Wednesday, October 10, 2012

New venture

There is just something amazing and fulfilling about teaching yoga to children.

Quite a few months ago, I had envisioned teaching yoga classes to the children in my neighborhood. After completing a kid's yoga teacher training program last year, I sort of sat on that idea for awhile, actually quite awhile.

Marching into one of the nearby parks one day, fully equipped with my yoga mat and framed yoga certification, I made some connections with a few day care teachers that had their classes out for some exercise. A little while after that, I parked myself down on a blanket that I brought along, rolled out my yoga mat, and started to do some yoga poses. Ok, I did get some strange looks, as this is not a large park that most people would unwind and practice yoga in, or at least I've never seen as much.

In July of 2012, after connecting with a very generous day care owner who was willing to give it a try, I started teaching my first set of yoga classes.

To this day I cannot tell you who enjoys these classes more, the kids or me.

The classes consist of up to 20 little ones, aged 3 to 5. The laughter, the excitement, the faces that light up. It's all amazing. Having never worked with children before, I was surprised at just how cool it is to experience and be awed by their development. The rather shy child who came out of her shell and now prides herself on her Tree Pose. The sight of 20 little ones all in Criss Cross Applesauce Pose, aka Easy Pose, with eyes closed and hands resting on their knees in Guyan Mudra. Amazeballs! Seriously, these kids, with all their energy, sitting quietly, still, and us silently counting to ten (while we wait for our imaginary pizzas to cook in the oven), just blows me away.

Of course, there is the reality of working with 20 bursting little energies. It's not always easy, and on some days quite a few of them just don't want to do it. They would rather run around, lay down, pinch each other, what have you. They have their days, just like we do. It's all good.

All in all, this venture has proved to be nothing less than pure gold and I am more than grateful for it. What started out as a simple interest that wouldn't quite leave me, has ended up as a solid reality.

And if there is one thing that I've learned and have taken away from this, and it's been said over and over again by many, I know, is just to simply go with your gut. It's true. Follow that little bugger. It's scary, maybe be even a little hairy .... but it knows! It knows!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Why not being good is good

Do you always have to be good? And by good, I'm talking about working on your craft every day, pursuing your dream every day, writing every day (which I would like to do, and strive to do, and will do!).

I don't know? Right now I am in the predicament of being off unemployment benefits and working only part time. Money is tight, dreams are scary and unclear, and all I want to do today is just go see a movie, damnit! Ideally, I should sit my butt down and call more child care centers for more yoga gigs. I should be pounding the pavement on the Web to find more part time work. Of course, there is this apartment that needs cleaning, too.

To ward off any depression, which is creeping in more than I would like to admit, I have been counting miracles. At least one miracle is to be found each day. It's actually easier than I thought, and will expand on this another time. My miracle today is Culture. And it is to be found in a movie theatre.

So I guess this day isn't so lost ....so un-good. Seeing a movie is in keeping with my miracle a day, which could lead to more dreams, which could only offer me more of a full tank to hone my talents. At least this is what I'm telling myself.