9 RULES EVERY YOGA STUDENT SHOULD FOLLOW

A short article was sent to me by a Yoga Circle teacher we know and love....and it so cracked me up!  Read it here to understand better what's to come in this blog post:
http://www.yoganonymous.com/9-rules-every-yoga-teacher-should-follow

What do you think?  Do any of the "rules" resonate with you?   What I'm wondering now is...what list of rules would our teachers offer to us, the students?!?  I bet some would be the same...

1.  Pay Attention to Me -- Our teachers have spent considerable time, effort, and money to get that teacher training accreditation.  Maybe they know something worth paying attention to?  Yep, probably.   So when my mind wanders or I don't understand, or like, a particular asana sequence it just could be that paying attention to the teacher will net a greater result than listening to my chattering thoughts:  "What is she doing?  That's a dumb pose.  This is too easy and a waste of my time....wait, what?  We're going to hang upside down by the straps on the wall???  I didn't sign up for this!"

2.  Introduce Yourself -- How often, first class at a new studio, do we want to sneak in quietly, pay the drop-in fee, and head directly to the back far corner, trying to be invisible and anonymous?  Maybe that's just me.  But I bet the teacher would love to know who is hiding back there, what injuries or issues s/he should be aware of, how s/he can make the class a positive experience for everyone -- even the newbie.  Be bold, students!  "Hi!  My name is Donna.  I'm new here.  I'd love some help with my lower back stiffness and by the way, my broken leg is a little inflexible."

3.  Ignore Anything You Shouldn't See --  Of course we expect our teachers to ignore the belly roll sticking out from between our sleek black yoga pants and cute (but maybe a tad too short) top, or the urgent need for a pedicure appointment, or maybe it's been a bit too long since we took razor to legs and pits.  It's part of their job to see gross stuff -- sort of like a doctor.  We love them for that.  But they might like the same consideration from us.  Teachers are people too!  They might fight weight gain, cellulite, bad hair days or, as happened at a Yoga class I took in Hawaii one time -- a "wardrobe malfunction" causing the teacher's bare left breast to break free from her cute halter top during a demo of Upward Dog.  Just ignore.

4.  Don't Acknowledge That I'm Completely Tone Deaf -- Well, we don't chant or "Om" at Yoga Circle and maybe that is because the teachers really ARE tone-deaf.  I don't know.  But if that's the reason, then we students shouldn't hold our teachers to a standard of pure pitch that we can't match.  C'mon!  Anyone can "om" -- it's the primordial sound of the universe...how could anyone get that wrong?

5.  Remember My Name and Me Forever -- Well, we have it easy on this one.  There are only a handful of teacher's names we have to remember and all we have to do is look on the schedule for a reminder (unless they confuse us with a last-minute sub).   I hand it to our teachers on this one -- they do a great job of remembering names.  And we ALL know who the standout is and she deserves a shout-out here:  Karen Guzak is truly, completely, utterly amazing, isn't she?  I have been coming to Yoga Circle for 6-7 years and I bet I can count on less than one hand the times she has forgotten or confused a name at the end of the class when she goes around the room, saying Namaste to each student by name.  THANK YOU, KAREN!  I take this as an gift of love and personal acknowledgement.  So as students, maybe we can return the favor as we thank our teachers as we are leaving..."Bye, Karen, thanks for a great class!"

6.  Keep the Lessons Simple -- The readings are a lovely addition to yoga class and I love the moments of meditation as I listen to a teacher sharing from a book of wise teachings.  But, c'mon class!  Let's encourage ourselves to higher learning!  Simple lessons are great -- there is wisdom in simplicity.  But it's OK for our teachers to bust out the Yoga Sutras now and again...or heck, lay the Vedic Upanishads on us!  We can take it!  And our teachers would get to move us toward greater enlightenment, which would make their day!  And ours!

7.  Speak English -- Oh sure.  Those Sanskrit words don't exactly trip off our English-speaking tongues, do they?  But again, our teachers went through hours upon hours of training memorizing all the Sanskirt names for all those poses.  Stop being a Happy Baby and let them teach us Anada Balasana.  It sounds so much cooler.  And ancient.  And Yogic.

