Do You Want to Be a Popular Yoga Teacher?

Lately, I’ve been getting comments in regards to my video submission for an opportunity to teach at one of the Wanderlust Festivals.

“wow!  if you win the Wanderlust teaching spot, you’ll be put on the map.”  
“what a great opportunity it would be for you to get your name out.”
“this is how teachers become celebriyogis.”

And I think, “what map? my name out where? and why do I want to become a celebriyogi?”

And then I remember sitting in a class (or was it a speakeasy talk?) with Maty Ezraty.  I’ve never heard of her before when I saw her name on the class schedules but decided to check her out.  Little did I know that she was the co-founder of YogaWorks.  This woman is amazing on all levels.. and I’m thinking, “how come I never heard of her before?”  Maty says, “Do you want to be a good teacher or do you want to be a popular teacher?” 

What a thought provoking question to which my answer is “both.”  I want to reach as many people as I can and teach really good yoga classes.  But then it got me thinking… is there a difference between a popular teacher because s/he is a good teacher and a popular teacher because s/he is just popular?  It’s like high school all over again… you know those popular kids are popular because of the way they look or the families they come from, but deep down they’re not the type of friends you want to associate with…

So I think back… I’ve signed up for classes before because of the teacher’s name on a roster and I’ve heard about the popularity of their classes.  They play good music.  They teach advanced poses.  They can do this.. they can do that… And then I’ve heard people say things like, “I don’t go to so and so’s class because they don’t play music or they don’t let me do this pose or they are too strict.”  So I sign up for that teacher’s class.  In the end, the popular class was fun but the not so popular class was enlightening.  The difference?   There was no connection with the popular teacher.  I could barely hear the teacher over the music.  The teacher never looked at me.  We plowed thru sequence after sequence until I could give no more.  The not so popular teacher made me do things I didn’t want to do because they saw that was where I needed to practice.  These types of teachers pull me back when they recognize that I am moving from ego and competition, especially when my body is not ready for that type of pose.  In the end I thanked the not so popular teacher for really seeing me and helping me see what I was ignoring and helping me to really understand what it means to practice.

I’ve asked myself, so why do I want to teach at Wanderlust?  The answer was clearly not to become a popular teacher.  I don’t consider myself a popular teacher.  Since I’ve started teaching, I’ve opted for those not so popular time slots.  In fact out of the 13 classes I teach, I only teach one prime time slot.  I don’t give in to everyone’s wishes.  I don’t offer all the crazy sequencing and postures unless I know you’re ready.  I don’t always play music.  I’ll give you a block and ask you to modify even if you don’t want to… not because I think you can’t do it, but because I care about you and want to see you grow and not continue to stroke your ego.  The number of students in class don’t frazzle me… because I personally know each and every student and if I don’t know you, I want to know you.  This is the type of teacher I’ve become and it won’t change regardless of Wanderlust or not.  

Even though I’ve only met Maty once and took a few of her classes last year, I am inspired by her.  She teaches some really badass yoga and is not afraid to bruise your ego because she loves you.  

These are the qualities a good teacher possesses, some are qualities that will not put them in the popular ranking, but I would sign up for their classes in a heart beat.  Every time I step into a classroom, I remind myself that this is who I am:

1.  A good teacher teaches the importance of how you feel in the pose rather than how you should look in a pose.  Feeling the pose and expressing it outward is much stronger than forcing the pose to look a certain way.  This teacher teaches the student to strengthen their intuition so the practice becomes their own… this teacher is teaching independence for one day the student will no longer need the teacher and the teacher would be so happy to see their student progress without being dependent on them.  

2.  A good teacher leads a healthy and happy life.  It doesn’t mean they have a perfect life, but they practice what they teach. They show us that it’s not always peachy outside, but what matters is how they handle it and how they overcome the difficulties in their life.  They inspire us by simply living their life.

3.  A good teacher has a sharp sense of awareness.  They are present in their life.  Again not perfect, but present.  They have the ability to see themselves and their actions.  Everyone goes down the dark path at some point in their lives, but the person who can see, will see the choices they’ve made did not yield the best outcome and will recreate a new choice.  Because this person is present for themselves, they are present for others.  They will help others see themselves through the lens of compassion.

4.  A good teacher connects with people.  They are genuinely interested in you and your practice.  You’re not just a number in class.   They see your progress and offers suggestions to make your practice easier and more enjoyable.  They celebrate your successes and your falls.  Mostly these teachers help students connect with themselves.  They don’t put themselves on the guru pedestal and would laugh in your face if you refer to them as your guru… because they teach you that you are your own best guru and you don’t need anyone else to bow to except the light that is already in you.

