Teaching

Today at yoga teacher training, we taught each other poses and adjusted each other for the first time. We led each other through vinyasa flows. We broke up into groups of 3. I was half surprised that some of the words came to me as easily as they did, and half surprised at how difficult it was to imagine what pose came next in the vinyasa sequence. It was a mix of seeing how much I have to learn, and understanding that I already have many tools and talents. And again, I talked with more people, fellow students, and it is great to feel the support of their presence in the class, as we all begin to learn as much as we can about Yoga asanas and teaching.

First day of class

It went well, I enjoyed it and I'm excited. The questions I'd had about
the course were all answered. I found out that I'll need 6 hours of
yoga classes each week, as opposed to 6 classes. So 6 hours could mean
4 classes if they are 90 minute classes, which is what I usually take.
This seems more manageable. Also, and this was surprising to me, some
of those hours may be done at home on my own. And they ENCOURAGE us to do atleast 1.5 to 3 hours of the 6 hours per week at home. They want to stress the importance of having a home practice. Doing Yoga on your
own, regularly at home. And meditation counts as well. This is all
good news. The teacher training courses are 3 days a week, Fri - Sun,
for 3 weekends each month for 5 months. We have August off, and then a
final exam on the second weekend of September.

So it seemed like a big bunch of people there last night. They said they were already full and then had several more people register late,
so they were trying to work it out. Everyone was nice, friendly, warm & beautiful. This journey is a good one. I felt so happy to be there. So clear that it is for me now.

Nutrition

Yesterday I met with my friend Susie for a Nutrition Consultation. We talked about my diet, my cravings for sweets and caffeine, and ways to make sure that I get the nutrients that I need. After I explained my cravings, she said she thinks that my body is asking for Calcium when I want sweets. She suggested that I eat more greens and sesame seeds or tahini. She taught me how to make sesame seed milk, and also gave me recipes for smoothies. The smoothie recipes involve mixing greens with fruits and water or juice in a blender. I often have a smoothie for breakfast, and thismorning I added spinach to it, which didn't alter the taste much for me, but made me feel more balanced. Less of a sugar high. Putting spinach in my smoothies is a good tip for me.

Everything happens for a reason, or not?

Several times in the last week or two, I've said "Everything happens for a reason" and he says in response "or not, maybe things happen for no reason at all".

I am perplexed by this response from him. I think we are on the same page in terms of trusting the universe. And he said he is challenging my belief to keep me open to other possibilities. I'm trying to understand that.

What do you think?

Food

So, I've been thinking about how busy I'll be once the yoga course
starts, and wondering what, when and how I'll eat. Especially since I
shouldn't eat for 2 hours before a yoga class, I will have to time meals
well. And I want to be well-nourished, so I am looking at my diet and
beginning to plan what foods will be good for me to snack on.

I went to a healthy cooking class taught by Darshana Weill last night. It was challenging and fun. Already I've noticed that I have more confidence in the kitchen. When I got home from the class I baked some healthy cookies (vegan cookies made with oats, fruit, nuts, agave, & maple syrup). Now they are ready to offer to our dinner guests tonight. We plan to make miso soup (with tofu & veggies), a green salad, and brown rice with broccoli.

Yoga teacher training begins in 3 weeks!

After on-and-off contemplation of a career in yoga over the past 5 years, I finally am ready to commit to a yoga teacher training course. I researched my options for schools in San Francisco that will allow me to continue my day job, and at first I didn't find one that excited me. Then, a few weeks after I'd let go of my aggressive search, the yoga studio I've been attending for over 3 years announced its own 2006 teacher training course. I quickly realized that I wanted to do it and I decided to sign up.

My first-ever yoga class was in 1999 when I went to weekly introductory classes for one month at the Iyengar Yoga Institute of San Francisco in the Outer Sunset district. I continued to go to classes there for the following year, at a frequency of about once or twice a month. Then in 2001 I moved out of the neighborhood, and it took me almost a year to find another studio I liked. I began classes at the Piedmont Yoga Studio in Oakland, CA. The style of classes there are Hatha as opposed to Iyengar, and I enjoyed the more fluid nature of those classes. I moved again in late 2002 back to the city (San Francisco), and that is when I found my current favorite yoga studio: Yoga Tree. There are four locations of this studio in different neighborhoods of San Francisco. So, although I've moved 2 more times since beginning classes there, I have been able to continue with the teachers I like, because they teach at multiple locations. Another benefit of this studio is that they offer different styles of yoga; there are Iyengar, Hatha, Hatha Flow, Vinyasa Flow, Yoga for pregnancy, and Restorative yoga classes.

I explored different teachers and styles, and I discovered that I most appreciate a slower-paced yet challenging Hatha Flow class taught by Dina Amsterdam. She begins her classes with Yin Yoga poses, which are passive poses that are usually like holding a stretched but relaxed position for a long time (5 minutes). We do a few of these poses, and then move into flowing Yang poses, where the heart rate rises and the sweating begins. At first it was difficult for me to sit through the Yin poses. My mind was active and I felt agitated by sitting still in a slightly uncomfortable stretch. However, after practice, I love the Yin poses and I feel their benefits.

In January 2003, I made a resolution to attend at least one yoga class each week. Sometimes I would not feel inspired to attend a hatha class, and so I would instead treat myself to a Restorative yoga class taught by Darren Main. Throughout the next 3 years, I continued with my dedication to yoga. In the fall of 2005, I increased my frequency of classes to 2 or 3 classes a week. I also began trying classes at different studios in the city and researching teacher training courses. I bought some yoga books, CDs and DVDs and started to practice at home regularly as well to learn more about yoga philosophy and the Sanskrit language.

Now that the start of the teacher training program is 3 weeks away, I plan to attend as many classes as I can each week, and to practice at home on the days that I don't make it to the studio. I am very excited to be obligated to do so much yoga. I look forward to being in great physical shape, as well as being in a community of other yoga enthusiasts. I plan to continue to practice with my band, New Telepathic Friends, twice a week, as well as work at my 9-to-5 job 4 days a week. When I think of all that, it seems like a lot. But I trust that it will be wonderful.