yogi: let your body be your teacher

the other day, i woke up to find that my left upper back was nearly frozen with muscle pain.  (nothing like waking up with an injury, right?)  i wracked my brain for what i could have done to cause it -- but nothing came to mind.  so, instead of trying to figure out why this bothersome pain had arrived in my life, i decided to sit with it, address it as best i could, and listen to the innate wisdom of my body -- which was obviously telling me it needed something! i did some self-massage, soothed the muscle with a heating pad, and rolled it out with some acupressure balls.  i modified my yoga practice, and did some gentle stretches that just felt plain good.  the pain forced me to treat myself to some much needed tlc.  and, in the end, the pain wasn't such a pain after all...

as a yoga teacher, you, too, have likely be taught to listen to your body.  to respect it, treat it well, and honor it.  sure, you've been told that...but do you practice it regularly?...

when it comes to your yoga practice, and your life off-the-mat for that matter, your body is one of the wisest teachers you'll ever have.  there's a reason people say, "trust your intuition" or "listen to your gut".  those insights, thoughts, and feelings aren't just hunches, they come from the deep-seated wisdom, awareness, and compassion that dwells in all of us, and connects us to everyone and everything else.

if you tend to push through injury, ignore hunger pangs, or power through your to-dos even when you need a rest; stepping back, and checking in with what your body is communicating it needs can be immensely telling.

does it need a break?  a nap?  a few sun salutations?  a glass of water?  a moment of pause?  a massage?  to get outside?  a deep breath?  the answer may be subtle, but it's there.  cultivate your ability to hear and listen to it.

if these words are resulting in some self-realization on your part, give your body something it needs right now!  close your eyes, tune in to your breath, and see what is present for you.  notice what your body is asking for -- and offer it to yourself.

yogi: leave space for happiness

this morning, i opened my early bird vinyasa class with this quote:

"always leave enough room in your life to do something that makes you happy, satisfied, or even joyous." - paul hawken

it seems like such simple advice, but sometimes the simplest advice is the hardest to follow.  be honest, how often do you leave space for happiness in your life?  between all the to-dos, responsibilities, emails, text message, and phone calls, happiness sometimes seems to seep out.

striving to be happy all the time is unrealistic -- and not the point of yoga.  the point is rather to sit with what comes up, whatever that may be for us.  be present here and now, so that we can move forward in the wisest, most compassionate way possible.  and, when we do that, we find that those moments of happiness that previously might have escaped us become a sweet gift to be cherished.

make room for happiness in your life -- and went it arrives, take a minute to enjoy it!

yogi: do you feel like there's not enough time in the day?

do you ever feel like there's just not enough time in the day to get everything done?  i know i do at times.  your endless to-do list weighs on your shoulders, and instead of becoming more productive, you become less.  you feel stalled, tired, and worn out. when moments like this set in, i find it's best to, first and foremost, take a deep breath.  when stress threatens, we tend to rush, and when we rush, our breath gets shallow.  so, before you do anything else, just breathe, and notice how shifting your attention to your breath, shifts the experience in your body.

next, just focus on doing one thing.  sure, there are 37 (and counting) to-dos on today's list, but what is one thing that will move you in the right direction that you can handle now?  small consistent steps make a big difference in the long run.

so, instead of being overwhelmed by your onslaught of to-dos, just do one thing, and celebrate in accomplishing it.  doing something is always better than doing nothing.

biz: why you need a website (yes, you yoga teacher!)

hello fellow yoga teachers!  do you have a personal website for your yoga offerings?  if my asking that question has you rolling your eyes and thinking "that's not for me" -- i'm here to convince you otherwise.  though you might feel like the ancient practice of yoga and the online world are at odds, like it or not, the web is the way to communicate and find info these days (like who the most awesome yoga teacher is in the area). if you don't have an online presence, it's time for a change.  the web is the ultimate equalizer, and being able to point students, private clients, and studio owners to your website is key to expanding your reach and growing your yoga business.  even if you work at a studio or gym that has a website, you still need a personal one that lists your particular yoga expertise if you truly want to be seen as a professional.

need more convincing?  read on to learn why you need an online presence for your yoga biz -- and where to start building one!

1. it's the ultimate equalizer -- having a website gives you instant cred.  not that you're trying to fool anybody, but if you're a new teacher (and lacking confidence in your skill set), having a website that lists your trainings and expertise will boost your confidence, and serve as a "virtual resume" when you're applying for teaching jobs.  or, if you've been teaching for years, a website gives your loyal students a place to keep up with all that you're doing and offering.

2. it helps people find you -- if you offer private lessons, corporate classes, or other unique offerings, a website is the ideal place to outline them.  if people are googling "private therapeutic yoga" and that's your specialty, they are not going to find you unless you have an online presence.  i know that seems obvious, but there are still so many talented teachers out there who overlook this simple fact.  if you want to get found, and recognized for what you do, build a website!

3. it's easy and free -- printing business cards, designing brochures, and hanging up fliers take a lot of time, energy, and money.  if instead, you channeled even half of that into a website, you'd have one up and running in no time!  plus, you can update your site as often as you like with your most recent workshops, retreats, and events -- no need to make up another brochure!  even better, there are tons of FREE platforms that allow you to build, design, and easily update your website -- two of my favorites are wordpress.com and blogger.com.

(bonus!) 4. it connects you -- you can "trick out" your site with e-newsletter sign-ups, yoga videos, and social media icons (like facebook and twitter) that will further connect you to your students (and anyone else who is interested in your offerings).  and, the more you build relationships with people that are fans of what you do, the more success and fulfillment you'll enjoy from your yoga career -- guaranteed!

ok, now go out there and build yourself a website!  (you can do it, i promise -- and if you need any help, contact me!)

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