Creating Confidence, A Book for New Yoga Teachers
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Eeeeeek! I have a new book project launching MARCH 1st!
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3 Tips for Brand New Yoga Teachers
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What I wish someone had told me when I first started out as a teacher…
Read MoreThe Yoga Poses You've Never Done Before
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A few thoughts on how to stay motivated when you're chasing an advanced yoga pose.
Read MoreYoga Teacher Training (Breath Cues for Baron Baptiste Inspired Vinyasa Classes)
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Are you training to become a Vinyasa yoga teacher? Today's post features some ideas for how to memorize breath cues, and what techniques I used in my Baron Baptiste-style teacher training.
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So, You Want to Be a Yoga Teacher...
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I realized something the other night after teaching a yoga class...
One of the best ways you can support your students is to remind them of the power of their breath.
Simply being asked to breathe more, and to focus on our breath, has an incredibly healing effect. Our bodies calm, our thoughts slow down a bit, and we become more aware of the present moment.
When you breathe fully in a pose, you are able to receive the benefits of the pose. The pose 'sinks' in. On a physical level, this can translate to muscles relaxing, which can mean you achieve a deeper stretch in a posture.
My friend thanked me the other night after class, and he said, "Thank you for reminding me to breathe. I really needed that."
So, say you want to be a yoga teacher, but you haven't done a training yet?
Practice showing up for someone in your life, and remind them to breathe a little more deeply. Give them a small way to remember to be in their body -- to feel their feet on the ground. To stretch and release some stress.
To breathe.
Share your yoga practice this way, through your breath, which is your greatest teacher.
Namaste.
Photos in this post by friends and (last photo) CKCImage.com.
A Beautiful Yoga Book
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Hi friends!
What yoga books are you reading lately?
Sponsored yogini Kels recently checked out Letters from the Yoga Masters, which features the collected letters of Dr. Hari Dickman to the hundreds of yogis he corresponded with—including Swami Sivananda, Ramana Maharshi, and Paramhansa Yogananda.
Today on Alive in the Fire she shares her thoughts on the book...
Its a book you don't want to lose. Its passion, its love, its life and most of its words are written by some of the greatest yoga masters of the past.
Hari, Hari Rickman, (whom you'll later be introduced to, well, sooner than later actually) devoted his life to the study of yoga. He once said, "I'm obsessed with yoga and Ill never get enough." Even as Hari was living in a displaced persons camp during the Second World War, he was studying and practicing yoga.
One of my favorite scripts is on page 129 where he describes when he learned about Yoni or Shanmukhi Mudra. I really needed a good insight on concentration. The hand written letters that are exampled are engrossing and very intriguing. You have to see them for yourself!
How fortunate that the yogic knowledge Dr. Dickman gained from many revered teachers has been preserved so carefully and faithfully that it can enrich the lives of many spiritual seekers who otherwise would never have known of him. Right?!
Last snippet; page. 87 discusses Sitali and Sitkari which I think its great to learn, especially during the warm season because it quickly cools down the body. The breathe is so amazing. Literally.
Namaste. Kels.
Wholeness
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Yoga allows you to rediscover a sense of wholeness in your life, where you do not feel like you are constantly trying to fit broken pieces together.
-B. K. S. Iyengar
Badass Yoga Teachers: A New Series on Alive in the Fire Dedicated to Yoga Entrepreneurs
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Resources for new yoga teachers.
Read MoreThoughts on Having a Sh*t Day, from Yoga Girl (Rachel Brathen)
/Recently I've posted about what to do when you're having a sh*t day, which yoga poses to try when you're anxious, and ways to let go of worry.
Today on Instagram yogini celebrity Rachel Brathen (@yoga_girl) offered some thoughts on these same topics. How do we deal with negativity, and strong emotions?
I love what she has to say about allowing yourself to feel when emotions come up. Check out the video above, or the quote below... and I hope that you allow yourself a moment of feeling today, whatever those feelings are.
Video and photo via Rachel's Instagram, @yoga_girl.
How do you turn a day around?
And my answer is... do you really have to?
Sometimes life throws you curve balls. Sometimes you wake up and you feel sad. Sometimes you're angry, or frustrated, you're fearful, worrisome.
