Preconceived Ideas: What Makes A Yogi?

I officially taught my first yoga class today.  Whoa.  I OFFICIALLY TAUGHT MY FIRST YOGA CLASS TODAY!!!  Actually, I taught my first two classes and I loved it!  I want to bottle up the experience and carry it around my neck like a jewel...it feels that precious.  Ahhhh...on this rainy dreary Saturday morning, I'm planning to bask in the radiant happiness the rest of the day.

The theme I used was about not bringing preconceived ideas about what it means to be a yogi or a runner.   Looking at the cover of a Yoga Journal or Runner's World can be inspirational and intimidating.  Beautiful, limber, strong, experienced practitioners.

Then there's the rest of us.  Most of us find challenges in simple aspects of our practice.  Straight legs in Utanasana (Standing Forward Fold) is tough for a lot of people, especially for men.  Arms extended so biceps are by the ears in Warrior I can be a challenge if shoulders are tight or muscular.  But, when the gun goes off, everyone who runs is a runner.  When we come to our mats and begin our practice, we are yogis.

We set an intention for the practice to bring only ourselves to the mat and by doing that, we are yogis.  Virabhadrasana  (Warrior) I and II sequences, Crescent Lunge (Deep Lunge), Parsvakonasana (Side Angle Pose), and Sun Salutation series at the end of class with Salabhasana (Locust) and Dhanurasana (Bow) added in after the Cobra section, and then finishing up with Setu Bandha (Bridge) and Paripurna Navasana (Boat) poses made a class that was focused on building strength.

We ended class with the following blessing, which I think is beautiful for runners and yogis.

The Runners Blessing
May you have cool, still nights
and the promise of clear, endless morning.
May the sun rise to greet you with open arms;
and the horizon bow deep beneath your feet.

May you always have water to quench your thirst,
Air to fill your lungs and joy to lift your heart.
May your feet carry you wisely
Swift or slow, towards home.

May you always have heart for your fellow travellers,
and the rhythm of the road to guide you;
May you know the sweetness of victory,
The sorrow of loss and the surrender of both.
--Hannah Broom

Namaste