Image via Flickr user Stephanie Young Merzel

Yoga teachers devote a lot of class time to sharing how NOT to do a particular pose for good reasons: Sloppy alignment, over effort, and big ambitions can create unwelcome tension and even injuries over time.

That said, if I read one more article about how almost everyone does  _______ Pose incorrectly, I might scream. Can it be helpful to pick apart all the ways we do yoga wrong? Sure. Let's take a break from that and focus on all the things yoga students actually do RIGHT for a change, OK?

This post is for every student who's ever been discouraged when, no matter how closely you listen to your teachers' instructions, you just can't figure out why she runs over to you and pokes your ribs EVERY effing time you attempt Downward-Facing Dog. I've been there. Please know that one day it will all click and you will totally understand what your teacher means when she tells you to "knit your ribs" in.

Until then, though, take heart in all the many things you're doing absolutely perfectly!

For example:

You unroll your mat over and over again. Sometimes it's easy. Sometimes it feels like you've run a marathon by the time you've worked hard all day, rushed through traffic, dropped the baby off with the sitter, and finally FINALLY found somewhere to park so you could get a glorious hour on your mat.

You show up with a smile on your face even though someone just flipped you off in the parking lot.

You do your best to listen to both your teacher's convoluted instructions and your body's own wisdom and intuition--which is a lot harder than it sounds.

When you fall out of a pose, you laugh at yourself and try again.

When your neighbor on the mat next to you falls out of a pose, you chuckle to yourself and try not to embarrass her in front of the whole class.

When you're tired, you rest.

When you're energized, you challenge yourself.

When you're injured, you modify.

You focus on your breath moving in and out.

You soften where you're naturally hard. You firm where you're naturally soft. You bring your body and mind closer to balance every time you practice in more ways than you can probably even identify.

You make changes little by little, bit by bit. You know that the the smallest changes are worth so much more than the biggest, grandest ideas that you don't follow through on.

You make yourself, your health, your well-being a priority.

You recognize that your teacher has bad days--you smile at her and you come back the next week anyway.

You let the lessons you learn on your yoga mat spill over into all the other areas of your life: you stand up straighter, breathe deeper, leave a smaller footprint, and treat others with more kindness and compassion.

You are open to the unlimited possibilities this practice has to offer you--both physical, mental, and emotional.

You rock! Never forget that!

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The sun. The sand. That healthy sea breeze. The cackle of the sea gulls. The laughter of children.

The beach is one of the most awe inspiring place in the world. Sometimes just a quick walk by the ocean can really put things in perspective: Nature is a large and wonderful place, but we, with our petty problems and worries, are but a small drop in that ocean.

So of course, practicing yoga on the beach would be an awe-inspiring experience.  "When people are outside they feel more free, less stressed," says Melora Morgan, a yoga teacher in the Charleston, SC area who teaches beach yoga classes at Folly Beach. People are more likely to be playful in their practice."Just walking out onto the beach brings an immediate release." Unfortunately, some of the things that make a beach yoga session really amazing, are also the things that make it a challenge. You can't always predict when a beautiful day in SC will turn into an ugly thunderstorm, the wild will blow sand into your eyes, or all of a sudden a hundred tourists will set up camp right in front of the ocean blocking your view and your Zen.

 I asked Melora for a few tips on how to make sure your Namaste on the beach leads to bliss.

1. Avoid slipping on the sand. Leave your fancy $100 yoga mat at home--and don't forget a large towel to put under your old, crusty mat to keep you from sliding around on the sand.

2. Protect your feet. Under no circumstances should you bring a BLACK mat to the beach. The color absorbs heat, and can burn your tootsies.

3. Protect your skin. Of course, wear sunscreen! But beware: When sweat and sunscreen drip into your eyes, it's not a pleasant experience. A headband might help. Or use a waterproof sunscreen that won't run.

4. Don't forget your suit. Wear your swimsuit underneath your yoga clothes. "Nothing feels better after a hot, sweaty yoga class than to jump in the water," Melora says.