All of these emotions are valid, and they deserve space in your life.
So if you wake up in the morning and you feel like absolute sh*t, allow yourself to feel like sh*t, if you need to.
If you're sad, cry.
The thing about emotions it's not until we actually burn through them, that they transform.
That's why we have aches and pains, and increasingly so the older we get, because we carry a lot of unprocessed emotions.
Give yourself permission to have crappy days, and it will turn around, all on its own.
Before you know it, oh my god, happiness arrives. And then you can actually be grateful because that joy will be real and true.
Abundance Is...
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What does abundance mean to you?
Lately I've been pondering the things besides money that make me feel full, happy, and content. Things like:
Love notes to remind me I'm awesome.
Waking up to a house that smells like coffee, because it's already been made.
Warmth on a cold day.
Love from a sweet old pup.
The feeling of being out on the water.
The feeling of fresh air on my skin, and sunshine.
Beautiful, simple things.
Yoga books I get to review on this beautiful blog.
My knowledge of yoga. Being familiar with the poses.
Understanding my own body, and of how the body can heal.
Friends who will practice with me ;) Friends who are loving, fun, and encouraging.
My practice.
And the sweet surrender of Shavasana.
In what ways do you feel abundance in your life lately? I'd love to hear...
PS I think I'll make this a regular thing, reflecting on abundance.
I often find myself thinking about:
money and how much money is enough
what things make me feel at peace, whether it's my practice or my bank account
what I deserve
what I manifest
how my identity gets wrapped up in my work
what my career goals are
when my heart feels most full
Stay tuned for more posts on this topic of abundance, and how it relates specifically to teaching yoga. May you witness abundance all around you today.
Sequencing a Yoga Class: Advice from Real Yoga Teachers on How to Create Your 'Flow'
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Calling all yoga teachers, and teachers in training!
How do you sequence your yoga classes? What tips, tricks and tools have helped you learn to put together a class that 'flows' beautifully?
Sequencing can be a challenge for yoga teachers, especially in the beginning...I know for me it took a few years to feel totally comfortable creating new yoga sequences. When you're fresh out of teacher training, you may have one memorized sequence you're ready to use, but how do you branch out from there? What helps keep you creative and coming up with new ideas?
Putting together a cohesive, intelligent, engaging yoga class is not easy. In an effort to encourage and inspire all of my fellow yoga teachers out there, I'd love to share some awesome advice from three of my favorite teachers on how they sequence a class, memorize a flow, and create an environment for students that is supportive and fun. Enjoy!
The most authentic inspiration that I find for classes is to get on my mat and move. Some days I just allow myself to be led by my breath and intuition. Other days, I may have a specific intention/focus that I want to bring to class, so my movement is informed by this.
I’m visually minded, so once I have my game plan, I write/draw out the sequence for class. I like to use symbols, abbreviations, and little stick figure yogis. :) I keep a format that divides the various sections of class, so that it's easy to reference when teaching, if needed.
I love the way that this starts to build a catalog of classes. It is fun to look back at past classes; I will often revive, and sometimes refine, things that I've taught in the past.
In the beginning I would write almost every single transition or pose down in a linear list (took up half a page!) but now I focus on just one or two key poses or transitions that I really like and put in my basic flows around those pieces. I stop writing as much down too and just practice on my mat more WITH music. For me, music inspires my movements so getting on my mat with a great playlist is where I get inspired. From there, it's a random note-fest of transitions or poses that I must have in my class.
The biggest tip my teacher had for me in my classes she would take was "BREATHE
!" I try to never skip a breathe cue. I try to emphasize fuller breaths in the middle and end of class when that can sometimes be forgotten. When I feel lost or nervous, I breathe. I also remember that some of my favorite classes was more because of the vibe and energy of the teacher and less to do with the sequences or poses.
Aren't these tips super helpful? I can't wait to try some of them when I'm putting together my next class sequence.
I'm so grateful to each of you-- Tristina, Jany and Elizabeth-- for offering all these awesome ideas on how to sequence a yoga class.
To summarize, here are some ideas for how to create a class that flows effortlessly:
Spend time during your own practice noticing the transitions between poses.
Keep a journal of class sequences you've taught.
Let music inspire you.
