Update Spring 2017

Hi Folks,

Just a heads up on what's going on in my world. School is going great! I'm learning a lot of new information including Analysis of movement, Fitness Assessment, Aquatics and Nutrition. So much great stuff that I look forward to sharing with you all here very soon. My education will continue on for the next year for sure, and possibly further though with less intensity. This means that I will spending more time working and implementing my learning, while still taking classes, but my focus will be more on work. Life is full of change and I look forward to where it takes me.

I will be adding more classes back into my schedule this term, so be on the look out for those announcements, as they come. As of right now I am doing a lot more subbing, so you will see me popping in at 24 hour fitness facilities all over the East Side, as well as starting some new classes at the brand new Gresham location coming in May. I've also added back my 10:15am Wednesday yoga class at Premier Sports and Fitness, come on in and say Hi if you are a member there. La Fitness members, there will be changes yet again for my classes there, I will do my best to keep you informed on what's going on.

Have you been looking forward to Yoga in the Park this summer? Its coming back. Last year we had a great quite location but... there was small attendance. So I am not sure if I will use that location again. I'm considering using a different park this year, Bella Vista Park is showing considerable opportunities located just off NW Birdsdale. This park is located in the midst of a quiet subdivision, not to far from Gresham Station. This is also a location where Grimm was filmed, so it can't be too bad, right?

I'm also currently working on planning a potential Wellness Weekend in May. I'm searching out possible locations that can keep the price down, while also offering an opportunity to step away from life and focus on your health and well being. The date is May 19th thru the 21st, 2017, save the date, if this interests you. You can also add your input on the Facebook planning page, check it out here.

Thank you for taking the time to catch up with what's going on in my world, and my offerings in the fitness and yoga world. I look forward to expanding and growing in this industry and it means alot that you have taken the time to join me on this journey.

Peace and Love
Kris Myers

San Diego Yoga Conference

Hi Folks,

It was so hard to find a time that fit all of the donators schedule on presenting this great event to you. So instead I thought I would offer at least a highlight of it here for you.

The San Diego Yoga Conference was put together by none other than Yoga Journal, a leader and experienced organization that has been doing these conferences for a long time, 40 years to be exact, so their expertise is top notch, which is why I figured I would start with them.

The Location: Let me just say that the location that Yoga Journal chose this year for their San Diego event was amazing. It was hosted at the beautiful and historic Hotel Del Coronado. Most of the classed that they had to offer were located in the various conference rooms, but because of the beautiful location there were also great classes out on the beach, the lawn and the Stand Up Paddle Board classes in the Ocean.

Our first day we had Orientation, where we learned about all the different jobs we would be performing and how to do them. The idea for most people who volunteer for this type of job is work exchange. You work for Yoga Journal and they allow you take some of the classes as trade. But because I was coming for a different purpose, I asked to work all the different jobs, so I could get a real understanding of what it took to run an event like this.

some of the jobs we did entailed

• setting up goodie bags, taping floors, setting up signs and decore. 
• Registration helpers and Ask Me (being available for the paid students for any questions needed)
• Working the door on the classes that were offered. 
• Market Place Counter, counting how many people came into the marketplace. 
• Smile booth - taking pictures of anyone who wanted a photo of them doing a yoga pose on the front cover of Yoga Journal. (not for real, but for fun.) 
• Event Space Host - working the many events that they offered outside of the paid classes. Most of these events were free. ie. Kids Yoga, Fashion show, and Ariel Yoga
• Larger Event Hosts - Warriors for Healing, and Lectures 

I truly feel blessed that I was able to work just about everything they had available! It wasnt always pretty, matter of fact some of it was down right hard, at times, but it was an amazing experience. I met so many great people! The staff were over the top helpful and friendly and really truly appreciated you! More so than any other job I have ever held. It was crazy awesome!

