Tag: aim true

Feel it darling

KathrinLeave a comment

Where are your feelings coming from? Check in to yourself and figure that out. Where do they sit in your body? Are they truly yours? Or are you adapting to the mood of the person you’re talking to? To the news you’re reading? To what you think you should feel? Do you know the situation when facing an angry person and how this affect you? Even if the anger isn’t pointed to you? It is ok to be compassionate, but not to take these feelings over. They are not yours. At your core, stay with what you feel, what’s yours. It might not seem to be appropriate in certain circumstances, anyhow own them and stay true to yourself. 

We are driven by our thoughts and believes, which express themselves through what or how we feel. Your feelings are dependent on your thoughts and vice versa. Meaning, allowing yourself to smile and feel happy (even if you don’t feel like at that moment) will also change your thoughts. A powerful interaction!

Put a drop of your favourite uplifting oil into the palms of your hands, rub them and hold them in front of your nose, so you can inhale the support they give. They do their work in your body, you will feel it immediately. I love Bergamot to lift me up, Sandalwood to ground me, Cardamon to make me feel cosy and home, Tumeric to make me „fly“ and the new Adaptiv, which allows me to deal much better with my daily duties and not get overwhelmed.

Own your feelings, change them if you want to, but always stay true to yourself.

Yoga and business

Kathrin1 Comment

How can this go together? When looking at my objectives as a yoga teacher, it’s pretty smooth. I want to give. Meaning guide my students and help them to tune in through the physical practice. Help them to maybe discover more, maybe learn about themselves, maybe start their transformation, whatever this means to them.

When people ask me, why are you teaching, even next to your full time job, that’s a huge effort? My answer is easy: I watch my students arriving to class and seeing their faces when they leave – I can see they changed. For the better. They look happier, calmer, there’s something in their eyes, that warms up my heart. And I leave class similar: shining.

And yes, in this world we’re living in, it’s absolutely ok to get money for this. It’s not about having fun, it’s work. Preparing classes, go there, doing them, investing my time and not to mention all the education and training, which isn’t just a one off, but ongoing.

But yoga is so much more. Not just a job, not just exercise. It’s a transformational process, an attitude towards life. Sadly, for some teachers and business owners, teaching yoga and living yoga is not always the same. That’s what I’m experiencing again and again. The business seem to overrule the yogi. In other words: the ego has still got the leadership role. Maybe we also need this, the other side of the coin? We are different, we have different approaches and as always, there’s no right or wrong. I strongly believe, the yoga business is no show-face to the students and when turning around a different face shows up. For me yoga is about integration and authenticity. I know, this isn’t always easy, but hey, we’re human beings and just imperfect perfect!

Each teacher is also a student, we’re all practitioners, so let’s use our yoga practice to move into stillness in order to experience the truth of who we are. As a student, as a teacher, as an individual, as a soul. And this is not an end point, this is the beginning of the journey, the beginning of our transformation. Teachers out there, love what you do, be you, aim true!

 

50+ Yoga

Kathrin2 Comments

Yogis! What did you think when reading the headline? 50+ Yoga. I saw this recently as a title of a yoga class. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or get upset… I checked the class description, it was telling me it’s a softer and slower class, also for seniors suffering from rheumatism, arthrosis or hip issues.

Oh. My. God. Seriously? 50?

I’m 51. I’m a yoga teacher, my self practice is Ashtanga, and yes, that’s quite demanding. And that’s nothing special. Welcome to 2017.

Reading this made me feel like 95, excluded from proper practice, pushed into a group that requires special treatment. Well, I know my practice is very advanced to some yogis in their 20th. Same time it’s rather basic for others. Depending on your perception, your point of view, your progress in your practice. I’m 50+ and still working on my progress, believe it or not, I’m still improving. Judging people due to their age is nothing but ridiculous.

Am I overreacting? Yes, most definitely. So I decided to better laugh about it. And avoid that studio.

Yogis, never ever let anybody tell you anything about yourself. Never allow anyone to put you into any drawer. You create your life, you create your practice. Yin or Yang, slow or fast, basic or demanding, your choice, each and every day. Nothing right, nothing wrong. Keep yourself away from any judgement. Be yourself, aim true and show yourself as you are.