stretch...
Reply to this
So so so so beautiful. I love that we never know the nature or magnitude of our influence on others, and how often our assumptions in that area are completely wrong! I know I can get so caught up in reacting to what I THINK is going on around me, and eventually I realize that my mind is turning everything around, and I've just been chasing shadows =p It's so important to be reminded that when we act from our highest selves and try to be of service in any situation, regardless of what we may think of it, we always have the most profound positive effect on others. =]
This is also yet another example showcasing your incredible gift of creating a safe loving space for people which allows them to be vulnerable and connect with what's going on deep inside of them. I'll never forget the time I cried after restorative, it was the most open and peaceful I've felt in my life. You always try so hard to teach every student to the best of your ability, and everyone I know that's been taught by you has been touched and affected in both subtle and drastic ways. **I'm not trying to embarrass you, just relaying information. You're awesome--accept it!!** Class today at Black Dog was da bomb--I felt so inspired by your teaching skillz, and the aforementioned safe space allowed me to release some things of my own =3 Thank you so much for sharing and for being you =3 I love you!!
**PS Why don't you have air conditioning, you crazy person??!**
Reply to this
Thank you Solanita! I don't have AC because I live right next to the sidewalk and they don't allow it... oh well...
Reply to this
Thank you for a great class yesterday! Just what I needed. Here's a link to the Fallen Angel Pose.
http://blogs.yogajournal.com/challengepose/2010/09/challenge-pose-fallen-angel.html
I'll see you in class!
Reply to this
Thank you so much for introducing me to this beautiful pose.
Reply to this