5. Go with the flow. Allow the sounds of nature the birds, the ocean, and yes, even the tourists, to be your soundtrack. Don't be flustered by the distractions. Let them bring you into the present moment and more into your experience.

Learn more about Melora and her beach yoga offerings through Serenity Tree Yoga by visiting her website and Facebook page.

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Image via Flickr User Neal bepko

Stand up Paddleboard yoga is one of my all time favorite summer activities. If you want to know why it's awesome, read this blog post I wrote last year for Yoga Journal. When I was starting I had a hard time finding many solid tips for taking my yoga practice to the water--below I share a few pointers to help you get started.

1. Find the center of your board. Most boards have a handle in the very middle of the board to make it easier to lift and carry to and from the water, but the handle is also a great marker that tells you where to stand so you'll be more stable as you paddle. That means it's also where you'll want to center yourself for most yoga poses. For standing poses, like Warrior I and II, plant your feet firmly, and keep your legs actively engaged and isometrically pull them toward your midline (which should also be toward the center of the board). If you feel wobbly, start with a more narrow stance than you might if you were practicing on solid ground--you can always go wider as you get more comfortable.

2. Stay low. When I first tried yoga on an SUP board, I was so pleased with myself when I was able to lift up into Crow Pose with relative ease. It didn't take me long to figure out that poses practiced closer to the board (like Crow and Bow Pose) are much easier for balance than those standing poses that are considered "basic" in a yoga studio. To make Warriors more accessible, practice from a kneeling position, with the back knee down first. Then, slowly, carefully, mindfully (see tip #3) plant the back foot and straighten the back knee to stand up.

3. Take your time. You might be able to move quickly from pose to pose in a vinyasa class, but if you do that on an SUP board, you might find yourself swimming with the fish! Go slow. Find your sea legs. Move with mindfulness and care, especially as you transition from one pose to the next. You'll be more comfortable on the board in no time!

4. Be a beginner again. A lot of people take to the waters when they want to find a little extra challenge than they might find in a yoga studio. Fine. But here's an important thing to consider. While you might rock your poses on land, it's a totally different experience when you take it on an SUP board. Your balance may be feel off--WAY off! You might even begin to get frustrated that you aren't able to float right up into an advanced pose like you've seen others do in your Instagram feed. Resist the tendency to compare (or compete) and really enjoy the adventure of being a beginner again. Go back to your basics--feet grounded, muscles engaged, gaze focused--and be OK with feeling fully present and alive in poses that you sometimes check out in during your studio practice. That's a more advanced practice than Scorpion Pose, really.

5. Connect. Yoga is all about connection. So take this opportunity to take connection to a whole new level. It's yoga, so you obviously want to connect with your body, your breath, your intention, the present moment. But don't stop there. Connect with nature--whether you're in a place with dolphins swimming by (my favorite!) or just a calm, serene landscape. Connect with other SUPers, kayakers, fishers... wave at people partying on their pontoon boat even though they're totally disrupting your zen and the motor boat making waves that threaten to send you overboard. Because it's the ability to connect that makes this practice different from other fitness activities.

6. Be safe! This is a "duh," tip, but oh so important! Bring along a life vest. And Find an SUP Yoga teacher in your area.  (If you're in the Charleston, SC area, look me up!) Rent a board that's long and wide--I like the Boga Yoga board.

Bonus Tip: Most importantly, have fun! You might fall off your board. It happens. It might even be funny to someone watching from a distance. So, what? When you fall, laugh at yourself, climb back up, and try again. Enjoy the process.

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Image via Flickr user The Yoga People

Did your invitation to headline Wanderlust get lost in the mail? Yeah, mine too.

Bill Murray isn't begging you to come to his vacation home for a $500 private yoga session? Don't take it personally. I'm sure his agent is just having a hard time finding your contact information.

That yoga studio in Paris didn't return your calls when you pitched them with your great new workshop idea? Bummer. I've always wanted to go to Paris, too. Maybe you should work on your elevator pitch?

