#indeayoga

[heelstobarefoot]

Thank you Guruji. Thank you.

Dear Sir,

I’m writing to you as I wanted to share my thoughts about the most challenging, intimidating yet also rewarding months of my life. As I sit on my living room floor (where else would I be!) writing to you, reflecting about the month just gone, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace for having taught alongside you,Guruji, for the past month. Words cannot describe how important this was for me.

But before sharing these thoughts and feelings about the month just gone, I firstly wanted to recap about how we met.

At a time in my life when work was extraordinarily stressful and life had become mundane and dull, I came across a yoga teacher whose approach (to yoga) so inspired me that I knew if I was ever going to become a teacher myself, I would seek out the person she trained with. I knew they must be brilliant. That person was of course you. When the moment was right to begin this journey as a teacher, I sought you out and committed to three months in India. Leaving my entire life as I knew it behind me was extraordinarily challenging, but nonetheless exciting. Getting to know you during my first visit to Mysore was one of the most memorable and meaningful times of my life. Despite the intense physical and mental challenges faced through your training, life was becoming so exciting with the possibilities I knew lay ahead. Returning to Australia after spending so much time together in the Shala was the next challenge. I was nervous about no longer having your ongoing support and guidance (in person). I knew there so much more to learn from you and that a certification to teach would not suffice. My journey as a your student needed to continue. This was why I made the decision to approach you regarding the possibility of assisting with the upcoming TTC scheduled for March 2016. Whilst this would mean sacrificing being trained by you (as a practitioner), to teach alongside you would be the most incredible experience as I would be granted the opportunity to observe how you interact with your students; how you correct them; how you sequence your classes and more. With a commitment to being the best teacher I can possibly be, I knew this would be an invaluable experience - for whilst there are many brilliant yoga practitioners in the world, there are few equally as brilliant teachers.

Asking to assist was quite possibly one of my most vulnerable moments as to be rejected would have been so disappointing. However, whilst there were natural moments of doubt and fears of rejection, I knew it was important to take the risk and enquire. To have been accepted for this opportunity was quite possibly one of my greatest honours and your kind and welcoming support made this experience even more special.

The months leading up to the TTC were a rollercoaster of emotions. Worry, nervousness, excitement, gratitude… Observing my emotional state during these months was an interesting process. Ups, downs, round and rounds! Fluctuations as you would say.  I feared not having the stamina, mentally, to get through the month. I knew what was in store for the students (after having gone through it myself) and I questioned if I could go through it again - and more!  But worries aside, I knew I needed to be there and that I would find the courage to keep going when the time came. And of course, this time certainly came - over and over… and over again.

In March I flew to Mysore and I came to visit you the moment I arrived. I remember crying last year as I hugged you goodbye, feeling so saddened by the knowledge I would not see you again for sometime. But there I was, back again and now preparing to teach alongside you. How humbled and honoured I was to sitting and talking with you that afternoon. I shall never forget that conversation.

The following day, our month long journey together would begin. During that month I was challenged in every possible way. Physically, as an advanced teacher and practitioner, I was pushed to limits I once never thought possible. Pratima, who trained with me in between the TTC classes, certainly doesn’t settle for mediocrity with her practitioners! But physical challenges aside, this past month has been more a challenge of the mind. There were days when I felt totally drained, inadequate and lacked confidence. Whilst I’m too stubborn to quit anything I commit to (sometimes to my own detriment) there were days when I questioned my silly decisions to put myself through such an intense experience. But of course, the sane and logical part of me always pulled through and reminded me of what a life changing experience this would be. Of the honour it was to assist you, Guruji. So I kept going and gave 2000% to everything - my time, my personal practice and of course my support of yourself and the students…. There was absolutely no way I was going to let you, the students or myself down. This was far too important.

So as I sit here and reflect upon the month just gone, there are many special moments I shall hold dear for the rest of my life. It could have been just a simple nod of approval, a smile or sitting alongside you at the front of the Shala. Whilst to you or others these moments may have seemed insignificant, to me they were powerful and hugely meaningful.

