Wednesday, July 18, 2012

I've been trying to blog for a few days, but every time I sit down I don't feel "inspired." Truly. If I'm not feeling it, I can't post anything and I feel like I've wasted my time... and whoever is reading this.

Well, it's my day off... minus a conference call that just happens to be in the middle of the yoga class I planned to attend.

After my experience at a yoga class at The Yoga Room on Brookside in Tulsa, I have had some doubts about doing yoga teacher training. It occurred to me during the class that all yoga is connected. If I do my normal yoga here and someone goes to weird yoga somewhere else, that person is only going to connect the two and say, "What you're doing is weird. Tell me what's different between the two." My answer would be that I do yoga for health and strength, and I don't get creepy chills when I walk in the door. But really, it's all the same - just different levels of where you take it.

Last night I met with my training girls and we talked about things we were dealing with related to training. Everyone was overwhelmed with the homework. I never seem to let homework bother me, if you can imagine that. But the overwhelming part for me is seeing how what I believe about God impacts what I am learning in training. What does the Gospel say about doing a pose that's a great hip opener, but represents some goddess that people used to worship because she'd represented fertility? I just made all that up, but I'm sure it's out there. I mean, what's the big deal? Some days it's not a big deal to me. Other days I say, "Hey, Shannon. Why are you doing this?"

Well, I'd like to be able to do the splits. I'd like to be strong enough to fold forward and raise my legs up slowly into a handstand (my teacher can do that. it's amazing). But, why do I want to do that? Because it's awesome. And also, it's good for my spine, and I want to live to be old with white hair.

It boils down to health, really. Meditation is healthy, too, and the bible says to meditate. It just depends what you meditate on.

So there. Thank you for letting me come to this conclusion while I type. I had no idea what to think fifteen minutes ago. It feels right to struggle with things.

When I can't sleep, I imagine teaching a class to my sisters and mom and friends in Tulsa in a room in my house. It's a good class, and you guys love it. I'm a good teacher.

6 comments:

  1. Wow, I love to read your thoughts. Struggles lead to victories! I'm truly thankful that you don't just "go with your gut". I would love to be one of your pupils, in a room in your house, with your sisters. Now THAT would be an awesome yoga class!

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  2. you should check out this blog- www.everybreathitake.com
    it's by a Christian yoga instructor who used to have her own studio... I think she even has a post somewhere on how she responds when people say yoga is un-Christian. :)

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  3. can i come to your yoga class and act like I'm your sister? ;)

    you add destressing to your list of things that are good about yoga, every time I get finished I feel like I've de-aged about 10 years!! and plus in my head I just laugh at the random yoga comments, this week it was "just self love all happiness starts with self love" and I thought yes that would work if you were the only person on the planet!!! ;)

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    1. You can act like my sister, but I did say "friends" :)

      Tyler always says to me, "... and while you're working hard, ask yourself where you can surrender." He told me the other day that my practice wasn't very good because I didn't find a place to surrender. He's a little smart mouth.

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