Or maybe it's time to get creative! There are so many cards stacked against the small town, independent yoga teacher. I won't belabor the point--the brilliant Michelle Marchidon nailed it a lot better than I could in this post.  Unless you're one of the, oh, 25, yoga teachers nationally who get invited to travel the world teaching festivals and workshops, appear on the cover of yoga magazines, or teach the rich and famous, making a living as a yoga teacher these days is no easy feat. It's a nice dream, but it's time we ll came to the realization that for most of us, teaching lots of yoga classes just isn't going to be enough to pay the bills.

I 'm still figuring it all out for myself, but I've been paying attention to how some of the most financially free yoga teachers make a living. And it may not be what you think. Here are a few ideas I've been toying with.

1 - Create and Sell a Product. 
Whether it's a book, DVD, or online video course or teacher training, many teachers are supplementing their incomes by creating a product once, and selling it over and over again. Even if you're not a well-known teacher with a huge following, with a little Internet savvy it shouldn't be that hard to make enough on the project to make it worth your time. And of course, once you're a social media superstar, companies will be happy to pay you for your influence.. (But yoga teachers with that much influence, really don't need my advice, do they? So, let's move on!)

2 - Cut Out the Middle Man. 
Once upon a time, it was my goal to teach at cute, local yoga studios--then I realized that if I was lucky enough to get a slot on the schedule, the studio owner would take as much as 80% of what the students pay to take a class. If you're doing tons of marketing yourself anyway, you might as well set yourself up so YOU can pocket most of the class fees. I've done this by teaching in a public park (free!), renting stand up paddleboards for SUP Yoga classes, partnering with a painting studio to have yoga and painting classes, renting out a local dance studio, and even renting out a room in a yoga studio during their off hours. I've seen other teachers have lots of success by teaching at public beaches and even in their own living rooms! It can be a lot of work doing all the marketing yourself (and it's a liability going it alone, too), but most yoga teachers have to market themselves to fill their classes anyway. You might as well maximize your earning potential, too. You may never make tons of cash this way (I haven't yet!), but at least there's the POTENTIAL to make some if a class idea takes off. Plus, it feels good to me knowing your success (or failure) is completely in your own hands.

3 - Join a Network Marketing Company You Love. 
I admit that the first time I saw Elena Brower had become a high level "beauty ecologist" for natural skincare company Pangea Organics, my ick alarm sounded pretty loudly. Is it taking advantage of students to sign them up to be a part of a "network" and then make commission from the work that they do? (For the uninitiated, that's how companies like Pangea Organics, Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Young Living, etc. work. Person X signs on to be a consultant and works hard to get Person Y to sign up, too. Once Person Y makes the investment to become a consultant, Person X makes a small percentage on any sales Person Y does as well as her own sales.) There's a lot of money to be made for a persuasive go-getter with a lot of contacts and influence in her community. After I thought a little more about this idea, I came to the conclusion that while the way network marketing companies PAY is a bit different, being a part of one of these companies is a lot like selling your students any other product--even yoga class becomes product when you're getting paid, am I right? Why not share a product you love and make some extra income when someone you know decides to purchase it based on your recommendation?

4 - Don't Just Teach Yoga--Teach Life!
I know lots of yoga teachers who teach yoga part time because they love it. The other part of the time they pay their bills through one-on-one life coaching, health and nutrition coaching, or even business coaching. Of course, all of these things probably require a little more training (something I'm unlikely to do), but I wanted to throw it out there because coaching seems like a good option for teachers who are really gifted at helping others take their yoga practice off the mat.

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Image via Flickr user katerha

I haven't had a summer reading list since high school. That could be because that was the last time I had enough free time to sit down with a big stack of books to read for pleasure (Oh wait!, I had to do it for a grade?. Nevermind.)

