Spring – new life is springing up

Letter From Diane

Spring – New life is springing up everywhere. It is such a wonderful time of the year.  It feels so life-giving. Have you noticed the students coming into class a little bent over? Work and play can take a toll on the human body. There is wear and tear going on all the time in the body just from the living of life. We will always have plenty of students that need the Bikram prescription!

Dove-tailing on last month’s newsletter, I want to talk more about instincts. Here’s a story that illustrates the win-win situation when you trust your students and yourself.

My husband Mike came back to yoga last fall after a long break…eight years! He was the primary caregiver to his mom, he was enjoying lots of fun physical activities, and he has a job that also takes a toll on his body. In the winter (2014-2015) his lower back gave out and he was left with a couple of herniated discs. I was putting on his shoes and socks!

He comes back to yoga last Fall and everything hurts. I told him what I tell all my students. This yoga is a prescription, 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises, done six days a week/one day off until you normalize all systems in your body and feel good again. Do postures to the best of your ability without pain or strain. Hold steady where you can even if your posture is just trying to grab your foot (just trying to do the set up). Breathe normal, in and out through your nose. Simple, not easy for most students.

Mike has a personality that is all or nothing. When he does yoga, he goes to yoga everyday until something gets in the way. He prefers to store up that 7th day of rest and use it if something gets in his way and he cannot make it to class. Not exactlyfollowing the prescription. Lots of students come to class and (in our opinion) they come too much or not enough. The best thing we can do as teachers is to encourage them to take care of themselves and trust themselves. The bottom line is I don’t know what is best for Mike. Only Mike knows that. The more I can support and encourage him to listen to himself instead of others, the more he is practicing using his own instincts.

We teach yoga, but what we really teach our students is to take care of themselves, to trust themselves enough to be their own best adviser. And the act of taking care of yourself always feels good. So lead by example, which is another great skill to practice every day. Take care of yourself and do your yoga. Students are watching you. Be easy about it, no stress, and enjoy the journey. They not only watch you, but they can feel the energy you put into teaching. Find joy in your practice. Taking time to practice always puts more time in your day, making you clearer and more efficient in mind and body.

Mike did do yoga every day for weeks. As he started to feel better, he did yoga 4 or 5 days a week. Then he got poison ivy and had to take 11 days off. He said his first class back was sweet. His body loved it! Now he’s been telling everyone that rest is good. I’m smiling. Everyone has so much wisdom inside of them. Watch for it and you will see it everywhere, especially inside yourself. The bonus in encouraging others to trust themselves is that you give up having to try to control everything because you have faith that if they take care of themselves and you take care of yourself, life will be good.
Life does take a toll on our human bodies, and Bikram Yoga helps…a lot.

“The knowledge of yoga is free to all who will receive, like the the ungarnished daylight.” Paramahansa Yoganandya from AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A YOGI

Love,
Diane
www.26and2.com

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