Confessions of a Yoga Instructor

If you're an instructor you can almost sense the energy when you walk into the studio (or wherever you are teaching).  You glance around you and perhaps you see smiling faces, upright postures, and sparkling eyes.  However, what does one do if its just the opposite?  The air seems tight and heavy.  Blank stares.  Little response.  I walked into a private class this morning and immediately could tell that something was amiss.  I decided to investigate further.  Noticing the some-what slumped posture and adverting eye contact.  Was is me? Were they upset, feeling resistant, or perhaps something else?  I decided to open our session with a few heart-opening positions.  It seems like when we are holding anger inside it is displayed physically.  For example, rounded or hunched shoulders and posture.  To the student, they may feel like they have a tightness in their chest or a racing heart.  Or perhaps they are completely unaware of their tenseness.  Perhaps they have been wearing this mask (of anger or sadness) inside their hearts for days, months, or years.  As someone who has struggled with depression myself I can always relate to this.  For me, depression comes in a form of sleep--I LOVE to sleep.  Now, there's nothing wrong with sleep or those special naps after lunch.  However, in the past, I found myself sleeping more than being a awake. Or hiding the amount of time I was spending sleeping or wasting away in front of the television.  

Here is the opening sequence I used to open the chest: surrendering anger or frustration. Release pain, suffering, and depression.  Receiving joy, encouragement, rejuvenation.

*Photos are from www.yogajournal.com

*If hips are tight try bending the knees more.

*Start in forward fold doing a few chair (Utkatasana) to mountain pose (tadasana) flow series. Then, move into this pose from straddle stretch-reaching the arms forward; lifting the hips up.

Sun Salutation series:

1. Mountain pose (tadasana)

2. Forward Fold

3. Warrior I (from ff reaching forward and up with the arms)

4. Opening to Warrior II with open mudra or open palms (mantra: "Opening, receiving, forgiving, accepting")

5.  Low lunge opening palms to the sky (mantra: "surrendering")

6. Pushing to plank (push-up pose). Coming on the tip-toes and rounding the back.

7. Lowering down for 1 vinyassa: ending in upward-facing dog or cobra. If there are no neck issues you may slightly turn your head. (mantra: "awakening, peace, simplicity")

8. pushing back to cat-keeping the toes curled under. (mantra: "letting go")

9. Downward facing dog

10. Inhale both feet back to forward fold--to mountain pose (tadasana)

Repeat this sequence 4-8 times.

At the end of our session I could see the water well up in the eyes and I knew it was time for a final relaxation.  I quietly collected my things and said a silent prayer.