So as a final word, I want to sincerely thank you for your ongoing guidance and support of my journey with yoga. For believing in me as a teacher and practitioner. I have learned more than I could have possibly ever imagined, and this experience has made me not only a better teacher, but a better student, practitioner and person overall. I cannot wait to return next year to continue this journey with you and step it up to the next level. Thank you Guruji. Thank you.

Much love,

Your student, Jessica.

[heelstobarefoot]

Thank you Guruji. Thank you.

Dear Sir,

I’m writing to you as I wanted to share my thoughts about the most challenging, intimidating yet also rewarding months of my life. As I sit on my living room floor (where else would I be!) writing to you, reflecting about the month just gone, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and peace for having taught alongside you,Guruji, for the past month. Words cannot describe how important this was for me.

But before sharing these thoughts and feelings about the month just gone, I firstly wanted to recap about how we met.

At a time in my life when work was extraordinarily stressful and life had become mundane and dull, I came across a yoga teacher whose approach (to yoga) so inspired me that I knew if I was ever going to become a teacher myself, I would seek out the person she trained with. I knew they must be brilliant. That person was of course you. When the moment was right to begin this journey as a teacher, I sought you out and committed to three months in India. Leaving my entire life as I knew it behind me was extraordinarily challenging, but nonetheless exciting. Getting to know you during my first visit to Mysore was one of the most memorable and meaningful times of my life. Despite the intense physical and mental challenges faced through your training, life was becoming so exciting with the possibilities I knew lay ahead. Returning to Australia after spending so much time together in the Shala was the next challenge. I was nervous about no longer having your ongoing support and guidance (in person). I knew there so much more to learn from you and that a certification to teach would not suffice. My journey as a your student needed to continue. This was why I made the decision to approach you regarding the possibility of assisting with the upcoming TTC scheduled for March 2016. Whilst this would mean sacrificing being trained by you (as a practitioner), to teach alongside you would be the most incredible experience as I would be granted the opportunity to observe how you interact with your students; how you correct them; how you sequence your classes and more. With a commitment to being the best teacher I can possibly be, I knew this would be an invaluable experience - for whilst there are many brilliant yoga practitioners in the world, there are few equally as brilliant teachers.

Asking to assist was quite possibly one of my most vulnerable moments as to be rejected would have been so disappointing. However, whilst there were natural moments of doubt and fears of rejection, I knew it was important to take the risk and enquire. To have been accepted for this opportunity was quite possibly one of my greatest honours and your kind and welcoming support made this experience even more special.

The months leading up to the TTC were a rollercoaster of emotions. Worry, nervousness, excitement, gratitude… Observing my emotional state during these months was an interesting process. Ups, downs, round and rounds! Fluctuations as you would say.  I feared not having the stamina, mentally, to get through the month. I knew what was in store for the students (after having gone through it myself) and I questioned if I could go through it again - and more!  But worries aside, I knew I needed to be there and that I would find the courage to keep going when the time came. And of course, this time certainly came - over and over… and over again.

In March I flew to Mysore and I came to visit you the moment I arrived. I remember crying last year as I hugged you goodbye, feeling so saddened by the knowledge I would not see you again for sometime. But there I was, back again and now preparing to teach alongside you. How humbled and honoured I was to sitting and talking with you that afternoon. I shall never forget that conversation.

The following day, our month long journey together would begin. During that month I was challenged in every possible way. Physically, as an advanced teacher and practitioner, I was pushed to limits I once never thought possible. Pratima, who trained with me in between the TTC classes, certainly doesn’t settle for mediocrity with her practitioners! But physical challenges aside, this past month has been more a challenge of the mind. There were days when I felt totally drained, inadequate and lacked confidence. Whilst I’m too stubborn to quit anything I commit to (sometimes to my own detriment) there were days when I questioned my silly decisions to put myself through such an intense experience. But of course, the sane and logical part of me always pulled through and reminded me of what a life changing experience this would be. Of the honour it was to assist you, Guruji. So I kept going and gave 2000% to everything - my time, my personal practice and of course my support of yourself and the students…. There was absolutely no way I was going to let you, the students or myself down. This was far too important.

So as I sit here and reflect upon the month just gone, there are many special moments I shall hold dear for the rest of my life. It could have been just a simple nod of approval, a smile or sitting alongside you at the front of the Shala. Whilst to you or others these moments may have seemed insignificant, to me they were powerful and hugely meaningful.