5.  A good teacher has a great sense of humor.  They laugh when they fall.  They may even laugh at you when you fall… not to make fun of you, but because they want to remind you to stop taking the pose so seriously.  You can see that their sense of humor on the mat carries thru into their life and we wonder how this teacher deals with everything under the sun with such grace and ease. 

None of this will change if I win the teaching spot at Wanderlust… because all I care about is connecting with new students and being able to practice all 5 of these qualities in a new environment.    

I would be so grateful for your vote.  Voting ends on May 15th.  Click on the link below and press LIKE on facebook to vote for me:

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3024066489568&oid=82363965333&saved

Living on the Edge of Fear

… fear of not being good enough, not popular enough, not yogic enough… fear of what other people might think… fear of failing and making a fool of myself. 

Someone once told me, “be a little scared.”  

Image Source

Fear can be paralyzing.  It can be stressful.  It can even prevent you from experiencing life to the fullest.  Think about it for a moment…

How many ways does fear motivate you to stay in a comfortable safe zone or prevents you from experiencing things, relationships, situations?  I bet if you look closely at all your actions, fear has something to do with it. 

Often we associate fear with a negative feeling.  This blocks us.  But fear is not all bad.  The familiar  fight or flight mechanism we naturally have  can save our lives in threatening situations.  So fear has a potential for being a good guy.  

What if the next time you come face to face with fear, you turn all that energy (because it takes a lot of energy to summon up this emotion) into a good guy?  What if you can look at fear as a big ball of excitement… ready to burst into creative energy… into possibilities… into your next big thing that will make your heart pound and the hair on your skin stand up.   That’s a place where I want to live… right at the edge of fear.

This time I won’t get paralyzed.  I won’t hide behind it’s face.  I won’t give up.  Instead, I will laugh and bring it along for the ride. 

That’s exactly what I’m doing.  I’ve entered a video contest for a chance to be able to teach at a big yoga event, the Wanderlust Festival.   I need your help! Please click on the link below to watch my video and vote for me by LIKE’ing the video on Wanderlust’s facebook page.  

Click below for the link to the video:   

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=3024066489568&oid=82363965333&saved

Go ahead and let yourself be a little scared.  It’s a good feeling if you let it be.  Otherwise life becomes dull.

P.S.  Make sure you like the video and not just the post.  FB is kinda confusing that way… 

P.P.S.  If I make a fool out of myself, I’d still be happy because I would’ve made you laugh.  

Calling All Artists, Environmentalist, and Any Human Being That Cares

Don’t you just get annoyed by parents who brag about their kids all the time?   Well, I’m not one to brag, but this deserves to be mentioned… because it’s a call to action for all of us.  It’s not a big deal, but it is.  It’s just a coloring contest, but it’s so much more.  My girl won a Lorax coloring contest.  I’m proud of her… not for winning, but because she gets it… the reason why we should care about the planet.   

I am not littering and I am recycling things that should and can be recycled and definitely not cutting down trees. What are you doing to help the planet?

When our elementary school encouraged their students to bring in plastic bottles for recycling, my little boy says, “good thing we don’t drink water bottles cause I don’t want to carry all those to school.”  I’m glad he gets it too.  

… and SIGG (the swiss made reusable water bottles) gets it too… They are holding a design contest for the launch of their next collection of beautiful bottles.   You can win up to $1000 and 5% licensing fee of bottles sold.  But of course, these aren’t the only reasons why you would want to help launch the next bottles   Check out the contest rules and requirements:  http://www.mysigg.com/design_contest.do .  

SIGG Yoga Inspired Reusable Bottle

If you’re not the creative type, you can still be a winner right here.   SIGG is giving away this beautiful yoga inspired reusable bottle to one lucky Live.Love.Yoga blog reader.  

Get one entry into the random drawing for every one action you do below:

1.  Like SIGG’s page on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SIGGNorthAmerica

2.  Follow SIGG’s twitter page:  https://twitter.com/#!/SIGG_NA

3.  Comment on this post:  Tell me what action you’ve done to enter and what you are doing to help the planet?

Entry for drawing ends at midnight PST on March 12, 2012.  Winner will be notified via email. 

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.  – Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Winner: YMX Koi Fish Outfit

Drum roll please….

Presenting the lucky winner of the YMX Koi Fish outfit contest:

 

Thanks for entering!!! 

Your regularly scheduled blogging will resume once again real soon

Lucky Giveaway: YMX By YellowMan

You know what they say about timing… timing is everything!   I said if I got 100 subscribers, I would do a giveaway.  Well timing couldn’t have been more perfect with 106 subscribers who have nothing else to do but read my rants and share in my life through the bits and bytes of cyber connection   As I was thinking about what I would give away, I received a free product for review from YMX, an athletic clothing company who makes some very beautiful prints.