This year I'm not working full time, so I've found myself with a little more down time. Sure, I'm writing whenever I get assignments, teaching a few yoga classes week, keeping my 2-year-old busy in the sweltering Charleston, SC heat, practicing yoga as much as I can, cooking a lot.... OK, I don't have time to read books now either. But, I am more motivated than ever to learn, grow, find financial freedom, clean up my act, and generally enjoy every moment as much as I possibly can. (If for no other reason, then because I've started to notice my daughter mimicking nearly everything she sees me do--from asking her Daddy to turn down the TV (oops!) to my Downward Facing Dog.) I want her to see me more often with a book in my hands and less with a screen in my face. (And, yes, I do read on a Kindle. It was just a figure of speech, OK?) So, I made my own summer reading list. You'll notice these are not all yoga books--but they all are very relevant to my life as a yoga teacher, mother, freelance writer, woman, etc.

Money: A Love Story. I think all yoga teachers should read this book by Kate Northrup about valuing yourself, spending money on the things you value, seeing sound financial decisions as a form of self-care, and understanding that there are a billion ways to create abundance in this world. This one was the first on my list, and I've already devoured it.. but still need to go back through and do all the journaling exercises.

It's Hard to Make a Difference When You Can't Find Your Keys: The Seven-Step Path to Becoming Truly Organized.  Kate Northrup mentions this book a couple of times in Money: A Love Story, and I knew it would be the next book I'd dive into. Even the title kind of strikes a nerve with me because I'm the type of person who has a million grand ideas and a ton of ambition and drive, but my life is just too chaotic right now to be as productive as I'd like. Case in point, the e-book I'm "writing" that's been collecting electronic dust in my Google Documents list for two years now... TWO!

Pushback: How Smart Women Ask--And Stand Up For--What They Want. This is another one that I think people in the yoga community have trouble with. Compassion is a part of the practice, and so it's really easy to think, "Yes, I do need to make X amount teaching this yoga class, but I certainly wouldn't want the studio owner to sacrifice what she needs to meet her bottom line... so I'll just take what she offers me." This attitude never helped anybody pay their bills, and settling for less than we deserve doesn't help the thousands of other yoga teachers out there struggling to pay their bills either.

Breathe: A Novel. Sure this sounds like just another fictional story of someone transforming through yoga... But, every now and then, I like to be reminded in a don't-take-yourself-so-serious way that yoga can be fun, healing, and, yes, even entertaining. I'd like to read this one on the beach, with a fruity umbrella-shaded drink in hand.

Miracles Now: 108 Life-Changing Tools for Less Stress, More Flow, and Finding Your True Purpose. I've followed Gabrielle Bernstein online for a long time now--and I have loved her video tips and tricks for using meditation and Kundalini Yoga techniques to deal with everyday life. So I can't wait to dive into this book, which promises to offer 108 simple solutions to combat complicated problems like "stress, burnout, frustration, jealousy, resentment" without spending hours meditating and practicing yoga everyday. We'll see. I'm skeptical of anything that offers quick fixes, but I don't doubt I'll learn at least one or two more things to add to my toolbox.

To keep myself motivated and honest, I'm going to review each of these books when I'm done reading them. Will you join me? What are you reading this summer?

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It's Friday! The weekend is almost here! Life is good. I love taking breaks from the daily grind to laugh--and there has been some pretty hilarious yoga-related content circulating around recently. Here's what made me laugh this week. I hope it makes you laugh, too!

I found this gem on Kathryn Budig's FB page.

Men in Yoga Pants (Thanks to Yoga Dork for tipping us off to this one!). I couldn't stop laughing at these photos. This site is a totally silly answer to all the offensive websites devoted to women in yoga pants.

Video: Dude Wears Leggings, Calls Other Dudes Out for Staring at His Yoga Butt . This must be the week for men wearing yoga pants. This video takes the concept a step further and a dude wearing tight yoga pants actually calls out men for staring.

36 Types of People You Meet in Your Yoga Class. I've definitely come across most of these types of people in yoga classes. I'm sure I've been guilty of BEING one or two of them, too! If we can't laugh at ourselves, we're taking life way too seriously.