One of my favorite events was the introduction to the program Warriors for Healing. We worked the class and even got to do some yoga. Bhava Ram was the teacher, and he has such an inspirational heart. It was amazing to me to see how many people were there participating, and how many that were Vets. He made such a difference in so many peoples lives and I got the feeling that he does that on a regular basis. I also had the pleasure of listening to him speak at a Lecture, that was amazing as well. I love to see how Yoga reaches out to those in need, and make a difference. Way to go, to all that were involved in this great kick off. 

We worked alot of hours, and got very little sleep. There were times we were up at 5am working all day long and arriving back to our room at 8pm sometimes 10pm at night. We had some long breaks but our room wasnt at the Hotel, so we didnt have time to drive back to our room and make it back in time for our next shift. So relaxation was found on the beach or in the car. Though it was very nice lying on the beach, it wasnt so nice doing it in work clothes.

One of the greatest highlights for me, was the opportunity to get a hug from none other than Seane Corn! The story is hilarious, and is such an example of who I really am.
I was working the Smile Booth - taking pics of people doing yoga poses for a fun shot on the front page of YJ. I was ending my shift and getting ready to work another shift somewhere else. The next person that came in after me was struggling trying to learn how to run the ipad. After working with him for awhile, he just wasnt grasping it, so I called in for back up to send someone else to work the shift. One of the lead staff comes over to find out what was happening, and a friend of mine calls me over to where they are standing. I quickly tell her no, as we have customers who need assistance, and I cant leave my station. (even though it technically was not my station any more). She insisted that I come over immediately, and the lead staff member said the same thing. I was very frustrated as the new volunteer was immediately stress over the thought of me stepping away. I assured him I would be right back, and that he could handle it. Unbeknownst by me, Seane Corn was standing right next to the lead staff member. I didnt want to interrupt so I didnt say anything when I arrived. They quickly introduced me to Seane and I immediately got embarrassed. My friend says, "hey, lets get a picture" now I am really embarrassed because I was so caught off guard, though everyone else knew exactly what was happening. Of course i get called out on my blushing, which makes it completely worse. Seane got a great kick out of along with everyone else, and I got a great pic. Its a fond memory I will hold dear to my heart.

What I learned....

It takes a small army to do all the work for set up! Some major players are involved here and alot of volunteers are needed.

Volunteers are a key part of the whole system and need to be valued as such.

You need a lot of  Sponsors to help pay the expenses of such a program. Think big scale.

You need a theme for such a big event. A big draw that really targets the people in your area.

this takes a lot of planning that could be years to pull off.

Be prepared that your first event you will not make much money at all. But that each event builds on the next, and consistency sells on events like this.

Well thats a wrap folks. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a success on so many levels, for me. It will probably be a few years before I am able to pull this off, as their is a lot of planning still to go. I'm totally ok with that, as I know it will be a success.

I was able to meet some amazing people, and get a real good look at what it takes to make a successful event, and it was a huge eye opener for me. Though I didnt get to take any classes per say, it was alot more successful than I had hoped, thanks in part by the amazing staff of Yoga Journal. I have made some life long friends, and plan on attending an another event in the near future, because I loved the experience. I loved being a part of something much bigger than me, and to work with some great people who have a lot to teach me in running big events such as this.

Thank you, thank you, thank you to each and every one of you who made this an amazing experience.
Namaste, Kris

Being Humble

Being humble....what does it mean to you?

hum·ble

[huhm-buhl, uhm-]  

adjective

1.not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.  

This simple word came to mind today, when I was thinking about the qualities of my husband. What is it about him, that has kept this wandering soul to want to stick to one place with one person. As I was listing the qualities in my head, this one stuck out the most. Humility.

Since I have opened my mind to yoga, I have realized that all life is yoga. Everything we do, everything we are. So here we are with an opportunity and a lesson. What does it mean to be humble?