YMX offers multi-use lifestyle apparel that bridges the gap between sport and fashion. Featuring high-comfort, lightweight MadKool fabrics and detailed, original prints, YMX is rugged enough for every kind of workout, from running to yoga to cycling to spin class, but has enough of a point of view to fill your need for serious style. More information can be found at http://www.ymxbyyellowman.com

YMX Koi Hoodie

YMX Koi Performance Legging

My verdict:  the fabric is so light but can be warm and comfy… the jacket is perfect for layering to and from my yoga classes.  The leggings are very comfy but I wouldn’t wear it out without a little skirt or something to cover my bums

I love it so much that I’d like one lucky person to have one too!  Here’s how to win (each one is worth one entry) and let me know what you did in the comments:

1.  comment on this post — tell me where and what you would do in this koi outfit

2.  ‘Like’ YMX by YellowMan’s facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ymxbyyellowman?ref=ts&sk=app_121121694568521

3.  Subscribe to my blog if you’re not already (if you are already subscribed, you’ll still get the extra entry)

Winner will be choosen next friday, Oct 7, 2011.

NOTE:  Product (in your size) will be shipped to the winner from the U.S. only. 

Good Luck!  Interestingly.. the Koi fish is a symbol of luck.

Blogoversary Winner

Check the video to see if you’ve won

(watch in 360p for better picture)

Now that’s fear turning into fun a bit at a time.  I never went upside down like that as a kid because I was scared and my parents probably didn’t allow me to do that because if I fell, I’d probably “break my neck and die!” Well ever since I took that aerial class, I’ve been less paralyzed by going upside down.  The best part of monkeying around on the playground is watching the reactions of other parents who look at me like I’m an immature parent… but deep in their eyes I can see some part of them wants to be there right by me.  I was the coolest parent there… several little girls even came by and tag teamed Niko in tickling my belly.   So dear parents, please put down your iphones and get on the playground with your kids!

Congrats Heather! Once I receive the package, I will send it to you.  Please email me your address.

THANK YOU for playing!!! and HUGE THANKS to Kasha for making my 1 year blogoversary sooooo fun!

Blogoversary Giveaway

On this day 1/11/11, Live.Love.Yoga turns 1.  Happy Blogoversary!

After 16,998 all time views, 250 average daily views, 168 posts, 359 comments, 40 official subscribers, and the top search engine term people use to stumble upon my blog is ‘clouds,’ I never imagined I would ever blog for a year, let alone enjoy it and share it with the world.  Never did I think anyone would ever read my crap.  Never did I think I would meet such cool people.

Never say NEVER!

Speaking of cool people, I literally just met Kasha Ritter via email yesterday.  She is the creative genius behind Yoga Mat Made… Purses made out of yoga mats.  Talk about carrying your yoga with you everywhere!  She is kindly sending me a bag which I am reluctantly going to give it away (that’s right! non-attachment in action).  She’s even asked which one I wanted, but to make the giving it away easier, I’ve asked her to choose one for the giveaway.  So once I get it, I’ll let you know what you’re gonna get… but you can’t go wrong with either one.

one of the bags I like

 

It’s simple to win.  Receive one entry for every action you do:

1.  post a comment giving me (honest) feedback about what you like or what you would like to see or anything else you want to say about Live.Love.Yoga.  You should know that you can enter even if you don’t blog or have a website.  Just be sure to enter your email when you post a comment (your email will never be published or spammed).

2.  Sign up to subscribe.  (Don’t worry, if you’re already subscribed, you’ll get that extra entry with any other action)

3.  Like Yoga Mat Made on facebook (be sure to mention it with your comment)

4.  Share this post via any of the methods below (facebook, email, blog repost, tweet) and tell me in your comments

Kasha is offering you guys 25% off the bags from her website at http://www.kasharitterstore.com if you just absolutely can’t wait to see if you’ve won.  Simply use the coupon code “om my gosh.”  Also check out her beautiful artwork: http://www.kasharitter.com

If there are more than 20 entries, I will give away another surprise prize that has something to do with living your yoga as well

The winner(s) will be randomly choosen and announced on next week’s post on Jan 18th.

Never say you’ll never win…

Good Luck!

Freebie Giveaway

Ultima flavors: grape, lemonade, raspberry, orange

Great news!   There is such a thing as FREE!  No strings attached.   The folks at Ultima is going to give away 5 sample boxes to 5 lucky readers. If you missed my post on what I did with my free ultima replenisher mix, read it here.   How to win:  a simple comment on this blog entry or my facebook link this week gets you in the raffle drawing.  We’re talking about a whole box so the stakes are high… drop a line even just to say “Hi!”