Best Yoga Jokes. Last, but not least, here's a #FlashbackFriday to an old Spoiled Yogi post with my all-time favorite yoga jokes I've heard (and, yes, probably told) in yoga class.

What made you laugh this week?

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For someone who has made her living as an editor for the the last 8 years, I sure do have difficult time editing myself when I get up in front of a yoga class sometimes. The things that really COULD make me a good teacher--my knowledge, passion for the practice, and sincere wish to both connect to my students and communicate the deeper philosophy of yoga--sometimes makes it hard for me to take a step back and focus on just one or two main points in one class. Unfortunately, when I get going and say whatever comes to mind, I know my students just can't process it all. At best, they take in what resonates with them and are able to tune me out the rest of the time. At worst, I'm sure there are times when they're confused, overwhelmed, and annoyed that I don't know how to shut the heck up and give them some room to just be--which is why they probably came to class in the first place.

I really try hard not to talk so much that it's confusing or distracting for my students. I've tried a few different approaches to keep myself in check. I give only three cues for each pose. I find an essential action I want my students to work on and I stick to cues that help them understand that action in a variety of poses. I even plan moments of quiet into my sequences--Child's Pose breaks are my own time to zip it, re-group, or focus on my own breath for a moment. But there are still plenty of times I look out at my students and see furrowed brows and confused, blank expressions that quietly scream, "Could you GET ON WITH IT ALREADY?!"

Theme Weaver served as a really great reminder of how much more power my words have when I keep things succinct and focused on one thing.  The author, Michelle Berman Marchildon (AKA The Yoga Muse) offers practical advice for yoga teachers on how to choose a theme for class (something that resonates with you), plan your yoga classes around a theme (winging it is NOT a great idea), and how to make the theme applicable to the practice without overwhelming your students. It's a recipe for getting a message across to your students in a clear, concise way that they will understand and appreciate so they will keep coming back to you for more!

One word of caution: While I loved this book, unfortunately, just reading it won't make you an amazing teacher over night. The first time I tried to deliver a class theme using Marchildon's techniques, I was awkward and likely came across like I was trying a bit too hard. (It wasn't quite authentic to me because I was following someone else's formula.) But as I practiced using it more and more, I took what worked for me and let go of anything that just doesn't come naturally to me. Some teachers really rock at reading an inspirational quote in class, for example, but I found this just doesn't work with my silly approach.

 Still, I think this book should be required reading for yoga teacher trainees (and those of us who haven't done a teacher training in a while!). I loved her ideas on writing a mission statement and bio--because we should all be clear about what kind of teacher we want to be. For that matter, I think it's vital that more yoga teacher see themselves as trained professionals who should be PAID FAIRLY for their services in accordance with their education and experience. And, most importantly I love this book because, as Marchildon so eloquently put it: "Most yoga teachers could use a big cup up shut  up." Guilty. And thanks for not beating around the bush, Ms. Marchildon. I couldn't agree more.

Get your cup here. And if you read it, don't forget to let me know what you think about it by commenting below.

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Today, in yoga studios and gyms across the country students everywhere will hear the same message. It's time to work off that second helping of mashed potatoes, the pumpkin pie, the turkey leg. We have to un-do all the indulgences by working harder to burn through calories, twist a little deeper to push that toxic sludge through our bodies and fight that holiday bulge! While I don't believe there's anything wrong with using your yoga practice as a tool to get healthy, aid in digestion, and even ward off unhealthy food cravings (if it is done in a healthy, mindful way, of course), I'm advocating something a little different in my yoga class tonight.

