I’m deep in the process of meeting yogis for tea and talking about our 2014 Yoga Teacher Training or what I call “OM School.” (Get it? it’s like h”om”e school….). I’m very excited about this upcoming year because our program has experienced dynamic change based on feedback and experience of the past two years and this year is going to be better than ever.
- First and foremost, I’ve designed this program to specifically target non-traditional yoga teachers. That means most students will have jobs and families and appreciate meeting on Tuesday nights and not have to spend an entire weekend once a month at the studio and away from life. I’m going to love Tuesdays because it means that I have constant contact with the students. As they shift and heal and create new healthy lifestyles, they won’t be able to fall off their path every three weeks. I also intend for this to be a spiritual group coming together to heal self and each other. The once a week contact will facilitate this.
- Second, we have a new team of teachers this year. I’ve pulled the best of the best at what they do and oddly, this Pisces has almost an entire team of Pisces and Virgos teachers. In the astrology wheel, these are the servers to humanity. Each teacher comes with magical gifts and a passion for helping others. Students will love studying themselves through the lens of astrology. It’s the perfect way to understand why you do what you do and why you show up the way you show up.
- We are going to learn all about Ayurveda. I want my students out there in the world sharing this mother of all healing helping others to eat better, sleep better, and quite honestly, poop better! Managing the master Agni or Fire is the focus along with cleansing.
As I meet with potential students, I am frequently asked by them how being a yoga teacher has changed my life. I guess the obvious is my company, Elemental OM, and the fact that I do what I love for a living. The not so obvious is how yoga, ayurveda, and meditation keep me on my path. I’m a bit of an extremist moving from black to white, high to low, up to down, and struggling to find the middle ground. We teach to learn and I’m no exception. These past 10 years of yoga have allowed me to heal and to continue to heal from this life of extremism.
I no longer feel a need to be perfect, although I’m still triggered in this way in relationships. I no longer feel the addictive need to drink alcohol, although I still monitor my thoughts, cravings, and triggers. I no longer say mean things to myself, although I still push myself very hard to excel in all ways. I no longer feel alone, although sometimes I still get lonely.
Mostly, yoga has given me a sense of myself and a sense of peace. I feel purposeful and finally am relaxing into my role as helper and server to others. I love through yoga there is never a dull moment in my life. I walk on the razor’s edge and pray each day for more uncertainty than the day before. I welcome what is to come and have slowly loosened my attachment to what that looks like.
There are still ups and downs. I still get mad sometimes. I still make a lot of mistakes. I’m still confused about a lot of things. I’m still human and working on it. With yoga I have the tools I need to navigate this complex world. With Ayurveda, I have the tools to stay healthy, vibrant, and young. With meditation, I have the means by which to commune with Spirit.
So, yoga has quite simply become me and I have become yoga. It’s a wonderful way to live
Our open house is Saturday, January 18th at 1 pm in the Montgomery Studio. Come check it out or just call me if you want to have tea and learn more. We begin in March. 513.315.5042
*The sole purpose of these articles is to provide information about the tradition of ayurveda, yoga, and meditation. This information is not intended for use in the diagnosis, treatment, cure or prevention of any disease. If you have any serious acute or chronic health concern, please consult a trained health professional who can fully assess your needs and address them effectively. Check with your doctor before taking herbs or using essential oils when pregnant or nursing.