January 8, 2025 • 62 mins
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How do you navigate feedback that feels more like a personal attack than helpful guidance? In this candid and thought-provoking episode, I’m joined by Deirdre "Dee" Doyno, a yoga teacher living off-grid life in Panama, as we explore the realities of navigating criticism while staying true to our teaching styles. Together, we dive into the delicate balance of authenticity and growth, honoring yoga’s rich traditions while adapting to modern trends.
We’ll discuss the complexities within the yoga community, from the diversity of teaching styles to competitive dynamics among teachers. Discover how props, once resisted, have become invaluable in making yoga accessible, and reflect on the impact of evolving trends like shorter class durations and innovative practices such as laughter and shake meditations.
This conversation shines a light on fostering inclusivity, building a culture of openness, and embracing yoga’s deeper philosophical roots beyond physical postures. Whether you’re a teacher or a student, this episode will inspire you to connect the ancient with the contemporary, advocate for authenticity, and cultivate continuous growth within yourself and your community.
Highlights:
Navigating criticism as a yoga teacher
Honoring yoga’s traditions while embracing innovation
The role of props and accessibility in modern yoga
Balancing personal teaching styles with student growth
Building inclusivity and dialogue within the yoga community
Exploring yoga as a holistic practice beyond asana
Have thoughts or a different perspective? We’d love to hear from you—reach out and join the conversation!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Nearly Enlightened podcast.
This is season four people, canwe believe it?
This is a high vibe toolboxdesigned to help you connect
with your body, mind and spirit.
I am your host, gianna Girusso.
I'm here to guide you on ajourney of self-discovery,
healing and growth.
Each episode is packed withinspiring conversations,
practical tools and soulfulinsights to help empower you to
(00:25):
find the answers that alreadyexist within.
Whether you're diving intomeditation, exploring spiritual
practices or navigating life'sups and downs, this is your
space to get curious, staygrounded and feel deeply
supported.
Let's dive in and get nearlyenlightened together.
I am here and joined with mygood friend Dee Dee.
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Hello, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
If you want to know a little bit more about Dee,
she's been on multiple podcastsliterally since 2022, like since
pretty much the beginning.
So if you're curious about Deeand what she does, she's also a
yoga teacher.
She is in Panama on an off-gridfarm.
She is in Panama on an off-gridfarm.
(01:07):
I mean, you can talk more aboutit.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Let me not butcher it , no, no, no, I don't know what
you want me to say here.
Yeah, just kind of diving intoa bunch of different things,
living how I feel like I'vealways envisioned that I was
gonna live, and you know, itdefinitely comes with its
hardships, um, but it's alsobeautiful, um.
(01:32):
So, yeah, we're kind of in thethick of it right now.
You know we're, I think we'regoing into our summer season,
but, um, we've had a little bitof challenges because of the
rain and we have solar panels.
So it's been.
We always get really happy whensummer comes around because you
(01:54):
know we, we have full power andif I want to watch TV at night,
I can watch TV at night, or youknow that kind of stuff.
So it's very, it's definitely adifferent way to live, but it's
, it's empowering, oh yes, Ilove that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Eventually, I'm going to get down and visit.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Oh you're, you're coming yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So there's something very specific that I want to
talk about today, so let me justgive our listeners like a
little bit of background.
So, as you know, I'm a yogateacher, I teach a lot of in
person classes here in RhodeIsland and I like a little bit
of background.
So, as you know, I'm a yogateacher, I teach a lot of
in-person classes here in RhodeIsland and I took a little bit
of a hiatus where, back from awinter break, I really needed
just like a reset.
(02:35):
So I was away for a little overtwo weeks and, like I was just
about to come back to start myroutine and to get back into
teaching a little bit of a newschedule.
So my classes have like shiftedhere or there and I get a
message from one of the studioowners and you know what?
(02:58):
So that I'm fully factual, I'mjust going to we come with
receipts, receipts, receipts.
Factual, I'm just gonna.
We come with receipts, receipts, receipts.
So she's gonna read the messageright from right from her phone
where it came from.
Maybe this is petty of me, Idon't really know.
Um, let me see where did it go.
(03:23):
Okay, it reads hi, I receivedsome feedback from a few
regulars that I wanted to share.
They aren't loving the lengthyflow on your own aspect of
classes.
I like to share any and allfeedback.
Hope you had a lovely holiday.
Now let me tell you some humanego stuff came up and I realized
(03:49):
that it was human ego.
But I also think it's prettynuanced, because it wasn't
really feedback.
Because feedback is like, oh,your cadence is a little bit
fast, like why don't you slow itdown so people can flow with
you better?
I don't know that's feedback,constructive criticism, problem
(04:13):
solution.
To me, this was, or it felt like, and this is what I'm sitting
with right now.
Yeah, it felt like an attack ofmy personal style of teaching.
Yeah, and had I been a new yogateacher, this would have really
, I mean, it did throw me.
(04:33):
So I guess it still threw me.
I think I would have wanted tomake a change more to like
people please.
But since I'm coming on my 10thyear of teaching nine and a
half years I've been teaching itreally just felt like a
personal attack.
One because she has been to myclasses before and I have taught
(04:57):
exactly the same for the lastyear, um, and two because so
this is where I want to get inwith two with you, because
you've also been practicing fora long time.
You've been teaching for a longtime, so I feel like you get it
we love to talk about theshadows yeah, yoga is not about
(05:19):
what you like and what you don'tlike.
Like yoga is not a fitness class.
Yoga is not a democracy.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You're practicing it right now, just dissecting all
of this.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, and this is what I've been doing.
And it's funny because myboyfriend was like you went off
the handle, you shouldn't haveacted like that.
Because, yeah, I like flew offthe handle.
I was kind of like fuck this,fuck this.
Because from my perspective, mypoint point of view, what
should have happened?
The student should have beeninvited to get curious.
(05:51):
Okay, why don't you likeflowing on your own?
I, I teach a lengthy flow, likeI'm not understanding.
I teach a sun a, a sun b and asun c.
They're different.
Every time I walk, walkeveryone through slow, multiple
breaths per movement.
We move so slow for a powerclass.
(06:11):
I walk everyone through eachand every pose very slowly,
multiple breaths Second timethrough.
We flow with the breath.
It's a little bit quicker, butwe set that base foundation.
You know where we're going.
It's not little bit quicker,but we set that base foundation.
You know where we're going.
It's not unfamiliar now, ifyou're paying attention, if
you're present, if you are inthe moment, if your brain is in
class and not elsewhere, whereyou know, like you know if it is
(06:35):
, that's fine too.
That's, that's the practice.
It's like staying present.
So then we walk throughmultiple breaths per movement
and then, yeah, I have studentsflow on their own.
The first time you do it, is ituncomfortable?
Yes, the first time I did itdid I fucking hate it?
Yeah, I fucking hated it, but Iallowed it to break me out of
my comfort zone and now it'ssomething that my body craves
(06:59):
Like.
I don't want my teacher standingup there talking for an hour
hour and 15, hour and a halflike allow a moment of quiet,
allow a moment for students tobe with themselves.
So yeah, I took this as apersonal attack and still I am
like I mean, you can probablyhear it, this is probably the
most fired up I've ever been onthis.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
You're fired up, girl let it out.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
But I was just really disappointed because and this
is where I have a really bigissue with the yoga community at
large is it becomes verypolitical, it becomes very my
class is better than this classand this teacher has more
experience than this teacher,and yeah, it just it.
It just sends me over the edge,because the practice of yoga is
(07:46):
over 5,000 years old, right, soit's been for most of history.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
It's been passed down verbally from generation to
generation, from teacher tostudent, student to teacher, and
every teacher has put their ownspin on it own flavor, their
own genesis, if you will okay,yes, bring it, give it the
(08:12):
lineage would have never beenpassed down, it would have never
survived 5 000 years if wedidn't have this way of honor
and honor the origin, yes, whichis like you're just saying,
like I feel like and this iswhere West has adopted, where we
are right, as it's been passeddown and passed down.
(08:50):
And for me, as a white yogateacher, one of the very things
that I always check myself aboutis like, when I walk into my
class, I do it with intention tohonor the origins of the
practice.
And when you, when I hear youtalking, like my mind is going
(09:10):
directly and I think you saidsomething touched upon this when
you started, when you startedthe fire, we were like get
curious about why you can't sitin silence.
Our culture right now is souncomfortable with sitting with
themselves in silence.
And one of the limbs of yogaokay, because it's this eight
(09:31):
limb practice is self-study.
So you are incorporating thatinto the practice which most
people in the West generally I'mnot putting everybody into this
category, but most people go inthinking and doing it just for
the asana, which is just onepractice.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yes, and especially in a power yoga class, which is,
I have to say, it's power yoga,power vinyasa is a majority of
what I teach.
So, yes, a lot of people arecoming for the physical practice
.
They're coming for a good sweat, they're coming for a workout,
but guess what, which is fine,right, but sweat, they're coming
for a workout, but guess what,which is fine, right, but that's
not why we're here and that isnot why I'm here, and that is
(10:10):
not.
The practice goes far beyondthat and that's why I thought it
was a really big opportunityfor the teacher that it was
presented to, for it to be ateaching opportunity for both.
Yes, and so you know what?
Gianna's not here.
Yes, and say you know what?
Gianna's not here.
I can't speak to why sheteaches the way she does, but
I'm sure she has a why as to whyshe teaches the way she teaches
(10:31):
.
So why don't you have thisconversation with her?
Yeah, why don't you have thisconversation with her?
So maybe you can understand.
And you know, I do have a whyof why I make students flow on
their own.
Because, first of all, maybeyou want to add poses, maybe you
want to take poses out, maybeyou want to try something you've
never tried before, maybe youwant to sit in child's pose for
(10:55):
one to three minutes, and Ioffer all of this.
So my why is so that you can dowhat your body needs, which is
why you're here.
It's different than what'shappening on the mat next to you
.
Yes, I love it.
Yes, it's different from what'shappening on the mat next to
you or in front of you, andthose one to three minutes per
(11:18):
flow.
So maybe we're talking 10 totalminutes of a 60 minute class.
Is you flowing on your own?
If you can't handle 10 fuckingminutes of like being in your
own body, just go to the gym,yeah, if that's what you're
looking for.
So, yeah, this fired me up.
(11:38):
This felt like a personalattack and I feel like it is an
opportunity for the yogacommunity at large.
It's like stop letting studentstalk shit about other classes,
other teachers in your class.
So yesterday was my first fullday back back to teaching and at
the studio, and how many of myregular students came up to me
(12:03):
and said, oh my God, don't leaveagain.
Like I hate going to otherpeople's classes.
No one teaches like you do, andthat was my opportunity to shut
them down, because everyteacher offers value.
Every teacher offers a littlegolden nugget of the practice
and and experiencing those otherteachers, experiencing those
(12:24):
other classes, is what advancesthe practice.
So I felt like it was personal,because I thought that that
teacher, that that student wentto it, was an opportunity for
her to shut it down and say, hey, you know what?
I've never been to Gianna'sclass before, so I can't speak
to it, but why don't you havethis conversation with her?
Because she's been teaching fora really long time, so I'm sure
she'll give you good insight asto why she does what she does.
(12:47):
And a lot of times nine timesout of 10, when somebody comes
to me after class, they've neverbeen to one of my classes
before it's their first timeflowing on their own.
There's always somebody who hasa conversation with me after
class and says something aboutit, and usually it's not
negative.
Usually it's just like oh, thatwas kind of uncomfortable and
my like, fabulous, I'm doing myjob.
(13:09):
I did my job Exactly, exactly,because, like, why are you here
If not to get pushed outside ofyour comfort zone?
It's why you go to any fitnessclass.
So if I'm making youuncomfortable, then great, we're
pushing the boundaries of yourcomfort zone.
You're like inviting growth in.
Like I said, it's 10 minutes outof maybe 10 minutes out of a 60
(13:31):
minute class that you'reflowing on your own.
You're having this own innerbody experience, like I, I
really I'm.
I'm like having a hard timedigesting what happened and I,
again, I really think it was anopportunity for that teacher and
student to be like hey, have aconversation with Gianna and
(13:53):
even even the owner, like Idon't think it was handled right
, like, uh, and you know what?
Maybe that's me beingjudgmental and maybe that's me
that maybe that's where thepractice lies for me and where
this is an opportunity for me togrow and to learn is Like I
really think it, instead of itbeing like a business, handled
(14:15):
like the needs of the business,or this regular student doesn't
like the way you teach, so wehave to be nervous that this
student is going to go somewhere.
No, it was an opportunity to say, hey, this is the practice,
this is the practice of yoga.