Choose a peak pose and work up to it.
When you arrive to teach, remember to breathe and adapt to who's in the room.
For all you Vinyasa yogis, I also recommend checking out my post on how I memorized the
Baron Baptiste sequence
during my 200 hour training.
Do you have tips or tricks for sequencing? I'd love to hear in the comments below!
Moving to a New Home and Discovering New Yoga Spaces
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Hi, yogis :) How are you?
Recently I moved from the Sacramento area to Eureka, California. What a whirlwind month it's been!
I'm still getting settled and checking out yoga studios in the area and wanted to share a few reflections from the last few classes I've taken.
It's wild how much I've learned being in a new environment with teachers who come from different schools of yoga. In the last week I've experienced my first Forrest and Anusara practices and I've enjoyed picking up on small yet impactful differences in the language, cuing, and pacing of the classes.
Do you ever mix up your yoga routine? Or try classes at local studios when you travel? I highly recommend getting out of your comfort zone and taking a class where you aren't quite sure what to expect... open yourself to learning, and being a beginner again!
Tosha Yoga, Arcata, CA
This is a breathtaking space on the top floor of the building that I'll definitely return to. I love the natural light, the collection of lovely succulent plants around the room, and the calm, uplifting energy of the space. The Forrest yoga class I took here involved some awesome core work, grounding meditation, and new flows and movements that felt nourishing to the body (lots of Eagle arms, which I even felt the next day in my upper back!).
The teacher Janine was very clear and precise in her teaching, and I appreciated the few hands-on adjustments she offered which helped me relax my neck and take tension out of my shoulders. At one point I could hear the sound of the rain on the rooftop. Very peaceful. I felt spaciousness, grounding, and openness. Even a little glimpse of blissful
samadhi
during Shavasana.
Om Shala Yoga, Arcata, CA
Om Shala offers a diverse range of yoga classes on their schedule. So far I've tried a basics Anusara class, a Hatha 'align and flow' class, and an all-levels Power Vinyasa class. The teachers here certainly have a wealth of knowledge about alignment and I've picked up some awesome tricks and tips about my practice. I love having reminders to pay closer attention to what my 'bad' habits are in class, or just to notice something new. This week I've been working on:
Knitting the low ribs in. Drawing energy into the center of the body really allows me to move from a place of more power! This helps in every pose - in foundational poses like Tadasana and Downdog, and especially in backbends and balancing postures.
Waking up the feet. Keeping the feet alive and the toes active brings more prana into the lower half of the body and the legs, giving more stability and grounding. Pada bandha, engaging the arches, is a subtle but very useful technique that makes a pose feel more balanced. I noticed this one in Half Moon. I also realized that metaphorically and energetically for me at this moment in my life it's very important to keep the feet awake so that I can feel more grounded in these new spaces I'm in!
Using props and the wall for support. I learned an awesome trick for using three blocks on the wall in Dolphin pose (beautiful, supported way to open the upper back and chest). I also worked on Ardha Chandrasana (Standing Half Moon pose) on the wall-- I was able to see how my hips needed to be more engaged in order to access more opening in the pose. Also started to work on wall walks in Wheel (!!!!) and practiced Forearm stand. So excited to incorporate these new 'tricks' into my home practice!
Sasha's power flow class at Om Shala was my favorite local yoga class so far since I moved. I loved her simple, direct cuing, her upbeat playlist, and the way she reminded us to send our breath into the area where our bodies most needed to heal. I definitely felt challenged and inspired, and was surprised by how many arm balances and sun salutations I was able to fit in!
Redwood Strength, Fortuna, CA
This class was an hour-long hot vinyasa practice in a new gym that's a mix of Crossfit-style workouts and hot yoga. I enjoyed the heat and thought of my friends and colleagues at CorePower Yoga and how I miss that beautiful room and its humidity ;) I enjoyed the teacher's enthusiasm and sense of humor and felt at home listening to the sound of Krishna Das' voice.
HealthSport, Eureka, CA
I took a Hatha class and was easily the youngest yogi in the room. One of my favorite moments was about 15 minutes into class, looking over at the gorgeous gray-haired yogini next to me take on full Hanumanasana with her arms overhead and a smile on her face :) The teacher Francis had a unique way of getting me to try more depth in the poses and I loved the mindful, intentional sequencing. At the end of class my body felt open and my mind clear.
