I woke us rested but still sore. I grabbed an apple, banana and soy drink from Beam and hiked u to the Shala.
The morning peer presentation on Nali Kria breathing. Everyone's teaching is getting better. I find that the presentations where people be themselves are much better than presentations where they are trying to be something they are not. Good lesson to learn from that.
Primary series yoga practice was average. I'm still super sore. Ready for a few days off to recover.
After lunch we talked alignment and tested our new skills with group alignment exercises. It's actually very difficult but they say it will become easy with time. Like everything else in this class time will bring wisdom and clarity.
Practice teaching again for parts of the MPS. I'm getting very confident but I need to stay humble. Always something to improve on.
My MPS practice was strong and I'm feeling more confident with each time I hit the mat. Its amazing how I can self check myself with alignment know. My practice is getting so much better. Knowing what moves are coming next is great. Not having to think so much about it really helps calm the mind; which is the whole point.
I had dinner at the Sanctuary after class. I'm getting sick of being at Beam all the time. It feels like campus cafeteria now.
Monday Feb 16
Presentation on pranayama and meditation. Both students did well.
Primary series again. This one was a little stronger than yesterday and flew by quickly. I know most of the begginer modifications now so I can fold deeper into each pose with props or positions.
Lunch break was uneventful. I started my homework so I didn't have to do it later this week and stress about it.
Learning more sitting moves in MPS. Half hour teaching sessions to small groups. These our less stressful than in front of the entire class. It's amazing the difference in our teaching style from the first couple days to now. Confidence does wonders.
MPS practice was our last day with the position sheets. After this its all memory practices. I only looked once to double check what move was next but I know it by heart for the most part. They do a great job prepping us. You blink and you know the knowledge you thought was unattainable in the beginning.
Dinner at Beam was good. I was so hungry I just kept ordering food. I'm glad the kitchen closed at 9pm because I would have kept ordering. My appetite here is super strong. It's a combination of great food mixed with burning lots of calories during the day.
Tuesday Feb 17
Laughing meditation and sutras education. The laughing meditation was so much fun. It was by far the best class we've been taught by our peers. Loz from Australia taught it and it was hilarious listening to everyone's fake laughs turn into real laughs. We did laugh noises, knee slapping laughing, ho ha he laugh, evil scientist laugh, and a finishing laugh circle. It was great.
Primary series was intense today. I really pushed it hard and it felt great. I'll be sore tomorrow for sure if that's possible to be even more sore than I am now.
Lunch back at the Beam was full of smiles and laughter. Everyone was buzzing about the presentation from the morning. I'm really starting to connect with my group. We are all getting closer by the day. Up until this point I've been keeping to myself for the most part. It's been great learning with such a diverse group of people.
More sitting moves training on MPS. The last parts are semi technical to get when adding breathing to it but I'm sure it will come with more practice.
No sheet MPS today. I did very well and only had to peak at my neighbor toward the end for one move.
Dinner at Whynam beach right after class. They have super healthy salads but the service is lacking. Incredible view. I felt like I had the whole place to myself. I felt thankful for my life walking back to the Beam that night. Everything just seemed so beautiful. Inner yogi is content.
Wed Feb 18
Sutra by Patricia older lady from Germany. Loved it. She's been asking semi flaky sounding questions throughout the training but today here intelligence really shined. I wished it was a little longer than 15 minutes it was that good. Also the Sutra I picked out of the box at the end of the presentation happened to be my favorite one from the Sutras book we read before class. Then eyes meditation with partner. Lots of snickers from people trying to be serious but very cool. The girl from Sweden teaching was being super funny and didn't realize it.
Rocket with David was great. I'm really pushing my limits this week physically. Its something about seeing the end so close that I want to go out knowing I gave it my all. No more pacing.
Lunch at Whynam beach was ok. Service was lacking again but you can't beat the view.
Class on the platform studio at Whynam beach was very cool. It was tough teaching over the sound of the ocean but with a view like that no one was complaining.
Break at 3:00 today. I went over to Blue Beach to swim and float around. It felt like I had all day. I had an appetizer at Bamboo afterwards.
Dinner at sanctuary with a few people from class I ran into. I had a lentil burger no pun extra salad. It was incredible. It's a little more expensive to eat there but it's worth it for the ambiance and decent service. There's no such thing as good service in Thailand.
Nice place for a class. It was loud which explains why this is the only time we do this here.
Thurs Feb 19
Dancing meditation with Emiline was great. Meditation through movement. No judgement just motion. It was very fun. Chelse did a presentation on pranayama and incorporated her medical background into it. Both of the girls did great and i continue to be honored to be with such a great group.
Modified Rocket Vinyasa with Marcela was great. She has such an amazing presence and finds ways to get us to push ourselves without feeling like we have to. I went hard again and was exhausted when we finished.
Lunch was tasty and I wolfed down my fried basil leaves with chicken. I had two coconuts as well. I love drinking the fresh electrolytes and juice down, then eating the inside after I'm done.
Class was easy with group teaching again then Mysore MPS.
Study time for my test tomorrow on the sitting poses of Primary Series. I have the modified primary series down pack but the primary is a whole other beast.
Everyone kept asking if I was going to do the open mic night again but I had to study. I wish I would have done it in retrospect. I had this skid I heard about I wanted to do about the power of yes and no. You ask questions and the crowd answers just one way per story ie after every question everyone says yes and you improv what happens next. I hope I'll do it someday.
Crashed out early.
Fri Feb 20
Last presentations by Carly and Jolene. Jolene did a presentation on ujjayi breathing that was based on her massage practitioner background. Carly did an eating meditation with bananas. It was fun but lots of snickers from the crowd again when we were asked to put it to our lips without eating it. Afterwards there was lots of clapping and congratulations to everyone for completing our final self taugh class and a feeling of accomplishment was shared across the class.
Mysore MPS practice was great. I nailed every move and completed my time perfectly. It felt strong and confident. I knew the entire thing without having to think much. I just did.
I passed my Primary series positions test. 4 incorrect but I think I would have done better if it was laid out better. David is great but his organization on the tests needs improvement. They are a little confusing but I think he sees where to improve and other classes hopefully will have a better layout.
Lunch was full of laughter and joy now that our last written test was over. It's surreal acknowledging we are almost done soon.
Ethics of yoga studios class was funny and informative. Honestly I would have rather done one on one training then switching teacher to student role so we have two days practice with each lesson. Currently you teach one partner one day then they teach you the next day. I did very well but got distracted when I looked at other peoples progress. I have to remain focused for my test but I felt great and nailed the breathing for my partner Chelse. She said she wanted to tell the teachers right there they should just pass me.
Break before the beach was just long enough to grab pad thai at Bamboo restaurant.
Friday Funday on beach was animal walking. It was funny but ended quickly because we didn't start until 4:15pm.
Beers on beach afterwards was super tasty and well earned. I still can't believe we are almost done. I am slightly sad but excited. It's been a long but short couple weeks. Stepping out into the world in a teacher/student role will be life changing for me. I will always know I have this teacher ability in me and always remember that I am also a student. It's an incredible duality being a yogi.
Dinner at Bamboo in gazebo was fun and delicious. There were great stories shared and many laughs.
Crashed out happy it was a successful week.
No comments:
Post a Comment