Facing Our Fears
What if someone walks out of your yoga class?
We talked about this the other day briefly in our YTT group coaching session, and I thought I’d share a few notes from that discussion. For yoga teachers, or any teachers I suppose, the fear of people walking out can be a source of anxiety before it even happens (it might never hap..read more
Past Present and Future – Life as a Yoga Business Owner
It’s been a tough week to stay present and not spiral into despair. There is a lot going on in the world that is hard to sit with. So, I did what I always do when I need to be talked down from catastrophizing, I called my mom. She knows me well and knows that I often need reminding to try to ta..read more
Ever Wondered What We Talk About in Yoga Teacher Training?
I’m in the midst of a yoga teacher training right now, and thought I’d share a few of the helpful teaching strategies and mantras we’ve talked about. Scroll down for a few of the conversations we've had recently, including:- Move with your muscles, brea..read more
Worrying about what other people think of you is a faucet you can turn off anytime.
This comes from a conversation I had with a teacher trainee this week in relation to two of the Yamas (guidelines for social conduct), Brahmacharya and Asteya (energy management, non-stealing). In discussing this, I noticed that I had a LOT of thoughts. Part of my strong response is..read more
Winter Solstice Greetings
Rest - Reflection - Gratitude Today is the winter solstice, a changing of the seasons, and here in the north this is the time that we move into a rest period. Traditionally this is a time for learning, storytelling, and reflection. The longer nights and colder temperatures guide us to spend a bit more time indoors, and I’ll be making ..read more
4 Virtues for Mental Peace
One of the philosophies that we learn from the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is the 4 virtues. The teaching is that we can find mental peace and serenity through these four practices:Yoga Sutras 1:33
The mind becomes clear and serene when the qualities of the heart are cultivated: 1. Maitri: Friendliness toward the joyful 2. Karun..read more
I just have to get this off my chest. This is for any yoga teachers or teachers in training who are feeling like they aren’t good enough, or don’t know enough, or don’t have a ‘yoga body’ (whatever the heck that is), or aren’t spiritual enough, or won’t be as fluent with their cues, or can’t demonstrate the fancy asanas, or, in general, feel like an imposter...read more
It’s Got to Ebb If It’s Going to Flow
I heard this adage the other day, and it came on a day when I really needed it. Being in lockdown for so long has been tough. And for me it comes on the heels of a few really challenging years of injury, loss, and a big move across the world. So, it should have been obvious to me that my creative energy would be in a bit..read more
I’m a person who likes to have a system for things. I run my business with schedules and checklists, I plan years in advance, and operate the day-to-day and year-to-year with as much efficiency as I can. I do the same in my domestic life; I like an organised house. I’m soothed by having ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’. I like to count things; ..read more
Dear Yoga Teachers, You don't have to know everything. Don't be afraid to say, 'I don't know'. Teaching is a collaborative process. You will continue to learn with every student you encounter. That is the great adventure of teaching. When I was a new teacher, I felt such pressure to know everything about....everything! - Students would ask me about why their kne..read more