Home practice
My home practice has been really key in the last few weeks, too. Rolling out a mat in the kitchen or in my backyard has given me space to be completely comfortable, to relax, to release stress, to breathe loudly and sigh heavily, and to cry a little. Moving is incredibly draining and exhausting work, and it hasn't been easy.
During the weeks leading up to moving, I felt overwhelmed by to-do lists and I benefited greatly from having a restorative yin practice. Since we arrived here on the coast, I've felt a little down and lonely on some days, so a more vigorous practice with inversions and backbends has helped me stay positive.
I can tell that in the weeks and months to come, as I take a little break from having classes to teach, my home practice will be a great way for me to stay creative, to keep up my self-confidence in my teaching, and to play with new flows and ideas for what I love to teach.
I'm still struggling a little bit to find where my new yoga 'home' is, and I'm certainly grieving the loss of having weekly classes to teach in beautiful communities, but I'm doing my best to keep a positive attitude and stay open to whatever opportunities come my way.
Featured
Sacramento Seva Yoga: Yoga Reclaimed
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Photos by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
What does 'yoga' mean to you?
In my eight years practicing and two years teaching, I've come to discover yoga is about union. Unifying the body, mind, spirit. Uniting the breath with movement. Showing up together as a collective, empowered community.
Yoga means uniting forces with other like-minded, high-vibration, compassionate humans and spreading love and kindness out into the world. Yoga is about learning to love more, feel more, and experience life more fully.
So with those things in mind, I recently launched a project with Respiro Photography and Sac Sierra Yoga where I'll be blogging about seva, or selfless service, and all the local Sacramento yoga studios where you can take free yoga classes.
I want to get out into new spaces, talk to yogis I've never met, learn from the amazing teachers in my local community, and say thank you.
Photo by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
Sacramento Seva Yoga: Yoga Reclaimed
My second stop on the tour was Yoga Reclaimed in Auburn. Full disclosure: in January, I started teaching the Tuesday and Thursday noon classes at Reclaimed...so you could say my deep love and appreciation of this studio is a somewhat biased perspective on the space :) But let me just say that even though I'm on staff, and therefore not necessarily a 'neutral' point of view, I'd still love to tell you about Reclaimed's free community class and believe it definitely belongs on the Sacramento Seva list.
The Saturday morning community yoga class at Reclaimed is a truly unique and wonderful experience. Studio owner Ryan Bailey teaches an upbeat, inspiring, and challenging 90-minute balance class. To me it feels like a cross between a sacred kirtan gathering and a dance party you'd have with friends-- the music is loud, the energy is intense, and the yogis all around you are working really hard, so you feel motivated and encouraged.
The space has the energy of transformation. You leave the studio feeling a lot different than when you arrived -- sweatier, more lighthearted, and more connected.
Favorite moments from class: I loved immediately grounding and joining together as a community with the call-and-response chant to Ganesha. Very powerful mantra, and great drumming :)
I also loved the intensity of the warm up sequence, and all the core work we did to get our bodies ready for twisting and backbending. Ryan teaches the kind of class where you can't run and hide from what's going on -- a lot is being asked of you, physically, and at the same time you have the opportunity to connect inwardly on an emotional and spiritual level. As he described it, it's like being at a buffet... you get to pick and choose what you want to eat, and you don't have to choose everything. And the poses that you do participate in, those are the ones to savor.
My favorite moment was toward the end of class, when Ryan offered a profound reminder to become a witness to our own experiences. Not only on the mat, but also in our lives -- to be willing to step back for a second, see ourselves and our reactions for what they truly are, and to go from there.
Ryan teaches yoga in an incredibly powerful, raw, and authentic way. He meets you right where you are, whether it's your first time rolling out a mat or you've been to his class for years. He acknowledges and sees his students, and he is willing to push you to be the best version of yourself. Thank you, Ryan, for sharing the love and devotion of Bhakti yoga!
Above photo by Adam Perron.