Image via Flickr user Ben Dalton

Instead of being our own harshest critic when it comes to the foods we put into our bodies during the holidays, I'm advocating for acceptance and love. Instead of beating ourselves up over that second helping of mashed potatoes, let's let ourselves be thankful for the opportunity to celebrate abundance and joy. Instead of being ashamed of the calories and afraid of what that might do to our health (or worse, to our outward appearance), let's trust in the body's wisdom to take the nutrients it needs and discard what it doesn't so we can come into balance once again naturally WITHOUT harmful force or negative thinking. Instead of pushing ourselves harder, let's strive to treat ourselves with kindness and compassionate, knowing that an indulgence (especially an indulgence that we share with our loved ones) might not be the best fuel for our bodies, but it just might be the best fuel for our spirits.

Sending love to my girl Anna Guest-Jelley for helping me to realize the how harmful the "burn through the calories" message can be for people the masses of people who struggle with body image issues everywhere.

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Photo by Chris Chavez

As a yoga teacher, I'm always trying to make my language more clear. Sometimes that means giving more instruction, but most of the time it means learning when to shut my trap and allowing my students to feel and experience the poses on their own.

Here are a few of the things I know I need to strike from my yoga teaching vocabulary...

"Did you feel that?" Students nearly always just nod. Uh huh.. sure.. I feel that. (Now will you leave me alone?) If you're making an adjustment, just make it. Watch your student's body with your EYES for confirmation that they understood what you asked them to do. If you don't see a difference, they probably didn't feel it. Try saying it in a different way. If you did see them make a change, make sure they know it by giving them some feedback. Yes! There! That's it! 

"Does anybody have any requests for today's class? Anything you want to work on?" I've been doing this in my classes every class for months. I've noticed in classes that I attend, other teachers ask the same questions, too. The response is almost always a lot of blank stares, shrugging shoulders, and "anything's fine with me." I've come to this realization: My students expect ME to plan the sequence. That's why they're there. Sure, I want to leave the door open for any questions or requests, but when something comes up for one of them I trust them to come to me and ask.

"Now we're going to ...." and other words that don't mean anything. "OK. Now, we're going to place our hands down on the mat." "Then, you're going to step your right foot back." "Great, now you're going to bring your hands up toward the sky." My goal is to teach yoga class in the same way I'd write. That means cutting out all the unnecessary words. I've noticed myself saying "Now you're going to.." about 500 times in class, when it would be so much more effective to abolish the phrase entirely and just give the flippin' instruction. "Place your hands on the mat. Step your foot back. Reach your hands up toward the sky." My goal is for each and every word I say to have meaning when I'm teaching. No fillers. It's a work in progress, and practicing speaking in clear and concise language is as much a part of my practice these days as Triangle Pose.

Also... anything on this list should be abolished immediately.

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Image by Flickr user RelaxingMusic

1. Your biggest motivation for unrolling your mat is ________.
     A. To achieve the perfect yoga butt.
     B. To get to know yourself better inside and out.
     C. To relieve stress.
     D.  Because your friend invited you to class and you want him/her to see how awesome you are.
     E.  All of the above.

2. Your friend is on the fence about attending a yoga class. How do you try to convince her?
     A. Do nothing. She's obviously not as spiritual as you are so it's a lost cause.
     B. Say you know she'll love it whenever she's ready to go, you'd love to unroll your mat beside hers
     C. Not applicable. You don't associate with people who don't have a regular yoga practice.
     D. Tell her she HAS to go and list all the celebrities who do it
     E.  Do nothing. It's not your job to make others try yoga. She'll have to figure it out on her own.

3. Life is crazy. You realize you're going to miss your favorite weekly yoga class. What do you do?
     A. Panic. The last time you missed that class you went nuts and there was a series of unfortunate events.
     B. Take a few deep breaths wherever you are. Asana is only a small part of your practice.
     C. Unroll your mat at home for at least 5 minutes. It's better than nothing.
     D. Vow to take an extra class next week to make up for it. 
     E. Don't sweat it. Life happens.

4.  Your teacher is out and the sub instructs a pose that you feel most of the class is not ready to attempt. What do you do?
     A. Call her out immediately. You can't let your classmates injure themselves on your watch!
     B. Realize that there are different approaches to the practice, and try this new style with an open mind.
     C. After class you call the teacher over and quietly ask her about her style. It's different than what you've learned, but maybe she knows something you haven't considered.
     D. You make sure you practice the pose perfectly so that your classmates can see how it's done!
     E. You don't concern yourself with it. She's the teacher. She probably knows what she's doing.

