This weekend
This weekend I took three different yoga classes: Doug's and Grace at Siesta Yoga and Tiffany's at Black Dog. Siesta Yoga is a new studio that my friends Christian and Brandee opened up in 1825 N. Western Avenue, cross street Franklin. It is were Keric and I will be teaching our Anusara Teacher Training next month. Please check out their schedule for classes (www.siestayoga.net). I had meant to go with my friend Mackie to Monica's class on Sunday but I couldn't make it. I couldn't make it because for the first time in 39 years I had a hangover. Oh well. Note to self: do not drink champagne ever again. I spent Sunday resting and watching 30 Rock re-runs and reading my fourth Joseph Campbell book in a row.
But it was so great to take different teachers and to experience Anusara through the prism of Doug, Grace and Tiff. Doug was sweet, super excited and came so alive during the arm balances. Grace was clear, strong, yet kind- her shyness coupled with her strong teaching makes a powerful combination. Tiffany is one of the strongest teachers I have ever studied with, and always teaches a great class with an inspiring theme. I always leave yoga classes thinking how courageous teachers are and how hard it is to teach a good class. I get into my car wondering, "How they did it?" And here I am a full-time yoga teacher and I forget to give myself credit! It is so easy to see the good on another and to forget how well we are doing with our own circumstances.
Maybe as we head towards the end of the year, we can see how far we have come personally as teachers and as students of yoga. We can see how our yoga practice has progressed; not just noticing what poses we cannot do. And we can pay attention to our own hearts and feel all that is there. May we continue to pay attention to ourselves, not in a judgmental way, but as a way of honoring all that we are and all that we are becoming. May we love ourselves enough to notice all that is there. As George Washington Carver wrote, "Anything will give up its secrets if you love it enough."
Lastly, here is an interesting homework: A Buddhist teacher suggests that for one day you write down how you are feeling every hour. The purpose of this exercise is to develop mindfulness and notice how your thoughts change so often. In writing down every hour what you are feeling, it might make us not being so attached to the ups and downs of our daily experience. Right now it is 9AM and I am feeling grateful and clear. And so for today I will continue to pay attention, to love myself enough to notice all that is there, so the secrets of my heart can be revealed. And so it goes...
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