Showing posts with label yoga students. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yoga students. Show all posts

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Teaching and Mystery Vegetables


Today was a good day! A great day! An emotional day! I cried more today than over the last week.

First cry: driving to teach yoga this morning. I was nervous. What if I forgot how? Would it feel different?

Then, my nervousness and crying jag were interrupted when some Camry nearly ran me out of my lane. I screamed at him. Ahhhh, life was back to normal. I still get Tourette's when I drive on the Interstate. It was a regular Thursday morning.

I know it is a contradiction that I teach yoga, advocating calm and peace of mind, but, I think my driving issues are primal and deep. It all goes back to my Corsican grand-pere. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The familiar faces and warm welcome in all of my classes today was amazing. I am so blessed to be part of this community. I remembered how to teach. I, unfortunately, could not lift my arm above shoulder height or touch my toes. Mind you, I am Gumby and have always been able to just lay my palm flat on the floor. Not today! Wow. Humbling. Now, I can really empathize with all my runner students. I can't wait to get my flexibility back.

I teach in a room heated to 95 degrees, with 40% humidity. Thus, my shirt was soaked. Luckily, my friend April was there to help me peel it off. This was the first time I had put something on over my head. And, Lululemon tops ensure that your tatas are secure. Just hard to remove when you cannot move your arm or feel your underarm. Again, for a super-independent person who doesn't like to ask for help, this is a journey. I've been dressing myself for years.

Cry #2: My ActiveX peeps brought me flowers. Beautiful flowers: nice job Arch!! It was perfect, sunny and breezy outside during our class.

My wonderful family at Lululemon Carlsbad are a host site for Garden of Eden, a local, organic farm that provides fresh produce. They were kind enough to donate a shipment to me this week. I am overflowing with veggies and fruit! Fabulous.

Here's the catch: my old nemesis, the KALE, was on top. Luckily, there are two small bunnies who live on my cul-de-sac. I left the special treat out for them. They were very pleased. I bet there will be an extra lift to their hop tomorrow.

The second catch: I didn't know what half of the vegetables were!! Seriously!!

Lettuce: check.
Spinach: check.
Oranges, lemons, avocados: check.

Here's where things got sticky:

Mysterious small reddish-purple carrot looking things--NO idea.
More mysterious reddish-purple carrot looking things with what looked like chard attached--WHAT???!!!!
Some type of fresh herb--HUH????!!

Luckily, Lauren called to educate me. Reddish carrot things are indeed carrots!! Other reddish things are beets, herb is oregano. Who knew what they actually looked like? Very excited to try them!!

Cry #3: Spoke to Julian today. We had another discussion about chemotherapy and I must say, he is very convincing. I'm still waiting to see how I feel after meeting with two different oncologists and receiving answers to all of my questions about treatment scenarios. I couldn't help crying again.

Maybe they won't tell me I have to do it. That would help my dilemma about needing a touch-up for my highlights. Could be a moot point.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

There are two ways to spread light; to be the candle, or the mirror that reflects it." - Edith Wharton

Another amazing quote that says so much with so little.

For me, this quote reminds me of why I love teaching yoga. I feel that I alternate between these roles when teaching. Sometimes students come in to class seeking solace from difficult situations going on in their lives. They are in a darker space and their light is hidden for a time. In that scenario, I try to be the candle and share some light to remind them that theirs is inside of them, just dormant for a little while.

At other times, students come in with a true glow that only grows brighter as they practice and find their peace on the mat. Then, I just try to be the reflection back to them of their inner beauty and light.

I love it.