Reasons I can't wait to come back: The community at Reclaimed is vibrant. The yogis here are open-minded and open-hearted, incredibly willing, and committed to their practice. The teachers bring their heart and soul each time they step into the room to teach, and often the classes are blessed by generous, mindful assistants too, meaning that your practice will be enhanced by touch and sometimes even a massage of your temples or feet during shavasana. Most days I leave the studio having hugged someone and/or laughed wholeheartedly, too, and that is a beautiful thing.
Studio location: 530 Grass Valley Hwy, Auburn, CA 95603
Phone: (530) 305-9408
Seva (free) community class offerings: Saturdays from 9:30am-11 am
At Yoga Reclaimed, all are welcome. Come kick off your shoes, roll out your mat, and dive right in!
Namaste.
Stay tuned for the next update in the Sacramento Seva Yoga series, and as always feel free to reach out to me with feedback or any questions.
The Yoga Pose You Hate
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Photo by Felipe Silva of @the_lost_portraits.
What's your least favorite yoga pose?
Mine has varied over time: chair pose, headstand, handstand, pigeon, to name a few.
I believe it's normal to experience periods of time where you dislike certain poses, you resist them, and you want to run from the room when the teacher asks you to do them.
Photo by Felipe Silva of @the_lost_portraits.
I have an idea for you.
What if, the next time you encountered a pose that you absolutely don't want to do, instead of skipping the pose or ignoring your reaction to it, you spent a few minutes after class asking your teacher about the pose?
Photo by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
You could choose to replace resistance with curiosity.
Find out more about this pose. What's happening in the body when you do this yoga pose? What are its benefits? What muscle groups are working, and what are their balancing actions? What happens to the breath in this pose?
Energetically, what is this pose causing to happen? Which chakra is this pose connected with? What emotions?
What about the pose makes you dislike it? Is it the way your physical body feels? The sounds that tend to be happening in the room when you are in the pose? The length of time you hold the pose? The thoughts that creep into your mind whenever you're in this pose? A memory that comes up? The way this pose makes you feel weak, incapable, inflexible, or 'bad?'
Photo by Jobi Otso.
Ask questions. Do research. Talk to your teacher and to other yogis about this pose, its correct alignment, its modifications. Maybe even spend a few moments writing down your thoughts about this yoga pose, or meditating on it. See where this exploration leads you.
Perhaps there will always be a yoga pose you dislike.
Are you willing to explore the reasons surrounding why this is? Are you willing to practice detachment? Are you willing to surrender your ego?
Keep peeling back the layers. This is your yoga.
My Favorite Yoga App
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It's hands-down my favorite yoga and fitness app. They offer some incredible at-home workouts with fantastic yoga teachers.
My two favorite yoga routines:
- Ultimate Yoga Shred with Sadie Nardini. This 14-day plan features HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for optimal cardio, fat burning, and lean muscle building.
- Bodystrong with Ashley Galvin. This 30-day set of videos is designed to tone and strengthen the whole body using challenging asana series, multiple reps, and workouts targeting major areas like the core, legs, arms, and booty.
I have a lot of gratitude for both Sadie and Ashley for sharing these kick-ass yoga classes, and a big thanks to the team at Cody for continually offering high-quality videos. Namaste.
Be On the Lookout for Miracles
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Blessings are surrounding us all the time!
The question is, are we paying close enough attention to notice them and allow them in?
Yesterday I showed up at the yoga studio expecting to teach a class. Turns out, my friend and fellow teacher was there to teach, too. She mixed up the dates and was thinking that I needed a sub this week instead of next week. We laughed and both offered to let the other person teach the class.
"I actually really need to practice," I told her. "You teach."
I felt relieved and grateful for the opportunity to fall into my practice and get a really sweaty class in. I was craving the opportunity to just breathe and move and be in my own practice. Plus, it was wonderful being alongside some of the students who I regularly teach, and instead experiencing the class with them. Yesterday's class was a surprise blessing just waiting for me... followed by another small miracle!
My friend applied to teach at a new studio in our area, and she gave me all the details on what's required to audition and invited me to do the same. I sent in my info last night, and I'm scheduled to do an audition there in a few weeks.
Out of the blue, I was blessed with an opportunity to grow my teaching experiences and try something new. Between the upcoming audition and a class I taught today at an Aikido dojo, I'm feeling really grateful for the chance to be a part of different yoga communities all around this area of northern California.
