Friday, October 1, 2010

a little bit of this...



I've been thinking a lot about my yoga practice lately, partly because it really hasn't been that regular of a practice since I moved to NY (shamefully). It took us a while to figure out our routines and find a studio to practice at and then school started and routines went out the window. When I think of my yoga practice though I think a lot about Jeanne, our yoga teacher in LA. It's hard to articulate these things without sounding trite but I will try.

I miss those Saturday morning core-centric classes with her when she rightfully sensed our fatigue and focused on a practice that didn't require many standing poses yet burned a strong fire within. I miss all the work she did on us despite our inflexibilities and limitations. The best part was discovering what we never thought we could do. And of course I miss how my body felt after her classes...strong, and dare I say tighter. And my ego always, finally, calm from the moment she walked into the studio.

As a student, I really couldn't judge teachers. They all have so much to offer and I respect the fact that they choose to teach. But you can feel it when someone is changing your life and if you just continued along that path some of those internal hurdles could be overcome. I know the right thing to do is to be grateful of the time we did get to spend practicing with her and to remember what I learnt and practice it but in my weaker moments I really would just like some delicious yoga goodness from Jeanne.

3 comments:

  1. That is a lovely picture -where was it taken?

    I don't do yoga, but have been meaning to give it a shot.

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  2. It was taken at the park at the Cloisters in NYC...it's so pretty up there.

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  3. Wonderly written! Jeanne has been my teacher for some time now and what you say is certainly a good description of the way she weaves her magic... and the "method" to her "madness!" :-) I have been blessed with several wonderful teachers over the years. Each was the teacher—for that time—that I needed. There really is something to this old saying: "The teacher appears when the student is ready." I think the teacher also moves on when the student has learned what she needed to learn from the teacher. But then there is always the next teacher! So much to learn!

    Eric

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