5. How do you describe your yoga skill level?
     A. Expert, master, or enlightened.
     B. Intermediate, but you still have lots to learn.
     C. Intermediate. You can do more than most.
     D. Advanced.
     E. Beginner, in body and mind.

Should you enroll in teacher training?

Answer key:

Mostly As
Maybe not. It's helpful to approach a teacher training with the mindset that you're a student first and have a lot to learn. If you already feel you know everything you need to know, you might not get much out of the training. Not to mention, once you're done with training you'll be more relatable to students if they see you're humble and are on the same path of learning that they are. Keep practicing!

Mostly Bs and Cs
Dooooo it! You've practiced enough to know that you've just skimmed the surface of a limitlessly deep subject. You're open to learning, and you know that the best way to lead others is through your example.

Mostly Ds
Proceed with caution. Think about why you want to be a teacher: Are you trying to impress someone? Are you doing it to fit into a certain image of what you think a yoga teacher is? Yoga is about exploring your body, mind, and spirit. If you're not focused mainly on that, it might be hard to help others on that path. Keep practicing!

Mostly Es
It could go either way. You have the right attitude about learning more, but maybe you're more concerned with deepening your own practice than you are sharing it with others. Of course, that's a perfectly legitimate reason to enroll in a teacher training, but you might benefit even more from an immersion that doesn't focus as much on teaching skills.

Note: I did a teacher training when I was 22 years old.. and if I am really honest about it, I probably wasn't ready. And, truthfully, I know I didn't get as much out of the training as I could have. But I still wouldn't change a thing about it! It still helped me to deepen my practice, learn more about who I was and who I wanted to be, and I think I'm a pretty decent teacher now--even if I wasn't when I first got my certification. :) So, really, you're the only one who can determine when you're ready and what you want to get out of the training. I hope this little quiz gave you some food for thought, but please don't be discouraged no matter what the result! If you want to be a good teacher, you'll be an awesome one whether you take your training now or in 10 years.

I want to hear from the yoga teachers.. How did you know you were ready to enroll in teacher training?

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Image from Lululemon

I've been teaching a yoga class at a gym for a few months now. The yoga class is the first one at this location, so the students are all mostly new to the practice. There are several flyers up around the gym that list the benefits of Pilates (one of the group fitness classes that has been on the schedule for years, I'm told). Now, I'm not a competitive type.. (OK. I actually am, but I try not to be), but it bothered me that there were so many flyers up in the gym touting Pilates and yoga wasn't represented anywhere. So I asked the gym manager if I could put up a few flyers, too. I started to just write out a list of my own benefits (like this one), but I thought it might be more fun to let my students tell me what benefits they'd noticed after practicing yoga for a few months. Before class started last week, I passed around a sheet of paper with the header "Benefits of Yoga" and asked make the list.

I couldn't have been more pleased by the things they wrote:

More flexibility
Strength
The ability to laugh when you fall
Teach concentration without taking yourself too seriously
Relaxation
Deep stretch
Peace of mind
Feel soooooo good afterward!
Just letting go of the day!

I added a couple about breathing, mindfulness, and self-care.. but I think they pretty much nailed it! It was also a great exercise for me to see what messages I've been effective at getting across. I might try this exercise again in 6 months to see how the list changes over time. In the meantime, I hope it helps get more people to the mat.

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Am I a narcissist?

Don't answer that.

It's a question I've been asking myself a lot lately, though, mostly because of a book I recently read about Bikram Yoga.

