By Sangeetha Saran
Any teacher comes to a place in our practice where we sometimes
forget what it was to be a beginner. The fear, excitement, and anticipation -
It was all new, and maybe we weren't sure it was even going to stick. Maybe we
experimented for a while, and came back later. The truth is, it doesn't really
matter how it happened. We didn't know that we were about to embark on a
journey that would forever change us to our cores. We know now that yoga is not
simply a physical practice. It's physical, emotional, and spiritual; Yoga is
holistic and it can touch so many areas of one's life. Yoga is a lifestyle
choice.
Unless we take the time to actively reflect on how that felt,
how it felt to be clueless, it can become frustrating to instruct new yoga
students who are still figuring it out. I'm sure everyone has had that one
student, but really, whom has everything figured out? Don't forget where you
started, be gentle, and use your passionate peacefulness to inspire others.
Don't forget about why you began this practice, and no, I'm not talking about
when your best friend dragged you in to her yoga class. Why did you stay? Why
did you come back? What motivated you to make a change?
Change is hard. Change is scary. Changing your whole lifestyle
is harder and scarier. Be gentle with new students who are just beginning. They
may need a "first" yoga class six times over. You never know how hard
it was for someone to begin his or her first session. It may have taken much
more courage than you can see. Gentle inspiration will always go farther than
irritated intimidation.
Get in the practice of beginning every session in that mindset. Others
can always feel your mood and energy in the room. Do you emanate peace,
serenity, and inspiration? Or can the others around you sense that you've
forgotten why you're here?
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you
know nothing about." ~ By Wendy Mass
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