So as a final word, I want to sincerely thank you for your ongoing guidance and support of my journey with yoga. For believing in me as a teacher and practitioner. I have learned more than I could have possibly ever imagined, and this experience has made me not only a better teacher, but a better student, practitioner and person overall. I cannot wait to return next year to continue this journey with you and step it up to the next level. Thank you Guruji. Thank you.

Much love,

Your student, Jessica.

[heelstobarefoot]

When the student is ready, the teacher will come...

I want to share with you a little insight I’ve picked up since returning to Mysore, India…

There are many yoga students here, many of whom are totally committed to the practice as well as those who are looking to give it a try (which is wonderful). Talking specifically about the former group (i.e. those who are super committed), there is a common trend appearing which I didn’t expect among them. The trend of jumping from teacher to teacher. I would expect this of practitioners who are dabbling in yoga to see if it’s for them, but not those who are devout practitioners. Let me explain what I mean by that.

Since being here this year, I’ve had a number of conversations with different practitioners (from different styles of yoga - Ashtanga, Hatha) about their journey with yoga. One practitioner in particular really caught my attention when he told me about his decision to train with various teachers over the years because you can just “outgrow” your teachers. It’s been recommended on a number of occasions that I complete additional teacher training courses with other teachers and in other styles of yoga as a strategy to become a better teacher and practitioner.

To be totally honest, this has left me a little bewildered but on the flip side it also it helps to make sense of the mess that has become yoga in the west. Whilst I do not profess to be an expert in yoga (and probably never will be), after having trained with many teachers in the west and feeling totally disheartened by such experiences (...remember, these are my personal experiences - not to say all western teachers are bad. That is absolutely untrue), I felt so relieved to find a teacher who I really resonated with. I mean really resonated with. So I can’t help but wonder why I would look elsewhere for additional training when I have him?  

With nothing fluffy about his approach, my teacher has committed much of his life to studying this art form intensely and has not only trained under some of the most inspirational teachers of our time, but he has managed to teach himself through constant trial and error. Of course I am speaking of none other than Yogacharya Bharath Shetty, who I am currently assisting in Mysore.

After having trained intensively under this man’s guidance, and witnessing phenomenal changes in my body, breath and mind, I can’t help but wonder why I would seek out another teacher as so many other practitioners seem to do (and are recommending I do also). The insecure part of me wants to indulge this way of thinking. To start looking at other TTC opportunities so I can boast many certificates, but upon much reflection I’ve come to the conclusion that I could never outgrow this man with regard to my knowledge and asana experience. I also do not want to become a “jack-of-all-trades” in the yoga industry, because frankly there are enough of those out there. I want to study this art form in its purest sense and deliver only the highest quality yoga to my students. I personally don’t believe this can be achieved by jumping from place to place. I’ve also come to the conclusion that I need to be patient with this practice and accept that I could spend a lifetime trying to master just one asana - because it is impossible to master any at all. Living in such an ADHD society where we struggle to sit still or are looking for the next shiny thing to capture our attention, for me a huge part of this journey is recognising that I need to maintain the discipline and commitment from learning this art form from the Guru whom I respect and trust. That it will only do an injustice to my practice and knowledge should I too employ the belief that I should train with many other teachers. In my opinion, this just confuses the message and leads to a wishy washy understanding of the practice.

When I came to India the first time, I came with the intention to train under the best because mediocrity just won’t do in my eyes. And whilst I’ve learned so much following such experiences/intensive training, I don’t think I will ever be in a position to say I’ve outgrown my teacher….. I’m not sure this is possible in any case, for anyone… but I could be wrong.

Yoga helps us to cultivate stillness and bring patience into our lives. I feel the changing of teachers, the constant searching and never truly committing (to a style and/or teacher) is a sign of impatience and insecurity - worry that there could be something better or more popular out there. And what I’ve come to realise, is that there is nothing out there that can give me the results I’m looking for. It all comes down to me, my perception of particular experiences, and my willingness to grow from them, no matter how challenging.

