A time for NEW beginnings and New beginners.

  January is upon us, and many people are making new resolutions to come back to their practice or to start a brand new one. I like to reflect on this opportunity for new beginnings. Its so beautiful to see all the new people coming to their mats, its so exciting as you see they are getting ready for a brand new adventure that's going to lead them to some new explorations of Self.

 
  I was reminded of what it was like to be a new person in class when I picked up an old classic yoga book that I suddenly felt compelled to read, called Bringing Yoga to Life by Donna Farhi. In my training, it was the first book that really grabbed me and said "Welcome" to your yoga practice. Within the first couple pages of this book, I was quickly reminded of what the practice is like for the New beginner. I mean really felt like, things that teachers and long time students may have forgotten.

Do you remember your first class? It wasnt always coming to your mat and finding tranquility, peace, and relaxation. Do you remember when everything was confusing  from which foot/arm you needed to use, to the name of the poses, to which order they went in, and the language that was used in class?

  You had no idea which foot was your left/right? There was a time when we didn't even know how to breathe properly, and everything was so overwhelming. Do you remember when your teacher mentioned the poses and you thought, what an odd name for that pose, or when they used Sanskrit, and you thought, "oh no, I'm never going to get this, I don't even understand what they are saying!" Do you remember that first Warrior pose you did and you thought to yourself, "seriously, how long are you going to keep me here? My legs are killing me!" How about that first Downward facing Dog, "are you kidding me?? this is not a resting pose!!"

  Do you remember all the emotions that came up in your practice? "How did I let myself get so out of shape?" or those times when you couldnt focus on anything! let alone how many times we did that pose, to what inhalation/exhalation to what pose? There is nothing romantic or pleasant about our practice when we first start or come back after a long break. Those moments when our bodies are screaming unpleasantries, and our minds are going a hundred miles per hour, and we cant focus on anything the teacher is saying, because we keep looking at the clock wondering when all of this is going to be over.

  But the reward of this practice is not the starting, its the practice, the continuation of coming back to our mat over and over. Because one day you are going to leave your mat, and go, "oh that felt amazing!" and you are going to walk away with this ah ha moment of "Hey! Something changed" and that something is going to be you! You will suddenly realize, that you have the breath down, you can find comfort in your Downward facing dog and it IS a resting pose, and you realize that all that movement you just did, came with out having to think about the alignment of each and every pose, because your body remembers. Of course, if you are coming to my classes you realize that some of those moments will be short lived, as you get that one pose you have never heard of, or I change up everything you ever knew. But there is something amazing about what it feels like to be humble, to experience something new, or to feel like a beginner again. Because if you've been practicing yoga, and I mean really practicing some sense of that new is always there.

  What is my point in all of this? Well, as all those new brave souls are making their place in class. Welcome them with compassion, because you remember what it was like in your FIRST YOGA class. Offer heartfelt encouragement while you are practicing, because we all live in a world that needs a little more encouragement and a lot less judgement. Maybe share a story of your first practice, as you leave class, and let them know that you were once a beginner too. This is a time of embracing those moments of new and beautiful things, so take a deep breath and remember that those hard to find parking spots and longer lines are a time to get just a little bit more excercise, and to really put into play those moments on your mat, when your teacher said "there will come a time when these hard poses will teach us patience and we will need that patience off our mat as well as on it." So give yourself a little bit more time to get to class, and welcome those new faces, as you welcome in the New year!

Namaste,
Kris

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