Get uncomfortable, get curiouslike have this conversation with
the teacher that teaches theclass.
(14:36):
Because, because, yeah, I dohave a good why as to why I make
you flow on your own.
It's designed to make youuncomfortable.
It's designed to make youpractice the actual practice of
yoga, which goes beyond theasana.
So I feel like if the studentwas um invited to have a
conversation with me, theirperspective might change on it
(14:58):
and, and you know, maybe myperspective would change on it
too, because maybe they havelike a little bit more meaty,
substantial feedback for me,because I feel like the feedback
that was brought to me wasn'tactually feedback at all.
It was, like I said, it feltmore like a personal attack.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I think even like aconversation with the owner too
for you to have, for you to havewith her and say, say like, hey
, if this happens again in thefuture, like let's make it a
conversation.
And I would even bring that upto the other.
Like I don't know if you guyshave meetings or whatever.
Like bring that into theconversation all, not like all
(15:45):
have each other's back, but allgrow from something like this.
Like I think this is aconversation that all yoga
teachers should have, Becausealso, the other thing too is, as
a yoga teacher, we are alsoforever students.
Like I'm not gonna be teachingyou, like I know every single
thing, because I don't.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
And again, you know not to go back to this again,
but especially as a white yogateacher, I am making sure that
my continuing education, that Ido, I'm first looking for
Southeast Asian people to learnfrom where this act, where this
(16:26):
yoga culture, actuallyoriginates from right, and I
think that is, and this is abigger topic.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
I think that's why the practice has started to get
watered down into a fitnessmodality and we've lost the
other seven limbs of yoga and Iwill say, like I in my classes
that I teach.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I do a lot of one on ones right now.
Even in my one on ones.
I will invite the student toflow on their own, like I.
That's something I also doregularly in my classes, because
you don't know what their bodyis saying and, like you were,
were just saying, like getcurious about what this is
bringing up for you.
I literally say those words inmy class, you know.
(17:13):
So I, I mean I can completelyunderstand why it fired you up,
because it is a big, it's aconversation for the yoga
community.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, and it's funny because I talked to like
obviously I went to all my yogateacher friends and it's funny
because I I talked to, likeobviously I went to all my yoga
teacher friends and I was, likeyou know, fired up and more of
them actually disagreed with meand they were like, oh, this is
your ego, like check your egoand this is about you.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
and and like, yeah, it it is it is yeah what you're,
but you're exploring it, you'reexploring it and I'm exploring
it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
But also I feel like not everything is black and
white and and there is, there isa nuance here.
So, again, like if I think Iwould have been more receptive
to it if it was constructive andit was like hey, this, you know
, like your voice, mean thiswould never be me.
(18:06):
But you know, like maybe if thefeedback was more like oh well,
I can't really hear you in theback of the room, like your
music is too loud, maybe you canlike soften the music and
project your voice more, like tome that's constructive
criticism.
Like yeah, I just felt likethere was nothing constructive
about this.
(18:27):
It was like a direct attack onmy style of teaching and it's
like take it or leave it.
If, like, you're gonna tell meto take it or leave it, like why
the fuck are you even bringingit to me?
Like I don't know whole thing,just like it's a lot and I'm
still exploring it and I knowthis is an opportunity for me to
go deeper into me.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I was gonna you have to figure out why it's
triggering you.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Not figure it out, but explore.
Yeah, it's actually making youget this fired up, like, and
even even like I had someonerecently bring something up to
me that was based on feedback tolike, kind of like, where
you're saying very differenttopic in person, but it's like
is there anything in thatcomment?
That's true, that's why it'sriling you up, or is it like you
(19:10):
know, and just sit with thatfor a second and like, allow
yourself to feel that and if itmakes you angry, it makes you
angry, but it makes you sad.
It makes you sad, like,whatever, you just explore it
yourself and use it as anopportunity to grow, and I think
that that's what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, and I think, like this time of year is
interesting, right, because wehave a lot of new people coming
into our yoga classes thatwouldn't normally be into our
yoga classes.
So a lot of my regulars,because a bulk of who I teach
they're regulars.
They come multiple times a weekand I see them very regularly.
(19:49):
Um, so they know why I do whatI do and chances are, when they
first stepped into my class, youknow I started teaching back in
Rhode Island about a year and acouple months ago.
Um, so most of them have beenwith me for over a year now, so
they know the why of why I dowhat I do.
And they also, the first timethey came, they were
uncomfortable too.
(20:10):
So I get that it's, I get thatit's not comfortable.
I literally was there, I, I'vebeen a student, I've.
I get it, yeah.
And with that said, like thewhole thing, I don't know it,
just it feels so weird.
So I would never let somebodystruggle in my class or like
fall behind or be likecompletely lost.
(20:31):
So, yeah, just like me, like myteaching style is very
nurturing.
I'm very nurturing by nature.
Um, so if somebody's in myclass and I can tell that, you
know like I'm watchingeverything, all the time, aware
of the energy going on right.
So like if I see somebody reallystruggling, I go right up to
them, I go right next to theirmat.
(20:53):
I'm like come on, let's do thistogether, let's work through
this like you got this.
And yeah, so more people likeit than not.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
And and that's okay.
I don't think there's one yogateacher for everybody, and I
don't know and everybody goes tothe same teacher.
I think that you know I dealwith that too, and I've actually
recently dealt with somethingsimilar and it's like that's
fine.
I don't want to be everybody'syoga teacher either.
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
I'm not everybody's cup of tea, and vice versa, you
know, and I think that that'sfine and so the other thing that
I tell people so when peoplecome to my class for the first
time and they're just doing yogafor the first time ever, I say
don't let this first experiencebe how you determine if you like
yoga or not.
(21:41):
Try three teachers, try theirclass three times each.
Yeah, that's the other thingthat I would invite this student
to do.
Like I really wish that I wasable to have a conversation with
this student, because I I wouldinvite them to come back two
more times, right, yeah, becauseI think when you allow yourself
(22:02):
to, first of all, theunfamiliar is always going to be
scary.
It's always going to be likeour brain and our body is always
going to be resistant to what'snew, what's unknown.
So I think when we giveourselves the opportunity and
for anyone listening who's nevertried yoga before and they are
curious and they might want tostart a practice and you know
this time of year is a greattime of year to to start doing
(22:26):
that I would give them the sameadvice yes, try a class try it
three times.
Try different teachers, trydifferent studios styles.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Yeah, try different studios, try different styles.
Go to a beginner class, too,like that's what they're geared
for, and that's one thing that II think I was telling you
yesterday.
Like, I think that it's alsolike, as someone who is
beginning yoga, I think it'simportant to go to those
viennese classes.
Yeah, you can't just throwyourself into an advanced
vinyasa flow and expect to besuccessful.
(22:58):
Exactly, and I also think that,as a teacher, I think it's
almost like a teacher and astudent.
I think it's almost I don'twant to say disrespectful to the
teacher, but it's like ifyou're like, just as someone
going in learning yoga, reallypay attention to the styles and
like the levels, right, becauseif I'm going to be teaching an
(23:21):
advanced vinyasa flow, I'm doinga disservice to the people who
are actually coming to receivethat.
If you're a beginner, and Ihave to cater to you because,
like you were saying, you're avery nurturing person and I want
everyone to feel welcome in myclasses, and this is something
that recently, this past year,came up for me, so I don't know
if you've ever dealt with thisbefore.
I got really comfortableteaching an all-level class for
(23:42):
a few years down here all levelclass from beginner who's never
done yoga before to advanced inmy class, Like that's what I was
teaching, and I started tonotice that the people who were
advanced were getting like Idon't want to say bored and like
I want to be able.
Not, it's not a people pleasingthing, but it's like I want to
have a specific class for youthat you can come and we can
(24:02):
flow, and I also want to have aspecific class for the beginner
that's going to come and learn,like we were just talking about,
what is yoga?
Where does this practice comefrom, etc.
Etc.
Get curious, be uncomfortable,you know, whereas the people who
are advanced are kind ofalready have that in their
mindset and it's, it's like ait's.
It's a nice, well oiled machinethat's happening.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
It's like a it's it's a nice, well-oiled machine
that's happening.
And going back to the limbs ofyoga, traditionally, asana is
the third limb of yoga, so mostpeople are coming into a yoga
class not even knowing what thefirst two limbs of yoga are.
And if you're coming to avinyasa class, chances are they
are not talking about the yamasand the niyamas.
(24:45):
And if you've looked at theblog, this is something that I'm
diving into, a topic that I'mdiving into going through all
seven, all eight sorry, excuseme, all eight of the limbs of
yoga, because people who arepracticing, they typically only
know asana.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
people who are practicing they typically only
know asana pranayama and that'spretty much where it ends.
Yes, so I agree with you, yeah,yeah, I'm excited that you're
doing that, because I think it'sreally important again for the
community as a whole.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Yeah, and not just students but teachers too.
Teachers too.
It's time, especially here inthe West.
It is time to honor the ancientpractice of yoga as it was
intended to be practiced, and Ithink we have, as a whole here
in the West, we have lost sightof that because, yeah, like
(25:39):
there's whitewashing, like youknow you said it to me yesterday
and I'll just a lot of my, myteaching I didn't learn from
anyone from India.
I didn't go to India and study,um, I didn't really study with
anyone here that is of Indiandescent and for the most part,
(26:01):
like you said, it's been, youknow, blonde, blue-eyed, white
women and that's it's been.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
You know, blonde, blue eyed, white women, and
that's why it's important, as ateacher, though, to feel
empowered and to get curiousyourself and do that not only
self study, like for youyourself, but also to explore
more.
Okay, what am I actually doing?
Where is this coming from?
How can I bring this into mypractice, to teach and to share
it with others?
Because I think that's whatmakes you a good teacher when
(26:27):
you feel empowered to understandthe words that are coming
through your mouth and thethings that you were practicing
and the way that you werewalking through your life.
That, to me, is what's going tomake you a good teacher and
make you stand out amongsteverybody else, because that's
you know.
Like you were saying, if youwant to exercise that's very
specific then go to the gym andget a personal trainer.
That's fine, and that's fine,and that's fine.
(26:53):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Yes, I certainly do.
I certainly do, Because where Ithink now and this is going to
get into kind of a controversialtopic, but I'm going to throw
it out there I think we'retowing a fine line between
honoring the traditionalpractice of yoga and just
cultural appropriation, and Iknow that's a word that gets A
hundred percent, that's a phrasethat gets thrown around a lot
(27:18):
lately as kind of like an insultor like a jab, but seeing,
observing what I'm observing inthe yoga world here in the West,
we're just teaching fitness.
Yep, we're just teaching fitness.
So if you're a yoga teacher andyou're on, you're listening to
this podcast like this is aninvitation for me, for you, for
(27:42):
anyone else listening, to go alittle bit deeper.
Let's talk about where thispractice originated from and you
know I talk about this a lot inmy classes too, because for the
most part, a majority of whocomes to my classes it's women.
But we need to understand thatthe traditional cuing of yoga
Now I'm talking about thephysical practice, asana the
traditional asana practice ofyoga was created for 12 year old
(28:06):
boys 5 000 years ago.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
So like I'm just gonna say, yeah, it's very
interesting and it's importantto know that.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
That is where we're coming from and you know most
yoga teachers not most yogateachers now, but a good, this
is a woman-dominated space.
I'll say it's afemale-dominated space in the
west.
Yeah, and you know how do we?
Speaker 2 (28:31):
how do we honor these , these ancient traditions that
have lasted 5 000 years withoutone thing I will say is that we
need to stop doing the beer yogaand then this, and then then
that's like.
That's what I was going to say,was my ick.
That came up for me is like Ilove this.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yes, let's talk about this.
So this has been.
I've been wanting to talk aboutthe icks of the yoga world here
in the West for a long time now.
And you're hitting one of my,my big ones, and I actually
taught yoga at a.
Hitting one of my, my big ones.
(29:08):
And I actually taught yoga at a, at a vineyard, at a winery,
and I was doing that for quite a, quite a bit and then naturally
it kind of fell away and I waslike I'm so glad it did because,
yeah, alcohol doesn't belong inthe yoga space it's just so
weird to me and I never did,it's just a way to get people in
the door, which, like I, get it.
It's a way to plant the seed,but like also, as we're planting
(29:28):
the good seed, we're alsoplanting the seed of bad habit.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Yeah, it's not just oh, whenever I get it like a
business.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Ok, I understand, but if you it's so nuanced, it's so
messy there's, it's not blackand white, it's not right or
wrong.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I mean, if you're going to your, your booze and
your yoga classes, like maybe,explore that a little bit yeah,
yeah, that's one thing that camethat comes up for me whenever I
see that, because it's justalmost like an oxymoron to me.