Then today, I went to Starbucks-- probably the last place I would expect to be reminded of miracles :)
I was waiting in line for a good 10 minutes while the lady in front of me proceeded to make a series of strange requests to the people working there... she wanted her beans ground to a specific setting on their machine but she couldn't remember what number it was called... then she wanted to buy their caramel syrup which was backstock and not for sale... and no joke, when the woman working there told her she couldn't get it, she said, 'But I have to have it! This stuff is like my blood!' ... She was pretty out there :)
Anyway, in the meantime, the other employee asked for my drink order, completed it, and brought it over to me, still waiting for the register to free up. He glanced over at me, nodded, and just motioned for me to leave. "Really?" I asked. "Are you sure?" He waved at me again, "Yes, don't worry about it," he said. And I left the store with a free coffee...
Synchronicity... the right timing... reminders to be patient... you just never know what miracles the day will bring.
Sometimes all we have to do to receive blessings is show up.
Be willing. Be present. Release expectations.
Thank you, Universe, for these reminders.
The Real Yoga
/I just found this most amazing post on Instagram by Alissa Kepas (pictured above). I wanted to re-post it here because it is such a beautiful, heartfelt reminder of what yoga is truly about-- loving others, surrendering to the moment, and being receptive. Thank you, Alissa, for sharing this and for the reminder to re-think the definition of yoga as something more than just a physical practice.
The great yogis have always caught our attention with these exquisite and difficult positions they put their bodies in. These positions spark our curiosity, and we think, "Could I do that?" or "That's so cool!"
What is really amazing is what is going on that we cannot see.
We don't usually realize the breath control, the mental fortitude, and the strength being exerted in flexible positions.
But, if we think Yoga = Cool Poses or Yoga = Hot Body then we are completely missing the purpose of the practice.
Yoga grabs your attention with the physical postures and through practice turns your heart to God.
You realize that every single person, including yourself, is a spark of the Divine. The real yoga is when you begin to treat every being as if they are Divine even in tough situations. You see everything with love. This is true yoga.
Be receptive.
Photo via Instagram.
You can find Alissa on Instagram as @alissayoga.
Advice for Yoga Teachers
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Photos by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
Calling all yoga teachers!
Today I'd like to share three simple tips for inspiration. As I'm starting to teach more and more classes, I've found it's more important than ever to do these things...
Advice for Yoga Teachers
This one is pretty straightforward, but can be really hard to follow through on if you're scheduling yourself to teach a lot. Bottom line, practice yoga. Aim for a yoga practice every day (maybe one day off per week to rest). Choose a sustainable practice, where you honor what your body needs and you rest a little bit so that you have energy to get back on your mat again tomorrow. On the days when you're exhausted, do yin or a yoga nidra. On the days when you're energized, challenge yourself. Attend class at the studio before or after you teach. Also, have a studio where you practice where you don't teach. Sometimes it's really nice just to be a student, so set yourself up to be a part of a community where you can relax and be in your practice, rather than needing to hold space for others :)
2. Reflect on why you teach.
Ask yourself - why do I teach yoga? What am I really doing when I stand in front of a class? What am I hear to share? What qualities do I bring to my classes? At one of the studios where I teach, I had to write a bio and use three words to describe my teaching style. (I chose calm, heartfelt, and grounded.) What words would you choose? What is your purpose as a teacher? Lately I've been reflecting on how my goal with yoga is to bring peace to others. To give them a chance to be in a peaceful, safe space for a little while during their day. To get away from all the noise and chaos that usually surrounds us. I'm teaching yoga so I can be peaceful and inspire others to do the same. Why are you teaching? It can be helpful to sit down with your journal, talk to a friend about your vision for teaching, or sit in meditation and reflect. At the end of your meditation or conversation, take a moment to honor yourself for the amazing work you're doing. The world needs you!