Speaking of free… yesterday was all about FREE! I got a free ice cream cone yesterday from the nicest lady and best ice cream place ever!  After our FREE school skills preview class at Gymboree we decided we deserved some ice cream before dinner because it was 105 degrees out at 5pm.  The Los Altos Creamery was conveniently next door.  We were so excited about all the flavors and the lady was super nice to let us try them (unlike most places who give you the stink eye for trying so many flavors).  Niko and Jazz both got their cones and she was just about to scoop  mine when I reached for my wallet because a thought of “do they only accept cash” ran through my mind.  Sure enough, they were only accepting cash “at this time.”  I had $8 in cash just enough for the kids cones.  So right before she scooped, I told her never mind cause I didn’t have enough cash.  Without hestitation, the lady proceeded to scoop the ice cream and just said, “it’s ok.. don’t worry.  It’s so hot outside, you deserve ice cream too.”   WOW!!!  I thought…  hey I do deserve ice cream but at the same time I was feeling guilty and didn’t want to accept a kind offer.  Hmmmm how often do we think we don’t deserve an act of kindness or that we’re not good enough or haven’t done enough good to be receiving this? (more on this later…)  Look at this charming place:

photo from yelp

Photo from yelp

YES!  You do deserve a free box of ultima replenisher!  Why not?  Drop me a line.

Yoga Graffiti Photo Entries

I am filled to the brim with GRATITUDE and INSPIRATION from all the participants and donors! Africa Yoga Project is the recipient of $500!!! YAY!!!  I am overwhelmed with the responsibility of choosing the winner   These are all soooooo GOOD! Here are the entries in no particular order. Winner of $200 lululemon gift certificate and 6 raffle prize winners to be announced July 5th.

What is your favorite?

~~~~~~~

#1 (flip dog)

#2 Urdva Dhanurasana on a surf board

#3

#4 (Lake Muskoka, Ontario Canada)

#5 @ Cool California

#6 Sequoia Tree in Sequoia, CA

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11 (snow storm backyard NJ)

#12 (tour bus in India)

#14 (skip the unlucky number)

#15 (yoga in snow in montana)

#16 (Varansi India on the shore of the Ganges where only the men practice)

#17 (This is the tree that was uprooted during the last tornado storm through Michigan, I thought this is going to be the new kind of eagle to perch and fly from this tree now)

#18 (A crow has perched in this fallen tree)

#19 (cliff hanger)

#34

#20

#21

#22

#23

#24 (These guys were transfixed by the power of asana)

#25 (side crow trying to stay dry)

#26 (on top of half dome in yosemite)

#27 (Cool, california)

#28 (home stretch)

#29 (mountain on top of a mountain - half dome in yosemite)

#30 (calm in the midst of chaos)

#31 (crow on top of half dome, yosemite)

#32 (bravo tacoasana)

#33

#34

#35

#36 (mind over madness, time square, NY)

#37 (san jose museum of art)

#38 (dueling bow on a moving tube)

#39

#40

#41

#42 (crow on a tube)

#43

#44 (yoga on the tracks)

#45 (adho mukha firehydrasana)

#46 (leap of faith)

#47 (Makapu'u Mountain ,Honolulu, Hawaii)

#48 (Makapu'u Mountain ,Honolulu, Hawaii)

#49 (YogAmor)

#50

#51

#52

#53 (coffee stand below Mt. Shasta)

And one creative video that was submitted: yoga retreat

It’s Not About The Goal

photo credit: http://varrahyoga.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/om1.jpg

This picture is a great reminder for us that the goal is not the actual goal.

It’s classic to hear people say, “I can’t do yoga, I can’t touch my toes.”

“Yoga is not about touching your toes, it’s about what you learn on the way down.”  (From Judith Hanson Lasater author of A Year of Living Your Yoga).

This can be carried to other activities other than yoga.  It’s easy to get wrapped up in the physical exercise part of any sport or activity whether yoga or not.  If we focus on our experience, we can connect to our selves and begin the path of self-discovery.  I often like to remind students that those intense sensations that are felt in a pose is a way for the body to communicate to us.  The conversation is constant but we usually only “hear” (feel) them when they are screaming at us with pain.  Then we either react or completely try to ignore it and real experience is never experienced.

I’ve learned that easing off in the pose to a point where I can let go of getting a Yoga Journal perfect pose, I can focus on the sensations and where they stem from.  This helps me to focus on the experience and I usually learn a thing or two about my hips or my shoulders or where ever and whatever thing that is presenting the challenge at that time.

Yoga Graffiti Contest: As you tag away for your photo, remember that the ultimate goal is not all about winning.  It’s also not all about the Africa Yoga Project.  Certainly these are two factors/by-products (important ones for that matter) of the experience but it is ultimately about what you have learned about yourself during the process.  I’m certain that you will step outside of your comfort zone to get that “winning” photo, but discover something new in this new territory, often called your edge.