Being humble, to me, is not being boastful, not trying to impress others.I think of it as a quiet way of admiring myself and my qualities for me, and if it shines on someone else unintentionally, than it was supposed to, and let it be just that. Dont grow on that admiration, but accept it.

Finding humility does not mean that I am shy, it means I choose a quieter path.Maybe I'm allowing someone to find their own path, not throwing my path in front of them. 

Being humble in this day and age can be very difficult. Society has changed, and so many people that surround us believe they need to be boastful to be heard, or they need to be arrogant to get the job, or they need to take credit for things, to be seen. And though that may get them the job, or get them heard or seen, but there are other ways.

There are also many people that feel they need to be right or they need to prove themselves for whatever their reason is.Maybe you live in a big city or a big family, and feel like a small person trying to make it to the top, and the only way up is to be arrogant, loud and boastful . Though it may work temporarily, do you want to keep up that pattern all of your life? 

Even as a yoga instructor, there was a time I felt like I needed to know everything there was about yoga, to be the best teacher. If there was a question, it needed to be answered. Because being a teacher was about being of service. I still believe that its a service, but I dont feel like I need to have an answer to everything anymore. Sometimes the answer is to not say anything at all. Sometimes the answer is allowing someone else to figure it out on their own, because thats their journey. 

Do you find yourself fitting into some of these qualities? It doesnt make you a bad person, but maybe this is an opportunity to check in with you. Is this type of behavior making you happy? Are these type of qualities keeping you from somewhere you would rather be? Check in with you, because your intuition knows. 

If your open to it, right now, put yourself in a situation in where you dont know anything about what is going on? Trying something new, go on a vacation, read a new religion, try going to a gathering where you dont know anyone or their customs.

• Notice how you respond to it. 
• How does it make you feel? 
• How do you want to react? 

If possible, find some peace in it. Know that at one time in your life, you didnt know much of anything. Know that there is alot we dont know. Let that be ok. 

If you can, embrace it. Find the positive in it. Maybe the opportunity to learn something new. Maybe its the opportunity to meet new people. Or maybe its a new adventure in your life that you didnt see coming, but it feels exciting to know you just might like it.  

There are a lot of sayings that embrace change:

• One door closes, another one opens.
• If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.  ~Mary Engelbreit
• Change is inevitable 
•   The greatest power we have over ourselves is our ability to change our minds about ourselves - Baron Baptiste
  The greatest power we have over ourselves is our ability to change our minds about ourselves. - See more at: http://quotesfromthemat.com/node/86#sthash.8iID1pN3.dpuf

  "The greatest power we have over ourselves is our ability to change our minds about ourselves."

  
  

  - Baron Baptiste

  - See more at: http://quotesfromthemat.com/node/86#sthash.8iID1pN3.dpuf

  "The greatest power we have over ourselves is our ability to change our minds about ourselves."

  
  

  - Baron Baptiste

  - See more at: http://quotesfromthemat.com/node/86#sthash.8iID1pN3.dpuf

The most important part of this lesson is to find the true you! The person deep inside yourself, the one that can answer all of your questions. The one that allow you to feel comfortable in this uncomfortable situation. When you know yourself, than nothing else matters. There is no need to be boastful, arrogant, or loud. There is no need to be heard, because you can hear yourself, and through you, anything and everything is possible. 

See if you can find where humility fits in your life. Or come to class this week and find out more about humility.

Peace, Love & Light,

Namaste, 

Kris Myers

Our Truth

Lately, I have been focusing alot on what Yoga has taught me.Where has it brought me to? Have I arrived? My journaling has been on this subject, this reality for me since I have arrived back from my Intensive training in Alaska. I decided I wanted to journal a bit on it tonight, with you.