8.  The Bra Strap is Not an OK Reference Point -- Hmmm...well, the guys might have a point on this one.  Most teachers do seem to be women and most students as well.  We just talk in shortcuts with references to things we know.  This is sexist, I agree.  So, students, let's encourage greater diversity of experience across gender lines!  Men, you could wear a bra.  HaHa!  Just kidding...well, unless you want to and then I'm totally cool with that.  But we could ALL be sure to attend classes and workshops taught by both men and women.   Don't lay this totally on the teacher, yo.

9.  Duh! Make Class Fun -- I agree with Rob on this one.   Recommending a certain Yoga Circle blogger would make each and every class so much more enjoyable...©

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit:  Pixabay.com

GRANDMA YOGI

I don't do headstands, but this month of May has left me feeling like I'm standing on my head anyway.  At the very least, I'm looking at life with a new perspective, a different focus, with a vaguely familiar, yet completely new priority.

This month began the adventure of providing Granny Nanny care for my 3-month-old granddaughter after her mommy and daddy returned to their paid work after both taking leave to spend time with their 5-1/2 year old and this new little bundle of baby joy.

My husband and I agreed to provide this gift of love, since not one of us could imagine her in a childcare setting all day long at such a tender age.  I thought we were in this together....until scheduling issues arose and my husband's part time job and a business trip meant that for most of this month, I've been on my own.  Ten-hour days, three days a week in a row with a 3-month-old is far more demanding and exhausting than I recalled from 30 years ago with my own children.  On the other hand, this one gets my undivided attention, which is sweet for both of us.

Recently I was visiting with a friend who is a Pilates Master and internationally-known teacher.  She said she frequently makes up scenarios for her students -- "pretend" people and circumstances for whom they have to design a Pilates program.  We talked about what that might be for a 64-year-old woman caring for an infant!  It was fun to think about how my body is moving in new and repetitive ways; where strength is needed, which muscles are stressed, how balance comes into play.

I realize how my lower back is so often in a swayback, slight backbend position as I cradle my little one in her favored position; I notice how my neck, looking down and to the left, is stiff and sore from hours of holding and feeding her in that position; I notice how often I bend to lay her down and pick her up from her play mat on the floor, using legs, arms, and back and how often I am on the floor with her, standing, sitting, lying with her.  I notice how I need balance and strength to lift her and myself holding her up off the floor or up and down a flight of stairs.   I notice how heavy her carseat is with her in it as I load and unload her from the car and carry her into the house and how I am also lifting and carrying her diaper bag and my purse at the same time!  Caring for a baby takes physical strength, stamina, balance, and awareness of how I move and what I need to do to get into and stay into good physical condition for the job.

So, when she is on her play mat and I am sitting near her there, interacting with her and absorbing her sweet smiles as she kicks and plays, I take that opportunity to follow her lead.  Babies really do  practice Happy Baby Pose!  So I do it too, right along with her, along with a few crunches.  Babies on their tummies work hard to push themselves up, holding that heavy head off the floor.  So do I, right along with her, practicing Plank and Sphinx poses.  I make sure my back gets a rest in Child's Pose.  I stand in Tree Pose while waiting for her bottle to warm -- a good balance posture.   It's amazing how often during the day I am aware of how I can incorporate yoga into my Granny Nanny job.

I had none of this awareness when my boys were babies.  I was overweight and I was stiff and sore all of the time.  That's not to say don't practice "sit on the sofa and watch TV" pose at the end of my days with my granddaughter.  Everyone needs a resting pose to return to!   But I'm confident my body is up for the task of baby care in ways I never would have predicted for myself at "grandma age".  I know I am in much better shape now than I was when I was a mother in my mid-30's.   Like Karen says, a regular yoga practice helps us "age backwards".  THANK YOU YOGA CIRCLE!  ©

Namaste,  donnajurene

Photo Credit: AleksandraSabelskaia@rf123.com

PATELLA PANIC

Well, I was cursing my knees in class today.  I tried to be kind to myself; tried to be with what "is".  But this is annoying.  I can totally accept that there are certain advanced poses I cannot do -- likely will NEVER be able to do (or at least don't care enough to work at).  But when I know I can easily do a pose if only some creaky part of my body would cooperate...well, that exasperates me.