I don't know, it just feels,feels a little something doesn't
feel right.
Yeah, something don't feelright that's an egg for me.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
So for me, one of my big icks again and it goes back
to like the teacher holding thisspace and I see this a lot here
and it just like I get like avisceral reaction from it.
But I fucking hate whenteachers are taking pictures and
(30:34):
videos of their students inShavas say, yes, it's fine, then
that's one thing, but most ofthese teachers are not asking
(30:55):
permission and they're justthrowing them up on social media
and that just is a huge ick forme because it's such a
vulnerable space and, um, it's aagain.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It's good.
Coming back to what we werejust saying, I don't really
think that has anything to dowith the original practice.
That's not honoring, you know.
It's like.
The worst is when it's like aselfie with the students in the
back.
Yeah, oh yeah, I've seen thatbefore.
I'm like oh sweet, jesus,that's.
(31:28):
I understand the visceralreaction when I see that.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
I'm like yeah, just I don't know.
There's some things that I justit's questionable where we're
headed in the yoga world here inthe West and it's interesting I
think I talked about it lastseason a little bit, but when I
first started practicing yoga,you could not find a class that
was less than 90 minutes itdidn't exist and now we have
(31:54):
like 45, 50 minute classes.
Like we have watered thepractice down to like I don't
know, maybe it's to make itdigestible to the everyday
person who's just like comingfor a good workout.
I don't really know.
I don't really know like wherewe've taken the turn, but like I
(32:14):
started my practice 13, 14years ago and I've slowly seen
it pull back, pull back, pullback.
And to see 45 minute classes onschedule like, yeah, that's
great for spin, that's great foryour cardio, whatever hit class
(32:34):
, but for yoga class, 45 minutesis not enough.
It's not enough.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
That's so interesting to me.
I didn't know that that washappening.
Oh yeah, how long?
How long do you do, savasana?
For I feel like I'm a solideight minute lady, like I'm
going to talk a little bit, butthen I'm like we're going silent
.
I'm going to turn the music up,I'm going to let you go in it's
funny.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
My students would leave.
Really, they would leave Withwhere we are here in this yoga
space.
My students would leave.
I mean, I already have studentsthat leave before shavasana
because, god forbid, we takethree minutes to like breathe.
Oh yeah, you know what I taughtmy first 70?
(33:20):
I was covering a yin class lastnight and that was a 75 minute
class and it just felt so good,it felt like not rushed and got
to do a long, juicy shavasana.
Um, I love a yin class yeah, andpeople who are coming to yin,
like they typically get it,they're coming for the oh yeah,
(33:41):
they're coming for the longjuicy flow and you know, this is
what I tell my my power yogaclasses too.
Do it.
Everyone who in power yogaclasses, they think that they
are the advanced students, thepinnacle of the practice, and
those people, even if they'vebeen practicing power yoga for
20 years, they are the babybeginners, because the real
(34:03):
practice is in the stillness andpeople who are like the um,
like the ones that are addictedto the power flow of it all,
Like they don't have the abilityto do that.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I would invite anyone that loves power yoga or like
love spin class to go to a yinclass.
Like I think it's almost likenecessary, yeah, go take a yin
class.
I agree, it's almost likenecessary, yeah, go take a yin
class.
I agree and like what.
I just want to back up reallyquick and be sensitive to
something, because I know thatthere are some people who
actually and I think we've, Idon't, I think it was you and I
(34:39):
actually touched upon this in apast episode where, like
sometimes people with PTSDactually like get very
uncomfortable in Savasana.
I get that like.
I do want to be sensitive tothat before we move on, because
that's an, that's like I I doreally understand that I've
actually had students like thatbefore and I like I honor and
respect that um, but anyways, soyeah, I think I think there's a
(35:03):
balance and that, too, is likewhat the practice is all about,
um, and I think, like going offof what you were just saying,
like the people or the studentsdoing a lot of vinyasa and stuff
like this when I first started,that's I think what really I
was trained in vinyasa.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, same.
I mean, it's what draws you,it's what initially draws you
into the practice.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Yeah, and I will say, like I was, that I was that
student who was like fuck props,like that's for like losers or
whatever you know.
And then I'm.
Now you are going to use atleast one prop in every single
class that you take with me.
(35:45):
I am the prop queen, I love aprop.
That's funny, see, I still likeI not that you take with me.
I am the prop queen I love aprop.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
That's funny, see.
I still like I, not that Istruggle with it, but love a
prop it depends.
It really depends in my powerclasses like I'll invite people
to use blocks when they need.
Obviously, um, it's a style too.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
It depends on the style, and also like I love.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
I love to talk about how props came to be in the yoga
world.
So let's talk about it.
Bks iangar um, one of you knowwe'll call him like a father of
yoga.
Um, he got kicked out of everyyoga class that there ever was.
He had like tight hamstringsand this is like a little 12
year old boy.
He came from a long line ofyogis um, who were like I think
(36:34):
his dad and his grandfather wereboth gurus, like comes from a
long line of of um advancedyogis, if you will.
And here little bks iyengarcomes.
He like isn't flexible.
He's, you know, whatever can'tdo yoga.
He gets like kicked out of allthese yoga classes and he was
(36:56):
like frustrated and obviouslylike wanted to live up to his,
his family lineage or his familylegacy, and so he started using
cinder blocks and cinder blocksbecame the first yoga props.
Like that's how we have block,foam blocks or cork blocks in
(37:17):
our classes now it's likebecause it makes it accessible
to people who can't otherwiseget get there.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Quote, unquote get there.
And I think one of my veryfirst students she has MS and I
actually she handed me a book.
That she handed me and got herbook and was like when can we
start?
And I, I read that book.
I had that book for years and Istudied it and I read with it.
I used his practices with herand it allowed her to improve
(37:46):
her scoliosis and you know allthese different things and I
think that for people who needit, I think it's so important
and apparently I'm one of thosepeople that needs it because I
love it yeah, and like you know,it's it's the ego check and
like I'm trying to do that withthis situation now for myself
and see where that comes up forme.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
But it's like the same thing with people who are
like so against props, props soagainst blocks.
It's like it's an ego thing.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah.
And I think too I mean it'sdefinitely the style, like I
don't know, I mean I teach, yeah, like you were saying, like
vinyasa it's.
You offer it as an option that,like when I'm in a group
setting, I a lot moreone-on-ones right now, so, like
when I do have a group setting,I like to have them as an option
because, again, coming from anall-level, when you're teaching
(38:36):
an all-level class, I think it'salmost important and vital to
have props so that you can givethose options to your students.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, but when you're flowingin a vinyasa it's so much more
flowy Sometimes it's like hardto.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I think in a class I would maybe like I love using
the strap in the beginningsometimes because it kind of
like helps, you know, structurea little bit more in the legs
and the neck.
I use it a lot and then it kindof, and then I just put it
aside and we flow, so it's notlike I'm using it all class.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
When you do your privates.
Is it an hour or is it longer?
Speaker 2 (39:18):
I say it's an hour, but I usually it's usually like
an hour 15 minutes because Ilike it and I don't.
I feel like I use I neverreally use a watch.
I kind of just go and then I'lllike only I need to get one of
those digital clocks.
When I was in the states myteachers would have.
So I'm not like touching myphone, I just like would tap it,
um, but have a clock in frontof me, I like lose track, yeah
the time.
I just like I'm, I'm there withthem and I'm just not.
(39:40):
So it's usually like an hourand 15 minutes yeah, see, that's
so.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's the other thing and that's why I think I I
am taking this personal becauseI teach a lot of group classes
a week and my classes are verycurated.
I'm not one of those likeintuitive flow teachers like
whatever comes up comes up.
It's like no, I think of what Iwant to teach as my peak pose,
(40:04):
and then all of my flow areleading up to part of the body
to, yeah, yep, a hundred percent.
So it's very curated.
I have notes and like I alwaysI don't always go by like what
my, my classes are written down,like I'll see what shows up and
like if we need to switch alittle bit or pivot, like that's
(40:25):
fine.
But for the most part I teachthe same class all week long.
If you come to my power classes, like you're doing the same
thing, like Monday is always alittle bit different because
we're like I'm like working outthe kinks and then like I'll see
, like where the flow needs tobe improved and by Wednesday's
flow classes it's like dialed in, but it's very similar all week
(40:46):
long, like we work on aspecific thing and then you know
whatever.
So I think because my classesare so curated and I take so
much time thinking about, likeall of the anatomical things and
, like you know, that's youreducation.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Like, in my opinion, you're also a massage therapist,
so you know how literally andthis is like the actual
translation of yoga means toyoke, or to unite.
You understand how to do thatat such a deep level, like
ligaments, muscles, all thethings.
So you know, and you've studiedthe asanas, the actual posture.
(41:22):
So you, like you just said, youknow, and I was trained to in
vinyasa like you have your peakpose and that's what you're
doing.
You're building your class toget your students to that peak
pose.
You can't just throw somebodyinto pigeon pose.
I mean, you can, but that's Iwouldn't recommend that.
You know what I mean.
But I think that the way you'redoing it and I think you might
(41:46):
like, the reason, part of thereason why you're fired up about
it is because you care so much.
This is obviously such a bigpassion, if not your passion,
your dharma in life, and that'swhy it's personal.
Yeah, I think it's not.
So it's like.
I think to me that makes sense,like, and I will say like, when
(42:09):
I was practicing in the statesmy, I know you're not supposed
to have favorites, but myfavorite teacher would do
literally the exact same thingthat you're talking about.
It was hot vinyasa um, and itwas in the night.
I used to love doing that in thewintertime.
I do miss that.
Now all I teach is hot yogabecause it's just so bloody hot
(42:33):
here.
It's the only option.
Yeah, there is no other option,unless I'm at a private and
they have air conditioning intheir house and I'm like I need
a sweater.
But I feel like she would dothe exact same thing you're
talking about and I actuallyreally liked that.
There's some people that almostlike need that routine Because
for me, when I first startedgoing to yoga it it it actually
(42:58):
helped me to get into my body bylistening to somebody else tell
me what to do.
If that like I don't know ifthat makes sense, but it was in
in because it was like I,because I knew the routine, I
knew it was coming it.
I felt safe there.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Does that make sense?
Yeah, well, that's what I likeall of my flows.
They almost become like, notalmost they do.
They become a moving meditation.
And that's the point it's toclose your eyes, to go within,
to feel the poses, to be in themoment, to breathe with your
body.
And, yeah, like I, I guess I,if you're so adverse to it, I
(43:39):
don't get it and I I don't knowI think that that student should
have been invited to, to leaninto this a little bit, to, to
go a little bit deeper.
Um, yeah, excuse me, they're,they're like a regular student
at at the studio.
So I think that this was anopportunity for them to advance
(44:00):
their practice, and I'm nottalking about asana yeah, I get
it.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
I totally think that that makes sense yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
So my teaching style will not be changing to people,
please.
So fuck that.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
Yeah, no, I think that it's especially like when
you first shared this with me, Iwas like, if I was that student
and I used to actually do thiswhen I was a student, the very
beginning of my yoga journey Iwould just put myself into
child's pose and either be likecrying or just being transparent
(44:37):
.
Here.
I would either be like in atearful tizzy in the corner or I
would just be in child's poseto like take a deep breath, and
I think I actually really honorstudents that do that, Because
that, to me, is telling me thatthey're honoring their body,
they're listening to their bodyand they're like getting curious
.
Like we've been saying thisthroughout this, this episode is
like getting curious aboutwhat's coming up for them and
(45:00):
what and what's happening.
You know, to me, I guess that'swhat it, what it symbolizes.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Yeah, and like, like you know one of the jokes in in
my class, like if you actuallycome to class and give it a
chance, like one of my jokes isalways like this might be
uncomfortable for you and youmight hate me for this, but
whatever you're throwing at me,it's not about me.
This is that's your journey,that's your shit.
(45:27):
Yeah, and like, honestly, ifthis student came to me like I
would kind of let them know that, like this isn't about me or my
teaching style, this is aboutyou and your unwillingness to go
deeper into the practice.
Like sorry, hard truth, yeah,yeah, and I don't know, you know
(45:48):
, maybe somebody out theredisagrees with me and I, like I
invite a different perspectivein, like I let's have a
conversation let's do it.
Maybe my perspective willchange.
I don't think my teaching styleis going to change.
Like I said, I've beenpracticing for over 13 years.
I've been teaching for overnine.
I still continue my education.
(46:09):
I still study.
So my teaching is ever evolving.
But am I going to stop peoplefrom flowing on their own?
