Been teaching yoga eight years this Santa Fe April; fifteen total. It’s been a blessing. One of my greatest gifts received during my Manhattan artist twenties, was a way to dial my creative flow and direct it. Yoga does that quick, and practices beyond asana/poses work like magic the more you repeat. My heroes have inspired me to leap, so I teach students same. Practice your free will. Close your eyes and trust more. Comparison is the thief of joy. Rest when you need. If it doesn’t feel right – don’t do it.
I’m not into the pedestal. And colleagues, I ask you to check it too, because what our job is as teachers is to empower. To mirror back faith for our tribe to make their own decisions. My mentor Dana’s motto, ‘Move Like Yourself,’ I repeat often. There’s no one outside of your own heart that has the answers. Not the book by your nightstand, or the goddess-like teacher whose haircut you envy. I’m happy to break it to you all, that yoga teachers – are not perfect. They’re not more evolved, or higher than star or prophet, so don’t put us there. We’re human. Flawed and freaking out some, just like you. Maybe. Maybe, I’ve mastered a few things along the way to stoke students inspiration and heal – but, you can too.
During these times that keep a changin’, during these eclipses of heart and question… Move like yourself. Don’t follow the crowd. Being kind to your neighbor is the sickest pose you can practice. Yoga off the mat, Jesus preached. Don’t let a guru or teacher spoon feed your medicine. I get more God meditating on sky some days than any class or workshop. I’m happy to keep on teaching, it’s my dharma, I love. But, I will continue to nudge you back – to the voice within you, answering.
In Service & Gratitude for You Family,