Teaching Yoga

I am very excited to announce (is there anyone out there???) that I am starting to teach yoga on Monday the 31st January.

I have met a lovely lady who is going to offer Yoga through her dance studio. What a woman!

We met and talked about times and I am going to teach on:

Mondays 9.30am to 10.30am

Thursday 9.30am to 10.30am

Its in Brookvale and for details you can just hop to my "Class Times" page or go to: www.djazzexdanceandpilates.com.

Early enough that the school drop off can co-incide getting straight to a class (and perhaps grab a coffee on the way!!) and late enough so that we can get there!

Its a mixture of excitement and nerves...fear even. Now I need to take that fear and "sit" with it, let it be and as one of my fab yoga teachers told me, "unpack" it. Often things aren't so bad, if one considers sitting with the feeling and looking into it.

So this weekend its about my yoga and about my daughter turning 9. Happy Birthday Maddy.

Have a great weekend peeps.

Hopefully I will see someone in my class on Monday!

Sara

Goals vs Intentions

If you practice yoga, you may be familiar with your teacher asking you during the class to "set an intention".

My understanding is that a goal is something that has an end result, for example saving $2000 or exercise every 2nd day. Its a future outcome that you use your discipline and work towards.

An intention is a path or a value based practice. Or as Phillip Moffit wrote in a Yoga Journal Article "You set your intentions based on understanding what matters most to you and make a commitment to align your worldly actions with your inner values".

So I am putting it out there, does your life reflect your intention(s)? How do you infuse each day with your intentions?

Some intentions for a yoga class may be:

- authenticity - to be more authentic in your practice
- truthfulness - to be more honest about where your bodies edge is in a class, compared to the gymnast beside you
- kindness - to help tidy the yoga room before you leave class

Things to think about.

Favourite Yoga Books

Last year during my teacher training I discovered that there are SO many Yoga books to choose from. I did go a little bit crazy, but have calmed down.

If your interested in yoga here is a great introduction:

Bringing Yoga To Life by Donna Farhi
The Wisdom of Yoga by Stephen Cope
Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic by Darren Main

Going a bit further in:

A Life Worth Breathing by Max Strom
The Yamas and Niyamas by Deborah Adele
Mindful Yoga, Mindful Life by Charlotte Bell
The Heart of Yoga by Desikachar

Bit more serious:

Glimpses of Raja Yoga by Vimala Thakar

For Teaching Yoga:

Teaching Yoga by Mark Stephens
Instructing Hatha Yoga by Kappmeier & Ambrosini

There are so many wonderful books on Yoga.

Enjoy.

Consider this quote for 2011:

During my year of Teacher Training I came across this quote (and quite a few others!) which I thought you might like to consider for 2011:

Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time.
Dont take them lightly.
Give them your full heart and energy.
Do them with enthusiasm.
Do whatever you have to do.... with all your heart and soul.

Marjorie Pay Hinckley.

What are your assignments for 2011? How might you give them your full heart and energy?

Namaste.

On the eve of 2011

Here's my wish for us all for 2011:

Wishing you a year that brings
True enjoyment in each moment,
True fulfilment in each goal,
True contentment in your heart,
And true delight within your soul.

Anonymous

Have a great NYE.

Namaste friends.

Why "its all yoga"?

When I started my Yoga Teacher Training Course (YTT) yoga was a part of my life. 

I loved going to class, and I thought that my physical practice was Yoga. Indeed it is, however I learned during the year that the world of Yoga is vast, and I concluded that "Its All Yoga". By that I mean its the way you approach the day, the mental road you choose to take, the food you eat, the company you keep, the practice you do to the sleep you get. 

I've started this blog to keep you and I updated on the teachings of Yoga. I plan to teach in my local community in 2011 and am quietly finding my way. 

Until next time, Namaste.