I love introducing new students to yoga.
I feel that it's my duty as a yoga teacher to make sure their first lesson is a positive experience, leaving them feeling better than before they began and excited to try it again with me or someone else.
It is a special gift that I get to share again and again.
This summer I had the opportunity to teach a mom and daughter team who were vacationing in the area.
They found me on the Internet and called to schedule a private lesson.
They enjoyed the initial session so much they invited me back a few days later when their friend Mary was with them.
I could tell Mary was totally unenthused about the whole idea. She said that yoga seemed strange to her. I can understand that. Even though it's becoming more and more popular, for lots of people there is still a lot of misconception. For some, it may appear to be a religion or cult, in conflict with their faith or beliefs. For others it seems way beyond their physical abilities.
It is neither. Yoga is an ancient philosophy that is totally consistent with any and all religions. And hatha yoga is a wonderful form of physical exercise because of its mind/body approach
Mary was a good sport and joined us in our one-hour session. We didn't do anything that was outside of her comfort zone. We just started slowly, lying on our backs focusing on our breathing, and then we proceeded to stretch and strengthen our bodies while focusing on our breath. We gently twisted and moved and even worked up a little bit of a sweat…all without excess strain. We ended with the pose that for many becomes their favorite – savasana or corpse pose – lying on the ground, focusing on breathing and relaxing for several minutes.
By the end of the hour, Mary felt great and couldn't hide her enthusiasm. She was genuinely, thoroughly excited. She had just worked out for an hour and enjoyed it!! I know exactly how she felt. While I have been exercising for as long as I can remember – walking, jogging, lifting weights, going to aerobics classes, I can't honestly say that I loved the process. I liked the results, but always found the routines a strain - until yoga.
I began taking classes over ten years ago to help treat a herniated disc/sciatica and have never stopped.
I love that I don't need lots of special equipment–just a mat and some comfortable clothing. No expensive shoes, no machines. I love that yoga is done in bare feet.
I keep yoga mats everywhere – just in case I get the urge to practice or take a class. There's one in my car, at my house, at my parent's house, and at my sister's house.
Mary is married to a high school football coach who has tried to help her train in the past, but it hasn't been fun for her. In just our one yoga session she felt the benefits and is looking forward to finding a teacher when she gets back to her home in St. Louis.
*PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT Weight Watchers Zero Points fruits and vegetables using the WW Recipe Builder.
I am so excited for her. It is so rewarding to be able to share my passion for yoga with others – to help them discover its amazing benefits. I love to watch my clients attain their goals of getting stronger and more flexible, losing weight, or reducing stress.
To be part of these powerful transformations reignites my passion and propels me on my quest to continue to study and learn and grow and become the best yoga teacher I can be.
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Leave a Reply