COMFORT ZONE CHALLENGE

As I announced in a previous post, I'm taking the Yoga Circle/Sarva Yoga-sponsored 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training.  We just had the first of our monthly weekend intensives (Intense!) and now we are on to doing our homework.  I have not done homework in approximately 35 years.

Guess what?!?  The Yoga Anatomy textbook has absolutely NO plot or character development; no poetry or examination of the psychological underpinnings of motivation and behavior; no sociological exposition of group dynamics; no mention whatsoever of Monet and the Impressionists! Just words, words, words (and the occasional diagram) in some language vaguely reminiscent of 8th grade biology class and that yucky frog dissection.  This Liberal Arts major is being a wee bit challenged, I tell ya!  I've already enlisted a tutor or two -- my husband who had a career in the medical field and a good friend who is a Physical Therapist and internationally known Pilates instructor/lecturer.  They find my confusion highly amusing, but they are willing to break it all down for me.

I decided to do the training to deepen my practice, to dive deeper into yoga philosophy, and to challenge myself intellectually with a new subject, knowing the anatomy piece would be out of my wheelhouse.  I was right about that!  But already I find it fascinating to learn what is happening internally, and why, as we move through our poses.

The other main components of the training are to study the yoga sutras (the ancient instruction of yoga and yoga philosophy) and to study asana practice.

Thursday night's Orientation was a great warm-up.  But by the end of the first full day on Friday I was overwhelmed and exhausted.  It all seemed so confusing and difficult.  It really wasn't, but my perception was skewed by the fact that I have taken no formal training in any topic unfamiliar to me in about 20 years.  Comfort Zone Challenge!  I was buoyed by the consistent encouragement of the teachers and a group of sister-students who seem to be equally at the Beginner's Mind level.  I felt held in love, care, and comaradie.  We are in this together!

Saturday was equally exhausting but likely due to the fact that since I retired 8 years ago, I haven't had to be in a "work" environment, paying attention, and engaged on one focus for 8 hours, three days in a row!  I went home exhausted!  But I noticed I was looking forward to Sunday.

Thankfully, Sunday started with an exploration of the Yoga Sutras and an introduction to Meditation. Those are right up my alley!  Then we did lots of asana and sequencing and finally, we ended with each of us taking a turn teaching part of an asana sequence.  Yikes!  Nerves all around, but we did it!  I left feeling exhilarated by the training.

Now I'm noticing my tendency to procrastinate on the homework piece but my meditation practice has taken a turn for the more regular;  I'm aware of so much more intention in class; and I have a far greater appreciation for the excellence of our Yoga Circle teachers.

Now if that anatomy book would stop taunting me....©

Namaste, donnajurene