This is my "trying on" period. I'm volunteering as a contributing writer to a local e-pub. In this first contribution, I've combined my love for writing with my enthusiasm for yoga -- it's a short piece on a yoga studio in the Midwest. When I have the link, I'll post the link on this blog.
As in menstrual flow. Since my daily 10-minute plus yoga practice (or 1 and a half hour-practice if I make it to class), the cramps have subsided, and the headaches rarely last longer than a minute.Contrast that with my pre-yoga days, when I was downing 1,6000mg OTC ibuprofen per 16 hours, my stomach was a fiery knot (compliments of the ibuprofen), and the 3-day headache sent me to bed.
During the first two days of my period, however, my moon in Gemini shuts down, and my sun sign Aries temper rolls near boiling. For you non-stargazers, this translates as I'm far from interested in exchanging ideas, let alone LISTENING to someone's ideas. An unintended slight mushrooms into a barb, a blasphemous insult that deserves to be repaid as quickly as possible.
During these two days, the job hunt turns inward. I ask myself "How long would I last at this type of job before I'm ready to jump, naked and screaming, out the window?" "What kind of sacrifices am I willing to make in order to get and keep this job?" "At which point would this type of job turn from a dream into a nightmare?" Add these questions to the "Where am I gonna find this type of job" question.
Ah, self-exploration. Yoga definitely teaches one to recognize his limitations.
On a B.K.S. Iyengaar website, I read "Yoga is the union of the body, mind, emotions, and intellect."
Like yoga, a dream job unites the emotions ("I love this job! I can't believe I'm getting paid to do this!"), the intellect ("How can I become more efficient at this job?"), the spirit ("I feel so free when I'm working like this!"), the mind ("This job brings out my creativity"), and the body ("Yah, I plan to save up enough scratch to attend the 2009 conference. Of course, The conference will be a 45-minute walk from my hotel, but what the heck?")
My pontificating aside, for the last few days, I've been writing down my favorite skills, which are writing (surprised, huh?), reading, interviewing, and researching. The trick is to figure out how many where(s) I can apply these skills.
Because I like to give any author his due, I'd like to state in my hunt for a dream job, I'm using the lessons in yoga while employing the strategies suggested in Richard Bolles "2008 What Color Is Your Parachute?" I wouldn't want anyone to think I'm a brainy woman with super job-finding skills. If I were, I would be working in my dream job WITH PAY rather than writing about finding a desired job WITHOUT PAY.
I'm not suggesting anyone buy a job-hunting book. While you're on the job hunt, you may wish to be frugal with your pennies -- in which case, the library can become one of your greatest friends. If, however, you wish to purchase a job-hunting book, the library allows you to "try before you buy."
If yoga can cure my back pain and alleviate my pms, then surely it can help me score my dream job. Yah, people, this blog will trace how I am using yoga during my hunt for a dream job THAT PAYS.
(I would like to write more, but it's approaching midnight in the USA, and I'm about to fall asleep -- kinda like George Bush when people were telling him that invading Iraq was not a good idea. zzzzz)
The hours are growing longer and the classes harder. Now in the final weeks of her teacher training course in Goa, nerves are tested as Inna Costantini and classmates start teaching for real.
After a few weeks of fairly 'passive' studying, listening, reading, sitting in lectures, trying to get a grasp on different aspects of yoga anatomy, philosophy and technique, we're now shifting towards a more dynamic and challenging part - the actual teaching.
After all, that's what this course is all about. Learning theory is fascinating (and there's so much more I want to learn), but it wouldn't really make much sense without practice.
Most students have already set their foundations in their own daily yoga practice, style and approach, and I can see that everyone views an feels yoga in a different way and will end up teaching it (if at all) in a distinct manner.
But for most of us teacher trainees, standing up in front of a class, talking through postures, explaining the movement, the breath, the flow, the technique, in a concise, clear and pleasant manner is no easy feat.
Just when I was starting to get comfortable with my adjustments technique, happily 'squishing' fellow students and people from the drop in centre, into paschimottanasana, downdog and most of the key postures, newer, bigger challenges are being thrown my way.
Teaching is daunting for most of us - more for some than for others - and also involves being confident in one's own practice.
However, being thrown to the front of a class, having all eyes looking towards you waiting for instructions, also feels somewhat empowering.
For someone like me who's never taught any form of class before, it could be much worse.
My fears of mumbling, being confused and unclear weren't justified, and I found myself projecting my voice to the back of the shala quite well (though with a conscious effort) and it did all make sense in the end!
Mind over matter. It can be stressful, daunting, but also so much fun when it goes well. All along, I never thought about the practical side of teaching and how stressful it might be for everyone.
I was apprehensive about the 5am wake-up calls (which I turned out to quite enjoy), the daily hour long pranayama sessions, anatomy and philosophy lectures, the physical strain of the daily exercise and yoga practice.
But I seem to have sailed through most of this, and the part I was the least concerned about, the teaching technique, is by far the hardest.
That's also where lies the success of a great teacher- make your students feel at ease, relaxed, and yet be safe when adjusting them an teaching postures. Know the meaning of yoga. Keep up a firm personal practice and keep on learning.
But most importantly, create an environment which feels unique and special for class.
No two teachers follow the same style, energy or routine, and each teacher will offer something unique to students - whether it's great adjustments, a relaxing practice, a soft, gentle approach or a fun dynamic class, there's a style out there for everyone.
And hopefully I'll soon find mine....
Read Inna's other blog posts:
Slipping into yogic life in Goa
Half way to becoming a teacher
Standing Forward Bend
A focused mind is a major part of yoga and meditation training.
Meditating on a mantra can help the mind to settle.
This new Sivananda-based CD is also influenced by Vipassana meditation.
Musician and Kundalini yoga teacher Maya Fiennes comes under the YA spotlight.
We catch up with acclaimed US yoga teacher Sarah Powers, ahead of the publication of her new book.