I got in a discussion about fears with a new student to teaching. She is currently in a teacher training, and she had originally told me that she was taking the training to learn more about yoga, but would probably never teach. I didnt say much about her not teaching, because its her choice, what ever brings them to their practice or teaching is their path.When I asked her after a couple weekend trainings if she had reconsidered the idea of teaching, she said maybe. I asked what changed her mind. She started to tell me about why she didnt want to teach, and how fear and childhood rearing of fear had caused her to not be willing to make that journey of standing in front of others and be judged. I can empathise with her on so many levels of that, as I came from the same place.

But why? Why do we fear being judged so much. This subject has been nagging at me for some time. Matter of fact I taught a bit about that in a Satsang I lead in Alaska. About moving through fear to get to our goals. Little did I know it was a lot about what I am still working through.

As a teacher, it did not come natural. I've always had a fear of standing in front of people, my entire life. The practice of Yoga got me through that. Yes, there are times I still worry about it, when I sub a class, or take on a new one, or have a lot of new people come to class. This will always be a part of me. But I have come to accept that, and in some ways embrace it. Its not as scary as it used to be. But the reality is that I also still fear what others think of me, more so now, are my peers. Those that i teach with, that I look up to, that I have trained under, that are fellow instructors, and the world of Yoga.

I realized recently that I had held myself back from growth, over this fear. Afraid of what my teachers would think, what my fellow instructors would think. Was what I saying in fact the truth? Tonight, and a few other nights have hinted at just that. But tonight it really became clear. The answer to my question, the answer to my problem. Was I really speaking the truth? I am confident as a teacher, i teach what I know. I continue to study and learn, because I want to speak the truth. I never wanted to be that teacher that harmed someone in class, because I felt that would be a failure. I would fail at what I am passionate about. So i have continued to throw myself into my studies, always learning, always training. But the trainings were only a part of what I was learning.

Today I posted this picture on my yoga Facebook page. My question to my students and is still to my students "What would you correct about this pose?" At first, I was worried about what my peers would think about this question. I worried about what they thought of my teachings. But then I realized that I got exactly what I was supposed to get from my trainings and my teachers,I got exactly what I was supposed to get for right now. I still feel the answer is correct for my style of teaching. But that doesnt mean the pose is wrong. It just means, that what I feel is true to how I teach still remains. Yes, it may not be as important in other practices of yoga. Remember we all come to the mat for different reasons, and different lessons. There are some who will debate this pose one way and others another way, and that is what is so beautiful about us as human beings. We have our own opinion, we have our own experiences. What works for one person, may not work for another. If you are a parent, you understand this very well, especially if you have more than one child.

So what I learned today, is that its not about the pose, or what I think is correct. Its about honoring my own truth and where it is right now. So what I think from my own experiences, is exactly just that. My experiences have taught me this, this is what I have learned, this is what I am teaching, this is the true and authentic me at this moment. It is not wrong. It is me. And today I am speaking my own authentic truth. I welcome other people's opinions and truths for what they are. Not with anger, not with hostility, but with compassion for someone else speaking their truth. I will not assume that someone else is speaking from a hurtful place, but rather their truth.

What I realized even more, was that deep in my heart, I already knew this. I love and admire my teacher trainer. She has taught me so much, but what she taught me most, and I hadn't really realized until recently, she taught by example, from the clarity of her own truth. She taught love, she taught this true and authentic teaching, she taught me by example, that I can reach this place to. She is true to herself, she is authentic, she speaks her truth with compassion and humility.

With this knowledge, this new understanding of myself,  I feel more confident with what I speak about. I will have more confidence about the topic of my conversation. I can move forward with my own words and with my own thoughts, and continue teaching from a new sense of confidence and humility. I can grow as a teacher, and reach my goals. The only person that can stop me is me. And I am sure not going to get in my way.

Thank you to everyone on my path that has helped me reach this point. To the teachers that have shared their journeys, and have accepted mine. To the trainers that have taught me how to be a real yogi. To the students, who inspire me Always to continue my own growth as I help guide yours. To the universe for this wonderful blessing to grow and get to know myself and you.

With love and light,
Namaste,
Kris Myers