3. Eat well and stay hydrated.
Just like #1, this one is pretty basic, but can also be a challenge if you don't plan ahead. Keep your body nourished with healthy foods and plenty of water. Notice your cravings. Notice what time of year it is and what the weather's like, and how that has an impact on what your body needs. Fresh fruits, juices, and nuts are a great snack for before and after class. In the mornings, pack a lunch or a bag of snacks to have on hand throughout your day. Especially if you're working in a heated space when you teach, be sure you're drinking enough water or having some coconut water each day so you're not dehydrated. Let your diet be a part of your yoga practice -- mindful awareness of what you eat and how you feel! Oh, and give yourself a break sometimes, too... indulge now and then. Last night I had a glass of wine and a piece of sea salt dark chocolate and I did not put any guilt or shame around treating myself :) As teachers, we are constantly holding space for others and we need to treat ourselves with the same love and respect.
Namaste, teachers! I honor you for what you're doing :)
PS Fresh juice recipes. More advice for caring for yourself as a yoga teacher. And an amazing guest post about finding your voice as a teacher.
Badass Women: Summer
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Photos courtesy of Summer Ward. Photo above by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
Certain yoga teachers have a way of effortlessly guiding you inward, allowing you to release any worries or expectations so that you can show up fully on your mat and be present.
Every class I've ever taken with Summer, that's the feeling I have... true awareness. Everything else fades away. I'm able to truly be present in my body, with my breath, in each pose. As a teacher, I'm incredibly grateful for this. Often as a teacher I find myself analyzing a class as it unfolds, thinking about the sequencing or the music or the cues that are being used to get in and out of the poses. It can be challenging to let go, and simply be a student. I'm grateful for Summer's calm, wise presence when she teaches, and the way she stands in her power when she speaks. Plus, she tells the best stories! :)
Summer is truly a gifted teacher, and she has dedicated over 10 years to sharing yoga here in the Sacramento area community. This month, she's leading a Standup Paddle Board Yoga teacher training and she also runs a successful doTerra oils business.
Summer is truly a badass woman of the local northern California yoga world, and I am grateful to call her a friend and to be able to share a bit of her yoga journey here on Alive in the Fire.
For me being a badass has everything to do with truth and courage. When your intention is pure and integrity aligned, you MUST say, act and do what you know to be right. It’s not that confident women don’t get scared, insecure or intimidated; it’s that they push forward despite those feelings because what lies on the other side of that is a sensation that far exceeds the security and complacency of stifling or censoring yourself.
Photo above by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
I love to challenge myself! Through my many years of studying and teaching yoga, I’ve come to recognize the physical cues of following the heart or gut and overcoming the critic of the mind. When I decided to quit my corporate job, become a yoga entrepreneur, or move forward into the essential oils business, it wasn’t a logical decision at all… I felt it. I’ve come to trust those feelings as a guide in life and even though there are struggles, I know I’m on the right path.
Rather than advice, I have been given unconditional support. Beginning with the love of my badass mother and grandmother, I’ve continued to surround myself with people who truly love me for who I am and would be there for me even if I failed. That is far more powerful than any words or advice.
You already know what you need. From ending that unhealthy relationship, to taking that job, or making that big move. You already know the answers. If it’s unclear, then you are either fooling yourself or not taking the time out of your life to listen. Unplug, ignore what people want from you, get still and silent. Whether it’s prayer, meditation, or a personal retreat, you have everything you need already contained within you - you just need to cultivate your connection to it.
What things do you do to take care of yourself and stay inspired?
The greatest thing I do to take care of myself is get into nature. Whether it’s working in my garden, hiking a trail, camping under the stars, or a Stand Up Paddle Board adventure, being in the elements and a part of the greater whole fills me up. There are so many lessons we can learn from the rhythms and cycles of our environment. One of the biggest being that you plant seeds (intentions or thoughts) continuously and while the universe honors and supports that (so be mindful of what you wish for), nature works in it’s own time. Be patient and trust the process.
Photo above by Brynna Bryant of Respiro Photography.
I plan to find more ways in which to serve people and our collective evolution through the teachings of yoga, the supportive benefits of essential oils, and through our connection to nature. I will grow my Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP) Yoga offerings through International retreats and teach others to connect to their own nature within. I will encourage women to speak and honor their truth and bravely support them in what they discover!
PS Meet more badass women here: Sam, a journalist, and Rose, a wellness blogger.
And thoughts on why we badass women must embrace all of our experiences, and all of the emotions that go along with them.
I’m passionate about helping women writers achieve more success in their careers.