With all of that said, I want to finish with a quote my Owen sent me when I was chatting with him about this exact topic and the turmoil it was creating for me. I would love to hear your thoughts about it.

If you should end up with a teacher who doesn’t seem right for you, first look inside. You might well be expecting more than any teacher can give.

—George Leonard

Namaste xx

[heelstobarefoot]

When the student is ready, the teacher will come...

I want to share with you a little insight I’ve picked up since returning to Mysore, India…

There are many yoga students here, many of whom are totally committed to the practice as well as those who are looking to give it a try (which is wonderful). Talking specifically about the former group (i.e. those who are super committed), there is a common trend appearing which I didn’t expect among them. The trend of jumping from teacher to teacher. I would expect this of practitioners who are dabbling in yoga to see if it’s for them, but not those who are devout practitioners. Let me explain what I mean by that.

Since being here this year, I’ve had a number of conversations with different practitioners (from different styles of yoga - Ashtanga, Hatha) about their journey with yoga. One practitioner in particular really caught my attention when he told me about his decision to train with various teachers over the years because you can just “outgrow” your teachers. It’s been recommended on a number of occasions that I complete additional teacher training courses with other teachers and in other styles of yoga as a strategy to become a better teacher and practitioner.

To be totally honest, this has left me a little bewildered but on the flip side it also it helps to make sense of the mess that has become yoga in the west. Whilst I do not profess to be an expert in yoga (and probably never will be), after having trained with many teachers in the west and feeling totally disheartened by such experiences (...remember, these are my personal experiences - not to say all western teachers are bad. That is absolutely untrue), I felt so relieved to find a teacher who I really resonated with. I mean really resonated with. So I can’t help but wonder why I would look elsewhere for additional training when I have him?  

With nothing fluffy about his approach, my teacher has committed much of his life to studying this art form intensely and has not only trained under some of the most inspirational teachers of our time, but he has managed to teach himself through constant trial and error. Of course I am speaking of none other than Yogacharya Bharath Shetty, who I am currently assisting in Mysore.

After having trained intensively under this man’s guidance, and witnessing phenomenal changes in my body, breath and mind, I can’t help but wonder why I would seek out another teacher as so many other practitioners seem to do (and are recommending I do also). The insecure part of me wants to indulge this way of thinking. To start looking at other TTC opportunities so I can boast many certificates, but upon much reflection I’ve come to the conclusion that I could never outgrow this man with regard to my knowledge and asana experience. I also do not want to become a “jack-of-all-trades” in the yoga industry, because frankly there are enough of those out there. I want to study this art form in its purest sense and deliver only the highest quality yoga to my students. I personally don’t believe this can be achieved by jumping from place to place. I’ve also come to the conclusion that I need to be patient with this practice and accept that I could spend a lifetime trying to master just one asana - because it is impossible to master any at all. Living in such an ADHD society where we struggle to sit still or are looking for the next shiny thing to capture our attention, for me a huge part of this journey is recognising that I need to maintain the discipline and commitment from learning this art form from the Guru whom I respect and trust. That it will only do an injustice to my practice and knowledge should I too employ the belief that I should train with many other teachers. In my opinion, this just confuses the message and leads to a wishy washy understanding of the practice.

When I came to India the first time, I came with the intention to train under the best because mediocrity just won’t do in my eyes. And whilst I’ve learned so much following such experiences/intensive training, I don’t think I will ever be in a position to say I’ve outgrown my teacher….. I’m not sure this is possible in any case, for anyone… but I could be wrong.

Yoga helps us to cultivate stillness and bring patience into our lives. I feel the changing of teachers, the constant searching and never truly committing (to a style and/or teacher) is a sign of impatience and insecurity - worry that there could be something better or more popular out there. And what I’ve come to realise, is that there is nothing out there that can give me the results I’m looking for. It all comes down to me, my perception of particular experiences, and my willingness to grow from them, no matter how challenging.

With all of that said, I want to finish with a quote my Owen sent me when I was chatting with him about this exact topic and the turmoil it was creating for me. I would love to hear your thoughts about it.

If you should end up with a teacher who doesn’t seem right for you, first look inside. You might well be expecting more than any teacher can give.

—George Leonard

Namaste xx