Hell-Bent: Obsession, Pain, and My Search for Transcendence or Something Like It is one of those books that every yoga teacher should read, not for inspiration or teaching tips (certainly not!) but for a good chuckle and some insight into what NOT to do. It paints a picture of Bikram Choudhury as an egotistic, selfish, power-mongering, money-hungry man that founded Bikram Yoga. I laughed at his crazy antics and even crazier tall tales. He sits in a throne during his teacher trainings while his students fawn over him offering massages and fetching him his drink of choice--Coke. He says he never sleeps, and yet is never out of bed in time to teach an early class. He no longer practices the yoga that's made him rich. He invented the disco ball. There are a million other unfounded and ridiculous claims.

It's easy to condemn Bikram--to say he doesn't embody the true spirit of yoga. He definitely has his faults. But here's the thing: All of us have some of the narcissistic qualities Lorr describes in his book.

I've never made any outlandish claims. I don't have any trademarks. I've never sued any one. But all the Bikram hubub of late has made me think about my own motives for becoming a yoga teacher.  I often tell people about how the yoga that I practice can improve their lives. I fancy myself so wise that I write about my experiences with yoga in 3 different blogs (sometimes more!). I look at other people's postures and tell them how to improve. I collect money for my expertise. And while I certainly practice as much as I can, there are those times when I don't unroll my mat nearly enough. I occasionally enjoy a Coke. I collect yoga clothes in much the same way Bikram collects cars. I don't always practice what I preach, but I still think people should listen to what I have to say. And I have a LOT to say.

If I learn nothing else from Bikram, I'm thankful for this lesson: It's important to explore my own narcissistic qualities from time to time to keep myself in check. It's even more important to be honest with my students (and everyone else who might look to me for guidance or inspiration) about my shortcomings and my own struggles with ego, ambition, and pride. Because it's only after we understand and accept ourselves (the good and the bad) can we begin to teach others how to accept themselves. For me, that's what yoga is all about.

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I've been pondering enrolling in another yoga teacher training. But as much as I long to be a part of a community again and to dive deeply into the philosophy, history, asana, and anatomy for a second time it's really hard to commit to spending another $3,000 + to get a certification I already have! So I'm going to keep pondering it... but in the meantime, I've been reliving my first teacher training by perusing the books I used in teacher training (and laughing at the notes I made in the margins). And I'm also discovering some really fantastic tools that are helping me to become a better teacher, too.

Here are a few of my current favorites.

Yoga for Healthy Aging
Unfortunately, I do not have a photographic memory or a background in healthcare. Now, I know the basics--the parts of the body and contraindications for poses that my teachers refer to again and again--but a lot of my anatomy and medical knowledge went out the window shortly after I got my teaching certificate.

The Yoga for Healthy Aging blog has been a godsend! It's written by a team of experienced yoga teachers, including medical doctors Baxter Bell and Timothy McCall. It has practical anatomy as it pertains to yoga as well as lots of new, fascinating yoga studies explained in a way that even someone with absolutely no medical knowledge can understand it. I love love LOVE that they have their posts labeled so when I need to reference something like arches of the feet or the shoulder joint, I can find all the posts pertaining to it in the navigation on the right hand side.

Teachasana
This is a website by yoga teachers for yoga teachers, founded by my friends Nancy Alder and Anna Guest-Jelley. There is lots of great information for teachers here--and it's great community. I love the marketing content written by the folks at Bizeebee. There's also a monthly challenge--something to focus your teaching energy on--as well as free online workshops, videos with tips on alignment, etc.

Jason Crandell Blog for YogaGlo
Jason Crandell is a teacher I want to be like when I grow up. He's clear, concise, and confident in his instructions. More importantly, he knows exactly what he wants his students to take away from each class whether it's attention to a particular movement or a yogic concept. In his blog for YogaGlo he shares his secrets. 

Yoga Journal Teachers Channel
Its not always easy to to navigate, but if you're patient there's a wealth of knowledge here. Whether I'm looking for advice about a particular injury or medical condition, looking to clarify my communication, or want marketing ideas, I know I'll be able to find good advice written by a seasoned and experienced yoga teacher here.

What's your favorite yoga teaching resource?

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