Probably not.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Yeah.
I mean one of the things I lovetoo was like you know, I, I that
same teacher I was just talkingto you about.
Her name was Kim.
I really miss Kim.
And she would say, you know,like we would flow, just like
you were saying she would walkus through, and then, like the
third and fourth time, we werejust she's like all right, let's
(46:40):
go through your vinyasa while Imeet you in warrior two, or
like wearing cat cow, move yourhips If you need to sway side to
side, go back and forth, likesee what comes up for you.
You know, I'm also too like abig if you know me and my
practice, like I also do shakemeditations and some of my yoga
(47:01):
classes to really loosen, loosenpeople up and like if that's
not something that you I don'tthink everybody loves that and
like if that's not somethingthat you, I don't think
everybody loves that no, no, andtypical, like your typical
vinyasa, like power yoga.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
People are so adverse to any kind of like shaking,
bouncing, like it is so funnyyeah it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
It's it's really interesting, and I think that
that that, too, is something tobe curious about.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
But it's, it's hysterical, like think that that
that too is something to becurious about, but it's, it's
hysterical like it is,hysterical like we laugh at,
which I think also is so healing.
Yes, because yoga is not thatfucking serious, right.
Yeah, yeah, exactly, and likehave some fun, lighten the fuck
up yeah, yeah, like it's notit's not that serious, like,
yeah, we're here to sweat, we'rehere to move our body, we're
here to breathe, but we're hereto have a good time.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Yeah, I even did some one of my students who's like
one of my dearest friends.
She was like you need to do alaughing yoga class and I
actually have done a couple andthey're well, I've seen videos
and they look so fun.
They're so fun, especially ifyou have a fun group that you
(48:15):
know will like be receptable toit.
I would totally invite you todo it because it's actually
really fun and it'll bring youeven closer.
And I think, just like, likeyou said, like just have a good
time, loosen up, like laughteris actually so healing for the
body, so healing for the bodyand that's like also to a big
point of what yoga is.
So I think it's like it'sbeautiful when you can invite
(48:38):
like and I don't know if that Idon't want to say like, if
that's I want to say missing themark, but I think you can
invite a little bit of that in.
Speaker 1 (48:47):
Yeah, there's a way to honor the ancient and still,
like, honor what people needright now.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Oh, a hundred percent .
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Yeah, I think that's where lines have gotten blurred
and like I really hope thatconversations like these start
to bring the true essence ofyoga back to the practice here
in the West, like I would reallylike to see that.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
I think, the intention.
I think, yeah, I think everyonethat's teaching needs to just
check their intention and whylike their, why?
Speaker 1 (49:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
I think that that's too like, why am I doing this?
And like, even for myself, whenI'm teaching like I won't, if I
feel like my energy is off andI'm teaching like I won't do
assist, I won't even touch you,because I don't want.
I really want to honor you andyour energy.
And also to mine, like, if I'mnot feeling well or if I'm like
in a mood, I won't, I won'tassist you, I won't touch your,
(49:46):
your body, because I don't wantmy energy to be passed on to you
, kind of a thing.
And I think that that, like,that's my intention is to help
others understand what thepractice is.
And also, too like, especiallyif you're working one-on-one,
some people might have specificgoals that you want to help them
achieve.
And yeah, if want to help themachieve, and yeah, if
(50:14):
understanding their body andconnecting is one of them, then
I think that bringing them backto where it all began is a
really, really big part of thepractice yeah yeah, this was a
great.
You're doing it in.
Speaker 1 (50:29):
In the words of chris jenner you're doing great
sweetie oh, sometimes we alljust need to hear that I'll tell
you every day, if you mean wedo um, I, you know, like, and I
think the other important thing,and you know, I know that that
yoga teacher, that this wasbrought up to, whatever she was
(50:49):
doing the best she can, she wasprobably like a little bit
blindsided by the conversation.
But again, like I just thinkthat this is a huge opportunity
for the yoga community at large.
It's like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (51:04):
Yeah there's value in every teacher there's value in
every teacher.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
There's value in every class.
Like, even if you don't like it, even if you go to those three
classes, four classes, fiveclasses, you decide, like, you
know what, this teacher isn'tfor me, the style isn't for me,
the studio isn't for me.
Like, whatever it is, it'sstill not about the practice.
Like it's.
It's still not about thepractice Like it's.
It's still coming from a placeof like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Yeah, no, you, I think it's, I think it's
definitely, I think you, Ireally love that suggestion
because I will say likepersonally, when I first took a
restorative class, I was likethere was like too much, too
much silence, like I couldn'tdeal with it.
And now that's like what mybody craves, if I'm absolutely
(51:53):
honest, like I love a juicy yinor a restorative class and I
feel like I teach my best alsoin those environments as well.
Speaker 1 (52:05):
So I think you definitely make a great point
that you know you're not foreverybody, no, and that's okay,
and I also am not opposed tobringing patient to everybody,
modern practices into the yogasphere, like I also teach aerial
yoga with the hammocks, there'snothing more modern or western
(52:27):
than that.
Yeah and like so.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
I don't know, but you're into your intention.
Bringing it back like yourright is, coming from a very
educated studied place where Ithink you feel empowered and
because you're so passionateabout it.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
That's why you were like, yes, and I just think,
like anyone who's listening tothis podcast, like maybe they're
already like heavily into thepractice or whatever.
But I mean, if you arelistening, and I don't want this
to be a conversation thatdissuades anyone from from the
yoga practice, like I, just Iwant it to be a conversation
that dissuades anyone from fromthe yoga practice like I, just I
want it to be.
You know, let's all get curious, like when I'm just gonna say
(53:17):
yeah, when you go to a studio,like what comes up for you, what
comes?
up for you.
What um?
Speaker 2 (53:24):
I don't know try different teachers, try
different styles.
I think that's the point ofthis episode.
Speaker 1 (53:30):
is like, and really look at people's background in
yoga because, like there are alot of people who are teaching
and not that there's anythingwrong with this but like that
have only done their 200 houryoga teacher training and that's
where their education stops,that's where their practice
stopped.
Stopped and like, if they'reonly practicing from, if they're
(53:52):
only practicing the limb ofasana, then you'll know, I mean,
you'll know, yeah, yeah,they're doing the whole
community a disservice, really,but I just want everyone to know
that there is so much more yogathan the asana and for a lot of
people, asana is the gatewayinto practice.
(54:16):
But even everything that youlearn in a, even a power vinyasa
class, those tools, really themagic is for off the mat.
Yeah, and, and I think we'remissing that a little bit.
So you know, if, if you find astudio, a teacher, a space that
(54:39):
it's just about fitness and it'sbeen a little bit whitewashed
and we're not honoring the trueroots of this ancient practice
that's 5000 years old, that'slike the basis for modern
medicine.
Like yoga is a science, it's anancient science, it was a
science of well being.
We're just talking about themovement, like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (55:03):
I feel like we're just missing it, like we're just
missing it.
Yeah, and I think I mean don'tbe so hard on yourself either,
because I think you're doing anincredible job of sharing what
more there is to yoga besidesthe asana, like look at your
meditation portal, look at thispodcast, look at now you have a
blog.
You just continue to expand andshare because your passion is
(55:26):
that's you know, that's yourpassion, is what's driving all
of that, and I think anyone whoknows you is is very lucky,
first of all, but also wouldwant to learn more.
What else are you doing?
Like you know what I mean, whatelse are you offering?
And I think that that's that islike you're doing your job girl
(55:47):
.
Speaker 1 (55:47):
Thank you, I appreciate it because sometimes,
when you know this stuff comesup, it's like do I just go get a
nine-to-five?
Speaker 2 (55:55):
it like wherever like , like, this is just one person,
this is just one person andobviously, because it's it taken
a different way, you're gonnafeel some type of way, but think
about how many people actuallysupport and adore and love your
classes.
Like, por favor, mommy.
Speaker 1 (56:17):
Thank you.
We all need that realizationsometimes and I mean this was a
good check for me and my.
My style of teaching is notgoing to change, but I'm going
to do a better job as toexplaining why.
And if you're coming to mypower classes, get ready,
because we're going to talkabout all the limbs, we're going
(56:37):
in and we're honoring theancient science like enough is
enough and maybe that's what itis Like.
Speaker 2 (56:45):
maybe that is like this was a call, call to for you
to really like you're ready.
You're ready to educate andbring that medicine from all of
your knowledge into sprinkleeven more nuggets into those
classes.
Speaker 1 (57:00):
Yeah, and it's.
It was like really aninvitation for me to to continue
to go deeper in the morephilosophical, the less tangible
parts of the practice.
Because, the more I get familiarwith them, the more it will
(57:20):
come as second nature tointerject them into these spaces
where people are coming justfor the fitness and I've said it
before on the podcast too likeif you're coming to my power
yoga classes, like we're goingto talk about other things too,
like we're going to talk aboutyoga beyond the mat and um, I
think this is just an invitationto go a little bit deeper into
that practice.
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2 (57:43):
This has been a very fiery episode mean.
That's what happens when youput us together.
I think.
Speaker 1 (57:50):
I know Well, yeah, you're Aries to my Gemini like
fire and air.
Speaker 2 (57:57):
Yeah, beautiful thing , love you so much.
Keep kicking ass and spreadingthe good words and all of the
good things and holding theintention not only for yourself
but the entire yoga communitythank you so much.
Speaker 1 (58:14):
Thank you for being here, thank you for also doing
the same and and for like,honoring the true essence of the
practice, because it'sdefinitely as few and far
between um now, especially as wesee, like even one last ick for
you, but if your yoga teachertraining is solely online, like
(58:39):
no, you're missing it and I Iget it was a necessity for 2020
and all that bullshit, um, butif you're, if your yoga teacher
training isn't hands-on likeyou're- yeah, for me, the
community.
Speaker 2 (58:54):
For me, I'll say this for me, my yoga teacher
training.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
For me, the biggest thing that helped me was the
community and the camaraderie ofthat training yeah, and like
the people you're going throughit with, and even if your
intention isn't to teach, evenif you want to in your practice,
deepen your practice and learnmore about yoga as a whole, as
(59:21):
the science of wellbeing, thewhole eight limbs, there's just
nothing more transformative thanthat.
That first experience, like itchanged me on, like a physical,
emotional, level.
Yeah, cellular level Like itshifted the whole trajectory of
my life.
I was in the fashion industrylike a hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (59:44):
I completely agree with you and I think that it's.
I think it's vital.
We're human beings and we'rewired for connection, and I
think that's something is too islike we've become so
disconnected, not only toourselves, but to other people,
and so to bring it back together, like even being in a class,
like in a yoga class, together,like that's community.
Speaker 1 (01:00:05):
Yeah, make friends.
Say hello to the person next toyou, introduce yourself Like
you're sharing this intimatespace.
Speaker 2 (01:00:12):
Yep A hundred percent .
So go try all the teachers, gotry all the styles and if you're
in Rhode Island, try Gianna'sclasses.
Speaker 1 (01:00:23):
Yeah, and try other people's classes too.
Like you want a list of yogateachers and, honestly, like I
have teachers and studios inmany different states.
So, like, if you want to getcurious, like I got East Coast
people, west Coast people nopeople.
(01:00:45):
Like, let's talk about it.
I'll give you suggestions Evenhere.
Like you're coming to my classbut you want to.
You know I have a lot of peoplewho only come to my classes
like, and you're right, likethey should try other teachings.
Like the teachers who I'velearned for shifted, uh, vastly
over the years and you know youlearn something from each of
(01:01:07):
them and you take a little bitfrom each of them.
Or you decide like you're notgoing to do what they do, but
like there's nothing morevaluable than Investing in your
education and your well-being,at whatever capacity.
(01:01:28):
That that looks like.
Amen, that's a great place towrap it up.
Thank you so much for joiningus, so much for having me.
I always love chatting with youmy sister from the southern
hemisphere.
Oh, yes, yes, thank you forbeing here.
(01:01:48):
Thank you for listening to thisum, crazy episode.
I I hope you liked it.
Um, I would love to hear fromyou if this sparked anything for
you, if you agree, if youdisagree, if you disagree with
me.
Like, I'm all up for aconversation.
I love new information.
I love to change my perspective.
I think that's part of myGemini quality.
(01:02:09):
I can see the duality of likemany different sides of things.
So if you have a differentperspective on this, like, reach
out, write me, send me an email, find me on social media, right
on this podcast.
Like, literally whatever I wantto hear from you.
B.
Thanks so much for joining us.
It's always a pleasure.
(01:02:29):
Thanks for kicking off seasonfour with me.
