Episode 2 - How many breaths do you take each day
"Pranayama teaches us to slow down our breath.
And when we slow down our breath, we slow down our thoughts. That's yoga." Naseem
This video captures the essence of the program I created for Langara College. I believe it is important to preserve the classical teachings of yoga so they do not get lost in a sea of appropriation. I want people to learn that asana is one part of the practice. There are many limbs to learning and self-discovery in the yogic tradition. I am judgemental to all these nuveau forms of yoga. I just people would stop calling it yoga - it has become a catch phrase and it loosing it meaning like - eco and sustainability. It sounds good but what the heck does it mean?
My program is now in it's 9th year. It is has been an incredible success in my eyes, although I am just coming to this place of admiration. It has been really hard work, and the pouring out of my heart, passion, sweat and tears. I have put tonnes of energy into making it happen, and now it is time to step back to observe, reflect, listen and learn. I have received feedback that this program has transformed people's lives and it is one of the best therapies they have given to themselves. What an honour it is to receive valuable feedback.
As I have continued to move forward with the program every year due to my job descriptions, I have not afforded myself with the opportunity to look back and see all that has been created, and what the program is in this present moment. I feel like this master's program is giving me the opportunity to do so. Apply understanding and research to what has been created thus far.
As we learn more about care of self and for others, I can see that this is one of the essences of my program. I believe the foundation to becoming a skilled teacher is self-care and self-practice. It is impossible to teach people until we have lived the experience in our own lives and are able to provide meaning, purpose and understanding to others. This program trains yoga teachers to teach from an embodied place. I see so many students wanting to muscle or philosophise their way into a yoga practise. The goal to become more limber, flexible and strong. These are all by-products of the practices. Some students enter the practice from a physical place, some enter from an emotional and spiritual place. All the realms intertwine as we become the posture, practice or gesture and let go of what we think we are expected to be as a yoga teacher. It is really a loaded word that creates images of a person needing to be ultra-spiritual or perfect in a balancing pose.
I hope to unpack this a little further as I move through this master program. Perhaps this is a good launch for my first 15 page research paper....
My program is now in it's 9th year. It is has been an incredible success in my eyes, although I am just coming to this place of admiration. It has been really hard work, and the pouring out of my heart, passion, sweat and tears. I have put tonnes of energy into making it happen, and now it is time to step back to observe, reflect, listen and learn. I have received feedback that this program has transformed people's lives and it is one of the best therapies they have given to themselves. What an honour it is to receive valuable feedback.
As I have continued to move forward with the program every year due to my job descriptions, I have not afforded myself with the opportunity to look back and see all that has been created, and what the program is in this present moment. I feel like this master's program is giving me the opportunity to do so. Apply understanding and research to what has been created thus far.
As we learn more about care of self and for others, I can see that this is one of the essences of my program. I believe the foundation to becoming a skilled teacher is self-care and self-practice. It is impossible to teach people until we have lived the experience in our own lives and are able to provide meaning, purpose and understanding to others. This program trains yoga teachers to teach from an embodied place. I see so many students wanting to muscle or philosophise their way into a yoga practise. The goal to become more limber, flexible and strong. These are all by-products of the practices. Some students enter the practice from a physical place, some enter from an emotional and spiritual place. All the realms intertwine as we become the posture, practice or gesture and let go of what we think we are expected to be as a yoga teacher. It is really a loaded word that creates images of a person needing to be ultra-spiritual or perfect in a balancing pose.
I hope to unpack this a little further as I move through this master program. Perhaps this is a good launch for my first 15 page research paper....
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