I am starting to admit my knees are uncooperative.  I have "Hero's Pose" envy when I see how effortlessly others just sit comfortably with their legs folded under their tushes.  I can last about 10 seconds in that position, then I'm reaching for a block to sit on.  It's been YEARS of practice and my knees still scream at me in that pose.

Today we did Anjaneyasana (it's called Alanasana in my Hatha Yoga Illustrated) -- Crescent Lunge.  The book says we actually did the "gentle version" with one knee on the ground (low lunge).  Well, that knee -- especially my left kneecap -- was not feeling the gentle.  It HURT!  I found my "edge" with an immediate "ouch" and backed off to just a knee on the ground at a 90 degree angle.  At first I was concerned -- wow!  What if I really hurt myself???  Then I was mad!  Dumb knee caps!  How does one strengthen the patella, I wanted to know!

Of course, I googled "pain in kneecap when kneeling".  It could be osteoarthritis, but I don't think so.  It could be a bursitis (also called Housemaid's Knee or Preacher's Knee for obvious reasons -- neither of which could remotely pertain to me.)  It could be an inflammatory process -- but I have no swelling or redness and no pain except when putting weight on the patella.  So, maybe it's just "Donna's Knee" -- uniquely my own!

Isn't it interesting how our bodies shift and change, weaken and strengthen again?  I remember having a significant and painful shoulder bursitis when I first started practicing Yoga.  I didn't think I'd ever be able to lift and/or twist my right shoulder, nor support any weight on it.  But now I barely think of it.  I'm pain-free and fairly flexible.

Maybe my kneecap pain will subside over time.  Maybe not.  I think the more important lesson for me is acceptance of this limitation.  I really like being able to feel strong, balanced, flexible, and competent.  Does this "incompetency" make me a failed Yogi?  Of does it just make me humble?  And human?

Ah-ha!  And there we have it, don't we?  Can you love and embrace your limitations, making accommodations where needed, and still find pleasure and meaning in what you do?  As for me,  I'm learning to. ©

Namaste,  donnajurene

THE SWEETEST POSE (CHOCOLATE!)

Sugar is bad for us.  Super bad.  And tastes super good.  And we learn to crave it because the pleasure center in our brains has a teeny tiny little addiction problem with lots of substances, but the most legal, accessible, ubiquitous, and delicious is sugar.

So, in an attempt to clean up the 'ole bod and kick my sugar cravings I swore off sweets about a month ago.  It didn't take long for the cravings to subside and I was feeling pretty darned self-righteous about my easy-breezy kick of the habit.  Until this past weekend...

I attended a retreat for the women of my spiritual community with the theme:  Choosing Happiness:  Chocolate Can't Be Far Behind!

Good Golly!  Women sure do know how to bring a veritable feast of potluck chocolates to a retreat encouraging happiness through cacao consumption!  The display of high end chocolates, overpriced candy bars ($7.00!), and percentages of "darkness" in each was impressive.  I know chocolate has been rehabed, but wow!  I don't think we are meant to binge for three days on the stuff!  

So, in an attempt to counteract the effects of a little overindulgence, my roomie and BFF encouraged me to incorporate a bit of Yoga into my weekend, not really denying the siren song of a few M&M's and Hershey Kisses (I go for the cheap stuff), but including it!  So I thought, "OK!  I can do Yoga AND eat chocolate!"

Do you know that dumping a few M&M's onto a paper dessert plate strategically placed upon the floor at about the same level as where your head ends up in Downward Dog can vastly improve your flexibility?  (And makes Lion's Breath, with that tongue wagging, much more productive!)  And a little Hershey's Kiss precipitously balanced on the top of each ankle makes the reach toward your toes in Seated Forward Fold that much more scrumptious!  Also, a Theo Organic Fair Trade Sea Salt 70% Dark Chocolate candy bar perched at the crown chakra really encourages a steady balance in Tree Pose.

I share these tips with you since I know I can't be the only one who needs a little sugar boost now and again -- and you don't have to abandon your Yoga practice to get it!

But today I am back on the wagon, since last night after arriving home from the retreat, I found I was spending far too much time in Fetal Pose with a bit of a tummy ache.   You've been warned. ©

Namaste, donnajurene