If you like this episode,please like, subscribe, share
with a friend and I will talk toyou next time.
Welcome to the Nearly Enlightened podcast.
This is season four people, canwe believe it?
This is a high vibe toolboxdesigned to help you connect
with your body, mind and spirit.
I am your host, gianna Girusso.
I'm here to guide you on ajourney of self-discovery,
healing and growth.
Each episode is packed withinspiring conversations,
practical tools and soulfulinsights to help empower you to
(00:25):
find the answers that alreadyexist within.
Whether you're diving intomeditation, exploring spiritual
practices or navigating life'sups and downs, this is your
space to get curious, staygrounded and feel deeply
supported.
Let's dive in and get nearlyenlightened together.
I am here and joined with mygood friend Dee Dee.
Welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
Hello, thank you.
Speaker 1 (00:47):
If you want to know a little bit more about Dee,
she's been on multiple podcastsliterally since 2022, like since
pretty much the beginning.
So if you're curious about Deeand what she does, she's also a
yoga teacher.
She is in Panama on an off-gridfarm.
She is in Panama on an off-gridfarm.
(01:07):
I mean, you can talk more aboutit.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Let me not butcher it , no, no, no, I don't know what
you want me to say here.
Yeah, just kind of diving intoa bunch of different things,
living how I feel like I'vealways envisioned that I was
gonna live, and you know, itdefinitely comes with its
hardships, um, but it's alsobeautiful, um.
(01:32):
So, yeah, we're kind of in thethick of it right now.
You know we're, I think we'regoing into our summer season,
but, um, we've had a little bitof challenges because of the
rain and we have solar panels.
So it's been.
We always get really happy whensummer comes around because you
(01:54):
know we, we have full power andif I want to watch TV at night,
I can watch TV at night, or youknow that kind of stuff.
So it's very, it's definitely adifferent way to live, but it's
, it's empowering, oh yes, Ilove that.
Speaker 1 (02:09):
Eventually, I'm going to get down and visit.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Oh you're, you're coming yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
So there's something very specific that I want to
talk about today, so let me justgive our listeners like a
little bit of background.
So, as you know, I'm a yogateacher, I teach a lot of in
person classes here in RhodeIsland and I like a little bit
of background.
So, as you know, I'm a yogateacher, I teach a lot of
in-person classes here in RhodeIsland and I took a little bit
of a hiatus where, back from awinter break, I really needed
just like a reset.
(02:35):
So I was away for a little overtwo weeks and, like I was just
about to come back to start myroutine and to get back into
teaching a little bit of a newschedule.
So my classes have like shiftedhere or there and I get a
message from one of the studioowners and you know what?
(02:58):
So that I'm fully factual, I'mjust going to we come with
receipts, receipts, receipts.
Factual, I'm just gonna.
We come with receipts, receipts, receipts.
So she's gonna read the messageright from right from her phone
where it came from.
Maybe this is petty of me, Idon't really know.
Um, let me see where did it go.
(03:23):
Okay, it reads hi, I receivedsome feedback from a few
regulars that I wanted to share.
They aren't loving the lengthyflow on your own aspect of
classes.
I like to share any and allfeedback.
Hope you had a lovely holiday.
Now let me tell you some humanego stuff came up and I realized
(03:49):
that it was human ego.
But I also think it's prettynuanced, because it wasn't
really feedback.
Because feedback is like, oh,your cadence is a little bit
fast, like why don't you slow itdown so people can flow with
you better?
I don't know that's feedback,constructive criticism, problem
(04:13):
solution.
To me, this was, or it felt like, and this is what I'm sitting
with right now.
Yeah, it felt like an attack ofmy personal style of teaching.
Yeah, and had I been a new yogateacher, this would have really
, I mean, it did throw me.
(04:33):
So I guess it still threw me.
I think I would have wanted tomake a change more to like
people please.
But since I'm coming on my 10thyear of teaching nine and a
half years I've been teaching itreally just felt like a
personal attack.
One because she has been to myclasses before and I have taught
(04:57):
exactly the same for the lastyear, um, and two because so
this is where I want to get inwith two with you, because
you've also been practicing fora long time.
You've been teaching for a longtime, so I feel like you get it
we love to talk about theshadows yeah, yoga is not about
(05:19):
what you like and what you don'tlike.
Like yoga is not a fitness class.
Yoga is not a democracy.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
You're practicing it right now, just dissecting all
of this.
Speaker 1 (05:30):
Yeah, and this is what I've been doing.
And it's funny because myboyfriend was like you went off
the handle, you shouldn't haveacted like that.
Because, yeah, I like flew offthe handle.
I was kind of like fuck this,fuck this.
Because from my perspective, mypoint point of view, what
should have happened?
The student should have beeninvited to get curious.
(05:51):
Okay, why don't you likeflowing on your own?
I, I teach a lengthy flow, likeI'm not understanding.
I teach a sun a, a sun b and asun c.
They're different.
Every time I walk, walkeveryone through slow, multiple
breaths per movement.
We move so slow for a powerclass.
(06:11):
I walk everyone through eachand every pose very slowly,
multiple breaths Second timethrough.
We flow with the breath.
It's a little bit quicker, butwe set that base foundation.
You know where we're going.
It's not little bit quicker,but we set that base foundation.
You know where we're going.
It's not unfamiliar now, ifyou're paying attention, if
you're present, if you are inthe moment, if your brain is in
class and not elsewhere, whereyou know, like you know if it is
(06:35):
, that's fine too.
That's, that's the practice.
It's like staying present.
So then we walk throughmultiple breaths per movement
and then, yeah, I have studentsflow on their own.
The first time you do it, is ituncomfortable?
Yes, the first time I did itdid I fucking hate it?
Yeah, I fucking hated it, but Iallowed it to break me out of
my comfort zone and now it'ssomething that my body craves
(06:59):
Like.
I don't want my teacher standingup there talking for an hour
hour and 15, hour and a halflike allow a moment of quiet,
allow a moment for students tobe with themselves.
So yeah, I took this as apersonal attack and still I am
like I mean, you can probablyhear it, this is probably the
most fired up I've ever been onthis.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
You're fired up, girl let it out.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
But I was just really disappointed because and this
is where I have a really bigissue with the yoga community at
large is it becomes verypolitical, it becomes very my
class is better than this classand this teacher has more
experience than this teacher,and yeah, it just it.
It just sends me over the edge,because the practice of yoga is
(07:46):
over 5,000 years old, right, soit's been for most of history.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
It's been passed down verbally from generation to
generation, from teacher tostudent, student to teacher, and
every teacher has put their ownspin on it own flavor, their
own genesis, if you will okay,yes, bring it, give it the
(08:12):
lineage would have never beenpassed down, it would have never
survived 5 000 years if wedidn't have this way of honor
and honor the origin, yes, whichis like you're just saying,
like I feel like and this iswhere West has adopted, where we
are right, as it's been passeddown and passed down.
(08:50):
And for me, as a white yogateacher, one of the very things
that I always check myself aboutis like, when I walk into my
class, I do it with intention tohonor the origins of the
practice.
And when you, when I hear youtalking, like my mind is going
(09:10):
directly and I think you saidsomething touched upon this when
you started, when you startedthe fire, we were like get
curious about why you can't sitin silence.
Our culture right now is souncomfortable with sitting with
themselves in silence.
And one of the limbs of yogaokay, because it's this eight
(09:31):
limb practice is self-study.
So you are incorporating thatinto the practice which most
people in the West generally I'mnot putting everybody into this
category, but most people go inthinking and doing it just for
the asana, which is just onepractice.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yes, and especially in a power yoga class, which is,
I have to say, it's power yoga,power vinyasa is a majority of
what I teach.
So, yes, a lot of people arecoming for the physical practice
.
They're coming for a good sweat, they're coming for a workout,
but guess what, which is fine,right, but sweat, they're coming
for a workout, but guess what,which is fine, right, but that's
not why we're here and that isnot why I'm here, and that is
(10:10):
not.
The practice goes far beyondthat and that's why I thought it
was a really big opportunityfor the teacher that it was
presented to, for it to be ateaching opportunity for both.
Yes, and so you know what?
Gianna's not here.
Yes, and say you know what?
Gianna's not here.
I can't speak to why sheteaches the way she does, but
I'm sure she has a why as to whyshe teaches the way she teaches
(10:31):
.
So why don't you have thisconversation with her?
Yeah, why don't you have thisconversation with her?
So maybe you can understand.
And you know, I do have a whyof why I make students flow on
their own.
Because, first of all, maybeyou want to add poses, maybe you
want to take poses out, maybeyou want to try something you've
never tried before, maybe youwant to sit in child's pose for
(10:55):
one to three minutes, and Ioffer all of this.
So my why is so that you can dowhat your body needs, which is
why you're here.
It's different than what'shappening on the mat next to you
.
Yes, I love it.
Yes, it's different from what'shappening on the mat next to
you or in front of you, andthose one to three minutes per
(11:18):
flow.
So maybe we're talking 10 totalminutes of a 60 minute class.
Is you flowing on your own?
If you can't handle 10 fuckingminutes of like being in your
own body, just go to the gym,yeah, if that's what you're
looking for.
So, yeah, this fired me up.
(11:38):
This felt like a personalattack and I feel like it is an
opportunity for the yogacommunity at large.
It's like stop letting studentstalk shit about other classes,
other teachers in your class.
So yesterday was my first fullday back back to teaching and at
the studio, and how many of myregular students came up to me
(12:03):
and said, oh my God, don't leaveagain.
Like I hate going to otherpeople's classes.
No one teaches like you do, andthat was my opportunity to shut
them down, because everyteacher offers value.
Every teacher offers a littlegolden nugget of the practice
and and experiencing those otherteachers, experiencing those
(12:24):
other classes, is what advancesthe practice.
So I felt like it was personal,because I thought that that
teacher, that that student wentto it, was an opportunity for
her to shut it down and say, hey, you know what?
I've never been to Gianna'sclass before, so I can't speak
to it, but why don't you havethis conversation with her?
Because she's been teaching fora really long time, so I'm sure
she'll give you good insight asto why she does what she does.
(12:47):
And a lot of times nine timesout of 10, when somebody comes
to me after class, they've neverbeen to one of my classes
before it's their first timeflowing on their own.
There's always somebody who hasa conversation with me after
class and says something aboutit, and usually it's not
negative.
Usually it's just like oh, thatwas kind of uncomfortable and
my like, fabulous, I'm doing myjob.
(13:09):
I did my job Exactly, exactly,because, like, why are you here
If not to get pushed outside ofyour comfort zone?
It's why you go to any fitnessclass.
So if I'm making youuncomfortable, then great, we're
pushing the boundaries of yourcomfort zone.
You're like inviting growth in.
Like I said, it's 10 minutes outof maybe 10 minutes out of a 60
(13:31):
minute class that you'reflowing on your own.
You're having this own innerbody experience, like I, I
really I'm.
I'm like having a hard timedigesting what happened and I,
again, I really think it was anopportunity for that teacher and
student to be like hey, have aconversation with Gianna and
(13:53):
even even the owner, like Idon't think it was handled right
, like, uh, and you know what?
Maybe that's me beingjudgmental and maybe that's me
that maybe that's where thepractice lies for me and where
this is an opportunity for me togrow and to learn is Like I
really think it, instead of itbeing like a business, handled
(14:15):
like the needs of the business,or this regular student doesn't
like the way you teach, so wehave to be nervous that this
student is going to go somewhere.
No, it was an opportunity to say, hey, this is the practice,
this is the practice of yoga.
Get uncomfortable, get curiouslike have this conversation with
the teacher that teaches theclass.
(14:36):
Because, because, yeah, I dohave a good why as to why I make
you flow on your own.
It's designed to make youuncomfortable.
It's designed to make youpractice the actual practice of
yoga, which goes beyond theasana.
So I feel like if the studentwas um invited to have a
conversation with me, theirperspective might change on it
(14:58):
and, and you know, maybe myperspective would change on it
too, because maybe they havelike a little bit more meaty,
substantial feedback for me,because I feel like the feedback
that was brought to me wasn'tactually feedback at all.
It was, like I said, it feltmore like a personal attack.
Speaker 2 (15:17):
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I think even like aconversation with the owner too
for you to have, for you to havewith her and say, say like, hey
, if this happens again in thefuture, like let's make it a
conversation.
And I would even bring that upto the other.
Like I don't know if you guyshave meetings or whatever.
Like bring that into theconversation all, not like all
(15:45):
have each other's back, but allgrow from something like this.
Like I think this is aconversation that all yoga
teachers should have, Becausealso, the other thing too is, as
a yoga teacher, we are alsoforever students.
