A Review About Me from 2010

I just stumbled upon a blog post someone wrote about one of my classes and me as a teacher. I remember both the students. Oh so sweet! I remember when I started taking Anusara classes how I did not like demoing poses (in fear I would do a bad job) and did not like partnering up (again afraid I would do a bad job). Now I love demos and partnering because I learn so much more then I could by myself. Thank you for the lovely blog post Doris.

September 06, 2010

Something to cheer about

Yesterday in my Anusara Yoga class our instructor, "Kim", needed a student on whom she could illustrate the effects of locking knees during the yogic alignment process. This is a beginning class and filled with women (and one man) of all ages, shapes and ethnicity's. In our previous class session, Kim had asked for a volunteer. In this session she pointed to a young woman, "Ann," in the back row and asked her if she'd be willing to be the "demo" person that day (evidently Kim had noticed Ann's "locking-knees" habit). Although Ann agreed, her face turned bright red and her discomfort was palpable.

When the time came, Ann stepped forward gingerly. Her face exuded raw discomfort. I sent up silent prayers that Kim would handle this situation with her usual grace and compassion. I feared that the reason for Ann's discomfort was because she was the largest person in the class. Kim was thankfully gentle and kind and Ann was able to illustrate her points beautifully. As the lesson progressed with Kim guiding Ann through aligning her body it was like watching a magical transformation. Although still nervous, Ann no longer looked as if she wanted to bolt from the room. Her body responded to instruction in a way that made me envious. "Alignment" sounds so easy but it is really a tricky process of self-manipulating seven distinct muscle loops and spirals, too complex for me to explain here. Yet Ann was able to accomplish the task with what appeared to be little effort.

As Ann brought her body into alignment she radiated beauty. It was stunning to witness the difference in the energy exuded by a person who went from standing tentatively and self-consciously to a person standing well-grounded and perfectly aligned. I found myself wishing that my body was as bendy as Ann's. I told Ann as I left class that I'd been touched by her grace, beauty and flexibility.

I look forward to tomorrow's class, although I pray that Kim never calls on me to be the "model." Ann was an inspiration but the thought of having to attempt to align my body in front of the entire class is not something I look forward to...not because of "body shame" but more because my body is just beginning to unlock its flexibility. Although, when I think about it, my body could easily demonstrate what not to do during alignment. Maybe I COULD be as instructive as Ann! Ahhh...to add a flexible body to my evolving flexible mind...now that's something to cheer about!

Sending blessings until next time,
Doris