As a teacher who really cares about their students progress and wants them to benefit and love yoga I'm very sensitive to all of the variations that arise. The longer I teach the more I realize that in a class of 20 students there are 20 distinct experiences going on and each student is entitled to their own. I am just a guide and the students are teaching themselves.

If yoga feels stressful to you there might be a good reason. Are you always rushing around and doing too much? Then expecting to come to yoga and instantly relax into your yoga personality?  What are your expectations? Try attending class with an open mind knowing that you might not love every moment of it and that's ok. You might feel weak or strong, happy or sad, steady or shaky.  Yoga is emotional, physical and mental. It takes practice to blend those elements to find the center. Practice shedding the right way or wrong way thinking. Focus more on whatever is occurring moment by moment with acceptance, and it might be a more holistic experience. When you sit down on your mat create a mantra that fits you. Keep it real to your nature and have fun with it. An example might be: "Right now I'm here practicing yoga and I can suspend all forms of judgement." 

Peace,

Yoga Jane

Wild things found in nature are enjoyed in this way, and sometimes in an instant.  Spend some time attuned to the natural world in a non-doing manner. Be quiet and hold space for whatever arises.

What may happen during yoga practice? Attend to what is happening moment by moment to witness and learn something new. How do I enter, what is my attitude, how do I place my attention on my intention?  When you bring your usual suspects in, you might miss the transformational qualities yoga offers. As a teacher I notice how challenging it is for students to "enter the yoga zone" from their busy lives. Often seeing other yogis in class is a social time and a time to connect. Talking too much before class can be the norm.

It's important to connect to self during yoga as much as possible. Try entering class and sitting quietly on your mat for awhile. Get your head into it. Practice breathing and prepare. During more challenging classes you will be grateful for the centering time before class. We are sensitive creatures and turning a switch on and off is not easy.

Of course there is always a risk of disappointment with what happens, but if we decide in advance what must happen, there is a risk for even greater disappointment, and worse yet, we will be unlikely to discover anything new.

 Before we flow through a sequence of asana on the lightness of our breath, our bodies can do things that grab our attention. Sometimes it's a tight area that calls out, sometimes we notice a degree of discomfort. Many times tightness is in our mind.  Everyone has their own filters by which they see, but seeing is not only done through the eyes. We see with our hearts,  souls and bodies.

I swear by the healing qualities of yoga, but discomfort should not be allowed to dominate our attention. Our minds are glittering with messages, but what is the intention during yoga practice as it relates to life?  I find it fun to be bold and open-hearted during yoga and wonder if I can be bold and open-hearted as I move through my day. I like to ignore images of mind, the little reminders of what I "should be doing." Noticing how we shut down, and let our fears control our practice is an important teaching of yoga.

During practice, we don't have to keep our eyes on outcome as much as experience, and hopefully not the clock either. Yoga can be approached like a musician approaches their instrument; learn the positions, practice the positions, and then just play! For starters, I suggest that we set our gaze, and become something of a work of art.

As I stepped on to the lake ice I remembered stepping onto a sandy beach several months before. This seemed to reframe the annual event known as winter into a mere change of scenery at this familiar Minnesota lakeside. I see how we disconnect from the daily inventory that is constantly changing around us, and become riveted back to present moment by our breathing. The joy we find in our own being, is the most meaningful. The beauty of it is that there is no mistaking it, you don't have to decide if deep inhalation and measured rhythmic exhale was empowering, calming, or satisfying to know that it is a measure of your vitality.

That is what many long-time students say again and again about the connection to yoga and breathing. That yoga magnifies the joy found inside, and diminishes the emphasis on conditions outside. The transformative benefits of yoga are inside of us, it becomes obvious with consistent practice.  The action to return to the yoga mat becomes familiar, much like a calling for fresh air or stretching your legs on a walk. There are many reasons to stay connected to our practice, to approach the practice as we are in this exact moment. 

Yoga practice can become the teacher- then Jane is not the only teacher! (but I would miss you in class!) I hope to see comments from long-time students. Please share your insights on yoga transformation. And do come to class soon.

Peace,

Yoga Jane

Let winter be a time where it's ok to go within and explore different areas of your being. Instead of resisting try to go with the flow. It's ok to take a couple months and move in another direction.

Thich Nhat Hahn says that, "Resting, Calming and Slowing are prerequisites for healing." Let your inward reflection be part of your yoga and meditation practice. Feel the difference between the buzzing of spring and summer, and the cooler qualities of the winter season as you move through your practice. Feel yourself as curious and open. Enjoy.

Peace,

Yoga Jane 

For our selves, we are whole. We are not split up into categories like our days and weeks are. We are not like the seasons, we are like the whole year, and all of time.  When we approach yoga or meditation, we may think that one hour or one pose was our best. We may think we succeeded at yoga, or we may know that we were distracted during our practice. What we can know is that to practice yoga or meditation is always our best. Remember, we are whole. Think of this practice as a fresh green salad with healthy dressing. Each time we eat it, it is good for us. Even if it is boring, or too big or small. It is good.



One morning so close, one day so close, one moment so close.

Being human is a permeable moment in constant motion.

A primal urging followed by an accelerated attempt to sort

through its repertoire.

Luminous is the heart saluting each encounter and elephant memory deep in our souls.

Yoga Jane

Recently I was challenged while teaching yoga and learned how to make peace in a new way. One of my students made it very obvious that he did not like being in a yoga class, and he was there only because his wife encouraged him and he wanted to see the "series" through. The rest of the class was aware of this, which made the situation more awkward.

The energy around this situation was palpable. Like being trapped in a space with no room to breathe. I tried to empathize, encourage and talk to him so that I could help,  but none of those methods worked. In the end, he ended the series and we never spoke of it. It made me sad. I felt like it was odd that we couldn't even have a dialogue.

After a few days I realized that there was something he needed to happen in that class, that didn't happen. It was likely out of my control. It brought up questions about my teaching style and ability to deal with a difficult class situation. I got feedback from a couple of friends who teach yoga which was helpful and kind. 

Then I had a watershed moment. I realized that I am not the "doer." I could make peace with this story and not hang on to it. More importantly I realized that making peace with this situation allowed me to see how making peace in all situations can work and affect my own inner peace. I started noticing other areas in my life where I could stop hanging on. It was really liberating. I could breathe again.

Peace,

Yoga Jane

For us to be completely happy we have to learn how to fully let go of the things we intuitively know are holding us back, keeping us down or not allowing us to be open to the present. With a strong intention we let go of our pasts, and the memories that bring us down. We have to practice each day. Too much sentimental ruminating keeps us stuck in the past and not able to walk into something new.

If we learn to honor all of our memories and say, "that experience or part of my life was good because good things happened, or that experience didn't work out yet still taught me great things and made me a stronger more caring person, "  we can smile and take comfort in a more holistic way. Instead of saying, this was bad and that was good and therefore the bad must not be acknowledged. But really both need to be acknowledged because that is where the heart of the matter lies.

In the language of yoga the metaphor is the lotus. The lotus grows in the muddy mirky waters and then rises up exalted above the water to become something beautiful and radiant. Take time each day to honor all aspects of your life. Know that to be fully human and awake we don't have to hold on in order to protect.