Like I'm not gonna be teachingyou, like I know every single
thing, because I don't.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
Right.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
And again, you know not to go back to this again,
but especially as a white yogateacher, I am making sure that
my continuing education, that Ido, I'm first looking for
Southeast Asian people to learnfrom where this act, where this
(16:26):
yoga culture, actuallyoriginates from right, and I
think that is, and this is abigger topic.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
I think that's why the practice has started to get
watered down into a fitnessmodality and we've lost the
other seven limbs of yoga and Iwill say, like I in my classes
that I teach.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
I do a lot of one on ones right now.
Even in my one on ones.
I will invite the student toflow on their own, like I.
That's something I also doregularly in my classes, because
you don't know what their bodyis saying and, like you were,
were just saying, like getcurious about what this is
bringing up for you.
I literally say those words inmy class, you know.
(17:13):
So I, I mean I can completelyunderstand why it fired you up,
because it is a big, it's aconversation for the yoga
community.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Yeah, and it's funny because I talked to like
obviously I went to all my yogateacher friends and it's funny
because I I talked to, likeobviously I went to all my yoga
teacher friends and I was, likeyou know, fired up and more of
them actually disagreed with meand they were like, oh, this is
your ego, like check your egoand this is about you.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
and and like, yeah, it it is it is yeah what you're,
but you're exploring it, you'reexploring it and I'm exploring
it.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
But also I feel like not everything is black and
white and and there is, there isa nuance here.
So, again, like if I think Iwould have been more receptive
to it if it was constructive andit was like hey, this, you know
, like your voice, mean thiswould never be me.
(18:06):
But you know, like maybe if thefeedback was more like oh well,
I can't really hear you in theback of the room, like your
music is too loud, maybe you canlike soften the music and
project your voice more, like tome that's constructive
criticism.
Like yeah, I just felt likethere was nothing constructive
about this.
(18:27):
It was like a direct attack onmy style of teaching and it's
like take it or leave it.
If, like, you're gonna tell meto take it or leave it, like why
the fuck are you even bringingit to me?
Like I don't know whole thing,just like it's a lot and I'm
still exploring it and I knowthis is an opportunity for me to
go deeper into me.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
I was gonna you have to figure out why it's
triggering you.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Not figure it out, but explore.
Yeah, it's actually making youget this fired up, like, and
even even like I had someonerecently bring something up to
me that was based on feedback tolike, kind of like, where
you're saying very differenttopic in person, but it's like
is there anything in thatcomment?
That's true, that's why it'sriling you up, or is it like you
(19:10):
know, and just sit with thatfor a second and like, allow
yourself to feel that and if itmakes you angry, it makes you
angry, but it makes you sad.
It makes you sad, like,whatever, you just explore it
yourself and use it as anopportunity to grow, and I think
that that's what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yeah, and I think, like this time of year is
interesting, right, because wehave a lot of new people coming
into our yoga classes thatwouldn't normally be into our
yoga classes.
So a lot of my regulars,because a bulk of who I teach
they're regulars.
They come multiple times a weekand I see them very regularly.
(19:49):
Um, so they know why I do whatI do and chances are, when they
first stepped into my class, youknow I started teaching back in
Rhode Island about a year and acouple months ago.
Um, so most of them have beenwith me for over a year now, so
they know the why of why I dowhat I do.
And they also, the first timethey came, they were
uncomfortable too.
(20:10):
So I get that it's, I get thatit's not comfortable.
I literally was there, I, I'vebeen a student, I've.
I get it, yeah.
And with that said, like thewhole thing, I don't know it,
just it feels so weird.
So I would never let somebodystruggle in my class or like
fall behind or be likecompletely lost.
(20:31):
So, yeah, just like me, like myteaching style is very
nurturing.
I'm very nurturing by nature.
Um, so if somebody's in myclass and I can tell that, you
know like I'm watchingeverything, all the time, aware
of the energy going on right.
So like if I see somebody reallystruggling, I go right up to
them, I go right next to theirmat.
(20:53):
I'm like come on, let's do thistogether, let's work through
this like you got this.
And yeah, so more people likeit than not.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
And and that's okay.
I don't think there's one yogateacher for everybody, and I
don't know and everybody goes tothe same teacher.
I think that you know I dealwith that too, and I've actually
recently dealt with somethingsimilar and it's like that's
fine.
I don't want to be everybody'syoga teacher either.
You know.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
I'm not everybody's cup of tea, and vice versa, you
know, and I think that that'sfine and so the other thing that
I tell people so when peoplecome to my class for the first
time and they're just doing yogafor the first time ever, I say
don't let this first experiencebe how you determine if you like
yoga or not.
(21:41):
Try three teachers, try theirclass three times each.
Yeah, that's the other thingthat I would invite this student
to do.
Like I really wish that I wasable to have a conversation with
this student, because I I wouldinvite them to come back two
more times, right, yeah, becauseI think when you allow yourself
(22:02):
to, first of all, theunfamiliar is always going to be
scary.
It's always going to be likeour brain and our body is always
going to be resistant to what'snew, what's unknown.
So I think when we giveourselves the opportunity and
for anyone listening who's nevertried yoga before and they are
curious and they might want tostart a practice and you know
this time of year is a greattime of year to to start doing
(22:26):
that I would give them the sameadvice yes, try a class try it
three times.
Try different teachers, trydifferent studios styles.
Speaker 2 (22:35):
Yeah, try different studios, try different styles.
Go to a beginner class, too,like that's what they're geared
for, and that's one thing that II think I was telling you
yesterday.
Like, I think that it's alsolike, as someone who is
beginning yoga, I think it'simportant to go to those
viennese classes.
Yeah, you can't just throwyourself into an advanced
vinyasa flow and expect to besuccessful.
(22:58):
Exactly, and I also think that,as a teacher, I think it's
almost like a teacher and astudent.
I think it's almost I don'twant to say disrespectful to the
teacher, but it's like ifyou're like, just as someone
going in learning yoga, reallypay attention to the styles and
like the levels, right, becauseif I'm going to be teaching an
(23:21):
advanced vinyasa flow, I'm doinga disservice to the people who
are actually coming to receivethat.
If you're a beginner, and Ihave to cater to you because,
like you were saying, you're avery nurturing person and I want
everyone to feel welcome in myclasses, and this is something
that recently, this past year,came up for me, so I don't know
if you've ever dealt with thisbefore.
I got really comfortableteaching an all-level class for
(23:42):
a few years down here all levelclass from beginner who's never
done yoga before to advanced inmy class, Like that's what I was
teaching, and I started tonotice that the people who were
advanced were getting like Idon't want to say bored and like
I want to be able.
Not, it's not a people pleasingthing, but it's like I want to
have a specific class for youthat you can come and we can
(24:02):
flow, and I also want to have aspecific class for the beginner
that's going to come and learn,like we were just talking about,
what is yoga?
Where does this practice comefrom, etc.
Etc.
Get curious, be uncomfortable,you know, whereas the people who
are advanced are kind ofalready have that in their
mindset and it's, it's like ait's.
It's a nice, well oiled machinethat's happening.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
It's like a it's it's a nice, well-oiled machine
that's happening.
And going back to the limbs ofyoga, traditionally, asana is
the third limb of yoga, so mostpeople are coming into a yoga
class not even knowing what thefirst two limbs of yoga are.
And if you're coming to avinyasa class, chances are they
are not talking about the yamasand the niyamas.
(24:45):
And if you've looked at theblog, this is something that I'm
diving into, a topic that I'mdiving into going through all
seven, all eight sorry, excuseme, all eight of the limbs of
yoga, because people who arepracticing, they typically only
know asana.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
people who are practicing they typically only
know asana pranayama and that'spretty much where it ends.
Yes, so I agree with you, yeah,yeah, I'm excited that you're
doing that, because I think it'sreally important again for the
community as a whole.
Speaker 1 (25:19):
Yeah, and not just students but teachers too.
Teachers too.
It's time, especially here inthe West.
It is time to honor the ancientpractice of yoga as it was
intended to be practiced, and Ithink we have, as a whole here
in the West, we have lost sightof that because, yeah, like
(25:39):
there's whitewashing, like youknow you said it to me yesterday
and I'll just a lot of my, myteaching I didn't learn from
anyone from India.
I didn't go to India and study,um, I didn't really study with
anyone here that is of Indiandescent and for the most part,
(26:01):
like you said, it's been, youknow, blonde, blue-eyed, white
women and that's it's been.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
You know, blonde, blue eyed, white women, and
that's why it's important, as ateacher, though, to feel
empowered and to get curiousyourself and do that not only
self study, like for youyourself, but also to explore
more.
Okay, what am I actually doing?
Where is this coming from?
How can I bring this into mypractice, to teach and to share
it with others?
Because I think that's whatmakes you a good teacher when
(26:27):
you feel empowered to understandthe words that are coming
through your mouth and thethings that you were practicing
and the way that you werewalking through your life.
That, to me, is what's going tomake you a good teacher and
make you stand out amongsteverybody else, because that's
you know.
Like you were saying, if youwant to exercise that's very
specific then go to the gym andget a personal trainer.
That's fine, and that's fine,and that's fine.
(26:53):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (26:55):
Yes, I certainly do.
I certainly do, Because where Ithink now and this is going to
get into kind of a controversialtopic, but I'm going to throw
it out there I think we'retowing a fine line between
honoring the traditionalpractice of yoga and just
cultural appropriation, and Iknow that's a word that gets A
hundred percent, that's a phrasethat gets thrown around a lot
(27:18):
lately as kind of like an insultor like a jab, but seeing,
observing what I'm observing inthe yoga world here in the West,
we're just teaching fitness.
Yep, we're just teaching fitness.
So if you're a yoga teacher andyou're on, you're listening to
this podcast like this is aninvitation for me, for you, for
(27:42):
anyone else listening, to go alittle bit deeper.
Let's talk about where thispractice originated from and you
know I talk about this a lot inmy classes too, because for the
most part, a majority of whocomes to my classes it's women.
But we need to understand thatthe traditional cuing of yoga
Now I'm talking about thephysical practice, asana the
traditional asana practice ofyoga was created for 12 year old
(28:06):
boys 5 000 years ago.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
So like I'm just gonna say, yeah, it's very
interesting and it's importantto know that.
Speaker 1 (28:14):
That is where we're coming from and you know most
yoga teachers not most yogateachers now, but a good, this
is a woman-dominated space.
I'll say it's afemale-dominated space in the
west.
Yeah, and you know how do we?
Speaker 2 (28:31):
how do we honor these , these ancient traditions that
have lasted 5 000 years withoutone thing I will say is that we
need to stop doing the beer yogaand then this, and then then
that's like.
That's what I was going to say,was my ick.
That came up for me is like Ilove this.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yes, let's talk about this.
So this has been.
I've been wanting to talk aboutthe icks of the yoga world here
in the West for a long time now.
And you're hitting one of my,my big ones, and I actually
taught yoga at a.
Hitting one of my, my big ones.
(29:08):
And I actually taught yoga at a, at a vineyard, at a winery,
and I was doing that for quite a, quite a bit and then naturally
it kind of fell away and I waslike I'm so glad it did because,
yeah, alcohol doesn't belong inthe yoga space it's just so
weird to me and I never did,it's just a way to get people in
the door, which, like I, get it.
It's a way to plant the seed,but like also, as we're planting
(29:28):
the good seed, we're alsoplanting the seed of bad habit.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Yeah, it's not just oh, whenever I get it like a
business.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
Ok, I understand, but if you it's so nuanced, it's so
messy there's, it's not blackand white, it's not right or
wrong.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
I mean, if you're going to your, your booze and
your yoga classes, like maybe,explore that a little bit yeah,
yeah, that's one thing that camethat comes up for me whenever I
see that, because it's justalmost like an oxymoron to me.
I don't know, it just feels,feels a little something doesn't
feel right.
Yeah, something don't feelright that's an egg for me.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
So for me, one of my big icks again and it goes back
to like the teacher holding thisspace and I see this a lot here
and it just like I get like avisceral reaction from it.
But I fucking hate whenteachers are taking pictures and
(30:34):
videos of their students inShavas say, yes, it's fine, then
that's one thing, but most ofthese teachers are not asking
(30:55):
permission and they're justthrowing them up on social media
and that just is a huge ick forme because it's such a
vulnerable space and, um, it's aagain.
Speaker 2 (31:08):
It's good.
Coming back to what we werejust saying, I don't really
think that has anything to dowith the original practice.
That's not honoring, you know.
It's like.
The worst is when it's like aselfie with the students in the
back.
Yeah, oh yeah, I've seen thatbefore.
