I started out teaching in Spanish at Om Yoga in late August. This had been my dream for the past couple of years, but I'd never had a venue for teaching yoga en español. Strangely, I have regressed. I went from Spanish to choppy Spanglish to "puro inglés." I was stressing about teaching a vigorous, sweaty vinyasa class (not my natural tendency, but it's what the people want) while injecting bits of Buddhist philosophy and meditation techniques -- all in my second language. I would make a cheat sheet for myself and then get flustered about following it. After I gave the class in English, two regulars came up to me, separately, and said, "You should keep teaching in English." Ouch. But I know class flows better. Everyone understands English, and if not, they can look at me or their neighbor for a clue. Someday I'll deliver una clase fabulosa en puro español. Not quite yet.
Last night's class was lovely. Om Yoga just moved into a new, bigger studio. I arrived on time, because the taxi driver was a pro at fighting traffic. Lots of familiar faces, including two coworkers from school. After plenty of heat-building vinyasa variations, it was inversion time. I asked students to work on either scorpion (forearm stand) or headstand. I teach headstand the way I learned it myself: not using the wall, first practicing being upside down with your feet on the ground. Eventually (after days or weeks), lift your feet but keep your knees bent. Finally (after more days or weeks), straighten your legs and come into full headstand. And yet, I had a couple guys in their early twenties kicking up into headstand, immediately after I'd demonstrated to them personally the phases of the pose. They were kicking up wildly and tumbling over repeatedly. I said to the room, "Be sure your EGO is not taking over your practice. It's important to cultivate patience. Enjoy what you CAN do." Continued kicking and loud falling from the back row boys. "¡Cuidado, por fa!" I said, in the most blatantly admonishing tone I have ever used as a yoga teacher. ("Careful, PLEASE!") This is the trouble with teaching advanced poses to a roomful of strangers. No one got hurt, fortunately.
I think people liked the class. I know they liked the music, because several people came up to me after class wanting to a track list or to burn the CD. I love playing yoga DJ! The playlist included (but was not limited to): Opening by Wah, a little piano from Amelie, Be Here Now by Ray LaMontagne, Within You Without You by Los Beatles, One More Time with Feeling by Regina Spektor, House of Cards by Radiohead, My Sweet Lord by George Harrison, Marching Bands of Manhattan by Death Cab for Cutie, and, during savasana, Latika's Theme (a bigtime crowd pleaser) from the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack.
Throughout class, I always say, "Enjoy the stretch," "Let go of self-criticism," "Notice the differences on each side without judging..." I'll leave you with a quote I read today that says it all:
"As you work, become aware of what I call the self-mutilation dialogue. When you can't do something you think you should be able to, do you rip into yourself? The inner critic is not very discerning and is seldom honest; it just cuts you to shreds. When your mind starts its self-mutilation pattern, say no and come back to your breath. Reframe the way you think of the pose so that just being willing to work on it is a win. Have a sense of humor about Handstand—or anything else you're afraid of. Become amused (instead of depressed) when the mind jumps to delusional conclusions (I'm going to die!) and be fascinated and eager to carve out a new truth by doing new actions. Handstand builds self-esteem and strength. It gives you a sense of how to move through life's challenges and spooky times. Your horizons broaden, and the possibilities become so exciting! What more could you ask from a pose?"-Ana Forrest
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