I'm like oh sweet, jesus,that's.
(31:28):
I understand the visceralreaction when I see that.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
I'm like yeah, just I don't know.
There's some things that I justit's questionable where we're
headed in the yoga world here inthe West and it's interesting I
think I talked about it lastseason a little bit, but when I
first started practicing yoga,you could not find a class that
was less than 90 minutes itdidn't exist and now we have
(31:54):
like 45, 50 minute classes.
Like we have watered thepractice down to like I don't
know, maybe it's to make itdigestible to the everyday
person who's just like comingfor a good workout.
I don't really know.
I don't really know like wherewe've taken the turn, but like I
(32:14):
started my practice 13, 14years ago and I've slowly seen
it pull back, pull back, pullback.
And to see 45 minute classes onschedule like, yeah, that's
great for spin, that's great foryour cardio, whatever hit class
(32:34):
, but for yoga class, 45 minutesis not enough.
It's not enough.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
That's so interesting to me.
I didn't know that that washappening.
Oh yeah, how long?
How long do you do, savasana?
For I feel like I'm a solideight minute lady, like I'm
going to talk a little bit, butthen I'm like we're going silent
.
I'm going to turn the music up,I'm going to let you go in it's
funny.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
My students would leave.
Really, they would leave Withwhere we are here in this yoga
space.
My students would leave.
I mean, I already have studentsthat leave before shavasana
because, god forbid, we takethree minutes to like breathe.
Oh yeah, you know what I taughtmy first 70?
(33:20):
I was covering a yin class lastnight and that was a 75 minute
class and it just felt so good,it felt like not rushed and got
to do a long, juicy shavasana.
Um, I love a yin class yeah, andpeople who are coming to yin,
like they typically get it,they're coming for the oh yeah,
(33:41):
they're coming for the longjuicy flow and you know, this is
what I tell my my power yogaclasses too.
Do it.
Everyone who in power yogaclasses, they think that they
are the advanced students, thepinnacle of the practice, and
those people, even if they'vebeen practicing power yoga for
20 years, they are the babybeginners, because the real
(34:03):
practice is in the stillness andpeople who are like the um,
like the ones that are addictedto the power flow of it all,
Like they don't have the abilityto do that.
Speaker 2 (34:18):
I would invite anyone that loves power yoga or like
love spin class to go to a yinclass.
Like I think it's almost likenecessary, yeah, go take a yin
class.
I agree, it's almost likenecessary, yeah, go take a yin
class.
I agree and like what.
I just want to back up reallyquick and be sensitive to
something, because I know thatthere are some people who
actually and I think we've, Idon't, I think it was you and I
(34:39):
actually touched upon this in apast episode where, like
sometimes people with PTSDactually like get very
uncomfortable in Savasana.
I get that like.
I do want to be sensitive tothat before we move on, because
that's an, that's like I I doreally understand that I've
actually had students like thatbefore and I like I honor and
respect that um, but anyways, soyeah, I think I think there's a
(35:03):
balance and that, too, is likewhat the practice is all about,
um, and I think, like going offof what you were just saying,
like the people or the studentsdoing a lot of vinyasa and stuff
like this when I first started,that's I think what really I
was trained in vinyasa.
Speaker 1 (35:20):
Yeah, same.
I mean, it's what draws you,it's what initially draws you
into the practice.
Speaker 2 (35:24):
Yeah, and I will say, like I was, that I was that
student who was like fuck props,like that's for like losers or
whatever you know.
And then I'm.
Now you are going to use atleast one prop in every single
class that you take with me.
(35:45):
I am the prop queen, I love aprop.
That's funny, see, I still likeI not that you take with me.
I am the prop queen I love aprop.
Speaker 1 (35:51):
That's funny, see.
I still like I, not that Istruggle with it, but love a
prop it depends.
It really depends in my powerclasses like I'll invite people
to use blocks when they need.
Obviously, um, it's a style too.
Speaker 2 (36:05):
It depends on the style, and also like I love.
Speaker 1 (36:10):
I love to talk about how props came to be in the yoga
world.
So let's talk about it.
Bks iangar um, one of you knowwe'll call him like a father of
yoga.
Um, he got kicked out of everyyoga class that there ever was.
He had like tight hamstringsand this is like a little 12
year old boy.
He came from a long line ofyogis um, who were like I think
(36:34):
his dad and his grandfather wereboth gurus, like comes from a
long line of of um advancedyogis, if you will.
And here little bks iyengarcomes.
He like isn't flexible.
He's, you know, whatever can'tdo yoga.
He gets like kicked out of allthese yoga classes and he was
(36:56):
like frustrated and obviouslylike wanted to live up to his,
his family lineage or his familylegacy, and so he started using
cinder blocks and cinder blocksbecame the first yoga props.
Like that's how we have block,foam blocks or cork blocks in
(37:17):
our classes now it's likebecause it makes it accessible
to people who can't otherwiseget get there.
Speaker 2 (37:25):
Quote, unquote get there.
And I think one of my veryfirst students she has MS and I
actually she handed me a book.
That she handed me and got herbook and was like when can we
start?
And I, I read that book.
I had that book for years and Istudied it and I read with it.
I used his practices with herand it allowed her to improve
(37:46):
her scoliosis and you know allthese different things and I
think that for people who needit, I think it's so important
and apparently I'm one of thosepeople that needs it because I
love it yeah, and like you know,it's it's the ego check and
like I'm trying to do that withthis situation now for myself
and see where that comes up forme.
Speaker 1 (38:06):
But it's like the same thing with people who are
like so against props, props soagainst blocks.
It's like it's an ego thing.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
Yeah, oh, yeah, yeah.
And I think too I mean it'sdefinitely the style, like I
don't know, I mean I teach, yeah, like you were saying, like
vinyasa it's.
You offer it as an option that,like when I'm in a group
setting, I a lot moreone-on-ones right now, so, like
when I do have a group setting,I like to have them as an option
because, again, coming from anall-level, when you're teaching
(38:36):
an all-level class, I think it'salmost important and vital to
have props so that you can givethose options to your students.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, but when you're flowingin a vinyasa it's so much more
flowy Sometimes it's like hardto.
Speaker 1 (38:50):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (38:50):
I think in a class I would maybe like I love using
the strap in the beginningsometimes because it kind of
like helps, you know, structurea little bit more in the legs
and the neck.
I use it a lot and then it kindof, and then I just put it
aside and we flow, so it's notlike I'm using it all class.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
When you do your privates.
Is it an hour or is it longer?
Speaker 2 (39:18):
I say it's an hour, but I usually it's usually like
an hour 15 minutes because Ilike it and I don't.
I feel like I use I neverreally use a watch.
I kind of just go and then I'lllike only I need to get one of
those digital clocks.
When I was in the states myteachers would have.
So I'm not like touching myphone, I just like would tap it,
um, but have a clock in frontof me, I like lose track, yeah
the time.
I just like I'm, I'm there withthem and I'm just not.
(39:40):
So it's usually like an hourand 15 minutes yeah, see, that's
so.
Speaker 1 (39:44):
That's the other thing and that's why I think I I
am taking this personal becauseI teach a lot of group classes
a week and my classes are verycurated.
I'm not one of those likeintuitive flow teachers like
whatever comes up comes up.
It's like no, I think of what Iwant to teach as my peak pose,
(40:04):
and then all of my flow areleading up to part of the body
to, yeah, yep, a hundred percent.
So it's very curated.
I have notes and like I alwaysI don't always go by like what
my, my classes are written down,like I'll see what shows up and
like if we need to switch alittle bit or pivot, like that's
(40:25):
fine.
But for the most part I teachthe same class all week long.
If you come to my power classes, like you're doing the same
thing, like Monday is always alittle bit different because
we're like I'm like working outthe kinks and then like I'll see
, like where the flow needs tobe improved and by Wednesday's
flow classes it's like dialed in, but it's very similar all week
(40:46):
long, like we work on aspecific thing and then you know
whatever.
So I think because my classesare so curated and I take so
much time thinking about, likeall of the anatomical things and
, like you know, that's youreducation.
Speaker 2 (41:01):
Like, in my opinion, you're also a massage therapist,
so you know how literally andthis is like the actual
translation of yoga means toyoke, or to unite.
You understand how to do thatat such a deep level, like
ligaments, muscles, all thethings.
So you know, and you've studiedthe asanas, the actual posture.
(41:22):
So you, like you just said, youknow, and I was trained to in
vinyasa like you have your peakpose and that's what you're
doing.
You're building your class toget your students to that peak
pose.
You can't just throw somebodyinto pigeon pose.
I mean, you can, but that's Iwouldn't recommend that.
You know what I mean.
But I think that the way you'redoing it and I think you might
(41:46):
like, the reason, part of thereason why you're fired up about
it is because you care so much.
This is obviously such a bigpassion, if not your passion,
your dharma in life, and that'swhy it's personal.
Yeah, I think it's not.
So it's like.
I think to me that makes sense,like, and I will say like, when
(42:09):
I was practicing in the statesmy, I know you're not supposed
to have favorites, but myfavorite teacher would do
literally the exact same thingthat you're talking about.
It was hot vinyasa um, and itwas in the night.
I used to love doing that in thewintertime.
I do miss that.
Now all I teach is hot yogabecause it's just so bloody hot
(42:33):
here.
It's the only option.
Yeah, there is no other option,unless I'm at a private and
they have air conditioning intheir house and I'm like I need
a sweater.
But I feel like she would dothe exact same thing you're
talking about and I actuallyreally liked that.
There's some people that almostlike need that routine Because
for me, when I first startedgoing to yoga it it it actually
(42:58):
helped me to get into my body bylistening to somebody else tell
me what to do.
If that like I don't know ifthat makes sense, but it was in
in because it was like I,because I knew the routine, I
knew it was coming it.
I felt safe there.
Speaker 1 (43:14):
Does that make sense?
Yeah, well, that's what I likeall of my flows.
They almost become like, notalmost they do.
They become a moving meditation.
And that's the point it's toclose your eyes, to go within,
to feel the poses, to be in themoment, to breathe with your
body.
And, yeah, like I, I guess I,if you're so adverse to it, I
(43:39):
don't get it and I I don't knowI think that that student should
have been invited to, to leaninto this a little bit, to, to
go a little bit deeper.
Um, yeah, excuse me, they're,they're like a regular student
at at the studio.
So I think that this was anopportunity for them to advance
(44:00):
their practice, and I'm nottalking about asana yeah, I get
it.
Speaker 2 (44:06):
I totally think that that makes sense yeah.
Speaker 1 (44:09):
So my teaching style will not be changing to people,
please.
So fuck that.
Speaker 2 (44:14):
Yeah, no, I think that it's especially like when
you first shared this with me, Iwas like, if I was that student
and I used to actually do thiswhen I was a student, the very
beginning of my yoga journey Iwould just put myself into
child's pose and either be likecrying or just being transparent
(44:37):
.
Here.
I would either be like in atearful tizzy in the corner or I
would just be in child's poseto like take a deep breath, and
I think I actually really honorstudents that do that, Because
that, to me, is telling me thatthey're honoring their body,
they're listening to their bodyand they're like getting curious
.
Like we've been saying thisthroughout this, this episode is
like getting curious aboutwhat's coming up for them and
(45:00):
what and what's happening.
You know, to me, I guess that'swhat it, what it symbolizes.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Yeah, and like, like you know one of the jokes in in
my class, like if you actuallycome to class and give it a
chance, like one of my jokes isalways like this might be
uncomfortable for you and youmight hate me for this, but
whatever you're throwing at me,it's not about me.
This is that's your journey,that's your shit.
(45:27):
Yeah, and like, honestly, ifthis student came to me like I
would kind of let them know that, like this isn't about me or my
teaching style, this is aboutyou and your unwillingness to go
deeper into the practice.
Like sorry, hard truth, yeah,yeah, and I don't know, you know
(45:48):
, maybe somebody out theredisagrees with me and I, like I
invite a different perspectivein, like I let's have a
conversation let's do it.
Maybe my perspective willchange.
I don't think my teaching styleis going to change.
Like I said, I've beenpracticing for over 13 years.
I've been teaching for overnine.
I still continue my education.
(46:09):
I still study.
So my teaching is ever evolving.
But am I going to stop peoplefrom flowing on their own?
Probably not.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Yeah.
I mean one of the things I lovetoo was like you know, I, I that
same teacher I was just talkingto you about.
Her name was Kim.
I really miss Kim.
And she would say, you know,like we would flow, just like
you were saying she would walkus through, and then, like the
third and fourth time, we werejust she's like all right, let's
(46:40):
go through your vinyasa while Imeet you in warrior two, or
like wearing cat cow, move yourhips If you need to sway side to
side, go back and forth, likesee what comes up for you.
You know, I'm also too like abig if you know me and my
practice, like I also do shakemeditations and some of my yoga
(47:01):
classes to really loosen, loosenpeople up and like if that's
not something that you I don'tthink everybody loves that and
like if that's not somethingthat you, I don't think
everybody loves that no, no, andtypical, like your typical
vinyasa, like power yoga.
Speaker 1 (47:14):
People are so adverse to any kind of like shaking,
bouncing, like it is so funnyyeah it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (47:24):
It's it's really interesting, and I think that
that that, too, is something tobe curious about.
Speaker 1 (47:36):
But it's, it's hysterical, like think that that
that too is something to becurious about, but it's, it's
hysterical like it is,hysterical like we laugh at,
which I think also is so healing.
Yes, because yoga is not thatfucking serious, right.
Yeah, yeah, exactly, and likehave some fun, lighten the fuck
up yeah, yeah, like it's notit's not that serious, like,
yeah, we're here to sweat, we'rehere to move our body, we're
here to breathe, but we're hereto have a good time.
Speaker 2 (47:55):
Yeah, I even did some one of my students who's like
one of my dearest friends.
She was like you need to do alaughing yoga class and I
actually have done a couple andthey're well, I've seen videos
and they look so fun.
They're so fun, especially ifyou have a fun group that you
(48:15):
know will like be receptable toit.
I would totally invite you todo it because it's actually
really fun and it'll bring youeven closer.
And I think, just like, likeyou said, like just have a good
time, loosen up, like laughteris actually so healing for the
body, so healing for the bodyand that's like also to a big
point of what yoga is.
So I think it's like it'sbeautiful when you can invite
(48:38):
like and I don't know if that Idon't want to say like, if
that's I want to say missing themark, but I think you can
invite a little bit of that in.
Speaker 1 (48:47):
Yeah, there's a way to honor the ancient and still,
like, honor what people needright now.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Oh, a hundred percent .
Speaker 1 (48:56):
Yeah, I think that's where lines have gotten blurred
and like I really hope thatconversations like these start
to bring the true essence ofyoga back to the practice here
in the West, like I would reallylike to see that.
Speaker 2 (49:15):
I think, the intention.
I think, yeah, I think everyonethat's teaching needs to just
check their intention and whylike their, why?
Speaker 1 (49:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (49:24):
I think that that's too like, why am I doing this?
And like, even for myself, whenI'm teaching like I won't, if I
feel like my energy is off andI'm teaching like I won't do
assist, I won't even touch you,because I don't want.
I really want to honor you andyour energy.
And also to mine, like, if I'mnot feeling well or if I'm like
in a mood, I won't, I won'tassist you, I won't touch your,
(49:46):
your body, because I don't wantmy energy to be passed on to you
, kind of a thing.
And I think that that, like,that's my intention is to help
others understand what thepractice is.
And also, too like, especiallyif you're working one-on-one,
some people might have specificgoals that you want to help them
achieve.
And yeah, if want to help themachieve, and yeah, if
(50:14):
understanding their body andconnecting is one of them, then
I think that bringing them backto where it all began is a
really, really big part of thepractice yeah yeah, this was a
great.
You're doing it in.
Speaker 1 (50:29):
In the words of chris jenner you're doing great
sweetie oh, sometimes we alljust need to hear that I'll tell
you every day, if you mean wedo um, I, you know, like, and I
think the other important thing,and you know, I know that that
yoga teacher, that this wasbrought up to, whatever she was
(50:49):
doing the best she can, she wasprobably like a little bit
blindsided by the conversation.
But again, like I just thinkthat this is a huge opportunity
for the yoga community at large.
It's like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (51:04):
Yeah there's value in every teacher there's value in
every teacher.
Speaker 1 (51:07):
There's value in every class.
Like, even if you don't like it, even if you go to those three
classes, four classes, fiveclasses, you decide, like, you
know what, this teacher isn'tfor me, the style isn't for me,
the studio isn't for me.
Like, whatever it is, it'sstill not about the practice.
Like it's.
It's still not about thepractice Like it's.
It's still coming from a placeof like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (51:32):
Yeah, no, you, I think it's, I think it's
definitely, I think you, Ireally love that suggestion
because I will say likepersonally, when I first took a
restorative class, I was likethere was like too much, too
much silence, like I couldn'tdeal with it.
And now that's like what mybody craves, if I'm absolutely
(51:53):
honest, like I love a juicy yinor a restorative class and I
feel like I teach my best alsoin those environments as well.
Speaker 1 (52:05):
So I think you definitely make a great point
that you know you're not foreverybody, no, and that's okay,
and I also am not opposed tobringing patient to everybody,
modern practices into the yogasphere, like I also teach aerial
yoga with the hammocks, there'snothing more modern or western
(52:27):
than that.
Yeah and like so.
Speaker 2 (52:32):
I don't know, but you're into your intention.
Bringing it back like yourright is, coming from a very
educated studied place where Ithink you feel empowered and
because you're so passionateabout it.
Speaker 1 (52:55):
That's why you were like, yes, and I just think,
like anyone who's listening tothis podcast, like maybe they're
already like heavily into thepractice or whatever.
But I mean, if you arelistening, and I don't want this
to be a conversation thatdissuades anyone from from the
yoga practice, like I, just Iwant it to be a conversation
that dissuades anyone from fromthe yoga practice like I, just I
want it to be.
You know, let's all get curious, like when I'm just gonna say
(53:17):
yeah, when you go to a studio,like what comes up for you, what
comes?
up for you.
What um?
Speaker 2 (53:24):
I don't know try different teachers, try
different styles.
I think that's the point ofthis episode.
Speaker 1 (53:30):
is like, and really look at people's background in
yoga because, like there are alot of people who are teaching
and not that there's anythingwrong with this but like that
have only done their 200 houryoga teacher training and that's
where their education stops,that's where their practice
stopped.
Stopped and like, if they'reonly practicing from, if they're
(53:52):
only practicing the limb ofasana, then you'll know, I mean,
you'll know, yeah, yeah,they're doing the whole
community a disservice, really,but I just want everyone to know
that there is so much more yogathan the asana and for a lot of
people, asana is the gatewayinto practice.
(54:16):
But even everything that youlearn in a, even a power vinyasa
class, those tools, really themagic is for off the mat.
Yeah, and, and I think we'remissing that a little bit.
So you know, if, if you find astudio, a teacher, a space that
(54:39):
it's just about fitness and it'sbeen a little bit whitewashed
and we're not honoring the trueroots of this ancient practice
that's 5000 years old, that'slike the basis for modern
medicine.
Like yoga is a science, it's anancient science, it was a
science of well being.
We're just talking about themovement, like I don't know.
Speaker 2 (55:03):
I feel like we're just missing it, like we're just
missing it.
Yeah, and I think I mean don'tbe so hard on yourself either,
because I think you're doing anincredible job of sharing what
more there is to yoga besidesthe asana, like look at your
meditation portal, look at thispodcast, look at now you have a
blog.
You just continue to expand andshare because your passion is
(55:26):
that's you know, that's yourpassion, is what's driving all
of that, and I think anyone whoknows you is is very lucky,
first of all, but also wouldwant to learn more.
What else are you doing?
Like you know what I mean, whatelse are you offering?
And I think that that's that islike you're doing your job girl
(55:47):
.
Speaker 1 (55:47):
Thank you, I appreciate it because sometimes,
when you know this stuff comesup, it's like do I just go get a
nine-to-five?
Speaker 2 (55:55):
it like wherever like , like, this is just one person,
this is just one person andobviously, because it's it taken
a different way, you're gonnafeel some type of way, but think
about how many people actuallysupport and adore and love your
classes.
Like, por favor, mommy.
Speaker 1 (56:17):
Thank you.
We all need that realizationsometimes and I mean this was a
good check for me and my.
My style of teaching is notgoing to change, but I'm going
to do a better job as toexplaining why.
And if you're coming to mypower classes, get ready,
because we're going to talkabout all the limbs, we're going
(56:37):
in and we're honoring theancient science like enough is
enough and maybe that's what itis Like.
Speaker 2 (56:45):
maybe that is like this was a call, call to for you
to really like you're ready.
You're ready to educate andbring that medicine from all of
your knowledge into sprinkleeven more nuggets into those
classes.
Speaker 1 (57:00):
Yeah, and it's.
It was like really aninvitation for me to to continue
to go deeper in the morephilosophical, the less tangible
parts of the practice.
Because, the more I get familiarwith them, the more it will
(57:20):
come as second nature tointerject them into these spaces
where people are coming justfor the fitness and I've said it
before on the podcast too likeif you're coming to my power
yoga classes, like we're goingto talk about other things too,
like we're going to talk aboutyoga beyond the mat and um, I
think this is just an invitationto go a little bit deeper into
that practice.
Yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2 (57:43):
This has been a very fiery episode mean.
That's what happens when youput us together.
I think.
Speaker 1 (57:50):
I know Well, yeah, you're Aries to my Gemini like
fire and air.
Speaker 2 (57:57):
Yeah, beautiful thing , love you so much.
Keep kicking ass and spreadingthe good words and all of the
good things and holding theintention not only for yourself
but the entire yoga communitythank you so much.
Speaker 1 (58:14):
Thank you for being here, thank you for also doing
the same and and for like,honoring the true essence of the
practice, because it'sdefinitely as few and far
between um now, especially as wesee, like even one last ick for
you, but if your yoga teachertraining is solely online, like
(58:39):
no, you're missing it and I Iget it was a necessity for 2020
and all that bullshit, um, butif you're, if your yoga teacher
training isn't hands-on likeyou're- yeah, for me, the
community.
Speaker 2 (58:54):
For me, I'll say this for me, my yoga teacher
training.
Speaker 1 (59:01):
For me, the biggest thing that helped me was the
community and the camaraderie ofthat training yeah, and like
the people you're going throughit with, and even if your
intention isn't to teach, evenif you want to in your practice,
deepen your practice and learnmore about yoga as a whole, as
(59:21):
the science of wellbeing, thewhole eight limbs, there's just
nothing more transformative thanthat.
That first experience, like itchanged me on, like a physical,
emotional, level.
Yeah, cellular level Like itshifted the whole trajectory of
my life.
I was in the fashion industrylike a hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (59:44):
I completely agree with you and I think that it's.
I think it's vital.
We're human beings and we'rewired for connection, and I
think that's something is too islike we've become so
disconnected, not only toourselves, but to other people,
and so to bring it back together, like even being in a class,
like in a yoga class, together,like that's community.
Speaker 1 (01:00:05):
Yeah, make friends.
Say hello to the person next toyou, introduce yourself Like
you're sharing this intimatespace.
Speaker 2 (01:00:12):
Yep A hundred percent .
So go try all the teachers, gotry all the styles and if you're
in Rhode Island, try Gianna'sclasses.
Speaker 1 (01:00:23):
Yeah, and try other people's classes too.
Like you want a list of yogateachers and, honestly, like I
have teachers and studios inmany different states.
So, like, if you want to getcurious, like I got East Coast
people, west Coast people nopeople.
(01:00:45):
Like, let's talk about it.
I'll give you suggestions Evenhere.
Like you're coming to my classbut you want to.
You know I have a lot of peoplewho only come to my classes
like, and you're right, likethey should try other teachings.
Like the teachers who I'velearned for shifted, uh, vastly
over the years and you know youlearn something from each of
(01:01:07):
them and you take a little bitfrom each of them.
Or you decide like you're notgoing to do what they do, but
like there's nothing morevaluable than Investing in your
education and your well-being,at whatever capacity.
(01:01:28):
That that looks like.
Amen, that's a great place towrap it up.
Thank you so much for joiningus, so much for having me.
I always love chatting with youmy sister from the southern
hemisphere.
Oh, yes, yes, thank you forbeing here.
(01:01:48):
Thank you for listening to thisum, crazy episode.
I I hope you liked it.
Um, I would love to hear fromyou if this sparked anything for
you, if you agree, if youdisagree, if you disagree with
me.
Like, I'm all up for aconversation.
I love new information.
I love to change my perspective.
I think that's part of myGemini quality.
(01:02:09):
I can see the duality of likemany different sides of things.
So if you have a differentperspective on this, like, reach
out, write me, send me an email, find me on social media, right
on this podcast.
Like, literally whatever I wantto hear from you.
B.
Thanks so much for joining us.
It's always a pleasure.
(01:02:29):
Thanks for kicking off seasonfour with me.
If you like this episode,please like, subscribe, share
with a friend and I will talk toyou next time.
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